Abstract: The present invention relates to soluble aqueous compositions comprising metal salts of selected polyitaconic acid (PIA) resins.

Abstract: A display device comprising a display screen for electronically displaying an image, said display screen having a textured surface on which a user can write without altering the image is disclosed. A method for creating a display device having a display screen for electronically displaying an image comprising the step of applying a film directly onto said display screen or applying a chemical or mechanical treatment directly onto said display screen to form a textured surface is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to soluble aqueous compositions comprising metal salts of selected polyitaconic acid (PIA) resins.

Abstract: A mass data storage system includes a number of communicatively coupled storage drives powered by one or more power supplies. A common controller selectively connects power and a data signal to a desired storage drive via instructions within a control signal received by the common controller. The common controller includes switches that selectively connect power to a voice coil motor and a spindle motor of the desired storage drive. The common controller further includes a switch that controls the preamp of the desired storage drive and a switch that controls the flow of data to and from the desired storage drive.

Abstract: Methods of forming a shaped article having a matrix that contains sintered fly ash are disclosed that include forming a fly ash dough that includes fly ash and water. In one form a superplasticizer is added in the dough. A green article is formed in a desired shape from the fly ash dough that is subsequently fired so that the shaped article is hardened by sintering its fly ash matrix. In one form, the green article is cured under conditions of moderate heating and high humidity. A building element having a matrix of sintered fly ash is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hardened DVI transmitter includes a differential driver to convert a ground-up DVI signal into a balanced DVI signal. The balanced DVI signal is transmitted to a DVI compliant cable, through one or more transformers. Transformers effectively remove direct current interference from sources such as lightning. A hardened DVI receiver receives the balanced DVI signal, from the DVI compliant cable, through one or more complimentary transformers. The balanced DVI signal is then converted back to a ground-up DVI signal. By this method, DVI compliant signals may be sent through DVI cables longer than ten meters, and survive interference from lightning.

Abstract: The present invention relates to soluble aqueous compositions comprising metal salts of selected polyitaconic acid (PIA) resins.

Abstract: A smoke detector comprising an enclosure communicating with an external environment, within the enclosure a light source illuminating a detection volume in a first wavelength band and a light-sensor responding to light from the sensing volume in a second wavelength band. The detector is configured to sense photo-luminescent fire products, particularly polyaromatic compounds, and actuate an alarm when signal levels indicate a dangerous/fire condition is present. The photo-luminescence detector may be combined with optical scatter or other fire detectors to improve discrimination between fires and false alarm sources.

Abstract: In-line metalizer assemblies can include an external rotating actuator exchange that can be operable to exchange one or more parts between a conveyor system and a vacuum chamber, and an internal rotating actuator exchange within the vacuum chamber that can be operable to receive the one or more parts from the external rotating actuator exchange, transition the one or more parts to a sputter coater integrated with the vacuum chamber for metallizing, and return metalized one or more parts to the external rotating actuator exchange such that the external rotating actuator exchange can return the metalized one or more parts to the conveyor system.

Abstract: A method of carrying out an amplification reaction, said method comprising supplying to a well in a disposable unit (a) a sample which contains or is suspected of containing a target nucleic acid sequence (b) primers, nucleotides and enzymes required to effect said amplification reaction and (c) a buffer system, and subjecting the unit to thermal cycling conditions such that any target nucleic acid present within the sample is amplified; wherein the disposable unit comprises a thermally conducting layer and a facing layer having one or more reagent wells of up to 1000 microns in depth defined therebetween; and the reaction mixture comprises at least one of the following: A) a buffer system wherein the pH is above 8.3; B) a detergent; and/or C) a blocking agent. Apparatus for effecting the method as well as disposable units for use in the method are described. The method is particularly suitable for rapid PCR reactions.

Abstract: The present specification discloses methods for inspecting an object. The method includes scanning an object in a two-step process. In the primary scan, a truck or cargo container (container) is completely scanned with a fan beam radiation, the transmitted radiation is measured with an array of detectors, and the transmission information and optionally the fission signatures are analyzed to determine the presence of high-density, high-Z and fissionable materials. If the container alarms in one or more areas, the areas are subjected to a secondary scan. This is done by precisely repositioning the container to the location of the suspect areas, adjusting the scanning system to focus on the suspect areas, performing a stationary irradiation of the areas, and analyzing the measured feature signatures to clear or confirm the presence of SNM.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and polymers based upon vinyl type monomers that contain pendant carboxylic acid groups that may be employed for retanning of leather sourced from animal skins or synthetic leather.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pyrolytic destruction of polymer products including whole vehicle vulcanised rubber tires is disclosed. The apparatus 111 has a reaction chamber 153 into which a tire can be placed, and immersed for pyrolytic decomposition in a molten alloy of zinc with a minor proportion of aluminium. The apparatus 111 has a heated reservoir 155 in which the alloy is maintained in a molten state, and from where it can be transferred to the reaction chamber 153 to immerse the tire. Fluid hydrocarbon byproducts are drawn off for condensation and recovery, and solid zinc sulphides are also recovered. Where steel belted tires are processed, carbon and steel residues are also recovered.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for recovering a vinyl acid monomer by providing an aqueous fermentation broth which undergoes microbial fermentation of a nutrient medium containing a carbon source including at least one microorganism to produce a vinyl acid monomer. The method provides a direct overall route to bio-based polymers of the vinyl acid monomer, and in particular, polymers of polyitaconic acid.

Abstract: A trap device includes means for separating a liquid compound from a waste stream exhaust from a process chamber, means for collecting the liquid compound separated from the waste stream, means for selectively isolating the collected liquid compound from the waste stream, and means for evaporating the collected liquid compound to return the compound in gaseous form to the waste stream. This can enable a volatile liquid to be collected at a defined location, isolated from the waste stream, and, when so desired, returned to the waste stream in the form of a gas for subsequent abatement.

Abstract: A method of making a pair of spectacle lenses which may reduce induced binocular vision distortions where wearer and frame metrics and a lens class are inputted into a computer program, and the computer program determines the left and right lens front curve radius in which there is a substantially linear relationship between the rate of change of lateral vergence and degree of ocular rotation and then adjusts the left and right lens front curve radius and the left and right lens center thickness such that the lateral inter-ocular static magnification target value is between about ?3% and about +3% in the lateral plane and the stimulus to near vergence is within the wearer's vergence limits. The computer program then determines a left and right lens index of refraction and a left and right lens material and the generated lens parameters are then used to machine the spectacle lenses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of selecting animals that are genetically resistant to one or more intestinal parasite infections by testing mucus samples for the presence of an antibody against one or more of said intestinal parasites and segregation and selecting the animals that test positive. The animals that test negative are less parasite resistant and can be subjected to parasite management regimes.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method, using pure niobium as a transient liquid reactive braze material, for fabrication of cellular or honeycomb structures, wire space-frames or other sparse builtup structures or discrete articles using Nitinol (near-equiatomic titanium-nickel alloy) and related shape-memory and superelastic alloys. Nitinol shape memory alloys (SMAs), acquired in a form such as corrugated sheet, discrete tubes or wires, may be joined together using the newly discovered joining technique. Pure niobium when brought into contact with nitinol at elevated temperature, liquefies at temperatures below the melting point and flows readily into capillary spaces between the elements to be joined, thus forming a strong joint.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and polymers based upon vinyl type monomers that contain pendant carboxylic acid groups and ester group functionality. The polymerization methods include regulation of heat flow such that parameters of monomer conversion, acid functionality, molecular weight, tacticity and/or copolymer composition may be adjusted to selected levels for a selected application.

Abstract: A method of making a pair of spectacle lenses which may reduce induced binocular vision distortions where wearer and frame metrics and a lens class are inputted into a computer program, and the computer program determines the left and right lens front curve radius in which there is a substantially linear relationship between the rate of change of lateral vergence and degree of ocular rotation and then adjusts the left and right lens front curve radius and the left and right lens centre thickness such that the lateral inter-ocular static magnification target value is between about ?3% and about +3% in the lateral plane and the stimulus to near vergence is within the wearer's vergence limits. The computer program then determines a left and right lens index of refraction and a left and right lens material and the generated lens parameters are then used to machine the spectacle lenses.