Abstract: A perforating gun assembly for use in perforating multiple intervals of at least one subterranean formation intersected by a cased wellbore and in treating the multiple intervals using a diversion agent, such as ball sealers. In one embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a perforating assembly having a plurality of select-fire perforating devices interconnected by connector subs, with each of the perforating devices having multiple perforating charges. The apparatus also includes at least one decentralizer, attached to at least one of the perforating devices, which is adapted to eccentrically position the perforating assembly within the cased wellbore so as to create sufficient ball sealer clearance between the perforating assembly and the inner wall of the cased wellbore to permit passage of at least one ball sealer.

Abstract: A method for designing a HVAC air handling assembly for a climate control system on a vehicle includes the step of selecting an architecture for the HVAC air handling assembly from a library stored in a memory of a computer system and selecting a HVAC component part from the library. The method also includes the step of generating a HVAC design using the HVAC architecture and the HVAC component part, determining if the HVAC design meets a predetermined criteria, and regenerating the HVAC design if the predetermined criteria is not met.

Abstract: A multi-zone temperature control system for an HVAC air-handling assembly in a climate control system on a vehicle includes a cold air supply duct and a hot air supply duct operatively coupled to the cold air supply duct. The multi-zone temperature control system also includes a rear air duct operatively coupled to the hot air supply duct and a temperature blend door disposed within the hot air supply duct to adjust a temperature of air flowing through the rear air duct into the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for motion estimation within biological tissue is disclosed. The method involves acoustically coupling a transducer to a target biological tissue, which transducer emits an ultrasonic signal and collects the energy back-scattered by the target issue. A first set of energy data is collected and stored, then target tissue is axially compressed and a second set of ultrasonic energy data is collected and stored. One of the first and second data sets is warped to account for the anticipated compression forming a warped data set. This warped data set is cross-correlated with the unwarped one of the first and said second data sets to obtain a fine scale displacement of said target biological tissue from the displacement estimated by the warping. This fine scale displacement is summed with the warped data set to obtain a total axial displacement. A gradient of the total axial displacement is taken and used to form a strain image. An apparatus for practicing this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A traffic control preemption system uses data received from a global positioning system (GPS) to determine whether a vehicle issuing a preemption request is within an allowed approach of an intersection. GPS signals are received and processed by the vehicle module to generate vehicle data, including the vehicle's position, heading and velocity. The vehicle data is transmitted via radio transmission or some other medium. Each intersection has an associated intersection module which, if within range of the vehicle's transmitting equipment, compares the received vehicle data with a preprogrammed map of allowed approaches to the intersection. If the vehicle data sufficiently matches the map of allowed approaches, the vehicle's preemption request is forwarded to the intersection controller to appropriately control the phase of the traffic signal at the intersection.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem of how best to infect roots of a plant with the beneficial mycorrhizal fungus. Merely mixing the inoculum of the fungus with soil or other growth medium is time-consuming and not very effective. The invention lies in the idea of positioning across the path of growth of the roots a carrier material, carrying the inoculum. The roots are then allowed to contact and penetrate the carrier material, so that they pick up the inoculum and become infected. The carrier material is integral and self-supporting. Preferably it is a sheet of cellulosic fibres coated with a layer containing the inoculum, which can also contain cellulosic fibres. Preferably peat-inoculum is used. The invention is useful in improving the growth of plants, particularly those grown in containers.