Abstract: A teat (10) for an infant feeding bottle (1), including a resilient wall (12) defining a central nipple (14a) and an areola (14b) that extend around a central axis (L), said teat being elastically transformable between a distended state in which the nipple defines a global maximum (38) and at least one depressed state that is accessible from the distended state by forcing the nipple at least partially into the areola along the central axis, and in which said wall (12) additionally defines an annular double fold (32) that defines an outer local maximum (34) and an inner local minimum (36), both extending circumferentially around the global maximum, wherein the wall defines a circumferential fold region (30) that, in said at least one depressed state, ranges from the local maximum to the local minimum of the double fold, and wherein said fold region has a rotationally asymmetric stiffness distribution.

Abstract: Providing clean water to a population is essential to maintain human life. Short and long-term issues may prevent a population from obtaining potable water. Transporting bulk water or prepackaged water (e.g., jugs, bottles, etc.) is an expensive and resource-intensive proposition. The population may be forced to utilize unsafe containers, further exacerbating the already adverse conditions. By providing empty, biodegradable bottles to a location which are then filled on-site from a potable or treated non-potable water source provides greater flexibility, resource savings, and safety. Additionally, the biodegradable bottles reduce the opportunity for the adverse effects experienced by non-degradable bottles which are often abandoned.

Abstract: To provide an infant drinking device with a more reliable aerator, the infant drinking device comprises a teat, a reservoir for holding a liquid, a connector for detachably connecting the reservoir to the teat, and an aerator. The aerator (e.g., a duckbill valve) includes a deformable opening (e.g., a slit) whereby internal/external pressure differential during use of the device is reduced in an open position of the opening by allowing air to enter through the opening into the reservoir and such that leakage of fluid from an inside of the drinking device to an outside of the drinking device is hindered in a closed position of the opening. During assembly of the teat, connector and reservoir, a minimally defined deformation of the opening of the aerator is enforced by at least one of a geometrical property and a material property of the teat or the connector.

Abstract: A teat (10) for an infant feeding bottle (1), including a resilient wall (12) defining a central nipple (14a) and an areola (14b) that extend around a central axis (L), said teat being elastically transformable between a distended state in which the nipple defines a global maximum (38) and at least one depressed state that is accessible from the distended state by forcing the nipple at least partially into the areola along the central axis, and in which said wall (12) additionally defines an annular double fold (32) that defines an outer local maximum (34) and an inner local minimum (36), both extending circumferentially around the global maximum, wherein the wall defines a circumferential fold region (30) that, in said at least one depressed state, ranges from the local maximum to the local minimum of the double fold, and wherein said fold region has a rotationally asymmetric stiffness distribution.

Abstract: To provide a drinking device with a more reliable aerator the invention relates to an infant drinking device (1), comprising a teat (10),a reservoir(60) for holding a liquid, the reservoir (60) being detachably connected to the teat (10) by a connector (50) of the infant drinking device (1), and an aerator (31), such as a duckbill valve, the aerator thereto comprising a deformable opening, for example a slit, such that an internal/external pressure differential during use of the device (1) is reduced in an open position of the opening (35)by allowing air to enter through the opening (35) into the reservoir (60) and such that leakage of fluid from an inside of the drinking device (1) to an outside of the drinking device (1) is hindered in a closed position of the opening (35), wherein the aerator (31) is included in the connector (50) or the teat (10), wherein during assembly of the teat (10), connector (50) and reservoir (60), a minimally defined deformation of the opening (35) of the aerator (31) is enforced

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing recovery data for program code. A first version of an object code module is received. A second version of the object code module is received, the second version being a subsequent version to the first version. A unique identifier is inserted in the second version, wherein the unique identifier indicates a location of recovery data. First difference data representing a difference between the second version and the first version is calculated. The first difference data is stored as the recovery data. The first difference data is stored within the second version of the object code module at the location. The unique identifier indicates a location of the recovery data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and gaseous composition for the in situ bioremediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with organic compounds, including halogenated hydrocarbons. The gaseous composition, which readily permeates a subsurface region, comprises hydrogen (H2) and one or more volatile phosphates, such as triethylphosphate (TEP) and tributylphosphate (TBP). The volatile phosphates serve as nutrients that stimulate the growth and activity of indigenous microbes that are capable of degrading the contaminants. The addition of hydrogen facilitates the direct reductive dehalogenation of highly halogenated contaminants. The gaseous composition may optionally contain one or more of a volatile alkane and nitrous oxide as additional supports for microbial growth, and carbon dioxide to lower the pH of remediation sites that are highly alkaline.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a gaseous composition for bioremediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with organic compounds, including halogenated organic compounds and explosives. The gaseous composition contains (a) at least one gaseous microbial metabolic inducer and (b) a carrier gas. The gaseous composition may also optionally include one or more of a gas phase nutrient, a gaseous carbon source, a gas phase reductant, and a moisture source.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing recovery data for program code. A first version of an object code module is received. A second version of the object code module is received, the second version being a subsequent version to the first version. A unique identifier is inserted in the second version, wherein the unique identifier indicates a location of recovery data. First difference data representing a difference between the second version and the first version is calculated. The first difference data is stored as the recovery data. The first difference data is stored within the second version of the object code module at the location. The unique identifier indicates a location of the recovery data.

Abstract: A hammock/hanging bed with a web stretched across a typically round support frame and supported via tension member lines/rods/material to one or more overhead points. The device is extremely stable and has excellent strength to weight ratio. The web can be drawn taut, without compromising stability or strength, providing the user with an effectively flat, comfortable area to sleep or relax. The invention allows freedom of motion, has aesthetic appeal (and thereby marketing value), is safer than prior art, and is suitable for either a single user or more than one person at a time. Means for disassembly of the hammock/bed into components via connectors such as hinges and/or joints are also comprised by the invention.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for lowering and raising a person onto and up from a seated position particularly in conjunction with a commercial or residential commode. The apparatus is suitable as an attachable adaptation to existing commercial or residential commodes. The apparatus is attached directly to such a standard commode by using a pair of studs disposed to fit into holes through the commode that are used to attach commode seats. These studs are securely attached to the commode. Air pressure delivered from a remote source extends hydraulic cylinders in a manner to provide a user with the ability to be raised to a comfortable dismount position from a seat or to be reclined to a comfortable seated position on a commode. The individual will be moved down or up to a comfortable semi-standing position because a commode seat attached to the apparatus is disposed to be at an angled position to facilitate a user mounting or dismounting the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a gaseous composition for bioremediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with organic compounds, including halogenated organic compounds and explosives. The gaseous composition contains (a) at least one gaseous microbial metabolic inducer and (b) a carrier gas. The gaseous composition may also optionally include one or more of a gas phase nutrient, a gaseous carbon source, a gas phase reductant, and a moisture source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and gaseous composition for the in situ bioremediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with organic compounds, including halogenated hydrocarbons. The gaseous composition, which readily permeates a subsurface region, comprises hydrogen (H2) and one or more volatile phosphates, such as triethylphosphate (TEP) and tributylphosphate (TBP). The volatile phosphates serve as nutrients that stimulate the growth and activity of indigenous microbes that are capable of degrading the contaminants. The addition of hydrogen facilitates the direct reductive dehalogenation of highly halogenated contaminants. The gaseous composition may optionally contain one or more of a volatile alkane and nitrous oxide as additional supports for microbial growth, and carbon dioxide to lower the pH of remediation sites that are highly alkaline.

Abstract: A hammock/hanging bed with a web stretched across a typically round support frame and supported via tension member lines/rods/material to one or more overhead points. The device is extremely stable and has excellent strength to weight ratio. The web can be drawn taut, without compromising stability or strength, providing the user with an effectively flat, comfortable area to sleep or relax. The invention allows freedom of motion, has aesthetic appeal (and thereby marketing value), is safer than prior art, and is suitable for either a single user or more than one person at a time. Means for disassembly of the hammock/bed into components via connectors such as hinges and/or joints are also comprised by the invention.

Abstract: A phosphate bath control system and method is provided that tracks the set points of one or more of the major process variables of the phosphate bath independently of variations in the production conditions. A detector determines the current values of Zinc, Manganese and Total Acid provides data to a controller which exponentially filters the data and processes the filtered data in accordance with fuzzy logic rules. The controller periodically updates the flow rate of one or more pumps that control the flow of liquid concentrates to the bath in order to maintain a desired concentration of the various constituents of the bath. Control of an accelerator is provided by incorporating in the controller an additional algorithm for indirect estimation of the accelerator concentration based on a math model which represents the material balance of the accelerator in the bath.

Abstract: A method for increasing the resistance to alkaline dissolution of a phosphate conversion coating on a corrodible metal surface by an improved zinc phosphate conversion coating together with articles coated by this method are disclosed. The substrate is exposed to the phosphating solution by spraying or immersion to chemically effect a reaction with the substrate. First divalent metal cations are selected from magnesium and transition metals having a hydroxide with lower solubility in alkaline solution than zinc hydroxide. The other source of necessary metal cations is zinc and its cations are herein termed second divalent metal cations. In the preferred embodiment, the first divalent metal cations comprise aobut 84 to about 94 mole percent of the total first and second divalent metal cations in the bath.

Abstract: A method for increasing the resistance to alkaline dissolution of a phosphate conversion coating on a corrodible metal surface by an improved zinc phosphate conversion coating together with articles coated by this method are disclosed. The substrate is exposed to the phosphating solution by spraying or immersion to chemically effect a reaction with the substrate. First divalent metal cations are selected from magnesium and transition metals having a hydroxide with lower solubility in alkaline solution than zinc hydroxide. The other source of necessary metal cations is zinc and its cations are herein termed second divalent metal cations. In the preferred embodiment, the first divalent metal cations comprise about 84 to about 94 mole percent of the total first and second divalent metal cations in the bath.

Abstract: A method for increasing the resistance to alkaline dissolution of a phosphate conversion coating on a corrodible metal surface by an improved zinc phosphate conversion coating together with articles coated by this method are disclosed. The substrate is exposed to the phosphating solution by spraying or immersion to chemically effect a reaction with the substrate. First divalent metal cations are selected from magnesium and transition metals having a hydroxide with lower solubility in alkaline solution than zinc hydroxide. The other source of necessary metal cations is zinc and its cations are herein termed second divalent metal cations. In the preferred embodiment, the first divalent metal cations comprise about 84 to about 94 mole percent of the total first and second divalent metal cations in the bath.

Abstract: A zinc phosphate coating bath and its application to metal is disclosed characterized in that the bath contains 80 to 94, preferably 84 to 94, mole percent nickel cations, 0.5 to 10 mole percent manganese cations and 5.5 to 19.5 mole percent zinc cations together with solubilizing amounts of phosphate ions or phosphate ions in combination with ions of acids other than phosphoric acid.