Abstract: A portable checkpoint system is disclosed that incorporates a configurable freight container to facilitate transport and conversion for operation. The container is disposable into closed and open configurations. The closed configuration enables the container to be transported. The open configuration enables a vehicle to drive therethrough. In the closed configuration, the container forms a quadrilateral set of walls connectable in a rectangular box. A hinge joins two adjacent walls along a pivotable edge and pivots between perpendicular and coplanar positions corresponding respectively to the closed and open configurations. A joint reversibly connects two walls opposite the adjacent walls along a separable edge, disconnecting from a lock position to an unlock position that correspond respectively to the closed and open configurations. The hinge's perpendicular position disposes the two adjacent walls to be mutually perpendicular at the pivotable edge and forms the rectangular box.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube apparatus, and methods of carbon nanotube modification, include carbon nanotubes having locally modified properties with the positioning of the modifications being controlled. More specifically, the positioning of nanotubes on a substrate with a deposited substance, and partially vaporizing part of the deposited substance etches the nanotubes. The modifications of the carbon nanotubes determine the electrical properties of the apparatus and applications such as a transistor or Shockley diode. Other applications of the above mentioned apparatus include a nanolaboratory that assists in study of merged quantum states between nanosystems and a macroscopic host system.

Abstract: High energy flux infrared heaters are used to treat an object having a surface section and a base section such that a desired characteristic of the surface section is physically, chemically, or phasically changed while the base section remains unchanged.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the detection, through nonlinear manipulation of data, of an indicator of imminent failure due to crack growth in structural elements. The method is a process of determining energy consumption due to crack growth and correlating the energy consumption with physical phenomena indicative of a failure event. The apparatus includes sensors for sensing physical data factors, processors or the like for computing a relationship between the physical data factors and phenomena indicative of the failure event, and apparatus for providing notification of the characteristics and extent of such phenomena.

Abstract: High energy flux infrared heaters are used to treat an object having a surface section and a base section such that a desired characteristic of the surface section is physically, chemically, or phasically changed while the base section remains unchanged.

Abstract: High energy flux infrared heaters are used to treat an object having a surface section and a base section such that a desired characteristic of the surface section is physically, chemically, or phasically changed while the base section remains unchanged.

Abstract: This invention relates to a nucleic acid that contains at least one nucleic acid sequence coding for a polypeptide, polypeptide being capable of reducing the enzymatic activity of an invertase; the polypeptide itself; and transgenic plants that contain this nucleic acid sequence. The invention further relates to methods of preparing such transgenic plants having reduced storage sucrose loss.

Abstract: An improved tool driver has improved simplicity, torquing strength, and durability and allows a user to interchangeably use tool bits, such as sockets, from at least two different standard sized sets without changing drivers or requiring adapters.

Abstract: A water powered massager 10 comprised of a diviter valve 30 connected to a shower head 20 that diverts water into a hose 40 having an inlet channel 180 and an outlet channel 190 and is connected to a body 60. The water flows from the diviter valve 30, through the inlet channel 180 and into the body 60. Within the body 60 is a propeller 210 inside a propeller cavity 230. As water is introduced into the propeller cavity 230 from the inlet channel 180, it turns the propeller 210 and then exits the propeller cavity 230 back into the hose 40 in the outlet channel 190. The water travels through the outlet channel 190 back to the diviter valve and out to the nozzle 300 of the shower head 20. A flex plate 80 is attached to the body 60 and vibrates as a result of the water inside the propeller cavity 230. As the propeller 210 turns due to the force of the water, it rotates a central pin 220 which in turn rotates a rotating disk 160. The rotating disk 160 is adjacent to and in communication with a pulsating disk 150.

Abstract: A portable lightweight cooling apparatus for cooling a human body is disclosed, having a channeled sheet which absorbs sweat and/or evaporative liquid, a layer of highly conductive fibers adjacent the channeled sheet; and, an air-moving device for moving air through the channeled sheet, wherein the layer of fibers redistributes heat uniformly across the object being cooled, while the air moving within the channeled sheet evaporates sweat and/or other evaporative liquid, absorbs evaporated moisture and the uniformly distributed heat generated by the human body, and discharges them into the environment.

Abstract: A system for visualizing, controlling and managing information includes a data analysis unit for interpreting and classifying raw data using analytical techniques. A data flow coordination unit routes data from its source to other components within the system. A data preparation unit handles the graphical preparation of the data and a data rendering unit presents the data in a three-dimensional interactive environment where the user can observe, interact with, and interpret the data. A user can view the information on various levels, from a high overall process level view, to a view illustrating linkage between variables, to view the hard data itself, or to view results of an analysis of the data. The system allows a user to monitor a physical process in real-time and further allows the user to manage and control the information in a manner not previously possible.

Abstract: A portable lightweight cooling apparatus for cooling a human body is disclosed, having a channeled sheet which absorbs sweat and/or evaporative liquid, a layer of highly conductive fibers adjacent the channeled sheet; and, an air-moving device for moving air through the channeled sheet, wherein the layer of fibers redistributes heat uniformly across the object being cooled, while the air moving within the channeled sheet evaporates sweat and/or other evaporative liquid, absorbs evaporated moisture and the uniformly distributed heat generated by the human body, and discharges them into the environment.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed utilizing permeable treatment media for treatment of contaminated water, along with a method for enhanced passive flow of contaminated water through the treatment media. The apparatus includes a treatment cell including a permeable structure that encloses the treatment media, the treatment cell may be located inside a water collection well, exterior to a water collection well, or placed in situ within the pathway of contaminated groundwater. The passive flow of contaminated water through the treatment media is maintained by a hydraulic connection between a collecting point of greater water pressure head, and a discharge point of lower water pressure head. The apparatus and process for passive flow and groundwater treatment utilizes a permeable treatment media made up of granular metal, bimetallics, granular cast iron, activated carbon, cation exchange resins, and/or additional treatment materials.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the position sensitive detection of radioactivity in a fluid stream, particularly in the effluent fluid stream from a gas or liquid chromatographic instrument. The invention represents a significant advance in efficiency and cost reduction compared with current efforts.

Abstract: A self-supporting adhesive sheeting material useful in making blanks for laminated windows comprises a continuous web (10) which has a uniform thickness profile (A, B) across at least 20% of its area extending from each edge of the web and a wedge-shaped thickness profile (C, D) which decreases in thickness from the area of uniform thickness to the center of the web, and a process comprising extruding an adhesive composition through an adjustable extrusion die to provide a continuous self-supporting web having a uniform thickness profile across at least 20% of the area of the web extending inwardly from each edge of the web and a wedge-shaped thickness profile decreasing in thickness from the area of uniform thickness to the center of the web, quenching the web, slitting the web along its mid-point, and winding the slit web onto separate rolls.

Abstract: A glass/plastic laminate useful in glazing applications which has improved optical quality is provided by controlling the incidence of optical defects induced during manufacture by particulate contaminates by applying a soft plastic film to the outboard side of the plastic surface of the laminate and entrapping such contaminates during the lamination process in the soft plastic film.