Metallurgical reactors having cooling capability and electrode feed capability are disclosed. The reactors may include a shell having a sidewall and a bottom, where the shell is adapted to contain a molten material. The reactors may include at least one consumable electrode protruding through an opening of the shell and into the molten material. The reactors may include a current contact clamp configured to conduct operating current to the electrode, where the current clamp is in contact with the electrode, and where the current clamp comprises at least one internal channel, wherein the internal channel is configured to circulate a cooling medium. The reactors may include an electric isolation ring disposed between the electrode and the opening of the shell, wherein the electric isolation ring is configured to sealingly engage the electrode and the opening so as to restrict flow of the molten material out of the shell.

A low temperature melting furnace using an external cooling passage includes a wall including a plurality of metal sectors, each metal sector including a cooling passage formed along a longitudinal direction thereof, and an extension tube provided outwardly from the wall and connected to the cooling passage.

A resonant power supply (900) for use with high inductive loads includes an input rectifier (903) and a switching inverter formed using a plurality of parallel connected half bridge networks for switching the voltage provided from the input rectifier (903). A transformer (927) is used whose primary is connected to the switching inverter and whose secondary is connected to load such as a crucible (931). A capacitor (929) is used in series with the primary of the transformer (927) for resonating the inductance in the secondary circuit at the frequency of the switching inverter to provide maximum power transfer to the crucible (931).

A support arm for a water-cooled, current-conducting electrode includes wall elements, wherein each wall element is a flat conductive metal with a hollowed out recess on its outer surface extending over its length. The support arm further includes a cover extending over each recess to define a closed cooling channel within each wall element when the cover is welded to the wall element. The cover includes with an inlet port and an outlet port for cooling water.

A power supply arrangement for supplying a square-wave current (I2) to a load connected to an output of the power supply arrangement, in particular a power supply arrangement in an arc furnace for generating an arc, including a transformer (TU) with at least two primary-site taps (1U1, 1U2) which form an input of the power supply arrangement, and with several secondary-side taps (2U1, 2U2, 2U3, 2UN), a bridge circuit (BU) with several first half bridges (11, 12, 13) which include converter valves (V11, V12, V13, V14, V15, V16) and which each have a first terminal (A11, A12, A13) of the bridge circuit, with a bridge section with a choke (L1), and with a second half bridge (20) which has converter valves (V17, V18) and a second terminal (A20) of the bridge circuit (BU), wherein each first terminal (A11, A12, A13) is connected to one of the secondary-side taps (2U1, 2U2, 2U3) of the transformer (TU), wherein the second terminal (A20) is connected to the output.

Apparatus and process for heating and melting a material in a susceptor vessel are provided wherein phase synchronized ac voltage is supplied from a separate power source to each one of at least two induction coils in separate zones around the vessel. Power magnitude from each source to an induction coil is controlled by pulse width control of the source's output voltage. Output frequency from each source is either fixed or variable based upon the electrically conductive state of the material. Optional electromagnetic stirring is achieved by establishing a phase shift between the voltage outputs of the power supplies after the material in the susceptor vessel has melted.

A heating electrode assembly for a crystal growth furnace includes: a heat insulation board unit that is disposed between a furnace wall and a heater, that includes a first surface facing the furnace wall and a second surface facing the heater, and that is formed with a hole extending through the first surface and the second surface; an electrode unit that includes an electricity input portion mounted to the furnace wall, a post portion disposed in the hole, and an abutment flange connecting the post portion and the heater; and an electrical insulating unit including a tubular sleeve that is disposed in the hole and that surrounds the post portion, and a pad that is clamped between the abutment flange and the second surface.

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a decoupler assembly for between an endless drive element and a shaft. The endless drive element may be, for example, an accessory drive belt from a vehicular engine. The shaft may be, for example, the input shaft of a belt-driven accessory, such as an alternator or a compressor. The decoupler assembly includes a hub that mounts to the shaft, a pulley that is rotatable with respect to the hub, a dampening spring and a clutch member. A part of the pulley is supported on a pulley support surface on the hub. There is a gap between the pulley and the pulley support surface. The gap has lubricant therein to facilitate sliding between the pulley and the pulley support surface. By eliminating the use of a polymeric bushing between pulley and the hub, there are several advantages that are provided.

A torque limiting device, particularly for power transmission elements, is provided. The torque limiting device includes a first connecting member and a second connecting member, which is connected rotatably to a driven element. The first connecting member includes a motor driving disk and the second connecting member includes a sliding disk, and further includes a pin supporting body which comprises a drum that is assembled on the second connecting member and includes a plurality of radial holes, each one of which accommodates a pin that is pressed, toward the center of the drum, by elastic means, and abuts, with at least one of its faces which is inclined with respect to the central rotation axis of the second connecting member, against at least one corresponding abutment face.

A shaft portion of a joint outer ring where projections extending in an axial direction are provided is press-fitted into a hole portion of a hub wheel to thereby form recesses by the projections in an inner diameter surface of a shaft fitting hole of the hub wheel, by which a recess-projection fitting structure is constructed. An entire area of fitting sites of the projections and the recesses are brought into close contact. Moreover, a bolt member is fastened in a bolt hole provided in the shaft portion of the joint outer ring after the construction of the recess-projection fitting structure, which restricts separation between the hub wheel and the joint outer ring. As the bolt member, if an outer diameter of a seating surface thereof is d1 and a shaft diameter is d2, a bolt member satisfying a relational expression of 2.3≦(d1/d2)2≦4.9 is used.

The invention relates to a gear wheel pump with two meshing gear wheels which are rotatably mounted within a pump housing by means of a driven driveshaft and a crankshaft journal and which form a pumping channel system between a pump inlet and a pump outlet. Several gaps are formed between the pump housing, the gear wheels, the driveshaft, and the crankshaft journal. One of the gaps between the driveshaft and one of the gear wheels contains means for the rotationally fixed connection of the driveshaft to the gear wheel. In order to prevent leakages penetrating to the connecting means, according to the invention the gap between the driveshaft and the gear wheel is sealed, with respect to the front faces of the gear wheel, by means of a sealant.

A rotational vibration damper includes a primary side (32) and a secondary side (46) which is rotatable with respect to the primary side (32) around an axis of rotation (A) against the action of a damper element arrangement (28). At least one damper element unit (42) of the first group (70) and at least one damper element unit (42') of the second group (70') are pre-loaded, and the primary side (32) and the secondary side (46) are pre-loaded in a basic relative rotation position with respect to one another. Proceeding from the basic relative rotation position of the primary side (32) with respect to the secondary side (46), a pre-loading path (V, V') of at least one pre-loaded damper element unit (42) is shorter than a maximum relative rotation path of the primary side (32) with respect to the secondary side (46).

An aluminum alloy propeller shaft including a tube made of an aluminum alloy, and a pair of yoke members made of an aluminum alloy, the yoke members including cylindrical base portions friction-welded to opposite end portions of the tube, each of the yoke members including a tip end portion having a pair of bearing retaining holes aligned with each other in a radial direction of the base portion. Variation in length between a central axis of the bearing retaining holes in one of the yoke members and a central axis of the bearing retaining holes in the other yoke member with respect to a reference length is set within a range of from +2.0 mm to −2.0 mm. A friction welding process of producing an aluminum alloy propeller shaft, including a friction step, a position displacement detection step, a rotation stop step and an upset step.

A joint in the form of a counter track joint is disclosed that comprises a joint outer part with first outer ball tracks and second outer ball tracks; a joint inner part with first inner ball tracks and second inner ball tracks; wherein first aperture angles are respectively formed between tangents to contact points of a ball with the first outer ball track and with the first inner ball track, and second aperture angles are respectively formed between tangents to contact points between a ball with the second outer ball track and with the second inner ball track. The first aperture angles of the first track pairs open towards a first side of the joint, and the second aperture angles of the second track pairs open towards a second side of the joint. Outer axial play is provided between the joint outer part and the ball cage. Inner axial play is provided between the ball cage and the joint inner part. Axial play permits relative axial displacement of the joint inner part with respect to the joint outer part.

A wheel supporting device includes: a hub unit that has a rotary ring having a first spline on its axially inner end face; and a joint that has an outer ring having a second spline, meshing with the first spline, on its axially outer end face. At least one projection included in a plurality of projections of the first spline projects in the axial direction by a larger amount than the remaining projections of the first spline. When a crest of the at least one projection contacts a crest of one of projections of the second spline, a play is caused between the rotary ring and the outer ring due to the at least one projection that works as a fulcrum.

In a scroll compressor of the present invention, a fixed scroll 11 and an orbiting scroll 12 are meshed with each other such that spiral laps of the fixed scroll 11 and the orbiting scroll 12 inwardly face each other, an Oldham ring 26 is provided between the main bearing member 19 and the orbiting scroll 12, and a key portion of the Oldham ring 26 is inserted into a key groove 19a of the main bearing member 19. Grooves 19b are formed in Oldham ring 26 sliding surfaces on both sides of the key groove 19a. According to this configuration, the Oldham ring 26 and the main bearing member 19 can be restrained from coming into contact with each other in the vicinity of the bearing key groove 19a, and restrained from vibrating, and it is possible to provide an inexpensive scroll compressor of low noise.

A device for generating limit torque with a function of yielding a torque change in real time includes a spring, a rotating portion having a cam surface formed therein, a transmitting portion transmitting an elastic force of the spring to the cam surface, a fixed portion with respect to which the relative rotation of the rotating portion is generated, and a limit-torque control portion provided to the fixed portion so as to control limit torque of the rotating portion by adjusting the elastic force of the spring. In the device, the limit-torque control portion controls the limit torque of the spring by changing the elastic force of the spring in real time.

A multi-legged apparatus enables a multi-legged robot to provide a natural motion, and includes a body portion comprising a body, a front leg portion comprising a front fixing portion fixed to the body, and a front rotating portion rotatably connected to the front fixing portion, a rear leg portion connected to the body and a rear leg portion comprising a rear rotating portion rotatably connected to the rear fixing portion, and a first link rotatably connected, at both ends, to the front and rear rotating portions, respectively. The body portion additionally includes a driving portion which rotates one of the front and rear rotating portions. By employing the first link and the driving portion, the body of the multi-legged robot is moved to and fro and left and right naturally in accordance with the movement of the legs, in a similar pattern as that generally shown in actual multi-legged animals.

A pusher assembly for a stent delivery device includes a distal end of an elongate member and a stent-engaging member having proximal and distal ends. The proximal end of the stent-engaging member is mechanically coupled to the distal end of the inner member by a connector, or the proximal end of the stent-engaging member is at least partially inside the distal end of the elongate inner member. The stent-engaging member includes a portion that radially outwardly extends towards the distal end of the stent-engaging member, or the stent-engaging member includes a portion that radially outwardly extends towards the distal end of the stent-engaging member. The stent-engaging member is configured to move a stent when distally advanced and configured to not move a stent when proximally retracted. A stent delivery device includes an elongate outer member, an elongate inner member coaxially positioned within the outer member, and the pusher assembly.

A propshaft assembly that includes a tubular member, first and second end connections coupled to opposite ends of the tubular member and a damper that is received in the tubular member and positioned between the first and second end connections. The tubular member has a wall member that defines an interior circumferential surface. The damper has a first damping device, a second damping device and a third damping device. The first damping device has a first core and a first damping member that is fixed to the first core. The first damping member extends helically about the first core and engages the interior circumferential surface. The second damping device is formed of foam and is positioned in the tubular member between the first and third damping devices. The second damping device engages the interior circumferential surface. The third damping device has a second core and a second damping member that is fixed to the second core. The second damping member extends helically about the second core and engages the interior circumferential surface.

An electro-mechanical energy conversion device is provided having an armature with a central cavity. The armature is rotatably mounted in a frame. A torsion bar is positioned within the armature with one end connected to the armature and the other end connected with an energy source or consuming device.

An arrangement transmits a torque between a shaft and a hub. The hub has at least approximately the interior geometry of an equilateral n-sided polygon, the side surfaces of which at least approximately bear against a clutch portion, which is of circular overall cross section, of the shaft, and wherein the shaft has at least one driver portion which is rotationally conjoint with respect to the clutch portion and which extends in the direction of a corner of the n-sided polygon.

A system and methods are provided for controlling a motor of a rod pumping system using previous RPMs of the motor and predicting an RPM of the motor; correcting a power factor of a motor of a rod pumping system; allocating energy consumption and allocating energy generation for a set of wells connected to an electricity meter using an amount of energy generated by each well; and generating an alert if a set of data is beyond a threshold for the set of data.

A network device receives notification configuration information that includes a time interval criteria and a selected geographical area for providing power outage notifications. The network device receives, during a particular time interval, a loss-of-power alarm from a network interface device (NID) associated with a customer premises. The loss-of-power alarm includes a particular NID identifier. The network device retrieves, from a database, customer configuration information that associates the particular NID identifier with a particular address and identifies a power outage in a particular region associated with the particular address. The identifying is based on receiving the loss-of-power alarm and determining if other loss-of-power alarms have been received from other NIDs in the same region and within the particular time interval.

A system and method is provided for energizing and managing digitally-controlled devices at different levels of granularity, to achieve desired power use characteristics. At the lowest level, a digitally-controlled device is energized using a variable load-sensing adaptive control (VLSAC). Operation of the device is controlled using digital signals input to the device, so that limits on parameters, such as power consumption are met. A plurality of VLSACs can be coupled to a power distribution unit (PDU), which is controlled to achieve desired levels for selected parameters, set for the PDU. Multiple PDUs can be coupled to a power conversion and regulation unit (PCRU), which can be controlled by a master control to achieve a desired power profile for an entire facility, enabling the facility to meet requirements of a utility supplying the power and thus, reducing operational costs. The VLSACs and PCRU include high efficiency power sources having low distortion.

A secondary or “sidebar” display within a process control environment may provide several small applications to allow business managers, engineers, maintenance personnel, or other non-operator personnel to organize and manage process control system information and to display selected diagnostics and summary information or “key operating parameters” for the process control system. Further, sidebar applications may communicate with other applications that are executing on a non-operator user's workstation to, thereby, retrieve information related to tasks that the user is currently completing. The sidebar application may then determine whether certain process control information may be useful for the main task the user is completing and display that process control information within the sidebar.

Shed formation on a weaving machine (2), which is driven by a main motor (3), with a shedding device (4), which is driven by a shedding motor (5), wherein in each motion cycle (N) of the weaving machine (2), a loom shed (7) formed by warp threads (8) of the weaving machine (2) is opened and closed dependent on a weave pattern, and wherein the synchronicity of the two motors (3, 5) is controlled by signals (10) of a control device (9). During a partial number (Tn1, Tn2) of motion cycles (N), the synchronicity of the two motors (3, 5) is changed in such a manner so that plural shed closure angles (FSW) at which the loom shed (7) in the respective motion cycles (N) is closed, form an increasing or decreasing sequence.

Provided are a home network system and a method for an autonomous mobile robot to travel along a shortest travel route. The home network system capable of home automation includes a plurality of beacons for sensing a user located in a cell coverage area and for transmitting resulting sensing information of the user; an autonomous mobile robot for executing travel to reach the user based on provided travel route information; and a home server for calculating a travel route along which the autonomous mobile robot can easily reach the user based on the sensing information of the user transmitted from the beacons, and for providing the travel route to the autonomous mobile robot. Therefore, the autonomous mobile robot may reach the user by the shortest travel route and thus reducing energy loss.

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with swarm management are described. One example system comprises a communication component configured to establish a communication link with at least one element, where the at least one element is part of a swarm. The example system also comprises a management component configured to manage performance of a task list by the swarm through the communication link.

There is provided a method for actuating a first key of a keyboard with a tracer finger of a robot. An exemplary method comprises acquiring parameters of the keyboard and determining a position of the first key as a function of the acquired parameters using a model of the keyboard. The exemplary method also comprises guiding the tracer finger of the robot to the determined position of the first key. The exemplary method additionally comprises actuating the first key with the tracer finger of the robot.

A walking robot having joints which move using a torque servo, a posture of the robot being stably controlled, and a method of controlling a posture of the robot. It is possible to maintain a stable angle of the upper body while keeping an erect posture and balance using the COG of the robot and the inclination and the direction of the upper body and the pelvis of the robot, even in an external variation including external force or an inclination angle of the ground. Even in a state in which terrain information is not known in advance, the robot may keep an erect posture in a direction of gravity. Even when a plane where the robot stands is gradually inclined, the postures of the upper body and the legs of the robot may be kept while actively changing the angle of the ankle joint.

Provided is a device for wirelessly controlling robots suitable for competition or educational purposes, the device including: an input module configured to receive commands from a human user interface, the human user interface sending signals indicative of inputs by a user to control a robot; a protocol translator configured to translate the received commands into a protocol to which the robot is responsive; a wireless output module configured to wirelessly transmit the translated commands to the robot such that the robot executes the commands.

A verification and control method for at least one water purification system is described, which includes a step of supplying, by a server embedded with the water purification system, an editing interface comprising a zone for selecting items of exploitation information representing physical quantities associated with the water purification system, a step of selecting, via the first remote browser, at least one item of exploitation information to constitute at least one exploitation interface page, a step of sending a request to access the exploitation page, by a second remote browser, to the server, a step of collecting the value of each physical quantity represented by a selected item of information to constitute the page, and a step of supplying, by the server, the page comprising each collected value.

A network system may be provided that includes an electronic product, a recognition target, a recognition device, a setting program and a display unit. The electronic product may operate to manage or process a target. The recognition target may include information relating to the target. The recognition device may recognize information listed on the recognition target. The setting program may convert information recognized by the recognition device into setting information. The display unit may display the setting information converted by the setting program.

A method of damping power system oscillations include obtaining a time synchronized damping control signal from a remote location and determining a communication time delay in receiving the time synchronized damping control signal from the remote location. The time synchronized damping control signal is then modified based on a phase compensation factor and an amplitude compensation factor determined from the time delay. Finally, a damping signal is generated based on the modified time synchronized damping control signal.

A work hanging apparatus includes a hanger line continuously conveying hangers each having a hook, a robot that has a hand with which a work having a hole is held and transfers the held work to a hanging location set in the hanger line, a controller controlling a movement of the hand to catch the hook of one of the hangers with the hole of the held work at the hanging location, a hole deviation detector that detects a positional deviation of the hole of the work, an attitude deviation detector that detects an attitudinal deviation of the hanger, and a corrector that corrects the movement of the hand according to the positional and attitudinal deviations.

Chelators of the formulae (I), (II) and (III) and tricarbonyl complexes of radioisotopes of Tc and Re bound to them, for use in myocardial imaging.

A device for inspecting submersed plant parts is particularly suited for ultrasonic inspection of screws in the core baffle of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel. The device includes a remote-controlled underwater vehicle that is provided at its end face with a carrier that can be pivoted about a pivot axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the underwater vehicle, and is provided with a holding device for an inspection head that is arranged on the carrier spaced apart from the pivot axis.

A variable-voltage variable-frequency power source for an electric motor that drives a re-circulation pump for a boiling water nuclear reactor. The power source has a semiconductor electric power converter and a speed controller for controlling the semiconductor electric power converter. When a part of the semiconductor electric power converter comes into an inoperative state, that part is electrically disconnected, and the variable-voltage variable-frequency power source temporarily stops outputting power, thereby idling the re-circulation pump. Thereafter, the power source re-starts outputting power before the re-circulation pump completely stops. Thus, the re-circulation pump keeps operating, without stopping.

Frames are disclosed for mounting windows within the walls of enclosures for isolating or sealing substances such as radioactive or other hazardous substances from the surrounding environment. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a window assembly includes a two-piece frame that is welded into the wall of an enclosure. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a window assembly includes a three-piece frame that is clamped to the wall of an enclosure. The frame assemblies may also be used to mount structures other than windows to enclosure walls, such as ducts or pipes intended for passing power, gas, vacuum, or other utilities into the interior of an enclosure.

A working apparatus has: a working equipment for doing works on a structure; an operation mechanism adapted to actively move the working equipment relative to the structure; and an adhering/traveling module coupled to the operation mechanism and adapted to adhere to the structure so as to have the weight of the working apparatus borne by the structure and travel/move on the structure for positioning. With this arrangement, the working apparatus can perform accurate positioning operations in a narrow environment and complex scanning operations by means of various pieces of the working equipment such as inspection sensors, and can secure a large working area within a short period of time and reduce the overall working hours.

One form of the invention is directed to an apparatus that comprises step-down circuitry to better match impedance between an input and an output that includes a number of stages each electrically coupled to another and each including a charge storage device. The circuitry further includes a number of switching devices operable in a first electrical connectivity state to connect the charge storage device of each of the stages in series to receive electrical charge from the input and in a second electrical connectivity state opposite the first state to connect the charge storage device of each of the stages in parallel to discharge electricity through the output. This circuitry can be used in connection with a radioisotopic conversion cell.

The present invention relates to a liquid radioactive waste treatment system. The liquid radioactive waste treatment system includes a plurality of evaporation plates and each of the evaporation plates has an uneven surface, in a housing comprised of a glass. A liquid radioactive waste is dispersed via a liquid waste dispersing unit to the evaporation plate, and the liquid radioactive waste is evaporated using solar heat and airflow in the housing.

Materials and methods of making low-sintering-temperature glass waste forms that sequester radioactive iodine in a strong and durable structure. First, the iodine is captured by an adsorbant, which forms an iodine-loaded material, e.g., AgI, AgI-zeolite, AgI-mordenite, Ag-silica aerogel, ZnI2, CuI, or Bi5O7I. Next, particles of the iodine-loaded material are mixed with powdered frits of low-sintering-temperature glasses (comprising various oxides of Si, B, Bi, Pb, and Zn), and then sintered at a relatively low temperature, ranging from 425° C. to 550° C. The sintering converts the mixed powders into a solid block of a glassy waste form, having low iodine leaching rates. The vitrified glassy waste form can contain as much as 60 wt % AgI. A preferred glass, having a sintering temperature of 500° C. (below the silver iodide sublimation temperature of 500° C.) was identified that contains oxides of boron, bismuth, and zinc, while containing essentially no lead or silicon.

Frames for mounting windows within the walls of enclosures for isolating or sealing substances such as radioactive or other hazardous substances from the surrounding environment. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a window assembly includes a two-piece frame that is welded into the wall of an enclosure. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a window assembly includes a three-piece frame that is clamped to the wall of an enclosure. The frame assemblies may also be used to mount structures other than windows to enclosure walls, such as ducts or pipes intended for passing power, gas, vacuum, or other utilities into the interior of an enclosure.

Materials and methods of synthesizing mixed-layered bismuth oxy-iodine materials, which can be synthesized in the presence of aqueous radioactive iodine species found in caustic solutions (e.g. NaOH or KOH). This technology provides a one-step process for both iodine sequestration and storage from nuclear fuel cycles. It results in materials that will be durable for repository conditions much like those found in Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and estimated for Yucca Mountain (YMP). By controlled reactant concentrations, optimized compositions of these mixed-layered bismuth oxy-iodine inorganic materials are produced that have both a high iodine weight percentage and a low solubility in groundwater environments.

A method for design of a fuel assembly for nuclear reactors, including structural components made from zirconium alloy: the mean uniaxial tensile or compressive stress to which the components are subjected during the assembly life is calculated, the zirconium alloy of which the components are made is selected according to the following criteria: those components subjected to an axial or transverse compressive stress of between −10 et −20 MPa are made from an alloy with a content of Sn between Sn=(=0.025σ−0.25)% and Sn=−0.05σ%: those components subjected to such a stress of between 0 et −10 MPa are made from an alloy the Sn content of which is between Sn=traces and Sn=(0.05σ+1)%: those components subjected to such a stress of between 0 and +10 MPa are made from an alloy the Sn content of which is between Sn=0.05% and Sn=(0.07σ+1)%: and those components subjected to such a stress of between +10 and +20 MPa are made from an alloy the content of SN of which is between 0.05% and 1.70%. A fuel assembly made according to the method.

An apparatus for treating a radioactive nitrate waste liquid includes: a denitrification tank (12) that accommodates active sludge which adsorbs or takes in a radioactive substance in a nitrate waste liquid (11) containing nitrate and the radioactive substance and in which an anaerobic microorganism that reduces the nitrate to nitrogen gas grows; a reaeration tank (14) that aerates and mixes a denitrification-treated liquid (24) treated in the denitrification tank (12) with the active sludge in which the aerobic microorganism grows; and a sludge dissolution tank (81) that dissolves redundant sludge (26A, 26B) discharged from the denitrification tank (12) and the reaeration tank (14). Acetic peracid (80) is supplied to the sludge dissolution tank (81) to dissolve redundant sludge, a sludge lysate is supplied to the denitrification tank (12) as a carbon source (22), and acetic acid is supplied to the denitrification tank (12).

The invention relates to a polypeptide having a mutation at one or more position corresponding to T219 of SEQ ID NO: 55, wherein the polypeptide has at least 50% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 55, and wherein the polypeptide has permease activity.

Provided herein are pharmaceutical formulations containing exendins, exendin agonists, or exendin analog agonists that are administered at therapeutic plasma concentration levels over a sustained period of time to lower total cholesterol levels; to lower LDL-cholesterol levels; to lower triglyceride levels; to treat dyslipidemia; to treat and slow the progression of atherosclerosis; and to treat, prevent, and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients. In the pharmaceutical formulations and methods of the invention, the exendin may be exendin-4, an exendin-4 agonist, or an exendin-4 analog agonist. The pharmaceutical formulations may be polymer-based pharmaceutical formulations that may be administered once weekly. An exemplary pharmaceutical formulation comprises 5% (w/w) of exenatide, about 2% (w/w) of sucrose, and about 93% (w/w) of a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) polymer, wherein the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) polymer is in the form of microspheres encapsulating the exenatide.