Abstract: A decorative artificial plant apparatus having a tubular frame configured to resemble the longitudinal shape of trunk and branch portions of a natural plant that is being duplicated. A stack of overlapping open cylinder segments is supported on the frame shaped to collectively resemble an outer surface of the trunk portion. Each cylinder segment has an expansion feature configured to diametrically expand when overlapped around an adjacent cylinder segment in the stack.

Abstract: An integral dual module geopolymer building block includes an inner foam module for insulation and an outer dense tile surface on an outer side of the inner foam module for weather protection. The outer porous module comprises a geopolymer paste including sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide flakes dissolved in the sodium silicate to form an activated solution and adding calcined kaolin clay to the activated solution to form a geopolymer paste. A first relatively dense tile layer has a thickness of about 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm. A second geopolymer layer made from a second mass of paste mixed with hydrogen peroxide forms a geopolymer foam having a thickness of between 5 cm and 15 cm.

Abstract: An aerated composite material produced from carbonatable calcium silicate compositions (carbonation cured AAC) that has a compressive strength equivalent to autoclaved aerated concrete (ordinary AAC) at substantially the same density and a process of production of the same are provided. The composite material of the present invention comprises: a plurality of bonding elements, each including a core comprising calcium silicate, a first layer which partially or fully surrounds the core and is rich in SiO2, and a second layer which partially or fully surrounds the first layer and is rich in CaCO3; a plurality of filler particles having their particle sizes ranging from 0.1 ?m to 1000 ?m; and a plurality of voids; wherein the plurality of bonding elements and plurality of filler particles together form a bonding matrix and are substantially evenly dispersed in the matrix and bonded together, the plurality of voids are bubble-shaped and/or interconnected channels, a pore volume with a radius of 0.004 ?m to 10.

Abstract: A message ornament apparatus comprising an at least partially transparent and at least partially hollow ornament body having a fixed opening, an ornament decoration disposed within the ornament body, a user-written message scroll configured for selective insertion within the ornament body through the opening, and a message holder configured for installation within the ornament body to facilitate selective securement or removal of the message scroll through the opening without removing the ornament decoration.

Abstract: A thermal and environmental barrier coating composed of ceramic hollow microspheres sintered together. In one embodiment the microspheres are sintered together with a powder of another material that acts as a binder, or with a powder of a material that may be the same as the material of the hollow microspheres, forming a matrix in which the hollow microspheres are embedded. The hollow microspheres may be composed of a material with a high temperature capability, and with a low coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: A honeycomb structure includes a pillar-shaped honeycomb structure body having a porous partition wall. The honeycomb structure body includes a plurality of cells defined by the partition wall so as to extend from a first end face to a second end face of the honeycomb structure body, the partition wall is formed by a porous body including a silicon phase as a main phase and an oxide, and the oxide includes a first oxide made of an alkali earth metal oxide, Al2O3, and SiO2.

Abstract: A holiday ornament assembly for hanging includes a bell body that has an upper wall and peripheral wall that is attached to and extends downwardly therefrom. The peripheral wall has a bottom edge creating an opening into the bell body. A pendulum is pivotally attached to the bell body. The pendulum has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end extends through an aperture in the upper wall. A bob is attached to the lower end and positioned within the bell body. A housing is comprised of a top wall and a perimeter wall that is attached to the top wall and extends downwardly therefrom and attached to the upper wall. A hook is attached to and extends outwardly from the top wall. A drive assembly is mounted in the housing and pivots the pendulum to strike the bell body emitting a ringing sound.

Abstract: As asymmetric porous film structure formed by depositing a porous material film on a flexible substrate, and applying an anisotropic stress to the porous media on the flexible substrate, where the anisotropic stress results from a stress such as an applied mechanical force, a thermal gradient, and an applied voltage, to form an asymmetric porous material.

Abstract: Provided is a new catalyst structure for exhaust gas treatment including an upper catalyst layer and a lower catalyst layer, in which the catalyst structure can sufficiently exhibit functions as a three way catalyst while maintaining gas diffusibility. Proposed is a catalyst structure including a substrate, an upper catalyst layer, and a lower catalyst layer, the catalyst structure having a first peak or a second peak at a pore volume diameter of 10 nm to 50 nm and a pore volume diameter of 50 nm to 100 nm, respectively, in the logarithmic differential pore volume distribution analyzed by a mercury intrusion porosimeter.

Abstract: Photocatalyst microparticles are provided in a photocatalyst layer coming into contact with a base film, the photocatalyst microparticles are irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and voids are formed in a boundary region between a protective layer and the photocatalyst layer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for chemically bonding TiNi materials to Nitinol constructs, comprising placing a Nitinol construct within a mold and packing a powder combination comprising Ti powder and Ni powder, and powder comprised of zero or more of the elements Cu, Hf, Zr, Pt, Pd, Au, Cd, Ag, Nb, Ta, O, N, B, and H, into the mold. The method further includes initiating a process of self-propagating high temperature synthesis of the powder combination within the mold to create a chemical bond between the Nitinol construct and a resulting TiNi foam to thereby create a Nitinol and TiNi assembly.

Abstract: A sputtering target for forming protective film which is used to form a protective film on one surface or both surfaces of a Cu wiring film contains Ni: 5.0 to 15.0% by mass, Mn: 2.0 to 10.0% by mass, Zn: 30.0 to 50.0% by mass, Al: 0.5 to 7.0% by mass, and a remainder composed of Cu and inevitable impurities. A laminated wiring film is provided with a Cu wiring film and the protective film formed on one surface or both surfaces of the Cu wiring film, and the protective film is formed by the above-described sputtering target for forming protective film.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to propose heat insulating structure which is excellent in thermal insulating properties and higher in strength. The heat insulating structure includes: an aerogel layer including aerogel particles, adhesive, and fibers; and a retainer which is provided to at least one face of the aerogel layer and includes fiber materials and binder resin. Each of the fibers is part of one of the fiber materials included in the retainer.

Abstract: Enclosure parts for portable information handling systems may be made by heat pressing material layers together. The material layers may include outer fiber-reinforced thermoplastic layers and a core thermoplastic layer comprising a plurality of thermoplastic film layers. The core thermoplastic layer may be die cut to create voids that reduce weight of the enclosure part. A finishing layer may be added, along with attachment features.

Abstract: An expandable package filler or ornament includes a stack of sheets, such as tissue paper, foil, etc. The stack is bound together, such as by a fastener. A generally spiral cut extends from a peripheral edge of the stack toward the center of the each sheet. The cut forms each sheet into a generally spiral strip ending in a peninsula portion. Grasping the peninsula portion, lifting and shaking the stack causes the strips to fall and entangle with each other. The resulting structure is decorative and may be used to stuff a gift box, bag or basket.

Abstract: A stem extension for artificial flowers comprising a stem extension having an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft having a first end and a second end. The first end of the elongated shaft provided with a graduated female opening. The second end of the elongated shaft provided with a graduated male end. The stem extension comprises an exterior surface. A portion of the exterior surface comprises a course textured finish. The elongated shaft of the stem extension further comprises a one or more fins and veins arranged between the first end and the second end. The graduated male end comprises a one or more external diameters each separated from one another by a male shoulder. The graduated female receiving opening comprises a one or more internal diameters each separated from one another by a female shoulder. The graduated female opening comprises a first inside diameter and a second inside diameter.

Abstract: An interior display hanging ornament can have an ornament body with a comparatively large access port which allows mementos to be inserted therethrough, a removably attached port cap, a cap release actuator, and a dual hanger loop. The ornament body can be a bulb or other three-dimensional body having an interior space that can hold therein a plurality of mementos. Examples of such mementos include: photographs, shoulder patches, first home keys, post-cards, teaspoons, etc. At least a portion of the body should be transparent. A removably attached port cap can seal the access port. A cap release actuator allows a person to remove the port cap and access the interior of the ornament body. A dual hanger loop can be attached to the port cap to provide an upper loop from which to hang the ornament. A lower loop portion can suspend mementos within the ornament body.

Abstract: A ceramic porous body has an alumina porous body made up by binding aggregate alumina particles to each other, the aggregate alumina particles being bound to each other by a compound including gadolinium silicate, lanthanum silicate or yttrium silicate synthesized from a silicate mineral and at least one rare-earth oxide selected from Gd2O3, La2O3, and Y2O3, and an inorganic porous film formed on the alumina porous body.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thermally insulating stretchable down feather sheet is described. The core of the sheet is comprised of down mixed with a binder mixture which exhibits elastic properties. The binder mixture consists of heat fusible stretchable glue particles and heat fusible elastomeric binding strands in dry form. The core is sandwiched between a bottom and a top stretchable elastomeric sheet having multi-directional stretchability. The core of down and the binder as well as the elastomeric sheet are bound together by heat treatment to provide a down insulating sheet which is stretchable in all directions without fractioning the sheet and which is capable of recovering substantially its original relaxed form after stretching or deformation.

Abstract: A porous cellular body comprising primarily a porous sintered glass material is disclosed. The porous sintered glass material primarily includes a first phase and a second phase, the first phase primarily comprising amorphous fused silica and the second phase comprising amorphous fused silica and a sintering aid.