Abstract: A fastener including a head having a screw driver or wrench engagement feature. The fastener includes a threaded shank extending from the head. A plurality of voids or scores in the shank spaced from but near the head permit rotational torque on the head in one direction significantly greater than rotational torque in an opposite direction so that rotational torque in an opposite direction causes the head to break off from the shank.

Abstract: Highly porous, beads are comprised of a polymer and a second compound mixed into it. The second compound, an amendment, is either a nutrient or a compound having high affinity to one or more nutrients. A plurality of these beads may be exposed to an aqueous environment, usually a body of water. Bacteria and other microorganisms rapidly enter and remain within the nutrient filled interior space of the beads. Any of a number of various detection methods may then be used to characterize, detect and/or identify the microorganisms.

Abstract: Highly porous, beads are comprised of a polymer and a second compound mixed into it. The second compound, an amendment, is either a nutrient or a compound having high affinity to one or more nutrients. A plurality of these beads may be exposed to an aqueous environment, usually a body of water. Bacteria and other microorganisms rapidly enter and remain within the nutrient filled interior space of the beads. Any of a number of various detection methods may then be used to characterize, detect and/or identify the microorganisms.

Abstract: An apparatus and process to generate a liquid-gas-surfactant foam and to measure its viscosity and enable optical and or electronic measurements of physical properties. The process includes the steps of pumping selected and measured liquids and measured gases into a mixing cell. The mixing cell is pressurized to a desired pressure and maintained at a desired pressure. Liquids and gas are mixed in the mixing cell to produce a foam of desired consistency. The temperature of the foam in the mixing cell is controlled. Foam is delivered from the mixing cell through a viscometer under controlled pressure and temperature conditions where the viscous and physical properties of the foam are measured and observed.

Abstract: A wavelet-based method for analysis of singularities improves analysis and information gathering from seismic trace data. A wavelet transform is applied to seismic trace data. The Hölder exponent is calculated for every time point of the wavelet transform for each seismic trace. Hölder exponents are then plotted versus time. These graphs are utilized in place of seismic traces themselves in creating two and three dimensional images. The graphs produced using Hölder exponents greatly improve interpretation of stratigraphic boundaries and other geological information to be readily identified. This provides for better, more accurate stratigraphic analysis. In addition, the nature of the Hölder exponents of the seismic trace are consistent with Hölder exponents calculated from acoustic impedance of the various strata.

Abstract: A method and article of manufacture to inhibit automated search engines in locating and retrieving proprietary media by employing cooperative scanning, manufacturing, sharing and supervisory control software processing components to replicate, and make available for sharing, decoy media in such numbers to render media search engines ineffectual. The invention's scanning processing component searches media sharing network communities for illegally shared proprietary media and its manufacturing processing component constructs decoy media files mimicking identified proprietary media.

Abstract: A nano-battery or micro-battery produced by a process which includes the steps of providing a membrane with a plurality of pores, filling the membrane pores with an electrolyte, and capping the filled pores with electrodes in communication with the electrolyte to form nano-batteries or micro-batteries.

Abstract: Highly porous, adsorbent biocatalyst beads of poly(hexamethyleneadipamide) or poly(caproamide) polymer having powdered activated carbon dispersed throughout the polymer and biocatalytic material, such as bacteria, located within macropores of the beads, are highly useful and relatively inexpensive polymeric beads, compared to similar known aramid beads, in removing organic and/or some inorganic contaminants from aqueous streams. The biocatalytic material consumes the organic and/or some inorganic contaminants which are adsorbed by the activated carbon and metabolizes the contaminant into harmless products, while continuously renewing the adsorptive capacity of the activated carbon.

Abstract: A method to measure height of a vertical jump of a jumper. At least one switch is deactivated by the jumper stepping thereon. The switch is initially activated by the jumper jumping upward therefrom and thereafter deactivated upon return. A time period is measured while the switch is activated. The square of the activated time period is calculated and thereafter the result is multiplied by a constant to derive vertical jump height. Finally, the resultant vertical jump height of the jump is displayed.

Abstract: A method for screening individuals at risk for prostate cancer progression is disclosed. The method is useful for evaluating cells from patients at risk for recurrence of prostate cancer following surgery for prostate cancer. Specifically, the method uses specific Markovian nuclear texture factors, alone or in combination with other biomarkers, to determine whether the cancer will progress or lose organ confinement. In addition, methods of predicting the development of fatal metastatic disease by statistical analysis of selected biomarkers is also disclosed. The invention also contemplates a method that uses a neural network to analyze and interpret cell morphology data. Utilizing Markovian factors and other biomarkers as parameters, the network is first trained with a sets of cell data from known progressors and known non-progressors. The trained network is then used to predict prostate cancer progression in patient samples.

Abstract: An improved electroplating bath, complexing agent, product and method for producing nickel-rich nickel-iron alloys, such as Permalloy, having about 22% iron and 78% nickel. The improved electroplating bath contains a small amount of an organic amine complexing agent such as ethylenediamine or diethylenetriamine which increases the nickel/iron mass ratio of the deposit, causes nickel to be deposited in favor of iron, reduces the sensitivity of the deposit composition to the iron content of the bath and the applied current density. Further, the pH of the bath is adjusted to about 5.0 to stabilize the complexes and tartaric acid is added to complex ferric ion and thus prevent its precipitation. The organic amine complexing agents useful in accordance with the present invention are agents which complex with nickel and include ethylenediamine and diethylenetriamine each having at least two amine groups with each of the amine groups separated by two carbons.

Abstract: A method to measure height of a vertical jump of a jumper. At least one switch is deactivated by the jumper stepping thereon. The switch is initially activated by the jumper jumping upward therefrom and thereafter deactivated upon return. A time period is measured while the switch is activated. The square of the activated time period is calculated and thereafter the result is multiplied by a constant to derive vertical jump height. Finally, the resultant vertical jump height of the jump is displayed.

Abstract: A tensile test fixture for applying constant tensile forces to a tensile test specimen comprises two mounting grips, each mounted to one of two lever arms in a pivoted lever arm frame structure. One end of each lever arm is pivotally attached to a compression column while the other end of each lever arm is attached to one end of a force-applying assembly. The mounting grips are pivotally attached to their respective lever arms between the compression column and the force-applying assembly and are designed to hold opposite ends of a tensile test specimen. The force-applying assembly comprises stress and strain modules that are interchangeably installable into the force-applying assembly to selectively subject tensile test specimens to constant strain and constant stress.

Abstract: An improved electroplating bath, complexing agent, product and method for producing nickel-rich nickel-iron alloys, such as Permalloy, having about 22% iron and 78% nickel. The improved electroplating bath contains a small amount of an organic amine complexing agent such as ethylenediamine or diethylenetriamine which increases the nickel/iron mass ratio of the deposit, causes nickel to be deposited in favor of iron, reduces the sensitivity of the deposit composition to the iron content of the bath and the applied current density. Further, the pH of the bath is adjusted to about 5.0 to stabilize the complexes and tartaric acid is added to complex ferric ion and thus prevent its precipitation. The organic amine complexing agents useful in accordance with the present invention are agents which complex with nickel and include ethylenediamine and diethylenetriamine each having at least two amine groups with each of the amine groups separated by two carbons.