Abstract: A method for determining the height HT of a target above a surface, the method comprising the steps of determining a distance R from a source to a target, determining a distance L representative of a distance traveled by a signal from the target that is reflected by the surface to the source, determining a height H of the source above the surface, and determining the height HT of the target using the equation: H T = ( L 2 - R 2 ) 4 ? H Associated target height errors that result from input errors can also be determined using the equation.

Abstract: An intake manifold with a swirl system for an internal combustion engine having a number of cylinders; the intake manifold has, for each cylinder, an intake conduit connecting the intake manifold to the cylinder and in turn having two parallel channels; the swirl system has, for each intake conduit, a throttle valve housed inside a channel of the intake conduit to vary the air flow section of the channel, and which has a throttle mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation.

Abstract: A rotatable leading edge for the fuselage and wings of an aircraft is disclosed. The leading edge may be rotated from an undeflected or retracted position adjacent to the fuselage and wings to a deflected or extended position. In the extended position, the leading edge increases lift of the aircraft at low speeds. In the retracted position, gaps associated with the leading edge are avoided.

Abstract: Synthetic versions of a full length and termini truncated humanized green fluorescent protein based on Ptilosarcus gurneyi are disclosed which have been modified to the favored or most favored codons for mammalian expression systems. The disclosed encoded protein has 239 amino acid residues compared with the wild type Ptilosarcus gurneyi which has 238 amino acids. In the present invention, a valine residue has been added at the second position from the amino terminus and codon preference bias has been changed in a majority of the wild type codons of Ptilosarcus gurneyi fluorescent protein. The humanized Ptilosarcus gurneyi green fluorescent protein is useful as a fluorescent tag for monitoring the activities of its fusion partners using imaging based approaches.

Abstract: A method for processing a composite digital audio broadcasting signal including an analog modulated portion in a central frequency band and digitally modulated portions in upper and lower sidebands with respect to the central frequency band, the method comprises the steps of wideband filtering the composite digital audio broadcasting signal to produce a first intermediate frequency signal, narrowband filtering the composite digital audio broadcasting signal to produce a second intermediate frequency signal, simultaneously processing the first intermediate frequency signal to retrieve a digitally modulated version of program material from the first intermediate frequency signal, and processing the second intermediate frequency signal to retrieve an analog modulated version of the program material from the second intermediate frequency signal, making a determination of the quality of the digitally modulated version of the program material, and using the quality determination to select the analog modulated versi

Abstract: A system comprises a radar for producing a radar interrogation signal, a transponder for receiving the radar interrogation signal and producing a transponder signal including a first linear frequency modulated pulse having an increasing frequency and a second linear frequency modulated pulse having a decreasing frequency, and a processor for processing the transponder signal to determine a frequency offset between the radar interrogation signal and the transponder signal.

Abstract: A method of receiving an FM digital audio broadcasting signal including a first plurality of subcarriers in an upper sideband of a radio channel and a second plurality of subcarriers in a lower sideband of the radio channel comprises the steps of mixing the digital audio broadcasting signal with a local oscillator signal to produce an intermediate frequency signal, passing the intermediate frequency signal through a bandpass filter to produce a filtered signal, determining if one of the upper and lower sidebands of the digital audio broadcasting signal is corrupted, and adjusting the local frequency oscillator signal to change the frequency of the intermediate frequency signal such that the bandpass filter removes the subcarriers in the upper or lower sideband that has been corrupted. A receiver that processes a digital audio broadcasting signal in accordance with the method is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for operation of a multiple fuel engine, which runs on a combination of two or more fuels. An electronic control unit (ECU) may be connected to the existing components of an engine system in order to control operation of the multiple fuel engine. The engine system may be mechanically governed or electronically controlled. The ECU inputs operating characteristics of the engine system, determines governing characteristics for multiple fuel operation based on the operating characteristics, and controls the amounts of fuel delivered to the engine based on the governing characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, a dual fuel engine operates using diesel as a first fuel and natural gas as a second fuel. The operating characteristics may include engine speed, throttle position, engine exhaust temperature, gas pressure of the second fuel, gas temperature of the second fuel, boost pressure of an intake manifold, or engine coolant temperature.

Abstract: An extendable leading edge for the fuselage and wings of an aircraft is disclosed. The leading edge may be extended from a retracted position adjacent to the fuselage and wings to an extended position. In the extended position, the leading edge increases lift of the aircraft at low speeds. In the retracted position, gaps associated with the leading edge are avoided.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head comprises a write pole having a tip adjacent to an air bearing surface of the recording head, a return pole magnetically coupled to the write pole, a conductor positioned adjacent to an edge of the write pole at the air bearing surface, a first conductive heat sink connected to the conductor, and a second conductive heat sink connected to the conductor, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second conductive heat sinks is positioned adjacent to the air bearing surface and wherein each of the first and second conductive heat sinks includes a structure for augmenting confinement of a magnetic write field adjacent to the write pole. Magnetic storage devices that include the magnetic recording head are also included.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a data storage device. The data storage device comprises a closed interior space containing a noble gas, a plurality of electron emitters having emission surfaces exposed within the interior space, the electron emitters adapted to emit electron beams, and a storage medium contained within the interior space in proximity to the electron emitters, the storage medium having a plurality of storage areas that are capable of at least two distinct states that represent data, the state of the storage areas being changeable in response to bombardment by electron beams emitted by the electron emitters.

Abstract: An articulated leading edge for the fuselage and wings of an aircraft is disclosed. The leading edge may be moved from an undeflected or retracted position adjacent to the fuselage and wings to a deflected or extended position. The leading edge includes fuselage and wing portions which are articulated with respect to each other. The fuselage portion of the leading edge may be rotated around an axis near the nose of the aircraft. When the fuselage portion is rotated, the region between the fuselage portion and wing portion of the leading edge bends and the wing portion is elevated with respect to the wing. In such an extended position, the leading edge increases lift of the aircraft at low speeds. In the retracted position, gaps associated with the leading edge are avoided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for treating agricultural waste with an alkane substrate to stimulate bacterial digestion. The alkane treatment may also reduce odor of the agricultural waste material. The agricultural waste may include animal waste, vegetable material, leaf material, plant material, composting material or waste paper products. The alkane preferably includes butane, propane, methane and/or ethane, with butane being particularly preferred. Methods and apparatus are also provided for recovering plant growth-enhancing material from the treated agricultural waste and for treating soil with alkane-utilizing bacteria and/or an alkane substrate in combination with a carrier material to increase seed, bulb, plant and crop growth.

Abstract: A system for automatically cold working holes in metal components is disclosed. An automated mandrel moves in relation to a workpiece in order to perform cold expansion of holes in the workpiece. The mandrel is aligned with the axis of each hole and the surface of the workpiece adjacent to the hole. The system may be used to cold work holes in aircraft components, such as wings and fuselage skins.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for treating wastewater with alkanes such as butane. An oxygen-containing gas may also be introduced into the wastewater. Butane, because of its relatively high solubility, rapidly dissolves in the wastewater, thereby significantly increasing the heterogeneous microbial community and heterotrophic microbial population. This enhanced microbial population may rapidly absorb and mineralize materials in the wastestream. After an initial growth phase, the organic matter available in the wastewater effluent may be rapidly decreased, thereby reducing the amount of BOD, TDS, sludge and other pollutants. In addition, the use of butane reduces noxious odors associated with municipal wastewater sludges and other types of wastewater.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for focusing light within a waveguide is provided. The waveguide includes a curved grating adapted to focus light incident thereon to a focused spot proximate a first end of the waveguide. In another embodiment, the first end of the waveguide has a thickness greater than a portion of the waveguide containing the grating. The waveguide is suitable for focusing light onto a magnetic storage medium and the like, making the waveguide suitable for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) applications.

Abstract: A caddy is provided for supporting a weapon such as a rifle, gun, pistol, cross bow, or long bow while hunting. The caddy serves as an adjustable cradle for supporting the weapon while aiming at a target and a safety device for transporting the weapon. The caddy may be mounted to any suitable support structure such as a tree stand, tree, hunting blind, fence, all terrain vehicle, wheelchair, or the like. In a particular embodiment, two or more caddies may be mounted on a tree stand to safely secure a weapon during set up in a tree. Each caddy may contain a safety device, such as a detachable rubber strap, for securing a weapon. When the safety device is removed, each caddy may be used as a cradle to support a weapon while aiming at a target, and the cradle may be adjusted horizontally, vertically, and/or pivotally.

Abstract: A system is disclosed which utilizes the substantially steady-state temperature of a coated object, in conjunction with an optical detection system, to selectively view defects and features of the object below the coating without the necessity of transient heating or IR illumination and reflectance imaging. The optical detector, such as an IR camera, may be tailored for the wavelengths at which the coating material is substantially transparent, thereby maximizing the viewing clarity of the defects and features under the coating, and distinguishing them from any spurious features on the top surface of the coating. The present system enables the inspection of small or large areas in real time, without requiring complex image acquisition, storage and image processing equipment and software.

Abstract: A device for alternately applying pressure and vacuum to pipes in order to remove or prevent build-up of undesirable coatings inside the pipes is disclosed. The device includes a pressure and vacuum source connected to a plenum having a hose attached to the plenum at a proximal end and a control mechanism attached to the hose near a distal end. The control mechanism is operable to control the plenum to rapidly switch between variable amounts of vacuum and pressure to the hose. The plenum may also be controlled to supply neither vacuum nor pressure to the hose. The device may be used in a wide variety of settings, including industrial, commercial, marine hospitality industry, and household settings.

Abstract: Heat assisted magnetic recording systems with composite recording films are disclosed. The magnetic recording films include superparamagnetic nanoparticles dispersed in an antiferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic matrix. The matrix provides antiferromagnetic coupling with the superparamagnetic nanoparticles, and minimizes exchange interactions between adjacent nanoparticles.