Abstract: A seating control device for a valve, comprising: a vessel for containing a fluid; an upper snubber element translatably receivable in the vessel for controlling the seating velocity of a valve associated therewith; and a lower snubber element translatably receivable in the vessel, adjacent the upper snubber element, presenting a surface to the upper snubber element, for controlling the seating of the valve.

Abstract: The process for converting a copper sulphide matte to blister copper, is achieved by adding the copper sulphide matte and flux to a suitable agitated slag phase; and injecting, from a discharge tip at the lower end of a top-submerged lance, an oxidizing gas suitable for reacting with the matte to produce blister copper which forms or adds to a continuous blister copper phase below the slag phase. The lance tip is located within the slag phase at a depth enabling the injected gas to agitate the slag phase, and to react with copper sulphide matte dispersed therein, while precluding a substantial proportion of the gas from contacting the continuous blister copper phase.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for blind docking an electronic device or module with an electrical connector, for example within a rack for a computer system. A forwardly-directed power connector is secured to a distal end of at least one rail or shelf bracket for blind docking with a rearwardly-directed power connector on the electronic module. The shelf bracket securing the forwardly-directed electrical connector is included in a pair of longitudinally-extending shelf brackets secured to opposing vertical side walls of a rack at a common elevation to form a module bay. The electronic module may slide along the shelf bracket until a rearwardly-directed power connector of the electronic module blind docks with the forwardly-directed power connector. A boss or alignment stud may be included on the bracket to improve alignment of the connectors. The forwardly-direct electrical connector may also be secured to the bracket with a floating connection to enable minor adjustments in alignment during blind docking.

Abstract: The present invention relates to haploid oil palm plants and homozygous doubled haploid oil palm plants. The invention also relates to methods for producing and selecting haploid and doubled haploid plants. More particularly, but not exclusively, the method may be used for selecting haploid and doubled haploid oil palm plants. Haploid and doubled haploid plants are selected by a large-scale screening based on a combination of the phenotype with the use of molecular methods combined with flow cytometry techniques to identify haploid and doubled haploid plants. More particularly, a method for selecting haploid and doubled haploid plants is described comprising: (a) germinating seeds; (b) selecting seedlings with atypical phenotype; (c) assessing heterozygosity using markers; (d) isolating cells from the seedlings and determining the DNA content of the cells; and (e) isolating and purifying the DNA and using defined molecular markers to characterise the genotype of the plant.

Abstract: A process for producing iron metal and slag by smelting iron-containing source material, having iron present as oxide and/or a partially metalized state, in a reactor containing a molten bath comprising or having a slag phase, utilises injection of fuel/reductant and oxygen-containing gas into the slag, by at least one top-submerged lance, to generate heating and reducing conditions in at least one reducing region in the bath. The source material is fed to the reactor, together with additional reductant and with flux, at or adjacent to the at least one reducing region, to subject the source material to smelting reduction which generates combustion gases comprising CO and H2. The rates of injection of the oxygen-containing gas and fuel/reductant by said at least one lance are controlled to achieve required, sufficient reducing conditions; and, in the reactor above the bath, the combustion gases generated by the smelting are post-combusted.

Abstract: A weather-resistant titanium dioxide pigment particularly suitable for use in engineering plastics, as well as to a method for its manufacture and to polymers containing the pigment. The titanium dioxide is provided with a surface coating that, from the inside to the outside, displays a SiO2 layer, an Al2O3 layer and an organic layer, where the maximum total Al2O3 content is 2.4% by weight and the organic layer contains at least one compound from the group comprising H-siloxanes, silicone oils and organically functionalised polysiloxanes. The manufacturing method is characterised in that an aqueous suspension of Al-doped titanium dioxide particles is milled in an agitator mill, and a SiO2 layer and an Al2O3 layer are then applied in batch mode, after which an organic layer is applied that contains at least one compound from the group comprising H-siloxanes, silicone oils and organically functionalised polysiloxanes.

Abstract: Methods and systems for seamlessly integrating an end-to-end acquisition process using a flexible data structure are disclosed. A flexible data structure consistent with these methods and systems may connect the buyer's requirement to the vendor's proposed solution, facilitating a requirement-by-requirement evaluation process allowing buyers to evaluate content as well as price of a proposal. Embodiments of the present invention standardize the format of proposals, allowing buyers to more easily compare vendors' proposals side-by-side. Still other embodiments of the present invention produce an error checking report to further aid vendors in improving proposals and buyers in evaluating proposals.

Abstract: Methods and systems for seamlessly integrating an end-to-end acquisition process using a flexible data structure are disclosed. A flexible data structure consistent with these methods and systems may connect the buyer's requirement to the vendor's proposed solution, facilitating a requirement-by-requirement evaluation process allowing buyers to evaluate content as well as price of a proposal. Embodiments of the present invention standardize the format of proposals, allowing buyers to more easily compare vendors' proposals side-by-side. Still other embodiments of the present invention produce an error checking report to further aid vendors in improving proposals and buyers in evaluating proposals.

Abstract: An entertainment device comprises a display generator arranged to generate for display a representation of an on-line virtual environment comprising one or more avatars corresponding to users of one or more remote entertainment devices each interacting with that online virtual environment, a network communicator operable to receive data representative of the actions of other users within the on-line virtual environment and to receive content sourced from one or more users of the one or more remote entertainment devices interacting with that online virtual environment, an input device operable by the user to instigate a reporting event and a content identifier operable to generate information indicative of content sourced from one or more users of the one or more remote entertainment devices and that was available to the entertainment device when the reporting event was instigated, and in which the network communicator is operable to transmit a report to a remote device comprising said generated information.

Abstract: Methods and systems for seamlessly integrating an end-to-end acquisition process using a flexible data structure are disclosed. A flexible data structure consistent with these methods and systems may connect the buyer's requirement to the vendor's proposed solution, facilitating a requirement-by-requirement evaluation process allowing buyers to evaluate content as well as price of a proposal. Embodiments of the present invention standardize the format of proposals, allowing buyers to more easily compare vendors' proposals side-by-side. Still other embodiments of the present invention produce an error checking report to further aid vendors in improving proposals and buyers in evaluating proposals.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) are disclosed. Compounds according to the invention bind to and are agonists, antagonists or inverse agonists of the CB2 receptor, and are useful for treating inflammation. Those compounds which are agonists are additionally useful for treating pain.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) are disclosed. Compounds according to the invention bind to and are agonists, antagonists or inverse agonists of the CB2 receptor, and are useful for treating inflammation. Those compounds which are agonists are additionally useful for treating pain.

Abstract: An assay to detect a metalloprotease in a sample, comprising contacting the sample with a substrate. The metalloprotease reacts with the substrate to form a product comprising a tag. This is followed by selectively binding the tag to a solid phase, wherein the solid phase comprises a binding partner for the tag. Measuring the mass of the product takes place to determine the presence of the metalloprotease in the sample.

Abstract: A method for the detection of the presence or risk of cancer in a patient, comprises the steps of: (i) isolating a sample of the patient's genome; and (ii) detecting the presence or expression of the gene characterized by any of the nucleotide sequences identified as SEQ ID No 1, SEQ ID No. 10 and SEQ ID No. 13 wherein the presence or expression of the gene indicates the presence of or the risk of cancer.

Abstract: Rack assemblies and methods for cooling one or more rack-based computer systems, as well as data center configurations that utilize the rack assembly. The rack assembly comprises a rack providing support for multiple columns of heat-generating electronic devices and device fans for moving air from an air inlet side of the rack through the devices and through an air outlet side of the rack. The rack assembly also comprises a unitary door having a support frame spanning the air outlet side of the rack and hingedly coupling the door to a rear vertical edge of the rack. The door includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger panel spanning an air outlet passage inside the support frame so that substantially all of the air passing through the air outlet must pass through the heat exchanger panel. The air outlet passage has a cross-sectional area that is substantially equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of the multiple columns of heat-generating devices.

Abstract: A diagnostic method is disclosed which can he used to predict the risk of cancer, in particular breast cancer. The method comprises: (i) isolating a sample of the patient's genome: and (ii) detecting the presence or expression of the gene comprised within the sequence identified herein as SEQ ID No. 1, wherein the presence or expression of the gene indicates the presence of or the risk of cancer.

Abstract: A method of attaching an integrated circuit chip to a module and a resultant structure. The method includes placing a solder bump tape between the chip and the module, the solder bump tape including an array of solder columns embedded in a dielectric sheet; aligning and contacting top surfaces of solder columns with respective chip pads of an array of chip pads of the chip and aligning and contacting bottom surfaces of the solder columns with respective module pads of an array of module pads; and reflowing the solder columns to form solder interconnections between chip pads and respective module pads.

Abstract: The invention provides a hapten, an immunogen comprising the hapten coupled to an antigenicity-conferring carrier material, a conjugate comprising the hapten coupled to a labelling agent, as well as, antibodies raised against the aforementioned immunogen and capable of binding with MDMA.

Abstract: A structure and a method. The method includes: forming a dielectric layer on a substrate; forming electrically conductive first and second wires in the dielectric layer, top surfaces of the first and second wires coplanar with a top surface of the dielectric layer; and either (i) forming an electrically conductive third wire on the top surface of the dielectric layer, and over the top surfaces of the first and second wires, the third wire electrically contacting each of the first and second wires, the third wire not detectable by optical microscopy or (ii) forming an electrically conductive third wire between the top surface of the dielectric layer and the substrate, the third wire electrically contacting each of the first and second wires, the third wire not detectable by optical microscopy.

Abstract: A rack for supporting electronic devices and modules with adjustable rails. The rack has a vertical wall with a set of holes at various elevations, each set of holes including at least a proximal hole evenly spaced apart from a distal hole. A longitudinally-extending rail has a set of clips for selectively securing the rail to the vertical wall, wherein the set of clips includes at least a proximal clip selectively receivable in the proximal hole at a selected elevation for supporting a proximal end of the rail and a distal clip selectively receivable in the distal hole at the selected elevation for supporting a distal end of the rail. The system may include a second rail for securing to an opposing vertical wall of the rack to form a shelf or bay for an electronic device. Each rail may be latched in place and can be selectively installed and removed without use of tools.