Abstract: A lace tensioning device includes a housing component having an interior region, a first aperture, and a second aperture, and a spool component that is rotatably positionable within the interior region of the housing component. The spool component has a central cylindrical member and a lumen that extends through the central cylindrical portion. The spool component is rotatable within the interior region of the housing component to align one end of the lumen with the first aperture and to align an opposite end of the lumen with the second aperture to enable a lace to be inserted through the first aperture, the lumen, and the second aperture so that opposing ends of the lace are positioned exterior to the housing component. A knot may then be tied in the lace and the lace retracted to couple the lace with the housing component and spool component.

Abstract: Insulation devices, methods and related construction techniques are provided. An exemplary device may include a body having a plurality of openings defining an openwork, to allow the passage of air therethrough when placed in contact with insulation material. The device may further include a plurality of spacer struts and/or spacing depressions fixedly attached to the body. The struts may be configured to maintain a predetermined distance between a first side of the insulation material and a building surface. The body and struts act together to define and maintain a space between the first side of the insulation material and the building surface, for example, for ventilation. The building surface can be the bottom face of a roof, an insulated attic floor, wall sheathing or a soundproofed demising wall, for example. The spacer device can be capable of being transported and stored together with, or as a separate item from, the insulation material, and can also be stored in nested layers.

Abstract: The disclosure provides, among other things, a paver that includes a body having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a peripheral side. The peripheral side is defined about a perimeter of the paver and joins the bottom and top surfaces. The peripheral side defines a peripheral edge displaced from the top surface and the bottom surface that traverses the perimeter of the body along the peripheral side. The edge is adapted to engage a complementary edge on a peripheral side of an adjacent paver, such that the pavers interlock when a vertical force is applied to the paver. In another aspect, a masonry wall unit is provided for building walls similar in concept to the paver.

Abstract: The disclosure provides, among other things, a paver that includes a body having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a peripheral side. The peripheral side is defined about a perimeter of the paver and joins the bottom and top surfaces. The peripheral side defines a peripheral edge displaced from the top surface and the bottom surface that traverses the perimeter of the body along the peripheral side. The edge is adapted to engage a complementary edge on a peripheral side of an adjacent paver, such that the pavers interlock when a vertical force is applied to the paver. In another aspect, a masonry wall unit is provided for building walls similar in concept to the paver.

Abstract: An emulsion composition comprises water, a hydrocarbon distillate having a boiling point of 215 to 325° C., and a surfactant having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance number of 10 or less. A vehicle composition, an ink composition, a lithographic printing process and a method to improve a lithographic printing process comprise the emulsion composition which when used in a lithographic printing ink can reduce emission of volatile organic compounds and reduce the time at start-up to establish print quality.

Abstract: The invention describes DNA copy number alterations (CNAs), identifiable by technologies such as array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), that define distinct genetic subtypes of prostate cancer, and are useful for improved prognostication and treatment stratification for patients with prostate cancer.

Abstract: An emulsion composition comprises water, a hydrocarbon distillate having a boiling point of 215 to 325° C., and a surfactant having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance number of 10 or less. A vehicle composition, an ink composition, a lithographic printing process and a method to improve a lithographic printing process comprise the emulsion composition which when used in a lithographic printing ink can reduce emission of volatile organic compounds and reduce the time at start-up to establish print quality.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide processes for extracting amino acids from mixtures of amino acids, and compositions and mixtures formed therefrom. Applications include separating and/or isolating non-aromatic amino acids, and/or separating aromatic amino acids into at least one fraction containing phenylalanine and tryrosine and a fraction containing L-?-3-indolylalanine (L-?-3) and providing natural or other amino acid mixtures thereof. The source of amino acids may include a natural source, such as an enzymatically hydrolyzed protein or other natural protein hydrolysates containing mixtures of free amino acids. The processes of embodiments of the present invention include contacting the mixture of amino acids with a resin or hydrophobic substance that is attractive to aromatic amino acids but not attractive to aliphatic amino acids to separate the aromatic amino acids from the rest of the mixture.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods of administrating insurance coverage for a group of insured. A healthcare/risk manager is assigned to each insured to supervise and monitor the wellness of each insured. Among other things, bundled services can include healthcare and workers' compensation coverage.

Abstract: A “Universal Unit” is disclosed, for use singly or in pairs, to form a bathroom accessory system. The Universal Unit has a back portion with a substantially flat front surface and a rear surface which is adapted for mounting on a wall. The Universal Unit has an upstanding projecting portion extending perpendicularly outward from the front surface. This projecting portion has two lateral and substantially parallel sides with at least one recess in one side for holding a separate accessory. The recess may be round, in which case the accessory may be a toilet tissue spindle, a towel bar or a grab bar, or it may be elongate in which case the accessory may be a shelf, a soap dish, a tumbler holder and/or toothbrush holder. Advantageously, the projecting portion has two recesses, one round and one elongate, so that a single Universal Unit may be manufactured, warehoused, sold and used for all of the above-mentioned purposes. The projecting portion and the back portion may be separate pieces.

Abstract: A spacer device is provided including (1) a body having a plurality of openings defining an openwork, to allow the passage of air therethrough when placed in contact with insulation material, and (2) a plurality of spacer struts fixedly attached to the body. The struts are configured to maintain a predetermined distance between a first side of the insulation material and a building surface. The body and struts act together to define and maintain a space between the first side of the insulation material and the building surface, for example, for ventilation. The building surface can be the bottom face of a roof, an attic floor, wall sheathing or a soundproofed demising wall, for example. The spacer device can be capable of being transported and stored together with, or as a separate item from, the insulation material, and can also be stored in nested layers. The device can also be stored in rolled form. The openwork of the device can additionally or alternatively include a sheet of entangled net filaments.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide processes for extracting amino acids from mixtures of amino acids, and compositions and mixtures formed therefrom. Applications include separating and/or isolating non-aromatic amino acids, and/or separating aromatic amino acids into at least one fraction containing phenylalanine and tyrosine and a fraction containing L-?-3-indolylalanine (L-?-3) and providing natural or other amino acid mixtures thereof. The source of amino acids may include a natural source, such as an enzymaticaly hydrolyzed protein or other natural protein hydrolysates containing mixtures of free amino acids. The processes of embodiments of the present invention include contacting the mixture of amino acids with a resin or hydrophobic substance that is attractive to aromatic amino acids but not attractive to aliphatic amino acids to separate the aromatic amino acids from the rest of the mixture.

Abstract: A Scenario Generation Framework is described. The Framework provides the organizational infrastructure through which scenario data—a shared set of data supporting enterprise application coordination and interoperation—can effectively be managed from a centralized location. From this location, the framework provides capabilities whereby scenario data, described using a published data representation format, can be copied, viewed, formally compared, modified and combined with other segments of scenario data. Also from this location, suitably transformed data can be communicated to applications for use in initializing their execution in concert with other applications. In the preferred embodiment of the framework, workflow management capabilities are included to allow distribution and control of data preparation activities and an integrated workstation is made available to facilitate data manipulation and modification.

Abstract: Water-in-oil emulsion explosive compositions comprising a) an aqueous oxidizer phase comprising at least one oxygen supplying component wherein said oxygen supplying component comprises at least 50% by weight of prilled agricultural grade ammonium nitrate, b) an organic phase, comprising at least one organic fuel and c) an emulsifying amount of an aliphatic hydrocarbyl group substituted succinic emulsifier composition, said succinic emulsifier composition having at least one of succinic ester groups, succinic amide groups, succinic imine groups, succinic ester-amide and succinimide groups, and mixtures thereof, wherein each of said groups is substituted with an aminoalkyl group, wherein the aliphatic hydrocarbon based group contains from about 18 up to about 500 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A putty-like water-in-oil emulsion composition comprising a) an aqueous phase, said aqueous phase comprising water and an inorganic salt, wherein a portion of the inorganic salt is present in aqueous solution and a portion is present in crystalline form, b) an organic phase comprising at least one hydrocarbon, and c) an associated mixture of an emulsifying amount of at least one emulsifying agent comprising at least one of hydroxy groups and amino groups; said emulsifying agent suitable for forming a water-in-oil emulsion, and an acylated hydrocarbon polymer, said hydrocarbon polymer having {overscore (M)}n ranging from about 2,000 to about 6,000.

Abstract: A stabilized water-in-oil energetic emulsion composition comprising a) an aqueous oxidizer phase comprising at least one oxygen supplying component; b) an organic phase comprising at least one organic fuel; c) an emulsifying amount of at least one emulsifying agent suitable for forming a water-in-oil emulsion; and d) an emulsion stabilizer comprising a hydrocarbon polymer, said hydrocarbon polymer having {overscore (M)}n ranging from about 2,000 to about 6,000, provided that said emulsion composition is essentially free of any polyvalent inorganic agent that is capable of cross-linking with the emulsifying agent or the emulsion stabilizer.

Abstract: A putty-like water-in-oil emulsion composition comprising a) an aqueous phase, said aqueous phase comprising water and an inorganic salt, wherein a portion of the inorganic salt is present in aqueous solution and a portion is present in crystalline form, b) an organic phase comprising at least one hydrocarbon, and c) an associated mixture of an emulsifying amount of at least one emulsifying agent comprising at least one of hydroxy groups and amino groups; said emulsifying agent suitable for forming a water-in-oil emulsion, and an acylated hydrocarbon polymer, said hydrocarbon polymer having {overscore (M)}n ranging from about 2,000 to about 6,000.

Abstract: A stabilized water-in-oil energetic emulsion composition comprising a) an aqueous oxidizer phase comprising at least one oxygen supplying component; b) an organic phase comprising at least one organic fuel; c) an emulsifying amount of at least one emulsifying agent suitable for forming a water-in-oil emulsion; and d) an emulsion stabilizer comprising a hydrocarbon polymer, said hydrocarbon polymer having {overscore (M)}n ranging from about 2,000 to about 6,000, provided that said emulsion composition is essentially free of any polyvalent inorganic agent that is capable of cross-linking with the emulsifying agent or the emulsion stabilizer.

Abstract: An end user friendly method of categorizing, aggregating, classifying, reporting and cross-tabbing data, in real time. The unique method interlinks a server with remote interfaces. Templates of the present method propound stimuli at the user. An authorized user can govern the format of the templates from the remote interface. The method can also include the step of classifying the authorized response into at least two sub-classifications.

Abstract: Water-in-oil emulsion explosive compositions comprising a) an aqueous oxidizer phase comprising at least one oxygen supplying component wherein said oxygen supplying component comprises at least 50% by weight of prilled agricultural grade ammonium nitrate, b) an organic phase, comprising at least one organic fuel and c) an emulsifying amount of an aliphatic hydrocarbyl group substituted succinic emulsifier composition, said succinic emulsifier composition having at least one of succinic ester groups, succinic amide groups, succinic imine groups, succinic ester-amide and succinimide groups, and mixtures thereof, wherein each of said groups is substituted with an aminoalkyl group, wherein the aliphatic hydrocarbon based group contains from about 18 up to about 500 carbon atoms.