Abstract: An optical stack for sensing a presence of an analyte is provided. The optical stack includes a sensor material. The sensor material includes a first optical response including a first optical property having a second value in response to an excitation signal including the first optical property having a first value different from the second value. The first optical response includes a second optical property sensitive to the presence of the analyte. The optical stack includes a first optical film disposed proximate the sensor material and includes a third optical property having respective third and fourth values in response to the respective first and second values of the first optical property. The third value is different from the fourth value by at least a factor of 2.

Abstract: There are provided method and system for identifying and modifying behavior. The method comprises: receiving information relating to a first user's behavior; analyzing the first behavior information to identify first behavioral risk indicators indicative of statistically significant changes in behavior of the first user; and when the identified first behavioral risk indicators meet predefined risk criteria, initiating actions configured to cause the first user to change behavior in the risk activity.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as a server, configured to receive information relating to a first user's behavior and to analyze this to identify one or more behavioral risk indicators comprising statistically significant behavioral changes. The apparatus is also configured to determine one or more similarities between the first user's behavior information and stored information relating to the behavior of one or more second users. Moreover, based on the one or more determined similarities, the apparatus is configured to determine a likelihood of the first user exhibiting a behavior in a risk activity which was exhibited by the one or more second users, and to initiate one or more actions configured to cause the first user to change their behavior in the risk activity.

Abstract: A microwave water heater, which utilizes a triple plenum design with bi-planar cross-flow to provide uniformly heated water for both baseboard room heating and hot tap water, is adaptable to existing heating/plumbing systems and is readily expandable.

Abstract: An economical attrition resistant granular composition for melting ice and inhibiting corrosion of metals and spalling of Portland Cement Concrete and asphalt comprising primarily a water soluble chloride salt, such as sodium chloride, or magnesium chloride; very small amounts of an oxygen scavenger such as sodium nitrite; a surface deactivating corrosion inhibitor such as sodium borate; and an in-situ formed water soluble phosphate salt such as ammonium phosphate amounting to between 1 and 10 percent exhibiting a property of chemically reacting with metal surfaces to form protective coatings of insoluble metal phosphate salts, the soluble phosphate salt serving as an adhesive and a buffering agent to provide hard granules of ice melter with a pH between 5 and 8. A method of preparing the composition is provided.

Abstract: An intumescent fire retardant graft polyamide polymer aving resistance to dripping on exposure to fire, and the method of making such graft polyamide polymers, comprising from about 10-40 percent by weight of a melamine compound, 40-95 percent of a thermoplastic polyamide polymer, and 1-10 percent of an oligomer containing 1-4 monomer units of, or reactive with, the polyamide polymer. The graft polymer is formed at about the melting temperature of the polyamide. Caprolactam, and adipic acid-hexamethylene diamine oligomers perform well in forming the graft polyamides with melamine compounds. Effective melamine compounds are melamine, melamine cyanurate, melamine phosphate, melamine borate, methylol melamine, and trimelamine isocyanurate. Extraneous materials such as fiber, glass, and antioxidants may be added to affect the physical properties of the product.

Abstract: An improved two step method for producing feeds for ruminant animals whereby carbamides, particularly urea and biuret, are reacted with fermented proteinaceous agricultural products and wastes with the aid of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid catalyst to produce a highly palatable nutritive feed which releases protein and protein equivalent nitrogen in a slow and controlled manner in the rumen.First stage of the method mechanically destroys the cellular structure of the fermented agricultural products and wastes, removes unpalatable acids, aldehydes and amines by stripping with hot gas, and partially completes the adduct-forming reaction between proteinaceous sugars, fats, and cellulose in the fermented material and the carbamides in a homogeneous liquid phase at temperatures of between 80.degree. and 100.degree. C. In the second stage, adduct reaction and drying is completed in a hot gas fluidized reactor at temperatures between 100.degree. and 150.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for producing stable urea-aldehyde polymers with high structural strength from two storable liquid ingredients. In this process, partially cured liquid urea-formaldehyde resin is reacted with an aqueous cross-linking solution comprising one or more alkyl or aryl dialdehydes containing two to eight molecular carbons and the hydrogen ion concentration needed to catalyze the completion of the reaction of the dialdehydes and the urea-formaldehyde. The process for producing urea-aldehyde polymers, having improved structural strength and reduced aldehyde vapor emission during their production and prolonged use, is especially effective for manufacturing products for the building industry, such as urea-aldehyde insulating foam, wood-filled particle board, and plywood. The increased polymer strength and the elimination of the hazardous and objectionable aldehyde odor is achieved by maintaining the molecular ratio of total aldehyde moieties to urea to about 1.

Abstract: Method of producing a substantially chemically stable urea-formaldehyde foam which comprises preparing a partially cured aqueous urea-formaldehyde resin, modifying the partially cured resin by reacting at pH 4.5 - 5.5 and 70.degree.-110.degree. C with aqueous dialdehyde containing two to six molecular carbons and additional urea with each additive amounting to 1-5 per cent by weight of the modified resin, neutralizing the modified resin to pH 6.7 - 7.5 by addition of aqueous alkali hydroxides or carbonates, combining said neutral modified resin with a froth produced by forcing air through a dilute acidic aqueous surfactant solution to re-activate and complete the cure of the modified resin in the foam, and drying the foam.Glyoxal is the preferred dialdehyde for modifying the urea-formaldehyde foam resin because of its effectiveness at increasing chemical stability of the foam at levels as low as 1.0 per cent.

Abstract: Method of producing a dimensionally stabilized urea-formaldehyde foam which comprises preparing a neutral concentrated partially cured aqueous urea-formaldehyde resin, combining said neutral resin with a froth produced by forcing air through a dilute acidic aqueous surfactant solution to activate the urea-formaldehyde foam cure, immediately thereafter combining the curing urea-formaldehyde foam with a substantially non-ionic liquid additive containing dissolved urea and suspended linearly shaped refractory solid particles, completing the acid catalyzed foam cure, and drying. Foam dimensional stability is maximized when the non-ionic liquid additive contains 10-20% by weight dissolved urea and 10-20% by weight suspended attapulgite clay.

Abstract: According to the invention, a material for the filtration of tobacco smoke by reduction of vapor-phase constituents without adverse effect on the taste of the smoke comprises carbon particles of a size substantially within the range of 300 to 1700 micron, coated over their surfaces, individually and without being bonded together, with a barrier layer which has a thickness within the range of 5 .times. 10.sup.-4 to 0.5 micron and which is discontinuous in that it has a porosity within the range of 7,000 to 200,000 cm.sup.3 /min/10 cm.sup.2 per 10 cm water gauge and a permeability for organic vapors contained in tobacco smoke such that it permits the passage of molecules within the size range 5 .times. 10.sup.-4 to 2 micron, the said layer being composed substantially of an organic non-nitrogen-containing polymeric material which is non-volatile, substantially non-water-soluble and non-toxic. The invention is further concerned with tobacco smoke filters comprising such coated carbon particles.

Abstract: A complete, non-burning, liquid fertilizer suspension, releasing nitrogen as required by plants without damage by high concentrations of contained nitrogen, comprising highly polymerized urea-formaldehyde, water soluble sugars, aliphatic alcohols, and water. To achieve desired properties solids content totals 50-70% by weight; sugars, 3 to 10%; alcohols, 0.05 to 1.0%; and urea to formaldehyde mol ratio is 1.7 to 2.3. Said composition retains pH of 6 to 7, viscosity of 200 to 350 centipoises, and stable suspension character until applied, and then stimulates growth of plants, particularly grasses.

Abstract: A process for treating an adipic acid bleed stream obtained in the manufacture of adipic acid, said adipic acid bleed stream consisting mainly of nitric, adipic, glutaric, and succinic acids and a catalyst; the process comprising maintaining said adipic acid bleed stream in aqueous solution, and stripping nitric acid from said aqueous solution with steam at a temperature of about 100.degree.-110.degree. C. while maintaining in said aqueous solution a water to nitric acid weight ratio of at least 6, to remove substantially all of the nitric acid therefrom, thereby forming an aqueous nitric acid free mixture of said dibasic acids and said catalyst which can be safely dehydrated and distilled to produce useful chemicals.

Abstract: A process for preparing an improved urea-formaldehyde concentrate particularly adapted for production of slow-release nitrogenous fertilizers. The improvement is achieved by accurately controlling the buffer strength and the degree of polymerization of the urea-formaldehyde concentrate within specified critical limits. The process can be operated to also produce a different urea-formaldehyde concentrate suitable for use in adhesives.

Abstract: Ammonium polyphosphates having a major portion of the P.sub.2 O.sub.5 content thereof in the form of condensed phosphates are prepared by reacting wet-process phosphoric acid directly with ammonia under specified conditions. It is demonstrated that exchange and recovery of heat from the hot ammonium polyphosphate reaction mixture is critical to allow production of ammonium polyphosphate solutions from orthophosphoric acid and ammonia with polyphosphate contents high enough for chelating inherent impurities during extended periods of storage. Moreover, the present invention avoids substantial corrosion of the equipment.

Abstract: A process for producing a relatively high yield of pure decachlorooctahydro-1,3,4-metheno-2H-cyclobuta(c,d)-pentalen-2-one (C.sub.10 Cl.sub.10 O) having high purity. In particular, the C.sub.10 Cl.sub.10 O is produced without formation of toxic waste streams by condensing two molecules of hexachlorocyclopentadiene with the aid of excess sulfur trioxide in the presence of a catalytic quantity of an antimony compound at a temperature within the range 95.degree.-120.degree.C. and at superatmospheric pressure to form a reaction product and hydrolyzing the reaction product. The hydrolysis is carried out in aqueous alkaline solution having a pH of at least about 9, and at a temperature within the range 85.degree.-115.degree.C. The resulting hydrolysis mixture is acidified to a pH 5-6, preferably 5.4-5.6, to precipitate crystalline product which is filtered, washed and dried. The product C.sub.10 Cl.sub.10 O is an effective insecticide with low toxicity to animals and human beings at prescribed dosages.

Abstract: A stable ammonium polyphosphate fertilizer solution having a relatively high amount of magnesium is prepared by mixing aqueous ammonia with wet-process superphosphoric acid in a reaction zone to give a P.sub.2 O.sub.5 /N weight ratio within the range 3.6-4.0. The temperature of the reaction mixture is preferably maintained at about 50.degree.-70.degree.C. but the product solution should be cooled to about 25.degree.-35.degree.C. prior to storage. The product solution shows relatively low corrosion toward carbon steel storage tanks; however, to further reduce corrosion, the solution is preferably stored under a layer of liquid paraffin hydrocarbons.