Abstract: A multi-channel model train sound reproduction system, in which digital sound files are assigned to a particular channel. The channel assignment may be fixed or variable depending on operation state. For the variable embodiments, channel assignment is preferably done in real time according to the configuration that will produce the highest quality sound reproduction.

Abstract: Ionic and ionogenic comb copolymers are disclosed along with personal care products that employ them as a modifier that results in increased sensory attributes and increased effectiveness in the deposition of actives and can also act as a thickening agent. The copolymer includes one or more repeating units derived from olefinically unsaturated anionic or anionogenic or zwitterionic comonomers, and one or more repeating units having the formula in which Y is a moiety forming part of a copolymer backbone, Z is a moiety that exhibits association with other Z moieties or with other moieties within the ultimate formulation in which the copolymer will be employed, and b is a bond or moiety that links the Z moiety to the Y moiety. In certain embodiments, the copolymer also includes repeating units derived from acrylamide monomers, olefinically unsaturated hydrophilic monomers or other olefinically unsaturated monomers.

Abstract: Cationic and cationogenic comb copolymers are disclosed along with personal care products that employ them as a modifier that results in increased sensory attributes and increased effectiveness in the deposition of actives and can also act as a thickening agent. The copolymer includes one or more repeating units derived from olefinically unsaturated cationic or cationogenic comonomers and one or more repeating units having the formula in which Y is a moiety forming part of a copolymer backbone, Z is a moiety that exhibits association with other Z moieties or with other moieties within the ultimate formulation in which the copolymer will be employed, and b is a bond or moiety that links the Z moiety to the Y moiety. In certain embodiments, the copolymer also includes repeating units derived from acrylamide monomers, olefinically unsaturated hydrophilic monomers or other olefinically unsaturated monomers.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to compositions comprising at least one of Active Compounds and Botanical Powders and a Delivery System, wherein at least a portion of the Botanical Powders are encapsulated in the Delivery System. Furthermore the present disclosure relates to a method for preparing compositions with reduced sedimentation of the Botanical Powders, and a Delivery System, wherein at least a portion of the Botanical Powders are encapsulated in the Delivery System. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to compositions with reduced sedimentation comprising Botanical Powders, and a delivery system, wherein at least a portion of the Botanical Powders are encapsulated in the delivery system, for use in Cosmetics.

Abstract: A multi-purpose hitch tool includes a removal device that is coupled with a first end of an elongated handle. The removal device is configured to remove a cotter pin from a hitch pin or to strike the hitch pin out of engagement with a hitch receiver. A brush assembly is coupled with a second end of the elongated handle and is configured to remove debris from an interior cavity of the hitch receiver. The brush assembly includes a first bristle array that is configured to scrape the debris from the interior cavity. A second bristle array is disposed over an opposite lateral side of the elongated handle from the first bristle array. The second bristle array is less rigid than the first bristle array and is configured to bend against an interior surface within the interior cavity to bias the first bristle array against an opposite interior surface.

Abstract: A polymeric composition is disclosed for use in personal care products. The composition is, at room temperature, a solid solution of a long-chain alcohol having ten to fifty carbon atoms and a polyalkyl[meth]acrylate polymer having some alkyl side chains pendant the ester group having ten to thirty carbon atoms and other alkyl side chains pendant the ester group having one to eight carbon atoms. The polymer can be formed by a transesterification reaction of a polyalkyl[meth]acrylate and the long chain alcohol in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: A multi-purpose hitch tool includes a removal device that is coupled with a first end of an elongated handle. The removal device is configured to remove a cotter pin from a hitch pin or to strike the hitch pin out of engagement with a hitch receiver. A brush assembly is coupled with a second end of the elongated handle and is configured to remove debris from an interior cavity of the hitch receiver. The brush assembly includes a first bristle array that is configured to scrape the debris from the interior cavity. A second bristle array is disposed over an opposite lateral side of the elongated handle from the first bristle array. The second bristle array is less rigid than the first bristle array and is configured to bend against an interior surface within the interior cavity to bias the first bristle array against an opposite interior surface.

Abstract: Ionic and ionogenic comb copolymers are disclosed along with personal care products that employ them as a modifier that results in increased sensory attributes and increased effectiveness in the deposition of actives and can also act as a thickening agent. The copolymer includes one or more repeating units derived from olefinically unsaturated anionic or anionogenic or zwitterionic comonomers, and one or more repeating units having the formula in which Y is a moiety forming part of a copolymer backbone, Z is a moiety that exhibits association with other Z moieties or with other moieties within the ultimate formulation in which the copolymer will be employed, and b is a bond or moiety that links the Z moiety to the Y moiety. In certain embodiments, the copolymer also includes repeating units derived from acrylamide monomers, olefinically unsaturated hydrophilic monomers or other olefinically unsaturated monomers.

Abstract: A biodegradable amphoteric surfactant is disclosed. The surfactant, has excellent coupling efficiency, low to moderate foam, and good detergency. Amphoteric surfactants based on linear alkyl radicals or predominately linear alkyl radicals (R) of 6 to 11 carbons, and mixtures thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: Cationic and cationogenic comb copolymers are disclosed along with personal care products that employ them as a modifier that results in increased sensory attributes and increased effectiveness in the deposition of actives and can also act as a thickening agent. The copolymer includes one or more repeating units derived from olefinically unsaturated cationic or cationogenic comonomers and one or more repeating units having the formula in which Y is a moiety forming part of a copolymer backbone, Z is a moiety that exhibits association with other Z moieties or with other moieties within the ultimate formulation in which the copolymer will be employed, and b is a bond or moiety that links the Z moiety to the Y moiety. In certain embodiments, the copolymer also includes repeating units derived from acrylamide monomers, olefinically unsaturated hydrophilic monomers or other olefinically unsaturated monomers.

Abstract: The invention provides in one aspect methods and apparatus for use with C-arm and other CT systems, e.g., with non-rigid geometries. In such systems, by way of example, calibration can be performed to determine the exact position of the x-ray source and the exact orientation of the detector where each projection measurement is made. Next, a weighting coefficient can be determined for the voxels in each plane of a reconstruction volume at every possible projection. Finally, the order in which to process the voxels during image reconstruction can be determined. Following an actual CT scan procedure in which scans are obtained of a volume to be constructed, a system according to these and related aspects of the invention can use an optimal, pre-calculated processing method, while utilizing offsets and weighting coefficients determined during calibration, for performing backprojection image reconstruction.

Abstract: A polymeric composition is disclosed for use in personal care products. The composition is, at room temperature, a solid solution of a long-chain alcohol having ten to fifty carbon atoms and a polyalkyl[meth]acrylate polymer having some alkyl side chains pendant the ester group having ten to thirty carbon atoms and other alkyl side chains pendant the ester group having one to eight carbon atoms. The polymer can be formed by a transesterification reaction of a polyalkyl[meth]acrylate and the long chain alcohol in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: The invention provides in one aspect methods and apparatus for use with C-arm and other CT systems, e.g., with non-rigid geometries. In such systems, by way of example, calibration can be performed to determine the exact position of the x-ray source and the exact orientation of the detector where each projection measurement is made. Next, a weighting coefficient can be determined for the voxels in each plane of a reconstruction volume at every possible projection. Finally, the order in which to process the voxels during image reconstruction can be determined. Following an actual CT scan procedure in which scans are obtained of a volume to be constructed, a system according to these and related aspects of the invention can use an optimal, pre-calculated processing method, while utilizing offsets and weighting coefficients determined during calibration, for performing backprojection image reconstruction.

Abstract: The invention provides in one aspect methods and apparatus for use with C-arm and other CT systems, e.g., with non-rigid geometries. In such systems, by way of example, calibration can be performed to determine the exact position of the x-ray source and the exact orientation of the detector where each projection measurement is made. Next, a weighting coefficient can be determined for the voxels in each plane of a reconstruction volume at every possible projection. Finally, the order in which to process the voxels during image reconstruction can be determined. Following an actual CT scan procedure in which scans are obtained of a volume to be constructed, a system according to these and related aspects of the invention can use an optimal, pre-calculated processing method, while utilizing offsets and weighting coefficients determined during calibration, for performing backprojection image reconstruction.

Abstract: N,N-Dialkylpolyhydroxyalkylamines may be made by the reductive alkylation of an N-alkylpolyhydroxyalkylamine with an aldehyde or ketone, or with an equivalent compound, in the presence of a transition metal catalyst and hydrogen. The reaction is performed in a reaction solvent that contains at least 30 wt % of an organic solvent. The use of a sufficiently high proportion of an appropriate organic solvent in the reaction mixture reduces the amount of water present in the reaction mixture, and provides rapid reaction rates and high yields of the desired product. The N,N-dialkylpolyhydroxyalkylamines may be used in a wide variety of applications.

Abstract: Certain substituted amines, alkylenediamines or polyamines, and derivatives of these, are suitable for use in preventing, inhibiting, or otherwise modifying crystalline gas hydrate formation. These inhibitors include compounds from any of the following groups. The substituents R1-R5 may be hydrocarbyl groups or, in some cases, polyhydroxyalkyl groups or (CH2)p—COO? in which p is either 1 or 2.

Abstract: The invention provides improvements in reconstructive imaging of the type in which a volume is reconstructed from a series of measured projection images (or other two-dimensional representations) generated by projection of a point x-ray source (or other radiation source), positioned at a distinct focus, through the volume to a plane at which the respective projection image is acquired (“detector plane”). In one aspect, the improvements are with respect to back-projecting a two-dimensional representation lying in the detector plane (representing, for example, a difference between an originally-acquired measured projection image and a subsequently-generated estimate thereof) to generate three-dimensional representation (which can be used, for example, to update an estimate of the volume).

Abstract: The invention provides improvements in reconstructive imaging of the type in which a volume is reconstructed from a series of measured projection images (or other two-dimensional representations) generated by projection of a point x-ray source (or other radiation source), positioned at a distinct focus, through the volume to a plane at which the respective projection image is acquired (“detector plane”). In one aspect, the improvements are with respect to back-projecting a two-dimensional representation lying in the detector plane (representing, for example, a difference between an originally-acquired measured projection image and a subsequently-generated estimate thereof) to generate three-dimensional representation (which can be used, for example, to update an estimate of the volume).