Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufactures for implementing physical designs by using multiple force models to iteratively morph a layout decomposition. In addition to attractive force model(s) or repulsive force model(s), the physical implementation also uses a containment force model for grouping multiple design blocks or for confining a node of a cell within the boundary of a container. Another aspect is directed at deriving a first force model at the first hierarchical level from a second force model at the second hierarchical level by directly modifying the second model based at least in part on characteristic(s) of the first hierarchical level and of the second hierarchical level. In a design with multiple hierarchies, a cell-based force model is also used to ensure child nodes of a parent cell stay within a close proximity of the parent node of the parent cell.

A method for softening laundry employs a softening composition, which includes at least one thickener containing a cationic polymer obtained by polymerization: of a cationic monomer;of a monomer with a hydrophobic nature, of formula (I): wherein R1=H or CH3 R2=alkyl chain having at least 16 carbon atomsX═O, m≧5, y=z=0, orX═NH, m≧z≧5, y=0, orX═NH, m≧y≧5, z=0, of a nonionic monomer.

A process for preparing a particle defoamer. The particle defoamer of 55%-75% of a carrier, 15%-35% of a silicone emulsion, 3%-10% of a texturing agent and 2%-10% of a solvent, based on the total weight of the particle defoamer; the process for preparing the particle defoamer is: (1)first adding a carrier A1 into a mixer, and then adding thereto a silicone emulsion B1, and stirring uniformly; (2)adding a carrier component A2 to the mixture obtained in (1), and stirring uniformly; (3)adding a silicone emulsion B2 to the mixture obtained in (2), and, after uniformly stirring, adding the solvent thereto and stirring uniformly; and (4)pelleting and drying by baking the mixture obtained in(3), so as to produce the product.

The present invention relates to an enzyme composition comprising enzyme containing polymer particles, which is useful for detergent compositions, in particular for liquid detergent compositions. In these enzyme containing particles, the particles comprise i) at least one enzyme, and ii) at least one polymer P, which is selected from homo- and copolymers having a C—C-backbone, wherein the C—C-backbone carries carboxylgroups, which may be present in the acidic form or in the neutralized form, and wherein the C—C-backbone comprises hydrophobic repeating units.

Disclosed is a splicing method of two second-generation ReBCO high temperature superconductor coated conductors (2G ReBCO HTS CCs), in which, with stabilizing layers removed from the two strands of 2G ReBCO HTS CCs through chemical wet etching or plasma dry etching, surfaces of the two high temperature superconducting layers are brought into direct contact with each other and heated in a splicing furnace in a vacuum for micro-melting portions of the surfaces of the high temperature superconducting layers to permit inter-diffusion of ReBCO atoms such that the surfaces of the two superconducting layers can be spliced to each other and oxygenation annealing for recovery of superconductivity which was lost during splicing.

A superconducting structure (1) has a plurality of coated conductor tapes (2; 2a-2o), each with a substrate (3) which is one-sided coated with a superconducting film (4), in particular an YBCO film, wherein the superconducting structure (1) provides a superconducting current path along an extension direction (z) of the superconducting structure (1), wherein the coated conductor tapes (2; 2a-2o) provide electrically parallel partial superconducting current paths in the extension direction (z) of the superconducting structure (1), is characterized in that the coated conductor tapes (2; 2a-2o) are superconductively connected among themselves along the extension direction (z) continuously or intermittently. A more stable superconducting structure with which high electric current strengths may be transported is thereby provided.

Provided is an efficient technology for synthesizing diamino acids (diamino acid derivatives). Disclosed is a manufacturing method for diamino acid derivatives wherein the fluorenyl groups of the diamino acid derivative starting materials represented by General Formula [II] or [IV] are removed.

A method for detecting and conveying an alarm signal, when an absorbent article is unfastened or, completely removed from the body of the wearer. The method is intended to be used in parallel with a method for detecting wetness in the absorbent article and further relates to an integrated detection-and-alarm method for detecting unfastening and/or wetness in an absorbent article. A system for detecting and conveying an alarm signal when an absorbent article is unfastened or removed from the body of the wearer and/or when the article is wet. The system includes (a) and absorbent article having at least one absorbent layer, the object to be displaced, such as a fastening system, one or more sensoring devices, one or more transmitting devices, and (b) a remote receiver. Furthermore, the system relates to the use of the system in the care of children and adults suffering from incontinence and/or psychological illnesses.

In a computer system that includes multiple nodes and multiple logical partitions, a dynamic partition manager computes current memory affinity and potential memory affinity to help determine whether a reallocation of resources between nodes may improve memory affinity for a logical partition or for the computer system. If so, the reallocation of resources is performed so memory affinity for the logical partition or computer system is improved. Memory affinity is computed relative to the physical layout of the resources according to a hardware domain hierarchy that includes a plurality of primary domains and a plurality of secondary domains.

A partition manager relocates a logical partition from a primary shared processor pool to a secondary shared processor pool in response to a predetermined condition, such as a hardware failure. The relocated logical partition is allocated a smaller quantity of processing units from the secondary pool than it was allocated from the primary pool. A quantity of processing units reserved for a second logical partition is identified in the secondary shared processor pool, and a portion of those reserved processing units are allocated to the relocated logical partition. The reserved processing units may be redistributed among multiple relocated logical partitions.

Described is a microfluidic process for manufacturing partially cross-linked alginate solution, wherein the alginate solution is a homogenous liquid which exhibits an elastic response (G') which is equal to or greater than its viscous response (G″). In particular, the process may comprise microfluidic mixing of sodium alginate and calcium gluconate solutions to provide an injectable partially cross-linked alginate solution.

A method for inhibiting the crystal growth rate of an amide compound present in a molten polyolefin-based resin and a method for producing a polyolefin-based resin molded article are provided. A phenol compound is incorporated into an amide compound-containing polyolefin-based resin such that a weight ratio, amide compound:phenol compound, is 60:40 to 10:90.

The present invention relates to a method for producing inorganic oxide particles, comprising at least the following steps of: coagulating a dispersion obtained by carrying out the hydrolysis reaction and the polycodensation reaction of a metal alkoxide in the presence of a basic catalyst; filtering the dispersion to obtain particles; anddrying the particles, whereinthe step of coagulating the dispersion is carried out by adding a coagulant comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, ammonium carbonate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate and ammonium carbamate to the dispersion. The inorganic oxide particles obtained by the method of the present invention have high purity and are excellent in flowability.

The present invention relates to a stable mixture comprising surface-modified particles which are obtained by reacting metal oxide or semimetal oxide particles with at least one compound selected from among silicon-comprising compounds bearing at least one metaloxy radical and optionally further alkoxy and/or hydroxy radical(s) and at least one solvent, at least one surface-active substance or a mixture thereof, a process for producing the mixture, the use of these particles in systems in which they are brought into contact with at least one solvent, where the mass ratio of solvent to modified particle is greater than 500, and also the use of these particles in agglomeration-deagglomeration cycles.

The invention provides a silane compound that includes a hydrophobic group and a silane ester group linked by a hydrophilic group for use as a surface treatment to an inorganic material, such as a pigment, the silane including a hydrophobic group and a silane ester group linked by a hydrophilic group. The invention includes a coated particle including an inorganic material coated with the silane compound(s) and methods of improving the wettability and/or dispersibility of an inorganic material such as a pigment, wherein the method comprises depositing the silane compounds on the surface of a pigment.

The invention provide a silica nanoparticle comprising a non-porous matrix of silicon-oxygen bonds, wherein the matrix comprises organic agents conjugated to silicon or oxygen atoms in the matrix, the organic agents are conjugated to the matrix through linker L groups, wherein the linker L comprises, for example, an ester, urea, thiourea, or thio ether group, and wherein the diameter of the nanoparticle is about 15 nm to about 200 nm. The invention also provides novel methods of making and using the silica nanoparticles described herein.

Method for preparing diamino-dianhydro-dideoxyhexitols, particularly 2,5-diamino-1,4:3,6-dianhydro-2,5-dideoxy-D-hexitol. The invention related to a method for preparing diamino-dianhydro-dideoxyhexitols, particularly preferably 2,5-diamino-1,4:3,6-dianhydro-2,5-dideoxy-D-hexitol.

The present invention provides a compound which functions as a selective vitamin D receptor modulator and has action-selectivity or tissue-selectivity such that it does not induce hypercalcemia but causes other effects. There is provided a compound represented by formula (I), a solvate thereof or a prodrug thereof. wherein m and n each independently represent 1 or 0;R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group;Y represents an ethane-1,1-diyl group or an ethyne-1,2-diyl group; andZ1 represents a hydrogen atom and Z2 represents a hydroxyalkoxy group, orZ1 and Z2 jointly form a methylene group.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one propylene-based polymer comprising less than 0.1 wt. % diene-derived units based on the weight of the propylene-based polymer, an antioxidant, and a co-agent. The composition can be at least partially crosslinked by electron beam irradiation in a dose of less than 200 kGy, and may be further formed into articles including fibers, yarns, films, and nonwovens, among others. The propylene-based polymer of the present invention may be a polymer blend formed by forming a reactor blend from of two or more polymers produced in two or more reactors.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus to identify at least one component from a plurality of components in a fluid mixture, the apparatus including a first input channel into which a first flow containing a plurality of components is introduced; a plurality of buffer input channels, into which additional flows of buffer solution are introduced, disposed on either side of the first input channel; wherein the first flow and the additional flows have a flow direction along a length of the apparatus; a detector apparatus which detects and identifies selected components of the plurality of components; a laser which emits a laser beam which damages or kills selected components of the plurality of components; and at least one channel disposed at the another end of the apparatus which is adapted to receive the first flow and the additional flows after operation of the laser on the selected components.

A method for removing particulates from a fluid, the method including the steps of: producing a laminar flow of the fluid through a single-flow passageway defined by an interior surface of an outer rotor of a centrifuge; and imparting centrifugal force on the fluid in a direction orthogonal to a direction of the flow of the fluid to capture the particulates from the fluid. The method may further comprise rotation of the centrifuge at a speed of 5,000 to 15,000 revolutions per minute. The method may also or alternatively comprise locating the interior surface between 3 and 5 inches from an axis of rotation of the centrifuge.

An apparatus and method to identify at least one component from a plurality of components in a fluid mixture, includes a first input channel containing the fluid mixture of components; at least one buffer input channel, into which at least one additional flow of buffer solution is introduced; a plurality of regions disposed at the other end of the apparatus, which are adapted to receive outputs of at least one selected component of the plurality of components, the selected component which is selectively removed from the first flow to one of the regions; a waste channel through which unselected components are removed from the first flow; a plurality of pumps connected to at least one reservoir, to control flow rates of the first flow and the additional flow(s); and a computer which controls a selection of one of the plurality of components from the fluid mixture.

Methods and apparatuses for activating colorant in selected regions of an article in which the colorant is incorporated are described. The colorant activation can create various desired visual aspects.

Methods to produce pH-sensitive microparticles that have an active agent dispersed in a polymer matrix have certain advantages over microcapsules with an active agent encapsulated in an interior compartment/core inside of a polymer wall. The current invention relates to pH-sensitive microparticles that have a corrosion-detecting or corrosion-inhibiting active agent or active agents dispersed within a polymer matrix of the microparticles. The pH-sensitive microparticles can be used in various coating compositions on metal objects for corrosion detecting and/or inhibiting.

A method of color laser marking an article having a polymeric foil with at least one colorless layer containing an infrared absorber, a polymeric binder and a color forming compound; including the steps of:—laser marking the colorless layer with an infrared laser using a first laser operation mode to generate a blue or cyan color; and—laser marking the same colorless layer with an infrared laser using a second laser operation mode to generate a black color, wherein the first laser operation mode applies less energy to the colorless layer than the second laser operation mode. Also disclosed is an article, such as a security document, including a polymeric foil and a colorless layer containing laser marked graphical data having a blue or cyan color and laser marked information having a black color.

A method for preparing a color laser marked article comprising the steps of: a) infrared laser marking a security element including a polymeric support and a color forming layer comprising a color forming compound, an infrared dye and a polymeric binder comprising vinyl acetate and at least 85 wt % of vinyl chloride based on the total weight of the binder; and b) exposing the laser marked security element with light having a wavelength higher than 440 nm. The light exposure of step b) hinders the falsification of an issued security document without significant increase of background density.

A method is described for optimizing the operation of a reaction section for the synthesis of hydrocarbons from a feed comprising synthesis gas, operated in the presence of a catalyst comprising cobalt, said method comprising the following steps: a) determining the theoretical partial pressure of CO in the reaction section;b) optionally, adjusting the partial pressure of CO determined in step a) to a value of 4 bar or higher;c) determining a new value for the theoretical partial pressure of CO in the reaction section.

Methods and apparatuses for circuit design are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a distribution of nets of a circuit, the distribution of the nets comprising numbers of blocks that each of the nets has in each of a plurality of partitions of the circuit in a partitioning solution, moving a first block of the circuit from a source partition to a destination partition to modify the partitioning solution, and updating the distribution of the nets after the moving.

A method of applying particles to a backing having a make layer on one of the backing's opposed major surfaces. The method including the steps of: supporting the particles on a feeding member having a feeding surface such that the particles settle into one or more layers on the feeding surface; the feeding surface and the backing being arranged in a non-parallel manner; and translating the particles from the feeding surface to the backing and attaching the particles to the make layer by an electrostatic force.

A vibratory assembly is provided that incorporates a vibratory mechanism worn by a sexual participant on one or more digits of an articulating member for the sexual exploration and stimulation of erogenous zones. A modular erogenous stimulation system including the vibratory assembly is also provided along with a kit for providing erogenous stimulation to at least one participant.

Provided is a technology with which, when producing a resin molded article, the inside of which is provided with an insert component such as a terminal fitting, it is possible to prevent the insert component from being exposed at an inappropriate position, and to ensure the desired positional accuracy. In an injection molding device, the accuracy of the position of a terminal is improved by allowing a core-back mold to move after a terminal, which is an insert component, has been inserted in a terminal tip holding section of a slide mold. By allowing the core-back mold to move by only a prescribed amount prior to injection molding, a resin wall is formed between the core-back mold and the terminal. The inappropriate exposure and shorting of and the adhesion of foreign substances to, and the like, the terminal can thus be prevented.

A multi-participant conference system and method is described. The multi-participant system includes a PSTN client, at least one remote client and a first participant client. The PSTN client communicates audio data and the remote clients communicate audio-video data. The first participant client includes a voice over IP (VoIP) encoder, a VoIP decoder, a first audio mixer, and a second audio mixer. The VoIP encoder compresses audio data transported to the PSTN client. The VoIP decoder then decodes audio data from the PSTN client. The first audio mixer mixes the decoded audio data from the PSTN client with the audio-video data from the first participant into a first mixed audio-video data stream transmitted to the remote client. The second audio mixer mixes the audio-video data stream from the first participant with the audio-video data stream from each remote client into a second mixed audio transmitted to the PSTN client.

Disclosed is a grinding tool, which includes a first disk having an installation hole in a center portion thereof such that the grinding tool is installed on a grinder, a second disk forming a discharge passage with partitions on a bottom surface of the first disk, wherein air intaken from a central lower portion of the grinding tool is discharged to an outside thereof through the discharge passage, and a ring-shaped shank disposed under the second disk and including grinding tips to grind a target.

An abrasive article including a base having an annular shape defining a central opening; and a mounting assembly coupled to the base, wherein a portion of the mounting assembly is under a compressive force, and a grinding segment coupled to the mounting member.

A coated abrasive article comprises an abrasive layer secured to a backing. The abrasive layer comprises abrasive particles secured by at least one binder to a first major surface of the backing. A supersize is disposed on at least a portion of the abrasive layer. The coated abrasive article has a melt flow zone adjacent to an edge of the coated abrasive article, wherein the melt flow zone has a maximum width of less than 100 micrometers, and the melt flow zone has a maximum height of less than 40 micrometers. Methods of using infrared lasers to ablate coated abrasive articles are also disclosed, wherein a laser wavelength is matched to a component of the coated abrasive article.

[Object] To provide a nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition which demonstrates a low friction coefficient and realizes a further fuel economy. [Solving Means] A nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition comprising a base oil, an additive having hydroxyl group, and nanoparticle. A nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition comprising a base oil, an ashless friction modifier having hydroxyl group, and nanoparticle. A nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition comprising a base oil, an additive having hydroxyl group, and nanoparticle having a particle diameter of 1 to 100 nm. A nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition comprising a base oil, an ashless friction modifier having hydroxyl group, and nanoparticle having a particle diameter of 1 to 100 nm.

Lubrication additives of the current invention require formation of emulsions in base lubricants, created with an aqueous salt solution plus a single-phase compound such that partitioning within the resulting emulsion provides thermodynamically targeted compounds for boundary layer organization thus establishing anti-friction and/or anti-wear. The single-phase compound is termed “boundary layer organizer”, abbreviated BLO. These emulsion-contained compounds energetically favor association with tribologic surfaces in accord with the Second Law of Thermodynamics, and will organize boundary layers on those surfaces in ways specific to the chemistry of the salt and BLO additives. In this way friction modifications may be provided by BLOs targeted to boundary layers via emulsions within lubricating fluids, wherein those lubricating fluids may be water-based or oil-based.

A ceramic article may comprise a sintered phase ceramic composition comprising aluminum titanate (Al2TiO5), zirconium titanate (ZrTiO4), and a niobium-doped phase.

Nanoparticle catalyst compositions and methods for preparation of same are described. The nanoparticle catalysts are platinum-free and are useful in effecting selective ring-opening reactions, for example in upgrading heavy oil. The catalyst may be of monometallic composition, or may comprise an alloyed or core-shell bimetallic composition. The nanoparticles are of controlled size and shape.

A method for making particles containing carboxyalkyl cellulose, comprising blending a carboxyalkyl cellulose and a starch in water to provide an aqueous gel; treating the aqueous gel with a crosslinking agent to provide a crosslinked gel; drying the crosslinked gel to provide a solid; comminuting the solid to provide a plurality of particles.

An elbow prosthesis is provided and may include a first stem component attached to one of a humerus and an ulna, a second stem component attached to the other of the humerus and the ulna, and a joint disposed between and coupling the first stem component and the second stem component to permit relative movement between the first stem component and the second stem component about a first axis. The elbow prosthesis may additionally include a condyle extending from the joint and including an axis of rotation that is eccentric from the first axis.

The present disclosure relates to methods of facilitating bone growth. The method may include positioning a device around at least a portion of a bone exhibiting a defect, the device capable of retaining bone segments and micro-structured particles. The method may also include applying micro-structure particles within the device to the defect, wherein each of the micro-structure particles include at least one pore therein. In addition, the method may include aligning at least a portion of the micro-structure particles and applying a polymer to the particles and solidifying the polymer.

Thermoplastic composition and articles containing UV absorbers that protect the articles contents from harmful UV radiation are disclosed as well as methods for making the thermoplastic articles and methods for using the articles to contain and protect materials sensitive to UV radiation. The UV absorbers contain oxazolone and/or azine functional groups that absorb UV radiation and prevent its transmission into the article. Many of the compounds are novel compositions of matter. The generally clear thermoplastic articles of this disclosure are particularly useful for containing a variety of UV sensitive consumer products that would otherwise have to be packaged in opaque containers.

A ligand design allows compact nanoparticle materials, such as quantum dots (QDs), with excellent colloidal stability over a wide range of pH and under high salt concentrations. Self-assembled biomolecular conjugates with QDs can be obtained which are stable in biological environments. Energy transfer with these ligands is maximized by minimizing distances between QDs/nanoparticles and donors/acceptors directly attached to the ligands or assembled on their surfaces.

A starting device of a spark-ignition multi-cylinder engine is provided. The device includes a multi-cylinder engine body having cylinders, fuel injection valves, ignition plugs, an intake valve drive mechanism for opening and closing intake valves, a hydraulic variable valve phase mechanism for changing a close timing of each intake valve, an engine-driven hydraulic pressure supply source for supplying a hydraulic pressure, and a start controller for controlling the fuel injection valves, the ignition plugs, and the variable valve phase mechanism. When the supplied hydraulic pressure is below a predetermined pressure, the variable valve phase mechanism locks the close timing. When an engine temperature in an engine-start is high, the start controller retards a fuel injection timing of the cylinder on intake stroke at an engine stopped timing and retards an ignition timing thereof. The start controller does not retard the close timing of the intake valve until the engine-start completes.

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 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).

In one aspect, hollow nanoparticles are described herein. In some embodiments, a hollow nanoparticle comprises a metal shell and a cavity substantially defined by the shell, wherein the shell has a thickness greater than or equal to about 5 nm and the cavity has a curved surface. In another aspect, methods of making hollow nanoparticles are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of making hollow nanoparticles comprises forming a plurality of gas bubbles and forming a shell on the surface of at least one of the plurality of gas bubbles, wherein at least one of the gas bubbles is electrochemically generated. In another aspect, composite particles are described herein. In some embodiments, a composite particle comprises at least one nanoparticle and a polycrystalline metal shell substantially encapsulating at least one nanoparticle, wherein at least one surface of at least one nanoparticle is not in contact with the shell.

A generic route for synthesis of asymmetric nanostructures. This approach utilizes submicron magnetic particles (Fe3O4—SiO2) as recyclable solid substrates for the assembly of asymmetric nanostructures and purification of the final product. Importantly, an additional SiO2 layer is employed as a mediation layer to allow for selective modification of target nanoparticles. The partially patched nanoparticles are used as building blocks for different kinds of complex asymmetric nanostructures that cannot be fabricated by conventional approaches. The potential applications such as ultra-sensitive substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) have been included.

The invention relates to a glass item, at least one of the surfaces thereof having antimicrobial properties that are resistant to a temperature treatment, especially a temperature treatment in preparation of the subsequent tempering thereof. The glass item especially comprises an antimicrobial agent beneath the surface of the glass, and nanoparticles that are partially and/or totally incorporated into the mass of the glass close to said surface and consist of at least one inorganic component.