Abstract: A method of operating an aluminium electrowinning cell that has one or more metal-based anodes (5). The anodes (5) comprise metal-based foraminate anode bodies (10) which are suspended by metal-based anode stems (20) in a molten electrolyte (50) and which are spaced above a cathode (30). The method comprises electrolysing alumina dissolved in the molten electrolyte (50) by passing current via the anode stems (20) and the anode bodies (10) through the electrolyte (50) to the facing cathode (30) whereby aluminium (60) is cathodically produced and gas is anodically evolved. The gas promotes an electrolyte circulation (51) through the foraminate anode bodies (10) which facilitates dissolution of alumina. Each anode (5) has a foraminate anode body (10) suspended by least three anode stems (20) that are spaced apart from one another and distributed around a foraminate stemless central part of the anode body (10).

Abstract: A method for authenticating a user involves receiving a request from the user to access a resource, where the resource is associated with at least one authentication requirement, determining a trust level associated with access to the resource, obtaining user credentials based on the trust level associated with the resource, selecting an authentication method for authenticating the user based on the trust level associated with the resource, generating user authentication information based on the trust level associated with the resource and the user credentials obtained, where user authentication information relates to the user's environment while accessing the resource, sending the user authentication information to the resource, and granting access to the resource, if the user authentication information meets the at least one authentication requirement of the resource.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention may include a medical device. The medical device may include a flexible tube, an elongate member configured to cut tissue and extend from the flexible tube, and a cauterizing member configured to cauterize tissue and to move relative to the elongate member and the flexible tube. The cauterizing member may substantially surround at least a portion of the elongate member.

Abstract: Disclosed are oral care products that consumers can directly customize according to their needs and preferences. The consumer selects a base oral care product and one or more customization agents to add to the base product to make a customized product that provides the desired therapeutic and aesthetic benefits and in-use experience. The base oral care product to be customized includes dentifrice, toothpaste, tooth gel, subgingival gel, mouthrinse, mouthspray, tooth whitening gel, denture product, and dental floss or tape. The customization agent comprises a component selected from oral care actives; flavors; sweeteners; materials affecting taste, mouthfeel, smell or other sensation such as essential oils, coolants and warming agents; product aesthetic agents such as colorants, opacifiers, speckles and texture or rheology modifying agents; and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A novel system and method for determining a qualified loan applicant is disclosed. In one embodiment, applicant information and potential first liens are compared to determine candidate first liens based on applicant information. Debt-to-income ratio requirement information associated with the candidate first liens is stored. Candidate second liens associated with the candidate first liens are determined, and the debt-to-income ratio of the combination of the candidate first and second liens is determined. Qualifying combinations are determined by comparing the debt-to-income ratio to the stored debt-to-income ratio requirement. In another embodiment, candidate first liens are organized by common characteristics and outputted with associated second liens. Other embodiments, such as optimizations on the system and method, are disclosed herein.

Abstract: A cell for electrowinning aluminium from alumina, comprises: a metal-based anode having an electrochemically active outer part comprising a layer that contains predominantly cobalt oxide CoO; and a fluoride-containing molten electrolyte in which the active anode surface is immersed. The electrolyte is at a temperature below 950° C., in particular in the range from 910° to 940° C. The electrolyte consists of: 6.5 to 11 weight. % dissolved alumina; 35 to 44 weight % aluminium fluoride; 38 to 46 weight % sodium fluoride; 2 to 15 weight % potassium fluoride; 0 to 5 weight % calcium fluoride; and 0 to 5 weight % in total of one or more further constituents.

Abstract: An anode for electrowinning aluminium comprises an electrically conductive substrate that is covered with an applied electrochemically active coating comprising a layer that contains predominantly cobalt oxide CoO. The CoO layer can be connected to the substrate through an oxygen barrier layer, in particular containing copper, nickel, tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum and/or niobium.

Abstract: An anode for electrowinning of aluminium from alumina comprises a cobalt-containing metallic outer part that is covered with an integral oxide layer containing predominantly cobalt oxide CoO. The integral oxide layer can be formed by surface oxidation of cobalt from the metallic outer part before use.

Abstract: An integrated communications system. A substrate having a receiver disposed on the substrate for converting a received signal to an IF signal, a digital IF demodulator disposed on the substrate and coupled to the receiver for converting the IF signal to a demodulated baseband signal, and a transmitter disposed on the substrate operating in cooperation with the receiver to establish a two way communications path.

Abstract: A carbon body has an aluminium-wettable outer part that is made of a carbon-rich mixture containing aluminium-reactable metal-based particles and carbon. The metal-based particles are made of metal oxide particles and/or partly oxidised metal particles. The metal of the metalbased particles is selected from iron, copper, cobalt, nickel, zinc and manganese. The carbon body can be used in an aluminium electrowinning cell, e.g. as a cathode, or in an apparatus for treating molten aluminium and is wetted by molten aluminium during use.

Abstract: An integrated communications system. A substrate having a receiver disposed on the substrate for converting a received signal to an IF signal, a digital IF demodulator disposed on the substrate and coupled to the receiver for converting the IF signal to a demodulated baseband signal, and a transmitter disposed on the substrate operating in cooperation with the receiver to establish a two way communications path.

Abstract: A cell for electrowinning a metal, in particular aluminium, from a compound thereof dissolved in an electrolyte (30) comprises an anode (40) and a cathode (10,11) that contact the electrolyte (30), the cathode (10,11) being during use at a cathodic potential for reducing thereon species of the metal to be produced from the dissolved compound. The electrolyte (30) further contains species of at least one element that is liable to contaminate the product metal (20) and that has a cathodic reduction potential which is less negative than the cathodic potential of the metal to be produced. The cell further comprises a collector (50) for removing species of such element (s) from the electrolyte (30).

Abstract: A signal modification circuit is provided for use with multi-mode formatted data in accordance with a common mode component and a high frequency component formatted in accordance with a differential mode. The circuit includes an active module that modifies the high frequency component to generate a modified and enhanced high frequency component at an output thereof. A bypass line interconnects the inputs and outputs of the active module to bypass the active module. A low pass filter is provided along the bypass line blocking passage of the high frequency component along the bypass line.

Abstract: A test fixture configured to receive an electrical connector is provided that includes a circuit board having a mounting area configured to be joined to an electrical connector. The circuit board has at least two layers. Contacts are provided on the circuit board, and traces extend from the contacts, wherein traces joined to adjacent contacts are distributed between the at least two layers.

Abstract: A cell for the electrowinning of a metal (70) from a compound thereof dissolved in a molten electrolyte comprises: a thermally insulated cell trough (10,20) and a thermally insulated cell cover (30) which are arranged to contain an electrolyte (40) and maintain it in a substantially crustless molten state; and a feeder (50) for feeding a particulate (60) of the metal compound to the molten electrolyte (40). The feeder (50) comprises a feeding tube (51) extending into the cell trough (10,20) and has a tubular end portion (52) which is located between the molten electrolyte (40) and the insulating cell cover (30) and which has a substantially horizontal axial direction. The feeder (50) is arranged to feed the particulate (60) into the feeding tube (51), along the feeding tube (51) and through an opening (53) in the tubular end portion (52) from where it is delivered over the molten electrolyte (40).

Abstract: In a wireless communication system having sometimes mobile subscriber units and a plurality of fixed network devices located at cell sites, a multimode acquisition protocol is provided at each subscriber unit which first senses whether the subscriber unit is static or mobile from the nature and quality of the communication links with nearby network devices and then enables an acquisition protocol suited to either static mode or mobile mode. In a specific embodiment, the protocol initiates procedures to change acquisition mode from static to mobile upon failure of the subscriber unit to sense three consecutive scheduled polling packets sent by a linked network device or upon loss of communication with any locally-known network device or upon failure to transmit 25 consecutive data packets. In such case, the procedure is initiated to determine whether it is appropriate to switch to a mobile mode for purposes of acquisition.

Abstract: In a wireless communication system having sometimes mobile subscriber units and a plurality of fixed network devices located at cell sites, a multimode acquisition protocol is provided at each subscriber unit which first senses whether the subscriber unit is static or mobile from the nature and quality of the communication links with nearby network devices and then enables an acquisition protocol suited to either static mode or mobile mode. In a specific embodiment, the protocol initiates procedures to change acquisition mode from static to mobile upon failure of the subscriber unit to sense three consecutive scheduled polling packets sent by a linked network device or upon loss of communication with any locally-known network device or upon failure to transmit 25 consecutive data packets. In such case, the procedure is initiated to determine whether it is appropriate to switch to a mobile mode for purposes of acquisition.

Abstract: A method of forming a dense and crack-free hematite-containing protective layer on a metal-based substrate for use in a high temperature oxidising and/or corrosive environment comprises applying onto the substrate a particle mixture consisting of: 60 to 99 95 weight %, in particular 70 to 95 weight % such as 75 to 85 weight %, of hematite with or without iron metal and/or ferrous oxide; 1 to 25 weight %, in particular 5 8 to 20 weight % such as 8 to 15 weight %, of nitride and/or carbide particles, such as boron nitride, aluminium nitride or zirconium carbide particles; and 0 to 15 weight %, in particular 5 to 15 weight %, of one or more further constituents that consist of at least one metal or metal oxide or a heat-convertible precursor thereof.

Abstract: A method of forming a dense and crack-free hematite-containing protective layer on a metal-based substrate for use in a high temperature oxidising and/or corrosive environment comprises: (I) applying onto the substrate a mass of particles comprising hematite (Fe2O3) and: (a) iron metal (Fe) with a weight ratio Fe/Fe2O3 of at least 0.3 and preferably below 2, in particular in the range from 0.8 to 1.4; and/or (b) ferrous oxide (FeO) with a weight ratio FeO/Fe2O3 of at least 0.35 and preferably below 2.5, in particular in the range from 0.9 to 1.7; and (II) consolidating the applied mass of particles to form the hematite-containing protective layer by heat treating the mass of particles to: 1) sinter the hematite to form a porous sintered hematite matrix; and 2) oxidise into hematite (Fe2O3) the iron metal (Fe) and the ferrous oxide (FeO) to fill the sintered hematite matrix.

Abstract: A charger for rechargeable batteries has a pair of snap arms for retaining a battery within the pocket of the charger. When the battery is inserted into the charger pocket, the snap arms provide a downward force against the battery, thereby ensuring a sound electrical connection between the battery and electrical contacts disposed within the pocket. In one embodiment, the charger pocket includes a pair of channel apertures in which the snap arms are placed. Upon battery insertion, a flex member of the snap arm deflects, thereby allowing a mating feature of the battery to pass. When the battery is fully inserted, a coupling member of the snap arm exerts a force against the battery, thereby pushing the battery towards the bottom of the pocket.