Abstract: A device for controlling drag on a ground vehicle. The device consists of a porous skin mounted on the trailing surface of the ground vehicle. The porous skin may be separated from the vehicle surface by a distance of at least the thickness of the porous skin. Alternately, the trailing surface of the ground vehicle may be porous. The device minimizes the strength of the separation in the base and wake regions of the ground vehicle, thus reducing drag.

Abstract: A method, simulation, and apparatus are provided that are highly suitable for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A catheter is disclosed that includes a small diameter disk loaded monopole antenna surrounded by fusion material having a high heat of fusion and a melting point preferably at or near body temperature. Microwaves from the antenna heat prostatic tissue to promote necrosing of the prostatic tissue that relieves the pressure of the prostatic tissue against the urethra as the body reabsorbs the necrosed or dead tissue. The fusion material keeps the urethra cool by means of the heat of fusion of the fusion material. This prevents damage to the urethra while the prostatic tissue is necrosed. A computer simulation is provided that can be used to predict the resulting temperature profile produced in the prostatic tissue.

Abstract: A method, simulation, and apparatus are provided that are highly suitable for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A catheter is disclosed that includes a small diameter disk loaded monopole antenna surrounded by fusion material having a high heat of fusion and a melting point preferably at or near body temperature. Microwaves from the antenna heat prostatic tissue to promote necrosing of the prostatic tissue that relieves the pressure of the prostatic tissue against the urethra as the body reabsorbs the necrosed or dead tissue. The fusion material keeps the urethra cool by means of the heat of fusion of the fusion material. This prevents damage to the urethra while the prostatic tissue is necrosed. A computer simulation is provided that can be used to predict the resulting temperature profile produced in the prostatic tissue.

Abstract: A barrier layer for a silicon containing substrate which inhibits the formation of gaseous species of silicon when exposed to a high temperature aqueous environment comprises a calcium alumino silicate.

Abstract: An onboard attitude control system is constructed to utilize a four reaction wheel system having a reference axis, wherein at least three of the reaction wheel spin axes are oriented obliquely to the reference axis. Current attitude is estimated based on uploaded orbital data, onboard sensed earth and sun position data, and attitude data sensed by a three axes gyroscope system. Current attitude is compared to mission attitude to calculate an error which is transformed to a trihedral axes adjustment command to actuate the reaction wheel system.

Abstract: An electromagnetic wave propagation structure, suitable for the transmission of an electromagnetic wave and the formation of resonators within filters, is constructed of both high and low dielectric-constant materials wherein the high dielectric-constant is in excess of approximately 80 and the low dielectric-constant is less than approximately 2. A boundary between the high and the low dielectric-constant materials serves as an electric wall to waves propagating in the low dielectric-constant material and as a magnetic wall to waves propagating in the high dielectric-constant material. This permits substitution of the high dielectric-constant material for metal elements, such as resonators and feed structures in filters. Furthermore, the use of a cladding of dielectric material of one of the foregoing dielectric ranges about a core of material of the other of the foregoing dielectric ranges enables construction of waveguides having rectangular and circular cross-sections.

Abstract: An amusement game in which a game piece descends adjacent a playing surface. A preferred embodiment of the game includes a playing surface, a game piece, a plurality of deflecting members, and a receiving mechanism. The playing surface is preferably inclined. The deflecting members are preferably adapted to deflect the descending game piece. Nevertheless, the game piece is preferably adapted to descend past the deflecting members. The receiving mechanism is preferably positioned below the deflecting members. The receiving mechanism may have a recessed portion and a handle. The handle is preferably adapted to enable a player to move the recessed portion relative to the playing surface. Consequently, the player is preferably enabled to move the recessed portion to catch the game piece with the recessed portion.

Abstract: A real-time data management system which uses data generated at different rates, by multiple heterogeneous incompatible data sources. In one embodiment, the invention is as an airport surface traffic data management system (traffic adviser) that electronically interconnects air traffic control, airline, and airport operations user communities to facilitate information sharing and improve taxi queuing. The system uses an expert system to fuse data from a variety of airline, airport operations, ramp control, and air traffic control sources, in order to establish, predict, and update reference data values for every aircraft surface operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices for the quantum-optical amplification of modulated light, in particular in optical free-space communications systems. In the process a light beam (4) is conducted through a plurality of adjoining crystals (66), (68), (70), which are delimited from each other by means of polarization-selectively reflecting layers (104), (106). The light beam (4) is repeatedly reflected at the edge areas of the crystals into quarter-wave plates (86), (88), (90), (92), (94), and in the process its polarization is respectively rotated by 90 degrees.

Abstract: The invention involves a method for locating the probe of a scanning tunneling micrograph a predetermined distance from its conducting surface, and specifically the deposition of a monolayer of fullerene C60 onto the conducting plate. The Fullerene C60 molecule is approximately spherical, and a monolayer of fullerene has a thickness of one nanometer. By providing a monolayer of fullerene on the conducting surface and locating the probe on the surface of the monolayer, a distance of one nanometer can be established between the probe tip and the conducting surface.

Abstract: The satellite selection method as utilized by the spaceborne Global Positioning System receiver provides navigational solutions and is designed for use in low Earth orbit. The satellite selection method is a robust algorithm that can be used a GPS receiver to select appropriate GPS satellites for use in calculating point solutions or attitude solutions. The method is takes into account the difficulty of finding a particular GPS satellite phase code, especially when the search range in greatly increased due to Doppler shifts introduced into the carrier frequency. The method starts with an update of the antenna pointing and spacecraft vectors to determine the antenna backplane direction. Next, the GPS satellites that will potentially be in view of the antenna are ranked on a list, whereby the list is generated based on the estimated attitude and position of each GPS satellite. Satellites blocked by the Earth are not entered on this list.

Abstract: A reduced toxicity fuel satellite propulsion system including a reduced toxicity propellant supply (10) for consumption in an axial class thruster (14) and an ACS class thruster (16). The system includes suitable valves and conduits (22) for supplying the reduced toxicity propellant to the ACS decomposing element (26) of an ACS thruster. The ACS decomposing element is operative to decompose the reduced toxicity propellant into hot propulsive gases. In addition the system includes suitable valves and conduits (18) for supplying the reduced toxicity propellant to an axial decomposing element (24) of the axial thruster. The axial decomposing element is operative to decompose the reduced toxicity propellant into hot gases. The system further includes suitable valves and conduits (20) for supplying a second propellant (12) to a combustion chamber (28) of the axial thruster, whereby the hot gases and the second propellant auto-ignite and begin the combustion process for producing thrust.

Abstract: Polyimides and the process for preparing polyimides having improved thermal-oxidative stability derived from the polymerization of effective amounts of one or more of the polyamines such as the aromatic diamines, one or more of the tetracarboxylic dianhydrides and a novel dicarboxylic endcap having a formula selected from the group consisting of: wherein R1 is either a radical where R is either hydrogen or an alkyl radical of 1 to 4 carbons, R2 is either OH, NH2, F, or Cl radical, R3 is either H, OH, NH2, F, Cl or an alkylene radical, R4 is either an alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, F, or Cl radical, and R5 is either H, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, F, or Cl radical. The polyimides are useful particularly in the preparation of prepregs and PMR composites.

Abstract: The invention is a circuit and method of limiting the charging current voltage from a power supply net work applied to an individual cell of a plurality of cells making up a battery being charged in series. It is particularly designed for use with batteries that can be damaged by overcharging, such as Lithium-ion type batteries. In detail, the method includes the following steps: 1) sensing the actual voltage level of the individual cell; 2) comparing the actual voltage level of the individual cell with a reference value and providing an error signal representative thereof; and 3) by-passing the charging current around individual cell necessary to keep the individual cell voltage level generally equal to a specific voltage level while continuing to charge the remaining cells.

Abstract: A process for making a cast article from an aluminum alloy includes first casting an article from an alloy having the following composition, in weight percent: 1 Silicon (Si) 14.0-25.0 Copper (Cu) 5.5-8.0 Iron (Fe)   0-0.8 Magnesium (Mg) 0.5-1.5 Nickel (Ni) 0.05-1.2  Manganese (Mn)   0-1.0 Titanium (Ti) 0.05-1.2  Zirconium (Zr) 0.12-1.2  Vanadium (V) 0.05-1.2  Zinc (Zn)   0-0.9 Phosphorus (P) 0.001-0.

Abstract: An isokinetic resistance apparatus includes a motor having an output shaft and a motor controller adapted to control power to the motor to maintain a first constant rotational speed of the output shaft. The output shaft of the motor rotates a driven shaft in a first rotational direction at a second constant rotational speed. A force receiving member is coupled with the driven shaft by a force transmitting linkage having a unidirectional clutch. A force exerted upon the force receiving member in the first rotational direction is transmitted through the driven shaft and the drive linkage to the output shaft of the motor. The motor controller adjusts power to the motor to compensate for such force and proportionately increase resistance to maintain the first constant rotational speed of the output shaft.

Abstract: The general purpose of the invention is to develop a high specific energy nickel electrode for a nickel based battery system. The invention discloses a method of producing a lightweight nickel electrode which can be cycled to deep depths of discharge (i.e., 40% or greater of electrode capacity). These deep depths of discharge can be accomplished by depositing the required amount of nickel hydroxide active material into a lightweight nickel fiber substrate.

Abstract: A receiver clock bias signal for a spacecraft in motion is is used to obtain a real-time navigation Kalman filter solution of the clock bias and provide a robust autonomous GPS time reference, even when there are less than 4 GPS satellites within the view of the receiver in the spacecraft. The Kalman filter of the spacecraft provides an accurate solution of the clock bias, with less than 4 GPS satellite signals, by means of a system which uses the knowledge of the dynamic motion of the satellite in conjunction with GPS signals for a robust estimation of time. The system provides an accurate GPS time reference by transferring timing information from an atomic reference standard (GPS) to a spacecraft in motion by directly measuring the GPS signal and without depending upon the tracking of multiple GPS satellites or a static receiver. Implementation in current aerospace qualified GPS receivers, e.g.

Abstract: Disclosed is CPG, a combination of a chlorhexidine salt (such as chlorhexidine digluconate, chlorhexidine diacetate, or chlorhexidine dichloride) and n-propyl gallate that can be used at ambient temperatures as a urine preservative.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a battery cell sleeve assembly includes a continuous tubular sleeve extending between proximal and distal ends and has a plurality of substantially unidirectional longitudinally extending elongated heat conduction fibers having a thermal conductivity no less than that of aluminum embedded in a suitable matrix. The sleeve is received on the outer peripheral surface of a tubular battery cell which is typically, but not necessarily cylindrical and in a contiguous relationship with the battery cell. A tubular base member having a peripheral flange is attached to the continuous tubular sleeve such that the distal ends of the heat conduction fibers are contiguous with the peripheral flange. With this construction, the peripheral flange operates as a heat shunt for drawing heat away from the continuous tubular sleeve by conduction between the heat conduction fibers and the peripheral flange.