Abstract: A filter apparatus separates fine particles such as pine needles, threads, hairs and seeds from a liquid influent. A rotating grid assembly has multiple grid sections mounted by top-to-bottom connected links, supporting a filter media having specified openings sufficient for entrainment of miniscule particles. Grid sections are interchanged for collection and discharge of various sized particles using the same apparatus.

Abstract: A hollow fiber-form porous membrane of vinylidene fluoride resin having a high crystallinity as represented by a crystal melting enthalpy of at least 58 J/g is produced by forming a composition of a vinylidene fluoride resin having a relatively high weight-average molecular weight of at least 3×105 blended with a plasticizer and a good solvent for vinylidene fluoride resin, melt-extruding the composition into a hollow fiber-form film, and solidifying the film by cooling it from an outside thereof by contact with a cooling liquid inert to vinylidene fluoride resin while crystallizing the vinylidene fluoride resin at an appropriately moderate speed. The resultant hollow fiber-form porous membrane is excellent in mechanical strength represented by tensile strength and elongation at break, and also excellent in chemical resistance, thus being effectively used as a water micro-filtration membrane.

Abstract: A hydrocyclone separating apparatus has a housing subdivided into a central chamber provided with an input port and a pair of end chambers having respective outlet ports. A plurality of hydrocyclones extend across the central chamber between the end chambers. The hydrocyclones each have an intake in the central chamber and an end output in each of the output chambers. A fluent mixture pumped via the input port into the central chamber is separated by the hydrocyclones into a light fraction exiting one of the end chambers from the respective outlet port and a heavy fraction exiting the other of the end chambers from the respective outlet port. A layer of low-friction durable material such as polytetrafluoroethylene is provided on outer surfaces of the hydrocyclones in the central chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for denitrification of treated wastewater from an aerobic wastewater treatment system in which oxygen levels in the aeration chamber of an aerobic digestion vessel are cycled between an anoxic environment, i.e., when the treated wastewater in the aeration vessel contains from just above 0 to just less than 1 ppm dissolved oxygen to an aerobic environment wherein the treated wastewater in the aeration vessel has a dissolved oxygen content of about 1 ppm or higher.

Abstract: A device and method for performing small volume liquid-liquid extraction. A slug of a liquid specimen is aspirated into a tube, such as a pipette or pipette tip. The slug of the liquid specimen is caused to contact a filament array that resides within the tube. The slug of the liquid specimen is caused to spread across and adhere to individual filaments of the filament array as it is drawn through the tube. A slug of an extracting solvent that is immiscible with the liquid specimen is subsequently aspirated into the tube and contacted with the liquid specimen-covered filaments. The extracting solvent is selected to extract a particular solute(s) from the liquid specimen. The extracting solvent within the tube may be caused to repeatedly traverse the filament array in order to enhance the extraction process. The solute-carrying extracting solvent is subsequently expelled from the tube for separation.

Abstract: When a separation membrane (3) is washed with a chemical solution that is a sodium hypochlorite solution, which has a high concentration, diluted with membrane treated water stored in a chemical solution tank (6), an ammonic nitrogen concentration in membrane-treated water is monitored with a monitoring device (9), and a control device (8) controls a chemical solution dosing pump (7) using the concentration measured by the device (9) to adjust a dilution rate. Thereby, even when water quality of membrane-treated water varies, a sodium hypochlorite concentration in backwashing water can be retained constant, and fluctuation in the chemical washing effect can be prevented.

Abstract: A system, program product and method continuously optimize an ultrafiltration rate during an extracorporeal renal replacement process by modeling physiological and actual rate data. The system maps the sensed, physiological data to a mathematical model to assess the data in terms of the ultrafiltration rate. The model provides parameters used to predict where the treatment is headed based on current conditions. The system processes the parameters in terms of preset criteria to generate the optimized ultrafiltration rate. Where the system is networked, communication of the data may be accomplished using remote and online communication techniques.

Abstract: A method of integrating individual water treatment assemblies into a seamless water treatment control system. A Reverse Osmosis assembly contains a controller wherein all other pretreatment and post-treatment assemblies are electrical coupled thereto. The controller is preprogrammed for use in recognizing the coupling of the pretreatment and/or post treatment assemblies wherein and for receiving all control commands for operation thereof. The controller employs cells that allows and installer to interconnect assemblies by coupling low voltage control signal wiring having predefined inputs, set up as PnP, or by use of a personal wireless network.

Abstract: A material for chromatographic separations, processes for its preparation, and separation devices containing the chromatographic material. In particular, porous inorganic/organic hybrid monoliths are provided with a decreased concentration of surface organic groups, and have improved pH stability, improved chromatographic separation performance, and improved packed bed stability. These monoliths may be surface modified resulting in higher bonded phase surface concentrations and have enhanced stability at low pH.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for packing chromatography columns. In one described embodiment of the present invention, a compressible resin is combined with a relatively high-viscosity packing solution to form a resin slurry for packing within a chromatography-column tube. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a relatively high-viscosity column-compression solution is used to compress a chromatography column initially packed with a dilute aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a separating agent for enantiomeric isomers having no large UV absorption, as represented by an aromatic group, and having high asymmetric recognizability, particularly, high asymmetric recognizability in an aqueous mobile phase, or a separating agent for enantiomeric isomers containing a polysaccharide alicyclic ester derivative free from an aromatic group as an effective component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the demineralization of water using a combination of a monodisperse cation filter operated as a lift bed and a monodisperse anion filter operated in the cocurrent flow procedure, and also devices which comprise such a lift bed in combination with at least one cocurrent flow filter and if appropriate a trickling degasser and/or a mixed-bed filter.

Abstract: The here presented invention refers to a method and device for separating inorganic salts from loop-processed toilet waste water as well as its de-colouring. Additionally, a treatment method without a biological step is presented, whereas here as well the toilet waste water is loop-processed reasoned by water savings and amounts reduction preferably for mobile units. The here presented invention refers to a method and device refer also to the extraction of nutrient salts from toilet and/or urinal waste waters, whereas the method comprises the steps urea cleavage, removal of ammonium, and reuse of the toilet flushing water for toilet flushing and these steps are executed preferably in separated devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the removal of contaminates from an aqueous medium using an anion exchange based material. The systems and methods include an optimized relationship between the removal of the contaminate and unmodified discharged levels of nitrate.

Abstract: Device and methods for use of these devices to manipulate substantially non-magnetic particles dispersed inside a magnetic fluid by employing a changeable pattern of local magnetic field maxima and minima are provided.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a process for manipulating magnetic particles that are suspended in a fluid, possibly containing a biological entity of interest, the magnetic particles being able to bind the entity of interest, the fluid being contained in a reaction vessel constituted by a large upper compartment with a funnel shape, an elongate lower compartment with a substantially constant cross-section and a closed base.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for efficiently filtering slurry suspensions in a vessel including a nozzle flange near the vessel, when solids in the slurry suspensions being treated in the vessel are filtered for cleaning or for other purposes and subsequently subjected to reslurrying, dissolving or dispersing operation. A method for producing suspensions, solutions or dispersions comprising separating solids from slurry suspensions and then slurrying, dissolving or dispersing the solids again by adding a solvent, characterized in that the above described solids are separated in the same vessel as the one in which the operation to obtain the above described slurry suspensions has been performed and/or inside a flange directly connected to the same vessel.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a water sample for the presence or possible future presence of nitrification comprises obtaining data values of a number of parameters, processing the data values to determine correlation coefficients, to identify any linear dependencies, to standardize the scales, evaluating the data values over a plurality of proliferation time periods and neuron numbers, calculating MSEs and R2's from the evaluations, and estimating a valid likelihood of nitrification of the water sample. A method of evaluating a water sample for the presence or possible future presence of nitrification, comprises obtaining data values of a number of parameters, statistically pre-processing the data values and supplying the pre-processed data values to a neural network. Apparatus, media and processors which are used in performing such methods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a grease processing unit for wastewater treatment. An embodiment of a grease processing unit includes a tank to hold influent. The tank has a top, a bottom, and one or more sides, and the influent is a mixture of grease and water. There is a first inlet in a side of the tank to allow influent to be pumped into the tank, and a second inlet in a side of the tank to allow water into the tank. The tank has an outlet in a side of the tank, where the outlet allows effluent to be released out of the tank. The grease separation unit also includes a control unit, the control unit to control the operation of the grease processing unit.

Abstract: A further object of the present invention is to provide a biological detection device and the like capable of performing processing promptly. An input voltage with a predetermined frequency is output from an oscillating portion. By performing switching using an analog switch, the input voltage is output to an electrode via a first resistance portion. A first comparator detects an output voltage, compares the voltage with a first reference threshold stored in a storage portion, and outputs an output. Furthermore, by performing switching using the analog switch, an input voltage is output to the electrode via a second resistance portion. A second comparator detects an output voltage, compares the voltage with a second reference threshold, and outputs an output. A determination portion determines whether a test body is a living finger or a gummy finger in accordance with a combination of the values of the outputs.

Abstract: An automotive fluid filter comprises a plurality of pellets that are sintered together and define a plurality of pores therebetween for passage of automotive fluid through the pores so as to filter the automotive fluid when the automotive fluid is advanced therethrough. An associated method is disclosed.

Abstract: A horizontal vibratory centrifuge, which includes a slurry separating component; a drive motor; a drive unit for rotating the separating component; a feed pipe for feeding the slurry into the separating component; a product discharge for discharging the solid portion of the slurry from the separating component and a pipe for discharging the fluid portion from the separating component; at least one vibratory motor mounted onto the drive unit; a plurality of connecting rods moveably connecting the drive unit to a torsion bar assembly, the assembly including a plurality of torsion bars, each mounted on a first end to an upper fixed spring clamp and a lower fixed spring clamp, and on a second end to the connecting rods with bearings, so that the vibrations of the low energy vibrating motor is in resonance with the springs so as to provide in part maximum vibration to the vibrating assembly at low energy levels.

Abstract: A separate filter cartridge and latch release are used to replace a used filter cartridge in a filter assembly having a latch. In one example, the filter cartridge includes opposing end caps that are substantially the same as one another. The end caps have central holes. The filter cartridge is inserted into a filter assembly housing in which the latch prevents a cover from being installed onto a filter assembly housing until the latch is deactivated. The latch release is arranged relative to the filter cartridge to cooperate with the latch to enable the cover to be reattached to the filter assembly housing. The latch release includes tabs that align with features of the latch and extend through the central holes to cooperate with the latch. The latch release is removably secured to the cover and the filter cartridge.

Abstract: A waste separation system and a method of separating liquid waste from solid waste employ an animal waste conveyor comprising an endless conveyor belt extending around upper and lower conveyor rollers and having an upwardly concave longitudinally inclined upper run which, in transverse cross-section, has a lowermost portion forming a liquid drainage channel extending longitudinally of the upper run and lateral portions diverging laterally and upwardly from the liquid drainage channel. The solid and liquid waste is discharged onto the upper run, so that the liquid waste flows under gravity into and along the liquid drainage channel to be discharged and collected in the vicinity of the lower end of the conveyor, and the conveyor is intermittently driven to discharge the solid waste material from the conveyor to be separately collected.

Abstract: A device for stacking empty transportation pallets has a frame and a pallet receptacle rotatably supported on the frame and pivotable between a loading position and a removal position. An active locking element and a passive locking element are provided for effecting a releasable locking action for locking the pallet receptacle in the loading position and the removal position, respectively. The active locking element that is actuated for releasing the locking action is arranged on the pivotable pallet receptacle so as to be pivotable together with the pallet receptacle. The passive locking element is in a fixed position relative to the frame.

Abstract: In-store display systems, and methods for displaying products in stores are disclosed. In one embodiment, the in-store display system includes a display structure and at least one sample surface material. The display structure can be any type of structure that is suitable for holding the sample surface material. The sample surface material may be used to demonstrate the application of an architectural surface covering product thereto. In one embodiment, a method is provided for demonstrating an architectural surface covering product to a potential purchaser. In one version of such a method, the method includes a step of marring an area of the architectural surface covering product, and a step of repairing the marred surface.

Abstract: A positioning device for a rack on the rear of a vehicle thereof, comprising a main body, two clipping blocks, a tightening assembly and a connecting tube. The main body including a positioning base that connected to a connecting base in the lower side of the positioning base thereof, the clipping blocks are mounted the lower side of the connecting base oppositely, the tightening assembly is provided for tightening the clipping blocks to be clipped the ball so as to rotated pivotally and the connecting tube is positioned to the positioning base of the main body for inserting the bike rack, the bike rack can be pivotally rotated to be creating a horizontal structure for carrying goods, thus providing for carrying goods by cooperating with a shelf, which is very practical.

Abstract: A ribbon rack for housing a supply of ribbon and method of supplying ribbon stored in cylindrical rolls is provided. A ribbon rack is formed from a rigid wire frame having an upper end, a lower end, a forward end, a rearward end and opposite sides located between said ends. A tray support is provided with the wire frame. A ribbon tray has a floor and longitudinal dividers projecting upward from the floor that define channels. Each channel receives a longitudinal row of ribbon rolls. The tray is carried by the tray support of the wire frame so that the floor is sloped to facilitate feeding of ribbon rolls loaded within the channels toward the forward end of the wire frame when the tray is carried by the tray support. When a roll of ribbon is removed from one of the channels from the forward end of the frame, any remaining rolls of ribbon is allowed to advance within the channel toward the forward end of the frame.

Abstract: The suspended rotary rack may be configured as a rotary clothes hanger with folding arms, multiple arm or hook rotary hanger racks, and single or multiple level rotary article holders, rotary platforms, or multiple arm article holders. The rotary rack is suspended from an overhead support by a bearing assembly having two tandem bearings. The bearing assembly has an anchor block, an anchor bearing having an inner race attached to the upper end of the anchor block, and an outer race fixed within an upper end of a column. The outer race of a guide bearing is fixed within the lower end of the anchor block. The inner race of the guide bearing is fixed to a guide block, the guide block being fixed within the upper end of the column below the anchor bearing. The tandem bearing assembly precludes any radial or axial play of the column.

Abstract: Shipping and storage systems convertible between containers and racks are provided. Collapsible shipping and storage systems are provided, which include pallets with novel locking mechanisms. An embodiment includes a first pallet having an interface fitting and a locking component, a second pallet having a second interface fitting and a second locking component, and structural support members positionable between the pallets for supporting one of the pallets in spaced relation over the other pallet. The structural support members may include frame members and walls interchangeable with one another. The frame members may be combined with the pallets to establish a rack system having an open storage area. The walls also may be combined with the pallets to establish a storage container having a compartment.

Abstract: A personal lift device is disclosed having a motor having an output shaft. A gearing system is operatively connected to the output shaft for increasing torque. A strap for suspending a weight is wound onto a spool and rotating the spool extends and retracts the strap. A drive connection is made between the gearing system and the spool to permit said motor to drive said spool. A brake is associated with said spool to prevent unwanted extension of said strap from said spool, when a weight is suspended by said strap. In a preferred embodiment a clutch is provided between the brake and the drive train, and the greater the weight supported by the spool the greater the braking force. An emergency lift and lower device is also provided in the event of a failure of the motor.

Abstract: The device comprises a removable cap (20) for closing the neck of a receptacle (3), and a peelable membrane for hermetically covering the lip of the neck. In order to guarantee good sealing of the receptacle when it is reclosed with the cap, the peelable layer of the membrane is adapted to cover only an inner zone (61) of the lip (6) of the neck (3), the cap being provided internally with a skirt (24) for bearing in leaktight manner against an outer zone (62) of the lip that is distinct from the inner zone (61), and said skirt is plastically deformable between a generally cylindrical configuration and a flared configuration, the inside face of said skirt presenting a transmission surface (244) for transmitting a bearing force (F2) associated essentially with co-operation between the skirt in its flared configuration and the lip of the neck.

Abstract: A base of a container may include a standing surface, a first wall, a second wall, a first hinge, and a second hinge. The first hinge may be positioned between the standing surface and the first wall, the first wall being rotateable about the first hinge relative to a longitudinal axis of the container. The second hinge may be positioned between the first wall and the second wall, the second wall being rotateable about the second hinge relative to the longitudinal axis of the container, where rigidity of the base prevents substantial net distortion of the base during rotation of the second wall.

Abstract: A processing fluid is prepared by mixing purified water and methanol as a solvent with SCCO2, and the processing fluid is brought into contact with a surface of a substrate so as to form oxide film on the surface of the substrate. In this processing fluid, SCCO2 functions as a carrier medium while —OH functional group (hydroxyl group) disperse in the SCCO2 as active chemical species. Such the highly motile and highly concentrated SCCO2 is used as a carrier medium, while the active chemical species are mixed with carrier medium. Because of this, excessive presence of active chemical species is prevented in the atmosphere in contact with the surface of the substrate. The active chemical species demonstrates superior diffusiveness, and moreover, even a small amount of solvent contains large amount of active chemical species. Therefore, the fresh active chemical species are constantly supplied to the surface of the substrate, reacting excellently with the surface of the substrate, thereby forming oxide film.

Abstract: A resist pattern for lift-off is formed on a first film composed of one or more layers deposited on a substrate. The first film is patterned by dry-etching using the resist pattern as a mask. Subsequently, a second film is deposited with presence of the resist pattern on the first film. Then, the resist pattern for lift-off is removed for conducting lift-off. Subsequently, the resulting substrate is etched. In the etching, the substrate is dry-etched using etching particles which are oriented at an incident angle set in a range of 60° to 90° relative to the normal direction of the substrate.

Abstract: A prediction method for a substrate processing apparatus is to predict processing results from operation data on the substrate processing apparatus during a procedure for processing a target processing substrate in a processing chamber of the substrate processing apparatus. The method includes the steps of: collecting operation data obtained; and obtaining a moving average of a preset number of sets of data using the processing result data collected at the data collection step. The method further includes the steps of: performing multivariate analysis using the operation data collected at the data collection step and the moving average processing result data obtained at the moving average processing step; and predicting processing results using operation data obtained when a target processing substrate, other than the target processing substrate used to obtain the correlation at the analysis step, is processed on a basis of the correlation.

Abstract: A method and system for high-speed, precise, laser-based modification of at least one electrical element made of a target material is provided. The system includes a laser subsystem that generates a pulsed laser output wherein each laser pulse has a pulse energy, a laser wavelength within a range of ablation sensitivity of the target material, and a pulse duration short enough to substantially reduce ablation threshold energy density of the target material. The system further includes a beam positioner that selectively irradiates the at least one electrical element with the one or more laser pulses focused into at least one spot so as to cause the one or more laser pulses to selectively ablate a portion of the target material from the at least one element while avoiding both substantial spurious opto-electric effects and undesirable damage to the non-target material.

Abstract: An electric shock prevention residual current circuit breaker provides electrical shock protection before contact of any current. The circuit breaker eliminating the flaws of the concurrent residual current circuit breakers comprises a digital logic microcontroller, a fault sensor circuit, an electromagnetic trip circuit, a low voltage supply circuit, a ground line circuit, and a set of corresponding members, such as a close or open circuit assembly, an input terminal, an output terminal, a switch handle, an overcurrent and short circuit trip device, a dynamic contact, a static contact, an avoiding arc device, a leakage detecting circuit, and a housing unit.

Abstract: A mold cased circuit breaker is disclosed that enables a user to easily discern an actually connected state between stationary contactors and movable contactors and forcibly separates a connection therebetween if there arises electrical fault, wherein the circuit breaker comprises: a first isolation link hinged at a lower end thereof to a shaft unit and selectively engaged at an upper end thereof with a lateral surface of a lever; a second isolation link centrally formed with an oblong hole for accommodating a guide pin protruded on a side plate and linked at one end thereof to an upper end of the first isolation link; and an isolation lever adjacently positioned at one end thereof to the other end of the second isolation link, and so positioned at the other end thereof as to selectively engage with a nail, and rotatably mounted at the side plate to rotate the nail by way of operation of the second isolation link.

Abstract: The invention relates to injection needle melt-off apparatuses that allow the life of the electrode rollers to be extended and processing costs to be reduced.

Abstract: An arrangement of a stress transducer (8) mountable on one arm (31) of welding pliers, wherein an insert (10) is positioned between the arm (31) of the pliers and the stress transducer (8). A method for mounting said stress transducer is also provided.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus performs a specific plasma processing on a target substrate by disposing a first and a second electrode to face each other in a processing chamber, and supplying high-frequency electric power to at least one of the first and the second electrodes to thereby generate a plasma while introducing a processing gas onto the target substrate supported by the second electrode. The electrode for use as the first electrode includes: an electrode plate facing the second electrode; a support for supporting the electrode plate, wherein the support is in contact with a surface of the electrode plate and the surface is opposite to the second electrode; and a dielectric portion, provided on a contact surface of the support with the electrode plate, and having a shape in which a center portion thereof has a height different from that of an edge portion thereof.

Abstract: In a laser beam machining method and a laser beam machining apparatus, a higher improvement in machining ability is required for grooving and cutting of a semiconducting material or a ceramic material. In order to meet this requirement, the invention provides a laser beam machining apparatus and a laser beam machining method in which an ultraviolet laser beam is irradiated in pulses onto a workpiece made of an inorganic material to groove or cut the workpiece. In this laser beam machining apparatus and laser beam machining method, as the scanning speed of the ultraviolet laser beam is higher, or as the machining depth of the grooving or the cutting is greater, the pulse width of the ultraviolet laser beam is set to be greater. This can significantly improve the machining ability compared with a case where the average power is increased.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for production of a multi-layer analysis element for liquid samples, with at least one test field for the analysis of the liquid samples, in which method an analysis element blank composed of at least two superposed material layers is made available. The multi-layer analysis element or a constituent part of the multi-layer analysis element is cut out from the analysis element blank by means of laser radiation. The laser radiation cuts through different material layers in at least two areas and has a laser power which is effective for the cutting and which is varied as a function of the thickness and the material of the different material layers to be cut in the areas.

Abstract: A laser configuration for machining a workpiece includes a plurality of laser light sources for introducing a laser radiation into a predeterminable working area. Some or all of the laser light sources are disposed on an arc of a circle.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for bonding an electronic element to a substrate, a laser beam is generated, pressure is applied to the substrate, a connecting medium, and an electronic element, which are stacked, and the electronic element is bonded to the substrate through heat fusion of the connecting medium by fusing the connecting medium by irradiating the laser beam to the substrate and the electronic element while applying pressure to the substrate, the connecting medium, and the electronic element. The laser beam of a line type or an area type has uniform quality through use of a homogenizer. The laser beam is output in a continuity mode at an initial stage, and is output in a pulse mode at a fusing stage.

Abstract: An electric arc welding assembly comprising a charging circuit and regulator coupled to an input power source, an energy storage element connected in parallel with the charging circuit and regulator to increase the power available for the weld output, and a weld output controller connected in parallel with the energy storage element for controlling a welding arc between an electrode and a workpiece.

Abstract: In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a nickel alloy welding wire is made from a material comprising from about 4.75 to 5.25 wt % chromium, from about 5.5 to 5.8 wt % aluminum, from about 5.6 to 6.2 wt % tungsten, from about 8.0 to 8.3 wt % tantalum, from about 1.7 to 2.1 wt % molybdenum, from about 9.5 to 10.5 wt % cobalt, from about 2.8 to 3.2 wt % rhenium, from about 0.07 to 0.30 wt % carbon, from about 0.02 to 0.04 wt % boron, from about 0.08 to 0.12 wt % zirconium, from about 0.08 to 0.12 wt % yttrium, from about 1.0 to 1.5 wt % hafnium, and the balance nickel. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a nickel alloy welding wire is made from a material comprising from about 4.75 to 5.25 wt % chromium, from about 5.5 to 5.8 wt % aluminum, from about 5.6 to 6.2 wt % tungsten, from about 8.0 to 9.0 wt % tantalum, from about 1.7 to 2.1 wt % molybdenum, from about 9.5 to 10.5 wt % cobalt, from about 2.8 to 3.2 wt % rhenium, from about 0.18 to 0.30 wt % carbon, from about 0.

Abstract: A removable cooling collar is provided for cooling the nozzle of a welding nozzle. This collar includes first and second parts in fluid communication with a chamber that extends circumferentially within a hollow structure. Cooling fluid circulating through the chamber facilitates dissipation and/or extraction of heat in the nozzle, in turn reducing the likelihood of weld splatter adhesion on the nozzle.

Abstract: A method for providing a controlled heating profile in an article being heated in a resistance heating process is provided. The method includes contacting the article with a plurality of electrodes, selecting a first correlated group that includes at least two electrodes, and establishing a flow of electrical current between the electrodes of the first correlated group. The method also includes selecting a second correlated group that includes at least two electrodes, the second correlated group differing from the first correlated group. A flow of electrical current is also established between the electrodes of the second correlated group for the purpose of providing a controlled heating profile for an article undergoing resistance heating. The electrical current between the electrodes of the second correlated group can be established after the flow of electrical current is established between the electrodes of the first correlated group.