Abstract: A method for preparing a modified whey protein concentrate (WPC) or whey protein isolate (WPI) is described. It involves (a) providing an aqueous WPC or WPI solution having a protein concentration of 15-50% (w/v), at a pH of 4.7-8.5; (b) heat treating the solution to more than 50 DEG C., for a time that allows protein denaturation to occur; the heat treating comprising heating the solution while under conditions of turbulent flow. At the end of the heat treatment, the heat treated material may be promptly transferred to a drier or to be mixed with other ingredients. The heat-treated WPC or WPI is not subjected to a mechanical shear process prior to the transfer other than where liquid is converted into droplets to facilitate drying. The modified WPC is useful in the manufacture of food and drinks where a high protein content is desired without undesirable changes in texture.

Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method for differentiating participants in a group conversation within a graphical user interface of an electronic device of a user, via displaying a collection of contact icons on the graphical user interface, each contact icon respectively corresponding to one of a plurality of participants in a group conversation, wherein the group conversation provides for sharing communication messages among the plurality of participants including the user; determining which of the plurality of participants are currently accessing the group conversation; and differentiating, in the graphical user interface, display of the contact icons corresponding to those participants determined to be currently accessing the group conversation from the remaining contact icons.

Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method for presenting profile information on an electronic device of a user, the profile information being associated with a contact of the user, via displaying a contact icon on a graphical user interface of the electronic device, the contact icon corresponding to a contact of the user; receiving user input which specifies selection of the contact icon; and displaying profile information, obtained from a profile associated with the contact corresponding to the selected contact icon, on the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method for presenting profile information on an electronic device of a user, the profile information being associated with a contact of the user, via displaying a contact icon on a graphical user interface of the electronic device, the contact icon corresponding to a contact of the user; receiving user input which specifies selection of the contact icon; and displaying profile information, obtained from a profile associated with the contact corresponding to the selected contact icon, on the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting a group conversation on an electronic device of a user, via displaying, on a graphical user interface of the device, a group of contacts with which the user can communicate, the group of contacts comprising one or more individual contacts and one or more social circles which define a preset collection of contacts associated with one another. User input is received via the graphical user interface, the user input specifying a selection of participants from the group of contacts for a group conversation. The group conversation provides for sharing communication messages among the participants. A conversation window is presented on the graphical user interface. The conversation window displays a collection of contact icons with each contact icon respectively corresponding to one of the selected participants of the group conversation, and a conversation thread with the shared communication messages.

Abstract: An elastomeric tire sealing ring for installation against a rim of a wheel to provide a sealing surface with a tire bead of a tire when a tire is installed on the wheel over the sealing ring, the sealing ring comprising a thermoplastic composition wherein the thermoplastic composition has a durometer reading of between 36 and 50 on the Shore D scale as per ISO 868; and a tensile strength of 7.0 MPa to 8.9 MPa at 10% elongation as determined with ISO 527 method.

Abstract: A method to establish a call to a contact center from a smart device includes: scanning a code with a camera or sensor of the smart device; decoding the code to obtain a reference to a call application; running the call application; decoding the code to obtain a telephone number or reference to a telephone number of the contact center and content data; initiating a telephone call to the contact center; transferring the content data and a caller identification over a data network to a remote data storage system; the contact center contacting the remote data storage system to verify presence of content data associated with the caller identification of the telephone call; and the contact center obtaining the content data and using the content data for further handling the telephone call.

Abstract: A rim assembly for receiving a tire includes a rim having an outer ring-shaped member defining an outer surface, and a rim liner having a ring-shaped body formed to generally match the contours of the outer surface of the rim. The rim liner is positioned within a recess formed in at least a portion of the outer surface of the rim so as to maintain an intended industry standard sizing for rims and tires.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for dispensing a customized serving. The system includes an ingredient storage module 12, an ingredient processing module 18, a serving dispenser 20, a user interface 24, and a formulation database containing an inventory of ingredients stored in the storage module 12 from which potential servings will be formulated. The system also includes a controller 22 that is operatively linked to the storage module 12, the processing module 18, the dispenser 20, the interface 24 and the database. The controller 22 is programmed: (a) to receive a serving selection from the user; (b) to determine, using the database, a serving recipe that best approximates the user's serving selection; (c) to present the serving recipe to the user via the interface 24, and (d) upon a command from the user, to actuate the processing module 18 to prepare, and the serving dispenser 20 to dispense, a serving prepared from the serving recipe.

Abstract: A rim assembly for receiving a tire includes a rim having an outer ring-shaped member defining an outer surface, and a rim liner having a ring-shaped body formed to generally match the contours of the outer surface of the rim. The rim liner is positioned within a recess formed in at least a portion of the outer surface of the rim so as to maintain an intended industry standard sizing for rims and tires.

Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method for differentiating participants in a group conversation within a graphical user interface of an electronic device of a user, via displaying a collection of contact icons on the graphical user interface, each contact icon respectively corresponding to one of a plurality of participants in a group conversation, wherein the group conversation provides for sharing communication messages among the plurality of participants including the user; determining which of the plurality of participants are currently accessing the group conversation; and differentiating, in the graphical user interface, display of the contact icons corresponding to those participants determined to be currently accessing the group conversation from the remaining contact icons.

Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method for presenting profile information on an electronic device of a user, the profile information being associated with a contact of the user, via displaying a contact icon on a graphical user interface of the electronic device, the contact icon corresponding to a contact of the user; receiving user input which specifies selection of the contact icon; and displaying profile information, obtained from a profile associated with the contact corresponding to the selected contact icon, on the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting a group conversation on an electronic device of a user, via displaying, on a graphical user interface of the device, a group of contacts with which the user can communicate, the group of contacts comprising one or more individual contacts and one or more social circles which define a preset collection of contacts associated with one another. User input is received via the graphical user interface, the user input specifying a selection of participants from the group of contacts for a group conversation. The group conversation provides for sharing communication messages among the participants. A conversation window is presented on the graphical user interface. The conversation window displays a collection of contact icons with each contact icon respectively corresponding to one of the selected participants of the group conversation, and a conversation thread with the shared communication messages.

Abstract: A method for preparing a modified whey protein concentrate (WPC) or whey protein isolate (WPI) is described. It involves (a) providing an aqueous WPC or WPI solution having a protein concentration of 15-50% (w/v), at a pH of 4.7-8.5; (b) heat treating the solution to more than 50° C., for a time that allows protein denaturation to occur; the heat treating comprising heating the solution while under conditions of turbulent flow. At the end of the heat treatment, the heat treated material may be promptly transferred to a drier or to be mixed with other ingredients. The heat-treated WPC or WPI is not subjected to a mechanical shear process prior to the transfer other than where liquid is converted into droplets to facilitate drying. The modified WPC is useful in the manufacture of food and drinks where a high protein content is desired without undesirable changes in texture.

Abstract: A yoghurt or a yoghurt drink is prepared by a method comprising: (a) providing a casein source that has been treated to remove a proportion of its divalent cations including at least a proportion of its calcium ions; (b) mixing the calcium-depleted casein source with one or more other ingredients to form a yoghurt milk, if required; (c) dispersing a substantially insoluble calcium source in the yoghurt milk; (d) heat treating the yoghurt milk; and (e) acidifying the mixture to a pH that causes gelling of the yoghurt milk. Step (c) is carried out at any time before gelling for set yoghurt and stirred yoghurt and the final packaging of drinking yoghurts.

Abstract: An elastomeric tire sealing ring for installation against a rim of a wheel to provide a sealing surface with a tire bead of a tire when a tire is installed on the wheel over the sealing ring, the sealing ring comprising a thermoplastic composition wherein the thermoplastic composition has a durometer reading of between 36 and 50 on the Shore D scale as per ISO 868; and a tensile strength of 7.0 MPa to 8.9 MPa at 10% elongation as determined with ISO 527 method.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel process of making cheese including a quick and efficient coagulation step forming discrete form and uniform curd particles in an in-line continuous flow process, separation of the curd particles from the whey and subsequent processing to produce a desired soft, semi-soft, hard or extra hard cheese.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method of controlling persister status in a bacterial cell population comprising the step of modulating the expression of native chromosomal sequences disclosed in Table 8.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of measuring the difference in alignment between a first plan position of an element (1) and a second plan position of an element, the method comprising the use of: i) at least one rigid or taut connection (4) extending between a first point (2) at the level of the first plan position and a second point (3) at the level of the second plan position, the first and second points being at an identical displacement from the element; and ii) one or more electrolevel gauges (5) provided on the or each rigid or taut connection, so as to measure the inclination of the rigid or taut connection.