An irreversible thermochromic ink composition can include thermochromic pigment capsules dispersed in a carrier. The irreversible thermochromic pigment capsules can include an inner core having a color changing dye, a color activator for activating the color changing dye, and a wax, an outer core surrounding the inner core and comprising a color destroying agent, and a shell surrounding the outer core. Alternatively, the irreversible thermochromic pigment capsules can include an inner core having a color destroying agent and a wax, an outer core surrounding the inner core and comprising a color changing dye and a color activator for activating the color changing dye, and a shell surrounding the outer core. Written marks made with the irreversible thermochromic inks can be rendered a different color or substantially colorless by application of a sufficient amount of heat to melt or substantially liquefy the wax in the irreversible thermochromic pigment capsules.

The invention describes an improved thermally-responsive record material substantially free of aromatic isocyanate yielding an image of high intensity and useful for bar codes. The record material comprises a support having provided thereon a heat-sensitive composition comprising a substantially colorless color former comprising a fluoran; and a developer material selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone and 3,3'-diaminodiphenylsulfone, and an organic acid which upon being heated reacts with said color former to develop color, and including a binder material. Optionally, a modifier compound is included in the heat-sensitive composition. The compound can be selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid amide, such as stearmide. Optionally, magnesium state is included.

The invention describes a thermally-responsive record material substantially free of aromatic isocyanate. The record material comprises a support having provided thereon a heat-sensitive composition comprising a substantially colorless dye precursor comprising a fluoran; and a developer material selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone and 3,3'-diaminodiphenylsulfone in combination with N-[(butylamino)carbonyl]-4-methylbenzene sulfonamide, which upon being heated react with said dye precursor to develop color, and including a binder material.

Disclosed are a polysiloxane-modified polyhydroxy polyurethane resin characterized by being derived from a reaction between a 5-membered cyclic carbonate polysiloxane compound represented by the below-described formula (1) and an amine compound, and its production process; and a resin composition, thermal recording medium, imitation leather, thermoplastic polyolefin resin skin material, weather strip material, and weather strip, all of which make use of the resin. wherein A means

The present invention relates to a thermochromic color-memory composition containing: (I) an electron donating coloring organic compound, (II) an electron accepting compound, and (III) an ester compound represented by the following formula (1) as a reaction medium which controls color reaction of the components (I) and (II): (in the formula, X represents any of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a halogen atom, m represents an integer of from 1 to 3, and n represents an integer of from 1 to 20).

A method of increasing the solubility and/or dispersibility of a perylene dye in a liquid medium. The method comprises binding the perylene dye to a polymer which is soluble in the liquid medium. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

The invention describes a thermally-responsive record material substantially free of aromatic isocyanate. The record material comprises a support having provided thereon a heat-sensitive composition comprising a substantially colorless dye precursor comprising a fluoran; and a developer material selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone and 3,3'-diaminodiphenylsulfone, which upon being heated react with said dye precursor to develop color, and including a binder material. Optionally, a modifier compound is included in the heat-sensitive composition. The modifier compound can be selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid amide, preferably a saturated fatty acid amide such as an alkyl amide, a bis methylene alkyl amide, or a bis ethylene alkyl amide, or any of 1,2-diphenoxy ethane, dimethyl diphenoxy ethane, and dimethyl phthalate.

The invention relates to a so-called zero emission ‘AST-CNR/ITM system’ modular plant for removal of pollutants from flue gases produced by industrial processes. The plant comprises prefabricated modular elements with programmed and automatic operation, easy to mount and assemble on site without undergoing expensive plant stoppage. Each module or ‘reaction tower’ comprises a plurality of sections vertically arranged on top of one another, which carry out the following functions: Removal of particulate matter with treatment and removal of chemical pollutants, such as heavy metals, chlorides, fluorides Treatment and removal of SOx Treatment and removal of NOx Capture of CO2 Production of hydrogen Production of methanol. The various sections may be combined according to the requirements of the plant and of the flue gases to be treated.

Iron/carbon (Fe/C) nanocomposite catalysts are prepared for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction. A preparation method includes steps of mixing iron hydrate salts and a mesoporous carbon support to form a mixture, infiltrating the iron hydrate salts into the carbon support through melt infiltration of the mixture near a melting point of the iron hydrate salts, forming iron-carbide particles infiltrated into the carbon support through calcination of the iron hydrate salts infiltrated into the carbon support under a first atmosphere, and vacuum-drying the iron-carbide particles after passivation using ethanol. Using such catalysts, liquid hydrocarbons are produced.

A gasification-liquefaction disposal method, system and equipment for MSW are disclosed. The method involves the MSW pretreatment of dehydrating and separating, thus reducing water and inorganic substance content of the waste. Then, the MSW is introduced into a plasma gasifier (23) by a carbon dioxide air-sealed feeding device (13) and gasified therein to obtain hydrogen-rich syngas. The hydrogen-rich syngas is then cooled, deacidified, dedusted and separated to obtain carbon dioxide. Then, the hydrogen-rich syngas is catalyzed to produce methanol product in a methanol synthesis reactor (52). The separated carbon dioxide is sent back to a carbonation reaction chamber (2007) of a gasification system to perform carbonation reaction with calcium oxide, thereby releasing heat to provide assistant heat energy for gasification and avoiding greenhouse gas from being discharged into environment. Exhaust gas is returned to the plasma gasifier (23) for remelting treatment, thus forming a closed-loop circulation production system and realizing the disposal of the MSW with zero discharge and no pollution, thereby avoiding dioxin pollution and converting the MSW to chemical raw materials and fuel needed by mankind. The method, system and equipment are suitable for harmless and recycling disposal of MSW, industrial high polymer waste, composting waste and waste in waste sorting sites.

There is provided a method for upgrading hydrocarbon compounds, in which hydrocarbon compounds synthesized in a Fisher-Tropsch synthesis reaction are fractionally distillated, and the fractionally distillated hydrocarbon compounds are hydrotreated to produce liquid fuel products. The method includes fractionally distilling heavy hydrocarbon compounds synthesized in the Fisher-Tropsch synthesis reaction as a liquid into a first middle distillate and a wax fraction, and fractionally distilling light hydrocarbon compounds synthesized in the Fisher-Tropsch synthesis reaction as a gas into a second middle distillate and a light gas fraction.

Catalyst compositions comprising molybdenum, sulfur and an alkali metal ion supported on a nanofibrous, mesoporous carbon molecular sieve are useful for converting syngas to higher alcohols. The compositions are produced via impregnation and may enhance selectivity to ethanol in particular.

A system for intelligent monitoring and management of an electrical system is disclosed. The system includes a data acquisition component, a power analytics server and a client terminal. The data acquisition component acquires real-time data output from the electrical system. The power analytics server is comprised of a real-time energy pricing engine, virtual system modeling engine, an analytics engine, a machine learning engine and a schematic user interface creator engine. The real-time energy pricing engine generates real-time utility power pricing data. The virtual system modeling engine generates predicted data output for the electrical system. The analytics engine monitors real-time data output and predicted data output of the electrical system. The machine learning engine stores acid processes patterns observed from the real-time data output and the predicted data output to forecast an aspect of the electrical system.

A design system for generating a power equipment proposal for a particular location, comprises an insolation database, a load database, and a processing system. The insolation database comprises insolation values associated with a plurality of geographic data points. The load database associates appropriate power equipment with load requirements. The processing system generates at least one power equipment proposal based on load requirements generated from the insolation database based on the insolation values associated with a geographic data point closest to the particular location and solar power equipment appropriately selected from the load database based on the load requirements generated from the insolation database.

A device for the collection and processing of information relating to the exposure of one or more persons to one or more products of chemical or biological origin has: at least one coded sensor for automatic or semi-automatic identification of a person likely to be exposed to at least one product,at least one coded sensor for the collection of information relating to the handling of at least one product by the person likely to be exposed to the product,at least one sensor for validating the information collected by the identification and collection sensors,at least one module for reading at least one coded sensor, anda module for processing information collected by the sensors.

Various technologies described herein pertain to computing surface normals for points in a point cloud. The point cloud is representative of a measured surface of a physical object. A point in the point cloud can be set as a point of origin, and points in the point cloud can be modeled as electrostatic point charges. Moreover, a point of least electrostatic potential on a sphere centered at the point of origin can be computed as a function of the electrostatic point charges. Further, unit vector with a direction from the point of origin to the point of least electrostatic potential on the sphere can be assigned as a normal for the point of origin.

A method and apparatus for data processing. The method calculates correlations between a plurality of attributes in a dataset. The attributes are factors involved in transaction processing. The method generates a relationship graph by using the plurality of attributes and the correlations between the plurality of attributes; and extracts a sub-graph from the relationship graph to represent a hypothesis. The hypothesis describes the impacts of the factors on the transaction processing. Also provided is an apparatus for implementing the above data processing method.

According to one aspect, an apparatus for computing a solution to a power flow problem for an electrical power system comprising a plurality of buses. The apparatus includes (a) at least one processor comprising a plurality of cores; and (b) memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing an admittance matrix for the power system, real power and reactive power for each bus, and an initial complex voltage for each bus; (c) wherein the at least one processor is configured to: (i) perform a Jacobi power flow calculation for each bus to determine the complex voltage for each bus, the Jacobi power flow calculation using the admittance matrix, the real power and reactive power for each bus, and the initial complex voltage for each bus as inputs, wherein at least two Jacobi power flow calculations are performed concurrently on the plurality of cores; (ii) calculate a power mismatch at each bus based on the complex voltages; and (iii) determine whether the Jacobi power flow calculations have converged based on the power mismatch and repeat (i) to (iii) if the Jacobi power flow calculations have not converged.

A coating composition comprising: an aqueous dispersion comprising: the melt-kneading product of (A) a base polymer which comprises one or more thermoplastic polymers, (B) a stabilizing agent which comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid grafted ethylene-based polymers and maleic anhydride grafted polyolefins; (C) a neutralizing agent; and (D) water; wherein the aqueous dispersion has a volume average particle size of less than about 5 μm is provided.

Disclosed are polysulfone-based materials that can be used as active and/or passive components in various electronic, optical, and optoelectronic devices, particularly, metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors. For example, various metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors can include a dielectric layer and/or a passivation layer prepared from such polysulfone-based materials and exhibit good device performance.

A method for preparing a metal sulfide thin film using ALD and structures incorporating the metal sulfide thin film. The method includes providing an ALD reactor, a substrate, a first precursor comprising a metal and a second precursor comprising a sulfur compound. The first and the second precursors are reacted in the ALD precursor to form a metal sulfide thin film on the substrate. In a particular embodiment, the metal compound comprises Bis(N,N'-di-sec-butylacetamidinato)dicopper(I) and the sulfur compound comprises hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to prepare a Cu2S film. The resulting metal sulfide thin film may be used in among other devices, photovoltaic devices, including interdigitated photovoltaic devices that may use relatively abundant materials for electrical energy production.

Vacuum deposited thin films of material are described to create an interface that non-preferentially interacts with different domains of an underlying block copolymer film. The non-preferential interface prevents formation of a wetting layer and influences the orientation of domains in the block copolymer. The purpose of the deposited polymer is to produce nanostructured features in a block copolymer film that can serve as lithographic patterns.

A fabrication of a zeolite composite film includes mixing a composition of water, aluminum isopropoxide, TMAOH, and TEOS according to a set ratio, followed by stirring and heating to obtain a mixture; performing a centrifugation on the mixture to obtain an upper layer suspension; preparing a mesoporous particle suspension that includes a plurality of mesoporous particles, and each mesoporous particle includes a plurality of templating agents; vaporizing a mixture suspension formed from both the upper layer suspension and the mesoporous particle suspension to form a plurality of vaporized droplets; depositing the vaporized droplets on a heated substrate while removing the templating agents to form the zeolite composite film with a plurality of macroporous, mesoporous and microporous structures.

Methods for formation of silicon carbide on substrate are provided. Atomic layer deposition methods of forming silicon carbide are described in which a first reactant gas of the formula SinHaXb wherein n=1-5, a+b=2n+2, a>0, and X=F, Cl, Br, I; and a second reactant gas of the formula MR3-bYb, wherein R is a hydrocarbon containing substituent, Y is a halide, hydride or other ligand and b=1-3 are sequentially deposited on a substrate and then exposed to a plasma. The process can be repeated multiple times to deposit a plurality of silicon carbide layers.

Provided are superhydrophobic coatings, devices and articles including superhydrophobic coatings, and methods for preparing the superhydrophobic coatings. The exemplary superhydrophobic device can include a substrate component and one or more superhydrophobic coatings disposed over the substrate component, wherein at least one of the one or more superhydrophobic coatings has a water contact angle of at least about 150° and a contact angle hysteresis of less than about 1°. The one or more superhydrophobic coatings can include an ultra high water content acid catalyzed polysilicate gel, the polysilicate gel including a three dimensional network of silica particles having surface functional groups derivatized with a silylating agent and a plurality of pores.

Provided are methods of depositing polymer solutions on substrates to form various optical elements. A polymer solution may include about 0.1%-30% by weight of a specific polymer having rigid rod-like molecules. The molecules may include various cores, spacers, and sides groups to ensure their solubility, viscosity, and cross-linking ability. The deposition techniques may include slot die, spray, molding, roll coating, and so forth. Pre-deposition techniques may be used to improve wettability and adhesion of substrates. Post-deposition techniques may include ultraviolet cross-linking, specific drying techniques, evaporation of solvent, treating with salt solutions, and shaping. The disclosed polymers and deposition processes may yield optical elements with high refractive index values, such as greater than 1.6. These optical elements may be used as +A plates, −C plates, or biaxial polymers and used as retarders in LCD active panels or as light collimators and light guides.

A component for a laser tool, the component comprising: a tubular body defining an internal channel and an aperture; and a window disposed across the aperture and bonded to the tubular body around the aperture, wherein the window is diamond, and wherein the tubular body comprises a material having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion α of 14×10−6 K−1 or less at 20° C. and a thermal conductivity of 60 Wm−1K−1 or more at 20° C.

The system for displaying muscle force data includes a wearable patch and a remote visual display. The wearable patch carries electrodes suitable for sensing electromyographic signals on the skin of the patient. The patch carries circuitry which converts the detected electromyographic signal to a digital output which can be transmitted to the remote visual display. The circuitry relies on filtering to produce a usable digital signal at very low power consumption. The transmitted signal can be used to drive a variety of visual displays, including a conventional hand-held personal communicators and entertainment devices which had been programmed to suitably process the visual display.

One or more temporal stimulation parameters of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) are selected to substantially modulate one or more target physiological functions without substantially modulating one or more non-target physiological functions. In one embodiment, a stimulation duty cycle is selected such that VNS is delivered to the cervical vagus nerve trunk to modulate a cardiovascular function without causing laryngeal muscle contractions.

A system and method is provided for activating electrodes in a multi-channel electrode array having electrodes that are spatially divided. At least one pulse for stimulating a single electrode of the electrode array is determined. Each of the pulses is converted into a plurality of pulses for stimulating a plurality of electrodes in the electrode array.

Implantable devices and related systems utilize power management features in conjunction with a recharge circuit that includes a coil and capacitance. The reactance such as the capacitance and/or inductance may be variable such that in the event of an overcharge condition, the reactance may be varied to change the resonant frequency of the circuit of the coil from the recharge frequency to another frequency to reduce the power being received. Other power management features may additionally or alternatively be employed. For instance, the device may send an uplink telemetry signal to an external device to request that recharge power be decreased. The device may switch additional resistance into the circuit of the coil to reduce the Q of the circuit. As another example, the device may clamp the circuit of the coil to ground.

A disposable electrode includes: an electrode pad; and a connector, connecting the electrode pad to a defibrillator, and including an information holder that can be provided with a transmissive opening or a light reflective member, the information holder holding information about at least an expiration date, depending on presence or absence of the transmissive opening or the light reflective member, the information holder allowing the information to be notified from the defibrillator when the connector is connected to the defibrillator.

The claimed invention provides an improved posture correction tool in the form of a table to be used by chiropractic practitioners to treat mechanical disorders of the spine and musculoskeletal system. The improved posture correction tool provides a plurality of pads to support the various major areas of the body and has built in drop capability and adjustment capability for the pelvic pad, the lumbar pad, the thoracic pad and the head and cervical area. The claimed invention also has a novel cervical support.

Some embodiments provide a method of providing ultrasound energy having a stable power output. The method can comprise providing ultrasound energy from a ultrasound transducer; determining a power level threshold of the ultrasound energy; monitoring a power level of the ultrasound energy over time of the ultrasound energy; communicating a power level to a controller; adjusting the frequency of the ultrasound energy upon a change in the power level; and maintaining the power level threshold of the ultrasound energy.

A foot massaging device having a plurality of parallel cylindrical rollers mounted within a frame. The frame includes adjustment slots allowing the rollers to be relocated within the frame to present various massaging configurations. The foot massaging device is adjustable by seating the rearwardly disposed rollers between a raised and lowered position to configure the rollers to contact different portions of a user's foot.

Systems, devices, and methods for generating energized water molecules and administering same to a human or other biological subject. The system includes a humidifying apparatus, and excitation apparatus, and a control system. The system may further include a fluid management system to assist in the delivery of energized water molecules.

An exoskeleton (100) includes two torque generators (116, 118), two thigh links (104,106), and a supporting trunk (112) rotatably coupled to the thigh links (104, 106). When a wearer bends forward in the sagittal plane such that the supporting trunk (112) extends beyond a predetermined angle A with respect to vertical, at least one of the torque generators (116, 118) imposes a resisting torque between the supporting trunk (112) and a corresponding thigh link (104, 106), thus imposing a force onto a wearer's trunk and thighs to aid in supporting the wearer in a bent position. The exoskeleton (100) may include an active or passive means (116, 134) for actuating the torque generators (116, 118). When the supporting trunk (112) does not extend beyond the predetermined angle A, the torque generators (116, 118) do not impose resisting torques between the supporting trunk (112) and the thigh links (104, 106) during the entire range of motion of the thigh links (104, 106), thus enabling a wearer to walk, run, and sit without constraint while in a substantially upright position.

A method is disclosed for preparing a soft tissue site, and augmenting the soft tissue site, such as the breast(s), scar, depression, or other defect, of a subject through use of devices that exert a distractive force on the breast(s) and grafting of autologous fat tissue such as domes with sealing rims for surrounding each of the soft tissue site and a regulated pump. The method for preparing the soft tissue site, and enhancing fat graft results, entails application of the distracting force to the targeted soft tissue site at least intermittently for some period of time and preferably several weeks prior to the graft procedure. A related aspect of the invention includes following the preparation steps by transfer of fat from other areas of the subject to the subject's soft tissue site, and then reapplication of the distractive force to the soft tissue site that received the autologous fat graft. Alternatively, fat from genetically related sources may be used, and the fat may be further processed prior to injection. Substantial soft tissue augmentation, high rates of graft survival and negligible graft necrosis (data demonstrating 80% survival and only 20% necrosis is presented) or calcification result from the practice of these methods.

The present invention provides in some embodiments, a portable device for massaging and treating a person's muscles. The device can include an elongate center shaft and a roller section rotatably positioned about the outer surface of the elongate cylindrical center shaft and extending at least a portion of a distance between the first end of the elongate cylindrical center shaft and the second end of the elongate cylindrical center shaft. The device can also include a first and second handle coupled to the elongate center shaft. The first and second handles can be configured to collapse in order to decrease an overall length of the portable roller massager.

An embodiment of the support structure includes a back plate, a central part adapted to recite an automatic compression/decompression unit, and a front part. The front part includes two legs coupled between the central part and the back plate. The support structure is arranged to automatically compress or decompress a patient's chest when the front part is attached to the back plate and when the compression/decompression unit is received in the central part.

An apparatus for forming pressed food products can utilize up to 98% chicken breast meat in high profit margin products. Breast meat is marinated and then extruded into a slab which is then frozen and shaped into a plank. The plank is sliced into unit portions which are then pressed into shaped portions with a preferred, or other, press. One preferred press linearly reciprocates unit portions into the press. This or another preferred press imparts three dimension exterior shape to the pressed food products.

A method of forming a component (30) by isostatic pressing, the method comprising: providing a canister (4) suitable for isostatic pressing, the canister comprising first and second membranes (14, 16) which, in use, are disposed within the canister (4); the first and second membranes (14, 16) defining a component cavity (24) disposed between the first and second membranes (14, 16), a first tool cavity (26) disposed between the first membrane (14) and an adjacent wall (10) of the canister (4), and a second tool cavity (28) disposed between the second membrane (16) and another adjacent wall (12) of the canister (4); filling the component cavity (24) with the component powder for forming the component (30); filling the first and second tool cavities (26, 28) with a second tool powder; and isostatically pressing the canister (4) to form the component (30).

An extrusion line for the production of peroxide cross-linked polyethylene pipes includes a cross-linking oven (5, 13) having an actuated deflection roller (7). The cross-linking oven has a first heating section (A) that extends from an inlet to said deflection roller (7) and a second heating section (B) that extends from said deflection roller to an outlet. An element is provided for adjusting a height of the deflection roller (7) and an angle of the first and second heating sections (A, B) relative to a horizontal plane.

An apparatus for extruding a polymeric material, having an extrusion head which includes a male die, a female die coaxially arranged with respect to the male die, a conveying channel, and at least one portion of which is defined between the male die and the female die. The apparatus further includes a device for adjusting a cross-sectional area of the at least one portion of the conveying channel by reciprocally displacing the female die with respect to the male die in response to an extrusion speed variation of the polymeric material.

Integrated polymeric-ceramic membrane-based oxy-fuel combustor. The combustor includes a polymer membrane structure for receiving air at an input and for delivering oxygen-enriched air at an outlet. An oxygen transport reactor including a ceramic ion transport membrane receives the oxygen-enriched air from the polymer membrane structure to generate oxygen for combustion with a fuel introduced into the oxygen transport reactor.

A resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the acid-generator component (B) including an acid generator (B1) consisting of a compound represented by general formula (b1-1) shown below: wherein RX represents a hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent exclusive of a nitrogen atom; each of Q2 and Q3 independently represents a single bond or a divalent linkage group; Y1 represents an alkylene group or fluorinated alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and Z+ represents an organic cation exclusive of an ion represented by general formula (w-1).

A photoresist composition. The composition has the following: (a) one or more resin binders that include one or more acid sensitive groups and that are substantially free of phenolic groups protected by acetal or ketal groups; (b) one or more photo acid generators, that, upon exposure to a source of high energy, decompose and generate a photoacid strong enough to remove the one or more acid sensitive groups; (c) one or more ionic non-photosensitive additives including an iminium salt; and (d) one or more solvents. There is also a process for patterning relief structures on a substrate employing the photoresist composition.

Provided is an actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive resin composition including (A) a compound that when exposed to actinic rays or radiation, generates an acid, (B) a resin that when acted on by an acid, increases its rate of dissolution in an alkali developer, and (C) a hydrophobic resin, wherein the hydrophobic resin (C) contains a repeating unit derived from any of monomers of general formula (1) below.

A negative resist composition, includes: (A) an alkali-soluble polymer containing a specific repeating unit as defined in the specification; (B) a crosslinking agent capable of crosslinking with the alkali soluble polymer (A) under an action of an acid; (C) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation; (D) a specific quaternary ammonium salt as defined in the specification; and (E) an organic carboxylic acid, and a pattern forming method uses the composition.

The present invention relates to a photosensitive composition including an acrylate-based compound having an adamantyl structure. It is possible to manufacture an organic thin film that is easily stripped without decreasing the strength of the thin film by using the photosensitive composition.