Abstract: A device and method for removing material from inside a tube is provided, comprising a catheter having a tubular body and defining an inner lumen, the distal end portion of the tubular body defining a distal opening and apertures on a sidewall. An expandable member is attached to the distal end portion of the catheter tubular body distal to the one or more apertures. The expandable member is capable of having a first unexpanded condition such that the distal opening is open to allow fluid communication with the inner lumen of the catheter through said distal opening, and a second expanded condition such that the distal opening is occluded to prevent fluid communication with the inner lumen of the catheter through said distal opening, the second expanded condition of the expandable member having a maximum transverse diameter larger than a diameter of the tubular body proximal to the expandable member.

Abstract: An ultra-efficient “green” aircraft propulsor utilizing an augmentor fan is disclosed. A balanced design is provided combining a fuel efficient and low-noise high bypass ratio augmentor fan and a low-noise shrouded high bypass ratio turbofan. Three mass flow streams are utilized to reduce propulsor specific fuel consumption and increase performance relative to conventional turbofans. Methods are provided for optimization of fuel efficiency, power, and noise by varying mass flow ratios of the three mass flow streams. Methods are also provided for integration of external propellers into turbofan machinery.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for tinting an image by monochromatic tinting using saturation maps for use by an application providing a user interface supporting customizable tinted images. By using saturation map and a monochromatic value map derived from the image and configuring the saturation map to specify areas for tinting, a tint color can be applied to the image by a series of quickly processed arithmetic calculations. This provides a lightweight and high quality method for tinting images within an application without wasting unnecessary network bandwidth or processor resources. Furthermore, the method can be adapted to apply multiple tint colors for multiple tints or use an alpha channel to restore color information lost due to the monochromatic value map. The resulting tinted image can also be used as a texture for a three-dimensional rendering engine.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide an efficient way for the job seeker to search for a company that fits the seeker's desired cultural traits by enabling the job seeker to identify key traits sought after in a prospective employer, and to use those traits to focus the job search. Thus, a job seeker is able to use a formal framework for assessing a company culture, can have access to a more-comprehensive listing of companies that meet certain criteria, can identify traits that are the most and least relevant to a company's culture, and can, as a result, see relative rankings of companies along various cultural dimensions.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for tinting an image by monochromatic tinting using saturation maps for use by an application providing a user interface supporting customizable tinted images. By using saturation map and a monochromatic value map derived from the image and configuring the saturation map to specify areas for tinting, a tint color can be applied to the image by a series of quickly processed arithmetic calculations. This provides a lightweight and high quality method for tinting images within an application without wasting unnecessary network bandwidth or processor resources. Furthermore, the method can be adapted to apply multiple tint colors for multiple tints or use an alpha channel to restore color information lost due to the monochromatic value map. The resulting tinted image can also be used as a texture for a three-dimensional rendering engine.

Abstract: An extractor for removal of plastic stopper from liquid-containing bottles is formed as pliers with inwardly facing wedge-shaped jaw portions. Cutouts formed in the jaw portions allow them to encircle the stopper under the flange. Squeezing force applied to the jaw portions gradually wedges the jaw portions between the flange of the stopper and the neck of the bottle, thereby unseating the stopper and allowing its extraction from the bottle without spilling contents of the bottle.

Abstract: An ultra-efficient “green” aircraft propulsor utilizing an augmentor fan is disclosed. A balanced design is provided combining a fuel efficient and low-noise high bypass ratio augmentor fan and a low-noise shrouded high bypass ratio turbofan. Three mass flow streams are utilized to reduce propulsor specific fuel consumption and increase performance relative to conventional turbofans. Methods are provided for optimization of fuel efficiency, power, and noise by varying mass flow ratios of the three mass flow streams. Methods are also provided for integration of external propellers into turbofan machinery.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein provide for the layout and rendering of graphical interfaces to be independent from the underlying functionality of the application. The layout functionality for a graphical interface of an application is detached from the application itself, allowing the application and its associated graphical interface to be moved to different platforms utilizing different graphical application programming interfaces (APIs).

Abstract: A method of remanufacturing coolers, such as exhaust gas recirculation coolers, is provided. The method includes providing an exhaust gas recirculation cooler having cooling tubes attached to a header plate and an outer shell. At least one opening is milled in the outer shell to expose a portion of the cooling tubes. Brazing material is then injected into the cooler through the opening such that the brazing material, when heated, forms a fillet around each cooling tube adjacent to the header plate. A cover positioned over the opening and the cooler is heated to a brazing temperature, such that the brazing material flows around the cooling tubes, thereby reinforcing the tubes and repairing cracks in the tubes. Clips having a C-shaped configuration may also be positioned within the cooling tubes to further strengthen and repair the cooling tubes.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for tinting an image by monochromatic tinting using saturation maps for use by an application providing a user interface supporting customizable tinted images. By using saturation map and a monochromatic value map derived from the image and configuring the saturation map to specify areas for tinting, a tint color can be applied to the image by a series of quickly processed arithmetic calculations. This provides a lightweight and high quality method for tinting images within an application without wasting unnecessary network bandwidth or processor resources. Furthermore, the method can be adapted to apply multiple tint colors for multiple tints or use an alpha channel to restore color information lost due to the monochromatic value map. The resulting tinted image can also be used as a texture for a three-dimensional rendering engine.

Abstract: Provided is a multi-tiered cascading crawling system for finding on a network information related to one or more predetermined topics or subtopics of interest. In general, embodiments of the present invention provide a system that operates in multiple “tiers,” where at least some of the output of one tier is used to comprise the input of the next tier. Each tier generally analyzes collections of documents on the network using successively more restrictive criteria about the subject matter of each collection and/or about which collections may be related to the one or more topics or subtopics. In general, only the final tier performs an exhaustive crawl of all of the documents of the collections that are identified by the system as being relevant to the topic or subtopic of interest.

Abstract: A method for constructing a graphical representation of a plurality of tables in a restaurant is carried out by a computer system. A receiver coupled to the computer system is in communication with a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter being responsive to a stimulus that causes the transmitter to transmit a unique message frame to the receiver. The computer system responds to a received message frame by checking to determine if the unique message frame had already been received during the current construction process, and if the message frame had not been received, displaying an icon representing a table associated with the transmitter. Each transmitter is subjected to the stimulus, thereby causing each transmitter to send the message frame to the receiver, and thereby causing the computer system to display one icon for each table.

Abstract: An aircraft configuration that may reduce the level of noise, infrared radiation, sonic boom, or combination thereof directed towards the ground from an aircraft in flight. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an aircraft includes a tubular fuselage, two delta wings, at least one engine mounted to the aircraft and higher than the wings, and vertical stabilizers mounted on each wing outboard of the outermost engine. Each wing may include a wing strake at the leading edge of the wing and extending to the fuselage and an aft deck. The leading edge of the wing may extend forward of the intake of the engine, and the trailing edge of the aft deck may extend aft of the engine exhaust. The aft deck may include an upwardly rotatable pitch control surface at the trailing edge of the deck.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for provisioning software on a network of heterogeneous computers in a network. The provisioner receives a list of packages and deployment scope of the packages, then checks each node for installed applications and records dependency and potential application conflicts. In addition, the provisioner measures a plurality of network and node metrics. Based on the dependency information, conflict information, and metrics, one or more nodes are selected and software is provisioned and/or removed in accordance with the dependency and conflict information.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for representing at least one of a user process and a system process as a software package in a software package management system. The method includes creating at least one package comprising at least one of a user process and a system process. The at least one package comprises a structure consistent with a software package so that the at least one package is able to be managed by a software package management system. The at least one package is stored on an information system via the software package management system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for scheduling a job process on at least one node in a server data processing network. The scheduling is based on a state of at least two nodes in the network as well as a cost metric of installing a required application on at least one of the nodes in the network of nodes. The apparatus and method gathers metrics indicating properties associated with at least two nodes on the network, the metrics including a presence of an application necessary for running the process. A first cost factor for scheduling the process on a node in the network having the application necessary for running the process is compared with a second cost factor for scheduling the process on a node in the network that does not have the application necessary for running the process. Finally, a node in the network is selected for scheduling the process.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for representing at least one system capability as a software package in a software package management system. The method includes creating at least one system capability package representing at least one system capability. The at least one system capability package is installed on an information system via a software package management system. The at least one system capability package is stored into a software package database. The system capability package is consistent with a software package structure so that the system capability package is able to be managed by a software package management system.

Abstract: A fuel injection system comprising an accumulator volume (10) arranged to be charged with fuel by means of a high pressure fuel pump (12) and for supplying fuel at a first injectable pressure level to a plurality of fuel injectors (22), wherein each injector (22) includes a delivery passage (16, 20), a valve needle (30), which is engageable with a seating to control fuel injection, and a control valve (26) for controlling fuel pressure within a control chamber (28) so as to control movement of the valve needle (30). The control valve (26) has a first operating position in which the control chamber (28) communicates with a low pressure drain and communication between the control chamber (28) and the delivery passage (16, 20) is prevented and a second operating position in which the control chamber (28) communicates with the delivery passage (16, 20) and communication between the control.

Abstract: Methods and associated apparatus of providing a low profile, quick disconnect AC filter are described. Those methods comprise providing a low profile AC filter that is attached within a housing at a first position, pivoting the AC filter to a second position by applying a first force to a power cable connected to the AC filter in a direction away from the housing, and removing the power cable from the AC filter by applying a second force to the power cable, wherein the AC filter is returned to the first position.