Abstract: Systems and methods for determining an optimal range of frequencies of electromagnetic waves are described. In some embodiments, mobile voice communications devices measure average power received from certain ranges of such frequencies, each range associated with a communications service provider. A cost may be associated with each range. An optimal range of frequencies may be determined based on these factors. Each device may also receive a set of data identifying the location of the device. Each device may transmit one or more communications signals to a CIP with such measurements and location information, and some of this information may be stored in a database.

Abstract: A tube holder (105) for use with a peristaltic pump includes a housing having a recess (165) for receipt of a pump rotor and a tube race around the recess. The tube race has a first race part and a second race part, a first tube inlet (167a) into the first race part and a first tube outlet (167b) from the first race part, a second tube inlet (167c) into the second race part and a second tube outlet (167d) from the second race part. The tube is insertable in the tube race by movement in a substantially orthogonal direction relative to the tube race so that it extends in through the first tube inlet (167a), around the first race part, out through the first tube outlet (167b), in through the second tube inlet (167c), around the second race part, and out through the second tube outlet (167d).

Abstract: A temporary flood relief system for use in the presence of water and impending flooding includes a first container for a prepolymer, a second container for a catalyst, a third container for mixing the prepolymer and catalyst, and a water source connected to the third container. The water source applies the prepolymer and catalyst of the third container to a wall and slab of a building or similar surface that is porous to flood water in absence of restrictive barrier. The system also includes an applicator connected to the third container, and a pressure source connected to the applicator for dispersing the prepolymer and catalyst, as mixed, together with water, using the applicator. The prepolymer and catalyst, on application to the surface in presence of water, foams, expands, and hardens to a pliable solid polymer impermeable to water. The polymer adheres to the surface of application.

Abstract: An in-line pipe inspection tool has one or more inspection platforms (28, 30) which are connected to an elongate wheeled trolley by link arms (20 to 26). The trolley unit (10, 12) has drive means for driving the point of connection of the first link arm (20, 22) to the trolley (10) relative to the point of connection of the second link arm (24, 26) to the trolley (12), thereby to move the inspection platforms (28, 30) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the trolley (10, 12). Thus the inspection platforms (28, 30) are movable which is relative to the trolley (10, 12) to permit the tool to be adapted to pipelines of different diameters. Moreover, the platforms (28, 30) preferably have permanent magnets which contain a rotatable magnet. The rotatable magnet permits the net magnetic field generated by the platform to be varied.

Abstract: A prefabricated in-wall water service box with a five sided deep drawn stainless steel enclosure that has an open side with a reservoir lip and three closed sides integral with a top and bottom so that a reservoir is formed that is drained through a drain hole into a stainless steel nipple that is welded to the bottom and extends downwardly from the drain hole while hot and cold water control valves are mounted inside the enclosure through holes to a fittings located outside the enclosure at its two side walls. A trim bezel with a planar facing flush with a mounting wall is secured to the enclosure when it is mounted to two studs by two mounting brackets affixed to the two side walls by stainless steel screws.

Abstract: Industrial processes for the alternating conversion of glycerol to either an amino alcohol product or propylene glycol are disclosed. Glycerol is converted to hydroxyacetone which may then be directly reduced to obtain propylene glycol or optionally reacted with an amine compound to produce an adduct that may be reduced to obtain an amino alcohol product.

Abstract: Processes for converting glycerol to an amino alcohol product involving reacting glycerol with a metal catalyst to obtain hydroxyacetone, and reacting the hydroxyacetone with an amine compound to obtain an adduct that is then reduced using a reducing agent to obtain an amino alcohol product are described.

Abstract: A system and method for employee recruitment, management and reporting that includes providing a listing on a website related to open job positions. An applicant applies for an open job position by completing a HTML form. The completed form is submitted to a SQL database using a VBScript and stored. The database contains information on applicants and employees. A user provides a password to access different management menus based on rights associated with the user. The use can manage the information on applicants and employees using the management menus including managing the open job listing, applicant recruitment, employee information, or generating reports related to the applicants and employees.

Abstract: A computer system and method that are useful for embedded operating systems, thin client computing applications and the like, protects memory blocks in a nonvolatile version of the system program used at startup (reboot), for example in flash memory. Write operations to protected memory blocks are intercepted. A potentially revised version of any attempted re-written block is maintained in RAM and can be revised further during runtime, the original protected block remaining unwritten. A restriction process flags when or whether a revised block in the RAM is to become permanent. During a write operation or at orderly system shutdown, the revised blocks that were marked are written over the protected blocks in the nonvolatile version.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining an optimal range of frequencies of electromagnetic waves are described. In some embodiments, mobile voice communications devices measure average power received from certain ranges of such frequencies, each range associated with a communications service provider. A cost may be associated with each range. An optimal range of frequencies may be determined based on these factors. Each device may also receive a set of data identifying the location of the device. Each device may transmit one or more communications signals to a CIP with such measurements and location information, and some of this information may be stored in a database.

Abstract: A truck bed ballast for lying in the bed of a truck is disclosed. The ballast consists of a flat rectangular bag having four opposite sides and an upper and lower sheet. At least one of said sides has an elongated zipper for opening and closing the side of the bag. The bag is approximately 50 inches long between two of the opposite sides. The bag has four corners, each corner being provided with a strap for attachment of the bag to the bed of the truck. The bag is dimensioned to contain and secure at least two flat square concrete weights in abutting side to side alignment.

Abstract: A boilerless steamer apparatus is provided having a steamer cavity formed of a steam generating space and a cooking space, wherein the steam generating space is separated from the cooking space by a removable steam lid. The present boilerless steamer apparatus can provide between 7 to 10 lbs./hour (per pan) of steam. Various methods to easily clean the boilerless steamer apparatus are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for extracting polyhydroxyalkanoate from a biomass, comprising contacting the biomass with an organic solvent for a time, at a first temperature, and under a pressure that are sufficient to extract polyhydroxyalkanoate from the biomass to provide a composition comprising the organic solvent and polyhydroxyalkanoate; cooling the composition at a second temperature, which is at least about 10° C. lower than the first temperature; and mixing the composition at a second temperature with a power to volume ratio of from about 0.001 KW/m3 to about 100 KW/m3.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for extracting polyhydroxyalkanoate from a biomass, comprising admixing the biomass with an organic solvent for from 1 second to 15 minutes at a first temperature of from 5° C. below the melting point of the polyhydroxyalkanoate to 10° C. above the melting point of the polyhydroxyalkanoate and at a pressure of from 1 bar to 10 bar to provide a composition comprising the organic solvent and polyhydroxyalkanoate.

Abstract: A boilerless steamer apparatus is provided having a steamer cavity formed of a steam generating space and a cooking space, wherein the steam generating space is separated from the cooking space by a removable steam lid. The present boilerless steamer apparatus can provide between 7 to 10 lbs./hour (per pan) of steam. Additionally, various means are disclosed to reduce the amount of condensate reaching the drainage system. Various methods to easily clean the boilerless steamer apparatus are provided.

Abstract: Improved processes for extracting polyhydroxyalkanoate from a biomass containing the polyhydroxyalkanoate including the steps of: combining the biomass containing the polyhydroxyalkanoate with a solvent selected from lower chain ketones, and mixtures thereof to form a biomass liquor wherein the biomass liquor comprises less than about 25% water; mixing the biomass liquor for from about 10 to about 300 minutes at a temperature in the range of from about 70° C. to about 120° C.; separating the polyhydroxyalkanoate from the biomass liquor to form a PHA-enriched liquor, wherein the separating occurs at a temperature of at least about 40° C.; mixing the PHA-enriched liquor with water to form precipitated polyhydroxyalkanoate and an impure solvent liquor, wherein the water is mixed with the PHA enriched liquor in the ratio of from at least about 0.4-1 parts of water to one part solvent; and recovering the precipitated polyhydroxyalkanoate from the impure solvent liquor.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting sequence searches in a sequence database wherein in one embodiment, the method includes: combining a plurality of query sequences into a combined query sequence; determining a plurality of subdivisions of the sequence database; performing a plurality of searches, wherein each search includes a comparison of the combined query sequence against one of the plurality of subdivisions of the database to produce a plurality of word matches; extending the length of the plurality of word matches to produce a plurality of High-scoring Segment Pairs, combining the plurality of High-scoring Segment Pairs; and producing a plurality of reports, each report representing the highest scoring matches for one of the plurality of query sequences.

Abstract: A boilerless steamer apparatus is provided having a steamer cavity formed of a steam generating space and a cooking space, wherein the steam generating space is separated from the cooking space by a removable steam lid. The present boilerless steamer apparatus can provide between 7 to 10 lbs./hour (per pan) of steam. Various methods to easily clean the boilerless steamer apparatus are provided.