Abstract: Structural system and method are disclosed for building a simpler and more efficient double layer reticulated frame structure. The double layer reticulated frame structure includes an internal network that has a lower strut frequency than the external network. The lower strut frequency helps reduce the overall weight, cost, and construction time of the structure. Diagonal struts space apart and connect the internal and external networks. The diagonal struts are connected in an alternating manner such that no more than two diagonal struts are connected together at any point.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for automated testing of a patient's hearing. The automated hearing test allows the patient to quickly and accurately test his own hearing with minimal or no assistance from an audiologist or other hearing health professionals. The test prompts and instructs the patient for inputs and responses as needed. The patient can select one or several tests to be performed, including air and bone conduction testing with masking, speech reception threshold, speech discrimination, tympanogram, acoustic reflex, and otoacoustic emissions testing. Multiple languages are supported. Data obtained from one test may be used for another test or another iteration of the same test to calculate masking levels. The automatic hearing test also detects ambient noise and can compensate for it in the test results. If a contingency occurs, the automated hearing test is configured to page the operator for assistance.

Abstract: A non-aqueous suspension including boron-containing particulates, a low molecular weight polyalkylene glycol and a suspension stabilizer is provided. Methods of crosslinking water soluble polymers and of fracturing a subterranean formation are also provided.

Abstract: An automated vehicle rental system with individual vehicle transmitting sensors for keeping track of vehicle mileage, fill state of vehicle fuel tank, and localized position status in a rental lot. Sensors are linked to the vehicle odometer reading and to the vehicle fuel tank float sensor with compensation for types of driving and fuel fill-ups which affect float level readings. The sensors are integrated with or are linked with communicating tags operable in a defined site for ultimate communication of stored vehicle related sensor data, vehicle location and type to a central data base for automatically completely effecting check out, charges and state of vehicle readiness for renewed rental. The transmitting sensors are adapted to avoid interference between sensors of other vehicles during multiple transmissions. Also included is an in-vehicle check out and payment device operatively linkable to the transmitting sensor of the vehicle.

Abstract: Two-phase gel compositions are provided. The two-phase gel compositions are obtained by mixing a gelled ester composition comprising a mixture of an ester compound and a polymer compound selected from the group consisting of triblock copolymers, star polymers, radial polymers, multi-block copolymers, and a combination thereof and a hydrophobic, non polar solvent. The gelled ester composition has a viscosity ?1 and the solvent has a viscosity ?2. The two-phase gel composition is substantially free of phosphate compounds and has a viscosity ? which is greater than or equal to ?1 and which is greater than or equal to ?2. The two-phase gel compositions are also obtained by mixing a gelled ether composition, a gelled alcohol composition, a gelled naturally-occurring fat and oil composition or a combination thereof with a hydrophobic, non polar solvent. The two-phase gel compositions may be used to suspend various solids, liquids and/or gases.

Abstract: A catalyst composition is provided which can be used for hydrogenating a highly unsaturated hydrocarbon such as an alkyne or a diolefin. The catalyst composition contains palladium, a catalyst component of either silver or an alkali metal compound, or both silver and an alkali metal compound, and a metal aluminate catalyst support. Such metal aluminate catalyst support is prepared by a process of incorporating alumina with a metal component, preferably impregnating alumina with a melted metal component, to thereby provide a metal-incorporated alumina followed by drying and high temperature calcining to thereby provide a metal aluminate catalyst support. The catalyst composition disclosed can be used for hydrogenating a highly unsaturated hydrocarbon to a less unsaturated hydrocarbon. The process involves contacting a highly unsaturated hydrocarbon with a catalyst composition in the presence of hydrogen under a hydrogenation condition sufficient to effect a hydrogenation of the highly unsaturated hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A process for separating a feed mixture comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon and at least one non-aromatic hydrocarbon by extractive distillation (ED) utilizing a solvent mixture comprising sulfolane and at least one co-solvent. The co-solvent is an alkyl sulfolane having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms per molecule. The solvent mixture is added to the top of the ED column, and the feed mixture is added at a point on the ED column that is lower than the point where the solvent mixture is added. Extractive distillation is performed, and the aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons are separated.

Abstract: Modeling three-dimensional objects on a computer system via a high bandwidth distributed network, facilitating the computing of intensive computer-aided design (CAD) tasks to take place on a series of servers. A multi-tiered distributed processing architecture, which separates client user interface, multiple application servers and database servers is employed, resulting in the separation of server computing and data storage from the client control device. Computing for CAD tasks is directed to the client device or to an application server, as is appropriate for the complexity of tasks being performed.

Abstract: A computer based television signal recording device is provided. This recording device allows for the recording of input streams onto a mass storage device such as a computer hard drive. The playback of individual programs can be done independently of the recording. A user interface is provided which has a list of the recorded television signals and the user can select for playback any of the listed recorded television signals.

Abstract: A peelable seal comprises a mixture of at least two immiscible polymers. The first polymer forms a continuous phase in the peelable seal, whereas the second polymer is dispersed in the continuous phase. For example, a peelable seal can also be made from a mixture of an ethylene polymer with a melt index in the range from about 0.1 to about 20 g/10 minutes and a propylene polymer with a melt flow rate in the range from about 0.01 to about 2 g/10 minutes. The two polymers define a shear viscosity differential: &Dgr;=|(&eegr;1−&eegr;2)/&eegr;1|, wherein &eegr;1 and &eegr;2 are the respective shear viscosity for the first and second polymers at a temperature of 230° C. and a shear rate of about 100 radian/second. Preferably, the shear viscosity differential is less than about 100%.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring temperature is disclosed. The device, for example, can include a thermocouple configured to generate a voltage indicative of a junction temperature; a memory device configured to store a unique device ID and to store data; a logic unit connected to the thermocouple and the memory device; an I/O interface connected to the logic unit, the I/O interface configured to communicate with a computer system; and an internal temperature sensor connected to the logic unit, the internal temperature sensor configured to determine a cold junction temperature.

Abstract: Various vinylidene-containing polymers are obtained in the presence of a single-site catalyst. For example, the polymers include ethylene/isobutene copolymer, ethylene/propylene/isobutene terpolymer, ethylene/styrene/isobutene terpolymer, ethylene/&agr;-methyl-styrene/isobutene terpolymer, propylene/isobutene copolymer, styrene/isobutene copolymer, and &agr;-methyl-styrene/isobutene copolymer. These polymers may be used to formulate lubricant oils.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetoresistive device comprising: a bottom shield; a top shield; an AMR/GMR device; a first insulating gap layer between said bottom shield and said AMR/GMR; a second insulating gap layer between said AMR/GMR and said top shield; and conductive layer contacting electrically both said AMR.GMR device to siaid bottom shield. Furthermore, similar active devices free of electric-pop noise also be disclosed.