Abstract: Artificial foliage is described for use in camouflaging underwater structures, and/or for serving as cover vegetation which attracts aquatic life. A preferred version of the artificial foliage includes an elongated stem having shoots (e.g., leaves and/or branches) extending therefrom, a ballast weight connected to one of the stem ends, and a float and/or tensioning line connected to the opposite stem end for supporting the stem at least partially upright in the water above the ballast. The ballast may take a variety of forms, such as a conventional fishing sinker, sinkable structures such as bait traps or anchors, or an underwater camera.

Abstract: A dielectric liquid having entrained bubbles of gas or vapor is subjected to an electric field applied between spaced electrodes (112, 116) which generates microdischarges (and thus plasma) within the bubbles, allowing modification of the properties of the dielectric liquid. The invention is particularly useful for treating hydrocarbon liquids such as gasolines and other liquid hydrocarbon fuels, which have extremely low dielectric constants. Generating microdischarges within bubbles in such fuels can create compounds useful for higher combustion efficiency and/or lower emissions in internal combustion engines. The invention may be directly implemented in an engine's fuel line upstream from the combustion chamber (e.g., immediately prior to a fuel injector), thereby allowing the invention to be usefully implemented for fuel treatment prior to combustion.

Abstract: A metal matrix nanocomposite is formed by heating a metal above its liquidus temperature, adding nanoparticles, and then agitating the mixture with high-frequency (and preferably ultrasonic) vibration. The mixture can then be cooled below the liquidus of the metal to a semisolid state, and placed in a mold to form it into some desired shape. The formed mixture can then be quenched or otherwise allowed to cool to provide an article in finished (or nearly so) form.

Abstract: During operation of a single-cylinder test engine, a computer or other processor runs a simulation of additional “virtual cylinders” operating alongside the single cylinder as if all cylinders, real and virtual, were present in a real multi-cylinder engine. Temperature data from the virtual cylinders is generated, and the real cylinder is jacketed with flow passages which are supplied with heat transfer fluid at temperatures such that the thermal presence of the virtual cylinders adjacent the real cylinder is simulated. As a result of this thermal simulation, the real cylinder is able to more accurately simulate the performance that it would have if it was indeed present in a multi-cylinder engine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composite material including from about 50 wt % to about 75 wt % (based on the total weight of the composite material) of inorganic material, wherein the inorganic material includes from about 30 wt % to about 50 wt % (based on weight of the inorganic material) of a first inorganic filler having an average particle size ranging from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm; and from about 50 wt % to about 70 wt % (based on weight of the inorganic filler) of a second inorganic filler having an average particle size ranging from 0.02 mm to about 0.1 mm; and from about 25 wt % to about 50 wt % (based on total weight of the composite material) of a thermosetting polymeric resin.

Abstract: A triple beam resonator (10) is provided with three beams or tines (12, 14, 16) aligned in parallel alongside each other and joined at a decoupling zone (18) at each end, which is in turn connected to the surrounding material. The central beam (14) is twice the width of the two outer beams (12, 16). The resonating element has a length of 15.5 mm, a thickness of 0.25 mm and beam widths of 2 mm and 1 mm. The distance between the beams is 0.5 mm. Finite element analysis predicts the modal behavior with stress distribution and eigenfrequencies of the resonator (10). Thick-film PZT elements (20, 22) were printed on separate regions at each end of the central beam (14), where maximum stresses exist as the resonator (10) operates in its favored mode of vibration. The PZT element (20) at one end drives the vibrations, while the PZT element (22) at the other end detects them.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for inhibiting the entry of viruses, such as herpesviruses into a host cell. A conserved viral integrin-binding gB disintegrin-like domain has been identified that engages integrins and facilitates viral internalization into the host cell. Therefore, methods and compositions, such as antiviral agents encompassing the conserved gB disintegrin-like domain and antibodies thereto are described. These active agents interfere with the interaction between virions and cellular integrins, thereby inhibiting viral infection of a host cell.

Abstract: An image signal is processed by deriving measurements representing the luminance of a signal; calculating values relating to the local mean, the local standard deviation, the local maximum and/or the local minimum; and computing therefrom local standard coordinates such as z-scores which are independent of brightness and contrast.

Abstract: A connector for affixing cables within an electrical box has a body with an insertion end and an opposing receiving end. The insertion end bears outwardly-sloping legs resembling leaf springs, with each leg bearing a channel, so that an electrical box wall may slide over the insertion end with the legs flexing inwardly until the electrical box wall snaps into the channels. The receiving end bears prongs which slope inwardly into an inner body passage, with the prongs also resembling leaf springs, so that the prongs flex outwardly as a cable is inserted into the passage, but at the same time they resiliently flex inwardly to grasp the cable. The body may be formed of a piece of sheet material cut to define a series of petal-like body sections surrounding the insertion end, with the body sections then being bent about the insertion end to define a generally cylindrical body.

Abstract: An emulsion tube for a carburetor is formed with a porous wall surrounding an inner passage, wherein air travels about one side of the wall and fuel travels about the opposite side, with air being supplied through the pores to aerate the fuel (with the aerated fuel then being expelled into a venturi wherein engine intake air is traveling to further mix the fuel with the intake air therein). The emulsion tube can beneficially provide a high degree of fuel/air mixing across the entire range of intake airstream flow rates at which an engine may operate. The porosity of the emulsion tube can also be tailored to provide the desired fuel/air ratio(s) across the engine's operational range of intake airstream flow rates.

Abstract: Devices and methods for depositing fluids on substrates in patterns of spots, lines, or other features use a nozzle, which is preferably configured similarly to a micropipette, having a piezoelectric crystal or other ultrasonic actuator coupled to one of its sides. The nozzle may be charged via capillary action by dipping it into a well containing the fluid to be deposited, and may then be positioned over a desired area of a substrate, at which point activation of the ultrasonic actuator at ultrasonic frequencies will eject the fluid onto the substrate. The needle may subsequently be dipped into a well of rinsing fluid for cleaning. Spots or lines on the order of 5 micrometers width may be generated, making the invention particularly suitable for use in biological applications such as microarray production and in microelectronics applications such as the printing of organic circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention discloses compounds and methods used to specifically target substrates of methylation by S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferases. The substrates can be peptides, single stranded nucleic acids or double stranded nucleic acids, including RNA, DNA and PNA or phospholipids. The compounds disclosed are SAM analogs that are ligated to a methylation site by the methyltransferase. Also disclosed, are reacting groups that are ligatable to the cofactor analogs and can also be used as detectable labels. The reacting group can be used to cleave the substrate providing a methylation footprint. The invention can be used clinically to determine methylation state of a gene or gene promoter such as those involved in imprinting and transcription. In some preferred embodiments, the invention includes a kit, which can include one or more suitable SAM analogs and may include one or more detectable labels. In other preferred embodiments, the invention includes a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: NOx and soot emissions from internal combustion engines, and in particular compression ignition (diesel) engines, are reduced by varying fuel injection timing, fuel injection pressure, and injected fuel volume between low and greater engine loads. At low loads, fuel is injected during one or more low-pressure injections occurring at low injection pressures between the start of the intake stroke and approximately 40 degrees before top dead center during the compression stroke. At higher loads, similar injections are used early in each combustion cycle, in addition to later injections which preferably occur between about 90 degrees before top dead center during the compression stroke, and about 90 degrees after top dead center during the expansion stroke (and which most preferably begin at or closely adjacent the end of the compression stroke). These later injections have higher injection pressure, and also lower injected fuel volume, than the earlier injections.

Abstract: An automated configuration system (and method) is provided for facilitating the configuration of desired products, services, or other assemblages that require users to gather and assimilate disparate knowledge of makes, models, types, features, codes, and prices of the desired product/service to be configured. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, configuration is facilitated through interaction of a user with a frame engine that performs frame-based inferences to discern stored knowledge of a product (or the like), as supplemented by a rules-based inference system.

Abstract: An H-shaped clip is used to connect two pieces of building material such as plywood, roofing sheath, wafer board or other materials quickly, easily and securely. The H clip includes two tapered arms connected by a spacing bar, where each arm ends in a ski-shaped lead-in having a contoured face and a living hinge.