Abstract: A method for remediating hazardous materials susceptible to nucleophillic attack is disclosed wherein sodium hydroxide is applied to a treatment zone in situ for raising the pH of the treatment zone to at least about 12.5 so that alkaline hydrolysis effectively breaks down the hazardous substance by replacing a leaving group with a nucleophile. The method is well suited for in situ use in the vadose zone to treat contaminated soil and groundwater.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention described herein pertain to a pneumatically powered shingle removing apparatus. The shingle removing apparatus includes a frame having a first end and a second end. A first pneumatic cylinder assembly is mounted adjacent the first end of the frame and a second pneumatic cylinder assembly is mounted adjacent the second end of the frame. The first pneumatic cylinder and the second pneumatic cylinder extend substantially parallel from the frame and each have a chisel extending at least partially from the respective first pneumatic cylinder assembly and the second pneumatic cylinder assembly, the chisels being moveable back and forth from a forward position. A stripping blade is attached to a front end of the chisels of the first pneumatic cylinder assembly and the second pneumatic cylinder assembly. A first air conduit delivers pressurized air to the first pneumatic cylinder assembly and a second air conduit delivers pressurized air to the second pneumatic cylinder assembly.

Abstract: A program disposed on a computer readable medium, having a main program with a first routine for issuing commands in an asynchronous manner and a second routine for determining whether the commands have been completed in an asynchronous manner. An auxiliary program adapts the main program to behave in a synchronous manner, by receiving control from the first routine, waiting a specified period of time with a wait routine, passing control to the second routine to determine whether any of the commands have been completed during the specified period of time, receiving control back from the second routine, and determining whether all of the commands have been completed. When all of the commands have not been completed, then the auxiliary program passes control back to the wait routine. When all of the commands have been completed, then the auxiliary program ends.

Abstract: A system for reducing the occurrence of fires in a fabric filter dust collection system. The system includes an elongated housing having a first end and a second end distal from the first end. A gas flow inlet is provided in flow communication with an interior portion of the housing for flow of gas and particulates from a source into the housing. A gas flow outlet is provided in flow communication with the housing for flow of gas and particulates out of the housing and into the dust collection system. An elongated spark arrestor is disposed in the housing between the first end and the second end. The spark arrestor has a plurality of spaced-apart, wedge-shaped members having a gap between adjacent members sufficient to interrupt the flow of combustible particles from the source to the dust collection system.

Abstract: An owl replica for deterring pests, having a plastic owl body; a plastic owl head; an unstable mount disposed between the body and head for free movement of the head relative to the body; and a powered assembly supported by the mount and operable to move with the mount relative to the body and enable intermittent powered movement of the head relative to the body without interfering with free movement of the head.

Abstract: A system for measuring the permeance of a material. The permeability of the material may also be derived. The system provides a liquid or high concentration fluid bath on one side of a material test sample, and a gas flow across the opposing side of the material test sample. The mass flow rate of permeated fluid as a fraction of the combined mass flow rate of gas and permeated fluid is used to calculate the permeance of the material. The material test sample may be a sheet, a tube, or a solid shape. Operational test conditions may be varied, including concentration of the fluid, temperature of the fluid, strain profile of the material test sample, and differential pressure across the material test sample.

Abstract: A machine condition monitor resides in close proximity to a machine train, such as an AC inductive electric motor coupled to a driven unit such as a centrifugal pump or fan. A plurality of sensing devices are connected to the machine and the machine condition monitor. Machine state and condition parameters sensed by these devices are utilized by the machine condition monitor to derive machine condition values for each component and for the machine train as a whole. These derived condition values are transmitted via an industrial communications network to a control center where they can be trended and monitored. With no particular knowledge of machine analysis techniques or severity of specific machine faults, and no special training, Operators and Production Planners can use the condition values to plan production schedules, adjust process parameters, and request appropriate maintenance action.

Abstract: A storage area network system having a data storage means for storing computer data, a storage manager routine running on a client, the storage manager routine having functional elements for directing snapshots to be taken of the computer data on the data storage means, and a snapshot ranking manager for determining characteristics of the snapshots, and for selectively deleting given ones of the snapshots based at least in part on the characteristics of the snapshots. The characteristics of the snapshots might include the type of application that uses the data in the logical volume from which the snapshots were taken, or mission critical aspects of the data.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck for retaining a substrate. The chuck has a clamping surface for receiving the substrate, where the clamping surface is formed of a hard polymeric material filled with carbon nanotubes. Electrodes are disposed beneath the clamping surface, for inducing localized electrostatic charges in the substrate and thereby retaining the substrate against the clamping surface. A base supports the clamping surface and the electrodes.

Abstract: An oral suspension comprising (a) an antibiotic composition which comprises coated micropellets and optionally one or more excipients, (b) additional excipients, and (c) a solvent, wherein said coated micropellets comprise (i) a core comprising at least one antibiotic; (ii) an inner coating comprising at least one cellulose polymer which is not an enteric coating polymer; and (iii) an outer coating comprising at least one enteric coating polymer, wherein said coated micropellets have a mean particle size of about 100 ?m to about 650 ?m. The oral suspension of the invention is characterized by a lack of bitter taste.

Abstract: A method of designing a logic circuit based on one of the functions of the form fn=x1 (x2 & (x3 (x4 & . . . xn . . . ))) and f?n=x1 & (x2 (x3 & (x4 . . . xn . . . ))), by (a) selecting n as the number of variables of the logic circuit, (b) testing n against a threshold, (c) for values of n less than the threshold, using a first algorithm to design the logic circuit, (d) for values of n greater than the threshold, using a second algorithm to design the logic circuit.

Abstract: A circuit for stabilizing soft bits in a bit stream, the circuit having a first register to receive an initial read of the bit stream, a second register to receive a subsequent read of the bit stream, a comparator to compare the initial read of the bit stream to the subsequent read of the bit stream, a third register to receive a comparison string having bits set in positions where the initial read of the bit stream and the subsequent read of the bit stream do not match, indicating a soft bit in the positions, and an accumulator to receive the comparison string for multiple subsequent reads of the bit stream, and track positions of all soft bits detected during the multiple subsequent reads.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a uranium-bearing foil are described. The foil may be substantially pure uranium, or may be a uranium alloy such as a uranium-molybdenum alloy. The method typically includes a series of hot rolling operations on a cast plate material to form a thin sheet. These hot rolling operations are typically performed using a process where each pass reduces the thickness of the plate by a substantially constant percentage. The sheet is typically then annealed and then cooled. The process typically concludes with a series of cold rolling passes where each pass reduces the thickness of the plate by a substantially constant thickness amount to form the foil.

Abstract: A method for classifying images from a set of test images, including comparing each of the test images to reference images. Each of the test images is grouped with one of the reference images. All of the images in each group can be classified with a single classification.

Abstract: A computerized method for categorizing defects on a substrate. A list of defects on the substrate is received as input to a processor, where each defect is represented by a defect location and an associated micro-defect code. The input is analyzed with the processor to detect spatial clusters of defects on the substrate. The spatial clusters are analyzed with the processor to determine which of the spatial clusters represent known macro-defects and which of the spatial clusters represent unknown macro-defects. The micro-defect code associated with each defect that is included in one of the spatial clusters that is determined to be a known macro-defect is changed with the processor with a macro-defect code that is associated solely with the known macro-defect. The processor analyzes the defects that are included in one of the spatial clusters that is determined to be an unknown macro-defect to determine a predominantly occurring micro-defect code.

Abstract: A basic cell circuit architecture having plurality of cells with fixed transistors configurable for the formation of logic devices and/or single/dual port memory devices within a structured ASIC is provided. Different configurations of ensuing integrated circuits are achieved by forming variable interconnect layers above the fixed structures. The circuit architecture can achieve interconnection of transistors within a single cell and/or across multiple cells. The interconnection can be configured to form basic logic gates as well as more complex digital and analog subsystems. In addition, each cell contains a layout of transistors that can be variably coupled to achieve a memory device, such as a SRAM device. By having the capability of forming either a logic circuit element, a memory device, or both, the circuit architecture is both memory-centric and logic-centric, and more fully adaptable to modern-day SoCs.

Abstract: A pest control bait station having separated bait reservoirs for holding different kinds of bait. The bait station has raised regions with pest access apertures. Each aperture is aligned with at least a portion of a pest conveyance structure extending from the base walls of the reservoirs, providing a space for the pest to enter and exit the bait station. The bait in each reservoir is prevented from contacting bait in any other reservoir. At least one reservoir may contain a liquid bait, and at least one reservoir may contain a dry bait.

Abstract: A method and apparatus regarding lightweight but robust multi-layered foam furniture pieces. The furniture pieces include a foam base, a polymeric solidifying layer, and a decorative layer. The decorative layer may include an acrylic-based surface finish and/or one or more decorative pieces, tiles, or other variously shaped objects attached to the primer layer and/or part of the decorative layer. Other embodiments include additional layers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quenching metallurgical coke made in a coking oven. The method includes pushing a unitary slab of hot coke onto a substantially planar receiving surface of a hot car. The hot car containing the coke is then transported to a quench car station. The unitary slab of hot coke is pushed onto a substantially planar receiving surface of a quench car at the quench car station. Quenching of the slab of hot coke is conducted in the quench car with a predetermine amount of water. After quenching, the quenched coke is dumped onto a receiving pad for collection thereof.

Abstract: A method of inspecting an array having memory blocks and page breaks. The array is imaged, and the image is divided into sections. Sections that include the memory blocks are selected into a candidate image. Pixels within a boundary horizontal line of pixels are inspected to determine horizontal edges of the memory blocks. Pixels within a boundary vertical line of pixels are inspected to determine vertical edges of the memory blocks. An image of a first memory block is compared to an image of a second memory block to determine differences. The differences are flagged as potential memory block defects. Images of the page breaks are compared to determine differences, and the differences are flagged as potential page break defects.