Abstract: At least one embodiment of the inventive technology focuses on a new composition that comprises hexagonally close packed molybdenum carbide crystals, in addition to metallic nickel crystals and/or sodium, and having use as a catalyst in a Fischer-Tropsch process to produce alcohol. At least one embodiment of a related aspect of the inventive technology is a Fischer-Tropsch reaction to produce alcohols from carbon monoxide and hydrogen using the aforementioned composition to catalyze reactions producing higher alcohols.

Abstract: A method for providing a personalized souvenir is disclosed. The method may include the steps of contacting a souvenir retailer, preparing artwork, selecting names for personalization of the souvenirs, providing a rack to the souvenir retailer for displaying the souvenirs, and servicing the racks to ensure that the rack is maintained with the proper inventory. Additionally, determining an age range of a sales demographic such that the most popular names are selected to include on the souvenir within that age range.

Abstract: A sample processing system that may be configured to achieve parallel or coincidental sample processing such as histochemical processing may involve a plurality of samples arranged for coincidental movement perhaps by use of angular microscopic slide movements to cause processing activity that may include repeated elimination and reapplication of a fluidic substance perhaps through the action of capillary motion in order to refresh a microenvironment adjacent to a sample such as a biopsy or other such sample. Snap in antibody and other substances may be included to ease operator actions and to permit location specific substance applications perhaps by including single container multiple chamber multiple fluidic substance magazines, linearly disposed multiple substance source, and primary antibody cartridges. Through refreshing of a microenvironment, depletion of the microenvironment is avoided and the time necessary for slide processing may be dramatically shortened.

Abstract: At least one embodiment of the inventive technology relates to a snowboard having a lower surface that does not at any point along at least one specified portion thereof contact a horizontal surface underlying the snowboard when the snowboard is unweighted. Such portion(s) may be defined, at least in part, by one or more cambers. A rocker may be used to impart additional board performance benefits to a rider. Other embodiments may relate more specifically to the positioning of cambers relative to mount regions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus may permit the generation of consistent output synthesis gas from highly variable input feedstock solids carbonaceous materials. A stoichiometric objectivistic chemic environment may be established to stoichiometrically control carbon content in a solid carbonaceous materials gasifier system. Processing of carbonaceous materials may include dominative pyrolytic decomposition and multiple coil carbonaceous reformation. Dynamically adjustable process determinative parameters may be utilized to refine processing, including process utilization of negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, process utilization of flue gas (9), and adjustment of process flow rate characteristics. Recycling may be employed for internal reuse of process materials, including recycled negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, recycled flue gas (9), and recycled contaminants.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus may permit the generation of consistent output synthesis gas from highly variable input feedstock solids carbonaceous materials. A stoichiometric objectivistic chemic environment may be established to stoichiometrically control carbon content in a solid carbonaceous materials gasifier system. Processing of carbonaceous materials may include dominative pyrolytic decomposition and multiple coil carbonaceous reformation. Dynamically adjustable process determinative parameters may be utilized to refine processing, including process utilization of negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, process utilization of flue gas (9), and adjustment of process flow rate characteristics. Recycling may be employed for internal reuse of process materials, including recycled negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, recycled flue gas (9), and recycled contaminants.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus may permit the generation of consistent output synthesis gas from highly variable input feedstock solids carbonaceous materials. A stoichiometric objectivistic chemic environment may be established to stoichiometrically control carbon content in a solid carbonaceous materials gasifier system. Processing of carbonaceous materials may include dominative pyrolytic decomposition and multiple coil carbonaceous reformation. Dynamically adjustable process determinative parameters may be utilized to refine processing, including process utilization of negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, process utilization of flue gas (9), and adjustment of process flow rate characteristics. Recycling may be employed for internal reuse of process materials, including recycled negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, recycled flue gas (9), and recycled contaminants.

Abstract: Different systems to achieve solar power conversion are provided in at least three different general aspects, with circuitry that can be used to harvest maximum power from a solar source (1) or strings of panels (11) for DC or AC use, perhaps for transfer to a power grid (10) three aspects can exist perhaps independently and relate to: 1) electrical power conversion in a multimodal manner, 2) alternating between differing processes such as by an alternative mode photovoltaic power converter functionality control (27), and 3) systems that can achieve efficiencies in conversion that are extraordinarily high compared to traditional through substantially power isomorphic photovoltaic DC-DC power conversion capability that can achieve 99.2% efficiency or even only wire transmission losses. Switchmode impedance conversion circuits may have pairs of photovoltaic power series switch elements (24) and pairs of photovoltaic power shunt switch elements (25).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus may permit the mounting of bicycle components (16) such as seats, handlebars, and the like, to bicycles. A bicycle component mount (3) may be isolated from the structure of a bicycle. Forces generated at various points on the bicycle's structure may be substantially impeded or eliminated from transmission through an isolated bicycle component mount (3). Multidimensional motion of a bicycle component mount (3) may include rotational, translational, and rototranslational motion with progressive elastomeric resistance in multiple directions. A bicycle component mount (3) may exhibit movement about its own center of mass (12). Motions of a rider on a bicycle may be biomechanically compensated for by a bicycle component mount (3) to facilitate rider comfort, promote efficient transfer of rider motion to the operation of a bicycle, and decrease wear on bicycle components (16).

Abstract: Computer configurations, search processors (2), software, and methods of viewing and analyzing information regarding agriculture or land use automatically located relationally-linked agronomic entities with both real (18) and virtual (8) displays. Relational linking exist through broad assessment of commonality information with fuzzy logic heuristics. Dynamic link presentation (6) can exist with congregated and hierarchical information displays (29) such as at the farm level, at a location level, at a physically aggregated parcel level with hierarchical display of farms or agronomic entity ownership, management, organization, and crop usages that afford users an unprecedented series of views into the businesses of land use, food production, and resource conservation. A meta-syntactic agronomic information generator (31) can facilitate imputed information through the integration of multiple databases (32).

Abstract: At least one embodiment of the inventive technology may be a removable protective covering for a camera, where the protective covering comprises a sleeve that has a first opening and a second opening. One or more of the openings may be defined by elastically deformable cuff(s) having unstretched and maximally stretched cross-sectional areas that are smaller and larger than certain cross-sectional areas of the camera. As such, the camera may be removable from the covering through such opening(s) as desired in order to shoot a photograph.

Abstract: Embodiments focus on imparting a horizontally shifting motion to a plant punch element 1 during a part of a plant punch cycle 18 so as to reduce contact of a plant punching surface 38 with the plant during the plant punch. Plant punch elements that are particularly suited for such “shifting” capability may include a gap 41 facilitating lateral movement of the plant punch element to a position around at least part of the plant to be punched. Aspects of the inventive technology also address a sheltering plant punch apparatus that can also reduce injury and stress experienced by the plant while it is punched. Combinations of aspects disclosed herein provide a high degree of protection to the plant during a plant punch, thereby reducing stress experienced by the plant during the punch.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for possibly producing pipeline-ready heavy oil from substantially non-pumpable oil feeds. The methods and apparatus may be designed to produce such pipeline-ready heavy oils in the production field. Such methods and apparatus may involve thermal soaking of liquid hydrocarbonaceous inputs in thermal environments (2) to generate, though chemical reaction, an increased distillate amount as compared with conventional boiling technologies.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus may permit the generation of consistent output synthesis gas from highly variable input feedstock solids carbonaceous materials. A stoichiometric objectivistic chemic environment may be established to stoichiometrically control carbon content in a solid carbonaceous materials gasifier system. Processing of carbonaceous materials may include dominative pyrolytic decomposition and multiple coil carbonaceous reformation. Dynamically adjustable process determinative parameters may be utilized to refine processing, including process utilization of negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, process utilization of flue gas (9), and adjustment of process flow rate characteristics. Recycling may be employed for internal reuse of process materials, including recycled negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, recycled flue gas (9), and recycled contaminants.

Abstract: Particular aspects of the inventive technology may, in embodiments, relate to a fluid filter apparatus that includes a filtered fluid conduit that has a length that is at least three times a characteristic diameter; and a plurality of holes, wherein at least one of said holes has a first shape and engages an end cap during fluid filter operation, and wherein at least one other of said holes has said first shape and passes filtered fluid from outside of said filtered fluid conduit to a conduit interior during fluid filter operation.

Abstract: At least one embodiment of the inventive technology may be an item support apparatus (1) that comprises at least two fee (4); a base (5) from which said feet extend at a first retention element (6); at least two risers (7) retained to the base by a second retention element (8); and at least one arm (9) retained to each riser by an arm retainer (10). Disclosed is a novel, efficient yet strong item support stand that may be used to support an item such as a musical instrument (a keyboard, as but one example) and that may be collapsible and/or adjustable in certain embodiments.

Abstract: At least one embodiment of the inventive technology may be a support apparatus that includes at least two item support rails supported by support legs coupled thereto by pivot coupler apparatus that enable rotatable motion of a coupled support rail about a substantially vertical axis, where at least one of the item support rails is a non-horizontal item support rail, and where a cable passes through at least a portion of one or more of the support rails. In certain embodiments, the couplers may be height adjust couplers that enable substantially purely vertical, translatory height adjustment of coupled support rails and/or the couplers may couple item support rails to rail support legs at an angle other than ninety degrees. Items that may be supported include but are not limited to electronic percussion instruments.

Abstract: Reliability enhanced systems are shown where an short-lived electrolytic capacitor can be replaced by a much smaller, perhaps film type, longer-lived capacitor to be implemented in circuits for power factor correction, solar power conversion, or otherwise to achieve DC voltage smoothing with circuitry that has solar photovoltaic source (1) a DC photovoltaic input (2) internal to a device (3) and uses an enhanced DC-DC power converter (4) to provide a smoothed DC output (6) with capacitor substitution circuitry (14) that may include interim signal circuitry (28) that creates a large voltage variation for a replaced capacitor (16). Switchmode designs may include first and second switch elements (17) and (18) and an alternative path controller (21) that operates a boost controller (22) and a buck controller (23) perhaps with a switch duty cycle controller (32).

Abstract: The current inventive technology includes methods and apparatus for providing a plurality of personalized souvenir devices. Embodiments of the inventive technology may include the steps of establishing a plurality of personalized solar powered programmed souvenir devices such that they may be dynamically presented and maintained, in such a manner so as to form a light transforming composite presentation. This light transforming composite presentation may act as a consumer attractant and thereby increase sales. Example of such personalized solar powered programmed souvenir devices may include personalized solar powered programmed keychains, zipper pulls, chokers, bracelets, keyrings, and magnets and the like.

Abstract: A surgical screw and driver arrangement whereby the end of the driver is vertically inserted and removed from the slotted end of the surgical screw and whereby the end of the driver is attached to and removed from the slotted end of the surgical screw by a quarter turn in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The driver includes an inner shaft connecting with a center locking cam at one end of the driver and an outer shaft that connects with a pair of blades, one on each side of the locking cam. The surgical screw includes a slotted head at one end and a tapered threaded rod attached to the head. A pair of dovetail slots extending perpendicular within the slotted head receives the locking cam when the driver inner shaft is rotated a quarter turn clockwise to fasten the surgical screw to the end of the driver.