Abstract: A non-crosslinked polymeric heat shrink tubing including poly(ether-block-amide) (PEBA) and methods for making such non-crosslinked polymeric heat shrink tubing is provided. The non-crosslinked PEBA heat shrink tubing disclosed herein finds application, e.g., as a processing aid and final component in the manufacture of catheters and other medical devices.

Abstract: A spray coating apparatus that applies a coating material onto outer surfaces of glass objects includes a coating material source that includes a coating material. A spray nozzle assembly includes a spray nozzle fluidly connected to the coating material source. The spray nozzle is arranged and configured to direct the coating material in a first direction toward the glass object and provide an overspray amount of the coating material by the glass object such that the overspray amount bypasses a non-line of sight area of the glass object. A turn nozzle assembly includes a turn nozzle fluidly connected to a pressurized gas source. The turn nozzle is arranged and configured to direct pressurized gas in a second direction different than the first direction toward the non-line of sight area of the glass package to redirect the coating material onto the non-line of sight area.

Abstract: A non-crosslinked polymeric heat shrink tubing including poly(ether-block-amide) (PEBA) and methods for making such non-crosslinked polymeric heat shrink tubing is provided. The non-crosslinked PEBA heat shrink tubing disclosed herein finds application, e.g., as a processing aid and final component in the manufacture of catheters and other medical devices.

Abstract: A spray coating apparatus that applies a coating material onto outer surfaces of glass objects includes a coating material source that includes a coating material. A spray nozzle assembly includes a spray nozzle fluidly connected to the coating material source. The spray nozzle is arranged and configured to direct the coating material in a first direction toward the glass object and provide an overspray amount of the coating material by the glass object such that the overspray amount bypasses a non-line of sight area of the glass object. A turn nozzle assembly includes a turn nozzle fluidly connected to a pressurized gas source. The turn nozzle is arranged and configured to direct pressurized gas in a second direction different than the first direction toward the non-line of sight area of the glass package to redirect the coating material onto the non-line of sight area.

Abstract: A non-crosslinked polymeric heat shrink tubing including poly (ether-block-amide) (PEBA) and methods for making such non-crosslinked polymeric heat shrink tubing is provided. The non-crosslinked PEBA heat shrink tubing disclosed herein finds application, e.g., as a processing aid and final component in the manufacture of catheters and other medical devices. When utilized as an outer jacket of a laser-cut hypotube, the non-crosslinked PEBA heat shrink tubing can advantageously not considerably infiltrate the kerfs of the underlying laser-cut hypotube.

Abstract: A non-crosslinked polymeric heat shrink tubing including poly(ether-block-amide) (PEBA) and methods for making such non-crosslinked polymeric heat shrink tubing is provided. The non-crosslinked PEBA heat shrink tubing disclosed herein finds application, e.g., as a processing aid and final component in the manufacture of catheters and other medical devices.

Abstract: A non-crosslinked polymeric heat shrink tubing including poly(ether-block-amide) (PEBA) and methods for making such non-crosslinked polymeric heat shrink tubing is provided. The non-crosslinked PEBA heat shrink tubing disclosed herein finds application, e.g., as a processing aid and final component in the manufacture of catheters and other medical devices.

Abstract: A spray coating apparatus that applies a coating material onto outer surfaces of glass objects includes a coating material source that includes a coating material. A spray nozzle assembly includes a spray nozzle fluidly connected to the coating material source. The spray nozzle is arranged and configured to direct the coating material in a first direction toward the glass object and provide an overspray amount of the coating material by the glass object such that the overspray amount bypasses a non-line of sight area of the glass object. A turn nozzle assembly includes a turn nozzle fluidly connected to a pressurized gas source. The turn nozzle is arranged and configured to direct pressurized gas in a second direction different than the first direction toward the non-line of sight area of the glass package to redirect the coating material onto the non-line of sight area.

Abstract: A cleaning nozzle includes an outer housing having a central axis and an inner surface that defines an outer housing interior. An inner housing resides within the outer housing interior along the central axis and has an inner surface that defines an inner flow channel. The inner flow channel supports flow of the cleaning fluid and has a converging taper and a flow disrupter element. The nozzle assembly may include an adapter that receives a front end of the nozzle and that also holds a ferrule that supports an optical fiber having an end face. The nozzle assembly allows the nozzle to direct a jet stream of cleaning fluid to the ferrule end face and the fiber end face. The flow disrupter causes the jet stream to have a time-varying direction that enhances the cleaning of the ferrule end face and the optical fiber end face.

Abstract: The nozzle includes a nozzle body having a front end with a recess defining a recessed wall. The recess is elongate in a first direction. The recess receives a front-end section of a ferrule of a multi-fiber connector to define gap, wherein the front-end section has an elongate end face. The nozzle has first and second channels that are elongate in the first direction and have respective first and second front-end openings at the recessed wall. The first and second front-end openings are spaced apart in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A cleaning fluid flows from the first channel into the gap and then out the second channel, including over the ferrule end faces and end faces of optical fibers supported by the ferrule. A flow-disrupting feature on the recessed wall generates turbulent flow to enhance cleaning.

Abstract: A mushroom blend comprises therapeutically effective amounts of the isolated strains Grifola frondosa (GF AM-P36), Ganoderma lucidum (GL AM-P38), and Pleurotus ostreatus (PO AM-GP37). Methods of use for supporting gut health include increasing SCFAs including butyrate in the gastrointestinal tract. A method is described for increasing microbial diversity in the gastro-intestinal tract in a human subject, including administering to the human subject an effective amount of a fungal prebiotic-containing composition comprising a blend of more than one fungal species. One useful blend of three species includes Ganoderma lucidum (“GL”), Grifola frondosa (GF), and Pleurotus ostreatus (PO). Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) including Lachnospiraceae, Lachnoclostridium and the various Ruminococcaceae are all dose-dependently increased when the mushroom blend is fed, which is significant for Lachnospiraceae UCG-004, Ruminococcaceae UCG-002, and Ruminococcaceae NK4A214.

Abstract: A cleaning nozzle includes an inner nozzle housing having a feed passage for carrying cleaning fluid, a plurality of nozzle tips that each define a discharge opening in fluid communication with the feed passage, and an outer nozzle housing received over the inner nozzle housing. The outer nozzle housing includes a plurality of outer nozzle extensions that each extend over one of the nozzle tips. The outer nozzle extensions can be inserted into ports of an adapter, and flow of the cleaning fluid through the nozzle is split between the nozzle tips so that multiple optical connectors that populate the adapter can be cleaned simultaneously in a substantially uniform manner.

Abstract: A cleaning nozzle includes an outer housing having a central axis and an inner surface that defines an outer housing interior. An inner housing resides within the outer housing interior along the central axis and has an inner surface that defines an inner flow channel. The inner flow channel supports flow of the cleaning fluid and has a converging taper and a flow disrupter element. The nozzle assembly may include an adapter that receives a front end of the nozzle and that also holds a ferrule that supports an optical fiber having an end face. The nozzle assembly allows the nozzle to direct a jet stream of cleaning fluid to the ferrule end face and the fiber end face. The flow disrupter causes the jet stream to have a time-varying direction that enhances the cleaning of the ferrule end face and the optical fiber end face.

Abstract: A cleaning nozzle includes an outer housing having a central axis and an inner surface that defines an outer housing interior. An inner housing resides within the outer housing interior along the central axis and has an inner surface that defines an inner flow channel. The inner flow channel supports flow of the cleaning fluid and has a converging taper and a flow disrupter element. The nozzle assembly may include an adapter that receives a front end of the nozzle and that also holds a ferrule that supports an optical fiber having an end face. The nozzle assembly allows the nozzle to direct a jet stream of cleaning fluid to the ferrule end face and the fiber end face. The flow disrupter causes the jet stream to have a time-varying direction that enhances the cleaning of the ferrule end face and the optical fiber end face.

Abstract: A cleaning nozzle includes an inner nozzle housing having a feed passage for carrying cleaning fluid, a plurality of nozzle tips that each define a discharge opening in fluid communication with the feed passage, and an outer nozzle housing received over the inner nozzle housing. The outer nozzle housing includes a plurality of outer nozzle extensions that each extend over one of the nozzle tips. The outer nozzle extensions can be inserted into ports of an adapter, and flow of the cleaning fluid through the nozzle is split between the nozzle tips so that multiple optical connectors that populate the adapter can be cleaned simultaneously in a substantially uniform manner.

Abstract: The nozzle includes a nozzle body having a front end with a recess defining a recessed wall. The recess is elongate in a first direction. The recess receives a front-end section of a ferrule of a multi-fiber connector to define gap, wherein the front-end section has an elongate end face. The nozzle has first and second channels that are elongate in the first direction and have respective first and second front-end openings at the recessed wall. The first and second front-end openings are spaced apart in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A cleaning fluid flows from the first channel into the gap and then out the second channel, including over the ferrule end faces and end faces of optical fibers supported by the ferrule. A flow-disrupting feature on the recessed wall generates turbulent flow to enhance cleaning.

Abstract: A cleaning nozzle includes an outer housing having a central axis and an inner surface that defines an outer housing interior. An inner housing resides within the outer housing interior along the central axis and has an inner surface that defines an inner flow channel. The inner flow channel supports flow of the cleaning fluid and has a converging taper and a flow disrupter element. The nozzle assembly may include an adapter that receives a front end of the nozzle and that also holds a ferrule that supports an optical fiber having an end face. The nozzle assembly allows the nozzle to direct a jet stream of cleaning fluid to the ferrule end face and the fiber end face. The flow disrupter causes the jet stream to have a time-varying direction that enhances the cleaning of the ferrule end face and the optical fiber end face.

Abstract: There is provided, in one form, a method for at least partially deactivating a sulfur species from a stream, such as but not limited to a hydrocarbon stream, an aqueous stream, and mixtures thereof. A treating mixture may be introduced into the stream in an amount effective to at least partially deactivate the sulfur species from the stream. The treating mixture may include a compound having the general formula: and combinations thereof. R1 may be a C1-C4 hydrocarbyl group. R2 may be a C1-C4 hydrocarbyl group that is the same or different as R1. R3 may be an ethanol or an isopropanol moiety. R4 may be an ethylene oxide moiety, propylene oxide moiety, butylene oxide moiety, and combinations thereof. n may be an integer from 1 to 100. M may be a hydrogen or a metal ion.

Abstract: Additives for improving furnace heat transfer efficiency may be effectively screened for effectiveness by heating the additive, optionally mixed with ash, to the operating temperature of the furnace and measuring its relative emissivity. Additives that have lower emissivity at furnace operating temperatures may be useful for improving furnace heat transfer efficiency as compared to those that have higher emissivity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of rapidly hydrating a hydratable polymer, which method involves irradiating with radio frequency electromagnetic radiation, a mixture of at least the polymer and an aqueous hydrotreating medium to form a viscosified mixture of at least aqueous hydrotreating medium and hydrated polymer. Related methods of treating a subterranean formation and continuously hydrotreating a subterranean formation are also revealed.