Abstract: Systems and methods include a wing tool configured to be operable from work vessel(s), the wing tool including thrusters capable of fluidizing sediments from a first seabed location and moving it to a second seabed location, the second seabed location including a trench or differently shaped collection sump previously made by the wing tool and/or an extraction pump. The extraction pump operates from a second work vessel having sufficient capacity to pump fluidized sediments from the trench. Certain systems include a separation unit that separates sand from silts and clays and water from collected sediment. Systems and methods for reclamation of reservoirs, moving sand waves, for pre-trenching and/or recovering marine pipelines and cables, for removing cover from marine archaeological sites and for disposing of contaminated bottom materials in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a short-range communication device (10, 10?, 5 10?) for a personal protective equipment or a personal protective device (200, 210, 220, 230) comprising a transmission unit (20, 20?, 20?) for wirelessly transmitting a voice signal of a user (100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) to a receiving unit (40,40?, 40?) over a predetermined distance such that a communication channel is established between the transmission unit (20, 20?, 20?) and the receiving unit (40, 40?, 40?) so that a user (100, 10 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) can hear the voice signal. The present disclosure further relates to a short-range communication system comprising at least two short-range communication devices (10, 10?, 10?) according to the present disclosure and to a method of establishing a short-range communication between such devices (10, 10?, 10?).

Abstract: A method is presented for ranking documents identified in a search relative to a keyword. The method utilizes a set of training documents to provide a co-occurrence matrix and a transition matrix. A word pair relevancy measure is calculated for each word of the document to be ranked. These word pair relevancy measures are based upon the co-occurrence and transition matrices obtained from the training set and are utilized to calculate a document relevance measure. Documents identified in a search are ranked utilizing the document relevance measure.

Abstract: A method and device provide a word pair relevancy measure for a seed word-keyword pair. A set of documents is provided from which a co-occurrence matrix is created. The co-occurrence matrix is utilized to determine a transition probability and an expected search depth from which the word pair relevancy is determined.

Abstract: A system for aggregating retail financial services distribution partners and providing real time, automated matching of the tailored products being delivered to clients by distribution partners to available financing and deposit locations. Secondary market participants are also assembled to provide financing capacity and locations for deposits of the system's marketplace.

Abstract: A system and method for provisioning a refund anticipation loan is providing that includes receiving tax return information wherein the tax return information is associated with a taxpayer and the tax return information includes an expected refund amount and authorization for a combined bank to receive the expected refund amount, determining whether the expected refund amount meets a threshold value for the RAL, determining whether there is a debt indicator associated with the tax return, requesting an account for the taxpayer from a combined bank wherein the combined bank will also fund the RAL under a the same charter, requesting RAL funding for the taxpayer account from the combined bank if a debt indicator is not associated with the tax return, and receiving the expected refund amount at the combined bank, wherein the RAL is offset by receipt of the expected refund amount at the combined bank.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, a robotic filter weighing system for weighing filters stored in sample holders which includes a sample cabinet which holds a carousel having a plurality of filter samples contained in a like plurality of sample holders and in which a robotic system is used for removing in turn each of the sample holders and sequentially placing each of the sample holders in a filter extraction station for removing the filter from its respective holder. The robot system then moves the extracted filter to a weighing system which calculates the weight of the particulate matter contained on the filter and then replaces the filter in its sample holder and replaces the sample holder back in the sample cabinet.

Abstract: Telephone DTMF keypad signalling is converted to a unique user input protocol in conjunction with interactive media and telecomputing network systems to permit one or more participants to provide directional, triggering, and other input to computer or computer controlled systems with telephone keypads or like devices as if using a computer system mouse, joystick, keyboard, or similar input device. Such utilization of readily available push-button telephones as a participant's computer input device, permits user interaction with computer generated, influenced, or controlled video programming, databases, and applications providing visual feedback over a video network.

Abstract: The output signal of a voltage-controlled oscillator of a phase-locked loop has its phase compared with the phase of incoming data in a phase detector producing a first signal. This first signal is then passed through a non-inverting amplifier to produce an amplified signal of the same polarity. The first signal is also passed through an inverting amplifier otherwise similar to the non-inverting amplifier to produce an amplified signal of opposite polarity. The inverted and non-inverted amplified signals are then filtered in respective low pass filter circuits and combined differentially in an amplifier which produces an error voltage for the voltage-controlled oscillator. Differential combining of the inverted and non-inverted amplified signals eliminates undesired D.C. voltage components caused by temperature drifts and the like by mutually cancelling such components while effectively doubling the amplitude of the desired error voltage.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench attached to an offset vertically elongated handle with the control for operating the ratchet on the upper extremity of the handle. This wrench finds important use in loosening and tightening the clamp nut of a distributor when adjusting the timing on an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A nuclear pulse counting experiment, such as typified by the art of X-ray fluorescence empolys a multichannel analog to digital converter (ADC) which is interfaced with a microprocessor to yield sample/matrix concentration data, as an illustrative example, with a precision which is given by the theoretical nuclear decay statistical limits. In specific regard to X-ray fluorescence analysis, the ADC characterizes each pulse or count according to magnitude without conventional backscatter peak gain stabilization. The data is transferred through a buffer to the microprocessor, which scans the higher energy characterizations for maximum count, identifies that characterization as the peak, .+-. 1 characterization, and interpolates to develop a refined backscatter peak, stated to at least 1/10 of a characterization, and from which data base all ensuing calculations are predicated.

Abstract: A preconditioning circuit is inserted in series between a coded stream of data pulses and a standard commercially available phase lock loop of the type having a nonharmonic phase detector. The novel preconditioning circuit converts the input coded stream of data pulses which do not have a transition during each cell time into a stream of pulses having a transition during each data cell time to enable the nonharmonic phase lock loop to synchronize with the data cell time and to produce clock pulses synchronized with the data cell time.

Abstract: The storage stability of aqueous p-benzoquinone and in general compounds of the formula ##STR1## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 may be the same or different and are selected, for example, from hydrogen, hydroxyl, cyano, halogen, carboxylic acid or ester, thio, thioethers, sulfonic acid or ester groups, sulfinic acid or ester groups, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, arylamino, diarylamino, alkylarylamino, cycloalkylamino, acylamino, acyloxy, acyl, nitro, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, straight chain, branched or cyclic aliphatic moieties, C.sub.6 -C.sub.32 substituted or unsubstituted aromatic moieties, and C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkoxy moieties, are improved by the addition of water-soluble, acidic or neutral inorganic salts of Periodic Table Group IA elements, Group IIA elements, and nickel. Such salts are typified by CaCl.sub.2, KCl, MgSO.sub.4, NaBr, NaCl, and NiCl.sub.2.

Abstract: Bis(alkylhydroxyphenylacyl) 3,3'-thiadicarboxylic acid dihydrazides are useful thermal antioxidants for polyolefins, and provide in a single compound the primary antioxidant, secondary antioxidant and copper deactivator functions.This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 709,679 filed July 29, 1976 now abandoned.

Abstract: An animal caging system and an automatic waste disposal system used in conjunction therewith including a continuous belt mounted below a row of animal cages for receiving waste from the cages, a motor for continuously driving the belt about a pair of rollers which maintain the belt taut, and a scraper engaging the outer belt surface adjacent to a chute which guides the waste into a disposable flexible bag held in place by a spring loaded rectangular member disposed about the chute outlet or spout. The belt is mounted in a frame which extends beneath the row of cages on rails of the cage frame which supports the individual cages in one or more rows. The entire waste disposal unit can be removed for sterilization by sliding along the rails. Each cage preferably includes a feeder with a plate deflecting crumbs onto the belt and further plates around the cage bottom for ensuring that all waste is deflected onto the belt.

Abstract: An oyster breaker having a housing provided in one end with an opening through which the lip of an oyster is inserted to be engaged by a rotatable disc within the housing having a shearing member projecting therefrom to shearingly engage said lip of the oyster and form an opening to receive the blade of an oyster knife and facilitate opening the oyster, said disc being mounted on one end of the shaft of an electric motor immediately adjacent said oyster breaker housing, said motor having a housing provided with an opening in one end in which a bearing for the end of said shaft upon which said disc is mounted and said opening in said motor housing, outwardly from said bearing, having multiple seal means specifically designed to prevent the ingress of harmful substances normally produced in the shucking of oysters from gaining ingress to said bearing.