The invention provides methods and compositions for improving the characteristics of paper substrates. The method involves adding to a paper substrate an NCC-polymer. NCC-polymers have unique chemical properties which result in improvements in wet strength, dry strength and drainage retention properties of the paper substrates.

Disclosed are methods for increasing the filler content of paper or paperboard, comprising (a) combining a heterogeneous polymer blend with a ground calcium carbonate filler; (b) combining the resulting mixture with a pulp slurry; and (c) processing the resulting slurry mixture to form a sheet of paper or paperboard. Also disclosed are methods of increasing the filler content of paper or paperboard comprising (1) combining either a heterogeneous polymer blend or a ground calcium carbonate filler with a pulp slurry, (2) combining the remaining component with the pulp slurry; and (c) processing the resulting pulp slurry mixture to form a sheet of paper or paperboard.

A tire 1 comprises rib-shaped land portions 20 extending in a tire circumferential direction TC and has a circumferential groove 30 adjacent to the land portions 20 and extending in the tire circumferential direction TC. Tread contact surfaces 10 of the land portions 20 form smooth surfaces with no gap when a normal load is applied and the tread contact surfaces are in contact with a road surface. The circumferential groove 30 includes a shallow groove portion 40 extending in the tread-width direction TW, and a deep groove portion 50 adjacent to the shallow groove portion 40 in the tire circumferential direction and extending in the tread-width direction. A deep groove portion 50 is recessed more inwardly in a tire radial direction TR than the shallow groove portion 40 with a groove bottom 40c of the shallow groove portion 40 being an upper end of the deep groove portion 50.

An article of footwear has an upper that includes a knitted component and a sole structure secured to the upper. The knitted component may define a tube formed of unitary knit construction, and a strand may extend through a length of the tube. As another example, the knitted component may have a pair of at least partially coextensive knitted layers formed of unitary knit construction, and a plurality of floating yarns may extend between the knitted layers. In some configurations, the knit type or yarn type may vary in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. Additionally, the knitted component may incorporate a thermoplastic yarn that is fused in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. A flat knitting process or a variety of other knitting processes may be utilized to form the knitted component.

A system configured to thermally regulate exhaust portions of a power plant system (e.g. steam turbine) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: a condenser adapted to connect to and thermally regulate exhaust portions of a steam turbine; and a cooling system operably connected to the condenser and adapted to supply a cooling fluid to the condenser, the cooling system including a solar absorption chiller adapted to adjust a temperature of the cooling fluid.

An apparatus includes a substrate, a classical computing processor formed on the substrate, a quantum computing processor formed on the substrate, and one or more coupling components between the classical computing processor and the quantum computing processor, the one or more coupling components being formed on the substrate and being configured to allow data exchange between the classical computing processor and the quantum computing processor.

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of circuits, a general bus configured to be connected to each of the plurality of circuits and to provide a general channel among the plurality of circuits, and a designated bus configured to be connected to a subgroup of circuits from among the plurality of circuits and to provide a designated channel among the subgroup of circuits.

A transmission system includes: a master device; and a plurality of slave devices including a first slave device and a second slave device, each of the plurality of slave devices having its own identifier. The master device includes a processor configured to: transmit a control signal of a clock length that the first slave device does not respond to, to the plurality of slave devices at a first timing; and transmit an identifier that identifies the second slave device to the plurality of slave devices at a second timing after the first timing. The second slave device transmits data to the master device when the second slave device receives the control signal and the identifier that identifies the second slave device.

A method for increasing compatibility of DisplayPort includes: providing a first source device, a second source device, a controller, and a sink device, wherein the first source device is connected to the controller; the first source device transmitting a first image signal to the sink device via a main link for displaying the first image signal on the sink device; causing the controller to disconnect from the first source device and connect to the second source device; executing a simulation process to generate a DC level variation on an auxiliary channel between the controller and the sink device; the second source device transmitting auxiliary data to the sink device; the sink device transmitting link data back to the second source device; and the second source device transmitting a second image signal to the sink device via a second main link for displaying the second image signal on the sink device.

A projectile (and munition including the projectile) and a method of assembling the same, includes a body having a cavity, a propellant disposed in the cavity and a base including an ignition flash column extending into the cavity containing the propellant and a nozzle formed so as to be openable and closeable.

An encapsulated propellant charge comprised a sealed combustible container comprised of a consumable material and having a substantially cylindrical shape. The sealed combustible container comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall therebetween. The top wall, the bottom wall and the side wall define a chamber; which contains a propellant composition.

A solar collector (26) includes: an outer tube (64) of circular cross-section, closed at one of its ends, an absorption layer (52) arranged inside the outer tube (64), for absorbing solar radiation (Rs), and a heat pipe (56) including a hot part (58) laid out inside the outer tube (64), a cold part (60) arranged outside the outer tube (64), and a reservoir (62) containing a heat pipe fluid (63) and extending over the hot part (58) and the cold part (60). The outer tube (64) is hermetically closed around the heat pipe (56) at the other of its ends, a vacuum being formed inside said outer tube (64). For the hot part (58) of the heat pipe (56), the reservoir (62) is applied at least locally against the absorption layer (52).

A device for withdrawing heat energy from air. The device includes a layer of a substantially hydrophobic coating on a heat exchange surface. The coating has a lower surface tension than water, to repel water and prevent the formation of water condensation on the surface. For example, the coating can be a fluoropolymer such as 1,1,2,3,3,3 hexafluoropropene.

A heat transfer device including a container in which a heat-transfer fluid circulates in a closed loop. The heat transfer fluid is capable of undergoing an increase in volume on solidifying. The container further contains particles suspended in the heat-transfer fluid. At least some of the particles are compressible under the pressure of the fluid, as the fluid is solidifying, so as to at least partially compensate for the increase in volume of the fluid upon solidifying.

A semiconductor substrate for use in an integrated circuit, the semiconductor substrate including a channel defined on a surface of the substrate. The channel includes a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall. The first wall is recessed from the surface. The second wall extends from the surface to the first wall. The third wall extends from the surface to the first wall and faces the second wall across the channel. At least one of the second wall and the third wall includes a plurality of structures projecting into the channel from the second wall or the third wall.

The method for surface inclusions detection, enhancement of endothelial and osteoblast cells adhesion and proliferation and sterilization of electropolished and magnetoelectropolished Nitinol implantable medical device surfaces uses an aqueous solution of chemical compounds containing halogenous oxyanions as hypochlorite (ClO−) and hypobromite (BrO−) preferentially 6% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO).

A welding method for welding workpieces made of highly heat-resistant superalloys is provided. The method includes generating a heat input zone on the workpiece surface by means of a heat source, feeding welding filler material into the heat input zone by means of a feeding device, and generating a relative motion between the heat source and the feeding device on one hand and the workpiece surface on the other hand by means of a conveying device. Furthermore, according to the welding method, the mass feed rate is ≦350 mg/min.

Aqueous compositions useful as pretreatments prior to painting and to prevent the formation of white rust in the uncoated condition include an organopolyphosphonic acid or salt thereof, an organosilane, and a trivalent chromium compound. A method for treating a surface of a zinc-containing metal includes contacting the surface with an aqueous composition including an organopolyphosphonic acid or salt thereof, an organosilane, and a trivalent chromium compound. The composition may also include an agent for reducing hydrophilicity, such as a polyacrylic acid. The aqueous composition has been found to be particularly well-suited for treating a zinc-containing metal to passivate the surface, improve paint adhesion, and/or improve corrosion resistance.

A nozzle of a nozzle device includes an arm pipe that extends in a horizontal direction and a downstream pipe formed so as to curve downward from one end of the arm pipe. In the nozzle, a metallic pipe is provided inside a second resin pipe. Moreover, a first resin pipe is provided inside the metallic pipe. A boss is attached to the tip of the metallic pipe between the first resin pipe and the second resin pipe. At the tip of the nozzle, an outer peripheral surface of the first resin pipe, an end surface of the second resin pipe and an end surface of the boss are welded by welding resin. In this way, the metallic pipe is reliably coated with the first resin pipe, the second resin pipe, the boss and the welding resin.

A wafer dicing blade includes a cutting part including a protrusion, the protrusion having a uniform region with a substantially uniform width, and a support covering at least one sidewall of the cutting part, the protrusion of the cutting part extending beyond an edge of the support.

A novel cutting method and apparatus includes a cutting blade adapted to consistently and easily form a desirable kerf in a concrete substrate while capturing substantially all resulting concrete dust.

A device for processing a hydrocarbon resource may include a hydrocarbon processing container configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therein and having a pair of opposing ends with an enlarged width medial portion therebetween. The device may also a spirally wound electrical conductor surrounding the hydrocarbon processing container, and a radio frequency (RF) circuit coupled to the spirally wound electrical conductor and configured to supply RF power to the hydrocarbon resource while tracking a load resonance of the RF circuit. The RF circuit may be configured to generate magnetic fields within the hydrocarbon processing container parallel with an axis thereof.

A device for processing a hydrocarbon resource may include a hydrocarbon processing container configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therein and having a pair of opposing ends with an enlarged width medial portion therebetween. The device may also include a radio frequency (RF) source, and a first spirally wound electrical conductor surrounding the hydrocarbon processing container and coupled to the RF source. The device may further include a second spirally wound electrical conductor carried within the hydrocarbon processing container. The first spirally wound electrical conductor may be configured to generate magnetic fields with the hydrocarbon processing container that are parallel with an axis thereof.

A device for processing a hydrocarbon resource may include a hydrocarbon processing container configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therein and having a pair of opposing ends with an enlarged width medial portion therebetween. The device may also include a radio frequency (RF) source, and a spirally wound electrical conductor surrounding the hydrocarbon processing container and coupled to the RF source. The spirally wound electrical conductor may be configured to generate magnetic fields within the hydrocarbon processing container that are parallel with an axis thereof.

Described are methods, implants, insertion tools, and related systems and kits, for placing an implant to treat urinary incontinence; the implants include soft tissue anchors that are capable of engaging needles of the insertion tools, and the implants are designed to place a central support portion at a location to support a urethra with extension portions and soft tissue anchors extending to tissue at regions of an obturator foramen.

A method for manufacturing a fluid-filled chamber may include obtaining a spacer textile material a stabilization structure. A tensile member is removed from an area of the spacer textile material where the stabilizing structure is absent. The tensile member is located between a first polymer element and a second polymer element. Additionally, (a) the first layer is bonded to the first polymer element, (b) the second layer is bonded to the second polymer element, and (c) the first polymer element and the second polymer element are bonded together around a periphery of the tensile member.

An article of footwear including a full monofilament upper is described. The full monofilament upper incorporates a knitted component including a monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element is formed by knitting with a monofilament strand. The monofilament knit element is formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component, including peripheral portions that are knit using a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn. An inlaid tensile element can extend through the knitted component, including portions of the monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element may be knitted with a monofilament strand according to a variety of knit structures.

An article of footwear including a knitted component having a monofilament knit element with peripheral knit portions is described. The knitted component includes a monofilament knit element formed by knitting with a monofilament strand. The monofilament knit element is formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component, including peripheral portions that are knit using a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn. An inlaid tensile element can extend through the knitted component, including portions of the monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element may be knitted with a monofilament strand according to a variety of knit structures.

An article of footwear including a full monofilament upper is described. The full monofilament upper incorporates a knitted component including a monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element is formed by knitting with a monofilament strand. The monofilament knit element is formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component, including peripheral portions that are knit using a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn. An inlaid tensile element can extend through the knitted component, including portions of the monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element may be knitted with a monofilament strand according to a variety of knit structures. A fusible strand may be knit with the monofilament knit element. Upon heating, the fusible strand can combine and surround the monofilament strand within the monofilament knit element.

An article of footwear including a knitted component having a monofilament knit element with peripheral knit portions is described. The knitted component includes a monofilament knit element formed by knitting with a monofilament strand. The monofilament knit element is formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component, including peripheral portions that are knit using a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn. An inlaid tensile element can extend through the knitted component, including portions of the monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element may be knitted with a monofilament strand according to a variety of knit structures.

Described are methods, implants, insertion tools, and related systems and kits, for placing an implant to treat urinary incontinence; the implants include soft tissue anchors that are capable of engaging needles of the insertion tools, and the implants are designed to place a central support portion at a location to support a urethra with extension portions and soft tissue anchors extending to tissue at regions of an obturator foramen.

One example includes a body formed of body fabric, the body defining a body pocket opening, a body pocket disposed in an interior of the body and coupled to the body pocket opening and body plush disposed in the interior of the body, between the body pocket and the body fabric. The example includes a head formed of head fabric, the head having a posterior portion of the head coupled to the body at an anterior portion of the body, the head defining a head pocket opening disposed on an anterior portion of the head, a head pocket disposed in an interior of the head and coupled to the head pocket opening and head plush disposed in the interior of the head, between the head pocket and the head fabric. The example includes at least one pair of legs formed of leg fabric and fastened to the body.

A method for making a water-degradable paper sheet involves the following: providing at least one strip of a water-soluble binding material in the form of a dry film; providing at least two strips each made of at least one ply of cellulose wadding; placing the strip of water-soluble binding material between the two strips of cellulose wadding; humidifying, assembling and pressing the three strips; and drying the complex strip thus obtained. The sheet thus obtained can be used for making a roll carrier mandrel by helically winding one or more strips from the sheet about a cylinder. Articles produced from the sheet can particularly be used in the field of products for sanitary or domestic use.

Fertilizer granules and methods of producing fertilizer granules. The fertilizer granules are formed from a fertilizer composition, such as a phosphate fertilizer, includes a fibrous material for the purpose of increasing the granule strength preventing or reducing attrition or dusting formation during storage, transport, and/or handling of the fertilizer. Dust formation can be reduced fifty percent or more. The base fertilizer composition can include a phosphate fertilizer, such as monoammonium phosphate (MAP) or diammonium phosphate (DAP), and optionally one or more micronutrients or secondary nutrients, such as elemental sulfur. The fibrous material is pulp or paper sludge, for example.

The invention relates to a fertilizing compound for application to plants and crops, especially fruits, intended for increasing the amount of calcium and subsequently improving the state of health of the plants and the preservation thereof after harvesting. The compound consists of a combination of components such as calcium nitrate, calcium lignosulfonate, organic acids, menadione sodium bisulphite, amino acids and water. The compound is in the form of a liquid preparation, packed in containers of between 20 and 1000 liters, is water-soluble and is applied by fertigation, spraying or in a localized form by border irrigation.

A machine for generating mechanical energy and functioning on the principle of exploitation of centrifugal forces of masses being displaced along a closed mechanical circuit over at least a curved section of the circuit. Optionally, the machines also functions on the principle of energy gain caused by masses falling under the influence of gravity in the closed circuit that is permanently maintained in a state of dynamic unbalance with an input, continuous or not, of external energy.

A print system includes a first printer which performs printing on a sheet while conveying the sheet and a second printer which receives the sheet conveyed from the first printer and performs printing on the sheet while conveying the sheet. The second printer includes a second printing unit, a second registration roller, a second pre-registration roller, a sheet detector, and a second controller. The second controller controls an operation of the second pre-registration roller and an operation of the second registration roller based on a timing of a detection of the sheet by the sheet detector.

An apparatus that includes a suitcase and integrated support arrangements that are transformable from an extended state to provide support for a person to lie down and a stored state for ease of transport.

The present invention is a smart luggage having an outer case and an inner case with a weight determination mechanism therebetween in electrical communication with a circuit having firmware and an exterior electronic display. The circuit further incorporates a GPS locator and a transponder, whereby a user having a mobile device enabled with tracking software may be able to locate and retrieve lost or stolen luggage. Also provided within the smart luggage is a camera that can take one or more pictures when the smart luggage is opened by a person.

A method and apparatus for identifying an inconsistency. A number of waves that propagate through a structure are generated. A response signal is generated in response to detecting at least a portion of the number of waves that propagate through the structure. A determination is made as to whether the response signal includes a reflected component. A presence of the inconsistency in the structure is indicated when the response signal includes the reflected component.

A jet boat including a hull including a keel extending in a fore and aft direction of the jet boat, at least one jet propulsion nozzle mounted to a rear of the hull, and an articulating keel attached at the rear of the hull, the articulating keel arranged to pivot about a pivot axis extending vertically or substantially vertically. A bottom surface of the articulating keel does not extend below a bottom surface of the keel when the articulating keel is parallel or substantially parallel to the fore and aft direction of the jet boat.

An operating method for a laundry drier which has a rotatable drum mounted inside a main body, a heater for heating the air flowing into the drum; and a scent supply module for spraying scent into the drum, comprising: a drying step of drying the laundry by supplying hot air heated by the heater; a pre-treating step of tumbling the drum while supplying air with the heater off; and a scent treating step of spraying scent onto the laundry which has passed through the pre-treating step. Since the scent is sprayed on after the pre-treating step, the scent can be effectively deposited on the laundry.

Partially formed earth-boring rotary drill bits comprise a first less than fully sintered particle-matrix component having at least one recess, and at least a second less than fully sintered particle-matrix component disposed at least partially within the at least one recess. Each less than fully sintered particle-matrix component comprises a green or brown structure including compacted hard particles, particles comprising a metal alloy matrix material, and an organic binder material. The at least a second less than fully sintered particle-matrix component is configured to shrink at a slower rate than the first less than fully sintered particle-matrix component due to removal of organic binder material from the less than fully sintered particle-matrix components in a sintering process to be used to sinterbond the first less than fully sintered particle-matrix component to the first less than fully sintered particle-matrix component. Earth-boring rotary drill bits comprise such components sinterbonded together.

A method of producing an endodontic file that involves grinding in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a rotating dental instrument blank. By grinding the dental instrument blank in this manner, the torsional strength of the resulting endodontic file is not eroded during its production, thereby providing a file that is less susceptible to breakage during its use.

A screwdriver blade has faces formed on front and back sides of a shank. Each face has a drive surface extending from each side edge inward toward a longitudinal axis. Each drive surface is inclined relative to a plane containing the axis and bisecting each of the side edges. A thickness of the blade increases from the shank distal end. Each of the drive surfaces appears curved when viewed in a distal end view. Each of the drive surfaces extends from the shank distal end to a face proximal end. A central portion between each of the drive surfaces may also appear curved when viewed in a distal end view, or it may be flat. The drive surfaces and the central portion may be formed at a single radius of curvature. The central portion may have a increasing width from the distal end or it may have a constant width.

A superabrasive compact (e.g., a polycrystalline diamond compact) including a substrate pre-coated with at least one braze layer and an in-process drill bit assembly including at least one of such superabrasive compacts are disclosed. Pre-coating the substrate with at least one braze layer and dimensioning the pre-coated substrate to fit within the tolerances of a conventionally-sized cutter recess of a drill bit body enables a drill bit manufacture to easily and rapidly braze the disclosed superabrasive compacts into the conventionally-sized cutter recess without substantially decreasing the superabrasive volume of the superabrasive compact.

Earth-boring drill bits include a bit body, an element having an attachment feature bonded to the bit body, and a shank assembly. Methods for assembling an earth-boring rotary drill bit include bonding a threaded element to the bit body of a drill bit and engaging the shank assembly to the threaded element. A nozzle assembly for an earth-boring rotary drill bit may include a cylindrical sleeve having a threaded surface and a threaded nozzle disposed at least partially in the cylindrical sleeve and engaged therewith. Methods of forming an earth-boring drill bit include providing a nozzle assembly including a tubular sleeve and nozzle at least partially within a nozzle port of a bit body.

The disclosed invention contemplates a lifting apparatus that utilizes traditional free weights which travel on an I-shaped inclined track. The overall frame of the unit is comprised of a base frame, vertical support frame, and a pair of I-shaped inclined tracks, which are sized to accommodate an athlete wishing to engage in standing upper body exercises. In particular, the I-shaped inclined track provides a path on which a weight slide housing travels via a unique roller mechanism. The invention also incorporates a pair safety stop mechanisms and pins, which allow the athlete to control the height from which the lift will begin, as well as preventing the weight bar and weight slide housing from falling below a certain predetermined point.

Methods of forming energetic compositions include forming a premix comprising a nitrate ester, a polymer, and a stabilizer, and combining solids with the premix. Additional stabilizer may be added with the solids and may remain in a crystalline state. Some methods include dissolving a stabilizer in at least one of a plurality of nitrate esters. Energetic compositions include a continuous matrix and a stabilizer. The continuous matrix includes a nitrate ester and surrounds a solid energetic material. Some compositions include a first nitrate ester, a second nitrate ester having a decomposition rate lower than the first nitrate ester, and a stabilizer. An article includes a housing and an energetic composition in the housing.

An inclined roller conveying assembly (40) includes a horizontally inclined roller (74) having opposite ends respectively supported by first and second supports (64, 66), with one support (64) having an idler bearing (80) and with the other support (66) having a drive coupling (94) that provides rotation of the inclined roller from a horizontal support and drive axis to provide support for the lower surface of an upper portion Gu of a hot upwardly concave formed glass sheet G being conveyed.