Abstract: An improved bench system formed of a pair of side frames having a main body portion, a front leg portion, a rear leg portion and a back portion. The side frames having a plurality of openings therein the have a flange that extend into the openings, the openings sized and shaped to receive planks from a first side and end caps from a second side. The end caps include a step that is sized and shaped to receive the flanges in the openings thereby preventing the planks from being pulled through the openings unintentionally. The benches can be themed by making the side frames one color and the end caps another color and adding an emblem to a recessed panel in the side frames. As such an improved bench that is safe and easy to assemble is presented.

Abstract: Materials and methods for converting brown grease to useful diesel fuel are described. One material is a palladium catalyst on a silicon/carbon support. A method comprises flowing fresh hydrogen over a reaction of diluted brown grease on a palladium/carbon catalyst.

Abstract: The invention provides peptides that are chemically modified by covalent attachment of a water-soluble oligomer. A conjugate of the invention, when administered by any of a number of administration routes, exhibits characteristics that are different from the characteristics of the peptide not attached to the water-soluble oligomer.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a wearable monitoring device worn by a user and information indicative of an amount of time the wearable monitoring device was exposed to an environment; extracting one or more compounds from the wearable monitoring device; analyzing the extracted compounds; and, based on the analysis of the extracted compounds and the information indicative of the amount of time, determining information indicative of the user's exposure to the compounds in the environment.

Abstract: The invention provides peptides that are chemically modified by covalent attachment of a water-soluble oligomer. A conjugate of the invention, when administered by any of a number of administration routes, exhibits characteristics that are different from the characteristics of the peptide not attached to the water-soluble oligomer.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance is disclosed and which cooperates with both the upper and lower dental arches of a patient and which includes an archwire coupler which is attached to individual archwires that are releasably attached to the anterior facing surface of a patient's teeth requiring orthodontic treatment; and a multiple section elongated telescoping assembly which is rotatably and releasably coupled to the archwires attached to the upper and lower dental arches of a patient undergoing treatment, and wherein the multiple section elongated telescoping assembly effects movement of the upper dental arch in a rearward direction, and the lower dental arch in a forward direction when the multiple section elongated telescoping assembly is in a given position along a predetermined course of travel.

Abstract: A power connector for a vehicle includes a receptacle with a central opening that can receive a cylindrical connector. Within the central opening are a center contact and a number of electrical contacts arranged in a generally circular configuration around the center contact. The receptacle further includes an extension area on either side of the central opening that hold one or more additional electrical contacts. A pair of covers are configured to open to expose the additional contacts and the center contact with the surrounding circular configuration of contacts. With both covers open, all the contacts in the receptacle are exposed. In one embodiment, the receptacle includes a generally hexagonal faceplate surrounding the receptacle.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a wearable monitoring device worn by a user and information indicative of an amount of time the wearable monitoring device was exposed to an environment; extracting one or more compounds from the wearable monitoring device; analyzing the extracted compounds; and, based on the analysis of the extracted compounds and the information indicative of the amount of time, determining information indicative of the user's exposure to the compounds in the environment.

Abstract: A power connector for a vehicle includes a receptacle with a central opening that can receive a cylindrical connector. Within the central opening are a center contact and a number of electrical contacts arranged in a generally circular configuration around the center contact. The receptacle further includes an extension area on either side of the central opening that hold one or more additional electrical contacts. A pair of covers are configured to open to expose the additional contacts and the center contact with the surrounding circular configuration of contacts. With both covers open, all the contacts in the receptacle are exposed. In one embodiment, the receptacle includes a generally hexagonal faceplate surrounding the receptacle.

Abstract: A decoy system having a body and a head. The body includes an underside having a keel and at least one string attachment member. A string is connected to the string attachment member and a weight. The keel includes a first recess and a second recess. In a storage position, the string is wrapped around the first recess in the keel and the weight clips onto the second recess thereby holding the string and weight in place when in a storage position. The keel and weight are generally low-profile in nature and have a generally flat bottom thereby allowing the decoy to sit upright when used on dry land. The decoy quickly converts to a deployed position where the weight is detached from the keel for use in water. In one arrangement, the graphics on the exterior surface of the body and/or head a applied using a hydro-dipping process.

Abstract: A power connector for a vehicle includes a receptacle with a central opening that can receive a cylindrical connector. Within the central opening are a center contact and a number of electrical contacts arranged in a generally circular configuration around the center contact. The receptacle further includes an extension area on either side of the central opening that hold one or more additional electrical contacts. A pair of covers are configured to open to expose the additional contacts and the center contact with the surrounding circular configuration of contacts. With both covers open, all the contacts in the receptacle are exposed.

Abstract: Mixed metal oxide catalysts (ZnO, CeO, La2O3, NiO, Al203, Si02, TiO2, Nd2O3, Yb2O3, or any combination of these) supported on zirconia (ZrO2) or hydrous zirconia are provided. These mixed metal oxide catalysts can be prepared via coprecipitation, impregnation, or sol-gel methods from metal salt precursors with/without a Zirconium salt precursor. Metal oxides/ZrO2 catalyzes both esterification and transesterification of oil containing free fatty acids in one batch or in single stage. In particular, these mixed metal oxides supported or added on zirconium oxide exhibit good activity and selectivity for esterification and transesterification. The low acid strength of this catalyst can avoid undesirable side reaction such as alcohol dehydration or cracking of fatty acids. Metal oxides/ZrO2 catalysts are not sensitive to any water generated from esterification. Thus, esterification does not require a water free condition or the presence of excess methanol to occur when using the mixed metal oxide catalyst.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a wearable monitoring device worn by a user and information indicative of an amount of time the wearable monitoring device was exposed to an environment; extracting one or more compounds from the wearable monitoring device; analyzing the extracted compounds; and, based on the analysis of the extracted compounds and the information indicative of the amount of time, determining information indicative of the user's exposure to the compounds in the environment.

Abstract: The invention provides peptides that are chemically modified by covalent attachment of a water-soluble oligomer. A conjugate of the invention, when administered by any of a number of administration routes, exhibits characteristics that are different from the characteristics of the peptide not attached to the water-soluble oligomer.

Abstract: An improved bench system formed of a pair of side frames having a main body portion, a front leg portion, a rear leg potion and a back portion. The side frames having a plurality of openings therein the have a flange that extend into the openings, the openings sized and shaped to receive planks from a first side and end caps from a second side. The end caps include a step that is sized and shaped to receive the flanges in the openings thereby preventing the planks from being pulled through the openings unintentionally. The benches can be themed by making the side frames one color and the end caps another color and adding an emblem to a recessed panel in the side frames. As such an improved bench that is safe and easy to assemble is presented.

Abstract: An approach is provided for automatically deploying an information technology (IT) system instance having hardware and software components. Based on components consisting of system context diagrams, component models, operational models, data flow diagrams, and use cases describing functional requirements of the IT system instance, an application model of the software components is generated. Based on the application model and the use cases, an infrastructure model of infrastructure components is generated. Based on the application model and the infrastructure model, a computer file in a markup language is generated. The computer file includes a design of the IT system instance and instructions for accessing library-stored assets specifying the hardware and software components. The computer file is exported to a deployment tool for an automatic deployment of the IT system instance based on carrying out the instructions to access the assets.

Abstract: The invention provides peptides that are chemically modified by covalent attachment of a water-soluble oligomer. A conjugate of the invention, when administered by any of a number of administration routes, exhibits characteristics that are different from the characteristics of the peptide not attached to the water-soluble oligomer.

Abstract: A dowel coated with a heat-activated, B-staged formaldehyde-based resin and a related method of using the resin-coated dowel for joining separate components together.