Abstract: Large composite structures are produced using a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process. The structures incorporate cores, which may be hollow cells or foam blocks. A plurality of cores, each of which may be wrapped with a fiber material, is arranged in a layer on a mold with a fiber material arranged to form face skins. The assembly is sealed under a vacuum bag to a mold surface. One or more main feeder conduits are provided in communication with a resin distribution network of smaller channels which facilitates flow of uncured resin into and through the fiber material. The resin distribution network may comprise a network of grooves formed in the surfaces or the cores and/or rounded corners of the cores. The network of smaller channels may also be provided between the vacuum bag and the fiber material, either integrally in the vacuum bag or via a separate distribution medium.

Abstract: Butane-utilizing bacteria are used to degrade pollutants comprising polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In-situ or ex-situ techniques may be used to reduce or eliminate PCB pollutants from liquid, gas and solid sources. In a preferred embodiment, PCB concentrations in various aqueous environments are reduced by contacting a contaminated water source with butane-utilizing bacteria in the presence of oxygen to degrade the PCB by cometabolism or direct metabolism. Suitable butane-utilizing bacteria include Pseudomonas, Variovorax, Nocardia, Chryseobacterium, Comamonas, Acidovorax, Rhodococcus, Aureobacterium, Micrococcus, Aeromonas, Stenotrophomonas, Sphingobacterium, Shewanella, Phyllobacterium, Clavibacter, Alcaligenes, Gordona, Corynebacterium and Cytophaga.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for ventilation of patients during general anesthesia. Breathing gas is supplied to the patient during anesthesia at a controlled volume above the functional residual capacity of the patient's lungs. The patient is allowed to spontaneously respire when the volume of breathing gas is above the functional residual capacity. The pressure of the breathing gas is periodically reduced to facilitate expulsion of carbon dioxide-containing gas from the patient. The system promotes alveolar ventilation, carbon dioxide excretion, oxygenation and respiratory monitoring in patients who receive general anesthesia.

Abstract: A method of carbonizing cellulose-containing plants is disclosed. Wood is used as a precursor material which is carbonized under controlled temperature and atmosphere conditions to produce a porous carbon product having substantially the same cellular structure as the precursor wood. The porous carbonized wood may be used for various applications such as filters, or may be further processed to form carbon-polymer or carbon--carbon composites. The carbonized wood may also be converted to a ceramic such as silicon carbide. Additional processing may be used to form ceramic-metal or ceramic--ceramic composites.

Abstract: Alkane-utilizing bacteria are used to degrade pollutants comprising petroleum compounds. In-situ or ex-situ techniques may be used to reduce or eliminate petroleum pollutants from liquid, gas and solid sources. In a preferred embodiment, petroleum concentrations in various environments are reduced by contacting the petroleum pollutants with butane-utilizing bacteria in the presence of oxygen to degrade the petroleum pollutants by cometabolism or direct metabolism. Suitable alkane-utilizing bacteria include Pseudomonas, Variovorax, Nocardia, Chryseobacterium, Comamonas, Acidovorax, Rhodococcus, Aureobacterium, Micrococcus, Aeromonas, Stenotrophomonas, Sphingobacterium, Shewanella, Phyllobacterium, Clavibacter, Alcaligenes, Gordona, Corynebacterium and Cytophaga.

Abstract: A high strength, high toughness glass coated steel composite material is provided which exhibits greatly increased ballistic properties over the uncoated steel. A borosilicate glass coating is fused onto the surface of the steel in a process which heats the steel and an aqueous slurry of the borosilicate glass to a temperature which is suitable for both fusing the glass to the steel and for providing a heat soak for the steel to air harden the steel to a hardness suitable for a ballistic steel. The nickel content of the steel promotes the bonding strength of the glass coating to the steel, and the borosilicate glass may contain a cobalt additive to also promote increased bonding strength.

Abstract: Overprintable thermoset decorating inks and methods of applying such inks to substrates are disclosed. The decorating inks include a reactive polymeric binder resin and a crystalline crosslinker. The reactive polymeric binder resin may comprise acrylics, epoxies, polyesters, urethanes and the like which possess high Tg values. The combination of high glass transition temperature resins and crystalline crosslinkers avoids the necessity of using diluents in the coating compositions. The coating composition is applied to a substrate by heating the composition to a first temperature below the curing temperature of the coating, applying the heated coating composition to the substrate, allowing the applied coating composition to cool sufficiently so it at least partially hardens, and heating the applied coating composition to a second temperature above the first temperature for a sufficient to cure the coating composition.

Abstract: A deburring apparatus for cutting beards formed at edges of slabs as a result of torch cutting of strands during continuous steel casting operations is disclosed. The apparatus includes extendable pistons having deburring tools mounted thereon. The deburring tools are arranged such that rotation between adjacent tools is substantially prevented. Compressed air containing a lubricant is used to extend the pistons and cool the deburring tools.

Abstract: Shredder waste light fraction is converted into injectable material by being comminuted to an appropriate size. The copper and/or silica is then separated by magnetic separation so that the material may be injected into a metallurgical furnace or cement kiln.

Abstract: Butane-utilizing bacteria are used to degrade hydrocarbon pollutants such as trichloroethene (TCE). In-situ or ex-situ techniques may be used to reduce or eliminate hydrocarbon pollutants from liquid, gas and solid sources. In a preferred embodiment, TCE concentrations in various aqueous environments are reduced by contacting a contaminated water source with butane-utilizing bacteria in the presence of oxygen to degrade the TCE by cometabolism or direct metabolism. Suitable butane-utilizing bacteria include Pseudomonas, Variovorax, Nocardia, Chryseobacterium, Comamonas, Acidovorax, Rhodococcus, Aureobacterium, Micrococcus, Aeromonas, Stenotrophomonas, Sphingobacterium, Shewanella, Phyllobacterium, Clavibacter, Alcaligenes, Gordona, Corynebacterium and Cytophaga. The butane-utilizing bacteria have relatively low TCE toxicity in comparison with conventional methane-utilizing bacteria, and demonstrate an improved ability to degrade TCE.

Abstract: A method of carbonizing cellulose-containing plants is disclosed. Wood is used as a precursor material which is carbonized under controlled temperature and atmosphere conditions to produce a porous carbon product having substantially the same cellular structure as the precursor wood. The porous carbonized wood may be used for various applications such as filters, or may be further processed to form carbon-polymer or carbon--carbon composites. The carbonized wood may also be converted to a ceramic such as silicon carbide. Additional processing may be used to form ceramic-metal or ceramic--ceramic composites.

Abstract: A cable connector housing assembly with an automatic ejector apparatus integral thereto for facilitating disconnection between cable connector housings. A convenient quick-release operating handle is positioned on the connector housing assembly. The handle is used to disconnect the mechanical and electrical connection between first and second electrical connector housings. The connector housing assembly has a novel, pivoting internal cam apparatus which is operatively coupled to the handle, which, when extended, causes the internal cam apparatus to move a captivated V-shaped bar from a first position to a second position, thereby breaking the electrical connection. Internal to the connector housing are rows of locating ribs that facilitate the correct positioning and alignment of the cable end during assembly of the connector.

Abstract: A penetration resistant window includes a sheet of window glass having a penetration resistant layer adhered thereto. A floating sheet made of hard material such as glass is adhered to the penetration resistant layer in order to provide abrasion resistance. The perimeter of the floating sheet is set back from the perimeter of the window glass. This set back allows the window to be mounted in a window or door frame such that the perimeter of the window glass is secured to the frame, but the floating sheet is unconstrained by the frame. The penetration resistant window is useful in architectural, residential and institutional applications for resisting debris penetration during hurricanes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for mixing gas and liquid. An impeller is rotatably mounted inside a draft tube having a constricted section. Rotation of the impeller draws liquid down through the constricted portion of the draft tube. A gas delivery system introduces gas under the surface of the liquid downstream from the constricted portion of the draft tube to entrain the gas in the liquid by a venturi effect. The impeller creates a turbulent gas-liquid mixing zone and also projects liquid radially into the gas as it enters the draft tube. The gas-liquid venturi mixer is particularly suitable for treating industrial and municipal waste water, as well as various other liquids. Gases such as air, oxygen, hydrogen, and the like are efficiently dissolved in such liquids during operation of the gas-liquid venturi mixer.

Abstract: A non-invasive apparatus and method are disclosed for measuring intracranial pressure. The intracranial measurement system transmits acoustic signals through a cranium and provides an indication of intracranial pressure based on the received acoustic signals after interaction with the brain. Properties such as acoustic transmission impedance, resonant frequency, resonance characteristics, velocity of sound and the like may be measured and correlated with intracranial pressure. The acoustic signals have typical frequencies of less than 100 kHz, for example, in the audible and sub-audible frequency ranges. The intensity of the transmitted acoustic signals used to determine intracranial pressure is relatively low, resulting in little or no health risks during short term or long term monitoring.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for mixing gas and liquid. An impeller is rotatably mounted inside a draft tube. Inlet baffles are mounted adjacent the inlet end of the draft tube in close proximity to the impeller. In addition, outlet baffles are mounted adjacent the outlet end of the draft tube in close proximity to the impeller. Rotation of the impeller draws liquid down through the draft tube and creates vortices which serve to entrain gas into the liquid. The provision of inlet and outlet baffles directly adjacent the rotating impeller produces high gas entrainment and shear rates and improves gas transfer efficiency. The gas-liquid vortex mixer is particularly suitable for treating industrial and municipal waste water, as well as various other liquids. Gases such as air, oxygen, hydrogen, and the like are efficiently dissolved in such liquids during operation of the gas-liquid vortex mixer.

Abstract: A high pressure oxygen torch system for cutting steel is disclosed. The system includes a high pressure nozzle which operates at oxygen pressures of approximately 20 bar and above. The system also includes a pressure regulating valve and a mass flow control valve which maintain uniform pressure within close tolerances. The oxygen torch system may be used in continuous steel casting operations to economically, reliably and quickly cut hot and cold strands.

Abstract: Butane-utilizing bacteria are used to degrade hydrocarbon pollutants such as trichloroethene (TCE). In-situ or ex-situ techniques may be used to reduce or eliminate hydrocarbon pollutants from liquid, gas and solid sources. In a preferred embodiment, TCE concentrations in various aqueous environments are reduced by contacting a contaminated water source with butane-utilizing bacteria in the presence of oxygen to degrade the TCE by cometabolism or direct metabolism. Suitable butane-utilizing bacteria include Pseudomonas, Variovorax, Nocardia, Chryseobacterium, Comamonas, Acidovorax, Rhodococcus, Aureobacterium, Micrococcus, Aeromonas, Stenotrophomonas, Sphingobacterium, Shewanella, Phyllobacterium, Clavibacter, Alcaligenes, Gordona, Corynebacterium and Cytophaga. The butane-utilizing bacteria have relatively low TCE toxicity in comparison with conventional methane-utilizing bacteria, and demonstrate an improved ability to degrade TCE.

Abstract: Composite materials are disclosed comprising a continuous matrix with composite reinforcements therein. The composite materials may include a continuous metal, metal alloy or intermetallic matrix with intermetallic matrix composite reinforcements dispersed therein. Suitable metals for the continuous matrix include Al, Ti, Cu and Fe, and alloys and intermetallics thereof. The composite reinforcements comprise ceramic particles dispersed in a continuous intermetallic matrix. Suitable intermetallics include alumnides of Ti, Cu, Ni, Mg and Fe, while suitable ceramics include refractory metal borides, carbides, nitrides, sulicides and sulfides. In one embodiment, the ceramic particles are formed in-situ within the intermetallic matrix of the composite reinforcements. The composite materials are produced by powder metallurgical techniques wherein powders of the continuous matrix component and powders of the composite reinforcement are blended and consolidated.