Abstract: The self-starting turbineless jet engine has fuel delivery, fuel combustion and airflow components, but it does not contain and therefore avoids the limitations associated with turbines or other moving parts other than those associated with the fuel delivery. The jet engine provides inlet louvers or vanes which direct air through an internal restriction to before mixing it with a fuel for combustion in a combustion chamber. While most of the combustion gases are exhausted through an outlet portion of the turbineless jet engine, a portion of the combustion gases are mixed with air received from an aft inlet duct in sixteen thermodynamic air compressors and back through a centrally located hot gas and fire pressure conduit where the gases are further redirected by a high temperature insulated nose cone back into the air flow received by the inlet louvers, thereby providing heat and air compression, even at zero airspeed.

Abstract: The two-stroke engine has a plurality of intake passages extending from the external air inlet port through the crankcase, separating the intake air charge from the air and oil vapor within the crankcase. The piston has one or more corresponding inlet tubes depending therefrom that telescope within the crankcase intake passages as the piston reciprocates. All intake air travels through these passages and is separated from the remainder of the crankcase volume. The incoming air charge passes through a concentric poppet valve in the piston crown to enter the combustion chamber. Fuel is provided by conventional direct or port injection and ignition is provided by one or more conventional spark plugs. Diesel operation is achievable when the engine is configured appropriately. Exhaust exits the combustion chamber through a poppet valve in the cylinder head, the poppet valve being actuated by a rocker arm and pushrod from a crankshaft driven cam.

Abstract: A method for generating precedence-preserving crossover and mutations operations for genetic algorithms is provided. The method is based on the determination of activities' Forward Free Float (FFF) and Backward Free Float (BFF) values, utilizing these float values in randomly selected forward and backward paths, respectively. The method may be applied to the finance-based scheduling domain using large scale projects, with the chromosomes of the genetic algorithm encoding activities' start times in a resource-constrained scheduling problem.

Abstract: The method for producing polyolefin nanocomposites uses an aluminum nitride (AlN) nano-filler as a promoter of olefin polymerization with a metallocene catalyst. The method of making the polyolefin nanocomposites begins by combining a metallocene catalyst, such as a zirconocene catalyst, with aluminum nitride in a reactor. The reactor is then charged with toluene and methylaluminoxane, methylaluminoxane acting as a co-catalyst. The reactor is then heated at a constant temperature, and ethylene is added to the reactor to initiate polymerization of a polyethylene nanocomposite. Polymerization is then quenched by the addition of acidic methanol to the reactor, and un-reacted monomer is vented from the reactor. The resultant polyethylene nanocomposite is then washed in methanol and dried. The aluminum nitride nano-filler promotes the conversion of the olefin monomer to the polyolefin.

Abstract: A timepiece with a multiplication table display is provided. Preferably, the timepiece has a programmable display, such as a liquid crystal display or the like, allowing the display to display the present time to the user, as is conventionally known, as well as providing methods of performing and teaching multiplication. A first multiplier is selected by the user, and the first multiplier is displayed in a central region of the display. A second multiplier is then selected by the user, and the user may use the display of the timepiece to calculate a particular product, or may be graphically shown how the product is calculated.

Abstract: The motorized wheelbarrow has longitudinally extending frame members, which extend into handle portions. Resting height adjustment of the wheelbarrow is achieved with a pair of tubular legs cooperatively attached to a wheelbarrow support strut and a support strut brace. A wheel is secured proximate the front end of the wheelbarrow to mounting points on a wheel frame. An electric motor is attached to a front portion of the support frame members underneath a load rack or load bucket, depending on the barrow type. A battery is attached under the support frame proximate the motor. A drive mechanism consisting of a chain and sprocket is operably linked to a wheel sprocket and to the electric motor. A disk brake assembly having a disk rotor and caliper is disposed on the wheel and frame for engagement with the wheel and is operably engaged to a control mechanism for safe wheelbarrow stopping.

Abstract: The gift pail kit allows a user to create a personalized gift package without the need for special creative or artistic talents. The kit includes a container (pail), shred packing material, facial expression transfer stickers, a hairpiece, a gift label, a note card and an instruction booklet. As presently contemplated, the pail will be offered in seven different hair color choices. The shred material may be colored to match the hair color. The pails may be offered in various sizes, and the kit will be fabricated from recyclable and eco-friendly materials.

Abstract: A method for identifying A. baumannii with OXA-131-like drug resistance in diabetic patients includes the steps of obtaining a sample from a patient; identifying an isolate as A. baumannii; screening the isolate for genes encoding an OXA-51-like enzyme; sequencing any of the genes encoding an OXA-51-like enzyme; and identifying the isolate as OXA-131-like when the sequence matches the sequence for OXA-90 (SEQ ID NO: 1), OXA-130 (SEQ ID NO: 2), OXA-131 (SEQ ID NO: 3), or OXA-132 (SEQ ID NO: 4). The method may further include the step of identifying the ISAba1 sequence upstream from the gene encoding the OXA-131-like enzyme.

Abstract: The circular clarifier cleaning system includes a mainframe to which all various components are attached for the prevention of growth and accumulation of the algae and debris. The components within the system include gravity-driven, horizontal and vertical sweeping chains. The outer trough wall, V-notch weirs, baffle plate wall, and inner baffle plate wall are all cleaned utilizing a rotating chain system device. Two main drag chains are used to clean the effluent trough and the overflow in the overflow wall after the V-notch weirs. An individual chain is utilized as a “garland” to clean to the V-notch weirs at the overflow. The circular clarifier cleaning system is driven by an existing skimmer arm found on all secondary clarifiers.

Abstract: The anti-clogging drainage inlet is adapted for use in lawn or field environments that require drainage systems to prevent flooding or unwanted pooling during periods of rain. The inlet includes a grate mounted to a rectangular frame. The frame and the grate are adapted to be positioned in the opening of a conventional drainage box in a manner that the top surface of the grate is flush with the surface of the lawn or field. A linkage system is mounted to the frame and grate and operates to raise the grate from its flush position. The linkage system includes a container positioned below the grate and within the drainage box.

Abstract: The system for vacuum formation of a dental appliance is a fully automated vacuum formation machine for dental appliances, such as retainers and the like. The system includes a base having a perforated top vacuum plate in communication with a vacuum source. A heating unit is positioned above the perforated top vacuum plate, and a controller is in communication with the heating unit and the vacuum source for selective actuation thereof. A holder releasably receives a thermoplastic plate. The holder is selectively positionable vertically over the perforated top vacuum plate and a dental impression cast mounted thereon. The holder is positioned by a linear actuator or the like, in communication with the controller. A sensor is positioned adjacent the perforated top vacuum plate for measuring the thermoplastic plate's thickness as it is molded about the dental impression cast, and is communication with the controller.

Abstract: The urine collection bag support belt (10) supports urine bags (B) beneath clothing or when sleeping. The support (10) includes a waist cincture (12) having opposed first and second ends (18, 20) and a central portion. At least one releasable fastener (14, 16) is provided for releasably securing the first end (18) to the second end (20) in order to secure the cincture (12) to the waist. At least one strap (22) is attached to the central portion of the belt (12) and extends downward. The strap (22) is adapted for releasably supporting the urine bag (B). In addition, at least one elongated strip is secured to the belt (12) that supports the tubing (T) connected to the urine collection bag (B) by retaining a serpentine portion of the tubing (T) against the waist cincture (12).

Abstract: The removable fireplace cleanout facilitates the chore of cleaning ash and/or other residue from a fireplace. The cleanout device is a relatively wide, low pan or tray configured for placement within a fireplace hearth. Wheels and/or other rolling supports extend beneath the device to facilitate its installation in and removal from the fireplace hearth. One wall of the device includes a dump door, with the weighted door being held closed by gravity until the unit is tilted to dump ash and residue therein. Fillets may be provided to preclude trapping of ash in the corners of the device. An integral grate may be permanently installed atop the floor of the device, thereby precluding need for grate removal and soiling of the area where the grate is placed during conventional fireplace cleanout.

Abstract: The OFDM channel estimation and Inter-Carrier Interference (ICI) cancellation method uses a few pilots within Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems in general, and mobile OFDM systems in particular. The frequency domain channel is estimated using an eigenvalue based model reduction technique with high accuracy. A Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) based Finite Impulse Response (FIR) equalizer is then used to obtain an ICI free estimate of the transmitted signal.

Abstract: The frequency synthesizer has two fixed frequency dividers, two charge pumps, five capacitors, a voltage controlled oscillator, and a transconductance voltage amplifier. The pulse widths of the input reference signal and the output signal are compared and the resultant signal is coupled to the oscillator to adjust its frequency. The circuit exhibits accurate frequency synthesizing, and thus can be used in wireless communication and signal processing systems. It provides a precise integer and fractional frequency division with a low phase noise. Moreover, it has a simple and compact structure that can be implemented in integrated circuit technologies such as CMOS.

Abstract: The Arabic poetry meter identification system and method produces coded Al-Khalyli transcriptions of Arabic poetry. The meters (Wazn, Awzan being forms of the Arabic poems units Bayt, Abyate) are identified. A spoken or written poem is accepted as input. A coded transcription of the poetry pattern forms is produced from input processing. The system identifies and distinguishes between proper spoken poetic meter and improper poetic meter. Error in the poem meters (Bahr, Buhur) and the ending rhyme pattern, “Qafiya” are detected and verified. The system accepts user selection of a desired poem meter and then interactively aids the user in the composition of poetry in the selected meter, suggesting alternative words and word groups that follow the desired poem pattern and dactyl components. The system can be in a stand-alone device or integrated with other computing devices.

Abstract: The optimal power allocation method for an LSSTC wireless transmission system utilizes Layered Steered Space-Time Codes (LSSTC), a recently proposed multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system that combines the benefits of vertical Bell Labs space-time (V-BLAST) scheme, space-time block codes (STBC), and beamforming. A new downlink scheme employs LSSTC with optimal power allocation based on the assumption that the user feeds the base station (BS) with the average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) per V-BLAST layer through the uplink feedback channel. Such a system enhances the error performance by assigning power to the layers in an optimum manner.

Abstract: A method of conserving energy and natural resources transported in subsurface pipelines and preventing environmental contamination therefrom by identifying the subsurface location of leaks of oil, gas, water or other natural resources transported in these pipelines includes adhering a continuous tape having a plurality of uniquely identified radio frequency identification (RFID) tags mounted thereon axially along the pipeline and use of a mobile robotic device to identify the specific location of a leak in the pipeline, thereby preventing loss of energy and water traveling through pipeline, contamination of these fluids and environmental contamination, and the use of additional fuel to replenish these lost natural resources.

Abstract: The present invention relates to impulse noise estimation and removal in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmissions, and particularly to transmissions in power line communications and digital subscriber line (DSL) transmissions. The method includes the steps of: modulating data to be transmitted; performing an inverse fast Fourier transform; inserting a cyclic prefix into the data; transmitting the data as a set of OFDM symbols via a channel; receiving the set of OFDM symbols; removing the cyclic prefix; performing a fast Fourier transform; estimating impulse noise; canceling the impulse noise based upon the estimated impulse noise to produce a set of impulse noise-free data; estimating the channel; and demodulating and detecting the data transmitted based upon the estimated channel and the set of impulse noise-free data.

Abstract: The OFDMA power allocation method provides for supporting absolute proportional rate constrains for scalable OFDMA systems. Network scheduling procedures implementing the prescribed method can provide absolute guarantees for satisfying the specified rate constrains while maximizing the throughput of the network.