Abstract: The present invention is directed to an excavator that is operable in manual and automatic modes and uses state machines to effect unit operations, rotationally offset swing actuators to rotate boom and cutter head, a fail safe hydraulic system to maintain gripper pressure in the event of a malfunction of the hydraulic system, differing position and pressure control functions in the hydraulic actuators, a kinematic module to effect pitch and roll adjustments, a cutting face profile generator to generate a profile of the excavation face, and an optimization module to realize a high degree of optimization of excavator operation.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operating parameters of a membrane bioreactor system, the method including the steps of determining a control algorithm based on the relationship between the value of a parameter of the influent provided to the membrane bioreactor system and an optimal performance measurement parameter of the system and controlling one or more operating parameters of the membrane bioreactor system using the determined control algorithm.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and an apparatus for providing a high efficiency seal in an electrical connector. The seal provides an impediment to the passage of fluid at one end of the electrical connector to the environment at the other end of the electrical connector. The electrical connector may be incorporated into an over-mold that contains other components. The electrical connector achieves the highly efficient seal through a combination of a dual torturous path design, incorporation of melt ribs, and may further involve the technique of impregnation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method comprising disposing a functionalized patternable material on a substrate, wherein the functionalized patternable material comprises a first click chemical moiety; patterning the functionalized patternable material; and reacting the first click chemical moiety with a complementary reactant to form an functionalized patterned surface, the complementary reactant comprising a second click chemical moiety that reacts with the first click chemical moiety; the complementary reactant comprising an functional group.

Abstract: De-jittering a transport stream, at least some transport packets of the transport stream carrying audio-video data and at least some of the transport packets of the transport stream containing Program Clock References (PCRs). A data buffer receives the transport packets and stores the transport packets. Pacing counter clock circuitry produces a pacing counter clock and adjusts the pacing counter clock based upon a pacing counter clock adjust signal. Pacing control circuitry produces the pacing counter clock adjust signal based upon receipt of the transport packets. PCR packet pacing circuitry receives the pacing counter clock, based upon the packing counter clock, retrieves transport packets from the data buffer, and transmits the retrieved transport packets as an output transport stream. The pacing counter clock adjust signal may be based upon data buffer fullness or based upon an estimated program clock generated from the PCRs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane bioreactor process combined with an advanced biological sludge digestion process that provides significant improvements in sludge digestion by reducing the costs and resources required for disposing of digested sludge. The offline treatment vessel is used to solubilize the organic material by operating in a very low oxygen environment. Digested process fluid is transferred back to the membrane bioreactor. The processes and apparatus substantially reduce the production of waste sludge.

Abstract: A method and system of personalized commercial cache, including one or more of the following: obtaining personalized consumer information; identifying commercials corresponding to the obtained personalized consumer information; downloading personalized commercials that are the commercials corresponding to the personalized consumer information; storing the downloaded personalized commercials; and playing the stored personalized commercials by splicing the stored personalized commercials into a television program at a predetermined time in the television program.

Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane bioreactor process combined with an advanced biological sludge digestion process that provides significant improvements in sludge digestion by reducing the costs and resources required for disposing of digested sludge. The offline treatment vessel is used to solubilize the organic material by operating in a very low oxygen environment. Digested process fluid is transferred back to the membrane bioreactor. The processes and apparatus substantially reduce the production of waste sludge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane bioreactor process combined with an advanced biological sludge digestion process that provides significant improvements in sludge digestion by reducing the costs and resources required for disposing of digested sludge. The offline treatment vessel is used to solubilize the organic material by operating in a very low oxygen environment. Digested process fluid is transferred back to the membrane bioreactor. The processes and apparatus substantially reduce the production of waste sludge. The device includes one or more weirs operable to remove grease and scum.

Abstract: An article on which a message or a design appears when a certain temperature is reached is described. The article comprises a substrate, a first layer printed on said substrate using regular ink, and a second layer printed on said substrate or first layer using thermochromic ink. The substrate must be selected such that it is of a color which provides a visually discernable contrast between the substrate and the color of the first layer. Further, the hue and chroma of the first layer must be adjusted to the hue and chroma of the second layer in its cold state to ensure that the first layer is hidden. The method of making this article is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and an apparatus for providing a high efficiency seal in an electrical connector. The seal provides an impediment to the passage of fluid at one end of the electrical connector to the environment at the other end of the electrical connector. The electrical connector may be incorporated into an over-mold that contains other components. The electrical connector achieves the highly efficient seal through a combination of a dual torturous path design, incorporation of melt ribs, and may further involve the technique of impregnation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and an apparatus for providing a high efficiency seal in an electrical connector. The seal provides an impediment to the passage of fluid at one end of the electrical connector to the environment at the other end of the electrical connector. The electrical connector may be incorporated into an over-mold that contains other components. The electrical connector achieves the highly efficient seal through a combination of a dual torturous path design, incorporation of melt ribs, and may further involve the technique of impregnation.

Abstract: A particle collector comprises a housing defining an enclosed chamber. An inlet opening in the housing provides fluid communication between a source of gas and particles and the chamber and an outlet opening provides fluid communication between the chamber and the exterior of the housing. The outlet opening is connected to a pump for drawing gas and particles through the housing from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. A collecting member having an adhesive on at least a portion of the surface is disposed in the chamber between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. The adhesive surface of the collecting member is positioned adjacent to the inlet opening. When gas and particles are drawn through the housing, the inlet opening directs a stream of gas and particles at the surface of the collecting member. Particles having an aerodynamic equivalent diameter of less than about 2.5 ?m are captured.

Abstract: An improved method and/or apparatus for completing a wellbore is provided. In one embodiment, a method of lining a pre-drilled wellbore is provided. The method includes the act of providing a casing assembly, the casing assembly including a string of casing; and a retractable joint comprising an inner tubular and an outer tubular. The method further includes the acts of running the casing assembly into the pre-drilled wellbore and actuating the retractable joint, thereby reducing the length of the casing assembly through movement between the inner and outer tubulars.

Abstract: The present invention provides antibodies which specifically bind early conception factor, which can be found in body fluids of animals including but not limited to the cow, cat, dog, horse, human, sheep, and pig. The invention provides methods for detecting conception or the absence of conception in an animal, the latter being recognized by the absence of early conception factor in a suitable body fluid collected from the animal. Apparati for detecting early conception factor in a body fluid from an animal comprising the antibodies which specifically bind early conception factor are also provided.

Abstract: This is a device which will provide nasal dilation and yet will provide comfort for the user. It will be portable and easily installed or removed by the user.

Abstract: A storage page for the display of compact discs and photographs, having a back sheet attached to a cover sheet to create one or more pockets for storage of photographs or compact discs. The cover sheet has a slit for insertion of the photograph or compact disc into the pocket. Selective joining of the back sheet and cover sheet create means to assist in holding the photograph or compact disc in place. The page preferably is substantially rectangular, and may have one edge hole-punched for inserting in a loose-leaf binder. The page also may include a memo area for the recording and display of notes, descriptions and other indicia.

Abstract: An album page for displaying articles, such as photographs, includes an intermediate, preferably opaque, sheet and a pair of outer sheets made from a transparent plastic material. Die cuts are provided in the immediate sheet at a plurality of locations, and the two outer sheets are adhered to one another at the locations defined by the die cuts. The preferred album page does not use adhesives to bond either outer sheet to the intermediate sheet, and the die cut/seal areas are arranged to permit display of rectangular objects in either horizontal or vertical positions. The invention features an arrangement, which insures that horizontally displayed objects are supported on both sides of the bottom edge thereof to enhance the overall aesthetics of the filled page.

Abstract: A cluster router architecture and methods for performing distributed routing is presented. Implementations include off-the shelf Personal Computer (PC) hardware. The cluster router architecture includes PC-based router cluster nodes toroidally interconnected in an intra-connection network in multiple dimensions. The cluster router may further make use of a management node. Each router cluster node is provided with the same routing functionality and a node centric configuration enabling each router cluster node by itself or multiple router cluster nodes in the cluster router to provide routing responses for packets pending processing. The method divides packet processing into entry packet processing and routing response processing; and exit processing. Entry packet processing and routing response processing is performed by router cluster nodes receiving packets from communication networks in which the cluster router participates.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of Cynara named ‘22BD’ that is characterized by upright habit, deeply fluted hairy stems, large ascending leaves, and edible compact immature flower buds that are uniform in shape and color.