Abstract: This invention relates to (meth)acrylate-based polymerizable compositions and adhesive systems prepared therefrom, which include a alkylated borohydride or tetraalkyl borane metal or ammonium salt and a polymerizable siloxane. The inventive compositions and adhesive systems are particularly well suited for bonding applications which involve at least one low energy bonding surface, for example, the polyolefins, polyethylene, and polypropylene.

Abstract: A railcar coupler includes a coupler head portion extending from a shank portion. The coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler head portion comprises a nose portion and a gathering face extending from the nose portion for engaging a second coupler knuckle coupled to the second railcar coupler. The coupler head portion comprises a guard arm portion extending from the nose portion towards the shank portion. The guard arm portion comprises a minimum width less than a width of the shank portion where the guard arm portion meets the shank portion.

Abstract: Barrier films are prepared from a blend of two high density polyethylene blend components and a high performance organic nucleating agent. The two high density polyethylene blend components have substantially different melt indices. Large reductions in the moisture vapor transmission rate of the film are observed in the presence of the nucleating agent when the melt indices of the two blend components have a ratio of greater than 10/1. The resulting barrier films are suitable for the preparation of packaging for dry foods such as crackers and breakfast cereals.

Abstract: The present invention provides for automation of the process of ensuring that the contents of the return mailed digital media, comprising a disc enclosed in a sleeve, is correct for redistribution. A camera on a sorting machine is used to scan a first code on a hub of the disc through a sleeve opening. The camera also scans a second code printed on the sleeve. The sorter computer compares the first and second codes to determine whether the first and second codes correspond. If the first and second codes do not correspond, the sorter outsorts the mailed digital media so that the mismatch problem can be corrected. In a further embodiment, the system detects whether there are more or less than a single disk in the mail package. In the preferred embodiment, the mailed digital media is further composed of an envelope that receives and encloses the sleeve.

Abstract: A method for removing sulfur-containing compounds is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes selectively separating a feed stream (118) comprising carbon dioxide and one or more sulfur-containing compounds, including hydrogen sulfide, at conditions sufficient to produce a first stream (122) comprising carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide and a second stream (124) comprising carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. A molar ratio of carbon dioxide to hydrogen sulfide in the first stream is greater than a molar ratio of carbon dioxide to hydrogen sulfide in the second stream, and a molar ratio of hydrogen sulfide in the first stream to hydrogen sulfide in the second stream is about 0.005 or more.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for the stabilization of thermoplastic polyolefins during melt processing operations. The stabilizer package of this invention is “phenol free” and must contain at least one aryl monophosphite and at least one diphosphite. The process of this invention is especially suitable for the manufacture of polyethylene film.

Abstract: Methods of producing cyclic peptides and splicing intermediates of peptides in a looped conformation are disclosed. The methods utilize the trans-splicing ability of split inteins to catalyze cyclization of peptides from a precursor peptide having a target peptide interposed between two portions of a split intein. The interaction of the two portions of the split intein creates a catalytically-active intein and also forces the target peptide into a loop configuration that stabilizes the ester isomer of the amino acid at the junction between one of the intein portions and the target peptide. A heteroatom from the other intein portion then reacts with the ester to form a cyclic ester intermediate. The active intein catalyzes the formation of an aminosuccinimide that liberates a cyclized form of the target peptide, which spontaneously rearranges to form the thermodynamically favored backbone cyclic peptide product.

Abstract: A device for securing a necktie to the front of a wearer's garment comprises a bar, sized to pass through a button hole and be retained behind it; a ring sized to allow the bar to pass therethrough; and a flexible connecting means joining the ring and the bar, the connecting means having a length sufficient to secure the necktie to the garment front, yet allow the secured necktie to move a distance away from the garment front; and the connecting means being of thickness sufficient to allow its passage though the button hole without interfering with the function of the button closure. The device is used in a method of securing the necktie to the garment's front, which comprises passing the ring between the necktie label and the posterior face, and moving the bar through the ring to encircle the label, and inserting the bar through the buttonhole.

Abstract: A hand tool having a handle assembly with a bearing mechanism providing for continual axial loading to be applied while a torque is applied via an attached lever arm. The lever arm is mounted to the handle assembly proximate a junction of the handle assembly and a drive shaft, and is constructed to fold into the handle assembly when not in use. Alternatively, the screwdriver handle grip can freely rotate about the drive shaft as an axial load is applied, and a folding crank is used to drive the shaft. The screwdriver functions traditionally when its lever arm is folded into the handle assembly.

Abstract: A multi-joint fixture including a proximal base unit, one or more arms serially connected by electromagnetically lockable ball joints, and a distal hub. The ball joints unlock when not powered. A centering mechanism biases the ball joints toward a neutral position. A control system activates the electromagnetic brake with a high-then-low voltage profile. A headpiece attaches to the hub and holds a drape that covers the fixture. A connector connects a surgical device to the headpiece. A switch on the hub can be actuated via actuators on the headpiece or connector.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a railcar coupler knuckle includes providing a cope mold portion and a drag mold portion. The cope and drag mold portions have internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a coupler knuckle mold cavity. The method includes positioning one or two internal cores within either the cope mold portion or the drag mold portion. The one or two internal cores are configured to define a kidney cavity, a finger cavity and a pivot pin cavity of a coupler knuckle. The method includes closing the cope and drag mold portions with the one or two internal cores therebetween and at least partially filling the mold cavity with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the coupler knuckle.

Abstract: An enhanced imaging spooler, providing a utility capable of imaging any number of files, in any number of formats (with or without the native program present), across any number of imaging devices with minimal user involvement and time expense.

Abstract: In processing system that includes a processing element communicatively coupled to a storage system for storage of database files (35) managed by a database management system (34) having a transaction management facility (36), file access operations from application processes are intercepted and checked to determine if the operation is from a non-transactional process, and if so, whether an automatic transaction should be started for the operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for discarding a priority fair share of traffic of network connections. In one example, the method receives traffic of at least a particular network connection. A portion of a fixed buffer allocation space is filled with traffic of the particular network connection, wherein a buffer in the fixed buffer allocation space is associated with a fixed buffer allocation queue identification. A portion of a prioritized fair share buffer space is filled with traffic of the particular network connection, wherein a buffer in the prioritized fair share buffer space is associated with a priority fair share queue identification. A portion of the lowest priority traffic of the network connections is discarded.

Abstract: Methods for rapidly detecting single or multiple sequence alleles in a sample nucleic acid are described. Provided are all of the oligonucleotide pairs capable of annealing specifically to a target allele and discriminating among possible sequences thereof, and ligating to each other to form an oligonucleotide complex when a particular sequence feature is present (or, alternatively, absent) in the sample nucleic acid. The design of each oligonucleotide pair permits the subsequent high-level PCR amplification of a specific amplicon when the oligonucleotide complex is formed, but not when the oligonucleotide complex is not formed. The presence or absence of the specific amplicon is used to detect the allele. Detection of the specific amplicon may be achieved using a variety of methods well known in the art, including without limitation, oligonucleotide capture onto DNA chips or microarrays, oligonucleotide capture onto beads or microspheres, electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry.

Abstract: This invention is method of recovering gas from a gas-bearing subterranean formation in which gas is produced from an upper portion of the formation and a waste gas is injected into a lower portion of the formation to dispose of the waste gas. The waste gas is injected within a 3000 foot (914 m) radial distance from the production of the gas. The injection and production can be carried out using one well or a plurality of wells.

Abstract: An articulating arm is infinitely adjustable within a pre-determined range. A pivot arm has arcuate surfaces extending therefrom with a brake pivotally mounted to intersect a path of rotation of the arcuate surfaces. Two heat treated shoes provide the arcuate surfaces. The brake is a plate that is controlled to lock or unlock the pivot member relative to a bracket to which the pivot member is pivotally connected. A support is pivotally connected to the pivot member at an end opposite of the bracket. The brake is unlocked manually by forcing the support upward when the support is in a locked position relative to the pivot member.

Abstract: Generally speaking, the present invention is a water-soluble copolymer film comprising a hydrolyzed copolymer of vinyl acetate and a second monomer, the resultant polyvinyl alcohol copolymer having a degree of hydrolysis, expressed as a percentage of vinyl acetate units converted to vinyl alcohol units, of from about 90% to 100%. The second monomer is preferably selected from the group of monomers having carboxylate functionality or sulfonate functionality. The resulting water-soluble copolymer film is disclosed for use in making pouches to contain a unit dose of liquid detergent, such as a liquid laundry detergent. However, it is an aspect of the copolymer film that film solubility is not significantly affected adversely by the detergent. Such film produces pouches having a greater storage shelf-life over prior art water-soluble film.

Abstract: A water-soluble film for packaging a non-liquid product, a package employing the film, and methods of making the same, are disclosed. The film is made from a hydrolyzed copolymer of vinyl acetate and methyl acrylate in a range of from about 30 to about 95 percent by weight, modified starch in a range of from about 4 to about 30 percent by weight, plasticizer in a range of from about 5 to about 30 percent by weight, lubricant/release agent in a range of from about 0.0 to about 1.5 percent by weight, and surfactant in a range of from about 0.01 to about 1.5 percent by weight.

Abstract: A catalyst system comprises 1) a group 4 organometallic catalyst and 2) an activator comprising a solid zirconium acid component and a metal alkyl. The catalyst system is inexpensive and is highly active for the polymerization of olefins. Preferred organometallic catalysts contain a cyclopentadienyl ligand, a phosphinimine ligand and or a ketimide ligand.