Abstract: A sprinkler apparatus (10) comprises a container (12) for containing a powder to be sprinkled, a stencil (24) disposed at one end of the container (12) and dispensing means for controllably dispensing powder contained in the container (12) through the stencil (24). The dispensing means includes a movable blade (26) which is disposed within the container (12) immediately adjacent and overlying the stencil (24). The blade (26) has at least one opening (34, 36) therein for allowing powder contained in the container (12) to pass through the opening (34, 36) and through the stencil (24).

Abstract: Silica-coated nanoparticles functionalized with biologically active molecules such as antibodies and nucleotides are used to label cells, to detect and isolate nucleic acid molecules having specific nucleotide sequences, and to separate a mixture of different nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure, a rack equipment mount with a self-locating/self-adjusting rear fastener mechanism is disclosed. The equipment mount can have a first rail and a second rail securable horizontally in a rack system, wherein self-locating fasteners or receivers can be slidably connected to the rails. Rack mountable equipment to be inserted into the rack can have a mating fastener attached to the rear of its chassis and the self locating fasteners can engage with the mating fasteners as the chassis is slid into the rack. The self-locating fastener can be spring loaded in a forward position and slide along the rail to self-locate at the appropriate depth when a chassis is inserted into the rack. The self-locating fasteners allow equipment chassis of varying depths to be installed into a rack and easily secured at the rear of the rack.

Abstract: Compositions and methods use the gel-forming properties of microporous particles to create useful formulations combining two free-flowing materials to produce a hydrogel mass. The free-flowing materials preferably provide dry microporous particles (preferably as an aerosol) that may contain additional agents, and a second composition of a fluid material which is an aqueous solution of one or more high molecular weight polymers capable of forming a hydrogel upon further concentration and/or reaction. The hydrogels can be preferably formed on a surface by spraying the two compositions as fluids together in the proper ratio onto the surface.

Abstract: A composition, method, and use of microporous particles such as polysaccharide hemostat particle gels activates platelet rich plasma (PRP) or other platelet-containing substances. The composition may contain microporous polysaccharaide hemostats (MPH) mixed with platelet-rich plasma, platelet-poor plasma, blood, or the like. The method may contain mixing the MPH with platelet-rich plasma or other platelet-containing substance either by hand, in a device, or by applying the MPH directly to the wound before or after application of the platelet-containing substance. Alternatively, MPH can by applied directly to the bleeding wound, using the blood as a source of platelets.

Abstract: Masses of particles are structurally supported by the application of vacuum through a support surface having holes thereon that are smaller than the average diameter of the particle mass that is to be supported. The reduced pressure structurally supports particles on the support surface. The mass of particles tends is so well supported that it tends retain its shape unless additional forces are applied. The system comprises the vacuum applicator (e.g., pump), a vacuum carrying system and the support surface. When a mass of particles is supported on the support surface under vacuum, the particles can be carried to a target surface, the mass of particles pressed against the target surface, the mass conforming to the target surface, and the vacuum reduced or stopped, depositing the particle mass onto the surface in excellent shape compliance with that surface.

Abstract: The claimed invention provides for new sample preparation methods enabling direct sequencing of PCR products using pyrophosphate sequencing techniques. The PCR products may be specific regions of a genome. The techniques provided in this disclosure allows for SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) detection, classification, and assessment of individual allelic polymorphisms in one individual or a population of individuals. The results may be used for diagnostic and treatment of patients as well as assessment of viral and bacterial population identification.

Abstract: This invention relates to deployable hemostatic materials comprising chitosan fibers upon which hemostatic microporous polysaccharide microspheres are deposited. The hemostatic materials are suitable for use in controlling active bleeding from artery and vein lacerations, sealing femoral artery punctures, and controlling oozing from tissue.

Abstract: Silica-coated nanoparticles functionalized with biologically active molecules such as antibodies and nucleotides are used to label cells, to detect and isolate nucleic acid molecules having specific nucleotide sequences, and to separate a mixture of different nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: A system and integrated circuit (die) including a clock generator that includes an on-chip inductor and uses the inherent capacitance of the load to generate a sinusoidal clock signal. The inductor is connected between a current source and an inverting switch. The output of the switch is a substantially sinusoidal signal that connected directly to at least a portion of the clock driven circuits without intermediate buffering. In the preferred embodiment, the clock generator is a dual phase design that includes a pair of cross-coupled MOSFET's, a pair of solid state on-chip inductors, and a current source. Each of the on-chip inductors is connected between the current source and the drain of one of the MOSFET's. The outputs of the clock generator are provided directly to the clock inputs of at least a portion of the clock driven circuits on the die.

Abstract: Cracks in the shaft of a reactor coolant pump adjacent a tapered end on which the impeller is mounted are removed by machining a circumferential groove in the pump shaft to a depth and an axial length which removes the cracks but does not extend into the tapered end of the pump shaft. A split ring fills the groove to an outer diameter which matches the outer diameter of the pump shaft. A thermal sleeve shrink fit over the split ring has internal annular ribs engaging the shaft and the ring to form an annulus which communicates with the pump chamber sufficiently to maintain a layer of substantially stagnant coolant over the split ring and the pump shaft at the pressure of the coolant being pumped.

Abstract: A thermal barrier for a nuclear reactor coolant pump includes a stack of pancake cooling coils encircling the pump shaft where it enters the pump chamber. This stack of coiling coils has an irregular peripheral surface formed by axially extending, diametrically opposed, inlet and outlet tubes which are circumferentially indexed for each pancake coil. The inner surface of a cylindrical cover has a complimentary inner peripheral surface formed by two sets of diametrically opposed cascaded steps so that the volume of the annulus between the coil stack and cover is minimized to reduce stratification of cooling water injected into the cover. A collar around the pump shaft at the opening in the end wall of the cover extends axially into the coil stack to prevent vortices produced by the spinning shaft from flowing across the end wall of the cover, while circumferentially spaced holes in the collar prevent significant alteration of the thermal conditions of the pancake coiling coils.

Abstract: An auxiliary thruster for a marine vessel. The auxiliary thruster includes a submersible propulsion unit which has a shroud with a propeller rotatably mounted therein. A canned electric motor is mounted between the propeller and the shroud for rotating the propeller to create thrust. A propulsion unit deploying and rotating mechanism is mounted on the hull and on the propulsion unit. The propulsion unit deploying and rotating mechanism is operable to extend the propulsion unit out of the hull and retract it into the hull and to rotate the propulsion unit to direct the thrust generated thereby in any desired direction when the thruster is in the deployed position. When the thruster is retracted, it is positioned with a tunnel extending transversely through the hull. Rotation of the propeller while in the retracted position generates laterally directed thrust through the tunnel.

Abstract: A fluid pump powered by an integral canned motor includes a housing having a cylindrical passage extending therethrough. A sealed annular stator is mounted around the housing. An impeller assembly is rotatably mounted in the passage in the housing. The impeller assembly includes an axial flow impeller and a sealed rotor mounted around the periphery of the impeller. Bearings, including thrust bearings, are mounted between the periphery of the impeller assembly and the housing. A radial flow auxiliary impeller may be mounted on the impeller assembly to create a radial flow of water from the cylindrical passage in the housing to a peripheral fluid circulation channel between the impeller assembly and the housing. The auxiliary flow impeller pressurizes the peripheral fluid circulation channel.

Abstract: A water jet propulsor powered by an integral canned electric motor includes a hollow housing having a hermetically sealed stator mounted therein. The stator is electrically connected to a source of electrical energy in the vessel. An impeller assembly that includes a tubular suction shroud and impeller is rotatably mounted inside the housing. The impeller assembly includes a hermetically sealed rotor which is mounted around the suction shroud and positioned inside the stator in operative association therewith. Energizing the stator rotates the rotor, which in turn rotates the impeller to pump water from the intake end of the housing to the outlet end of the housing and adds velocity and head to the water to be discharged from the outlet end. The discharged water creates thrust which propels the vessel.

Abstract: The submersible propulsor unit of the invention comprises a cylindrical shroud having a water inlet and a water outlet, a propeller having a hub rotatably mounted within the shroud on a shaft, and an electric motor for driving the propeller that includes a rotor mounted around the periphery of the propeller, and a stator circumscribing the shroud, and a bearing assembly that includes means for circulating ambient water around the bearing surfaces to both lubricate and cool them. A stationary cover is detachably secured over the bearing assembly on the water inlet end of the shaft to provide easy access to the bearings in the bearing assembly The vane members that concentrically mount the shaft within the interior of the shroud are, in one embodiment, all connected on the downstream side of the propeller to reduce the cavitation and resulting noise when the propeller rotates. The magnetization of the rotor is provided by a plurality of permanent magnets for both improved efficiency, and lower noise.

Abstract: The submersible propulsor unit of the invention comprises a cylindrical shroud having a water inlet and a water outlet, a propeller having a hub rotatably mounted within the shroud on a shaft, and an electric motor for driving the propeller that includes a rotor mounted around the periphery of the propeller, and a stator circumscribing the shroud, and a bearing assembly that includes means for circulating ambient water around the bearing surfaces to both lubricate and cool them. A stationary cover is detachably secured over the bearing assembly on the water inlet end of the shaft to provide easy access to the bearings in the bearing assembly. The vane members that concentrically mount the shaft within the interior of the shroud are all connected on the downstream side of the propeller to reduce the cavitation and resulting noise when the propeller rotates. The magnetization of the rotor is provided by a plurality of permanent magnets for both improved efficiency, and lower noise.

Abstract: A pivoted pad bearing assembly of the Kingsbury type provides for leveling of bearing pads arranged in a circular array utilizing hydrostatic pressure rather than mechanical links. The leveling device is in the form of a hydraulic bearing support module having a variable volume hydraulic chamber. Pipe segments connect each hydraulic chamber to form a closed circuit and the circuit is completely filled with hydraulic fluid. Thereby, equal force will be exerted upon each pad at all times so that all pads will operate at an equal thrust load. The bearing assembly has particularly useful application in an integral motor submersible propulsor as a large diameter thrust bearing housed within an outer shroud of the propulsor at both upstream and downstream ends of a rotor mounted about the periphery of a propeller of the propulsor. By placing the thrust bearing within the shroud, greater thrust bearing surface areas can be obtained to handle larger thrust.

Abstract: A high-thrust, shock-resistant submersible propulsor unit comprises of a shroud having a water inlet and a water outlet, a shaft assembly centrally mounted within the shroud, and an upstream and a downstream propeller, each of which includes a separate hub rotatably mounted on the shaft assembly, first and second electric motors for independently rotating the upstream and the downstream propellers, wherein each motor includes a rotor mounted around the outer periphery of one of the propellers, and a stator mounted on the shroud around the rotor, and first and second bearing assemblies, each of which includes a thrust bearing disposed within the hubs of the upstream and downstream propellers in the shaft assembly, wherein the thrust bearings associated with the first and second bearing assemblies are located on opposite ends of the shaft assembly. Each of the bearing assemblies includes a removable cover which affords easy and separate access to the bearing contained in each.