Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may be configured and deployed to maintain inventory and retrieve products for delivery. The UAVs can be equipped with a plurality of sensors used to assess the condition of inventory items, report the condition to a central control, and to retrieve inventory items. The UAVs can scan fruits and vegetables, for example, to determine the current ripeness. The UAV can then harvest the items if ready or provide a status update if they are not ready. The UAVs can be used in conjunction with transporters and harvesters to deliver products from the field or warehouse to a central control or directly to the customer. In scanning the products for readiness, the UAVs can also detect issues such as spoilage, fungus, and pests. This information can be used for the specific application of treatments.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for quantifying peroxyacid in a fluid by using spectrophotometry. Peroxyacid in the fluid is reacted with an iodide reagent and the absorbance of the reaction solution is measured. The absorbance can be measured at or near the isosbectic wavelength of iodine and triiodide, and the assay is useful to quantify peroxyacid that is present at high levels in fluids.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing and treating a fluid containing a peroxyacid and/or peroxide. A method of analyzing the fluid includes introducing into the fluid a decomposition agent that catalyzes decomposition of the peroxyacid and/or peroxide into decomposition products including oxygen, then directly or indirectly measuring an amount of oxygen produced after introduction of the decomposition agent, and determining an amount of the peroxyacid and/or peroxide present in the fluid. The amount of peroxyacid and/or peroxide in the fluid can also be monitored and controlled by further adjusting the amount of the peroxyacid and/or peroxide in the fluid based on the determined amount thereof. A system for performing the methods includes a decomposition agent infusion device for introducing the decomposition agent into a fluid sample, and a sensor for directly or indirectly measuring an amount of oxygen produced after introduction of the decomposition agent.

Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may be configured and deployed to maintain inventory and retrieve products for delivery. The UAVs can be equipped with a plurality of sensors used to assess the condition of inventory items, report the condition to a central control, and to retrieve inventory items. The UAVs can scan fruits and vegetables, for example, to determine the current ripeness. The UAV can then harvest the items if ready or provide a status update if they are not ready. The UAVs can be used in conjunction with transporters and harvesters to deliver products from the field or warehouse to a central control or directly to the customer. In scanning the products for readiness, the UAVs can also detect issues such as spoilage, fungus, and pests. This information can be used for the specific application of treatments.

Abstract: Methods are described for maintaining unpaved roads. The methods include applying an aqueous composition to a section of an unpaved road (such as a mine haul road in a mine). The aqueous composition includes from 5 to 10,000 ppm of a synthetic polymer in water, and may be applied periodically. The synthetic polymer may be compatible with chemical processes employed by the mine, and the method may also include subsequently mining the section of the mine haul road.

Abstract: Devices and methods for sterilizing and/or disinfecting workpieces, such as medical and dental instruments. The device can include a chamber that receives the workpieces and can be sealed. The chamber is filled with chlorine dioxide gas to a threshold concentration and for a time sufficient to sterilize and/or disinfect the workpieces.

Abstract: A plurality of UAVs may be operated in a fleet, each of the UAVs in the fleet being configured to work collectively to achieve one or more functions, such as to create a display or implement an antenna array. The fleet of UAVs may operate individually and/or may be coupled to one another to operate as a collective unit. In some embodiments, one or more UAVs in the fleet may operate individually, while two or more UAVs in the fleet may be connected to one another. In such embodiments, the individual UAVs and the connected UAVs may together comprise the fleet.

Abstract: Multiple chemical tracers are provided in a fluid system, and measured to evaluate parameters of the system. The multiple chemical tracers include at least one reactive chemical tracer that provides a measurable signal with an intensity that changes as the reactive chemical tracer reacts in the fluid system. The signals of the multiple chemical tracers are compared to each other to evaluate a system parameter, such as temperature, pH, or system events.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing high purity gaseous chlorine dioxide are provided. A solid chlorite reactant is contacted with an ozone-containing reactant gas, or a gas containing both ozone and a component that reacts with any hydroxide byproduct (such as carbon dioxide), to produce chlorine dioxide. The reaction can be monitored and controlled to ensure that excess chlorite reactant is provided and to prevent ozone from passing into the product gas.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for providing miniaturized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are disclosed. The techniques and systems can include significant off-board processing support for the UAVs to enable the UAVs to be smaller, lighter, and less expensive than conventional UAVs. The techniques and systems can include routines to provide enhanced support for police during routine traffic stops. The techniques and systems can also include routines to locate objects or people including, for example, locating a lost child in a crowd or a lost vehicle in a parking lot. The miniaturized UAVs can provide enhances perception for the user to enable the user to over and around objects for improved visibility and safety, among other things.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the separation, identification and characterization of active peptide fragments from peptones.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the separation, identification and characterization of active peptide fragments from peptones.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for providing miniaturized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are disclosed. The techniques and systems can include significant off-board processing support for the UAVs to enable the UAVs to be smaller, lighter, and less expensive than conventional UAVs. The techniques and systems can include routines to provide enhanced support for police during routine traffic stops. The techniques and systems can also include routines to locate objects or people including, for example, locating a lost child in a crowd or a lost vehicle in a parking lot. The miniaturized UAVs can provide enhances perception for the user to enable the user to over and around objects for improved visibility and safety, among other things.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of operating steam generators, particularly evaporators, in hard water environments characterized by high Si and Mg content in which the pHcold of the feed water stream is maintained within a range of about 11 to 12 in order to reduce, eliminate or remove scale from internal evaporator surfaces. Additional components may be added to the feed water stream including surfactants, chelants, dispersants, sequestrants and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An aspect provides a method of treating direct reduced iron (DRI) pellets, by applying a foam to the DRI pellets. The foam may include a foam having an expansion ratio of about 20-40 and a bubble size of about 200 microns or less. The foam may include one or more additives, such as anti-corrosion agent(s), oxidizing agents, and dust reducing binder(s). The foam(s) may be applied in a single stage or in multiple stages and may be applied to hot or cold DRI pellets. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: An aspect provides a method of treating direct reduced iron (DRI) pellets, by applying a foam to the DRI pellets. The foam may include a foam having an expansion ratio of about 20-40 and a bubble size of about 200 microns or less. The foam may include one or more additives, such as anti-corrosion agent(s), oxidizing agents, and dust reducing binder(s). The foam(s) may be applied in a single stage or in multiple stages and may be applied to hot or cold DRI pellets. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace wherein the mixture is burned and flue gas having a low content of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide is formed is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: A system and method of modeling an enterprise and its objectives and its information technology system into a single enterprise framework so that the effect of changes in one can be seen as impacting the other. In its preferred embodiment, a generic framework is customized to reflect changes for the industry and the enterprise and its objectives and uses a LOTUS NOTES database with a front-end navigator to make modifications. The enterprise framework includes a section on governance which provides an architectural framework and a management process for the enterprise framework.