Abstract: A method for determining a presence of live 3-phase electrical lines inside a buried pipe or conduit from outside the pipe or conduit and preferably from an above ground location. A sensor suitable for detecting vibratory signals is placed on the ground proximate the location of the buried pipe. The sensor is then used to determine the presence of a current frequency signal and a current harmonic frequency signal, whereby presence of the current frequency signal and/or the current harmonic frequency signal corresponds to a presence of a live 3-phase electrical line within the buried pipe or conduit. Although intended primarily for use in connection with buried pipes, the method may also be employed on exposed pipes and conduits.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to determine temporality of a query in order to generate a search result including a list of objects that are not only based on matching of the objects to the query but also based on temporality analysis of the query. Here, the temporality of the query can be defined as the distribution over time of the objects matching the query, i.e., the chronology histogram of the query. Such distribution can be analyzed to provide a classification of the intent of the query. Classification of the intent of the query can result either in discrete classification of the query into categories, or in continuous classification of the query which may be a scalar or vector value resulting from transformations of the chronology histogram.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to provide a ranking of citied objects and citing subjects identified as results of a search, where the relative expertise of subjects or sources of citations to said targets or objects is considered. The relative expertise is a function of the share of the subject's citations matching the query term or search criteria relative to the share of all subjects' citations matching the query term, weighted by the influence of the subjects. This allows the identification of “experts” on “topics” without any pre-defined categorization of topics or pre-computation of expertise. Under this novel approach, expertise can be determined on any query term in real-time.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to examine and determine quality of objects cited by citations in a search result based on a citation graph that includes citing subjects, citations, and cited objects. First, influence scores of a plurality of subjects/sources that compose the citations of the objects in the search result are calculated. The quality of the objects cited by the subjects can then be determined by examining the influence scores for the subjects of the citations. Finally, the cited objects selected can be presented to a user or provided to a thirty party for further processing together with the relevant citations and citing subjects.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a defect of a defective heat fusion joint connecting two pipe segments in which the time of flight of an ultrasonic waveform reflected off an exterior surface of a heat fusion joint fitting connecting the two pipe segments or reflected off an interior wall of one of the pipe segments at a plurality of locations around the circumference of the heat fusion joint fitting is measured to determine the minimum and maximum times of flight, which correspond to the maximum and minimum combined wall thicknesses of the heat fusion joint fitting connecting the pipe segments and the pipe segment wall. If the difference between the minimum and maximum combined wall thicknesses as determined from the measured times of flight is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, then the heat fusion joint is defective and possibly unacceptable for use, requiring a second set of time-of-flight measurements to characterize the nature of the defect.

Abstract: A method for inspecting joined material interfaces, such as butt fusion pipe joints of plastic pipes, using ultrasonic waveforms to discriminate between acceptable and unacceptable interfaces. The waveforms (amplitude vs time) having been transmitted to a material interface of interest are divided into a number of time zones and the amplitudes of the waveforms within the time zones compared against waveform amplitudes obtained from known acceptable joined material interfaces to determine the quality of the material interface of interest.

Abstract: A method for conducting a secure transaction over a network includes the steps of receiving a price and a transaction identifier from a merchant, the transaction identifier identifying a purchase selection made by a user, receiving a user identifier from a user, receiving a financial institution selection from the user, initiating a communication session with the selected financial institution, receiving a financial-institution user-identifier from the user, communicating the financial-institution user-identifier to the selected financial institution, communicating to the selected financial institution a request to transfer funds, receiving the funds from the selected financial institution, and sending the funds to the merchant.

Abstract: A method for conducting a secure transaction over a network includes the steps of receiving a price and a transaction identifier from a merchant, the transaction identifier identifying a purchase selection made by a user, receiving a user identifier from a user, receiving a financial institution selection from the user, initiating a communication session with the selected financial institution, receiving a financial-institution user-identifier from the user, communicating the financial-institution user-identifier to the selected financial institution, communicating to the selected financial institution a request to transfer funds, receiving the funds from the selected financial institution, and sending the funds to the merchant.

Abstract: A method for inspecting joined material interfaces, such as butt fusion pipe joints of plastic pipes, using ultrasonic waveforms to discriminate between acceptable and unacceptable interfaces. The waveforms (amplitude vs time) having been transmitted to a material interface of interest are divided into a number of time zones and the amplitudes of the waveforms within the time zones compared against waveform amplitudes obtained from known acceptable joined material interfaces to determine the quality of the material interface of interest.

Abstract: A method for conducting a secure transaction over a network includes the steps of receiving a price and a transaction identifier from a merchant, the transaction identifier identifying a purchase selection made by a user, receiving a user identifier from a user, receiving a financial institution selection from the user, initiating a communication session with the selected financial institution, receiving a financial-institution user-identifier from the user, communicating the financial-institution user-identifier to the selected financial institution, communicating to the selected financial institution a request to transfer funds, receiving the funds from the selected financial institution, and sending the funds to the merchant.

Abstract: The corrosion inhibiting activity of quaternary ammonium compounds is enhanced by the addition of a carbamide, specifically urea. In particular, the arylquinolinium halide corrosion inhibitor's activity with respect to a galvanized surface is significantly enhanced by the addition of the urea.

Abstract: Forward osmosis is utilized to dispense chemicals into a process water system such as a cooling tower, chilled water system, boiler, or pulp and paper plant. The dispenser includes a flexible pouch filled with treatment chemicals and an osmotic membrane. The dispenser is placed in the process water system. Water passing through the membrane increases internal pressure, which forces chemical into the process water system. The exposed surface area of the osmotic membrane can be altered to control dispensing rate. The apparatus can either utilize the chemical treatment agent as the osmotic agent, or can be divided into two separate areas utilizing a separate osmotic agent such as sodium chloride. The dispenser can be positioned in the process water system at a location where water flows onto the osmotic membrane only when the process water system is in operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating boiler and condensate water by the addition of an effective amount of a hydroxyamine-acid ester treatment reagent or an all-in-one treatment composition comprising a hydroxyamine-acid ester. Modification of a hydroxyamine to a hydroxyamine-acid ester generally reduces the odors of the amine while providing a means to formulate the composition into a solid form. The ester typically decomposes at conditions in the boiler to release the hydroxyamine to treat the boiler water. Other components used to treat boiler water and condensate related problems may be formulated with the hydroxyamine-acid ester to form the all-in-one treatment composition.

Abstract: The invention is a water treatment composition comprising at least one phosphonamide and blends thereof and a method to treat water. As phosphonamides are generally odorless, and typically solids, phosphonamide and phosphonamide blend compositions are generally odorless, conveniently processed and manufactured, and safely used without risks of exposure to odors and vapors associated with the corresponding amines. Advantageously, phosphonamides blended with amino-phosphate esters provide useful treatment compositions. The inventive compositions are generally used to treat water contained in water flow systems such as boilers and cooling towers.

Abstract: The invention is a water treatment composition comprising at least one phosphonamide and blends thereof and a method to treat water. As phosphonamides are generally odorless, and typically solids, phosphonamide and phosphonamide blend compositions are generally odorless, conveniently processed and manufactured, and safely used without risks of exposure to odors and vapors associated with the corresponding amines. Advantageously, phosphonamides blended with amino-phosphate esters provide useful treatment compositions. The inventive compositions are generally used to treat water contained in water flow systems such as boilers and cooling towers.

Abstract: The invention is a water treatment composition comprising at least one phosphonamide and blends thereof and a method to treat water. As phosphonamides are generally odorless, and typically solids, phosphonamide and phosphonamide blend compositions are generally odorless, conveniently processed and manufactured, and safely used without risks of exposure to odors and vapors associated with the corresponding amines. Advantageously, phosphonamides blended with amino-phosphate esters provide useful treatment compositions. The inventive compositions are generally used to treat water contained in water flow systems such as boilers and cooling towers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating boiler and condensate water by the addition of an effective amount of a hydroxyamine-acid ester treatment reagent or an all-in-one treatment composition comprising a hydroxyamine-acid ester. Modification of a hydroxyamine to a hydroxyamine-acid ester generally reduces the odors of the amine while providing a means to formulate the composition into a solid form. The ester typically decomposes at conditions in the boiler to release the hydroxyamine to treat the boiler water. Other components used to treat boiler water and condensate related problems may be formulated with the hydroxyamine-acid ester to form the all-in-one treatment composition.

Abstract: The invention is a water treatment composition comprising at least one phosphonamide and blends thereof and a method to treat water. As phosphonamides are generally odorless, and typically solids, phosphonamide and phosphonamide blend compositions are generally odorless, conveniently processed and manufactured, and safely used without risks of exposure to odors and vapors associated with the corresponding amines. Advantageously, phosphonamides blended with amino-phosphate esters provide useful treatment compositions. The inventive compositions are generally used to treat water contained in water flow systems such as boilers and cooling towers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating boiler and condensate water by the addition of an effective amount of a hydroxyamine-acid ester treatment reagent or an all-in-one treatment composition comprising a hydroxyamine-acid ester. Modification of a hydroxyamine to a hydroxyamine-acid ester generally reduces the odors of the amine while providing a means to formulate the composition into a solid form. The ester typically decomposes at conditions in the boiler to release the hydroxyamine to treat the boiler water. Other components used to treat boiler water and condensate related problems may be formulated with the hydroxyamine-acid ester to form the all-in-one treatment composition.

Abstract: A method for locating gas leaks from underground gas pipelines in which a first acoustic sensor having a first signal output is positioned in ground disposed substantially above or at a distance from the underground gas pipeline. At least one second acoustic sensor having a second signal output is positioned in the ground at a plurality of locations substantially above the underground gas pipeline. The output signals from the acoustic sensors are measured for each location of the second acoustic sensor and the signals are adaptively filtered to remove common noise signal components. The statistical minima of these rms voltages are determined for both the first output signal and the adaptively filtered second output signals and the differences determined. The location of the second acoustic sensor corresponding to the largest positive said difference is the location closest to the leak site.