Abstract: A method for catching shrub or hedge cuttings. The method includes a setup of providing a at least one frame assembly with a first side, a spatially disposed second side, a distal side, and a bottom, which cooperate to form a catching area. The receptacle may be made from two frame assemblies of differing widths so that the assemblies can be telescopically positioned to form a generally continuous receptacle, and for compact storage. The receptacle may have a cutout in the bottom to allow for positioning the receptacle around a trunk of a shrub.

Abstract: A method is provided for in-situ production of oil shale wherein a network of fractures is formed by injecting liquified gases into at least one substantially horizontally disposed fracturing borehole. Heat is thereafter applied to liquify the kerogen so that oil shale oil and/or gases can be recovered from the fractured formations.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining the position of at least one edge of at least one web material traveling along a predetermined path. In one embodiment, the sensor system has at least one transmitter block having a plurality of transmitters capable of selectively transmitting ultrasonic signals and at least one receiver block having a plurality of receivers capable of generating receiver output signals in response to the receivers receiving at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals transmitted by the at least one transmitter block. The receiver block is spaced a distance from the transmitter block so as to define a sensor field of view therebetween whereby at least a portion of the at least one web material traveling along a predetermined travel path interferes with at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals transmitted by the at least one transmitter block.

Abstract: An assembly including a boat and a cover. The cover covers and protects the boat. The boat is provided with one or more covered portion, and one or more uncovered portion. The cover includes a protective covering, and a boot. The protective covering defines a tolerance cut out adapted to receive a portion of the one or more uncovered portion when the protective covering is covering the object. The tolerance cut out has a length, a width and a perimeter. The boot is provided with an upstanding material flange, and a sealing system. The upstanding material flange extends about the perimeter of the tolerance cut out so as to define an opening aligned with the tolerance cut out, the upstanding material flange extends upwardly from the protective covering. The sealing system is positioned upstream of the tolerance cut out and on the upstanding material flange for sealing the upstanding material flange along the length of the tolerance cut out.

Abstract: The current invention provides a remote caregiver support system which allows caregivers to provide informal care to care receivers. The systems of the current invention comprise a caregiver system and a care receiver system operating on personal computers. Each system is linked by a communications network. Preferably, the communications network is a high speed internet connection. Additionally, the current invention provides methods for delivering informal care to a care receiver remotely located from the caregiver. In the methods of the current invention, the caregiver accesses a remote caregiver support system and interacts with the care receiver providing text reminders and other informal care necessary to ensure the continued health and wellbeing of the care receiver.

Abstract: A protective cover assembly is provided. The protective cover assembly includes a flexible cover and an alarm assembly. The flexible cover includes an outer layer of flexible material, an inner layer of flexible material, and at least one layer of tear resistant material positioned between the outer and inner layers. The alarm assembly includes a pair of conductor plates positioned between the outer layer of flexible material and the inner layer of flexible material, a power source, and an alarm system electrically connected to the power source and at least one of the first and second conductor plates such that upon an electrical conducting implement piercing the first conductor plate and contacting the second conductor plate an electrical connection is established between the first conductor plate and the second conductor plate thereby causing the alarm system to emit an alerting signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates systems and methods for phase-contrast x-ray imaging of an object. In one embodiment, the system includes an x-ray source, a detector, and an object-map generator. The x-ray source transmits x-rays, and the detector is positioned so as to receive at least a portion of the x-rays transmitted by the x-ray source and output an image signal indicative of an intensity measurement of the x-rays received. The object is positioned between the x-ray source and the detector. The detector is then used to acquire intensity measurements at two different positions and output the same to the object-map generator. The object-map generator then utilizes the image signals of the detector, along with algorithms, including phase-retrieval algorithms to generate an attenuation-map and a phase-map for the object. The present invention also include systems and methods utilizing a dual-detector arrangement, a multi-source arrangement, and a mosaic source-detector arrangement.

Abstract: A ferrule securing assembly including a die set assembly for reducing a cylindrical ferrule. The die set assembly having a female die and a male die. The female die having a female die opening sequentially defined by a tapered section, a parallel section, and a concave seat. The male die having a concave die face with at least two lateral edges, a medial area, and a radius of curvature. The male die is receivable in the female die opening to move the ferrule through the tapered section so as to forge the ferrule into a substantially oval shape, to move the oval shaped ferrule through the parallel section, and to compress the oval shaped ferrule between the concave die face and the concave seat to forge the oval shaped ferrule into a substantially cylindrical shape.

Abstract: A vibrating trench compactor apparatus including a first frame, a second frame, and a compactor wheel. The first frame has an adapter plate connectable to a vehicle and a first arm and second arm extending from the adapter plate. A plurality of vibration dampening members are disposed through each arm. The second frame has a motor mounting plate and a first leg and a second leg extending from the motor mounting plate where the first and second leg are interconnected to the vibration dampening members. The compactor wheel is rotatably connected to the first leg and the second leg and a vibration motor is mounted to the motor mounting plate of the second frame for imparting vibrational movement to the compactor wheel via the second frame.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transporting round hay bales disposed on a bale support ground surface. The apparatus has a frame, a frame support assembly, a first and a second rail. The frame has a first and a second portion. The first portion is connectable to a towing vehicle and the second portion is pivotally movable relative to the first portion to cooperate with the first portion to move the frame between a transporting position and a loading position. The first and second rails are movable between first, second, and third positions. In the first position, the first and second rails are lowered to capture the round hay bale. In the second position, the first and second rails are raised and aligned for transporting the round hay bale. In the third position, the first and second rails are positioned generally downwardly and outwardly for unloading the round hay bale.

Abstract: Alarm monitors comprising conventional personal computers respond automatically to an identified alarm sound by sending a notification signal via the Internet only when a special sound monitoring program is active.

Abstract: A method of growing and fabricating a group IV-VI semiconductor structure, for use in fabricating devices. In one embodiment, the group IV-VI semiconductor structure produced by the method of the present invention includes a group IV-VI material grown on a selected orientation of [110]. The devices fabricated can be a laser, detector, solar cell, thermal electrical cooling devices, etc. A laser device produced according to the present method will have a low threshold due to the lift-off of the energy degeneracy and low defect density. Growth on the [110] orientation also allows epitaxial growth of the semiconductor structure on a dissimilar substrate, which could improve the thermal dissipation and thus increase the operating temperature of the laser device.

Abstract: Method and system for controlling and monitoring the quality of concrete based on the concrete's maturity. Various embodiments of the present invention are discussed. First, Enhanced Maturity involves a maturity calibration method to account for the water-to-cementitious-materials ratio, air content, and gross unit weight of the concrete. Second, Moisture-Loss Maturity is a method for determining the appropriate time to terminate moisture-loss protection of concrete and concrete structures. Third, Improved Maturity is a method and system for determining the strength of curing concrete using improved maturity calculations. Fourth, SPC Maturity is a method that beneficially couples maturity measurements and calculations with Statistical Process Control (SPC) methods to enable rapid recognition of changes to the concrete mix and/or incompatibilities between the various components of the concrete mix.

Abstract: A free-space standoff optical detection platform for any detection scheme based on spontaneous emissions, such as for example, fluorescence detection. More particularly, the present invention relates to a detection system having SPCE beads. In one embodiment, the SPCE beads are dielectric spheres coated with a thin metal layer, which supports surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at the operation wavelength. For fluorescence detection, fluorescence reporters can be coated outside of SPCE beads. Upon the presence of the analyte, the fluorescence reporter changes its emitting signal. The SPCE beads amplify the field strength of the excitation via the lens effect and SPR enhancement. The spontaneous emitting signal is collected via the coupling between the SPR and emission, which results high collection efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio. This surface plasmon-coupled emission (SPCE) signal propagates in the beads in a curved path dictated by the SPR condition.

Abstract: Chimeric proteins comprising soluble Tissue Factor (sTF) and another subunit (e.g., annexin V) are described. The proteins promote blood clotting and/or inhibit cancer by targeting sTF to specific receptors such as phosphatidyl serine (PS) on activated cells. These chimeric proteins are useful in treating patients with excessive bleeding due to inborn problems, drug therapy, trauma or surgery and/or as an anti-cancer therapy, for example by causing blood vessels feeding cancers to become clotted, thereby preventing adequate flow of blood to a tumor, which in turn will lead to tumor inhibition and death or may be used in a therapy to cause clotting within blood vessels that pose a threat in the subject in non-cancerous conditions.

Abstract: Method, system and device useful with conventional personal computers respond automatically to an identified alarm sound by sending a notification signal via the Internet only when a special sound monitoring program is active.

Abstract: An oilfield equipment identifying apparatus comprising a computer loaded with an oilfield equipment database. A unique identification code is input into the computer for each piece of oilfield equipment in the drill string to form a reference in the oilfield equipment database to each piece of oilfield equipment in the drill string. A drilling monitoring device receives input signals indicative of at least one of rotating and non-rotating usage of the drill string and output signals to the computer wherein the computer continuously and automatically monitors the cumulative rotating usage and non-rotating usage of each piece of oilfield equipment identified in the drill string.

Abstract: A polarization sorter having an input, an output and a slowly varying region. The input has at least one input waveguide. The input waveguide supports at least one guided TE polarized mode of mode ranking mode-i-TE, and at least one guided TM polarized mode of mode ranking mode-j-TM. The output has at least two output waveguides. At least one output waveguide supports a TE polarized mode of mode ranking mode-i-TE, and at least one waveguide supports a TM polarized mode of mode ranking mode-j-TM. The slowly varying region couples the at least one input waveguide at the input to the at least two output waveguides at the output.

Abstract: The invention is for safety goggles to protect eyes of a user of the safety goggles. The safety goggles include a lens and a frame with a bridge. A goggle chamber is formed between the lens and the face of the user. The safety goggles have a lower ventilation assembly that admits air one either side of the bridge. The safety goggles also includes an upper ventilation assembly at an upper portion of the frame. Air enters the goggle chamber through the lower ventilation assembly, heats near a nose of the user and exits the goggle chamber through the upper ventilation assembly. Each of the lower and upper ventilation assemblies cover a corresponding lower and upper air path in such a manner that allows air to pass through the corresponding air path while preventing solid projectiles and splashed liquid from having a direct line of trajectory to the eyes of the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to removal of subsurface contaminants and methods of same. In more particular, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to an integrated method for remediating subsurface contaminants through the use of a low concentration surfactant solution (and methods of making and using novel surfactant solutions).