Abstract: Disclosed is a composition and method which facilitate increased incorporation of meat into a dry food product, such as an extruded pet food kibble. Products made by incorporating the composition provide increased resistance to breakage, excellent palatability, and increased nutritional value.

Abstract: A process for producing non-solid-stated polyester polymer particles having one or more properties similar to polyester polymer particles that have undergone solid-state processing.

Abstract: The present disclosure proposes a method for channel estimation with excellent accuracy for a large variety of channel conditions and with low computational complexity. The method represents a specific combination of a plurality of linear channel estimation schemes. A resulting hybrid channel estimator may retain the low complexity of the constituent estimators while performing same or better than each of the constituent estimators. The proposed simplified hybrid estimator may provide very close error rate performance to the optimal Wiener estimator over a wide range of channel scenarios.

Abstract: There are disclosed polymerization processes and associated apparatuses. The polymerization processes involve both making a polymeric material in a fluidized bed reactor having a feed distributor and catching a spitwad with a spitwad catcher, and the apparatuses are those corresponding to such processes.

Abstract: There are disclosed polymerization processes and associated apparatuses. The polymerization processes involve both making a polymeric material in a fluidized bed reactor having a feed distributor and catching a spitwad with a spitwad catcher, and the apparatuses are those corresponding to such processes.

Abstract: A dryer system configured for use in a polyester polymer production process. In one embodiment, the dryer system can be utilized in a non-solid-state polymer production process to dry the polymer particles prior to crystallization.

Abstract: A process for producing non-solid-stated polyester polymer particles having one or more properties similar to polyester polymer particles that have undergone solid-state processing. In one embodiment, the process comprises (a) forming polyester polymer particles from a polyester polymer melt; (b) quenching at least a portion of the particles, (c) drying at least a portion of the particles, (d) crystallizing at least a portion of the particles, (e) annealing at least a portion of the particles. At all points during and between steps (b) through (e), the average bulk temperature of the particles is maintained above 165° C.

Abstract: A process for producing non-solid-stated polyester polymer particles having one or more properties similar to polyester polymer particles that have undergone solid-state processing.

Abstract: A process for producing non-solid-stated polyester polymer particles having one or more properties similar to polyester polymer particles that have undergone solid-state processing.

Abstract: A process for producing non-solid-stated polyester polymer particles having one or more properties similar to polyester polymer particles that have undergone solid-state processing.

Abstract: A process for producing non-solid-stated polyester polymer particles having one or more properties similar to polyester polymer particles that have undergone solid-state processing.

Abstract: A process for producing non-solid-stated polyester polymer particles having one or more properties similar to polyester polymer particles that have undergone solid-state processing. In one embodiment, the process comprises (a) forming polyester polymer particles from a polyester polymer melt; (b) quenching at least a portion of the particles, (c) drying at least a portion of the particles, (d) crystallizing at least a portion of the particles, (e) annealing at least a portion of the particles. At all points during and between steps (b) through (e), the average bulk temperature of the particles is maintained above 165° C.

Abstract: The present disclosure proposes a method for channel estimation with excellent accuracy for a large variety of channel conditions and with low computational complexity. The method represents a specific combination of a plurality of linear channel estimation schemes. A resulting hybrid channel estimator may retain the low complexity of the constituent estimators while performing same or better than each of the constituent estimators. The proposed simplified hybrid estimator may provide very close error rate performance to the optimal Wiener estimator over a wide range of channel scenarios.

Abstract: A dryer system configured for use in a polyester polymer production process. In one embodiment, the dryer system can be utilized in a non-solid-state polymer production process to dry the polymer particles prior to crystallization.

Abstract: A process for producing non-solid-stated polyester polymer particles having one or more properties similar to polyester polymer particles that have undergone solid-state processing.

Abstract: An insert for a drill bit which includes a diamond impregnated body, and a shearing portion disposed on said body is shown. In addition, a method for forming a drill bit that includes (a) forming a shearing portion on a diamond-impregnated insert body to form a cutting insert, (b) forming a bit body having a plurality of sockets sized to receive a plurality of the cutting inserts, and (c) mounting the plurality of cutting inserts in the bit body and affixing the plurality of cutting inserts to the bit body; wherein steps (a)-(c) are carried out such that a total exposure of the diamond-impregnated insert to temperatures above 1000° F. is greater than a total exposure of the shearing portion to temperatures above 1000° F.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved cutting element for downhole cutting tools including a support element and a beveled shearing element disposed on the support element and a drill bit including the cutting element; a cutting element including a support element and a shearing element disposed on the support element, wherein the shearing element includes TSP, a sharpened cutting edge, and at least one blended edge that forms part of an interface with the support element and a drill bit including the cutting element. Cutting inserts including an insert body and the shearing elements disclosed above are provided. Also provided are methods for forming the cutting elements and drill bit inserts and a method for drilling mixed earth formations using the improved downhole cutting tools of the present invention.

Abstract: An automated biomonitoring system for monitoring water quality includes an exposure chamber for housing an aquatic organism having ventilatory behavior and body movement sensitive to water quality. Electrodes capture electrical signals produced by the organism during its ventilatory behavior and body movement, and a controller responsive to signals from the electrodes determines one or more ventilatory parameters based on the signals. The ventilatory parameters are compared with corresponding thresholds to determine when the water to which the organism is exposed has caused physiological stress to the organism. The signals captured by the electrodes may be corrected for variations in water conductivity so that the signals processed by the controlled are not influenced by conductivity.

Abstract: An improved membrane plate for attaching a membrane to a roof is disclosed. The improved membrane plate includes a plate body portion having a bottom surface for disposing the bottom surface against the membrane and an opening to permit a fastening device to pass therethrough for securing the membrane plate and the membrane to the roof. A plurality of spaced apart lances joined to said plate body portion by a hinged lance edge and extending downwardly from the plate body portion wherein the spaced apart lances are disposed upon the plate body portion to define an oval shape having a longitudinal oval axis. The hinged edges are aligned parallel to the longitudinal oval axis. The membrane plate is subjected to a shear force when attached to the roof and is disposed such that the longitudinal oval axis of the membrane plate is perpendicular to the shear force.

Abstract: A membrane plate for attaching a lower membrane and an adjacent upper membrane overlapping the lower membrane to a roof is provided where the membrane plate includes a plate body having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface adapted to seat against the upper membrane, the bottom surface adapted to seat against the lower membrane, the top surface and the bottom surface separated by at least one wall generally perpendicular to the top surface and the bottom surface, the plate body having a generally centrally located aperture to permit a fastening device to pass through for securing the membrane plate and the membrane to the roof The membrane plate further includes holes in the plate body at least partially located in the generally perpendicular wall to permit air to flow between the top surface to bottom surface of the plate, whereby the holes permits a bubble of air created during the securing of the upper membrane to the lower membranes to the roof by an adhesive, to dissipate through the membra