Abstract: Described herein are methods of separating phase separated, neutrally buoyant materials from liquids and apparatuses for carrying out the methods. The methods and apparatuses employ nanobubbles. In certain embodiments, the nanobubbles may be formed in solutions of hydrophobically modified water soluble polymers. The methods result in removal of 90% by weight or more of neutrally buoyant materials from liquids. The methods are useful in certain embodiments for separating neutrally buoyant oily mixtures from water produced by mining operations.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for precipitating a water soluble salt or water soluble salts from water, including adding a water-miscible solvent to a water solution including an inorganic salt. The system, method and apparatus also allow for the separation of the precipitated salt, and for separation of the solvent from the water. In doing so, reclamation of water is provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separation of one or more salts from water are described. The methods include addition of a water miscible solvent to the water, followed by separation of the precipitated salt in a slurry, and evaporation of the water miscible solvent from the slurry. The apparatus include a novel design for a wetted wall separator tube that allows the solids in the slurry to pass through while providing efficient evaporation of the water miscible solvent from the water.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of separating a first soluble salt from water that contains the first soluble salt and a second soluble salt, by (a) adding a composition to a water product containing a first soluble salt and a second soluble salt, the composition comprising seed crystals composed substantially of a target insoluble salt to be formed from the first soluble salt; and (b) collecting the target insoluble salt. These methods may be used, for example, to separate strontium from water that includes at least one soluble strontium salt and a second soluble salt (such as one soluble calcium salt).

Abstract: An intravascular cuff acts as a lining between a native vessel and an intravascular prosthetic device. During deployment, the ends of the cuff curl back upon themselves and are capable of trapping native tissue, such as valve leaflet tissue, between the ends. The cuff creates a seal between the vessel and the prosthetic, thereby preventing leakage around the prosthetic. The cuff also traps any embolic material dislodged from the vessel during expansion of the prosthetic.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for defining financial transaction components; defining mapping rules for taking individual financial transactions and breaking them down into their components, such as production services, billing services and settlement services. A data processing system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, creates a transaction instance corresponding to a financial transaction, creates a production service instance linked to the transaction instance by a first relation instance, and creates a billing service instance linked to the production service instance by a second relation instance. The data processing system, may also create other production service instances linked to the transaction instance using other relation instances, as well as, other billing service instances linked to the production service instances.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for facilitating real-time pricing with volume discounting. The method includes receiving a request for a real-time price quote for a transaction from a first account. The request is received at a first instance in time during a billing cycle. The method also includes determining a first production service, where the first production service is a component of the transaction, and determining a count of first production service instances representing the first production service in the received transaction. The method further includes determining a billable entity for the transaction, where the billable entity includes one or more related accounts, and the related accounts include the first account.

Abstract: A water removal device to withdraw virtually all the water from the drain in the bottom of a swimming pool comprising an elongated lower suction or vacuum housing including a plurality of perforations or holes formed therein to receive water from a pool drain and an upper suction or vacuum source to create a suction or vacuum to draw water from the pool drain through the perforations or holes into and through the lower suction or vacuum housing to remove the water from the pool drain.

Abstract: An intravascular cuff acts as a lining between a native vessel and an intravascular prosthetic device. During deployment, the ends of the cuff curl back upon themselves and are capable of trapping native tissue, such as valve leaflet tissue, between the ends. The cuff creates a seal between the vessel and the prosthetic, thereby preventing leakage around the prosthetic. The cuff also traps any embolic material dislodged from the vessel during expansion of the prosthetic.

Abstract: Embodiments provide multi-band, compound loop antennas (multi-band antennas). Embodiments of the multi-band antennas produce signals at two or more frequency bands, with the two or more frequency bands capable of being adjusted and tuned independently of each other. Embodiments of a multi-band antenna are comprised of at least one electric field radiator and at least one monopole formed out of the magnetic loop. At a particular frequency, the at least one electric field radiator in combination with various portions of the magnetic loop resonate and radiate an electric field at a first frequency band. At yet another particular frequency, the at least one monopole in combination with various portions of the magnetic loop resonate and radiate an electric field at a second frequency band. The shape of the magnetic loop can be tuned to increase the radiation efficiency at particular frequency bands and enable the multi-band operation of antenna embodiments.

Abstract: Embodiments provide multi-band, compound loop antennas (multi-band antennas). Embodiments of the multi-band antennas produce signals at two or more frequency bands, with the two or more frequency bands capable of being adjusted and tuned independently of each other. Embodiments of a multi-band antenna are comprised of at least one electric field radiator and at least one monopole formed out of the magnetic loop. At a particular frequency, the at least one electric field radiator in combination with various portions of the magnetic loop resonate and radiate an electric field at a first frequency band. At yet another particular frequency, the at least one monopole in combination with various portions of the magnetic loop resonate and radiate an electric field at a second frequency band. The shape of the magnetic loop can be tuned to increase the radiation efficiency at particular frequency bands and enable the multi-band operation of antenna embodiments.

Abstract: Embodiments provide multi-band, compound loop antennas (multi-band antennas). Embodiments of the multi-band antennas produce signals at two or more frequency bands, with the two or more frequency bands capable of being adjusted and tuned independently of each other. Embodiments of a multi-band antenna are comprised of at least one electric field radiator and at least one monopole formed out of the magnetic loop. At a particular frequency, the at least one electric field radiator in combination with various portions of the magnetic loop resonate and radiate an electric field at a first frequency band. At yet another particular frequency, the at least one monopole in combination with various portions of the magnetic loop resonate and radiate an electric field at a second frequency band. The shape of the magnetic loop can be tuned to increase the radiation efficiency at particular frequency bands and enable the multi-band operation of antenna embodiments.

Abstract: Embodiments provide single-sided and multi-layered circular polarized, self-contained, compound loop antennas (circular polarized CPL). Embodiments of the CPL antennas produce circular polarized signals by using two electric field radiators physically oriented orthogonal to each other, and by ensuring that the two electric field radiators are positioned such that an electrical delay between the two electric field radiators results in the two electric field radiators emitting their respective electric fields out of phase. Ensuring the proper electrical delay between the two electric field radiators also maintains high efficiency of the antenna and it improves the axial ratio of the antenna.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for facilitating real-time pricing with volume discounting. The method includes receiving a request for a real-time price quote for a transaction from a first account. The request is received at a first instance in time during a billing cycle. The method also includes determining a first production service, where the first production service is a component of the transaction, and determining a count of first production service instances representing the first production service in the received transaction. The method further includes determining a billable entity for the transaction, where the billable entity includes one or more related accounts, and the related accounts includes the first account.

Abstract: A method for responding to potential threats at a store, such as theft or vandalism, can include analyzing threat predictors, such as police reports and store reports, to determine a trend of theft or other threats. In some implementations, a organization, such as a chain of retail stores, can include a large number of facilities. Each facility may be capable of producing a significant volume of video data from various video cameras at the facility. In some implementations, the volume of video data monitored from the stores and from the cameras within the stores can be narrowed or reduced by monitoring substantially only the video data from the stores and locations within the stores that were identified as potential targets in the trend of theft.

Abstract: A stentless support structure capable of being at least partly assembled in situ. The support structure comprises a braided tube that is very flexible and, when elongated, becomes very long and very small in diameter, thereby being capable of placement within a small diameter catheter. The support structure is preferably constructed of one or more thin strands of a super-elastic or shape memory material such as Nitinol. When released from the catheter, the support structure folds itself into a longitudinally compact configuration. The support structure thus gains significant strength as the number of folds increase. This radial strength obviates the need for a support stent. The support structure may include attachment points for a prosthetic valve.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for pricing financial transactions by defining product rules, providing links to appropriate price tables, and calculating a price for a financial transaction. A data processing system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, creates a product rule corresponding to a financial transaction. The product rule contains mandatory attributes and optional attributes. Optional attributes may be looked up using identifiers constructed from said mandatory attributes. Optional attributes include a link to a price table which contains further attributes, including a pricing method. A price is then calculated in accordance with the pricing method. Billing is completed according to the billing method for the particular financial transaction.

Abstract: A collapsing garbage can is shown as a feeder for garbage bags. A five sided design is taught where top and bottom punch out sections secure the top section relative to the bottom section. Top sections of the can to be made of absorbent or recyclable materials such as paper and cardboard while the base is made of a water resistant material so it may be used on a variety of surfaces. The sides of the top and bottom section flex so that it may fold flat and be expanded. The top section may be collapsed down inside the bottom section to reach a bag in the bottom section so when the top section is raised; the bag comes up with the top section.

Abstract: A diaphragm assembly for a fluid driven diaphragm pump includes a piston having an inflexible core. This core includes a hub with a plate extending radially from about the periphery of the hub. The piston further includes a unitary diaphragm body molded with the inflexible core in situ. The unitary diaphragm body has a plurality of connective tendons extending through the plate. A thermoplastic coating extends about the inflexible core between the core and the molded unitary diaphragm body having a thermally miscible surface with the thermoplastic coating. An inflexible backing plate extends in juxtaposition with the diaphragm.