Abstract: Contemplated planar magnetic microphones have a magnet and diaphragm arrangement such that substantially homogenous vertical and high horizontal magnetic flux density is realized in the inter-magnet space. Most preferably, the diaphragm is disposed in the inter-magnet space and includes a voice coil covering a significant fraction of the active portion of the membrane. In further especially preferred aspects, the membrane is sufficiently strong and tensioned to allow a large elastic excursion in the inter-magnet space. Consequently, contemplated planar magnetic microphones provide exceptionally large dynamic range without compression and/or distortion and can be easily configured to operate in an environment that is subject to moisture, rain, or to even operate in a submerged environment. Moreover, contemplated microphones can be used as speakers at even high SPL without reconfiguration.

Abstract: An aircraft is equipped with a spinnion coupling an inboard wing to a tilting nacelle. The spinnion is advantageously configured to extend across the nacelle from an inboard junction to an outboard junction, and terminates inside the inboard wing. This provides an efficient lightweight structure to support a nacelle and facilitate tilting of the nacelle. The spinnion, which can be configured to be at least partially disposed within the inboard wing, is advantageously concentric with the tilting axis in order to facilitate tilting of a nacelle. A cross-wing driveshaft can be included, disposed at least partly within the inboard wing, and can advantageously be configured to terminate inside the spinnion at a junction with a miter gearbox. The miter gearbox can be disposed at least partly within the spinnion but more preferably lies entirely within the spinnion, and functions to transfer power from an input shaft to the cross-wing driveshaft.

Abstract: A wire mesh is formed by a plurality of identical wires. The wires interlock with each other by mutually receiving loops formed in the wires. Reinforcing wires welded to the loops reinforce the points of contact, and prevent the wires from rotating when locked together.

Abstract: A catheter apparatus includes a hollow needle having an open, sharpened tip at its distal end. A cannula is telescopically disposed within the needle. The cannula has a closed, blunt tip at its distal end, a hollow lumen, and an open proximal end. The cannula is made of a flexible metal material and has an insulating material covering except at its distal portion defining the distal end. A metallic wire capable of transmitting radio frequency (RF) energy is telescopically disposed within the cannula. The cannula lumen has a seating surface for accommodating the distal end of the wire. The cannula distal end is capable of extending beyond the needle so that the blunt tip may be seated in a critical treatment region in a patient's spinal canal without damaging any nerves. A method of treating a patient's pain includes a step of inserting the catheter apparatus into a critical treatment region in the spinal canal of the patient.

Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic simulator that includes a plasma container. The magnetohydrodynamic simulator also includes an first ionizable gas substantially contained within the plasma container. In addition, the magnetohydrodynamic simulator also includes a first loop positioned adjacent to the plasma container, wherein the first loop includes a gap, a first electrical connection on a first side of the gap, a second electrical connection of a second side of the gap, and a first material having at least one of low magnetic susceptibility and high conductivity. The first loop can be made up from an assembly of one or a plethora or wire loop coils. In such cases, electrical connection is made through the ends of the coil wires. The magnetohydrodynamic simulator further includes an electrically conductive first coil wound about the plasma container and through the first loop.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided that enhance cognition in a human to which the composition is orally administered. Remarkably, clinical studies have proven that contemplated compositions achieve the desired effects using a minimal number of active ingredients at or near threshold active dosages, wherein such compositions almost exclusively comprise huperzine A, vinpocetine, and acetyl-L-carnitine at typically less than 1600 mg per daily dosage.

Abstract: A bird deterrent device is presented having a base that is at least partially composed of a metal or metal composite. The base can be configured such that the base has sufficient resiliency to revert to an original form after being bent at least 15°. A plurality of spikes can be coupled to the base so that the device is stackable with other such devices while the spikes are oriented at least 5° out of parallel with respect to a plane of the base. It is contemplated that the devices can be stacked such that the base of one device is less than 3 cm from the base of an adjacent device in the stack.

Abstract: A multiple-tethered kite extracts power from wind. Systems having three or more tethers coupled to a single kite are contemplated, as are systems having multiple kites coupled to a given pair of tethers. Commercially useful tethers would most likely have a length of at least 1000 meters, and would be fixed at least 100 meters apart. During a given cycle the distance between each of the bases and the kite would likely vary by at least 50 meters. Motion of the tethers can be converted to useful energy in any commercially viable manner, for example by driving an electric generator or a water pump.

Abstract: A tiltrotor aircraft having a fixed wing and tilting rotors has a rotor blade with a shaped tip portion that provides improved hover performance. The shaped tip portion preferably has a terminal anhedral of at least 20° with respect to its stacking line, and the blade has an overall twist from root to tip of at least 20°, and a thickness ratio between 19% and 30% at a radial station of 10%. These features advantageously conspire to provide a hover figure of merit of at least 0.84 and a cruise propulsive efficiency of at least 0.85. A controller preferably limits the rotor speed in sustained airplane-mode forward flight cruise of at most 40% of a hover maximum rotor speed, and alternatively or additionally limits a rotor edgewise advance ratio to at most 0.20.

Abstract: An LNG plant is configured to receive rich LNG and to produce LPG, lean LNG, and power using at least one fractionation column, wherein the fractionation portion of the plant can be optionally thermally coupled to a power cycle utilizing residual refrigeration from the processed lean LNG. Most preferably, a liquid portion of the rich LNG is pumped to pressure and heated, and the pressurized and superheated portion is expanded to produce electric energy before being fed into the column. The column overhead vapor is partially condensed, providing column reflux for high NGL recoveries, and the residual vapor is further condensed using refrigeration content of the rich LNG forming the lean LNG product, that is further pumped to pipeline pressure and subsequently vaporized using heated working fluid of the power cycle.

Abstract: An installation mount for an in-wall component has a sloped spackle rim around a recessed opening. The recessed opening is shaped to accept either a sanding shield or a component cover. While the sanding shield is in the recessed opening, an installer could spackle the front surface of the installation mount and can then sand the spackle away until the sanding shield is exposed, creating a surface that is flush with the rest of the wall. The sanding shield could then be so that the sanding shield could be used to protect the interior of the installation mount during sanding, while the component cover could be used while the component cover is in use to protect the component and provide a flush-mount look and feel.

Abstract: A glove-doll entertainment system is presented. The glove-doll system allows for playing with the doll separate from the glove, playing with the doll attached to the glove, or using the glove as a hand covering without the doll. The appendages of the doll directly and removeably attach to exterior surfaces of the glove's finger receiving cavities. Each of the attached appendages can be separately articulated by finger movement. The doll is three dimensional and is physically distinct from the glove. Contemplated dolls can include an electronic circuit that generates a sound when an appendage is moved. A sequence of sounds can be generated by movement of a plurality of appendages to generate a song or a story. Contemplated gloves are sufficiently thick and waterproof to replace a regular pair of winter gloves.

Abstract: A method for pain treatment and measurement according to various aspects of the present invention generally includes providing an external field to a portion of a living being, wherein the external field comprises a frequency of about 3040 Hz. This frequency of about 3040 Hz can also be intermixed with two or more other frequencies for the treatment and measurement of pain, and can be utilized alone or together with other intermixed frequencies to treat inflammation and osteoporosis.

Abstract: A kit for guiding a user is drawing a trace includes a sketching device coupled to a paper tablet. The sketching device comprises a first pattern of raised bumps sized and positioned to form a plurality of intersecting grooves along the surface of the sketching device.

Abstract: Features of electronically embodied games are logically categorized, analyzed, and compared. Features are preferably organized according to a hierarchical classification scheme, according to a classification scheme that is not strictly tautological. All suitable feature sets are contemplated, including sets corresponding to characteristics of personifications of players and non-players, types and/or uses of game space, methods of rewarding a player, etc. In other aspects comparisons are made between an evaluation game and one or more sets of historically available games. Such sets can be grouped by genre and the number of games in such sets can range anywhere from a single game to hundreds of games, or more. Reporting and guidance can include providing a risk assessment score or other risk analysis, feature assessment (prevalence), market placement, business model analysis, dynamic trend analysis, clustered pattern recognition, and image analysis.

Abstract: A canopy system for increasing the coverage of multiple umbrellas has been disclosed. The canopy system includes a canopy portion and at least one fastener for removeably attaching the canopy portion to a first and second umbrella. The fastener can attach to unmodified portions of an umbrella so that the canopy system may be used with existing umbrellas and umbrellas not especially manufactured to couple with a canopy. The canopy system may advantageously include a support structure for supporting the canopy portion in a desired shape. The length of the canopy system can be adjustable and the system can be easily collapsed for storage and portability.

Abstract: The formulation and modality of use of a pharmaceutical preparation having the properties described below is described. This preparation is a product comprising a mixture of catechins or polyphenols extracted from chinese green tea or other vegetables that has proven to be efficacious in the chemical prevention of prostate cancer in a clinical pilot study when administered in adequate systemic dosage without the aid of other conventional drugs or remedies and without adverse effects in a group of subjects at risk of development of the illness. The same reduction of the preparation proved efficacious in symptomatology of benign prostate hypertrophy and especially as concerns the difficulty of urination when administered in adequate dosage systemically without the aid of other drugs or conventional remedies and without adverse effects in the patients subject of the study.

Abstract: The wave-generating apparatus in accordance with the invention has a pool (11) having a deeper area (12) surrounding a substantially central area (13); a pool edge (15) bounding the pool; a body (16) having a wave-generating shaped surface (22) located within the pool adjacent the pool edge and moveable along the pool edge relative thereto to generate a wave (17) in the water in the pool, and impeller means (18) generating a current in the water in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for searching for objects located in a virtual world include having a virtual construct such as a bot crawl the virtual world by moving from place to place. Object information is collected about the objects associated with the place and the object information is stored in a searchable database. Users can search the database for objects in the virtual world. The information can be further filtered or classified to aid in searching.

Abstract: A number of sets of methods and apparatuses applicable to online shopping are disclosed. One set, “Bin Packing Methods with Approximate Membership”, includes methods in pricing and auctioning a bundle of items, some of which could belong to another bundle. Significantly, the membership of a bundle, during pricing and auction, could change. Another set, the “Shopping Console”, puts a structure into the online shopping experience, so that through one interface various shopping activities can be facilitated, including but not limited to researching, pricing, negotiation, group buying, and tracking of purchases. Still another set, “Flash Mob Shopping”, allows sellers and a (spontaneous) group of shoppers to connect on prices without requiring shoppers' hard commitments, and with sellers revealing only necessary price information.