Abstract: The present invention relates to strategies by which one or more phenolic resins are provided in aqueous phenolic dispersions in a manner so that the resultant aqueous phenolic dispersions are more easily combined with water-based latex compositions. The principles of the present invention make it much easier to formulate water-based latex compositions in which substantial phenolic resin content can be stably dispersed for long periods of time. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of making a coating composition, comprising a) providing an inverted aqueous dispersion comprising i) at least one polymer having one or more polar, hydrophilic groups; and ii) at least one phenolic resin; b) providing a latex composition; and c) blending the latex composition with the aqueous dispersion to form the coating composition.

Abstract: In some embodiments, one or more processors receive a financial instrument via an interface. The financial instrument indicates attributes of a financial transaction. The processors determine, based on one or more of the attributes, whether the financial transaction involves a cross border exchange. If the financial transaction involves a cross border exchange, the processors flag the financial instrument accordingly, perform a currency conversion, and communicate an electronic image associated with the financial instrument to computing resources configured to complete the financial transaction electronically without having to transport a paper copy of the financial instrument between financial institutions.

Abstract: The invention reduces the potential for catalyst fluidization in a reduction vessel of a continuous catalyst regeneration system. The gas exit area from the catalyst reduction zone is increased by ventilating the cylindrical baffle of the upper reduction zone. This provides an increased exit cross-sectional area for the upper reduction gas to escape and reduce the overall exit velocity of the combined upper and lower reduction gases and reduces the potential for catalyst fluidization.

Abstract: The present invention provides the use of recombinant plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) isoform 23 in methods of increasing plasmin activity, inhibiting angiogenic vasa vasorum, promoting plaque regression and treating atherosclerosis by administering to a subject in need of treatment an effective amount of recombinant plasminogen activator inhibitor type isoform 23 (rPAI-123). In some embodiments, rPAI-123 is set forth in SEQ ID NOs:5-8. In other embodiments, rPAI-123 is administered at a dose in the range of approximately 2.5 ?g/kg/day to 20 ?g/kg/day. In further embodiments, the effective amount achieves a ratio of rPAI-123 to PAI-1 is in the range of approximately 1:2 to 3:1.

Abstract: A method for reducing cellular senescence in a subject, in particular a subject exposed to or at risk of being exposed to a DNA damaging agents, e.g., radiation, by inhibiting PAI-1 activity in the subject with a truncated PAI-1 agent, rPAI-123.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for providing restricted access to confidential services without impacting the security of a network. The method includes using a gateway to isolate one or more components providing confidential services from one or more other portions of an enterprise network. A first communication directed to a selected one of the one or more components may be received at the gateway. A determination may be made as to whether the first communication is user traffic or management traffic. The first communication may then be authenticated. If the first communication is user traffic, the first communication is forwarded to a component providing the confidential services. If the first communication is management traffic, the first communication is encrypted and forwarded to a component providing the confidential services. Additionally, components of the sub-network may be monitored to identify malicious changes.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for cognitive state supported automotive travel are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A detection is made that an event in a vehicle is outside of acceptable bounds for that event. A determination is made whether the event being outside of acceptable bounds is a result of a cognitive state of a person operating the vehicle. Responsive to the event being a result of the cognitive state of the person, an indication of the cognitive state of the person being below a threshold level of cognitive abilities is generated. An action corresponding to the cognitive state is performed. The action causes the vehicle to operate with improved safety.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides injectable compositions that comprise a suitable hydrophilic polymer (e.g., a suitable polysaccharide) and water, as well as other optional components. In various embodiments, the composition may be provided in a suitable container, for example, in a pre-loaded syringe. In another aspect, methods of performing medical procedures in a tract of a body are provided. In yet another aspect, the invention provides systems for performing medical procedures in a tract of a body.

Abstract: The cMethDNA method of the present invention is a novel modification of the QM-MSP method (U.S. Pat. No. 8,062,849), specifically intended to quantitatively detect tumor DNA (or other circulating DNAs) in fluids such as serum or plasma at the lowest copy number yet reported. Unique compared to any other PCR-based assay, a small number of copies of a synthetic polynucleotide standard (STDgene) is added to an aliquot of patient serum. In a standard procedure, a cocktail of standards for a plurality of genes of interest (TARGETgene) is added to a sample of serum. Once total DNA is purified and processed, a PCR (multiplex step) is performed wherein the STDgene and the TARGETgene are co-amplified with the same external primer set. In the N second nested PCR step, amplicons present in a dilution of the first PCR reaction are subjected to real time PCR, and quantified for each gene in one well by two-color real-time PCR.

Abstract: The invention provides a polishing pad suitable for planarizing semiconductor, optical and magnetic substrates. The polishing pad includes a cast polyurethane polymeric material formed from a prepolymer reaction of a polypropylene glycol and a toluene diisocyanate to form an isocyanate-terminated reaction product. The toluene diisocyanate has less than 5 weight percent aliphatic isocyanate; and the isocyanate-terminated reaction product having 5.55 to 5.85 weight percent unreacted NCO. The isocyanate-terminated reaction product being cured with a 4,4?-methylene-bis(3-chloro-2,6-diethylaniline) curative agent. The non-porous cured product having a tan delta of 0.04 to 0.10, a Young's modulus of 140 to 240 MPa and a Shore D hardness of 44 to 56.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing in a subject a condition, such as a carcinoma, sarcoma or leukemia, associated with hypermethylation of genes by isolating the genes from tissue containing as few as 50 to 1000 tumor cells. Using quantitative multiplex methylation specific PCR (QM-MSP), multiple genes can be quantitatively evaluated from samples usually yielding sufficient DNA for analyses of only 1 or 2 genes. DNA sequences isolated from the sample are simultaneously co-amplified in an initial multiplex round of PCR, and the methylation status of individual hypermethylation-prone gene promoter sequences is then determined separately or in multiplex using a real time PCR round that is methylation status-specific. Within genes of the panel, the level of promoter hypermethylation as well as the incidence of promoter hypermethylation can be determined and the level of genes in the panel can be scored cumulatively. The QM-MSP method is adaptable for high throughput automated technology.

Abstract: A process for increasing the yields of light olefins or shifting to increase the hydrocarbon components to gasoline blending pools from a hydrocarbon feedstock is presented. The process includes separating a naphtha feedstock to components to a first stream that are more readily processed in a cracking unit and to components in a second stream that are more readily processed in a reforming unit. The process includes the ability to convert components from the cracking stream to the reforming stream, and to convert components from the reforming stream to the cracking stream.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to determining the health of a network community. Aspects include defining, via a computer processor, measurable aspects associated with the network community. The measurable aspects include metrics for one or more of: quantified interactions among users in the network community, quantified activities among the users that are associated with a topic, and quantified activities indicative of network community accessibility. Aspects also include monitoring activities conducted via the network community, collecting data from monitored activities that correspond to the measurable aspects, and analyzing collected data from the monitored activities. The analyzing is performed as a function of the metrics. Aspects further include determining, via the computer processor, a health status of the network community from results of the analyzing.

Abstract: A process for increasing the yields of light olefins and the yields of aromatics from a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The process includes a first separation to direct the light components that are not reformable to a cracking unit, with the remainder passed to a second separation unit. The second separation unit extracts normal components from the hydrocarbon stream to pass to the cracking unit. The resulting hydrocarbon stream with reduced light ends and reduced normals is passed to a reforming unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus of evaporative cooling which targets one or more of an animal's muscle tissue areas, as the head and neck, chest, shoulder, back or gluteal muscles, and leg and ankle of the body chest, shoulder, back and gluteal muscles, and does not otherwise restrict movement of the animal. The apparatus of the present invention is formed of a lower layer and an upper layer, which together form a pocket for receiving a cooling means, wherein the pocket is adapted to open and dose. The apparatus of the present invention is contoured to position around one or more body areas of the animal and secured in the position for evaporative cooling of the animal.

Abstract: A process for increasing the yields of light olefins and the yields of aromatics from a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The process includes a first separation to direct the light components that are not reformable to a cracking unit, with the remainder passed to a second separation unit. The second separation unit extracts normal components from the hydrocarbon stream to pass to the cracking unit. The resulting hydrocarbon stream with reduced light ends and reduced normals is passed to a reforming unit.

Abstract: A shoe liner adapted to selectively couple to a vertical, rear, interior wall of a shoe includes a natural fabric body that is an elongated ovoid shape having a foot side and an opposite shoe side. The shoe side includes an adhesive back adapted to selectively adhere to the vertical backwall interior side of the shoe. The shoe liner further includes an interior chamber defined between the foot side and shoe side layers. The interior chamber is adapted to hold a volume of cotton batting filler material. The exterior surfaces of the shoe liner are made from a natural material and are available in a myriad of colors, textures, and patterns.

Abstract: A process is presented for the increasing the yields of aromatics from reforming a hydrocarbon feedstream. The process includes splitting a naphtha feedstream into a light hydrocarbon stream, and a heavier stream having a relatively rich concentration of naphthenes. The heavy stream is reformed to convert the naphthenes to aromatics and the resulting product stream is further reformed with the light hydrocarbon stream to increase the aromatics yields. The process includes passing a catalyst stream in a counter-current flow relative to the hydrocarbon process stream.