Abstract: A moving wing waterfowl or migratory bird decoy including a decoy body constructed of a predetermined material with exterior ornamentation to simulate a live waterfowl or migratory bird, the decoy body being arranged in a predetermined orientation to simulate a waterfowl or migratory bird, the decoy body having a top and a bottom. The decoy has at least one decoy wing connected to the decoy body, the decoy wing being constructed and arranged to simulate the wing of a waterfowl or migratory bird. The decoy body is constructed and arranged of a particular plastic material to hyper-realistically resemble a waterfowl or migratory bird. The control and power module is plug and play software controllable. The decoy is mountable on a male type member post via a female type receptacle on the decoy body. The decoy has a biased stabilizer cord that also mimics the legs of the waterfowl or migratory bird.

Abstract: A safety maintenance panel for a thrust reverser is provided. The thrust reverser may comprise one or more doors configured to actuate from a closed position to a deployed position. The safety maintenance panel may be located on the thrust reverser. The safety maintenance panel may comprise a safety pin configured to engage the door in the deployed position to at least partially limit movement of the door from the deployed position. In that respect, the safety pin may be inserted into a panel pin hole through the maintenance panel and a door pin hole through the door to lock the door into the deployed position.

Abstract: An automated fluid maintenance system comprising a sensor system and a pump configured to deliver fluid from a refillable reservoir to a container holding a Christmas tree, such as a Christmas tree stand. Embodiments of the system include tree attachment hardware capable of controlling the flow, delivery and direction of the fluid being pumped from the of the fluid system's reservoir to a fluid-holding container of the Christmas tree stand and further capable of securing the point of fluid delivery to the tree stand and/or the tree itself. The tree attachment device universally attaches to any available tree stand, even the most complex stand mechanisms, sizes and shapes that obstruct the path to the Christmas tree being maintained by the automated fluid delivery system of the present application.

Abstract: An animal feeding system is provided. The feeding system includes a container that holds dry pet food, and a receptacle that gravitationally receives the pet food. The system also provides a conveyor system. The conveyor system moves the dry pet food from the receptacle to a feeding bowl. Additionally, the animal feeding system includes a processor. The processor is configured to deliver start and stop signals to a motor in response to signals sent from a user control unit. The animal feeding system additionally comprises the user control unit. The control unit offers a user interface for programming the system according to a desired feeding schedule. A method for feeding an animal using the feeding system is also provided herein.

Abstract: The tray (10) of the present invention is for use in hydroponics. The tray has a first end and a second end having a longitudinal axis defined therebetween. An inlet (20) is provided at the first end for receiving nutrient and an outlet (30) is provided at the second end for draining nutrient solution. A levee system comprising paddle assemblies (40) extending orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tray is disposed between the first end and second end of the tray. The paddle assemblies are adapted to partition the tray to define compartments and to impede the downstream flow of nutrient solution from the first end to the second end. The paddle assemblies are adjustable so as regulate depth of nutrient solution in each compartment to enable optimal irrigation of the plants cultivated in each compartment. To complete a hydroponic system, the tray of the present invention connects to at least one reservoir for holding nutrient solution.

Abstract: A multi-layered animal garment is configured to aid shedding of fur from an animal. The garment includes a fur agitation layer comprising a plurality of fur agitation features to facilitate the shedding as the fur agitation layer moves relative to the fur and a mesh layer configured to retain fur pieces shed from the fur. Each layer includes at least one leg band configured to be attached to a leg of the animal. The fur agitation layer and the mesh layer are elastically connected to each other. The leg band of the fur agitation layer and the leg band of the mesh layer cause the fur agitation layer and the mesh layer to move in relation to each other.

Abstract: Ergonomic protective cone collars for pets, their use, and positioning are disclosed. Such cone-collars may be made of two main sections, a cone-like-structure and an integral-collar that may be attached to a base of the cone-like-structure. The integral-collar may be collar like, intended to be worn and fastened around a neck of the animal. The cone-like-structure may be made from a plurality of radially-oriented-tapered-pockets, that due to their fill and/or material of construction may be semi-rigid, imparting a degree of inherent stiffness, flexibility, and/or elasticity. The plurality of radially-oriented-tapered-pockets may be of different lengths such that the cone-like-structure has an overall scalloped shape which may provide for several benefits, such as proper coverage proximate to the animal's mouth region and less visually obscuring material at the sides of the animal's head. A cone-collar may be positioned properly on the animal via removable attachment to a harness worn by the animal.

Abstract: A watering assembly is provided. The watering assembly includes a reservoir body, a support assembly, a wicking assembly, and an inlet assembly. The reservoir body defines an enclosed space. The support assembly is structured to support soil. The support assembly is coupled to the reservoir body. The wicking assembly includes a number of wicking elements; the wicking elements are coupled to at least one of the reservoir body or support assembly. The wicking elements extend from the reservoir enclosed space to a location outside the reservoir enclosed space. The inlet assembly is coupled to the reservoir body and structured to provide fluid communication from a location outside the reservoir enclosed space to the reservoir enclosed space. When the reservoir body, the support assembly, the wicking assembly and the inlet assembly are assembled, the reservoir body, the support assembly, the wicking assembly and the inlet assembly form a contained watering assembly.

Abstract: A fish attraction device that includes a jig body, a blade with a snap, a pair of crimping sleeves, a quick change snap swivel and a crinkle resistant leader wire. The jig body includes an attachment in its front portion for attaching the blade, and the rear portion of the jig body includes a first crimp sleeve that is attached to a first end of the leader wire. The leader wire extends from the rear portion of the jig body a sufficient length for attaching to a chase bait that can be appropriately attached on an opposite end of the leader wire using a second crimp sleeve and quick change snap swivel.

Abstract: A pet toy includes a handle, a cord, a retractable cord apparatus coupled with a first end of the cord and being structured to retract the cord into itself after the cord has been pulled out, an attachment mechanism coupled to the second end of the cord and structured to releasably couple to an object, and a telescopic pole having a first end coupled to the handle and a second end coupled to the retractable cord apparatus.

Abstract: A smart leash system is disclosed, which includes a handheld system configured to be held by a user, a collar system configured to be worn by an animal, a leash coupled to and extended between the handheld system and the collar system, and a load measuring sensor coupled to the handheld system and configured to measure force applied to the leash, wherein one of the handheld system, the collar system, and both the handheld system and the collar system is configured to receive a force signal representing the force applied to the leash and signal the collar system to provide a feedback to the animal when the force exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Nuclear fuel structures and methods for fabricating are disclosed herein. The nuclear fuel structure includes a plurality of fibers arranged in the structure and a multilayer fuel region within at least one fiber of the plurality of fibers. The multilayer fuel region includes an inner layer region made of a nuclear fuel material, and an outer layer region encasing the nuclear fuel material. A plurality of discrete multilayer fuel regions may be formed over a core region along the at least one fiber, the plurality of discrete multilayer fuel regions having a respective inner layer region of nuclear fuel material and a respective outer layer region encasing the nuclear fuel material. The plurality of fibers may be wrapped around an inner rod or tube structure or inside an outer tube structure of the nuclear fuel structure, providing both structural support and the nuclear fuel material of the nuclear fuel structure.

Abstract: A fuel rod and a fuel assembly for light water reactors, in which crack penetration to a fuel cladding tube or an end plug can be prevented, are provided. The fuel rod 10a includes: a cylindrical cladding tube 11 formed of a ceramic base material; a connection 21 formed of the same material as the cladding tube 11; and an end plug 12a having a concave portion 12f of a continuously curved surface shape adapted to house the connection 21. The end plug 12a is formed of the same material as the cladding tube 11. A slanted surface 11a formed at an end portion of the cladding tube 11, and a slanted surface 12d formed at an end portion of the end plug 12a are joined in contact with each other with a metallic joint material 20. The joint is supported by the connection 21.

Abstract: A method of producing a mycological composite material comprises inoculating a substrate of fibrous material with an inoculum of mycelial tissue; rolling the inoculated substrate into a roll; and thereafter incubating the rolled inoculated substrate for a time sufficient for the mycelial tissue to grow hyphae that enmesh with the substrate to form a cohesive unified filamentous network with the rolled inoculated substrate being characterized in being flexible. The rolled inoculated substrate may be subsequently processed by subjecting lengths of the roll to heat and pressure in molds to form rigid products.

Abstract: A system and method for drying cavities containing spent nuclear fuel is devised. The invention utilizes a non-intrusive procedure that is based on monitoring the dew point temperature of a non-reactive gas that is circulated through the cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a system for drying a cavity loaded with spent nuclear fuel comprising: a canister forming the cavity, the cavity having an inlet and an outlet; a source of non-reactive gas; means for flowing the non-reactive gas from the source of non-reactive gas through the cavity; and means for repetitively measuring the dew point temperature of the non-reactive gas exiting the cavity.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor includes a nuclear reactor core comprising fissile material disposed in a reactor pressure vessel having vessel penetrations that exclusively carry flow into the nuclear reactor and at least one vessel penetration that carries flow out of the nuclear reactor. An integral isolation valve (IIV) system includes passive IIVs each comprising a check valve built into a forged flange and not including an actuator, and one or more active IIVs each comprising an active valve built into a forged flange and including an actuator. Each vessel penetration exclusively carrying flow into the nuclear reactor is protected by a passive IIV whose forged flange is directly connected to the vessel penetration. Each vessel penetration carrying flow out of the nuclear reactor is protected by an active IIV whose forged flange is directly connected to the vessel penetration. Each active valve may be a normally closed valve.

Abstract: An inexpensive, biodegradable, easily transportable mosquito trap and improved attractant formulation and apparatus are provided.

Abstract: A fishing lure for fishing in streams, rivers and lakes, comprising a body (1), a fishing line coupler (2) for connecting the body to a fishing line, a fishing hook (3), a fishing hook coupler (4) coupling the fishing hook (3) to the body (1), and a fishing hook receiver (5) mounted to the body such that the fishing hook (3) and the fishing hook receiver (5) are attracted to each other by way of magnetic attraction so that when in use, the fishing hook (3) is less prone to get caught by objects such as pebbles, rocks or tree branches, where most of the fishes tend to hide.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for a container for a plant includes a body having a vertical axis, an open top, a base, a sidewall extending upward from the base, holes in the base and legs extending downward from the base. The holes comprise elongated slots and apertures that intersect each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel neutron source. A neutron source (1) of the present invention includes a neutron producing material layer (3) and a metal layer (2), and the metal layer (2) contains a metal element which has a high hydrogen diffusivity and generates radionuclides having a short half-life upon receipt of irradiation of neutron beams.