Abstract: A fourth embodiment of the present invention is a method of generating a temperature compensated absorbance spectrum. The method includes the steps of: a. providing a sample spectrum and an estimated temperature of a backdrop object; b. from a set of known temperature spectra related to a known background temperature, selecting at least two known temperature spectra representing a background temperature above and below the estimated temperature; c. comparing the sample spectrum to the known temperature spectra in order to determine a sample background spectrum; and d. calculating an absorbance spectrum from the sample spectrum and the background spectrum.

Abstract: A method to determine the capacity of a plant over a time window of interest, the time window having a time length P, having the steps of: (a) gathering the plant's historical production data over a selected time period of length L and calculating the cycle entries of availability fractions for that data set; (b) calculating capacity C(i,1) for each contiguous portion p(i,1) of length p of the cycle entries from the previous step; (c) storing that calculated capacities C(i,1); (d) randomly shuffling the cycle entries; (e) calculating the capacity C(i,2) for each contiguous portion p(i,2) of the shuffled cycle entries; (f) storing the calculated capacities C(i,2); and (g) repeating steps (e)-(f) for a sufficient number of iterations, and then creating a histogram of the calculated capacities C(i,j).

Abstract: A method for in-situ burning of oil slicks on water, including the steps of: 1) providing a plurality of individual floating wicks; 2) positioning the wicks in the oil slick; and 3) igniting the wicks. Additionally, a method for manufacturing floating wicks for use in burning oil spills, including the steps of: 1) providing a wick material having a dry density less than water; 2) applying to the wick material an oleophilic, hydrophobic coating such that the coated wick material has an oil uptake capacity of at least 2 g/g and a water uptake capacity of no greater than 5 g/g; and 3) drying the wick material.

Abstract: A method and system for laying and burying pipe a seabed using a pipe trenching plow that is advanced along the seabed to form a continuous trench. The pipe trenching plow cuts a pilot hole in the seabed using a cutting apparatus and widens and forms a trench from the pilot hole using expandable spreading side sections. A pipe guiding sled also is used to support and guide the pipe into the trench and a trench box section retains the trench geometry as the pipe trenching plow is continuously advanced in a forward direction. The pipe trenching plow cutting the trench and burying the pipe with minimal turbidity and seabed disturbance.

Abstract: A scaffold pick-up device having a vertical joint clamp which bridges a vertical scaffold joint to stiffen the bridged vertical joint, and a scaffold lift assembly, which attaches onto the top section of a vertical scaffold member and has an attachment point for a shackle or other lifting gear.

Abstract: An equipment mounting assembly for mounting equipment in a pool cover box is provided, including at least one positioning feature configured to engage at least two walls of the pool cover box and at least one mounting plate, the at least one positioning feature adjustably connected to the mounting plate.

Abstract: A pavement material for the capture of waterborne constituents. The pavement material comprises a porous pavement substrate and an amphoteric compound bonded to the substrate. The porous pavement material may have a hydraulic conductivity ranging from about 0.001 to about 1.0 cm/sec and may act as a storm water storage basin.

Abstract: A fluid pressure driven generator which includes a generator housing and a rotor positioned within the generator housing. The rotor will have an internal offset gear which is engaged by a spur gear on a power shaft. A high fluid pressure inlet will be formed in the housing and connected to a source of high pressure fluid. The housing will also have low pressure outlet which will feed a source of low pressure fluid.

Abstract: An improved die insert for gripping oil field tubular members in tubular handling systems such as power tongs, slips, safety clamps and the like. The die insert has a gripping surface which comprises a backing surface adapted to contact the tubular member. The backing surface may be smooth or it may have a series of teeth formed thereon. The backing surface further has a granulated particle coating applied thereto which forms the gripping surface of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the gripping surface will include a refractory metal carbide selected from the group consisting of the carbides of silicon, tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, tantalum, niobium, vanadium, titanium, zirconium, and boron.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for cleaning auger flightings having a mounting attachable to an auger support frame, and an auger cleaning device having a single shaft positioned in the mount; a disk slidable on and rotatable about the shaft; the disk having a series of lobes extending radially from the disk and adapted to be interposed in the flightings of an auger; a stop fixable on the shaft; and a spring to bias the disk against the stop.

Abstract: A pilot control valve for controlling a reciprocating pump has a valve member shiftable within a valve body between a first or “downstroke” position and a second or “upstroke” position. In its first and second positions, the valve member positions slide valves to allow communication of control fluid to move the piston to a second and first position, respectively. When the piston reaches its second position a poppet disposed in a rod attached to the piston allows control fluid acting on the valve member to depressurize. Pressurized control fluid then acts on the valve member to move to its second position. When the piston returns to its first position, the poppet allows pressurized control fluid acting on the upper surface of the piston to act on the valve member to move the valve member back to its first position and repeat the process.

Abstract: A lithographic method for producing high aspect ratio silica micro-structures having the steps of: providing a carrier substrate with a confinement boundary placed on the carrier substrate; placing the SOG material within the confinement boundary and soft baking at a temperature above its glass transition temperature; forming a pattern of interest on the soft baked SOG material by x-ray lithography; and heating the SOG material until it is substantially converted to a silica-like oxide.

Abstract: A container for nursing infants, the container including an interior with a first end (or top end) opening into the interior. A flexible nipple attaches across the opening and is positioned such that at least a portion of the nipple extends into the interior of the container. A container lid is then positioned over the flexible nipple and encloses the interior of the container. Also, the present invention includes a second end (or bottom end) with internal walls extending upwards toward the top end and thereby forming an internal cavity in the container. A thermic module is then positioned in this internal cavity.

Abstract: A scaffold stringer which is a plate and a series of tread mounts attached at substantially uniform distances along the plate, the tread mounts forming an angle with the plate, each tread mount having an associated finger projection positioned above each tread mount and projecting outwardly from the stringer, the scaffold stringer additionally has least one attachment member for attaching the stringer to a scaffold structure.

Abstract: A dispenser system for scented material for use during hunting includes a container having a sealable opening and a wick stored in the container, the wick having a series of weights distributed thereon. The wick may have a tab positioned on one end to prevent complete removal of the wick from the bottle, and a grab hook at the other end. The dispenser system may include an auxiliary line attachable to the grab hook for connecting the wick to a tree limb of the like.

Abstract: A method of compressing image data from a set of individual images wherein the images have a correlation between images of approximately greater than 0.5. A wavelet transform is applied to a reference image of the set in order to determine a series of reference coefficients wi(1). The same wavelet transform is applied to an adjacent image of said set in order to determine another series of coefficients wi(2). The series of coefficients wi(k−1) and wi(k) (for all k≧2) are then compared in order to determine a coefficient b(k) and a series of coefficients ci(k), such that wi(k) may be determined from the relationship wi(k)=└b(k)wi(k−1)┘+ci(k). Alternatively, b(k) may be set equal to one rather than be determined. The coefficients for the reference image wi(1), b(k) (if b(k) is not equal to one), and ci(k) are then entropy encoded in order to form a compressed set of image data.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of semi-dwarf Azalea originated from a branch sport found on Azalea ‘Crimson Princess’. The new variety possesses a unique red foliage, (178-A grayed-purple group) and is a semi-dwarf, with height about 24-30 inches.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of dwarf Azalea originated as a whole plant sport of Azalea ‘Crimson Majesty.’ The new variety possesses unique red foliage, (grayed purple group 187-A) and is a dwarf, with height about 15-18 inches.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of Azalea which originated as a branch sport of Azalea ‘Red Formosa’. The new variety possesses a unique red foliage 187-A, 187-B grayed purple group, and is of full indica size.