Abstract: A pet-play apparatus (20) for interactive use with a pet (24) and solo use by the pet (24) incorporates a crop (22) formed as a wand (30) or a loop (38), a lash (26) formed of a fabric tube (42), one end (32) of the lash (32) being affixed to the crop (22), and a toy (28) detachably coupled to another end (36) of the lash (26). A hook-and-loop attachment device (62), having a hook part (70) and a loop part (72), is affixed to the lash (26). A similar hook-and-loop attachment device (64), also having a hook part (78) and a loop part (80), is affixed to the toy (28). When the pet-play apparatus (20) is configured for interactive use, the lash hook part (70) is engaged with the toy loop part (80) and the lash loop part (72) is engaged with the toy hook part (78), both attachment devices (62, 69) being located within the toy (28). When the pet-play apparatus (20) is configured for solo use, the toy hook part (78) is engaged with the toy loop part (80).

Abstract: A method of screening pharmaceutical drugs, gene therapies, vaccines, dietary supplements, behavioral and environmental therapies and other clinical treatments for potential efficacy in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in humans. The method includes selecting transgenic mice that are genetically altered for Alzheimer's disease and using measurement and/or imaging techniques to determine the activity level of the posterior cingulate region of the brains of the mice after treatment. Based on these measurements and comparisons to a control group, the effectiveness of the treatment in arresting or reversing Alzheimer's disease in mice can be determined, and the treatment can be identified as a promising candidate for human trials.

Abstract: An evaporative cooling apparatus (20) includes a housing (22) and cooling media (48) contained in the housing (22). The cooling media (48) has an air inlet portion (46) and an air outlet portion (60). The air inlet portion (46) is positioned adjacent an air entry side (42) of the housing (22). A fresh water delivery system (54, 136) delivers fresh water (34) to a face (126) of the air inlet portion (46) of the cooling media (48). A recirculated water delivery system (56) delivers sump water (38) from a sump (40) to the air outlet portion (60). A fan section (26) is proximate an air exit side (44) of the housing (22). The fan section draws outside air (50) through the air entry side (42) of the housing (22) and into the cooling media (48) from the air inlet portion (46) through the air outlet portion (60) to produce cooled air (52).

Abstract: A constrained-envelope digital-communications transmitter circuit (22) includes a binary data source (32) that provides an input signal stream (34) to a modulator (77,77′). The modulator (77,77′) includes a pulse-spreading filter (76) that filters a phase-point signal stream (50) or a composite signal stream (168) into a modulated signal (74). A constrained-envelope generator (106) generates a constrained-bandwidth error signal stream (108) from the modulated signal (74), and a delay element (138) delays the modulated signal (74) into a delayed modulated signal (140) synchronized with the constrained-bandwidth error signal stream (108). A complex summing circuit (110) sums the delayed modulated signal (140) and the constrained-bandwidth error signal stream (108) into an altered modulated signal (112), and a substantially linear amplifier (146) amplifies the altered modulated signal (112) and transmits it as a radio-frequency broadcast signal (26).

Abstract: An IC modulation processor (28) may be configured to operate in a single chip mode to accommodate baud rates up to a maximum clock rate for the processor (28) and in a dual chip mode to accommodate baud rates in excess of the maximum clock rate. The IC modulation processor (28) performs digital processing on a communication signal which conveys an input data stream (22). A pulse shaping filter (54-57) is provided following a phase mapper (50). The pulse shaping filter (54-57) is implemented as a pair of half-filters. Pulse shaping is distributed between two IC modulation processors (28) in the dual chip mode. An interpolator (86) and linearizer (106) follow the pulse shaping filters (54-57).

Abstract: An expandable hybrid electric generator (20) includes a number of power blocks (22) that may be nearly identical to one another. The power blocks (22) are controlled by a master controller (34), and an external supervisor (30) performs some master controller (34) functions should the master controller (34) fault. The power blocks (22) each include a battery bank (42) and an inverter/charger (44), both of which couple to a DC bus (40). The inverter (44) and an AC generator (50) couple to an AC bus (24). The DC busses (40) of the power blocks (22) remain independent of one another, but all power blocks (22) couple together at the AC bus (24). The master controller (34) issues instructions to the inverters (44) that maintain approximately equal states at the independent DC busses (40) of the power blocks (22).

Abstract: A phase-noise compensated digital communication receiver (40, 40′, 40″) includes a carrier tracking loop (56) which imposes a transport delay on a carrier tracking loop signal (60) before that signal (60) is fed back upon itself. The carrier tracking loop (56) includes a phase rotator (58) that rotates a down-converted digital communication signal (50) by a phase determined by a phase-conveying signal (72). A carrier tracking loop signal is obtained from the carrier tracking loop and delayed in a delay element (82) by a duration that compensates for the transport delay. A phase rotator (84) then rotates the delayed carrier tracking loop signal through a phase value determined by the phase-conveying signal (72) to obtain an open-loop phase signal (86) from which data are extracted. Different embodiments of the receiver (40, 40′, 40″) are provided to accommodate adaptive equalizer (54) issues.

Abstract: A system (20) is presented for extraction of debris (22) from a tank (24) of potentially radioactive water (26) in a nuclear-powered energy-generation facility. The system (20) utilizes a subaqueous reversible motor (28), a subaqueous pump (30) magnetically coupled to the motor (28), and a subaqueous filter housing (50) removably coupled to the pump (30). A filter (52) having a metallic filter element (56) is incorporated into the filter housing (50). A control unit (34) is electrically coupled to the motor (28) and determines a rotational direction thereof from outside the tank (24). When the motor (28) is run in a forward rotational direction, the pump (30) produces a forward flow (36′) of water (26), substantially all of which passes through the filter (52) so that debris (22) in the water (26) is entrapped in the filter (52).

Abstract: An IC modulation processor (28) may be configured to operate in a single chip mode to accommodate baud rates up to a maximum clock rate for the processor (28) and in a dual chip mode to accommodate baud rates in excess of the maximum clock rate. The IC modulation processor (28) performs digital processing on a communication signal which conveys an input data stream (22). A pulse shaping filter (54-57) is provided following a phase mapper (50). The pulse shaping filter (54-57) is implemented as a pair of half-filters. Pulse shaping is distributed between two IC modulation processors (28) in the dual chip mode. An interpolator (86) and linearizer (106) follow the pulse shaping filters (54-57).

Abstract: A fluid-atomization manifold (50) for use in a misting system (20) configured to distribute a fluid (24) and to render that fluid (24) into a mist (26) is provided. The fluid-atomization manifold (50) has an input connector (54) coupled to a connector (44) of an interface fitting (36) coupled to fluid-distribution tubing (34) of the misting system (20). The fluid-atomization manifold (50) has a plurality of output connectors (56), wherein a connector (48) of each of a plurality of fluid-atomization nozzles (46) of the misting system (20) is configured to mate with the connector (44) of the interface fitting (36) and is coupled to one of the output connectors (56) of the fluid-atomization manifold (50).

Abstract: A static RAM memory cell (30) uses cross-coupled enhancement mode, N-channel MOS drive transistors (36) to form a bistable flip-flop. A load circuit (34) couples between I/O ports (40) of the drive transistors (36) and Vcc. For each drive transistor (36), the load circuit includes a depletion mode, N-channel MOS load transistor (54) and a forward biased tunnel diode (32). The drain and gate of the load transistor (54) couple across the anode and cathode of the tunnel diode (32) so that the forward voltage (Vf) of the tunnel diode (32) controls the Vgs transfer curve (56) of the load transistor. The tunnel diode (32) may be formed at a junction between a mono-crystalline silicon layer (88) at a region (98, 100) which also serves as a source or drain of a transistor (36, 54) and a poly-crystalline silicon layer (106). The poly-crystalline silicon layer (106) also serves as a non-metallic, conductive interconnection (55) to save space.

Abstract: A misting head system (24) configured to render a fluid (32) into a mist (36) is provided. The system (24) includes a misting head body (26) and a poppet (20). The misting head body (26) has a cylindrical chamber (28), an inlet (30) configured to pass the fluid (32) into the chamber (28), and an orifice (34) configured to pass the fluid (32) out of the chamber (28) and to render the fluid (32) into the mist (36). The poppet (20) has a cylindrical core (38) configured to force the fluid (32) to pass through a space (44) between the core (38) and an inner wall (46) of the chamber (28), a fracture band (54) coupled to the core (38), configured to center the core (38) within the chamber (28), and having a plurality of flutes (60) configured to fracture the fluid (32) as the fluid (32) passes through the space (44), and an orifice end (40) of the core possessing a plurality of symmetrically spaced slits (48) configured to further fracture the fluid (32).

Abstract: A monolithic inductor (20, 20′) is formed over a silicon or other substrate (22). The inductor (20, 20′) includes at least one coil (62, 78) arranged so that its axis (58) is parallel to the substrate (22). Other inductive features, such as other coils (64, 70, 72) or planar spirals (74, 76) are arranged in series with the coil (62, 78) to guide magnetic flux lines away from the substrate (22). In one embodiment, a common thin film coil core (60) made from a magnetic material is provided for two coils (62, 64). The coil core (60) provides a continuous magnetic material flux path through the two coils (62, 64). In another embodiment, an axis (58) of the coil (78) is located between the plane in which two spirals (74, 76) are located and the substrate (22) to guide magnetic flux lines (82) away from the substrate (22).

Abstract: A cushion (20) includes a flexible body (28) and a zipper (42). The flexible body (28) is formed from a moisture repellent shell (30) and a lining (32) that can be folded and retained by closure of the zipper (42) to form the cushion (20). A handle (23) is attached to the cushion (20) for easy conveyance. The flexible body (28) also includes an opening (88) releasably sealable by a zipper (90) and a hood (96) stowed in a pocket (92). When the flexible body (28) is unfolded, the cushion is convertible to a poncho configuration (26) by placing the head of the individual (100) through the opening (88). In addition, the hood (96) may be removed from the pocket (92) and worn by the individual.

Abstract: A portable automatic misting device (20) uses a misting device assembly (38) to automatically disperses a mist (36). The misting assembly (38) includes a hollow cylinder (40) that forms a liquid reservoir (50) that is in fluid communication with a one-way valve (76,102) that permits liquid flow into the reservoir (50). The reservoir (50) has fluid communication with a misting nozzle (34) through a hollow plunger rod (28). A plunger (42), a spring (48) and a portion of the hollow plunger rod (28) are located inside the hollow cylinder (40). The spring (48) is biased to move the plunger (42) and the hollow plunger rod (28) to automatically shrink the liquid reservoir (50). In another embodiment, the plunger rod (28) is solid and the reservoir (50) has fluid communication with the misting nozzle (34) through a second one-way valve (106) that permits liquid flow out of the reservoir (50).

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining an enclosed space proximate a selected comfort range, and for conserving utilities, the apparatus comprising a housing in communicating relation with the enclosed space and the external environment and having an evaporative cooler for cooling the enclosed space and having a predetermined operating efficiency, and a spaced apart air conditioner for either selectively cooling or heating the enclosed space and having an operating efficiency different from the evaporative cooler, and a control mechanism for automatically and selectively switching back and forth from operation of the evaporative cooler to the air conditioner.