Abstract: A materials management system and method configured to handle materials events is provided. The materials management system can be configured to receive event information, comprising information pertaining to a hazardous materials event, to store data pertaining to a plurality of hazardous materials, to retrieve stored data based on the event information and to generate a materials event response based on the retrieved information. According to one embodiment, the materials management system can include an automated telephonic interface for accepting caller input and facilitating system responses.

Abstract: This invention is directed to coated water-swellable materials, typically solid, particulate, water-swellable materials, i.e. materials that comprise hydrogel-forming polymers, whereof at least a part is coated with a coating, which substantially does not break when the polymers swell, as set out in the method herein. Said coating is present at a level of at least 1% by weight of the water-swellable material. The coating comprises preferably an elastomeric polymeric material. The invention also relates products, e.g., disposable absorbent articles, comprising such coated water-swellable material.

Abstract: A foam-generating kit contains a non-aerosol container with a foam-generating dispenser and a high surfactant microemulsion or protomicroemulsion composition having at least 20 wt % of a surfactant system and 0.5 wt % glycerol.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an absorbent structure comprising a solid, typically particulate, water-swellable material that comprises coated water-swellable, preferably hydrogel-forming polymers, which are coated with a coating agent, which is such that it does not rupture when the polymers swell in a liquid, e.g., water or saline water. Hereto, the coating agent is extensible in wet state and comprises thereto a wet-extensible material that has a wet-elongation of at least 400% or even at least 500%, and preferably a tensile stress at break in the wet state of at least 1 MPa. Typically, the coating agent comprises thereto an elastomeric polymeric material.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved water-swellable material that can significantly withstand deformation by an external pressure, thus showing improved liquid handling properties. In particular, this invention relates to water-swellable material with an improved absorbent capacity/permeability balance. This invention also relates to a water-swellable material, comprising water-swellable polymers and elastomeric polymers, said material being typically in the form of particles, which comprise a core of water-swellable polymer(s) and a shell of said elastomeric polymer(s), whereby the water-swellable material is such that it can withstand deformation due to external pressure. The invention also relates to a specific process of making the specific water-swellable material of the invention.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a plastidic phosphoglucomutase protein is disclosed. Also disclosed is the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a substantial portion of the plastidic phosphoglucomutase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the plastidic phosphoglucomutase in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to additives for coal-fired furnaces, particularly furnaces using a layer of slag to capture coal particles for combustion. The additive(s) include iron, mineralizer(s), handling aid(s), flow aid(s), and/or abrasive material(s). The iron and mineralizers can lower the melting temperature of ash in low-iron, high alkali coals, leading to improved furnace performance.

Abstract: A filter block having a permeability of greater than about 3.0*10?9 cm2, and a F-VLR of greater than about 99% is provided. The filter block may be made of filter particles having a median particle size of less than about 50 microns and having a particle span of about 1.4 or less. The filter blocks of the present invention can be used to make a filter for filtering liquids and more specifically, for providing potable water. The filter particles may be mesoporous. Kits comprising filters and information relating to the killing or removal of bacteria, viruses, and microbials are also provided.

Abstract: An exhaust processor (12) comprises an isolated interior volume (16) that is defined in a housing (18) of the exhaust processor (12) so as to be isolated from exhaust gas in the housing (18). A motion converter (20) is positioned in the isolated interior volume (16) and is configured to convert in the isolated interior volume (16) linear movement of a linear valve actuator (22) into rotation of an exhaust valve (17). A cushioning pad (120, 122, 320, 420) can be used in a variety of exhaust processors (12, 212) to facilitate positioning of the exhaust valve (17). An associated method is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention is directed to coated water-swellable materials, typically solid, particulate, water-swellable materials, i.e. materials that comprise hydrogel-forming polymers, whereof at least a part is coated with a coating, which substantially does not break when the polymers swell, as set out in the method herein. Said coating is present at a level of at least 1% by weight of the water-swellable material. The coating comprises preferably an elastomeric polymeric material. The invention also relates products, e.g., disposable absorbent articles, comprising such coated water-swellable material.

Abstract: A method of using an electric stainbrush for cleaning inanimate surfaces is provided. The electric stainbrush includes a handle having a motor disposed therein, a head having a longitudinal axis, and a neck disposed between the handle and the head. First and second bristle holders are associated with the head. The first bristle holder oscillates or rotates. The second bristle holder reciprocates in generally the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the head but does not rotate or oscillate. The motor is operatively connected to the first and second bristle holders.

Abstract: A process of extracting carotenoids from a source of fruit or vegetable processing waste including the steps of: admixing the source, a first organic solvent and a surfactant to form a slurry, whereby surface tension in tissue cell structure of the source is decreased, enhancing penetration of the surfactant into the tissue cell structure so that the carotenoids and the surfactant may form a combination; treating the slurry with a second organic solvent which solubilizes the combination; separating the treated slurry into a liquid fraction and a solid fraction; and separating a first portion from the liquid fraction, the first portion including a solution of the second organic solvent and the combination.

Abstract: This invention relates to isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding high affinity nitrate transport components. The invention also relates to the construction of recombinant DNA constructs encoding all or a portion of nitrate transport components, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the recombinant DNA construct may alter levels of the nitrate transport components in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding an ammonium transporter. The invention also relates to the construction of a recombinant DNA constructencoding all or a portion of ammonium transporters, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the recombinant DNA construct may alter levels of the ammonium transporter in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a plant cysteine ? synthase. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the plant cysteine ? synthase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the plant biosynthetic enzyme in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a cellulose synthase. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the cellulose synthase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the cellulose synthase in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing video data are disclosed herein and may include determining a first video format associated with video data to be displayed on a first video display communicatively coupled to a single mobile multiple media processor that supports a plurality of display formats. The single mobile multiple media processor may be integrated within a mobile device. An amount of the video data that is transferred from memory to the first video display, by a DMA controller, may be restricted based on the determined first video format associated with the video data to be displayed on a first video display. Only the restricted amount of the video data that is to be displayed by the first video display may be transferred from the memory to the first video display by the DMA controller.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a cellulose synthase. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the cellulose synthase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the cellulose synthase in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: An isolated polynucleotide encoding a plant cysteine synthase is disclosed. Also disclosed is the construction of a recombinant construct comprising all or part of a coding or non-coding region of the isolated polynucleotide for use in co-suppression or antisense suppression of endogenous nculeic acid sequences encoding polypeptides having cysteine synthase activity. In another aspect, use of this construct to alter levels of cysteine synthase in a plant is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding an ammonium transporter. The invention also relates to the construction of a recombinant DNA constructencoding all or a portion of ammonium transporters, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the recombinant DNA construct may alter levels of the ammonium transporter in a transformed host cell.