Abstract: A data input device including a cartridge having an outer surface, a data input element such as a keyboard on the outer surface of the cartridge, and a communications interface within the cartridge. The cartridge is designed to be matedly and removably attachable to a hand held electronic data organizer such that when the data input device is attached to the organizer, both the data input element and the communications interface are electrically connected to a microprocessor of the organizer. Thus, upon attachment, the data input element is capable of inputting data into the microprocessor and the communications interface is capable of transmitting data between the microprocessor and a telecommunications network.

Abstract: A submersible canal bypass is used to bypass the flow around a distinct section of an earthen canal for lining. The canal bypass is placed within the canal and uses a plurality of pipelines and a plurality of bulkheads assembled from portable modular sections. The headgates on the portable modular sections are so arranged along the bulkhead to divert the flow of water through bypass pipelines so as to isolate a section of the canal during lining activities and return the flow of water to the lined canal after lining.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the position of a hydraulically actuated sliding sleeve valve in real time is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a reference sensor and a position sensor, both of which constitute fiber optic windings wound around the hydraulic fluid cavity used to activate the sleeve. The sensors measure the pressure exerted by the hydraulic fluid in the cavity, with the reference sensor circumferentially lengthening to create an optical time delay indicative of the base line pressure of the hydraulic fluid. As the sleeve moves, the position sensor becomes increasingly exposed to the hydraulic fluid pressure and also begins to experience a time delay, which can be compared to the reference sensor's time delay to determine sleeve position.

Abstract: There is provided a pipe restoration system which uses abrasives to remove encrustation from a piping system. The pipe restoration system first comprises a main header having a plurality of header outlets. A pressure generator with abrasives is also provided with the system and is connected to one of the header outlets to receive air pressure therefrom. The pressure generator is further connected to one of piping system's inlets so as to discharge the abrasives therethrough via the air pressure. A separator is connected to the piping system's outlet to receive and separate the abrasives from the encrustation removed thereby. The separator retains the abrasives therewithin. Lastly, a particle collector is connected to the separator to receive and retain the encrustation separated in the separator.

Abstract: A submersible canal bypass is used to bypass the flow around a distinct section of an earthen canal for lining. The canal bypass is placed within the canal and uses a plurality of pipelines and a plurality of bulkheads assembled from portable modular sections. The headgates on the portable modular sections are so arranged along the bulkhead to divert the flow of water through bypass pipelines so as to isolate a section of the canal during lining activities and return the flow of water to the lined canal after lining.

Abstract: The process by which a clinician selects what s/he thinks is the best medication for a patient with a given disease is at best an estimation of the myriad of risks and benefits each may have, and at worst a subjective guess. Because of burgeoning classes of medications and their members, the associated risks and benefits of each class and medication, and the addition of external medical guidelines, this task is becoming very difficult and at times dangerous. We describe a process that allows one to approach this problem in a systematic, quantitatively objective manner and include any number of facts and decision rules without relying solely on complex algorithms. The process easily accommodates fact revisions without redesigning algorithms, thus updates quickly. Although intuitive, the process would be very tedious to do manually but lends itself well to automated computations and medical software.

Abstract: An automated method of managing computing resources having a workload of a given type comprises providing resource data collectors for collecting data regarding performance of the resources, such as a server network, in accordance with the type of workload; developing a forecast of utilization of the resources, based on historical performance data; and collecting real-time performance data regarding the resources running under the workload. The method then includes analyzing the performance data and the forecast to identify a critical resource: and automatically adjusting a capacity of the resource to provide steady-state performance of the resource under the workload. Additional hardware resources such as CPUs, computer memory and computer disk storage are initially available to, but unused by, the computing resources.

Abstract: A submersible canal bypass is used to successively bypass the flow around distinct sections of an earthen canal for lining. The canal bypass is placed within the canal and uses a plurality of pipelines and a plurality of bulkheads assembled from portable modular sections. The headgates on the portable modular sections are so arranged along the bulkhead to divert the flow of water through bypass pipelines so as to isolate a section of the canal during lining activities and return the flow of water to the lined canal after lining.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pelletizer vessel and a prilling head assembly for use in the pelletizer vessel for prilling a hard resid material. The pellitizer vessel has an has an upright pelletizing vessel with an upper prilling zone, a sphere-forming zone below the prilling zone, a cooling zone below the sphere-forming zone, a bath below the cooling zone, and a prilling head in the prilling zone rotatable along a vertical axis and having a plurality of discharge orifices for throwing molten material radially outwardly. A vertical height of the sphere-forming zone is sufficient to allow material discharged from the prilling head to form substantially spherical liquid pellets. Nozzles are provided for spraying water inwardly into the cooling zone to cool and at least partially solidify the liquid pellets to be collected in the bath.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pelletizer vessel and a prilling head assembly for use in the pelletizer vessel for prilling a hard resid material. The pellitizer vessel has an has an upright pelletizing vessel with an upper prilling zone, a sphere-forming zone below the prilling zone, a cooling zone below the sphere-forming zone, a bath below the cooling zone, and a prilling head in the prilling zone rotatable along a vertical axis and having a plurality of discharge orifices for throwing molten material radially outwardly. A vertical height of the sphere-forming zone is sufficient to allow material discharged from the prilling head to form substantially spherical liquid pellets. Nozzles are provided for spraying water inwardly into the cooling zone to cool and at least partially solidify the liquid pellets to be collected in the bath.

Abstract: A modular dike is used to divide a body of water into two distinct parts. The modular dike uses a plurality of floatable modules. Each module is floated into the body of water and sunk at predetermined locations in the body of water. The modules are aligned in a row within the body of water so that the row of modules forms a dike which effectively segregates the body of water into two distinct parts.

Abstract: A submersible canal bypass is used to successively bypass the flow around distinct sections of an earthen canal for lining. The canal bypass is placed within the canal and uses a plurality of pipelines and a plurality of bulkheads assembled from portable modular sections. The headgates on the portable modular sections are so arranged along the bulkhead to divert the flow of water through bypass pipelines so as to isolate a section of the canal during lining activities and return the flow of water to the lined canal after lining.

Abstract: A modular dike is used to divide a body of water into two distinct parts. The modular dike uses a plurality of floatable modules. Each module is floated into the body of water and sunk at predetermined locations in the body of water. The modules are aligned in a row within the body of water so that the row of modules forms a dike which effectively segregates the body of water into two distinct parts.

Abstract: A theft resistant valve cap including a liner adapted for threaded engagement with a standard pneumatic tire stem valve, a sleeve rotatably mounted with the liner to shroud it and an interlocking feature to selectively prevent axial displacement between the liner and the sleeve. The interlocking feature includes a screw threaded into an aperture in the sleeve, or other coupling device, and an annular channel on the liner, positioned to receive the screw. The annular channel has an upper surface, a lower surface and an inner surface disposed between the upper and lower surfaces. The screw is moved so that it extends into the channel resting proximate to the upper surface, but clear of both said lower and inner surfaces. The screw can be removed after the valve cap has been installed. In this fashion, the liner and the sleeve are in a fixed axial position with respect to each other; however, the rotatability of the sleeve with respect to the liner is maintained, preventing removal of the liner from the stem.

Abstract: A theft resistant valve cap including a liner adapted for threaded engagement with a standard pneumatic tire stem valve, a sleeve rotatably mounted with the liner to shroud it and an interlocking feature to selectively prevent axial displacement between the liner and the sleeve. The interlocking feature includes a screw threaded into an aperture in the sleeve, or other coupling device, and an annular channel on the liner, positioned to receive the screw. The annular channel has an upper surface, a lower surface and an inner surface disposed between the upper and lower surfaces. The screw is moved so that it extends into the channel resting proximate to the upper surface, but clear of both said lower and inner surfaces. The screw can be removed after the valve cap has been installed. In this fashion, the liner and the sleeve are in a fixed axial position with respect to each other; however, the rotatability of the sleeve with respect to the liner is maintained, preventing removal of the liner from the stem.

Abstract: A pulse code modulation (PCM) unit is connected to a bus in a computer system. Also, connected to the bus is a processor and memory. The PCM unit is connected to transmit and receive telephone lines. The PCM unit reads uncompressed PCM data from the memory over the bus and compresses the PCM data for transmission over the telephone line in a cycle steal operation, wherein the bus is not being used by the processor. The PCM receives compressed PCM data from the receive telephone line, decompresses it, and writes the decompressed PCM data to the memory in a cycle steal operation. In addition, selectivity of either .mu.-Law or A-Law conversion, selectivity of even bit inversion for A-Law conversion, and selectivity between the compressed/decompressed PCM data or raw data is provided on a per channel basis. Selectable linear gain is also provided.