Abstract: The present invention is a pod for containing a particulate sensitive substrate and for providing pressure equalization between the exterior and an interior environment of the pod and for minimizing gaseous fluid flow inside adjacent to the particulate sensitive substrate. The pod comprises a primary pod, a diaphragm positioned in a cover, the diaphragm having a normal undeflected position, the diaphragm deflectable from the normal undeflected position. Preferably, the pod comprises a secondary pod disposed in the primary pod defining a second enclosure for containing the particulate sensitive substrate. The pod may comprise a filter attached to the pod and providing gaseous fluid communication between the exterior of the pod and the interior of the pod. The diaphragm is responsive to rapid pressure changes and the filter is responsive to slower pressure changes and allows the diaphragm to return to its normal undeflected position.

Abstract: Control of a variable output appliance of a small energy consumer participating in an electrical load shedding program. A baseline operating characteristic of the appliance is determined for ordinary operation (such as in an absence of any load shedding requirements). An amount by which to reduce output of the appliance is determined in accordance with the load shedding program. Operation of the appliance is controlled to achieve the output reduction in accordance with the load shedding. This approach enables providing incentive for the small energy consumer to participate in the load shedding program, the incentive being based on the amount by which output is reduced, thereby representing a reduction of actual energy consumption for that small energy consumer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moulding mixtures, preferably concrete mixtures for producing blocks. The device comprises a mould for receiving the concrete mixture, a table, to which the mould is coupled by means of brace elements, a vibration generation system, mounted on the table, for generating harmonic vibrations and for transmitting the latter to the table, a load in the form of a ram for exerting a force on the concrete mixture, first spring elements for elastically supporting the table and second spring elements for elastically supporting the load. A device of this type is equipped with at least eight rotating unbalanced shafts with parallel rotational axes in the vibration generation system. The unbalanced shafts are coupled in pairs for their rotational motion, each pair of unbalanced shafts having a common rotational axis and being driven independently of the other pairs.

Abstract: The invention includes a cooking apparatus comprising a cooking plate and a handle assembly. The cooking plate has a cooking surface and an opposed lower surface. A handle assembly is operably coupled to the cooking plate and shiftable between a first handle position and a second handle position relative to the cooking plate, the handle assembly includes an interface structure having a first depth and a second depth. The first depth engages the lower surface when the handle assembly is in the first handle position and the second depth engages the lower surface when the handle assembly is in the second handle position.

Abstract: A wafer container providing improved wafer restraint during physical shock events. In embodiments of the invention, a secondary wafer restraint structure defining a plurality of notches is interposed between opposing wafer restraint members on the door of the container. The notches may be defined by one or more converging edges or surfaces meeting at a junction. The junctions are positioned so as to align with the wafer receiving portions of each opposing pair of wafer restraint member so that when the door is fully sealingly engaged with the enclosure of the container, the edge of the wafer is contacting the junction. In this position, any vertical movement of the wafer due to shock imparted to the container causes the wafer to contact the converging surfaces or edges, thereby limiting such movement.

Abstract: A method and device for automatically identifying sperm cells in a smear on a microscope slide, including capturing a first digital color image within an area of interest on the microscope slide. The first digital color image is split into a plurality of component color space images and stored into a plurality of memory spaces. The component color space images are manipulated by mathematical functions, logical functions or a combination of mathematical and logical functions to produce a result image. Thresholding the result image creates a binary result image which is processed with particle (blob) analysis. A set of blob factors is applied to identify probable sperm cells; and a list of universal coordinate system positions of the probable sperm cells is created.

Abstract: A method of assembling a musical instrument such as an acoustic guitar. The instrument includes at least one major panel and a side wall. The major panel has a groove or rebate cut into the panel according to a predetermined pattern, which may extend substantially around the periphery of the panel. A first assembly jig supports the panel whilst a second assembly jig holds the side wall in a configuration corresponding to the groove/rebate. The side wall is placed into the second jig such that a free edge of the side wall follows the groove/rebate. Adhesive is applied and the jigs are brought together such that the free edge of the side wall is inserted into the groove/rebate. A compression force is applied across the jigs to urge the side wall into the groove/rebate.

Abstract: An adjustable microscope tube for a microscope includes, in this order, along its beam path coming from an entrance to the microscope tube: an optical system, which images a first intermediate image to infinity; at least one deflecting element, which folds the parallel beam path following the optical system, and collecting optics, arranged following the deflecting element in the beam path, for imaging the first intermediate image, which has been imaged to infinity, onto a second intermediate image, wherein the length of at least one portion of the folded, parallel beam path can be changed by displacement of the deflecting element relative to the optical system.

Abstract: A gas-removing device serves to remove impurity gases from the air supplied to a fuel cell via an air supply system. The gas-removing device includes a porous material and an alternate adsorption membrane. The porous material has micropores formed therein in order to absorb impurity gas particles contained in the air. The alternate adsorption membrane is formed on the inner walls of the micropores of the porous material in order to further adsorb and retain at least one type of impurity gas particles from among the impurity gas particles absorbed by the porous material. The alternate adsorption membrane includes at least one positively charged layer and at least one negatively charged layer laid alternately to one another.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wound dressing comprising a flexible base layer and an antimicrobial material, wherein the antimicrobial material comprises an activated carbon-carried noble metal, the activated carbon is selected from the group consisting of an activated carbon powder, an activated carbon particle, an activated carbon fiber, and a combination thereof, and the noble metal is selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, palladium, platinum, copper, zinc, and a combination thereof. The invention also relates to an antimicrobial composition for topical use on skin, in which the composition comprises the aforementioned activated carbon-carried noble metal.

Abstract: Masses of particles are structurally supported by the application of vacuum through a support surface having holes thereon that are smaller than the average diameter of the particle mass that is to be supported. The reduced pressure structurally supports particles on the support surface. The mass of particles tends is so well supported that it tends retain its shape unless additional forces are applied. The system comprises the vacuum applicator (e.g., pump), a vacuum carrying system and the support surface. When a mass of particles is supported on the support surface under vacuum, the particles can be carried to a target surface, the mass of particles pressed against the target surface, the mass conforming to the target surface, and the vacuum reduced or stopped, depositing the particle mass onto the surface in excellent shape compliance with that surface.

Abstract: A system for classifying different types of sheeting materials of road signs depicted in a videostream compares estimated retroreflectivity values against known minimum retroreflectivity values for each of a plurality of colors. Once a road sign has been identified in the videostream, the frames associated with that road sign are analyzed to determine each of a plurality of colors present on the road sign. An estimated retroreflectivity for each of the plurality of colors present on the road sign is then determined. By comparing the estimated retroreflectivity for each of the plurality of colors against known minimum retroreflectivity values for the corresponding color for different types of sheeting materials, an accurate determination of the classification of the sheeting material of the road sign is established. Preferably, certain conditions of gross failure of the sheeting material are filtered out before classification of the sheeting material is determined.

Abstract: A raw material including a mixture of a natural fiber and a thermoplastic fiber is supplied to a surface of a rotating rotary body. The natural and thermoplastic fibers are scattered toward a carrying surface of a conveyor belt by the rotational force of the rotary body. An air blower may direct pressurized air to the scattered raw material in order to further effect separation of the natural and thermoplastic fibers. Consequently, the natural fibers and the thermoplastic fibers are deposited such that the relative concentration of the natural fibers and the thermoplastic fibers gradually and seamlessly changes or varies across the thickness of depth of the resulting molded fiber material.

Abstract: A muller for finely mulling a material to be processed is disclosed. The muller comprises a nozzle unit (10) including feed lines (12a and 12b) and hollow pipe lines (120a and 120b), a mulling unit (20) including a mulling head (22), and an input device (30) including a hopper (310) and a feeder (322). The muller finely mulls the material even if it has a relatively large particle size, and continuously feeds the material while mulling it in order to improve productivity. The muller conducts cold mulling of the material or maintains the temperature thereof by employing a cooling system to prevent the generation of heat due to inter-material collision as the material is transferred, or friction against the feed lines, thereby extending the lifespan of the muller. The muller requires no separate classifier by employing successively arranged mulling units (20a to 20n) to accomplish a high economical efficiency.