Abstract: In one embodiment, a rotor blade includes a tip, a root, and a body extending between the tip and the root. The body has surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The body further defines an inboard portion, an outboard portion, and a bend therebetween. The bend is defined such that the outboard portion extends outwardly with respect to the inboard portion. The bend is stiffened to reduce opening of the bend during deflection of the rotor blade.

Abstract: A cleansing composition is described. The cleansing composition generally contains an antimicrobial agent, a heating agent, and a thermochromic agent. During use, the heating agent heats the composition so that the antimicrobial agent becomes more effective. The thermochromic agent, on the other hand, changes the color of the composition as it is heated in order to indicate to a user that the composition is at a desired temperature. In an alternative embodiment, instead of containing a heating agent, a heating source can be used to heat the composition. The heating source can be, for instance, an electrical resistance heater.

Abstract: Molding materials and the moldings produced therefrom, containing a) polyoxymethylene in which at least 50% of the terminal groups are hydroxyl groups, which has a melt volume rate MVR of less than 20 cm3/10 minutes, measured according to ISO 1133 at 190° C. and 2.16 kg, and whose proportion of low molecular weight constituents having low molecular weights below 10 000 dalton is less than 15% by weight, based on the total mass of the polyoxymethylene, and b) a thermoplastic elastomer, are described. The moldings produced from these molding materials are distinguished by a very high notch impact strength.

Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for intracellular delivery of small molecules is provided. The method includes encapsulation of small molecules in a thermally responsive nanocapsule by decreasing the temperature of the nanocapsule to increase the permeability of the nanocapsule and allowing the small molecules to be suck into or diffuse into the nanocapsule. The nanocapsule is delivered into a cell by increasing the temperature of the nanocapsule. The small molecules are released from the nanocapsule into the cell in a controllable manner by cooling and heating treatments.

Abstract: A system and method for laser beam welding at least two adjacent superalloy components involves substantially simultaneous formation of a base weld with a first filler metal placed between the components and cap weld with second filler metal formed over the base weld. A shim is inserted between the components, which may optionally be formed with a groove along the joint surface. A filler wire is fed to a location over the given surface or within the optional groove. Two lasers or a laser and coupled beam splitter supply first and second laser beams that are applied at focal points separated by a predetermined distance (e.g., 0.05-1.5 cm). The first laser beam is used to form a base weld with the first filler metal between the components, and the second laser beam is used to form a cap weld with the second filler metal on top of the base weld.

Abstract: Methods of achieving high breakdown voltages in semiconductor devices by suppressing the surface flashover using high dielectric strength insulating encapsulation material are generally described. In one embodiment of the present invention, surface flashover in AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors (HFETs) is suppressed by using high dielectric strength insulating encapsulation material. Surface flashover in as-fabricated III-Nitride based HFETs limits the operating voltages at levels well below the breakdown voltages of GaN.

Abstract: A shroud for a wind turbine and a method for modifying performance of a wind turbine are disclosed. The wind turbine includes a rotor mounted to a nacelle, the rotor including a plurality of rotor blades and defining an outer diameter. The shroud is positioned downstream of the rotor in an air flow direction, and has an inner diameter of less than the outer diameter of the rotor.

Abstract: A method and composition are provided for coating honeycomb seals and, more specifically, to a method and slurry for applying an aluminide coating onto honeycomb seals. The method includes preparing a slurry of a powder containing a metallic aluminum alloy having a melting temperature higher than aluminum, an activator capable of forming a reactive halide vapor with the metallic aluminum, and a binder containing an organic polymer. The slurry is applied to surfaces of the honeycomb seal, which is then heated to remove or burn off the binder, vaporize and react the activator with the metallic aluminum to form the halide vapor, react the halide vapor at the substrate surfaces to deposit aluminum on the surfaces of the seal, and diffuse the deposited aluminum into the surfaces to form a diffusion aluminide coating.

Abstract: A nonwoven web made from a polymeric fiber blend comprising at least one elastomeric polyolefin and at least one nonelastomeric polyolefin useful as the elastic base sheet for a nonwoven laminate is disclosed. Preferably, the polymeric blend will comprise a nonelastomeric resin in the range of from about 10 to about 90 percent by weight, and an elastomeric resin of from about 90 to about 10 percent by weight. The elastomeric polyolefin will have a density of less than about 0.885 g/cm3 and the nonelastomeric polyolefin will have a density of at least about 0.890 g/cm3. In one particular embodiment, the polymeric blend may comprise about 50 percent to about 90 percent by weight of a narrow molecular weight distribution polyethylene and about 50 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a nonelastomeric polyolefin such as a linear low density polyethylene.

Abstract: An absorbent garment, such as a diaper structure, includes a visually discernible alignment indicator visible from a body-facing surface. The alignment indicator includes at least one first reference point. The absorbent garment comes with instructions defining the location of the first reference point on the absorbent article, defining the location of a second reference point on a wearer, and instructing the consumer to position the absorbent garment so that the first reference point optically aligns with the second reference point, and to fasten the absorbent garment in the position.

Abstract: A method for forming an oxide-dispersion strengthened coating on a metal substrate is disclosed. The method generally includes comminuting MCrAlY alloy particles to form an oxygen-enriched powder, wherein at least about 25% by volume of the MCrAlY alloy particles within the oxygen-enriched powder have a particle size of less than about 5 ?m. Additionally, the method includes applying the oxygen-enriched powder to the metal substrate to form a coating and heating the oxygen-enriched powder to precipitate oxide dispersoids within the coating.

Abstract: A wheeled, manually movable, internal combustion engine powered pressure washer is mounted in a rigid frame formed of tubular steel elements. A pair of aligned wheels is pivotally mounted independently to each opposite side of the frame. Each pair of aligned wheels is provided with a pivot pin mechanism that enables the rear wheels to be lifted of the ground to facilitate pivoting the unit on the front wheels. The internal combustion engine is mounted toward the front end of the frame, and the pump toward the rear end of the frame. The upper front portion of the frame houses a fuel tank completely within the outline of the frame, and the tank holds more than two gallons of fuel.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polymer composition that employs a flame retardant formed from a phosphinic compound and organometallic phosphoric compound is provided. The present inventor has discovered that the organometallic phosphoric compound can counteract the tendency of the phosphinic compound to degrade the mechanical properties of the composition when used at certain concentrations. Furthermore, the present inventor has also surprisingly discovered that the organometallic phosphoric compound may itself act as a flame retardant and thus contribute to the overall flammability performance of the composition. Among other things, this allows compositions to be formed with a lower phosphinic content with the same flammability performance.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a nacelle mounted atop a tower. Power generating components are housed within the nacelle. A rotor hub is rotationally coupled to the power generating components. A plurality of blades are fixed to the rotor hub. The blades include a root section extending radially outward from the rotor hub and an aerodynamic section extending radially outward from the root section, wherein lift is generated by the blades primarily along the aerodynamic section. Aerodynamic fins extend radially outward from the rotor hub alongside the root sections of the blades and have an aerodynamic shape so as to capture wind and impart rotational torque to the hub from a central impinging wind zone that is coaxial to the rotor hub and the blade root sections.

Abstract: A reflective insulation system. The reflective insulation system includes a reflective layer such as aluminum, a layer of fiberglass, and a layer of vapor retarding material. A first side of the layer of fiberglass is bonded to the reflective layer by a deposit of hot melt glue. The second side of the layer of fiberglass is bonded to the layer of vapor retarding material by a second deposit of hot melt glue. The vapor retarding layer may be a plastic material, such as polypropylene or a reflective material, such as aluminum. In an alternate construction, the reflective layer has a transverse dimension that is narrower than the vapor retarding material such that edge portions of the reflective layer are spaced inwardly with respect to edges of said vapor retarder material. A strip of adhesive tape, preferably foil tape, overlies and secures edge portions of the reflective and vapor retarder layers.

Abstract: A universal power supply for use in a plasma arc system is disclosed. The power supply can include a plurality of power modules for providing a DC output from an AC input. Each of the power modules can include a rectifier, a converter, an inverter, an isolation transformer and an output rectifier. The power modules can include a power module controller configured to control at least one of the rectifier, the converter, or the inverter such that a DC output can be obtained from a wide variety of AC inputs. The power modules can be connected in parallel to provide a wide range of DC output currents for the power supply. The universal power supply can include a master controller coupled to each of the individual power module controllers to regulate the DC output current of the power supply by controlling the individual power module controllers.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing routing information to a user are disclosed. Based on a request for routing information between an origin and destination for a travel objective, wireless coverage data for the geographic area associated with the travel objective is received. A graph model for determining routes between the origin and destination is adjusted based at least in part on the wireless coverage data. According to particular aspects of the present disclosure, the graph model can be adjusted based on the wireless coverage data and at least additional parameter such as estimated trip time, average speed, distance, favored routes or traffic information. User information can be optionally provided and used to emphasize or deemphasize wireless coverage data in the determination of the route for the travel objective.

Abstract: A device for processing a carcass part of slaughtered poultry in a processing line is provided. The carcass part is supported on a carrier that moves in the processing line. The device includes device for cutting and/or removing of the wishbone from the carcass part. The device is arranged such that the device for cutting and/or removing of the wishbone can be a knife equipped to cut the wishbone and disconnect it from the membrane and/or ligament with an increased yield of meat that is retained on the carcass part.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for loading a tread press are provided. More specifically, the present invention provides for loading a tread band onto a tread press while suspending the tread band above the mold elements as the tread band is moved into the proper longitudinal position within the tread press. Lateral positioning can also be provided using the present invention.

Abstract: Packet formats and related infrastructure for improved messaging and processing of commands in an AMR system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for identifying the features of an endpoint based on data encoded in a standard meter reading is provided. In this regard, the method includes receiving a standard meter reading having an endpoint type and subtype classification, wherein the subtype classification corresponds to a feature of the endpoint that may be re-configured. Once received, the standard metering reading is decoded. Then, the method identifies the classification of the endpoint with regard to type and subtype and determines whether the endpoint is capable of implementing a particular command.