Abstract: A ribbon cassette containing a supply core, a web located on the supply core, a storage core, a device for increasing the tension on the web as it passes from said supply core to said storage core to produce a tensioned web, a drive roller contiguous with the web, and a nip roller contiguous with the web. The said tensioned web is passed in a first rotary direction around a portion of the drive roller, and then it is passed in a second rotary direction around a portion of the nip roller, and then it is passed in a in rotary direction identical to the first rotary direction around a portion of the storage core. A nip is formed between the nip roller, the web, and the drive roller such that either the nip roller or the drive roller is compressed by at least about 0.001 percent.

Abstract: A process for treating a body of water in which a bioreactor and a water eductor are located in a body of water such that the eductor is submerged beneath the body of water to a depth of at least about 3 feet. The water eductor produces a water flow at a rate of at least about 60 feet per minute; the water flow is substantially parallel to the surface of the body of water. Water is also passed through a bioreactor that contains a plurality of bio-suspension elements within an enclosure located above a screen in the enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a horse with an ultimate strength of at least about 480 pounds; the apparatus contains a line with a proximal end, a distal end, and fastening device. The line contains a portion made of three layers of nylon webbing connected to each other; this portion of the line has a length of at least about 6 inches.

Abstract: A magnetically shielded substrate assembly includes a substrate and, disposed over the substrate, a magnetic shield with a magnetic shielding factor of at least about 0.5. The magnetic shield has a film of nanomagnetic material containing at least about 40 weight percent of nomagnetic material with a mass density of at least about 0.01 grams per cubic centimeter, a saturization magnetization of from about 1 to about 36,000 Gauss, a coercive force of from about 0.01 to about 5,000 Oersteds, a relative magnetic permeability of from about 1 to about 500,000, and an average particle size of less than about 100 nanometers. This film of nanomagnetic material has a squareness of from about 0.5 to about 1.0.

Abstract: A device for guiding a charged particle beam comprising a first superconducting nano-channel. In one embodiment, the device comprises a superconducting nano-channel consisting essentially of a superconducting material in the form of a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a bend disposed between said proximal end and said distal end. In another embodiment, the device is formed by a substrate, a first area of superconducting material coated on the substrate and having a first edge, a second area of superconducting material coated on the substrate and having a second edge, the first edge of the first area of superconducting material and the second edge of the second area of superconducting material are substantially parallel. In another embodiment, the device comprises a superconducting nano-channel formed by a plurality of nano-scale superconducting rods disposed around a central region.

Abstract: A fuel processor assembly that contains a device for supplying a high voltage electric discharge, a first catalytic body, and a second catalytic body. The two catalytic bodies have different shapes and properties.

Abstract: A process for preparing hydrogen in a fuel processor assembly containing a device for supplying a high voltage electrical discharge within the fuel processor, a first catalytic body disposed within the fuel processor, and a second catalytic body disposed within the fuel processor. Each of the catalytic bodies have different shapes.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for the synthesis of multi-component substances, comprising entities of at least two elements, molecules, grains, crystals, structural units, or phases of matter, in which the scale of the distribution of the elements, molecules, or phases of matter may range from on the order of nanometers or less, to about one millimeter, depending upon the specific materials and process conditions that are chosen. The method and apparatus of the present invention further provides processes for preparing these compositions of matter as thin films or particles.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ribbon with a flexible substrate and, disposed above the substrate, a frosting ink layer. The frosting ink layer is present at a coating weight of from about 0.25 to about 15 grams per square meter and it contains from about 15 to about 94.5 weight percent of a solid, volatilizable carbonaceous binder, from about 5 to about 75 weight percent of a film-forming glass flux, and at least about 0.1 weight percent of opacifying agent.

Abstract: A slag composition containing from about 85 to about 99 weight percent of steelmaking slag and from about 1 to about 15 weight percent of a foaming additive. The steelmaking slag is at a temperature of from about 2500 to about 3100 degrees Fahrenheit. The foaming additive contains from about 20 to about 80 weight percent of a source of elemental carbon, from about 5 to about 80 weight percent of calcium carbide, and from about 25 to about 75 weight percent of anoxide compound. The weight ratio of the source of elemental carbon to the calcium carbide is at least 2.

Abstract: A flow cytometer containg a device for sampling cellular material within a body, comprising. The flow cytometer is adapted to mark cells within bodily fluid with a marker to produce marked cells, to analyze the marked cells, to sort the cells within the bodily fluid to produce sorted cells, and to maintain the sorted cells cells in a viable state.

Abstract: A shielded assembly that includes a power source for generating electricity, a device for converting the electricity into optical energy, a device for converting the optical energy into electrical energy, and a load connected to the electrical energy. At least one lead connected to the load is shielded with nanomagnetic material.

Abstract: A covercoated transfer sheet for transferring images to a ceramic substrate. The covercoated transfer sheet contains a flat, flexible substrate and a transferable covercoat releaseably bound to the flat, flexible substrate. When the transferable covercoat is printed with an image to form an imaged covercoat, the image has a higher adhesion to the covercoat than the covercoat has to the flexible substrate. The imaged covercoat has an elongation to break of at least about 1 percent, and it can be separated from the flexible substrate with a peel force of less than about 30 grams per centimeter.

Abstract: An optical wavelength selection device containing an optical beam source, a device for collimating the optical beam to produce a collimated optical beam, a diffraction grating assembly for diffracting the collimated optical beam to produce a collimated optical diffracted beam, a device for modifying the polarization state of the collimated optical beam, and a lens assembly for focusing the collimated optical diffracted beam. The device for modifying the polarization state of the collimated optical beam is located within the diffraction grating assembly in one embodiment and before the diffraction grating assembly in another embodiment.

Abstract: An assembly for shielding an implanted medical device from the effects of high-frequency radiation and for emitting magnetic resonance signals during magnetic resonance imaging. The assembly includes an implanted medical device and a magnetic shield comprised of nanomagnetic material disposed between the medical device and the high-frequency radiation. In one embodiment, the magnetic resonance signals are detected by a receiver, which is thus able to locate the implanted medical device within a biological organism.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating the concentration of insulin within the blood of a living organism, wherein said apparatus is comprised of an in vitro cell culture for producing insulin, an in vitro cell culture for producing glucagon, an in vitro cell culture for producing somatostatin, means for measuring the concentration of glucose within the blood of such living organism, means for measuring the concentration of insulin within the blood of such living organism, means for delivering a specified amount of insulin to the blood of such living organism, means for delivering a specified amount of glucagon to the blood of such living organism, means for delivering a specified amount of somatostain to the blood of such living organism, and means for reducing the amount of insulin within such blood of such living organism.

Abstract: A flow cytometer containg a device for sampling cellular material within a body. The flow cytometer is adapted to mark cells within bodily fluid with a marker to produce marked cells, to analyze the marked cells, to sort the cells within the bodily fluid to produce sorted cells, to maintain the sorted cells cells in a viable state, and to remove the marker from the marked cells. Two marker removal devices are used in the flow cytomter.

Abstract: A method of determining disturbances when discharging molten metal from a metallurgical container having an outlet into a receiving container. In the first step of this process, one directly or indirectly detects mechanical vibrations caused by the discharge of molten metal through the outlet. Thereafter, a second property is measured; the second property so measured varies during the discharge of molten metal from the first metallurgical container to the receiving container. Then, one calculates a sensitivity constant based upon the measuring of the second property. Thereafter, a comparison is made between the vibrations detected by the measuring device with a desired vibrational characteristic, wherein the desired vibrational characteristic is defined in part by the sensitivity constant; the comparison is analyzed to determine the existence of the disturbances within the outlet, and actions are then taken to cause the disturbance(s) to cease.

Abstract: A cardiac assist system containing a device for delivering a first pacing pulse from said system to a heart, for ceasing the delivery of said first pacing pulse to said heart, for sensing whether the heart is beating, and for delivering a second pacing pulse from said system to the heart. Each of the first pacing pulse and the second pacing pulse are delivered to the heart within a period of less than about 100 milliseconds, and has a voltage of from about 2 to about 5 volts direct current. The time between the delivery of the first pacing pulse and the second pacing pulse is at least about 1 microsecond. The first pacing pulse and the second pacing pulse are delivered to the heart at a frequency of from about 2 kiloherz to about 5 megahertz; and they each have a duration of from about 0.1 microseconds to about 500 milliseconds. The cardiac assist system also contains a device for varying the voltage and/or the frequency of each of the pacing pulses.