Abstract: Methods, wires, and apparatus for use in cutting (e.g., slicing) hard, brittle materials is provided. The wire can be a super-abrasive wire that includes a wire core and super-abrasive particles bonded to the wire core via a metal bonding layer. This wire, or another type of wire, can be used to slice workpieces useful for producing wafers. The workpieces can be aligned within a holder to produce wafers using the device and methods presently provided. The holder rotates about its central axis, which translates to workpieces moving in orbit around this axis. A single abrasive wire, or multiple turns of wire stretched tightly between wire guides, is then contacted with the rotating holder to slice the workpieces.

Abstract: This is directed to a novel chemical mixture process resulting in the production of an inorganic polymeric water complex with enhanced surface acting agent characteristic derived from the synergistic effects caused by individual chemical mechanisms within the mixture that is capable of separating, extracting and recovering hydrocarbons from tar/oil sands, oil shale, petroleum tailings or other types of terra based hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Droplets or plugs within multiphase microfluidic systems have rapidly gained interest as a way to manipulate samples and chemical reactions on the femtoliter to microliter scale. Chemical analysis of the plugs remains a challenge. It has been discovered that nanoliter plugs of sample separated by air or oil can be analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry when pumped directly into a fused silica nanospray emitter nozzle. Using leu-enkephalin in methanol and 1% acetic acid in water (50:50 v:v) as a model sample, we found carry-over between plugs was <0.1% and relative standard deviation of signal for a series of plugs was 3%. Detection limits were 1 nM. Sample analysis rates of 0.8 Hz were achieved by pumping 13 nL samples separated by 3 mm long air gaps in a 75 ?m inner diameter tube. Analysis rates were limited by the scan time of the ion trap mass spectrometer. The system provides a robust, rapid, and information-rich method for chemical analysis of sample in segmented flow systems.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an article of manufacture having at least one curved rail that is supported in an upright position with a supporting mean. The supporting means may be a stand, which may also contain at least one-foot holder and an arm bar. The curved rail or rails contains a seat that is capable of laterally sliding along the curved rail. The seat may swivel and contain handles for additional set of exercises.

Abstract: The invention is an effort-measuring apparatus for extending the capabilities of a balance-and-weight sensing platform, such as the Wii Balance Board. The apparatus has a base unit configured to securely hold a balance and weight sensing platform and has anchor point to which a resistance mechanism is attached. A user positioned on the secured balance and weight sensing platform may exert a force on a resistance mechanism that will be sensed by the balance and weight sensing platform, along with any apparent shift in a center of balance occasioned by the force. These measurements are wirelessly transmitted to a computer and used to integrate the user's exertions into a game or an exercise routine. The effort measuring support may include anchor extensions that serve both as an anchor points for the resistance mechanism and as legs to provide additional stability.

Abstract: A crosslayer routing operation in a network of cognitive radios retrieves routing input parameters from a crosslayer interface, creates additional parameters from retrieved parameters, processes retrieved and additional parameters using a knowledge mapping and reasoning engine, utilizes numeric or linguistic results for targeted routing operations, updates a routing knowledge database; and sends relevant routing information to a route controller.

Abstract: The present invention is an exercise machine that is versatile, easily adjustable, and easy to store and transport. The machine may be used by varying sizes of users for a wide variety of exercises to increase strength. The Core trainer is comprised of a seat with a press bar attached to an adjustable arm, which is attached to a resistance arm. The press bar is available in various interchangeable designs. A pivot allows the adjustable arm and resistance arm to be placed in varying positions in relation to the seat to provide for a multitude of exercise options. The Core trainer can be used with a number of attachments, and also folds into a compact unit that takes up a fraction of the space of other exercise machines.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an article of manufacture having at least one curved rail that is supported in an upright position with a supporting mean. The supporting means may be a stand, which may also contain at least one-foot holder and an arm bar. The curved rail or rails contains a seat that is capable of laterally sliding along the curved rail. The seat may swivel and contain handles for additional set of exercises.

Abstract: A back-up tong for assembling or disassembling threaded joints of tubing for use in oil and gas wells is provided. The back-up tong has both a first and second gripping mechanism. The first gripping mechanism has a plurality of jaws for engaging the tubing to prevent rotation of the tubing in a clockwise direction and the second gripping mechanism has a plurality of jaws for engaging the tubing to prevent rotation of the tubing in a counter-clockwise direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the operation of a network of cognitive radios in a dynamic network topology. The systems and methods make use cross-layer communications to input parameters required by network services into a reasoning engine, which in turns processes the parameter the parameter information and reports linguistic results to the network services. The cross-layer communications are leveraged to shift network service functionality to the MAC or PHY Layers. Route discovery functionality is shifted from routing services down to the MAC or PHY Layers. The route discovery functionality is implemented by a process to elect a relay node based on the number of available channels that each of the source node neighbors has available to communicate with other neighbors.

Abstract: An existing metal structure can be reinforced by providing a reinforcing metal layer on the metal structure in spaced apart relation to thereby form at least one cavity between inner surfaces of the metal structure and the reinforcing metal layer. An intermediate layer including uncured plastics or polymer material is injected into the cavity, and the plastics or polymer material is cured to adhere to the inner surfaces of the metal structure and the reinforcing metal layer. During the injecting and curing process, the reinforcing metal layer is constrained by at least one restraint member that is held to the existing metal structure by at least one magnetic clamp.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention enable the provisioning of QoS over a true multichannel mobile ad hoc network. The QoS framework of the present invention optimizes QoS performance across many channels simultaneously by treating the many channels like a single channel for purposes of QoS optimization. Aspects of the invention that allow the true multichannel provisioning of QoS include use of the physical layer to select available channels, firm state QoS functionality, hybrid signaling, dynamic associative multi-spectral queuing, and cross-layer communication of node information for use by QoS service.

Abstract: The present invention is an exercise machine that is versatile, easily adjustable, and easy to store and transport. The machine may be used by varying sizes of users for a wide variety of exercises to increase strength. The Core trainer is comprised of a seat with a press bar attached to an adjustable arm, which is attached to a resistance arm. The press bar is available in various interchangeable designs. A pivot allows the adjustable arm and resistance arm to be placed in varying positions in relation to the seat to provide for a multitude of exercise options. The Core trainer can be used with a number of attachments, and also folds into a compact unit that takes up a fraction of the space of other exercise machines.

Abstract: A back-up tong for assembling or disassembling threaded joints of tubing for use in oil and gas wells is provided. The back-up tong has both a first and second gripping mechanism. The first gripping mechanism has a plurality of jaws for engaging the tubing to prevent rotation of the tubing in a clockwise direction and the second gripping mechanism has a plurality of jaws for engaging the tubing to prevent rotation of the tubing in a counter-clockwise direction.

Abstract: A hopper for transferring granular materials has a unique composite shape which enables accommodation of the safety guard of an auger and access about a back of the hopper. A wedge-shaped base permits pivoting of the hopper to adjust to the angle of the auger used to remove the material, minimizing the angle of the auger and maximizing extraction of material from the hopper.

Abstract: Network-enabled electrical power distribution equipment comprises at least one networked intelligent device coupled to a power distribution system and measuring and storing at least one sensed condition in the power distribution system; a server for storing and retrieving data relating to the sensed condition and the power distribution equipment; local storage coupled to the server; remote network storage accessible to the server via the network containing that server; and a program operating on the server for controlling the storing of data in, and the retrieval of data from, the local and remote network storages.

Abstract: Methods, wires, and apparatus for use in cutting (e.g., slicing) hard, brittle materials is provided. The wire can be a super-abrasive wire that includes a wire core and super-abrasive particles bonded to the wire core via a metal bonding layer. This wire, or another type of wire, can be used to slice workpieces useful for producing wafers. The workpieces can be aligned within a holder to produce wafers using the device and methods presently provided. The holder rotates about its central axis, which translates to workpieces moving in orbit around this axis. A single abrasive wire, or multiple turns of wire stretched tightly between wire guides, is then contacted with the rotating holder to slice the workpieces.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a breaker enclosure, a plurality of conductor connections, and a temperature sensor. The breaker enclosure contains internal components that include a trip unit. The plurality of conductor connections electrically couple the trip unit to a plurality of power conductors. The temperature sensor is located to sense heat radiated by the conductor connections and is positioned inside the enclosure.

Abstract: The mobile ad hoc network includes a plurality of wireless mobile nodes and a plurality of wireless communication links connecting the nodes together. A method for operating the network includes discovering and using routes in the network, predicting route failure in the network, and performing route maintenance in the network based upon the predicted route failure.

Abstract: Network-enabled electrical power distribution equipment includes one or more networked intelligent devices coupled to a power distribution system and measuring and storing at least one sensed condition in the power distribution system; a server in the power equipment for storing a document that can be accessed by browsers and that contains data relating to the sensed condition; a content management system in the power equipment for maintaining a document that can be accessed by browsers and that contains a log of information relating to the power equipment; and a user interface for accessing the document containing the log of information and editing the information contained in the log. The log of information relating to the power equipment may be a web log or a wiki. The content management system can be included in a web server in the power equipment, the user interface can include a web browser, and the network can include a LAN, a private WAN and/or a public WAN such as the Internet.