Abstract: A battery-powered lighted fishing rod including: a handle having a forward end; a shaft extending from the forward end of the handle; an electroluminescent lamp secured the shaft; and a power source for supplying electrical power to the electroluminescent lamp. In one embodiment, the handle includes a housing which houses a battery and a DC-to-AC inverter for converting the relatively low battery voltage to a relative high AC voltage suitable for driving the electroluminescent lamp and a cover. The cover mates with the housing to form a gripping surface on the handle.

Abstract: A protection system for an artificial lift device including but not limited to electrical submersible pump (ESP) and an electrical submersible progressing cavity pup (ESPCP). The artificial lift device is suspended on a tubing string into a wellbore where the artificial lift device contacts well fluids. The artificial lift device is provided with a barrier such as an intake barrier or output barrier that deters an ingress of well fluids into the artificial lift device. As a result, the artificial lift device may remain idle and submerged within well fluids for an extended period of time without experiencing degradation of the artificial lift device internals. The intake barrier may include a plug, burst disk, dissolvable material, a selectively openable barrier such as a sleeve or a spring biased member or other member that is capable of providing a suitable barrier. The barrier may be removed once the artificial lift device is ready for operation.

Abstract: A method for the layer-by-layer assembly of a free standing thin film includes the steps of preparing a support with a suitable substrate; forming a thin film having a plurality of layers onto the substrate utilizing a layer-by-layer assembly process; removing the substrate and thin film from the support; and separating the substrate from the thin film. Various compounds improving the strength, flexibility, tension and other mechanical properties may be included in the assembly to improve the structural quality of the film. Similar effect may also be achieved by cross-linking the applied layers.

Abstract: A cue stick of the type used for playing billiards. A deflection resistant strengthening wrap is located adjacent a terminal end of the cue stick, and/or at other points on the cue stick that may experience deflection during a ball strike. A first strengthening wrap substantially prevents deflection of the tip piece upon impact with a billiard ball. Other strengthening wraps may be provided to prevent deflection at other locations on the cue stick. The strengthening wraps are composites formed of a screen, a sheet of material, and a resin. The screen is preferably metallic. The sheet of material is a plurality of fibers that form a fiber wrap of graphite, fiberglass, kevlar, or other material.

Abstract: There is provided herein a sensor for use in patient monitoring, wherein the level of patient activity in a chair or bed is tracked to determine whether or not that patient has exhibited sufficient activity to merit eliminating a scheduled assisted relocation to a new position. The instant device senses the time since a patient last relocated into a different sitting or lying position. If the patient has not moved during some predetermined time period, the nursing staff will be notified that it is time to manually reposition the patient. On the other hand, if the patient has significantly changed position, the device will not signal to the caregiver that a move is necessary, thereby eliminating the need in some cases to rouse the patient from an otherwise sound sleep.

Abstract: A distributed network which is capable of dynamically changing media resource request metafiles, as well as the responses to those media resource requests by media servers in the network, to provide more efficient content delivery in the network. The network employs a system and method for intercepting a media resource request metafile client request, or a response to the media resource request by a media server in the network, and intelligently rewriting the response before sending it back to the requesting client. The file or protocol response can be rewritten according to localized information such as resource availability and client request information which the centralized web server may not have or even be able to obtain, such as the client's ISP, browser type, ISP's surfing trends and so on. The system and method thus enables the network to send the local client to either a local server or a remote server to receive the requested content.

Abstract: A ?-alumina catalyst support having improved attrition resistance produced by a method comprising the steps of treating a particulate ?-alumina material with an acidic aqueous solution comprising water and nitric acid and then, prior to adding any catalytic material thereto, calcining the treated ?-alumina.

Abstract: There is provided herein a system and method for obtaining measurements of radiation exposure in real time using OSL and for obtaining improved accurate OSL measurements over a greater range of radiation exposures. In a preferred embodiment a signal-versus-dose response is obtained from an OSL dosimeter that is linear over all doses and does not exhibit saturation effects. The desired response is preferably calculated from the measured OSL-versus-time response from a suitable dosimeter obtained during irradiation. To obtain the desired response from the measured OSL data each measured OSL point has to be corrected for the depletion of the trapped electron concentration that occurs during each illumination period.

Abstract: There is provided herein an electronic patient monitor that utilizes a latch or similar power circuit that automatically activates an electronic patient monitor when a patient's presence is indicated by the sensor, that maintains power to the unit so long as the patient is indicated to be present, and that maintains power to the monitor until a valid reset command is issued after the patient is sensed to be no longer present. Power to the unit is maintained, and the unit continues to monitor the patient, e so long as the patient is present, even if an attempt is made to power down/disable the unit during that time.

Abstract: A valve, such as a liquid level sight glass gage valve, has a valve unit and a passageway that extends through the valve unit. The passageway has a stem receiving area, a seal receiving area, and a bonnet receiving area that has a non-circular inner perimeter. A packing assembly is provided to isolate the bonnet receiving area from the fluid path. A bonnet is located within the bonnet receiving areas and has a non-circular outside surface for mating relationship with the non-circular inner perimeter of the valve unit. A valve stem is in sealing relationship with the packing assembly and selectively engages a valve seat. The stem threadably engages the bonnet. A bonnet nut is threadably received on the valve unit for securing the bonnet within the valve unit and allowing axial movement of the bonnet against the packing assembly, thereby effecting compression of the packing.

Abstract: There is provided herein a sensor for use in connection with an electronic patient monitor, wherein the sensor preferably uses a linearly configured resistive ladder with spaced-apart resistors as a means of determining at least approximately a location of the patient on the sensor as well as an approximate length of the sensor which is compressed by the patient. By continuously determining both of these quantities over time it is possible to track the patient's movement and determine to what extent the patient needs to be manually turned and/or the extent to which a next-scheduled turn can be skipped.

Abstract: A throwing wheel assembly including a rotatable wheel and one or more throwing blades each removably positionable on the face of the wheel in a throwing position, the throwing blades having holding structures projecting therefrom and the improvement comprising one or more retainers which are removably positionable in a recess provided in the wheel face and which and are adapted for removably receiving and retaining the blade holding structures.

Abstract: A burner and combustion method for a radiant wall heating system wherein each burner fuel ejector is positioned such that at least a substantial portion of the burner combustion air is discharged from an area beyond the ejector located the greatest distance from the radiant wall.

Abstract: There is provided herein a skimmer apparatus for use in ornamental ponds and the like. According to a preferred embodiment there is provided a skimmer that has a submersible pump directly connected thereto and which is designed to sit within the pond itself, e.g., it might rest on a pond's plant shelf, or might hang by straps or other mechanical means from the pond's edge. Preferably, a submersible pump external to the skimmer body is attached thereto to draw surface water into the skimmer where leaves and other debris will be removed from the water. The submersible pump might either be mounted to a sidewall of the skimmer or mounted to its bottom, the latter being especially appropriate for installation in ponds without plant shelves. The skimmer preferably contains at least a leaf strainer or basket for debris removal.

Abstract: Vaccines and methods for inducing an immune response in a ruminant. The vaccine composition including pathogen and tick-derived antigens and a carrier or diluent. The method for inducing an immune response in a ruminate to provide immune protection which reduces the infection of ticks by A. marginale and/or prevents the transmission of the pathogen includes the steps of administering to the ruminant an effective amount of the vaccine composition having at least one antigen member of the group comprising at least one antigen member of the group comprising (i) recombinant MSP1a surface protein antigen of A. marginale, (ii) a subunit of recombinant MSP1a surface protein antigen of A. marginale and (iii) recombinant MSP1a surface protein antigen or subunits thereof in combination with antigen preparation derived from A. marginale infected cultured tick IDE8 cells and/or other pathogen and tick-derived antigens, and a carrier or diluent.

Abstract: A plunger for well casings and tubulars comprising: an upper valve rod segment slideably positioned within the plunger body; a valve rod tube slideably positioned in the lower end of the plunger body; a lower valve rod segment slideably positioned in the valve rod tube; a spring positioned between the upper and lower valve rod segments; and a valve element on the upper valve rod segment for closing the plunger flow passage when the upper valve rod segment moves to a closing position. The plunger preferably also comprises an exterior flexible sealing member and a sealing member actuator operated by the valve rod tube. A shield is also preferably provided in the plunger body to prevent premature closure of the valve element.

Abstract: A spinning reel has a drag assembly in its spool on one end of the reel body, and an adjustment knob for the drag assembly on another end of the reel body, where it is conveniently accessed during use of the reel. The reel has a handle arm with two slidably disposed handle arm portions, which are releasably secured together at selected positions to provide a variable length handle arm.

Abstract: A method and system providing a single, symmetric path for forward and return traffic between two points on a network.

Abstract: A portable device, such as a pedometer or other device having a display portion that may be separated from an attachment portion for easier viewing. When separated, the display portion remains connected to the attachment portion to facilitate ease of re-attachment and for maintaining both parts of the device in an interconnected relationship. The attachment portion is removably connectable to a wearer. The display portion is extendably and retractably connected to the attachment module. A spring biased spool is provided in the attachment module to take up and release line connecting the display module to the attachment module. The display module has a receptacle formed on the back thereof. The attachment module has a protrusion extending from a back thereof for mating engagement with the receptacle when the display module and attachment module are in a retracted position.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a flow through pipet for sample measurement. The pipet of the invention has a body defining an interior space for receiving a fluid. The drain line is provided to drain fluid above a drain line inlet, thereby establishing a repeatable upper fluid level in the body. A dispense valve on the lower end of the body selectively permit dispensing of the fluid from the body. A restriction member may be located in the interior space of the body for defining a passageway. The drain line inlet may communicate with the passageway to establish a smaller surface area for an upper surface of the fluid, thereby minimizing a variance in the fluid level. A vent line vents gas from the measuring chamber during filling of a fluid. The pipet of the invention is particularly suitable for use in an automated system due to the top fill feature, which eliminates the need for cycling back and forth between a fill vessel and a dispense vessel.