Abstract: An infrared heater for use in an agricultural setting, particular for use in poultry houses, is provided that includes a burner assembly supported by an opposing pair of generally T-shaped end plates. The heater further includes a pair of emitter assemblies having a parabolic configuration that are each supported by an elongated emitter support. The emitter assemblies surround an inner core member assembly that in part define burn chambers. The heater includes a pair of end deflector members that together with the parabolic inner surfaces of the emitter assemblies direct infrared heat outwardly and downwardly in a wide and generally quadrilaterally shaped heat footprint.

Abstract: An infrared heater for use in an agricultural setting, particular for use in poultry houses, is provided that includes a burner assembly supported by an opposing pair of generally T-shaped end plates. The heater further includes a pair of emitter assemblies having a parabolic configuration that are each supported by an elongated emitter support. The emitter assemblies surround an inner core member assembly that in part define burn chambers. The heater includes a pair of end deflector members that together with the parabolic inner surfaces of the emitter assemblies direct infrared heat outwardly and downwardly in a wide and generally quadrilaterally shaped heat footprint.

Abstract: An improved, rapid process is provided for making microporous and mesoporous materials, including aerogels and pre-ceramics. A gel or gel precursor is confined in a sealed vessel to prevent structural expansion of the gel during the heating process. This confinement allows the gelation and drying processes to be greatly accelerated, and significantly reduces the time required to produce a dried aerogel compared to conventional methods. Drying may be performed either by subcritical drying with a pressurized fluid to expel the liquid from the gel pores or by supercritical drying. The rates of heating and decompression are significantly higher than for conventional methods.

Abstract: Each line of a television signal has a sequence of interleaved luminance and chrominance samples according to a given format (Y.sub.o U.sub.o Y.sub.1 V.sub.o etc.) which are written into a one line store using a first address sequence and then read out using a second address sequence such that the luminance samples are in reverse order, (and likewise the chrominance); however their interleaving conforms to the given format. The second address sequence is used also for writing in the next incoming line, which is then read out using the first sequence, the two sequences alternating throughout a field period. The technique is especially useful in videotelephony and videoconferencing.

Abstract: Temporarily filtered video samples are formed as the sum of a previous frame output sample and a non-linear function of the difference between current and previous samples. The function is non-linear only for absolute values of differences less than 50% (preferably 10%) of the maximum range of the difference, and a smaller lookup table is used for implementing the non-linear function than would otherwise be the case.

Abstract: Machinable and structurally stable, low density microcellular carbon, and catalytically impregnated carbon, foams, and process for their preparation, are provided. Pulverized sodium chloride is classified to improve particle size uniformity, and the classified particles may be further mixed with a catalyst material. The particles are cold pressed into a compact having internal pores, and then sintered. The sintered compact is immersed and then submerged in a phenolic polymer solution to uniformly fill the pores of the compact with phenolic polymer. The compact is then heated to pyrolyze the phenolic polymer into carbon in the form of a foam. Then the sodium chloride of the compact is leached away with water, and the remaining product is freeze dried to provide the carbon, or catalytically impregnated carbon, foam.

Abstract: Machinable and structurally stable, low density microcellular carbon, and catalytically impregnated carbon, foams, and process for their preparation, are provided. Pulverized sodium chloride is classified to improve particle size uniformity, and the classified particles may be further mixed with a catalyst material. The particles are cold pressed into a compact having internal pores, and then sintered. The sintered compact is immersed and then submerged in a phenolic polymer solution to uniformly fill the pores of the compact with phenolic polymer. The compact is then heated to pyrolyze the phenolic polymer into carbon in the form of a foam. Then the sodium chloride of the compact is leached away with water, and the remaining product is freeze dried to provide the carbon, or catalytically impregnated carbon, foam.