Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for treating a solution of high osmotic strength, especially seawater and solutions of greater than 20 bar osmotic pressure, by passing the solution through a vessel containing spiral wound reverse osmosis or nanofiltration elements. The vessel contains at least three elements in series and at least two of these elements have standard specific fluxed that differ by at least 50%. The invention allows a more even flux distribution within a filtration system to be obtained, and it may advantageously be combined with variations en element construction and feed spacers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing applications across a server and one or more nodes in a network. When a node is turned on or booted, a node application is requested from the server and loaded on the node. The node application provides a user interface through which other feature applications are selected and run on the node. The node application loads/unloads selected applications and manages node resources for those applications. Each application is developed with a process portion that runs on the server and a user interface portion that is loaded on the node. The node application also provides support to the user interface portion of each application such that the applications may construct user interfaces using the available standards provided by the node application.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method that provides rate controlled insertion of asynchronous data into a synchronous stream in a broadcast system. A calculation of the transmission time for an asynchronous data file is determined from the file size, available data transfer rate, redundancy transmission factor, bandwidth scale factor and connect time latency. Transmission time may be employed to schedule transmission of asynchronous data for use at a predetermined time. Transmission time for multiple files may be combined to determine a transmission start time for a first file such that a last asynchronous file is transmitted by a predetermined time.

Abstract: Methods and systems for handling physical device placement requests are provided. In general, a physical device placement request is any request for information pertaining to placement of a physical device (e.g., a direct access storage device and a PCI card) in a computer system. Illustratively, a request may specify machine specific information, base system information or purchase order information. The user-supplied request information is then combined with configuration information according to predefined rules. The resulting output is placement information which may be returned to the requester.

Abstract: A supply chain logistics model is adapted to educate and train a number of workshop participants in supply chain logistics through interactive role-playing carried out in a simulated supply chain system. The model includes a notional, predefined geographic region where product is manufactured and distributed. Workshop participants role-play a notional customer, manufacturer, and distributor all located within the geographic region. The customer initiates at least one product order cycle in the supply chain system. The manufacturer assembles raw components to create product ordered by the customer. The distributor transports the assembled product from the manufacturer to the customer. Transportation time is simulated based on a predefined time and distance scale. A timer is provided for calculating order cycle delivery time beginning from placement of the product order to receipt by the customer of the assembled product.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing applications across a server and one or more nodes in a network. When a node is turned on or booted, a node application is requested from the server and loaded on the node. The node application provides a user interface through which other feature applications are selected and run on the node. The node application loads/unloads selected applications and manages node resources for those applications. Each application is developed with a process portion that runs on the server and a user interface portion that is loaded on the node. The node application also provides support to the user interface portion of each application such that the applications may construct user interfaces using the available standards provided by the node application.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.

Abstract: Methods and systems for handling physical device placement requests are provided. In general, a physical device placement request is any request for information pertaining to placement of a physical device (e.g., a direct access storage device and a PCI card) in a computer system. Illustratively, a request may specify machine specific information, base system information or purchase order information. The user-supplied request information is then combined with configuration information according to predefined rules. The resulting output is placement information which may be returned to the requester.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method that provides rate controlled insertion of asynchronous data into a synchronous stream in a broadcast system. A calculation of the transmission time for an asynchronous data file is determined from the file size, available data transfer rate, redundancy transmission factor, bandwidth scale factor and connect time latency. Transmission time may be employed to schedule transmission of asynchronous data for use at a predetermined time. Transmission time for multiple files may be combined to determine a transmission start time for a first file such that a last asynchronous file is transmitted by a predetermined time.

Abstract: In an attachment apparatus for a key telephone system of the type which permits a plurality of intercom substations to access a trunk telephone line via a common communication circuit, a novel subset operable switching circuit is disclosed that permits each subset access to said common communication circuit only on an individual one-at-a-time basis. Transistor circuitry is provided to lock out other stations when more than one subset tries to gain access at the same time.

Abstract: An attachment to key telephone system apparatus is disclosed which permits an intercom substation to access a trunk telephone line. This includes an intercom-to-trunk line access unit for coupling telephonic communications between its input and a selected one of a plurality of trunk lines connected to its output. The unit contains a selector, an advancing means and means responsive to at least one dial digit selection type signal at an input for advancing the selector to a trunk line directly or by means of a nonbusy trunk hunting mode of operation. Relay means are provided at a key service unit, responsive to operation of push button switch means at the selected intercom substation, for interrupting the communications circuits between the intercom substation and the intercom circuit in the key service unit and establishing the communication circuits between the intercom substation and the input of the intercom-to-trunk access unit.

Abstract: An attachment to key telephone system apparatus is disclosed which permits an intercom substation to access a trunk telephone line. This includes an intercom-to-trunk line access unit for coupling telephonic communications between its input and a selected one of a plurality of trunk lines connected to its output. The unit contains a selector, an advancing means and means responsive to at least one dial digit selection type signal at an input for advancing the selector to a trunk line directly or by means of a nonbusy trunk hunting mode of operation. Relay means are provided at a key service unit, responsive to operation of push button switch means at the selected intercom substation, for interrupting the communications circuits between the intercom substation and the intercom circuit in the key service unit and establishing the communication circuits between the intercom substation and the input of the intercom-to-trunk access unit.

Abstract: A touch type dial digit selector to rotary type dial digit sender converts touch type dial input information to a rotary type dial output and includes a touch type selector pad having the ten digit selecting push buttons arranged in four rows and three columns and associated row and column switches, an encoder for converting the information represented by the operation of the row and column switches into a four-bit binary code, a storage and pulsing circuit for receiving the digit information, and providing at an output the series of pulses representative of the dialed number. The storage and pulsing circuit includes a strobe input for initiating the registration of the input information by the storage and pulsing circuit. Means responsive to the concurrent operation of at least one row switch and at least one column switch of said touch type selector provide a strobe pulse to said strobe input at the end of a predetermined time interval greater than N seconds.

Abstract: Non-ferrous metals are recovered from metal bearing ores or other metal sources in substantially quantitative yields by treating a finely divided metal bearing material with an aqueous inorganic acid to form a slurry and baking the slurry at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of about 350.degree. to 800.degree.C. or higher under quiescent conditions for a period of time sufficient to convert the non-ferrous metals into soluble salts. The fumes from the baking process are scrubbed with a dilute acid solution to extract volatile metal salts. The residue is leached with an appropriate solution or solutions to recover the soluble metal salts which are then recovered from the solution by conventional techniques.