Abstract: A low-profile surgical rod implant device is provided that allows the length of a rod spanning two bone screws to be adjusted at the time of implantation. In a separate aspect of the invention, the rod implant device can be secured by tightening and securing an end of the rod implant device at one of the bone screws. Embodiments are provided for use with polyaxial pedicle screws and substantially straight shank pedicle screws in spinal applications. In a separate aspect of the invention, a bone screw connector having an interference type fit is also provided. A method for implanting the device is also provided.

Abstract: A three-dimensional removable wall adornment system is provided that comprises an inflexible three-dimensional wall adornment and a unitary block of adhesive paste. The adornment has one or more mounting surfaces for mounting on a wall and a raised three-dimensional molded surface for viewing. The adhesive paste has an adhesive strength such that, when divided into smaller portions, the adhesive paste is suitable for securely affixing the mounting surface of the wall adornment to a vertical surface on a structure. The adhesive paste can be repeatedly attached and removed from both the vertical surface of the structure and the wall adornment without damaging the vertical surface or the wall adornment while maintaining sufficient adhesive strength to securely affix the wall adornment to the vertical surface.

Abstract: An automatic draining apparatus of condensation comprises a condensation tank; a float moving up/down along the level of the condensation; a hydraulic pressure chamber consisting of a volume changeable container for containing the condensation, and a check valve provided at an inlet of the hydraulic pressure chamber, the check valve allowing the condensation to flow only into the container, the rising float pulling up the hydraulic pressure chamber so that the volume of the container is reduced and the condensation of the container is pressurized; and a siphon having an inlet connected to the hydraulic pressure, and an outlet being provided at outside and a level of the outlet placing at a lower level of the inlet, the siphon draining the condensation into the outside when the siphon is filled with the condensation discharged from the compressed hydraulic pressure chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vibration touch button-type animal training device including a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes a constant button switch, an intermittent button switch, a pager button switch, a beep tone button switch, a transmission control unit, a wireless transmission unit, a vibration generation unit, and a shock level switch. The transmission control unit receives signals from the respective button switches, and performs control such that corresponding signals are transmitted and vibrations are generated. The vibration generation unit generates vibration in response to a control signal from the transmission control unit. The receiver includes a wireless reception unit, a GPS reception unit, an input port unit, a reception control unit, a display unit, and a shock generation unit. The display unit displays data under the control of the reception control unit and the shock generation unit generates a shock under the control of the reception control unit.

Abstract: A system and method of computer data analysis using neural networks. In one embodiment of the invention, the system and method includes generating a data representation using a data set, the data set including a plurality of attributes, wherein generating the data representation includes: modifying the data set using a training algorithm, wherein the training algorithm includes growing the data set; and performing convergence testing, wherein convergence testing checks for convergence of the training algorithm, and wherein the modifying of the data set is repeated until convergence of the training algorithm occurs; and displaying one or more subsets of the data set using the data representation. In one embodiment, the data representation is a knowledge filter that includes a representation of an input data set. The representation may be constructed during a training process. In one exemplary embodiment, the training process uses unsupervised neural networks to create the data representation.

Abstract: A fault current limiter comprises a pancake type current limiting module, comprising at least two pancake type bifilar winding modules stacked and connected to each other in series, each of the bifilar winding modules having a bobbin, a first superconducting wire wound around the bobbin in a bifilar manner, and at least one pair of first metal blocks installed and fixed to the bobbin and attached to the first superconducting wire; and a superconducting bypass reactor that has the current limiting module disposed therein, and is connected in parallel with the current limiting module.

Abstract: A movable filter system is provided for moving one or more filters of a filter assembly between an operative position and a maintenance position. In one embodiment, a filter assembly is secured to a telescoping rod assembly so that it may be moved between operative and maintenance positions. Positioning the rod assembly vertically allows gravity to move the rod assembly to an extended position, and a winch and cable may be used to move the rod assembly to a retracted position. Keyways and channels may be used within the rods of the telescoping rod assembly so as to maintain rotational positioning of the filter assembly.

Abstract: A system for cleaning and inspecting stud bolt holes, and managing damage histories of the stud bolt holes is disclosed. The system allows an operator to clean stud bolt holes to inspect the stud bolt holes with the naked eye, and manage damage histories of the stud bolt holes. The stud bolt holes fix a nuclear reactor, a nuclear reactor coolant pump head and a pressure vessel main body thereto.

Abstract: A mattress component includes first and second layers to be assembled in a mattress over which a user will lie. The first layer of a first material has different properties than the second layer of a second material. The second layer has a surface underlying the surface of the first layer. Mating patterns are formed in the surfaces of the first and second layers. The mating patterns in the first and second layers are designed to substantially match the surfaces of the first and second layers with each other. The mating patterns in the first and second layers result in a greater effective thickness in one of the layers in areas corresponding to a position where hips and shoulders of the user will rest on the mattress, and a lesser effective thickness in other areas.

Abstract: A method for converting arbitrary strings consisting of any combination of numbers, digits, or punctuation into numerical representations for comparisons at run time or any other time using a data store such as a relational database or full text search engine. The method is designed to build a numeric representation having small, fixed length values that are stored in numeric data types supported by the data store. All arbitrary string data is converted to a numeric representation using the method and placed in the data store. Queries of the data can be converted to a similar numeric representation.

Abstract: A drying apparatus includes a housing, a tubular arm, a telescoping arm and a fan. The tubular arm is attached to the housing at a portion between proximal and distal ends. Also, the tubular arm is able to rotate tangential to the housing. The tubular arm includes a proximal end and a distal end and is attached to the housing at a portion between the proximal and distal ends. The telescoping arm is attached to the tubular arm and able to slide between an open and closed position. The telescoping arm includes an aperture that is open in the open position and covered in the closed position. The fan encased within the housing and arranged to direct airflow through the tubular arm and out the aperture when the telescoping arm is in the open position. The air flow is restricted when the telescoping arm is in the closed position.

Abstract: An electronic fence system comprises a fence wire which radiates a radio signal for defining a boundary; a transmitter electrically connected to the fence wire and transmitting a boundary radio signal including a mode selection signal; and a receiver attached to the pet, which receives the boundary defining signal with respect to a pet's approach to the fence wire, and which, depending on receiving the shock mode, applies an electrical shock only to the pet depending on receiving the shock mode, or depending on the shock after vibration mode which indicates a mode giving a shock after vibration, after vibration or vibration with a sound, applies an electrical shock to the pet if the boundary defining signal is continuously received or does not apply an electrical shock to the pet if the boundary defining signal is not received. If the pet has a hearing loss, or the circumference is noisy, a warning signal can be given through a touch to the skin of the pet.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for amplification of DNA are provided that use sonic energy in place of conventional thermocyclers. In one embodiment, sonic energy is applied to a PCR cocktail to effect dissociation of double stranded DNA into single strands of DNA. A quiescence stage, where no sonic energy is applied, results in amplification of DNA. Repetition of the cycles of application of sonic energy and cessation of application of sonic energy results in DNA amplification.

Abstract: A detachable rotational filter supporter is disclosed. The supporter can: release a filter when the housing is rotated; block the flow channel immediately when the filter is separated from the filter supporter; automatically open the closed flow channel when the filter is installed to the filter supporter; and simultaneously hold the filter when the housing is located at the original position. Therefore, the detachable rotational filter supporter allows the filter to be easily separated from and installed to the water purifier and allows general users to simply replace the filters.

Abstract: A reel locking system includes a reel arranged to collect a cord from an enclosure system. A ratchet drum has teeth and is positioned proximate to the reel. A pawl assembly is pivotally attached to the reel. The pawl assembly has a pawl arranged to move between an engaged position in which the pawl drivingly engages a tooth of the ratchet drum and a ratchet position in which the pawl ratchets over the teeth. A lever is attached to the reel and is operable to lock the pawl in the engaged position and inhibit movement of the pawl to the ratchet position.

Abstract: A system and method for removal of uranium and other contaminants from aqueous solution, utilizing live algae, are described. The system includes a bioreactor, in which a reaction mixture of live algae, preferably photosynthetic algae, and contaminated solution are introduced; a means for introducing carbon dioxide gas in the reaction mixture; a means for exposing the reaction mixture to light; means for mixing and impelling the reaction mixture; and means for separating out algae from remediated solution.

Abstract: A method for utilizing heterogeneous interconnects comprising wires of varying latency, bandwidth and energy characteristics to improve performance and reduce energy consumption by dynamically routing traffic in a processor environment.

Abstract: A retractor is provided for maintaining substantially parallel blade alignment with the longitudinal axis of the retractor during opening and closing the retractor blades. The retractor includes rotatable blade receptacles and hinged blade arms interconnected to rotatable arms for maintaining the alignment of the blades during opening and closing. In addition, the retractor may include interchangeable blades, means for locking the blade position, and means for securing the retractor to a mechanical arm.

Abstract: A glove having a heat insulating barrier is disclosed. The heat insulating barrier is removably inserted into a zippered pocket or a weblike pouch, the pocket or pouch being positioned proximate the back of a user's hand. the heat insulating barrier acts to selectively reduce heat conduction from the back side of the hand, thereby allowing the user's hand or hands to remain warm in cold environments. The ability to stack a varying number of heat insulating layers in the pouch or pocket further allows the user to selectively control the warmth of the hand as the ambient temperature fluctuates during use. The zippered pocket or weblike pouch can have first and second opening to permit increased cooling through the back portion of the glove.