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: 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: An information technology (IT) architecture upper merged ontology which includes an upper merged ontology that is a representation framework for combined knowledge sources that are used in business and information technology; an upper merged ontology knowledge base containing information derived from an analysis of business and technical services pertaining to the IT architecture application; a plurality of semantic web application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow access to the upper merged ontology as a semantic web; a reasoning and constraint language (RaCL) that is a scripting language having the capabilities of model creation, automated reasoning and search and query operations such that scripts developed in the reasoning and constraint language can execute using the semantic web APIs; and a computer processor for representing and performing execution tasks.

Abstract: A heterogeneous catalyst system, a method of preparing the catalyst system and a method of forming a biodiesel product via transesterification reactions using the catalyst system is disclosed. The catalyst system according to one aspect of the present disclosure represents a class of supported mixed metal oxides that include at least calcium oxide and another metal oxide deposited on a lanthanum oxide or cerium oxide support. Preferably, the catalysts include CaO—CeO2ZLa2O3 or CaO—La2O3/CeO2. Optionally, the catalyst may further include additional metal oxides, such as CaO—La2O3—GdOxZLa2O3.

Abstract: In one aspect, a heterogeneous catalyst comprises calcium hydroxide and lanthanum hydroxide, wherein the catalyst has a specific surface area of more than about 10 m2/g. In another aspect, a heterogeneous catalyst comprises a calcium compound and a lanthanum compound, wherein the catalyst has a specific surface area of more than about 10 m2/g, and a total basicity of about 13.6 mmol/g. In further another aspect, a heterogeneous catalyst comprises calcium oxide and lanthanum oxide, wherein the catalyst has a specific surface area of more than about 10 m2/g. In still another aspect, a process for preparing a catalyst comprises introducing a base precipitant, a neutral precipitant, and an acid precipitant to a solution comprising a first metal ion and a second metal ion to form a precipitate. The process further comprises calcining the precipitate to provide the catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the incorporation of target sequences of microRNAs into the 3? UTR region of a gene of interest in nucleic acid vectors. The invention also provides for an expression system comprising such vectors, a pharmaceutical composition comprising such vectors, as well as methods of treating or preventing cardiovascular disease by using such vectors.

Abstract: An interactive system and method allows game participants to engage in a contest that is subsequently broadcast with a time delay to game observers. The broadcast signal may be for the purpose of a pure entertainment source or may be an enticement to play the shown or other interactive games. The games may be computer simulation games, role-playing games, strategy games, question and answer games, casino games, or other games as desired. The broadcast signals may show a specialized view of the game being played and may contain live commentary or other enhancements. The games may be played with set top boxes connected to a television, a broadcast network, and a server system.

Abstract: A method of forming a product from an oil feedstock, such as a biodiesel product, and a heterogeneous catalyst system used to form said product is disclosed. This catalyst system, which has a high tolerance for the presence of water and free fatty acids (FFA) in the oil feedstock, may simultaneously catalyze both the esterification of FAA and the transesterification of triglycerides present in the oil feedstock. The catalyst system is comprised of a mixture of zinc oxide and a second metal oxide. The zinc oxide includes a mixture of amorphous zinc oxide and zinc oxide nanocrystals, the zinc nanocrystals having a mean grain size between about 20 and 80 nanometers with at least one of the nanocrystals including a mesopore having a diameter of about 5 to 15 nanometers. Preferably, the second metal oxide is a lanthanum oxide, the lanthanum oxide being selected as one from the group of La2CO5, LaOOH, and combinations or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is an interactive system and method whereby participants may engage in a contest that is simultaneously or subsequently broadcast. The broadcast signal may be for the purpose of a pure entertainment source or may be an enticement to play the shown or other interactive games. The games may be computer simulation games, role-playing games, strategy games, question and answer games, casino games, or other games as desired. The broadcast signals may show a specialized view of the game being played and may contain live commentary or other enhancements. The games may be played with set top boxes connected to a television, a broadcast network, and a server system.

Abstract: A protective housing and sound assembly and system are disclosed that allows a user to sync at least one electronic device that will be used while participating in water spots. The device generally comprises a protective housing, an electronic device connection or communications means, a latching mechanism and one or more speakers. Each of the elements of the device allow for a user to operate an electronic device without a concern for damaging the device while participating in water sports or other rugged sports.

Abstract: A method of forming a biodiesel product and a heterogeneous catalyst system used to form said product that has a high tolerance for the presence of water and free fatty acids (FFA) in the oil feedstock is disclosed. This catalyst system may simultaneously catalyze both the esterification of FAA and the transesterification of triglycerides present in the oil feedstock. The catalyst system is comprised of a mixture of zinc oxide and a second metal oxide. The zinc oxide includes a mixture of amorphous zinc oxide and zinc oxide nanocrystals, the zinc nanocrystals having a mean grain size between about 20 and 80 nanometers with at least one of the nanocrystals including a mesopore having a diameter of about 5 to 15 nanometers. Preferably, the second metal oxide is a lanthanum oxide, the lanthanum oxide being selected as one from the group of La2CO5, LaOOH, and combinations or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An information technology (IT) architecture upper merged ontology which includes an upper merged ontology that is a representation framework for combined knowledge sources that are used in business and information technology; an upper merged ontology knowledge base containing information derived from an analysis of business and technical services pertaining to the IT architecture application; a plurality of semantic web application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow access to the upper merged ontology as a semantic web; a reasoning and constraint language (RaCL) that is a scripting language having the capabilities of model creation, automated reasoning and search and query operations such that scripts developed in the reasoning and constraint language can execute using the semantic web APIs; and a computer processor for representing and performing execution tasks.

Abstract: A composite anode for a lithium-ion battery is manufactured from silicon nanoparticles having diameters mostly under 10 nm; providing an oxide layer on the silicon nanoparticles; dispersing the silicon nanoparticles in a polar liquid; providing a graphene oxide suspension; mixing the polar liquid containing the dispersed silicone nanoparticles with the graphene oxide suspension to obtain a composite mixture; probe-sonicating the mixture for a predetermined time; filtering the composite mixture to obtain a solid composite; drying the composite; and reducing the composite to obtain graphene and silicon.

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: A temperature-controlled case is provided including a frame and a door coupled to the frame and pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position. The door includes a passage that interchangeably receives a door closure control assembly at one of the top or the bottom of the door, and an electrical connectivity system at the other of the top or the bottom of the door. The electrical connectivity system includes a first electrical connector coupled to the door, and a second electrical connector coupled to the frame so that the first and second electrical connectors are engaged when the door is coupled to the frame. The door closure control assembly includes a torsion spring that is fixed at one end to the door and fixed at another end to the frame, so that when the door is opened the torsion spring provides an increasing force to urge the door toward the closed position.

Abstract: A modular door system is provided including at least one substantially transparent panel and a frame extending about a perimeter of the panel. The frame includes a pair of horizontal frame elements and a pair of vertical frame elements. One vertical frame element is configured to pivot about a pivot axis so that the other vertical frame element is movable between an open and a closed position. The modular door system further includes at least one receptacle disposed in the frame and a first cartridge removably receivable in the receptacle to facilitate pivoting the one vertical frame element about the pivot axis. The first cartridge is replaceable or interchangeable with at least a second cartridge. The cartridges may provide for the modular door system to be post-formation customized to change, add, or remove certain functionalities or features.

Abstract: Automatic deployment of an information technology (TT) system instance having hardware and software components. An application model of the software components is generated based on use cases and is associated with functional and non-functional requirements. An infrastructure model of the hardware components is generated based on the application model. The same software component modeling language represents both the application and infrastructure models. A markup language computer file is generated to include a design of the IT system instance and instructions for accessing library-stored assets that specify the hardware and software components. The computer file is exported to a deployment tool for automatic deployment of the IT system instance based on carrying out the instructions. In one embodiment, the impact of a proposed change is identified and managed in real time prior to a deployment of the proposed change.

Abstract: Disclosed are biodiesel fuels with improved oxidative stability. Disclosed are biodiesel fuels which comprise two or more antioxidants which increase the oxidative stability of the biodiesel fuel.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and system to dynamically monitor a number of switching ports of a networking device. In one embodiment, a system is disclosed to monitor network traffic comprising a switch port monitoring device comprising a real-time processor, a packet data processor, a packet queue and a storage device. The system also comprises one or more switches coupled to the switch port monitoring device, where at least one of the switches comprising a switch processor, a switch fabric, one or more ingress/egress ports coupled to the switch fabric, and one or more uplink ports coupling the switch packet to the packet queue of the switch port monitoring device.