Abstract: A file storage and retrieval method or technique for processing alphanumeric information that has particular advantages when accessing data in a database on a computer. The retrieval technique uses the ASCII values of characters in a search string concatenated together to form a numeric value which serves as the index to the data itself or to the index which holds the computer address of the location of the data. This technique allows data to be accessed with only one access when searching for a word or phrase within a database and lends itself for use on static storage systems of the future as well as on current disk based systems.

Abstract: Provided are a size adjuster and a headwear using the same having advantages of increasing exterior aesthetical features and automatically adjusting a circumference of a wearing portion of a headwear. The size adjuster may include: a first guide having one end connected to the wearing portion; a second guide having one end connected to the wearing portion corresponding to a position of the first guide; a case having an inner portion connected to the respective other ends of the first and second guides and where the first and second guides move through; and an elastic band extended or contracted by connecting to the first and second guides.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing, pricing, and provisioning distance-based vehicle insurance are provided. In one example, the method receives identification information of a customer and an associated vehicle, and a current odometer reading. Multiple coverage types are provided to the customer, as is at least one quote when the customer selects one of the coverage types. The quote includes a policy rate identifying a cost per distance unit based on the identification information. The customer is provided with multiple items based on the quote, where each item includes a total number of distance units for purchase at the policy rate. An insurance policy may be purchased in response to the customer selecting one of the items. The insurance policy's coverage is based on an expiration odometer value defined as the sum of the current odometer reading and the total number of distance units included in the selected item.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for creating a digital representation of personal events enhanced with related global content. Personal event frameworks are selectable by the user and are provided with insertion points to receive media items therein and are structured to complement type of personal event. Media items are automatically reformatted as necessary. The instant invention allows the user to enhance the event framework by inserting related global content, wherein global content stands for media items matching either the date, location or event type. The additional content is provided from local sources or over the Internet.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooking food with infrared radiation includes an infrared energy emitter for emitting the infrared radiation, and a grid in close proximity to the infrared energy emitter. A first side of the grid can be for supporting the food at a position so that at least some of the infrared radiation will cook the food. A second side of the grid can be sufficiently close to the emitting side of the emitter for substantially restricting any airflow in any space between the second side of the grid and the emitting side of the emitter. Partitions of the grid can operatively segregate the emitting side of the emitter into segments, which can provide a substantially uniform distribution of infrared radiation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method to dissociate water molecules into H2 and O2 and includes a reaction vessel having at least one radiolysis apparatus, at least one photolysis apparatus, at least one catalyst apparatus, and at least one electromagnetic fielding apparatus. The reaction vessel has a body, a first end and a second end defining an interior reaction chamber, an inlet for receiving water vapor and at least two outlets. A plurality of windings of a contiguous electrical conductor are wound in a first direction adjacent the first outlet and plurality of windings of a contiguous electrical conductor wound in a second direction adjacent the second outlet such that the first direction is opposite the second direction. When a current is applied to the conductor, an electromagnetic field is generated to migrate the disassociated H2 and O2 molecules toward the respective first outlet or second outlet.

Abstract: A delayed coking process and apparatus which greatly shorten the required duration of the alternating drum fill and decoking cycles and eliminate the need to perform drum quenching, draining, unheading, hydraulic decoking, reheading, pressure testing, and warming procedures in the decoking cycle. In the inventive system, the decoking cycle preferably comprises simply a steamout stage and a coke product draining procedure. The coke product produced in the coking drums is a hot, solid, flowable material from which heat can be recovered for preheating the coker feed and/or producing steam.

Abstract: A water electrolysis unit delivers hydrogen to an internal combustion engine. The electrolysis unit comprises an outer housing and an inner container. Between the outer housing and the inner container is a space for the collection of gases. The upper portion of the inner container is provided with a series of alternating peaks and valleys. At the tops of the peaks are louvered openings which permit the gases formed in the electrolysis to enter the space between the inner container and the outer housing. At the bottom of each valley of the inner container are a plurality of electrically conductive sleeves. The bottom of the inner container is provided with a series of troughs which are disposed beneath the valleys and in which the lower ends of the conductive sleeves are received. Each sleeve is provided with a plurality of holes which are disposed on the outside of the sleeve.

Abstract: A method for the management of data collected from a remote computing device including the steps of: creating a questionnaire; transmitting the questionnaire to a remote computer; executing the questionnaire in the remote computer to prompt a user for responses to questions of the questionnaire; transmitting the responses to a sever via a network; making the responses available on the Web. Preferably, computers used in connection with the inventive method are loosely networked in that network connections between computers are not always available and, when a connection is not available, data is stored at a node of the network and transmitted at the earliest time when a connection is available. In one preferred embodiment, the inventive method is used to collect survey data and to make the responses to the survey available to a client in virtually real time over the Internet.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly (ESP) includes a pump section, a motor section, and a seal section. In one embodiment, an exterior of the pump section defines a gripping indentation above the pump intake. Alternatively, a clamp member may be provided that surrounds the pump, wherein the clamp member defines the gripping indentation. A collet adapter is affixed to an upper end of a shroud. The collet adapter has gripping members that engage the gripping indentation for attaching the shroud to the electrical submersible pump assembly. The collet adapter is provided to ease installation of the motor shroud onto the ESP as well as to ease removal of the motor shroud from the ESP. The collet adapter of the present invention eliminates precise alignment and bolt-on requirements of typical motor shroud mounting techniques.

Abstract: A controller and method of using same are disclosed. Preferably, the controller includes a pilot cartridge housing supporting an invertible pilot cartridge assembly (“cartridge”). The cartridge preferably includes a cartridge body supporting a number of pneumatic seals adjacent the housing, wherein at least two of the seals are diaphragms. The cartridge preferably provides a first pilot activation feature and an opposing second pilot activation feature. The operating mode of the cartridge is determined by a selected orientation of the first pilot activation feature relative to the housing; and preferably the method of operating the controller includes the steps of: selecting an orientation of the first pilot activation feature relative to the housing; setting a span control mechanism to a neutral position relative to the housing; adjusting a float communicating with the cartridge to a neutral position; and adjusting said span control mechanism to determine a response type of said cartridge.

Abstract: Vaccine preparations for the prevention and treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and, in particular, its most severe form, termed “shipping fever”, are provided. The preparations comprise chimeric proteins comprising immunodominant epitopes of recombinant Mannheimia haemolytica outer membrane protein PlpE, and immunodominant epitopes of recombinant M. haemolytica leukotoxin.

Abstract: There is provided herein a system and method for dynamically creating and/or joining multi-user text communication groups, wherein the user is not restricted to the technical limitations of standard communications protocols and wherein the user is able to create and/or join this multi-user group without a need for elaborate installation or configuration steps. The system and method will primarily be intended for the market of mobile devices and the instant disclosure is generally directed to users who have modern mobile devices that feature support for the Bluetooth communication protocol or have support for Wi-Fi technology and that furthermore allow the user to use that communication protocol/technology for communications with other users.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of recovering hydrocarbons or low polarity organic chemicals from hard surfaces, water and water surfaces, in their vapor state and from porous substrates. The hydrocarbons or low-polarity organic chemicals may be included in a spill. More particularly, the invention relates to the absorption of certain hydrocarbons and low-polarity organic chemicals by applying thermoplastic elastomers of a triblock copolymer of the general configuration A-B-A. The preferred A-B-A copolymer of the invention is a low to medium molecular weight hydrogenated polystyrene-poly(isoprene+butadiene)-polystyrene or polystyrene-b-ethylene/ethylene-propylene-b-styrene block copolymer.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for the creation of customized applications for mobile computing devices which will allow a user to incorporate selected media items into a preexisting program, thereby customizing it for execution on his or her own brand and model of device (e.g., cell phone). In one preferred embodiment, the media items will be resident on the user's phone and will be selected and transmitted to a remote computer for assembly into a customized application. The customized application will then be transmitted back to the user's phone for execution and viewing/hearing of the embedded media items. In another preferred embodiment, the media items will be resident on a remote computer where they will be selected by the user for incorporation into the customized program. The resulting program will then be transmitted to the user's designated device for execution.

Abstract: There is provided herein a system and method for enabling a user of digital video editing software to automatically create an emotionally controlled soundtrack that is matched in overall emotion or mood to the scenes in the underlying video work. In the preferred arrangement, the user will be able to control the generation of the soundtrack by positioning emotion tags in the video work that correspond to the general mood of each scene. The subsequent soundtrack generation step will utilize these tags to prepare a musical accompaniment to the video work that generally matches its on-screen activities.