Abstract: A roofing underlayment comprising a carrier substrate included a felt mixture and a binder mixture, and a volume of asphalt flux saturating the carrier substrate. The felt mixture may comprise between about seventy-five percent and about ninety-five percent by weight corrugated paper/cardboard fibers and between about five percent and about twenty-five percent by weight fiberglass fibers. The volume of asphalt flux may comprise between about twenty-five and fifty percent of a total weight of the roofing shingle underlayment and may saturate the carrier substrate at a saturation percentage between about thirty and about one hundred percent. The binder mixture may include a mixture of alum and rosin having a mixture ratio by weight of alum to rosin in a range between one to one (1:1) and four to one (4:1).

Abstract: Methods of making acid and rennet-based cheeses include processing a previous lot of milk to produce curds and whey from the previous lot of milk, and removing the whey from the curd. For cottage cheeses, curds are washed with a wash water. Whey and wash water (when used) include fine particles of curd, which are collected, added, and mixed into a subsequent lot of milk preferably using a mixer such as a homogenizer or colloid mill. Mixing preferably reduces the fine particle size of at least a plurality of the fine particles and increases the total amount of surface area thereof. Fine particles are reincorporated into the matrix of the curd made from the subsequent lot of milk, which increases curd yield. Also provided is a higher yield cheese that is made from a subsequent lot of milk that includes fine particles of curd from a previous lot of milk.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fractionating ?-lactalbumin from ?-lactoglobulin in whey or whey protein concentrate. The method includes the steps of contacting whey or whey protein concentrate with a complexing agent so that the complexing agent forms insoluble complexes with ?-lactoglobulin present in the whey or whey protein concentrate. The insoluble complexes are then separated from the whey or whey protein concentrate, thus yielding a precipitate that is predominately ?-lactoglobulin and is substantially devoid of ?-lactalbumin, and a supernatant that predominately ?-lactalbumin and is substantially devoid of ?-lactoglobulin.

Abstract: Methods of making acid and rennet-based cheeses include processing a previous lot of milk to produce curds and whey from the previous lot of milk, and removing the whey from the curd. For cottage cheeses, curds are washed with a wash water. Whey and wash water (when used) include fine particles of curd, which are collected, added, and mixed into a subsequent lot of milk preferably using a mixer such as a homogenizer or colloid mill. Mixing preferably reduces the fine particle size of at least a plurality of the fine particles and increases the total amount of surface area thereof. Fine particles are reincorporated into the matrix of the curd made from the subsequent lot of milk, which increases curd yield. Also provided is a higher yield cheese that is made from a subsequent lot of milk that includes fine particles of curd from a previous lot of milk.

Abstract: Methods of making acid and rennet-based cheeses include processing a previous lot of milk to produce curds and whey from the previous lot of milk, and removing the whey from the curd. For cottage cheeses, curds are washed with a wash water. Whey and wash water (when used) include fine particles of curd, which are collected, added, and mixed into a subsequent lot of milk preferably using a mixer such as a homogenizer or colloid mill. Mixing preferably reduces the fine particle size of at least a plurality of the fine particles and increases the total amount of surface area thereof. Fine particles are reincorporated into the matrix of the curd made from the subsequent lot of milk, which increases curd yield. Also provided is a higher yield cheese that is made from a subsequent lot of milk that includes fine particles of curd from a previous lot of milk.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fractionating &agr;-lactalbumin from &bgr;-lactoglobulin in whey or whey protein concentrate. The method includes the steps of contacting whey or whey protein concentrate with a complexing agent so that the complexing agent forms insoluble complexes with &bgr;-lactoglobulin present in the whey or whey protein concentrate. The insoluble complexes are then separated from the whey or whey protein concentrate, thus yielding a precipitate that is predominately &bgr;-lactoglobulin and is substantially devoid of &agr;-lactalbumin, and a supernatant that predominately &agr;-lactalbumin and is substantially devoid of &bgr;-lactoglobulin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for treating produced water to lower the total dissolved solids of the water for safe discharge to the environment. The produced water is passed through a weak acid cation resin in H+ form to remove cations in the produced water and then preferably through a decarbonator to remove formed CO2 and to provide a first discharge stream. The cation loaded resin is then regenerated using a dilute acid, preferably diluted with produced water, to regenerate the resin to the H+ form. The resultant acid regenerated waste stream is discharged to a reject deep well. The acid regenerated resin is then rinsed, preferably with produced water, to remove residual salts to form a residual salt containing rinse stream. This salt stream is passed into a reverse osmosis unit to form a high salt containing reject stream which is discharged to a waste deep well and a low salt containing product discharge stream which may be safely discharged to the environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for treating produced water to lower the total dissolved solids of the water for safe discharge to the environment. The produced water is passed through a weak acid cation resin in H+ form to remove cations in the produced water and then preferably through a decarbonator to remove formed CO2 and to provide a first discharge stream. The cation loaded resin is then regenerated using a dilute acid, preferably diluted with produced water, to regenerate the resin to the H+ form. The resultant acid regenerated waste stream is discharged to a reject deep well. The acid regenerated resin is then rinsed, preferably with produced water, to remove residual salts to form a residual salt containing rinse stream. This salt stream is passed into a reverse osmosis unit to form a high salt containing reject stream which is discharged to a waste deep well and a low salt containing product discharge stream which may be safely discharged to the environment.

Abstract: A universally directionally adjustable optical transceiver. The transceiver comprises a platform for mounting a light emitting diode array and photodiodes. The platform is connected to a mounting ring to provide a first axis of rotation. The mounting ring is connected to a support plate to provide a second axis of rotation. The first and second axis intersect and are mutually perpendicular to provide an omni-directional pointing capability for the transceiver.

Abstract: A frozen yogurt is prepared containing an admixture of cream, condensed skimmilk, sucrose, corn sweetener, stabilizers and 30-50% fluid acid whey based on the total weight of the admixture. In preparing the yogurt, a mixture of the condensed skimmilk and cream is pasteurized and fermented with a yogurt culture. The resulting fermented mixture is mixed with a pasteurized mixture of the sucrose, corn sweetener, stabilizers and fluid acid whey and the resulting mixture is homogenized and frozen to produce the frozen yogurt.

Abstract: A poke-through electrical fitting for protecting and supporting a wire or cable as it passes through a fire rated barrier and which will fit through a standard knock out of an electrical fitting box which is one and three-eighths inches in diameter and which, in the trade, is called a one inch knock out. The fitting does not require an electrical fitting box on both sides of the barrier. The device comprises an elastomeric grommet having an appropriately sized transverse hole and a slit from the outer periphery to the hole for permitting opening of the grommet and laying in of the wire or cable. An upper and lower compression plate is provided on each end of the grommet and coupling screws are provided for compressing the grommet between the compression plates to cause the elastomeric grommet to grasp the wire and close the passageway through the barrier. The lower compression plate has a clamp for clamping and supporting any cable of the size range which may be accommodated by the device.

Abstract: Method of resolving a water-in-oil sludge (emulsion) to separate an oil phase and a water phase, comprising the steps of treating the sludge while being agitated with a demulsifying agent to break the emulsion and an acrylamide polymer to hold the separate phases resolved.

Abstract: Penetrations or passageways through fire rated or fire resistant walls, floors, partitions, and ceilings are frequently necessary to provide for present or future pipes, cables or conduits. A fitting placed in the penetration provides a seal to prevent the passing of fire, products of combustion, gas vapor or liquid through the penetration under normal conditions and under adverse conditions of fire or elevated temperatures. The fitting includes an elastomeric-like material, under pressure, which provides the initial barrier. An intumescent material, which responds to heat is provided to expand and fill any void created by the degeneration of the elastomeric material in response to the heat or fire. The fitting may include an outer exposed layer of intumescent material to serve as an insulator.

Abstract: A method of breaking oil-in-water emulsions involving treating such oil-in-water emulsions with a polycationic water-soluble condensation copolymer. Treatment with the copolymer transforms the emulsified oil particles into flocs which may be directly removed or which may be removed after the addition of one or more flocculants.