Abstract: A continuous process for making a pigment dispersion includes continuously feeding a pigment into a feed section of a screw extruder at a controlled rate, continuously feeding a surfactant into the feed section of the screw extruder at a controlled rate, continuously feeding water downstream of the feed section to emulsify the pigment and the surfactant, forming a water-in-pigment dispersion, continuously feeding additional water downstream of the previously fed water to cause a phase inversion of the water-in-pigment dispersion, forming a pigment-in-water dispersion, continuously homogenizing the pigment-in-water dispersion in the screw extruder to create a homogenous aqueous pigment dispersion and collecting the homogenous aqueous pigment dispersion from an exit section of the screw extruder.

Abstract: A continuous process for making a pigment dispersion includes continuously feeding a pigment into a feed section of a screw extruder at a controlled rate, continuously feeding a surfactant into the feed section of the screw extruder at a controlled rate, continuously feeding water downstream of the feed section to emulsify the pigment and the surfactant, forming a water-in-pigment dispersion, continuously feeding additional water downstream of the previously fed water to cause a phase inversion of the water-in-pigment dispersion, forming a pigment-in-water dispersion, continuously homogenizing the pigment-in-water dispersion in the screw extruder to create a homogenous aqueous pigment dispersion and collecting the homogenous aqueous pigment dispersion from an exit section of the screw extruder.

Abstract: There are disclosed apparatus and methods for replacing a percutaneous cable in connection with a vascular device. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a distal disconnect coupler, a distal connector portion of the cable configured for removable connection with the distal disconnect coupler, and a connector cap configured for removable connection with the distal disconnect coupler and for tunneling through skin and tissue. In one embodiment, a method of repositioning a percutaneous cable in connection with a vascular device includes providing the cable with a distal disconnect coupler, disconnecting the cable at the distal disconnect coupler, attaching a connector cap to the distal disconnect coupler, removing the percutaneous cable from a first exit site, tunneling the connector cap together with the distal disconnect coupler through skin and tissue to form a new exit site, disconnecting the connector cap, and connecting the cable to the distal disconnect coupler.

Abstract: A hitch mounted self-contained keg beverage dispenser removably mounts on a conventional receiver hitch of a vehicle for transporting a beverage keg over long distances to a site of use while maintaining the contents in a cooled condition and dispensing the contents at the site while supported on the transporting vehicle. The dispenser has an insulated container that receives the keg and is mounted on a platform received in the hitch and supported vertically proximate the vehicle rear bumper. The container may be secured to the platform in the vertically supported position and pivoted to an angular position to allow access to the vehicle cargo area. A compressed gas cylinder, a dispensing spigot and a drip tray are mounted on the container. The keg inside the container is surrounded by ice and connected with the gas cylinder and spigot by hoses extending through the container side wall.

Abstract: A camera cap assembly removes moisture from a camera rear lens and/or a camera body. The camera cap assembly includes a main body that has a front end, a rear end, and an inner divider having a number of openings. The camera cap assembly also includes a desiccant holder cap at the rear end of the main body and a storage sealing cap at the front end. A desiccant chamber is defined between the desiccant holder cap and the inner divider for storing a dehumidifying component. The sealing storage cap is secured to the front end of the main body when the camera cap assembly is not in use. The camera cap assembly is to be attached to a camera rear lens or a camera body, without the storage cap, via bayonet mount and a sealing ring.

Abstract: A dual-purpose camera cap functions as a camera lens protector and a white balance filter. The camera cap includes a camera cap body having a locking mechanism or a flexible member to engage with or fitted over a camera lens housing. The camera cap body also includes a ring-shaped area to be placed in front of a camera lens to partially cover the camera lens. The ring-shaped area defines a center cut-out region. A translucent piece is fitted into the center cut-out area of the camera cap body to protect the camera lens and provide the white balance filtering function.

Abstract: There are disclosed apparatus and methods for replacing a percutaneous cable in connection with a vascular device. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a distal disconnect coupler, a distal connector portion of the cable configured for removable connection with the distal disconnect coupler, and a connector cap configured for removable connection with the distal disconnect coupler and for tunneling through skin and tissue. In one embodiment, a method of repositioning a percutaneous cable in connection with a vascular device includes providing the cable with a distal disconnect coupler, disconnecting the cable at the distal disconnect coupler, attaching a connector cap to the distal disconnect coupler, removing the percutaneous cable from a first exit site, tunneling the connector cap together with the distal disconnect coupler through skin and tissue to form a new exit site, disconnecting the connector cap, and connecting the cable to the distal disconnect coupler.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus and methods for providing a reserve power source for a ventricular assist device. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a primary power source for powering the device, and a controller housing having a reserve battery for powering the device when the primary power source provides inadequate power, and the controller housing configured for use externally of the patient with a percutaneous cable to the device. In another embodiment, a method includes powering the device with a primary power source, monitoring power provided to the device, powering the device when the power is monitored as inadequate to the device with a reserve power source disposed within a controller housing, the device disposed subcutaneously within a patient, the controller housing disposed externally of the patient, and the device and the controller housing connected by a percutaneous cable. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate comprising (i) a dynamically-cured rubber, and (ii) a thermoplastic polymer component, where the thermoplastic polymer component includes (a) a propylene-?-olefin thermoplastic copolymer characterized by including at least 5% by weight up to 35% by weight units deriving from ?-olefins, and having a heat of fusion, as determined by DSC, of less than 80 J/g, (b) and a functionalized thermoplastic polymer.

Abstract: System(s) and method(s) facilitate improved performance for insert/update query requests in a database. A lazy updating based on delaying updates of newly inserted records combined with a master-staging partitioning scheme avoid deterioration of performance arising from updating indexes related to new records inserted in a database. Table partitioning as well as partitioning of indexes associated with the table allow new records to reside in manageable sections of memory for pre-configured periods of times prior to being updated. To avoid deterioration of performance associated with increasing size of table/index partitions, the size is maintained below specific thresholds that can be determined based on query workload and other historical data. Deployment of partitions among file systems and design of update delay times can further increase performance of lazy updating.

Abstract: The present invention provides a universal back box that allows installation of differently sized in-wall or in-ceiling components in a finished wall or ceiling. Such a configuration allows differently-sized speakers and other in-wall or in-ceiling equipment to be easily and accurately positioned at multiple locations between wall or ceiling supports. The present invention also provides a method for mounting of an in-wall or in-ceiling component between two supports using the back box of the present invention. The method generally includes coupling the back box to two wall or ceiling supports, installing drywall over the back box, forming an aperture in the drywall, and removing at least a portion of the filler material to receive the in-wall component therein.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer having adhesion to steels, where the thermoplastic elastomer includes a dynamically crosslinked rubber, from more than 2.0 to 10 parts of a metal oxide or salt, and from 10 to 200 parts by weight of a functionalized polyolefin having pendant polar functional groups, where the polar functional groups are present at a level of 0.5 to 3.5 mole percent of the total repeating units of said functionalized polyolefin and the functionalized polyolefin is derived from polymerizing at least one monoolefin to form a semicrystalline polymer or is derived from hydrogenating the polydiene blocks of a block copolymer, and where the parts by weight are based on 100 parts by weight of crosslinked rubber.

Abstract: System(s) and method(s) facilitate improved performance for insert/update query requests in a database. A lazy updating based on delaying updates of newly inserted records combined with a master-staging partitioning scheme avoid deterioration of performance arising from updating indexes related to new records inserted in a database. Table partitioning as well as partitioning of indexes associated with the table allow new records to reside in manageable sections of memory for pre-configured periods of times prior to being updated. To avoid deterioration of performance associated with increasing size of table/index partitions, the size is maintained below specific thresholds that can be determined based on query workload and other historical data. Deployment of partitions among file systems and design of update delay times can further increase performance of lazy updating.

Abstract: A dual-purpose camera cap functions as a camera lens protector and a white balance filter. The camera cap includes a camera cap body having a locking mechanism or a flexible member to engage with or fitted over a camera lens housing. The camera cap body also includes a ring-shaped area to be placed in front of a camera lens to partially cover the camera lens. The ring-shaped area defines a center cut-out region. A translucent piece is fitted into the center cut-out area of the camera cap body to protect the camera lens and provide the white balance filtering function.

Abstract: Performing parallel comparisons of variables to determine program code execution flow or to compare multiple variables is disclosed. Memory locations are packed with multiple sub-variables for comparison to sub-variables generated, for example, at runtime. Each binary sub-variable includes a “carryout” bit used to determine whether a comparison of one sub-variable with another sub-variable results in a “true” or a “false.” A modified version of twos complement arithmetic is performed on a set of sub-variables. The modified version involves inverting each bit of the sub-variables, performing a masking operation to change the carryout bits to 0, adding a binary 1 to each sub-variable, and performing the masking operation a second time to change the carryout bits to 0. The result of the modified twos complement arithmetic is added to a variable, and the carryout bit of each sub-variable of the resulting variable is evaluated.

Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate comprising (i) a dynamically-cured rubber, and (ii) a thermoplastic polymer component, where the thermoplastic polymer component includes (a) a propylene-?-olefin thermoplastic copolymer characterized by including at least 5% by weight up to 35% by weight units deriving from ?-olefins, and having a heat of fusion, as determined by DSC, of less than 80 J/g, (b) and a functionalized thermoplastic polymer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide installation templates and methods that allow placement of various sized equipment in a finished wall or ceiling. In one embodiment, a method of forming an aperture for mounting of an in-wall component between two supports is provided. The method generally includes coupling a substrate, including an adjustable guide corresponding to the dimensions of the in-wall component, to the two supports, installing drywall over the substrate and the guide, and forming the aperture by removing at least a portion of the drywall installed over the guide.

Abstract: A self-locking collar assembly for a saw blade is provided, in addition to a saw blade per se and a sawing machine characterized by the assembly of the subject invention. The subject assembly preferable and advantageously includes a collar having an inner periphery adapted for receipt upon a spline, with the collar adapted for affixation to a saw blade. A self-locking link is pivotally mounted at an end thereof to a portion of a surface of the collar. The self-locking link includes a spline engaging lobe for axially affixing the saw blade to the spline in furtherance of producing a pre-select dimensional rip of a work piece.

Abstract: An electro-kinetic air conditioner for removing particulates from the air creates an airflow using no moving parts. The conditioner includes an ion generator that has an electrode assembly including a first array of emitter electrodes, a second array of collector electrodes, and a high voltage generator. Preferably, a third or leading or focus electrode is located upstream of the first array of emitter electrodes, and/or a trailing electrode is located downstream of the second array of collector electrodes. The device can also include an interstitial electrode located between collector electrodes, an enhanced collector electrode with an integrally formed trailing end, and an enhanced emitter electrode with an enhanced length in order to increase emissitivity.

Abstract: Wellhead equipment includes a body having a drilling conduit passage, whereby drilling conduit is passed through the body. Polymer sealing elements are disposed within the body and disposed in relation to the passage to seal off well pressure. A circulation passage extends through the body in the vicinity of the polymer sealing elements. The circulation passage has an inlet and an outlet whereby warm fluid is circulated through the circulation passage from the inlet to the outlet thereby raising the temperature of the polymer sealing elements to improve their cold weather performance.