Abstract:
Mixtures of ethanol and water are dehydrated using starch pearls to adsorb and remove water. Vapor-phase adsorption equilibrium capacities of cassava starch pellets (tapioca pearls) having different particle sizes are disclosed, and tapioca pearl particles are shown to be surprisingly more effective for dehydrating 88 to 97% w/w feed ethanol than corn grits. The adsorption equilibrium curve and BET surface area measurement show that the adsorption capacity of tapioca pearls is a function of surface area available to water molecules. SEM images demonstrate that the particle architecture required for the adsorption and dehydration properties is that of a core- shell configuration with pre-gel starch acting as a central scaffold holding together other particles to the outer layer of the particle. The outer surface area of the pearls, populated with dry starch granules, is the main factor determining the adsorption capacity of the pearls. Tapioca pearls are shown to possess a surprisingly higher adsorption capacity than corn grits of the same particle size. Pearls of 2 mm size in diameter gave 34% higher linear adsorption equilibrium constant ( K ) than grits of 1.7 mm.
Abstract:
A regenerative anti-inflammatory composition is described to include 1 to 2 percent of comenic acid and 0.55 to 1.1 percent of sodium hydrocarbonate in a water solution, with an optional additive of up to 2.5 percent of benzyl-comenic acid. A method of treating a retinal dystrophy by injecting this composition parabulbarly or intravenously in appropriate amounts is also described. A non-peptide nature of the compound allows reducing side effects commonly associated with peptide-based compounds presently used for treatment of such dystrophy. Water-based solution of the composition is stable and amenable for storage in ampoules ready for injection thus obviating a need to make a solution from a powder, which is a common step with current treatment compounds.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus to reduce the axial thrust in rotary machines such as compressors, centrifugal pumps, turbines, etc. includes providing additional peripheral restrictive means (7) attached at the peripheral portion of the disk forming the subdividing means (4) on the side facing the rotating rotor (2). An additional ring element at the periphery of the subdividing means forms additional radial (11) and axial restrictive means (15). Such peripheral restrictive means (7, 11 and 15) function as sealing dams, which combined with the outward flow induced by the rotating impeller, form self-pressurizing hydrodynamic bearings in the axial and radial planes, improving rotordynamic stability. Additionally, a stationary ring element in the center of the cavity forms a seal with the rotor, reducing leakage to suction.
Abstract:
A substance with sedative effect comprises a therapeutically effective amount of a gamma- pyrone such as comenic acid, meconic acid, 5-methoxy-gamma-pyrone-2-carboxylic acid, and alike in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. When administered at a daily dosage of between 0.05 mg to about 10,000 mg of active ingredient per unit dose of a patient, the substance can be used to treat various disorders of a nervous system such as pain, insomnia, anxiety, neurosis, depression, as well as withdrawal symptoms experienced by drug addiction patients, especially for patients addicted to opiate-based drugs. The substance can be delivered in a number of ways of systemic administration of a pharmaceutical agent including oral, parenteral, transdermal, and transmucosal administration. For drug addicted patients, the preferred method of administration involves a subcutaneous implant providing a continuous release of an active ingredient at an effective daily rate over the entire treatment period ranging from 5 to 30 days, and preferably from 13 to 20 days.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to cell wall degradative systems, in particular to systems containing enzymes that bind to and/or depolymerize cellulose. These systems have a number of applications. Some embodiments relate to a method of producing ethanol using the cell wall degradative systems of the present invention.
Abstract:
A low-cost, thermomechanical method for manufacturing [001] textured FeGa alloys is described. The method includes hot rolling a FeGa cast ingot to break down the cast structure, a two-stage warm rolling with an intermediate anneal, and then a final texture anneal that resulted in recrystallization and a recrystallization-induced texture. The FeGa ingot contains a grain growth agent that was used to restrain grain growth of the FeGa material in the undesired crystallographic direction. A protective steel sheath can be placed around the FeGa material during processing to avoid direct contact of the FeGa and the rolls during the hot and warm rolling process steps and also avoid oxidation of the alloy ingot. FeGa alloys with a very strong [001] texture and a large magnetostriction along [001] crystallographic direction were obtained using this method. FeGaBe alloys and new methods for making them are also described.
Abstract:
An integrated circuit (and optical transceiver module) is disclosed employing an optoelectronic thyristor device formed within a resonant cavity on a substrate, and a circuit integrally formed on the substrate. The circuit dynamically switches the thyristor between a transmit mode configuration and a receive mode configuration. In the transmit mode configuration the thyristor is modulated between a non-lasing state and a lasing state in accordance with an input digital electrical sign to thereby produce an output digital optical data signal that corresponds to the input digital electrical signal. In the receive mode configuration, the thyristor device is modulated between an non-lasing OFF state and a non-lasing ON state in accordance with an input digital optical signal that is injected into the resonant cavity, to thereby produce an output digital electrical data signal that corresponds to the input digital optical signal.
Abstract:
An improved THz detection mechanism includes a heterojunction thyristor structure logically formed by an n-type quantum-well-base bipolar transistor and p-type quantum-wellbase bipolar transistor arranged vertically to share a common collector region. Antenna elements, which are adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation in a desired portion of the THz region, are electrically coupled (or integrally formed with) the p-channel injector electrodes of the heterojunction thyristor device such the that antenna elements are electrically connected to the p-type modulation doped quantum well interface of the device. THz radiation supplied by the antenna elements to the p-type quantum well interface increases electron temperature of a two-dimensional electron gas at the p-type modulation doped quantum well interface thereby producing a current resulting from thermionic emission over a potential barrier provided by said first-type modulation doped quantum well interface. This current flows over the p-type channel barrier to the ntype quantum well interface, thereby causing charge to accumulate in the n-type quantum well interface. The accumulated charge in the n-type quantum well interface is related to the intensity of the received THz radiation. The heterojunction-thyristor-based THz detector is suitable for many applications, including data communication applications and imaging applications.
Abstract:
Devices, systems, and methods for imaging samples. In some examples, a device includes at least two basins for holding a liquid medium, the at least two basins including a sample chamber and a reservoir. The device includes a wedge between the sample chamber and the reservoir, and the wedge protrudes into the sample chamber and defines a space between the wedge and a bottom of the sample chamber. The space is sized for holding one or more biological samples. The device is formed to define a flow channel between the sample chamber and the reservoir, and the flow channel is shaped to allow the passage of the liquid medium from the sample chamber and the reservoir and to block passage of the one or more biological samples between the sample chamber and the reservoir.
Abstract:
Various communication systems may benefit from optimized delivery or dissemination of information. For example, various wireless networks including heterogeneous wireless may benefit from joint optimization for social content delivery or dissemination over such networks. A method can include selecting content to deliver according to user reward values given wireless capacity constraints. The method can also include delivering the content to a plurality of users via a wireless network comprising different transmission modes.