Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound beam quality test apparatus and methods of use. In this regard, fetal heart rate (FHR) transducer is placed for test and interconnected with fetal monitors. Phantoms of different heights can be placed on the FHR transducer. A computer system includes a beam control circuit. A plurality of hydrophone piezo-electric crystal (PZT) discs are placed on top of the phantom and interconnected with the beam control circuit. The computer system analyzes the ultrasound beam quality, of the FHR transducer, as it passes through the phantom. The beam control circuit can also control the oscillating motion of a metal plate to simulate a fetal heart beat by way of a linear actuator. The FHR transducer registered heartbeat, by way of the fetal monitor, is then compared to the simulated fetal heart beat to determine if the FHR transducer is working correctly.

Abstract: Geopolymer compositions, and methods of making and using the same are provided. Coatings and composite products prepared from geopolymer compositions are also provided.

Abstract: Geopolymer-based fire retardant intumescent coating compositions, methods of making and using the same are provided. Wood composite products prepared from geopolymer-based fire retardant intumescent coating compositions are also provided.

Abstract: No added formaldehyde (NAF) compositions and composite products are provided. Geopolymer-based compositions, composite products with improved fire retardant properties and methods of making and using the same are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved tocodynamometer transducer that exhibits increased mechanical stability, dynamic range, accuracy, and reliability. Improvement components include top and bottom enclosures, plunger, ferrite core, LVDT transformer, transformer housing, flat spring, and other components. The flat spring includes four spring ribs that are symmetrical, curvilinear in shape, identical in path length, separated by an air gap, and equally spaced between the outer ring, inner ring, and the spring ribs that are adjacent. The spring constant is identical along two or more axes improving the accuracy of the improved tocodynamometer transducer. The ferrite core travel length is increased and mechanically constrained to remain between the LVDT transforming winding increasing the dynamic range and the linearity of the voltage output of the improved tocodynamometer transducer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to differential receivers, and more particularly to a fail-safe circuit for low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) receivers having single differential input disconnect detection with a latchable control signal interrupt capability. In operation, the receiver output is applied to a Vout output as long as the control signal is in a normal operating state, and on the first occurrence of a fault condition trigger is applied to the input of a latch, the latch latches applying a fault state to the control signal which causes the Vout output to follow the control signal blocking the receiver output until the latch is reset after the fault has been corrected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved fetal heart rate transducer that overcomes shortcomings of prior transducers in several ways including utilizing an ultra slow-cure epoxy in combination with a piezo-electric disc bonding method to improve ultrasound transmission and reception characteristics, utilizing a slow-cure epoxy in combination with a frontend PCB bonding method to improve transducer reliability, utilizing a metal insert design in combination with molding-in techniques versus press fitting to improve the mechanical stability of the transducer, and utilizing a failsafe LVDS circuit to improve cable error detection and thus improve fetal monitor system reliability. In addition, a method of use of the present invention includes quantitively determining the integrity of each of the piezo-electric disc bonds with the plastic substrate as well as the integrity of the ultrasound field using various height water phantoms that simulate the human body.

Abstract: The disclosure provides strengthened products, including strengthened fibrous composite products and methods for making and using same and strengthened particulates, such as particulate fertilizer products, and methods for making and using same. The fibrous composite product can include a plurality of fibers and an at least partially cured strengthening resin. The fertilizer composition can include a particulate core that can include a plant nutrient, at least one coating layer of the strengthening resin, and at least one coating layer of a water insoluble material. The strengthening resin can include one or more aldehyde-based resins and one or more crosslinked resins. The crosslinked resin can include one or more polyamines at least partially crosslinked by one or more symmetric crosslinks and can include one or more azetidinium functional groups.

Abstract: The disclosure provides strengthened products, including strengthened fibrous composite products and methods for making and using same and strengthened particulates, such as particulate fertilizer products, and methods for making and using same. The fibrous composite product can include a plurality of fibers and an at least partially cured strengthening resin. The fertilizer composition can include a particulate core that can include a plant nutrient, at least one coating layer of the strengthening resin, and at least one coating layer of a water insoluble material. The strengthening resin can include one or more aldehyde-based resins and one or more crosslinked resins. The crosslinked resin can include one or more polyamines at least partially crosslinked by one or more symmetric crosslinks and can include one or more azetidinium functional groups.

Abstract: The disclosure provides strengthened products, including strengthened fibrous composite products and methods for making and using same and strengthened particulates, such as particulate fertilizer products, and methods for making and using same. The fibrous composite product can include a plurality of fibers and an at least partially cured strengthening resin. The fertilizer composition can include a particulate core that can include a plant nutrient, at least one coating layer of the strengthening resin, and at least one coating layer of a water insoluble material. The strengthening resin can include one or more aldehyde-based resins and one or more crosslinked resins. The crosslinked resin can include one or more polyamines at least partially crosslinked by one or more symmetric crosslinks and can include one or more azetidinium functional groups.

Abstract: The disclosure provides strengthened products, including strengthened fibrous composite products and methods for making and using same and strengthened particulates, such as particulate fertilizer products, and methods for making and using same. The fibrous composite product can include a plurality of fibers and an at least partially cured strengthening resin. The fertilizer composition can include a particulate core that can include a plant nutrient, at least one coating layer of the strengthening resin, and at least one coating layer of a water insoluble material. The strengthening resin can include one or more aldehyde-based resins and one or more crosslinked resins. The crosslinked resin can include one or more polyamines at least partially crosslinked by one or more symmetric crosslinks and can include one or more azetidinium functional groups.

Abstract: Fiberglass mats, binder compositions, and methods for making the same are provided. The fiberglass mat can include a plurality of glass fibers and an at least partially cured binder composition. The binder composition, prior to at least partial curing, can include a first copolymer modified by reaction with one or more base compounds. The first copolymer can include one or more unsaturated carboxylic acids, one or more unsaturated carboxylic anhydrides, or a combination thereof, and one or more vinyl aromatic derived units. The first copolymer can have a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 500 to about 200,000. The first copolymer can be present in an amount ranging from about 60 wt % to about 95 wt %, based on a combined weight of the first copolymer and the one or more base compounds.

Abstract: Adhesive compositions having a reduced cure time and methods for making and using same are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the adhesive composition can include a mixture of one or more phenolic-aldehyde resins and one or more cure accelerants. The one or more cure accelerants can be selected from the group consisting of: ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, one or more primary amines, one or more secondary amines, one or more tertiary amines, one or more alkanolamines, one or more aromatic amines, one or more polyamines, one or more amides, one or more polyamides, one or more compounds containing at least one amine functional group and at least one sulfur functional group, and any mixture thereof. In one or more embodiments, the adhesive composition can also include one or more hardeners.

Abstract: Adhesive compositions having a reduced cure time and methods for making and using same are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the adhesive composition can include a mixture of one or more phenolic-aldehyde resins and one or more cure accelerants. The one or more cure accelerants can be selected from the group consisting of: ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, one or more primary amines, one or more secondary amines, one or more tertiary amines, one or more alkanolamines, one or more aromatic amines, one or more polyamines, one or more amides, one or more polyamides, one or more compounds containing at least one amine functional group and at least one sulfur functional group, and any mixture thereof. In one or more embodiments, the adhesive composition can also include one or more hardeners.

Abstract: Fiberglass mats, binder compositions, and methods for making the same are provided. The fiberglass mat can include a plurality of glass fibers and an at least partially cured binder composition. The binder composition, prior to at least partial curing, can include a first copolymer modified by reaction with one or more base compounds. The first copolymer can include one or more unsaturated carboxylic acids, one or more unsaturated carboxylic anhydrides, or a combination thereof, and one or more vinyl aromatic derived units. The first copolymer can have a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 500 to about 200,000. The first copolymer can be present in an amount ranging from about 60 wt % to about 95 wt %, based on a combined weight of the first copolymer and the one or more base compounds.

Abstract: Fiberglass mats, binder compositions, and methods for making the same are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the fiberglass mat can include a plurality of glass fibers and a binder composition that includes a copolymer and one or more amines. The copolymer can include one or more unsaturated carboxylic acids, one or more unsaturated carboxylic anhydrides, or a combination thereof, and one or more vinyl aromatic derived units. The binder composition can have a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 500 to about 180,000. The fiberglass mat can have a thickness ranging from about 10 mils to about 1,000 mils, an average dry tensile strength of at least 50 lbs/3 inch; and an average Elmendorf tear strength of at least 300 gf.

Abstract: Routing-related scalability problems associated with the growth of the Internet are solved by assigning topologically encoded Internet addresses to each node within a network.

Abstract: Network convergence is greatly reduced because new routing paths are only selected when they are substantially better than pre-existing, best available paths.

Abstract: A General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Accessed Extended Mobile Internet Protocol (EMIP) [G-EMIP] network is provided for wireless mobile device access to external packet data networks. Domains are defined to incorporate a subnet of standard GPRS and EMIP network entities accessed through a Domain Router. Packet access at the radio interface is provided using the base station portion of a GPRS network. Wireless link specific processing is relegated to this potion of the G-EMIP network. EMIP is utilized as a backbone network to provide mobility and service management and interconnection to external networks. A GPRS-IP Interworking entity (GII) interworks IP and GPRS protocols between GPRS and IP addressable network entities (i.e., translates messages of each protocol to corresponding messages of the other protocol). Mobility-related functionality is handled at the IP (network) layer.

Abstract: A network management system (NMS) and method is arranged for monitoring, controlling and managing a network that includes a set of interconnected network elements (NEs). A management agent in each NE interacts with the NMS on behalf of the NE. The system and method utilizes (a) a behavior transition model based on NE status or “health” indicators for passive monitoring, (b) a status updating mechanism with adjustable or “tunable” parameters based on operating conditions, (c) a derivation procedure for correlating ripple effects, and (d) an early-warning model for proactive management.