Abstract: A virtual payments environment can be used to simulate and test performance of a payments system. A plurality of characteristics and settings can be used to generate and/or determine one or more scenarios associated with a payments environment. The one or more scenarios associated with the payments environment can comprise a plurality of activity engines that simulate real-word components of a payments environment. Payment information can be introduced to the one or more scenarios and activity engines can be used to test and/or verify the integrity of the payment information as it traverses a transactional path through the payments environment. Performance data associated with the payment information can be accessed and review in order to determine a number or successes and/or failures associated with processing the payment information as it transverses the payments environment.

Abstract: A virtual payments environment can be used to simulate and test performance of a payments system. A plurality of characteristics and settings can be used to generate and/or determine one or more scenarios associated with a payments environment. The one or more scenarios associated with the payments environment can comprise a plurality of activity engines that simulate real-word components of a payments environment. Payment information can be introduced to the one or more scenarios and activity engines can be used to test and/or verify the integrity of the payment information as it traverses a transactional path through the payments environment. Performance data associated with the payment information can be accessed and review in order to determine a number or successes and/or failures associated with processing the payment information as it transverses the payments environment.

Abstract: A composition comprising about 97 mole percent or greater of one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1-ethylenes and about 3 mole percent or less of one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-methanes. A process comprising: contacting in a fluid state one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1,1 hydroxymethyl-methanes and greater than 200 ppm to about 1000 ppm of one or more strong acids based on the weight of the one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1,1 hydroxymethyl-methanes with a zeolite catalyst at a temperature of about 180° C. to about 220° C. for a sufficient time to convert about 96 percent or greater of the one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1,1 hydroxymethyl-methanes to one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1-ethylenes.

Abstract: A composition comprising about 97 mole percent or greater of one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1-ethylenes and about 3 mole percent or less of one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-methanes. A process comprising: contacting in a fluid state one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1,1 hydroxymethyl-methanes and greater than 200 ppm to about 1000 ppm of one or more strong acids based on the weight of the one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1,1 hydroxymethyl-methanes with a zeolite catalyst at a temperature of about 180° C. to about 220° C. for a sufficient time to convert about 96 percent or greater of the one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1,1 hydroxymethyl-methanes to one or more 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1-ethylenes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ionic compositions for enhancing wound healing, particularly in the sinonasal cavity. The ionic components of the composition can include potassium, calcium, rubidium, zinc, bromide, and magnesium in an isotonic solution. In other embodiments, the ionic components of the composition can include magnesium, bromide, sulfate, sodium, and chloride. Methods of enhancing wound healing, enhancing sinonasal mucosal healing, promoting mucosal reciliation, and debriding tissue by administering the compositions of the present invention are also presented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ionic compositions for enhancing wound healing, particularly in the sinonasal cavity. The ionic components of the composition can include potassium, calcium, rubidium, zinc, bromide, and magnesium in an isotonic solution. In other embodiments, the ionic components of the composition can include magnesium, bromide, sulfate, sodium, and chloride. Methods of enhancing wound healing, enhancing sinonasal mucosal healing, promoting mucosal reciliation, and debriding tissue by administering the compositions of the present invention are also presented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ionic compositions for enhancing wound healing, particularly in the sinonasal cavity. The ionic components of the composition can include potassium, calcium, rubidium, zinc, bromide, and magnesium in an isotonic solution. In other embodiments, the ionic components of the composition can include magnesium, bromide, sulfate, sodium, and chloride. Methods of enhancing wound healing, enhancing sinonasal mucosal healing, promoting mucosal reciliation, and debriding tissue by administering the compositions of the present invention are also presented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ionic compositions for enhancing wound healing, particularly in the sinonasal cavity. The ionic components of the composition can include potassium, calcium, rubidium, zinc, bromide, and magnesium in an isotonic solution. In other embodiments, the ionic components of the composition can include magnesium, bromide, sulfate, sodium, and chloride. Methods of enhancing wound healing, enhancing sinonasal mucosal healing, promoting mucosal reciliation, and debriding tissue by administering the compositions of the present invention are also presented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ionic compositions for promoting mucosal reciliation, particularly in the sinonasal cavity. The ionic components of the composition can include potassium, calcium, rubidium, zinc, bromide, and magnesium in an isotonic solution. In other embodiments, the ionic components of the composition can include magnesium, bromide, sulfate, sodium, and chloride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ionic compositions for debriding a tissue, particularly in the sinonasal cavity. The ionic components of the composition can include potassium, calcium, rubidium, zinc, bromide, and magnesium in an isotonic solution. In other embodiments, the ionic components of the composition can include magnesium, bromide, sulfate, sodium, and chloride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ionic compositions for promoting mucosal reciliation, particularly in the sinonasal cavity. The ionic components of the composition can include potassium, calcium, rubidium, zinc, bromide, and magnesium in an isotonic solution. In other embodiments, the ionic components of the composition can include magnesium, bromide, sulfate, sodium, and chloride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ionic compositions for debriding a tissue, particularly in the sinonasal cavity. The ionic components of the composition can include potassium, calcium, rubidium, zinc, bromide, and magnesium in an isotonic solution. In other embodiments, the ionic components of the composition can include magnesium, bromide, sulfate, sodium, and chloride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ionic compositions for enhancing wound healing, particularly in the sinonasal cavity. The ionic components of the composition can include potassium, calcium, rubidium, zinc, bromide, and magnesium in an isotonic solution. In other embodiments, the ionic components of the composition can include magnesium, bromide, sulfate, sodium, and chloride. Methods of enhancing wound healing, enhancing sinonasal mucosal healing, promoting mucosal reciliation, and debriding tissue by administering the compositions of the present invention are also presented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ionic compositions for enhancing wound healing, particularly in the sinonasal cavity. The ionic components of the composition can include potassium, calcium, rubidium, zinc, bromide, and magnesium in an isotonic solution. In other embodiments, the ionic components of the composition can include magnesium, bromide, sulfate, sodium, and chloride. Methods of enhancing wound healing, enhancing sinonasal mucosal healing, promoting mucosal reciliation, and debriding tissue by administering the compositions of the present invention are also presented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ionic compositions for enhancing wound healing, particularly in the sinonasal cavity. The ionic components of the composition can include potassium, calcium, rubidium, zinc, bromide, and magnesium in an isotonic solution. In other embodiments, the ionic components of the composition can include magnesium, bromide, sulfate, sodium, and chloride. Methods of enhancing wound healing, enhancing sinonasal mucosal healing, promoting mucosal reciliation, and debriding tissue by administering the compositions of the present invention are also presented.

Abstract: A method for removing mercury from a fluid stream includes the steps of providing a porous composite material comprising a substrate and a plurality of catalyst and/or photocatalyst particles, and contacting substrate with a fluid stream. The porous composite material adsorbs and/or then oxidizes or reduces metallic species including elemental mercury. A fossil fuel fired power plant can include an emission control device comprising the porous composite material to filter flue gas emissions into the environment.

Abstract: An electroless method of forming high aspect ratio metal particles includes the steps of mixing a metal or metal salt with at least one acid to form an acidified metal halide salt solution, and mixing the solution with a supersaturated sol to form a sol comprising solution. Metal cations provided by the acidified metal salt are reduced to form a plurality of high aspect ratio metal particles. Instead of using a sol, an organic compound can be oxidized to generate the reducing agent. A metal comprising particle assembly includes a plurality of high aspect ratio metal platelets having an aspect ratio of a major dimension averaging from 10 to 200 times a nanoscale minor dimension of the platelet. The platelets can be used for nail polish, eye liner or the cores for medical delivery vehicles.