Abstract: A fuel pellet is produced by the combination of organic waste material with a binder obtained by direct liquefaction and/or fast pyrolysis of biomass material. Direct liquefaction and fast pyrolysis are carried out according to known liquefaction processes. The liquefied bio-binder base is mixed with additives, if desired, such as petroleum asphalt and cross-linking agents, in order to modify its characteristics to meet specific needs of particular applications, and the resulting mixture is mixed with organic-waste material preheated to 100° C. or more and allowed to react at about 150-200° C. Combustible extenders and fillers, reinforcing fibers, and cross-linking agents may be mixed with the organic material or the bio-binder base to provide additional specific properties to the mixture. The resulting well mixed mass is then pelletized or otherwise molded in conventional equipment.

Abstract: Bat wings are removed at step discontinuities within the coherence length of the light source of a vertical-scanning interferometer. A first height profile is obtained from a correlogram using a coherence-sensing technique. A second height profile is obtained from phase measurements at the best-focus frame position of the scanner. The two profiles are compared, and phase ambiguities are removed in conventional manner. In addition, during unwrapping the differences in height between two adjacent pixels obtained both by coherence sensing and by phase measurements are compared to f&lgr;/4. Where the inter-pixel height difference calculated by coherence sensing is smaller and the inter-pixel height difference calculated by phase is larger than f&lgr;/4, the phase measurement is corrected by 2&pgr; increments until both coherence and phase inter-pixel height differences are within f&lgr;/4. This additional step removes bat-wing effects from profiles obtained by phase measurement.

Abstract: An arrangement for spacing electrodes used in the electrowinning of copper includes two identical spacers which are designed to be mounted in an opening of an anode. Each spacer is elongated and has two ends which respectively face upward and downward during use. The upward facing end includes a confining surface which confronts a major surface of the anode on which the spacer is mounted and a sliding surface which faces away from the confining surface and has a slope. The confining surface and the sliding surface meet at a knife-edge which again faces upward during use. When the anode on which the spacer is mounted is immersed in an electrolytic bath and a cathode is lowered into a position adjacent to the anode, the knife-edge prevents the cathode from becoming caught on the spacer should the cathode be lowered onto the spacer. In addition, the sliding surface allows the cathode to slide towards its position.

Abstract: A thermally-stable cationic photoinitiator capable of flash vaporization under vacuum and temperature conditions of an available flash-evaporation chamber is selected. The photoinitiator is mixed with a cation-polymerizable monomer and/or oligomer of interest and the mixture is flash evaporated and condensed in conventional manner as a film on a cold substrate. The resulting vacuum-deposited, homogeneous layer is cured with a high-energy radiation source that causes the cationic photoinitiator to liberate acidic species that catalyze the crosslinking of the monomer/oligomer compounds in its deposited film form. As a result of the homogeneous, pinhole-free nature of the vacuum deposition process, the thin-film polymer product does not suffer from the disadvantages attendant to prior-art atmospheric processes for cationically-cured polymers.

Abstract: An automated mechanism for guiding a microelectrode toward an oocyte placed in a perfusion chamber consists of a movable guide tube holding the electrode and a fixed guide collar in fixed relation to the target oocyte. Because the guide tube and guide collar are independently mounted, the alignment of the tip of the microelectrode is effected by its placement within the precisely aligned guide collar, irrespective of any fine misalignment of the guide tube. Accordingly, a change of microelectrode in the guide tube does not affect its final alignment toward the oocyte so long as the calibration of the guide collar is not disturbed, thereby providing a mechanism for maintaining the alignment of different microelectrodes successively mounted in the system without requiring recalibration.

Abstract: An electronic template representing the topography of a magnetic head being tested and delineating distinct patterns corresponding to particular regions of interest, such as ABS surfaces, is provided in order to limit analysis of the sample's surface to such regions. The outline of the slider positioned within the field of view of an interferometric microscope is identified by measuring the modulation of incident light at each pixel inside and outside the contour of the sample using the loci of perceivable fringe contrast as the criterion for establishing the location of such edges. Once the outline of the slider within the plastic tray is so established, the slider is shifted within the field of view to match the position of the template, thereby automatically achieving a precise alignment of the template with the boundary of the slider.

Abstract: An interferometer scans the sample surface laterally with respect to the optical axis of the interferometric objective. The objective is tilted, so that the sample surface is placed at an angle with respect to the maximum coherence plane of the instrument. By moving the sample stage laterally, at an angle, through a point at a set distance from the objective on the objective's optical axis, rather than vertically along the optical axis, different parts of the object intersect the maximum coherence plane at different times as the surface passes through the coherence plane, the precise time depending on the profile of the surface. When the OPD of a point on the object's surface is greater than the coherence length of the light source, the intensity of light reflected from this point does not produce interference fringes. Therefore, the intensity registered by the detector is approximately constant.

Abstract: A radiation curable monomer and a dystuff are mixed in a curable formulation and fed into a hot evaporator under vacuum. The blend is flash evaporated through a nozzle and recondensed onto a moving substrate in contact with a temperature-controlled rotating drum. The condensed film is then crosslinked with a high-energy ultraviolet or electron-beam radiation source to effect cross-linking of the monomer. The resulting product consists of a crosslinked polymer matrix incorporating dyestuff molecules within its structure, which dramatically enhances the durability, solvent resistance, heat stability and migration fastness of the product. These properties can be further improved by chemically bonding the dyestuff molecules with the crosslinked polymer network, which can be accomplished by judiciously functionalizing the dyestuff with appropriate functional groups designed to polymerize or to react with the curable monomer.

Abstract: A porous metallic layer is incorporated in one of the electrodes of a plasma treatment system. A plasma gas is injected into the electrode at substantially atmospheric pressure and allowed to diffuse through the porous layer, thereby forming a uniform glow-discharge plasma. The film material to be treated is exposed to the plasma created between this electrode and a second electrode covered by a dielectric layer. Because of the micron size of the pores of the porous metal, each pore also produces a hollow cathode effect that facilitates the ionization of the plasma gas. As a result, a steady-state glow-discharge plasma is produced at atmospheric pressure and at power frequencies as low as 60 Hz. According to another aspect of the invention, vapor deposition is carried out in combination with plasma treatment by vaporizing a substance of interest, mixing it with the plasma gas, and diffusing the mixture through the porous electrode.

Abstract: A retractable antenna for mobile devices exhibits a high gain regardless of whether it is extended or retracted in the device. A &lgr;/4 antenna element is retractably housed in a metal tube &lgr;/4 long. A switching mechanism is provided so that the radio frequency power feed condition varies according to whether the &lgr;/4 antenna element is extended or is retracted in the tube. The metal tube of length &lgr;/4 is fed the radio frequency power of polarity opposite to that of the antenna element when the antenna element is extended, so that the tube and the antenna element function together as a dipole antenna. When the antenna is retracted into the tube, the radio frequency power is not fed to the antenna element, and the metal tube functions as a &lgr;/4 antenna element.

Abstract: In a vehicle traffic system, the predetermined nominal trajectory for an autonomous vehicle is varied periodically within acceptable boundaries which define a permitted travel corridor. The corridor's boundaries ensure the continued safe and controlled operation of the vehicle within the system. In an embodiment of the invention, alternative trajectories are selected randomly; in another, they are parallel to one another. In yet another, preferred embodiment, judiciously-selected, alternative trajectories are repeated periodically according to a predetermined schedule designed to avoid repetitive travel over the same precise path, and possibly also selected for optimal results under different terrain, environmental, and/or operational conditions. According to another aspect of the invention, the shape and size of the corridor defining the boundaries for safe operation are varied in response to changed conditions to increase operational flexibility.

Abstract: The detection threshold of an optical sensor is dynamically calibrated by measuring the maximum and minimum levels of the analog output produced by the sensor's light detector and setting the detection threshold of the sensor at an intermediate level between the two. The new detection threshold thus established is then used as the voltage reference that determines the logic state of the system. The invention may be implemented using analog-to-digital converter hardware already embedded in the system. Alternatively, the invention may be implemented using digital-to-analog converter hardware that may also be already present in the system.

Abstract: A conventional lid for a drinking cup, a straw, and a ring-shaped container with an inner through-hole suitable for receiving the drinking straw are combined with the drinking cup. The straw is used to couple the container to the drinking cup by passing the straw trough the through-hole and through the cup's lid, such that the container is firmly anchored thereby. Thus, the condiment container is available to a user holding the cup without having to manage it as a separate item.

Abstract: An irrigation system for a potted plant in which a reservoir is mounted onto the upper lip of the pot. The reservoir communicates a slow feed of water into the pot to provide water to the plant through a wick mechanism which slowly drains the reservoir into the pot. The preferred embodiment is a single round reservoir that fits around the entire rim of the planter. Other embodiments of the invention provide for a segmented reservoir which also extends around the entire rim and which uses multiple reservoirs which are “snapped” or otherwise secured to each other to form a ring.

Abstract: A learning aid which is mounted within a bus. A central computer stores lessons and distributes selected lessons to student work stations which are positioned for individual passengers. Each student work station includes a display unit and an input apparatus (such as a keyboard). The local computer at the student work station is in communications with the central computer. The preferred communication channel is through the use of radio frequencies. Scores for the passengers are collected and recorded in some embodiments for use by the instructor.

Abstract: The invention provides a three-dimensional card case including a cavity surrounded by two sidewalls, a rear wall and an opening on the side opposite the rear wall. The cards are inserted into slots at the opening of the cavity until they flush with an ejector tab at the rear wall. This allows a card to be individually ejected by the tab mechanism, which is linked to actuator buttons located on the exterior of the case. Each button is labeled to identify and select a specific card.

Abstract: Human heat-shock protein-binding proteins (HspBP-1 and HspBP-2) are disclosed with the polynucleotides which identify and encode them. Genetically engineered expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences encoding heat-shock protein-binding proteins (HspBP) are also disclosed and a method for producing HspBP polypeptides. Also provided is a process of using HspBP for abrogating heat shock-protein activity in the prevention or treatment of diseases associated with such activity.

Abstract: A method and device for marking and keeping track of the correct location of a golf ball. The marking device includes a two-sided body, with the first side displaying an indication to play the ball from the present location of the marker and the second side displaying an indication to remark the location of the ball before it is played, and a means of securing the body to the ground. The method utilizes the two-sided body to remind a golfer of the correct position of his or her ball.

Abstract: A coded aperture is placed in proximity of a patient's body and a 2D coded image is acquired in conventional manner. The basic data-acquisition geometry is similar to that used in various coded-aperture systems. According to one aspect of the invention, additional coded images are acquired with different spacings between the aperture and the detector. Alternatively, additional coded images could be acquired with multiple movable apertures or by varying the location of the aperture relative to a patient. Another aspect of the invention resides in the recognition that presently available computer algorithms can process these multiple coded images in such a way as to estimate the integrals of the 3D object over a set of parallel cylindrical tubes extending through the volume of the target object. Such “tube integrals” can be thought of as the output of an ideal collimator where the sensitivity is confined to a tubular region of constant cross-section.

Abstract: A dispenser has a container for a liquid, a vent opening to allow air into the container, a valve to control the admission of air into the container, and a dispensing opening for the liquid to be dispensed therefrom. The dispenser is mounted with the dispensing opening at the bottom. When the valve is closed, a pressure differential is created that prevents the liquid in the container from flowing out. Upon opening of the vent valve, the pressure differential is reduced and dispensing can continue. Such a dispenser can be used to dispense fluids of varying viscosities and even nonporous solids. In one embodiment of the invention, an infrared radiation emitter and an infrared radiation detector are arranged in such a manner that, when a hand is placed below the dispenser, radiation from the emitter impinges on the hand and is reflected to the detector.