Abstract: A bag handle is disclosed that includes a rigid, elongated body having an upwardly facing top surface, a downwardly facing lower surface, opposing front and back surfaces, and a pair of opposing side surfaces. A pair of hooks extend at each side surface outwardly therefrom proximate the lower surface of the body and generally parallel to each side surface. Preferably each hook extends above the top surface and terminates in a radiused point. A pair of biased locking means each comprise a biasing means, such as a coiled metal spring, and a hook engagement member, such as a glass marble. The hook engagement member protrudes from one side surface and is urged to contact one of the hooks by the biasing means. A method of use is disclosed for selectively engaging and disengaging a plurality of plastic grocery bags with the hooks and the hook engagement means.

Abstract: An integrated receiver supports adaptive receive equalization. An incoming bit stream is sampled using edge and data clock signals derived from a reference clock signal. A phase detector determines whether the edge and data clock signals are in phase with the incoming data, while some clock recovery circuitry adjusts the edge and data clock signals as required to match their phases to the incoming data. The receiver employs the edge and data samples used to recover the edge and data clock signals to note the locations of zero crossings for one or more selected data patterns. The pattern or patterns may be selected from among those apt to produce the greatest timing error. Equalization settings may then be adjusted to align the zero crossings of the selected data patterns with the recovered edge clock signal.

Abstract: An apparatus to separate solids from drilling slurry, having an inlet positioned over an outlet of a concentration tank to displace water that would otherwise enter the down-stream centrifuges. Baffles are provided to direct solids to the outlet and minimize the time that solids spend in the concentration tank. Fluids having solids removed therefrom are removed from the apparatus at a location remote from the outlet.

Abstract: A lighter-than-air aircraft includes a gas envelope for containing a buoyant gas, and a propulsion system is carried by the gas envelope. A solar panel is carried by the gas envelope for powering the propulsion system when generating sufficient power. A closed loop combustion generating system is also carried by the gas envelope for powering the propulsion system when the solar panel is not generating sufficient power. The fuel for the closed loop combustion generator is regenerated by the solar panel from its exhaust when the solar panel is generating sufficient power.

Abstract: A centrifuge includes a provision for measuring a physical parameter corresponding to the position of a phase interface inside the centrifuge. The centrifuge is controlled responsive to the inferred position of the phase interface.

Abstract: Methods for using a novel mopping system are disclosed. A mop assembly includes a mop head that is adapted to be spun around a generally vertical rotational axis thereof when the mop head is fixed within a mop head spinning means of a bucket assembly. When the mop head is spun at a relatively high rate of rotational speed, water retained in the mop is forcefully dispelled from the mop by centrifugal force. The water leaves the mop and is retained within a spin chamber of the bucket assembly. A drain plunger is included to allow the collected water to be drained from the bucket assembly. An ozone generator may be included for introducing ozone gas into the collected fouled water in the spin chamber. A clean water tank with a pump and spraying means, mounted within the spin chamber just below the mop head when the mop head is engaged with the mop head spinning means, is preferably included to allow introduction of clean water to the moping surface of the mop head.

Abstract: A bag handle is disclosed that includes a rigid, elongated body having an upwardly facing top surface, a downwardly facing lower surface, opposing front and back surfaces, and a pair of opposing side surfaces. A pair of hooks extend at each side surface outwardly therefrom proximate the lower surface of the body and generally parallel to each side surface. Preferably each hook extends above the top surface and terminates in a radiused point. A pair of biased locking means each comprise a biasing means, such as a coiled metal spring, and a hook engagement member, such as a glass marble. The hook engagement member protrudes from one side surface and is urged to contact one of the hooks by the biasing means. A method of use is disclosed for selectively engaging and disengaging a plurality of plastic grocery bags with the hooks and the hook engagement means.

Abstract: A mopping system and methods of its use are disclosed. A mop assembly includes a mop head that is adapted to be spun around a generally vertical rotational axis thereof when the mop head is fixed within a mop head spinning means of a bucket assembly. When the mop head is spun at a relatively high rate of rotational speed, water retained in the mop is forcefully dispelled from the mop by centrifugal force. The water leaves the mop and is retained within a spin chamber of the bucket assembly. A drain plunger is included to allow the collected water to be drained from the bucket assembly. An ozone generator may be included for introducing ozone gas into the collected fouled water in the spin chamber. A clean water tank with a pump and spraying means, mounted within the spin chamber just below the mop head when the mop head is engaged with the mop head spinning means, is preferably included to allow introduction of clean water to the moping surface of the mop head.

Abstract: A mopping system and methods of its use are disclosed. A mop assembly includes a mop head that is adapted to be spun around a generally vertical rotational axis thereof when the mop head is fixed within a mop head spinning means of a bucket assembly. When the mop head is spun at a relatively high rate of rotational speed, water retained in the mop is forcefully dispelled from the mop by centrifugal force. The water leaves the mop and is retained within a spin chamber of the bucket assembly. A drain plunger is included to allow the collected water to be drained from the bucket assembly. An ozone generator may be included for introducing ozone gas into the collected fouled water in the spin chamber. A clean water tank with a pump and spraying means, mounted within the spin chamber just below the mop head when the mop head is engaged with the mop head spinning means, is preferably included to allow introduction of clean water to the moping surface of the mop head.

Abstract: A method and system for automated review and analysis of appraisal reports, including receiving and identifying an appraisal report. After identifying the appraisal report, relevant data and/or information contained therein is identified and extracted. The extracted data and/or information are then normalized for subsequent evaluation. Thereafter, the normalized data and/or information is evaluated to determine, for example, whether the appraisal report complies with generally accepted appraisal practices and whether the appraised property represents a low, moderate, high, or very high risk. The method and system also generates an output relating to the appraisal report evaluation.

Abstract: Described techniques and tools help model checking scale to large programs while reducing missed errors. In particular, described techniques and tools help reduce the state space of concurrent programs without depending on cycle detection and without scheduling execution of postponed threads at all cycles. For example, described techniques and tools use a type of partial-order reduction called transaction-based reduction to reduce program state space. Analysis is performed at commit points to determine whether to schedule delayed threads.

Abstract: A small light source for internally illuminating live flowers and other products is formed in the shape of a pin with a battery case operatively connected to the light source. A sharp penetrating tip surrounds the light source and is fixed to a rigid tube for manipulating the device to insert the light source within the structure of the plant. The device is of such a size that it can be supported by a plant without deformation of the plant.

Abstract: The invention includes a necktie fastener system capable of restraining the bottom portion of the necktie close to the shirt of a wearer, and thereby controlling the entire necktie so that it won't fly in the wind, or while leaning over a table. The invention is for use when wearing a shirt having buttons located near the center of the front of the shirt. There is an H shape which is attached to the back of the apron of the necktie by simply hot ironing it. The H shape is relatively flexible allowing easy formation of the various necktie knots. Once the necktie has been tied and adjusted, the wearer inserts the a elongated placket under the horizontal bar and attaches the placket to two adjacent shirt buttons. The resulting combination slidably secures the end of the necktie nearest the bottom of the tie to stay near the shirt of the wearer. This gives control of the entire length of the tie from flying away in the wind or falling down when reaching over a table.

Abstract: A pleisiochronous repeater system and components thereof are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, a pleisiochronous repeater system component may be realized as a receiver circuit comprising a clock multiplier that multiplies a reference clock signal by an integer multiple to generate a data clock signal. The receiver circuit may also comprise a divider circuit that generates a timing reference signal having a frequency that is not an integer divisor of a frequency of the reference clock signal.

Abstract: A receiver includes clocked, differential equalization circuitry to compensate for signal attenuation that varies with the frequency of the input signal received over a respective communication channel. The incoming signal is split into filtered and unfiltered signal components. Separate current-steering transistors coupled in parallel amplify the filtered and unfiltered components and sum the results. The filter or filters used to separate the signal components may be tunable, e.g. using voltage-controlled filter components. The ratio of device sizes for the current-steering transistors sets the magnitude of the boost applied to high-frequency components. The embodiments include adjustable or programmable current-steering networks to facilitate adjustments that accommodate the unique characteristics of individual communication channels.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition for extended release of an erythromycin derivative in the gastrointestinal environment. The composition comprises an erythromycin derivative and a pharmaceutically acceptable polymer so that, when ingested orally, the composition induces statistically significantly lower Cmax in the plasma than an immediate release composition of the erythromycin derivative while maintaining bioavailability and minimum concentration substantially equivalent to that of the immediate release composition of the erythromycin derivative upon multiple dosing. The compositions of the invention have an improved taste profile and reduced gastrointestinal side effects as compared to those for the immediate release composition.

Abstract: A surveillance system interface includes a displayed wide-angle image and a contemporaneously displayed narrower-angle image. The interface permits a user to select a view within the wide-angle image to indicate a region of interest. The narrower-angle image may then be made to correspond to the indicated region of interest.

Abstract: A video system includes an immersive camera system and a pan-tilt-zoom camera system. Each camera system is operable to capture a video image of at least a portion of an environment. A video display is operable to view at least portions of the images captured by the camera systems.