Abstract: A structure is provided having a floor, and a canopy made from a flexible, substantially air-impermeable material and having a tubular rib. The canopy has an air inlet port by which the interior of the tubular rib can be connected to a source of compressed air, and is movable by the supply of compressed air from a collapsed state in which the tubular rib is deflated to an inflated state in which the tubular rib is inflated and supports the canopy in such a way that the canopy encloses an interior space above the floor and forms a roof and side walls of the structure. The floor has three substantially rigid floor panels which may be arranged together to form a substantially planar floor, or connected together to form the base and sides of a container in which the canopy can be stored when in the collapsed state.

Abstract: A continuous method for improving the firmness of vegetable products uses a continuous vegetable product treatment device comprising a vegetable product treatment chamber having a vegetable product inlet, a vegetable product outlet, a vegetable product transport mechanism for urging the vegetable product toward the vegetable product outlet, and at least one liquid introduction orifice for introducing a liquid. Vegetable product is continuously treated in the chamber at a temperature of from about 125° F. to about 160° F., and the liquid in the treatment chamber is maintained at a pH of from about 5 to about 7. Individual vegetable products reside in the treatment chamber for a time of from about 20 minutes to about 60 minutes. The heat-treated vegetable products are blanched in a subsequent blanching step at a temperature ranging from about 190° F. to 210° F. for a time of from about two to about 10 minutes.

Abstract: An aneurysm closure clip along with a system and method for use by a physician in delivering the closure clip into the vasculature of a patient is disclosed. The closure clip delivery system comprises a delivery tube in the form of a catheter, a guide wire, and a detachable closure clip. The closure clip includes a proximal side and a distal side. The distal side comprises at least two winged elements that interact with the wall of the body vessel to hold the clip in place after delivery. The proximal side includes a seal element and a guide bar. The guide bar is in communication with the guide wire during delivery. The seal element forms a barrier between the aneurysm and the rest of the body vessel, thereby, reducing any pressure exerted on the aneurysm. The seal element and optionally the winged elements include a material layer comprised of bioremodelable material, such as an extracellular matrix material (ECM).

Abstract: A medical device package includes an elongate tubular holder having a first and a second detachable tip, and a medical device positioned within a cavity and contained within the holder via the first and second detachable tips. The medical device has a self-shaping bias and is loaded in opposition to the bias via contact with an inner surface of the holder defining the cavity. The first and second detachable tips may include snap-off tips, such that upon detachment the cavity is opened for removing the medical device. Related methodology is disclosed.

Abstract: A continuous method for improving the firmness of vegetable products uses a continuous vegetable product treatment device comprising a vegetable product treatment chamber having a vegetable product inlet, a vegetable product outlet, a vegetable product transport mechanism for urging the vegetable product toward the vegetable product outlet, and at least one liquid introduction orifice for introducing a liquid. Vegetable product is continuously treated in the chamber at a temperature of from about 125° F. to about 160° F., and the liquid in the treatment chamber is maintained at a pH of from about 5 to about 7. Individual vegetable products reside in the treatment chamber for a time of from about 20 minutes to about 60 minutes. The heat-treated vegetable products are blanched in a subsequent blanching step at a temperature ranging from about 190° F. to 210° F. for a time of from about two to about 10 minutes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for simultaneous optical testing of a plurality of devices under test. These systems and methods may include the use of an optical probe assembly that includes a power supply structure that is configured to provide an electric current to a plurality of devices under test (DUTs) and an optical collection structure that is configured to simultaneously collect electromagnetic radiation that may be produced by the plurality of DUTs and to provide the collected electromagnetic radiation to one or more optical detection devices. The systems and methods also may include the use of the optical probe assembly in an optical probe system to evaluate one or more performance parameters of each of the plurality of DUTs.

Abstract: An aneurysm closure clip along with a system and method for use by a physician in delivering the closure clip into the vasculature of a patient is disclosed. The closure clip delivery system comprises a delivery tube in the form of a catheter, a guide wire, and a detachable closure clip. The closure clip includes a proximal side and a distal side. The distal side comprises at least two winged elements that interact with the wall of the body vessel to hold the clip in place after delivery. The proximal side includes a seal element and a guide bar. The guide bar is in communication with the guide wire during delivery. The seal element forms a barrier between the aneurysm and the rest of the body vessel, thereby, reducing any pressure exerted on the aneurysm. The seal element and optionally the winged elements include a material layer comprised of bioremodelable material, such as an extracellular matrix material (ECM).

Abstract: A medical device package includes an elongate tubular holder having a first and a second detachable tip, and a medical device positioned within a cavity and contained within the holder via the first and second detachable tips. The medical device has a self-shaping bias and is loaded in opposition to the bias via contact with an inner surface of the holder defining the cavity. The first and second detachable tips may include snap-off tips, such that upon detachment the cavity is opened for removing the medical device. Related methodology is disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for simultaneous optical testing of a plurality of devices under test. These systems and methods may include the use of an optical probe assembly that includes a power supply structure that is configured to provide an electric current to a plurality of devices under test (DUTs) and an optical collection structure that is configured to simultaneously collect electromagnetic radiation that may be produced by the plurality of DUTs and to provide the collected electromagnetic radiation to one or more optical detection devices. The systems and methods also may include the use of the optical probe assembly in an optical probe system to evaluate one or more performance parameters of each of the plurality of DUTs.

Abstract: A method of communicating between a central location and multiple well locations is disclosed that includes the steps of stimulating a first well from the central location using a first stimulation fluid through a first fluid line; and simultaneously stimulating a second well from the central location using a second stimulation fluid through a second fluid line. An apparatus for centralized well operations is disclosed that includes a well treatment operations factory which manufactures and pumps a well stimulation fluid; a first connection between a first well location and the well operations factory; a second connection between a second well location and the well operations factory; and means for simultaneously flowing a first stimulation fluid to the first well location and a second stimulation fluid to a second well location. Manifolds for centralized well stimulation are disclosed.

Abstract: An automotive lubricating oil composition containing: (A) an oil of lubricating viscosity in a major amount; and (B) as an additive component in a minor amount, an oil-soluble or oil-dispersible 4-oxobutanoic acid having the moiety —CO(CH2)COOH bonded to (i) a group OR1 where R1 is hydrocarbyl group having 10 to 30 carbon atoms; or (ii) a group X being an aromatic group substituted with at least one hydrocarbyl group having 10 to 30 carbon atoms; or (iii) a group NR2R3 where one or both of R2 and R3 is hydrocarbyl group having from 10 to 30 carbon atoms and one but not both of R2 and R3 may be a hydrogen atom, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A solution to an interference effect problem associated with laser processing of target structures entails adjusting laser pulse energy or other laser beam parameter, such as laser pulse temporal shape, based on light reflection information of the target structure and passivation layers stacked across a wafer surface or among multiple wafers in a group of wafers. Laser beam reflection measurements on a target link measurement structure and in a neighboring passivation layer area unoccupied by a link enable calculation of the laser pulse energy adjustment for a more consistent processing result without causing damage to the wafer. For thin film trimming on a wafer, similar reflection measurement information of the laser beam incident on the thin film structure and the passivation layer structure with no thin film present can also deliver the needed information for laser parameter selection to ensure better processing quality.

Abstract: An automotive lubricating oil composition containing: (A) an oil of lubricating viscosity in a major amount; and (B) as an additive component in a minor amount, an oil-soluble or oil-dispersible 4-oxobutanoic acid having the moiety —CO(CH2)COOH bonded to (i) a group OR1 where R1 is hydrocarbyl group having 10 to 30 carbon atoms; or (ii) a group X being an aromatic group substituted with at least one hydrocarbyl group having 10 to 30 carbon atoms; or (iii) a group NR2R3 where one or both of R2 and R3 is hydrocarbyl group having from 10 to 30 carbon atoms and one but not both of R2 and R3 may be a hydrogen atom, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A solution to an interference effect problem associated with laser processing of target structures entails adjusting laser pulse energy or other laser beam parameter, such as laser pulse temporal shape, based on light reflection information of the target structure and passivation layers stacked across a wafer surface or among multiple wafers in a group of wafers. Laser beam reflection measurements on a target link measurement structure and in a neighboring passivation layer area unoccupied by a link enable calculation of the laser pulse energy adjustment for a more consistent processing result without causing damage to the wafer. For thin film trimming on a wafer, similar reflection measurement information of the laser beam incident on the thin film structure and the passivation layer structure with no thin film present can also deliver the needed information for laser parameter selection to ensure better processing quality.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a composition for enhancing the dissolution and bioavailable properties of propofol (2,6 diisopropyl phenol) for use as an intravenously administered anesthetic in mammals. The method produces a self-microemulsifyable emulsion base composition that is utilized in the production of a water-based microemulsiori preparation. In a preferred two (2) component base composition, the base composition consists of: a surfactant, containing polyethylene glycol; and liquid propofol. The microemulsion is prepared by mixing the base composition with a carrier liquid, which results in the formation of a microemulsion containing concentrations of propofol of up to about 4% by weight of propofol to the volume of the microemulsion. In a four (4) component base composition, the base composition consists of: a surfactant, containing polyethylene glycol; liquid propofol; a water-immiscible solvent; and ethanol.

Abstract: A method of communicating between a central location and multiple well locations is disclosed that includes the steps of stimulating a first well from the central location using a first stimulation fluid through a first fluid line; and simultaneously stimulating a second well from the central location using a second stimulation fluid through a second fluid line. An apparatus for centralized well operations is disclosed that includes a well treatment operations factory which manufactures and pumps a well stimulation fluid; a first connection between a first well location and the well operations factory; a second connection between a second well location and the well operations factory; and means for simultaneously flowing a first stimulation fluid to the first well location and a second stimulation fluid to a second well location. Manifolds for centralized well stimulation are disclosed.

Abstract: A method (and system) for guaranteeing authenticity of an object, includes providing a sample of material obtainable only by at least one of chemical and physical processes such that the sample is random and not reproducible, associating a number reproducibly to the sample by using a specific reader, and forming at least one coded version of the number, the at least one coded version being obtained by a key signature, and the version being recorded into an area of the object.

Abstract: A lubricating oil composition, comprising as an ester additive component, one or more esters of glycerol and a carboxylic acid such as oleic acid having a defined proportion of monoester, diester and/or triester and an oil-soluble molybdenum compound, which may a trinuclear molybdenum compound.

Abstract: A lubricating oil composition which exhibits improved fuel economy and fuel economy retention which contains a mono-, di- or triester of a tertiary hydroxyl amine and a fatty acid as a friction modifying fuel economy additive.

Abstract: A lubricating oil composition which exhibits improved fuel economy and fuel economy retention which contains a mono-, di- or triester of a tertiary hydroxyl amine and a fatty acid as a friction modifying fuel economy additive.