Abstract: A system to generate a vapor from a liquid includes an electric heater and an elongate wick. The electric heater defines an interior void having an inner surface and a plurality of apertures, and it is formed of an electrically resistive material contained within a heat diffusing material. The elongate wick is formed of a durable elongate structure having a plurality of liquid-conducting features on the outer surface. At least a portion of the liquid-conducting features of the elongate wick proximate the first end engage at least a portion of the one inner surface of the electric heater and are capable of conducting a the liquid from a source proximate the second end of the wick along the outer surface of the elongate wick to the electric heater.

Abstract: A novel disposable cartridge for use in an electronic nicotine delivery system having an electric heater includes a reservoir containing a nicotine-containing liquid, a port in liquid communication with the reservoir, a liquid barrier disposed proximate the port to prevent undesired leakage of the nicotine-containing liquid from the reservoir, and a durable, elongate wick arranged and configured to be slideable in the port and to contact the nicotine-containing liquid in the reservoir.

Abstract: A system to generate a vapor from a liquid includes an electric heater and an elongate wick. The electric heater defines an interior void having an inner surface and a plurality of apertures, and it is formed of an electrically resistive material contained within a heat diffusing material. The elongate wick is formed of a durable elongate structure having a plurality of liquid-conducting features on the outer surface. At least a portion of the liquid-conducting features of the elongate wick proximate the first end engage at least a portion of the one inner surface of the electric heater and are capable of conducting a the liquid from a source proximate the second end of the wick along the outer surface of the elongate wick to the electric heater.

Abstract: A novel disposable cartridge for use in an electronic nicotine delivery system having an electric heater includes a reservoir containing a nicotine-containing liquid, a port in liquid communication with the reservoir, a liquid barrier disposed proximate the port to prevent undesired leakage of the nicotine-containing liquid from the reservoir, and a durable, elongate wick arranged and configured to be slideable in the port and to contact the nicotine-containing liquid in the reservoir.

Abstract: A system to generate a vapor from a liquid includes an electric heater and an elongate wick. The electric heater defines an interior void having an inner surface and a plurality of apertures, and it is formed of an electrically resistive material contained within a heat diffusing material. The elongate wick is formed of a durable elongate structure having a plurality of liquid-conducting features on the outer surface. At least a portion of the liquid-conducting features of the elongate wick proximate the first end engage at least a portion of the one inner surface of the electric heater and are capable of conducting a the liquid from a source proximate the second end of the wick along the outer surface of the elongate wick to the electric heater.

Abstract: A novel disposable cartridge for use in an electronic nicotine delivery system having an electric heater includes a reservoir containing a nicotine-containing liquid, a port in liquid communication with the reservoir, a liquid barrier disposed proximate the port to prevent undesired leakage of the nicotine-containing liquid from the reservoir, and a durable, elongate wick arranged and configured to be slideable in the port and to contact the nicotine-containing liquid in the reservoir.

Abstract: A novel disposable cartridge for use in an electronic nicotine delivery system having an electric heater includes a reservoir containing a nicotine-containing liquid, a port in liquid communication with the reservoir, a liquid barrier disposed proximate the port to prevent undesired leakage of the nicotine-containing liquid from the reservoir, and a durable, elongate wick arranged and configured to be slideable in the port and to contact the nicotine-containing liquid in the reservoir.

Abstract: A system to generate a vapor from a liquid includes an electric heater and an elongate wick. The electric heater defines an interior void having an inner surface and a plurality of apertures, and it is formed of an electrically resistive material contained within a heat diffusing material. The elongate wick is formed of a durable elongate structure having a plurality of liquid-conducting features on the outer surface. At least a portion of the liquid-conducting features of the elongate wick proximate the first end engage at least a portion of the one inner surface of the electric heater and are capable of conducting a the liquid from a source proximate the second end of the wick along the outer surface of the elongate wick to the electric heater.

Abstract: A novel disposable cartridge for use in an electronic nicotine delivery system having an electric heater includes a reservoir containing a nicotine-containing liquid, a port in liquid communication with the reservoir, a liquid barrier disposed proximate the port to prevent undesired leakage of the nicotine-containing liquid from the reservoir, and a durable, elongate wick arranged and configured to be slideable in the port and to contact the nicotine-containing liquid in the reservoir.

Abstract: A system to generate a vapor from a liquid includes an electric heater and an elongate wick. The electric heater defines an interior void having an inner surface and a plurality of apertures, and it is formed of an electrically resistive material contained within a heat diffusing material. The elongate wick is formed of a durable elongate structure having a plurality of liquid-conducting features on the outer surface. At least a portion of the liquid-conducting features of the elongate wick proximate the first end engage at least a portion of the one inner surface of the electric heater and are capable of conducting a the liquid from a source proximate the second end of the wick along the outer surface of the elongate wick to the electric heater.

Abstract: A novel disposable cartridge for use in an electronic nicotine delivery system having an electric heater includes a reservoir containing a nicotine-containing liquid, a port in liquid communication with the reservoir, a liquid barrier disposed proximate the port to prevent undesired leakage of the nicotine-containing liquid from the reservoir, and a durable, elongate wick arranged and configured to be slideable in the port and to contact the nicotine-containing liquid in the reservoir.

Abstract: A system to generate a vapor from a liquid includes an electric heater and an elongate wick. The electric heater defines an interior void having an inner surface and a plurality of apertures, and it is formed of an electrically resistive material contained within a heat diffusing material. The elongate wick is formed of a durable elongate structure having a plurality of liquid-conducting features on the outer surface. At least a portion of the liquid-conducting features of the elongate wick proximate the first end engage at least a portion of the one inner surface of the electric heater and are capable of conducting a the liquid from a source proximate the second end of the wick along the outer surface of the elongate wick to the electric heater.

Abstract: A machine cleaner tablet comprising from about 10 to about 75% of a limescale remover acid, from about 1 to about 20% of low foaming non-ionic surfactant, from about 0.5 to about 5% of a detergency enzyme and wherein the tablet has a pH measured as a 1% solution in distilled water at 20° C. in the range from about 1 to about 5. The tablet is used for cleaning the interior of automatic dishwashers, food processing machines and the like.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion includes an associative thickener based on a hydrophobically modified poly(acetal- or ketal-polyether) (HM-PAPE) and at least one viscosity reducing agent selected from ethoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated acetyleneic diols, phosphate esters, dialkyl sulfosuccinates, and mixtures thereof. This aqueous dispersion improves the incorporation of the HM-PAPEs into aqueous based protective coatings. This dispersion also improves water-borne coating compositions that optionally contain latex.

Abstract: A detergent tablet for use in a washing machine, the tablet having one or more phases at least one of which is in the form of a compressed particulate solid comprising a) a polymeric disintegrant having a particle size distribution such that at least 90% by weight thereof has a particle size below about 0.3 mm and at least 30% by weight thereof has a particle size below about 0.2 mm; and b) a water-soluble hydrated salt having a melting point in the range from about 30° C. to about 95° C. The detergent tablets display improved dissolution, strength and long-term storage characteristics.

Abstract: A method for detecting reachability of client computers communicatively coupled in a computer network to a server computer. A plurality of identifier tags are resident in the memory of the server. The server generates a data packet comprising an I.C.M.P. echo packet and selects a first identifier tag from among the plurality of identifier tags resident in memory, the first identifier tag being chosen to correspond to a first client computer. The server inserts the first identifier tag into the proper data segment of the echo packet and forwards the packet to the first client. After a predetermined time awaiting a responsive ping from the client, the server determines if the client is tag-compliant or non tag-compliant.

Abstract: A multi-phase detergent tablet for use in a washing machine, the tablet comprising a first phase in adhesive contact with one or more second phases, at least one second phase being in the form of a compressed particulate solid incorporating liquid adhesive and having an average porosity of less than about 0.15 ml/g. The liquid adhesive is preferably selected from polyethylene glycols having an average molecular weight in the range from about 200 to about 700 and is preferably applied by post-addition to the particulate solid prior to compression. The multi-phase tablets provide improved interphase adhesivity, robustness and strength together with excellent dissolution and cleaning characteristics.

Abstract: A multi-phase detergent tablet for use in a washing machine, the tablet comprising: a) a first phase in the form of a shaped body having at least one mould therein; and b) a second phase in the form of a particulate solid compressed within the mould. The multi-phase tablets provide improved dissolution and cleaning characteristics together with excellent tablet integrity and strength.

Abstract: A method to send and receive data packets over a network of computer systems (e.g., a plurality of virtual local area networks [VLANs] compliant with the IEEE 802.1Q standard) using a server computer system adapted to have a plurality of network interface cards (NICs) coupled thereto. An outgoing data packet is addressed using a first media access control (MAC) address, wherein the first MAC address is a virtual MAC address representing the plurality of NICs. A NIC is selected from the plurality of NICs using a load balancing scheme. The functionality of the selected NIC is verified using a fault tolerance scheme. The first MAC address in the outgoing data packet is replaced with a second MAC address, wherein the second MAC address represents the selected NIC. The outgoing data packet is then transmitted using the selected NIC. For an incoming data packet received at one of the plurality of NICs, the existing MAC address in the incoming data packet is replaced with the first MAC address.

Abstract: A multi-phase detergent tablet for use in a washing machine, the tablet comprising: a) a first phase in the form of a shaped body having at least one mould therein; and b) a second phase in the form of a compressed body adhesively contained within the mould, wherein the tablet composition comprises one or more detergent actives which is predominantly concentrated in the second phase, and wherein the second phase additionally comprises a binder. The multi-phase tablets provide improved dissolution and cleaning characteristics together with excellent tablet integrity and strength.