Abstract: A robotic system for fueling or charging a vehicle having a vehicle connector, the robotic system including a robotic arm having a plurality of sequentially arranged articulated links and at least one group of operating cables extending from a proximal end of the arm to terminate at a control link, for controlling the position of that link, the cables each having a path comprising a passage in each successive more proximal link for closely receiving the cable, a flexible conduit operably connected with the robotic arm for delivering a fluid or an electrical current, respectively, to a vehicle, the conduit being connected to a source at a first end and a delivery connector at a second end, and a control system for operating the robotic arm and the hose or cable, wherein the control system directs the robotic arm to engage the vehicle connector with the delivery connector and, upon engagement of the vehicle connector and delivery connector, the control system relaxes the robotic arm to an under-constrained cond

Abstract: A robotic system for fueling or charging a vehicle having a vehicle connector, the robotic system including a robotic arm having a plurality of sequentially arranged articulated links and at least one group of operating cables extending from a proximal end of the arm to terminate at a control link, for controlling the position of that link, the cables each having a path comprising a passage in each successive more proximal link for closely receiving the cable, a flexible conduit operably connected with the robotic arm for delivering a fluid or an electrical current, respectively, to a vehicle, the conduit being connected to a source at a first end and a delivery connector at a second end, and a control system for operating the robotic arm and the hose or cable, wherein the control system directs the robotic arm to engage the vehicle connector with the delivery connector and, upon engagement of the vehicle connector and delivery connector, the control system relaxes the robotic arm to an under-constrained cond

Abstract: A biofilm disrupting composition for use on chronic wounds comprising (i) at least one biologically acceptable thiol based antioxidant(ii) at least one biofilm disruptor and (iii) at least one biocide. Also disclosed is a process of preparing the composition. Also disclosed is the use of the composition for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a chronic wound, and a method of treating a chronic wound in a patient comprising administering the biofilm disrupting composition.

Abstract: A biofilm disrupting composition for use in treating biofilm-mediated infections due to non-Pseudomonas micro-organisms in the Cystic Fibrosis patient. One embodiment of the composition of the invention comprises at least one biologically acceptable thiol based antioxidant and at least one antibiotic. Another embodiment of the composition of the invention comprises at least one biologically acceptable thiol based antioxidant, at least one enzyme and at least one antibiotic. The invention is also directed to the process of preparing the composition of the invention, the use of the composition for the manufacture of a medicament for disrupting biofilms formed by non-Pseudomonad micro-organisms, and a method of disrupting biofilm formed by non-Pseudomonad micro-organisms in a patient, comprising administering to the patient the composition of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removing dry surface biofilm from a surface. The process comprises: (i) dissolving a powder-based composition into water wherein the powder-based composition comprises: a) a hydrogen peroxide source, b) an acetyl donor, c) an acidifying agent, and d) a wetting agent; (ii) allowing the solution to generate a biocidally effective concentration of peracetic acid; (iii) contacting the dry surface biofilm contaminated surface with the solution of peracetic acid for a period of time; and (iv) removing the solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous cleaning and/or sanitising composition comprising (a) at least one biocidal component (b) a polymeric delayed release additive, and (c) at least one surfactant, wherein said composition dries onto a surface being cleaned to form a dry residue and wherein properties of said dry residue are tailored by manipulation of brittleness of the polymeric delayed release additive through identity and/or quantity of the biocidal component and/or surfactant selected. The composition is intended for the cleaning and/or sanitisation of carpet, upholstery or other textiles. The invention also relates to a method of controlling the friability of the dried residue of the composition. The invention also relates to a method of cleaning and/or sanitising a textile article by applying the composition of the invention to said article, and a process of preparing said cleaning and/or sanitising composition.

Abstract: A cleaning composition comprising: a. At least one alkanolamine b. At least one mineral acid c. At least one salt of a hydroxycarboxylic acid d. At least one protease enzyme; wherein said composition contains no surfactant.

Abstract: A cleaning composition comprising: a. At least one alkanolamine b. At least one mineral acid c. At least one salt of a hydroxycarboxylic acid d. At least one protease enzyme; wherein said composition contains no surfactant.

Abstract: Fluid conveying pipes and processes of forming such pipes using friction stir welding. The fluid conveying pipes are formed from a pipe section that includes a first barrel coaxially and concentrically disposed within a second barrel. The first barrel and the second barrel are each formed from one or more sections or plates where longitudinal extending facing edges of the plates are friction stir welded (FSW) together along a seam(s) that extends longitudinally from the first end to the second end thereof. A plurality of the pipe sections can be connected together end to end using circumferential FSW seams to form a pipe.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for use in purchasing products from media content displayed on a media display device. As an example, a consumer can select a portion of the media content, showing a desired product for purchase, while the media content is displayed at the media display device. The product is then identified, at the media display device, based on metadata of the selected portion of the media content in which the product was shown. Descriptive content for the identified product is then displayed at the media display device, and an option to purchase the product is provided to the consumer.

Abstract: Fluid conveying pipes and processes of forming such pipes using friction stir welding. The fluid conveying pipes are formed from a pipe section that includes a first barrel coaxially and concentrically disposed within a second barrel. The first barrel and the second barrel are each formed from one or more sections or plates where longitudinal extending facing edges of the plates are friction stir welded (FSW) together along a seam(s) that extends longitudinally from the first end to the second end thereof. A plurality of the pipe sections can be connected together end to end using circumferential FSW seams to form a pipe.

Abstract: A disinfectant solution comprising: an aldehyde; a polyol; one or more acetal derivatives formed by reaction of said aldehyde with said polyol; one or more surfactants selected from the general classes anionic, cationic, or non-ionic; one or more pH buffering agents selected from the group consisting of monosodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, trisodium phosphate, sodium tetraborate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate, phosphoric acid, boric acid and citric acid. The invention also relates to a process of producing the disinfectant solution, and a method of disinfecting and/or sterilizing heat sensitive medical devices comprising treating the medical devices with the disinfectant solution of the invention.

Abstract: Array amplitude modulation which includes mapping a data symbol to a phase modulation signal and an amplitude modulation signal for transmission from antenna elements; applying the phase modulation signal to the antenna element amplifiers; and generating a pattern of enabling/disabling the antenna element amplifiers as a function of the amplitude modulation to produce a phase and amplitude modulated transmission from the antenna elements.

Abstract: A method for distributing a time- and location-based offer to a consumer includes: storing coupons and locations, each location including at least one geographic position; receiving a location from a device at an entry time; identifying a specific location where the included geographic position is in proximity to the location of the device; identifying at least one stored coupon corresponding to the specific location; calculating an elapsed time based on the amount of time passed since the entry time; and distributing, to a consumer and/or the device, the at least one stored coupon when a time threshold for the coupon is met or exceeded by the elapsed time, where the calculating and distributing are performed until the device has left the geographic position. Coupons may also be distributed based on aggregated time at a location or category of locations, or aggregated time of a group of consumers.

Abstract: A disinfectant solution comprising: an aldehyde; a polyol; one or more acetal derivatives formed by reaction of said aldehyde with said polyol; one or more surfactants selected from the general classes anionic, cationic, or non-ionic; one or more pH buffering agents selected from the group consisting of monosodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, trisodium phosphate, sodium tetraborate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate, phosphoric acid, boric acid and citric acid. The invention also relates to a process of producing the disinfectant solution, and a method of disinfecting and/or sterilizing heat sensitive medical devices comprising treating the medical devices with the disinfectant solution of the invention.

Abstract: Array amplitude modulation which includes mapping a data symbol to a phase modulation signal and an amplitude modulation signal for transmission from antenna elements; applying the phase modulation signal to the antenna element amplifiers; and generating a pattern of enabling/disabling the antenna element amplifiers as a function of the amplitude modulation to produce a phase and amplitude modulated transmission from the antenna elements.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the preparation of a polymerizable composition comprising a cross-linker and a polymerizable monomer of formula (I) comprising (i) contacting a compound of formula (II) with an acid such as an imobilized acid; and (ii) neutralizing product of (i) such that a crosslinker is formed.

Abstract: Gene expression patterns were analyzed in CD40-sensitive and CD40-resistant diffuse large-cell B-lymphoma (DLCBL) cell lines to identify signaling pathways which are involved in CD40-mediated apoptosis. CD40-resistant lines expressed pre-B cell markers including RAG and VPREB, whereas CD40-sensitive cells resembled mature B-cells and expressed higher levels of transcripts encoding several members of the CD40 signaling pathway including LCK and VAV. In addition, CD40 sensitive DLCBL cell lines also displayed constitutive activation of ERK and failed to undergo apoptosis when ERK phosphorylation was inhibited. In contrast, CD40 resistant lines showed no constitutive activation of ERK and no increase in ERK activity in response to CD40 stimulation. The invention includes methods to differentiate between CD40-sensitive and CD-40 resistant cells based on these differences in gene expression.

Abstract: The invention features a method of inducing an apoptosis-resistant cell to undergo apoptosis, in which the cell is associated with an autoimmune disease such as multiple sclerosis. The method involves sensitizing the cell to apoptosis stimuli by treating the cell with an IAP antisense oligonucleotide, so that the cell undergoes apoptosis at a site of autoimmune disease.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the preparation of a polymerisable monomer of formula (I) comprising contacting a compound of formula (II) with an acid such as an immobilised acid.