Abstract: Physiological stress in a human subject is treated by generating a weak electromagnetic field about a quartz crystal. The crystal is stimulated by applying electrical pulses of pulse widths between 0.1 and 50 microseconds each at a pulse repetition rate of between 0.5K and 10K pulses per second to a conductor positioned adjacent to the quartz crystal thereby generating a weak electromagnetic field. A subject is positioned within the weak electromagnetic field for a period of time sufficient to reduce stress.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in removing hazardous material from an elongated pipe has an upper work section comprised of a sheet of flexible material having a centrally located opening and a lower debris collection and disposal bag that depends from the upper work section about the opening. Gloves are mounted to the upper work section sheet. So constructed, upon wrapping and securing the upper work section about a pipe with opposite ends thereof drawn upwardly thereto aside the opening, the work section is configured into the shape of a funnel for funneling debris worked from the pipe down into the debris collection and disposal bag.

Abstract: A blended heparin salt for use as an anticoagulant in a blood sample, which substantially eliminates a skew in a determined amount of ionized calcium imparted by the heparin in the blood sample. The blended heparin salt comprises a proportional blend of a zinc salt of heparin and a lithium salt of heparin the salts in a ratio of 1-to-a-fractional-value-less-than-one of the zinc salt of heparin to the lithium salt of heparin by weight based on the USP potency of the salts, the fractional value determined by the ratio of the zinc available per unit of USP potency in the zinc salt of heparin to a predetermined amount of zinc per USP potency to be provided by the blended heparin salt. Methods of blending the proportional amounts of the zinc salt and the lithium salt of heparin are disclosed.

Abstract: A rocket (100) is disclosed having a body (101) with a bay (102) therein and a hatch (109) which is movable between a bay opened position and a bay closed position by a spring biased hinge (110). The hatch is pivotally coupled to a nose section (104) by a spring biased hinge (11). The hatch is configured to be engaged and disengaged with a catch (118) mounted to the rocket body. With the initial forward movement of the launched rocket the inertia and/or the force of the wind upon the nose section causes the disengagement of the catch whereby the continued movement of the rocket creates a wind upon the nose section which maintains the hatch in its bay closed position.

Abstract: An animalian figurine (10) has an outer covering (11) which contains a body of plant life nutrient material (13) and a bed of plant seeds (14). The plant seeds are positioned adjacent a scalp portion (16) of the covering so that the grass stalks sprouting therefrom grow through a scalp portion to simulate hair.

Abstract: An air freshening device is made from a solution of a polymer and a fragrant material, which is applied to an air permeable substrate. A solid fragrant residue is formed on the substrate. A fragrant material diffuses from the residue for scenting flowing through and about the substrate. The air freshening device includes attaching the substrate to an air filter received in a forced air heating, ventilating, and cooling system.

Abstract: A curtain frame (10) adapted to be mounted in windows of various sizes has a peripheral frame (11), a telescopic upper curtain rod (12), a telescopic lower curtain rod (13) and a pair of hinges (15). The peripheral frame has four L-shaped corner members (17), a pair of upright members (20) telescopically mounted to the corner members and a pair of cross members (21) telescopically mounted to the corner members. A curtain (14) is mounted at one to the upper curtain rod and releasably mounted at its opposite end to the lower curtain rod. The vertical members and the cross members are slidably adjusted within the corner members to fit a window of a selected size with the curtain rods being self adjusted in length without altering its spacing from the upper cross member. The hinges allow the peripheral frame to be moved between a closed position covering the window and an open position opened uncovering the window.

Abstract: A recessed lighting fixture having a socket for receiving a lamp which generates light for emitting through an opening in the fixture. The socket connects to electrical conductors that communicate through a ballast with a supply of electricity. An insulative bag encloses the ballast and a banding tape seals an opening of the bag around the ballast for restricting communication of heat from the lamp to the ballast during operation of the lamp. A deflector plate disposed between the socket and the ballast further blocks communication of the heat to the ballast. A method of restricting thermal communication with the ballast is disclosed.

Abstract: A thermionic generator (10) has a heated metal heat tube (11) journaled through a set of star-shaped emitters (12) and a set of electrically insulative spacers (13). The generator also has a collector (23) positioned about the grouped emitters and spacers a selected distance from the emitters. A cooling jacket (33) is positioned about the collector for cooling the collector during operation. A pair of seals (29) electrically and hermetically seal the cooling jacket about the heat tube.

Abstract: A rocket launcher (18) is disclosed having a pressure chamber (74) coupled to a pump (66) through a pressure tube (67) and a release valve assembly (87) having a manifold (78) in fluid communication with the pressure chamber. The manifold has a plunger (79) therein which is slidable between a first position storing pressurized air within the pressure chamber and a second position releasing pressurized air from the pressure chamber and into a launch tube (76).

Abstract: A drying bed for waste sludge in a wastewater treatment facility having a vertical drainage riser extending vertically from a subnatant discharge pipe near the bottom of the drying bed. A sludge inlet at an end of the drying bed communicates with a source of watery sludge. Water communicates through a mesh screen that wraps the vertical drainage riser and through openings in the vertical drainage riser to the subnatant discharge pipe. A valve is selectively opened to control the flow rate of the water from the subnatant discharge pipe. A method of dewatering waste sludge is disclosed.

Abstract: A railroad crossing signal foundation has upright guide rods (19) to which an upper frame member (14) and a lower frame member (15) are mounted. A concrete reinforcement gridwork (16,17) is supported on the lower frame. After erection in a ground hole, concrete is poured into the hole to a fill plane defined by the upper frame member (14) so as to embed the frame member and gridwork and a portion of the guide rods located below the fill plane.

Abstract: A method for making a plunger cap for use with a sampling syringe for collecting a blood sample, in which an elongated tube open at one end communicates with a sampling needle attached at the other end. A plunger rod with a plunger cap slidably inserts into the open end of the tube. The plunger cap comprises a body that encloses an air permeable filter. A front portion of the body slidably contacts the inner wall of the tube for forming a fluid-tight first seal. The plunger cap includes means for forming a fluid-tight second seal spaced from the first seal. The second seal is effected by elastically deforming the body from a first position to a second position. Blood, being communicated through the needle into the tube by moving the plunger rod axially away from the needle, displaces air rearwardly through the filter against the second seal. The air then escapes from the tube upon return of the second seal to its first position.

Abstract: A structural member formed from a billet, each member comprising a plurality of elongate corrugated paperboard sheets bonded together with an adhesive and disposed between a top and a bottom cap, each cap comprising at least one ply of a fiberboard sheet, a pair of side caps of a solid fiberboard sheet bonded to respective side faces of the paperboard sheet and to the respective edges of the top and bottom caps. The billet comprises a plurality of structural members each separated by a corrugated paperboard rip-out sheet. A method of manufacture is disclosed in which the billet is built up of structural members and rip-out sheets. The billet is then ripped into planks which are ripped along the rip-out sheets to separate the structural members for use as a substitute member for wood cleats or members.

Abstract: In a method of determining creatinine clearance for detecting and monitoring renal dysfunction, spot samples of urine and blood from a person are obtained. Specific gravity and creatinine concentration of the urine sample are measured. Creatinine concentration of plasma of the blood sample is also measured. Creatinine clearance is calculated as a function of the measured urine specific gravity, the measured urine creatinine concentration and the measured plasma creatinine concentration.