Abstract: A coil assembly includes a coil form and a winding. The coil form includes a base defining a loop defined by a pair of opposed first sides and a pair of opposed second sides, a plurality of spaced apart support members extending from the base along the first sides, and a coil support structure extending from the base at each of the second sides. Each support member includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending from the base and the second portion extending from the first portion, with a gap is defined between adjacent support members. The winding abuts the first portion of at least some of the spaced apart support members and is at least partially secured by the second portions of the support members. The winding abuts each of the coil support structures, and is curved in a saddle shape.

Abstract: A method for preparing ordered mesoporous silicon carbide (OMSiC) nanocomposites uses an evaporation-induced self-assembly of a precursor composition that preferably includes a phenolic resin, pre-hydrolyzed tetraethyl orthosilicate, a surfactant, and butanol. The precursor mixture is dried, cross-linked and heated to form ordered mesoporous silicon carbide material having discrete domains of ordered, mesoscale pores.

Abstract: A method for assisting a user with procurement decisions, sourcing decisions and strategic sourcing decisions in an enterprise is disclosed. The method implements a plurality of software modules in a logical workflow process based on the results of integrating and analyzing data. The workflow process provides a plurality of steps for discovering data, analyzing data, alerting the user about the data, recommending actions to the user based on the data, and executing those actions. The workflow process is based on a Value Chain Intelligence (VCI) system, which integrates and analyzes internal data from enterprises and external data from suppliers, catalogs, and marketplaces in real time for their impact on supply chains processes. Components for such a system may consist of internal data collection components, external data collection components, data integration components, and data application components.

Abstract: A reinforced airfoil includes an airfoil body including opposed walls that define a hollow interior space and a reinforcement member provided on at least one of the walls within the interior space, the reinforcement member increasing the thickness of the at least one wall so as to resist deformation of the at least one wall but not extending from one wall to the other.

Abstract: There is provided a foldable, portable, trauma treatment and monitoring patient platform. The patient platform includes an upper housing body including a top surface and an upper patient support surface. The patient platform also includes a lower housing body including a rear surface and a lower patient support surface. The upper and lower patient support surfaces are cooperative to collectively support a patient. The lower housing and upper housing are in pivotal communication to enable selective articulation about a pivoting axis between a closed orientation and an open orientation. In the closed orientation, the upper patient support surface is substantially flush with the lower patient support surface. In the open orientation, the upper patient support surface and lower patient support surface are substantially co-planar. A bay capable of receiving at least one medical monitoring/treatment unit is located within at least one of the upper and lower housing bodies.

Abstract: The present invention provides a writing pad device, comprising (a) a writing pad device base having a front writing surface; a plurality of writing pad device wireless signal receivers; a plurality of wireless writing pad device transmitters; a power source; and (b) a writing implement device, comprising a writing implement body having a top end portion central body portion a bottom end; a conventional writing tip capable of transferring physical material to a surface, wherein the conventional writing tip is positioned at the most terminal portion of the bottom end of the writing implement; a wireless writing tip transmitter capable of transmitting a wireless signal, positioned at the bottom end of the writing implement device, closely positioned to the conventional writing tip; a writing implement transmitter power source; and at least one activation switch, capable of controlling power to the transmitter.

Abstract: A mesoporous, transition metal oxide material having an average pore diameter ranging from 2 to 20 nm, a basic surface character defined by an isoelectric point>pH 7, and a specific surface area greater than 50 m2/g can be incorporated into a NOx sensing device as a NOx film. The mesoporous, transition metal oxide material includes an oxide of yttrium, lanthanum and/or cerium, and can be formed using a surfactant-templated self-assembly process.

Abstract: A debris trap catches debris falling through a fuel bundle orifice in a nuclear reactor. The debris trap includes a shaft and a debris capture tray attached to an end of the shaft. The debris capture tray includes a tray cavity sized larger than the fuel bundle orifice.

Abstract: A method of forming a cladding portion of an optical fiber preform assembly includes positioning a glass core cane in a mold cavity and loading the mold cavity with silica glass soot. The silica glass soot is compressed in an axial direction as the vibratory energy is applied to the mold body to form a soot compact around the glass core cane, wherein the soot compact is the cladding portion of an optical fiber preform assembly and the glass core cane is a core portion of the optical fiber preform assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making an optical fiber preform. The apparatus has an outer wall and an inner wall. The outer wall surrounds the inner wall and the inner wall surrounds an inner cavity of the apparatus. A consolidated glass rod is deposited in the inner cavity after which particulate glass material, such as glass soot, is deposited in the inner cavity around the glass rod. A radially inward pressure is applied against the particulate glass material to pressurize the particulate glass material against the glass rod.

Abstract: A method for preparing ordered mesoporous silicon carbide (OMSiC) nanocomposites uses an evaporation-induced self-assembly of a precursor composition that preferably includes a phenolic resin, pre-hydrolyzed tetraethyl orthosilicate, a surfactant, and butanol. The precursor mixture is dried, cross-linked and heated to form ordered mesoporous silicon carbide material having discrete domains of ordered, mesoscale pores.

Abstract: A process fluid flow measurement device includes a fluid flow member having an inlet with a first diameter and a throat with a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. A first process fluid pressure tap is disposed proximate the inlet and a second process fluid pressure tap is disposed proximate the throat. A differential pressure sensor is operably coupled to the first and second process fluid pressure taps. Differential pressure measurement circuitry is coupled to the differential pressure sensor to provide a differential pressure signal related to a difference in pressure between process fluid pressure at the first and second taps. A process fluid velocity measurement device is positioned in the throat to measure a velocity of process fluid flowing therethrough and provide a fluid velocity indication. The differential pressure sensor signal and the fluid velocity indication are used to provide a calculated indication of fluid flow.

Abstract: A method for negotiating a purchase price for an assembled good to be delivered to a purchaser is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes storing a value representing an estimated number of assembled goods desired for delivery in a particular time period, and using a computer program to estimate an optimal number of setups per the time period and an optimal order quantity per setup, based on the value and other stored information, and based on automatic calculations by the computer program. The method further includes automatically estimating an optimal should-cost purchase price for the assembled good based on the value, the estimated optimal number of setups, and the estimated optimal order quantity, and using the estimated optimal should-cost purchase price to negotiate a final purchase price for the assembled good.

Abstract: A method for remotely selecting and ordering photographic prints, includes the steps of: sending a photographic film bearing a plurality of latent images to a photofinisher; developing the photographic film to produce visible images and scanning the visible images to create a digital image file at the photo finisher; producing an index print having a plurality of images from the photographic film along with an index number associated with each image and an order number; sending the index print to a customer; selecting images for which prints are desired from the index print; ordering photographic prints via telephone from the customer's home to the photofinisher, specifying the order number and the index numbers associated with the images for which prints are desired; and making photographic prints of the selected images at the photofinisher and sending the photographic prints to the customer.

Abstract: There is provided a foldable, portable, trauma treatment and monitoring patient platform. The patient platform includes an upper housing body including a top surface and an upper patient support surface. The patient platform also includes a lower housing body including a rear surface and a lower patient support surface. The upper and lower patient support surfaces are cooperative to collectively support a patient. The lower housing and upper housing are in pivotal communication to enable selective articulation about a pivoting axis between a closed orientation and an open orientation. In the closed orientation, the upper patient support surface is substantially flush with the lower patient support surface. In the open orientation, the upper patient support surface and lower patient support surface are substantially co-planar. A bay capable of receiving at least one medical monitoring/treatment unit is located within at least one of the upper and lower housing bodies.

Abstract: There is provided a patient care and treatment platform that is connectable to a plurality of modules capable of providing medical functionality. The platform includes a housing and a patient support surface. The platform also includes a power receiver for receiving power. The platform further includes a module interface including power, data, and pneumatic spines having power data and pneumatic ports, respectively. The spines are operative to transfer data, power, and fluid within the platform. The ports are connectable to the modules to integrate the modules into the platform. The platform also includes a head fairing having a patient interface panel. The head fairing includes an inner surface that is substantially concave in shape and slopes away from the patient support surface to allow access to the head of a patient. The patient interface panel includes a plurality of ports connectable to electrical and pneumatic apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided a central control network for a patient care and treatment device comprising data and power networks with data and power ports, respectively. A power receiver is in electrical communication with the power network and receives power from a power source. A control unit is in electrical communication with the data and power networks and transmits operational instructions along the data network. The device additionally comprises at least one medical module including a medical device capable of performing discrete medical functionality. The module further includes data and power connectors connectable to the data and power ports, respectively. A data adapter is in electrical communication with the data connector and the medical device and translates communications between the data network and the medical device. A power adapter receives power from the power network via the power connector and converts the power according to the medical device power requirements.

Abstract: A rod assembly for a fuel bundle of a nuclear reactor may include an upper end piece, lower end piece and a plurality of rod segments attached between the upper and lower end pieces and to each other so as to form an axial length of the rod assembly. The rod assembly may include an adaptor subassembly provided at given connection points for connecting adjacent rod segments or a given rod segment with one of the upper and lower end pieces. The connection points along the axial length of the rod assembly may be located where the rod assembly contacts a spacer in the fuel bundle. One (or more) of the rod segments may include an irradiation target therein for producing a desired isotope when a fuel bundle containing one (or more) rod assemblies is irradiated in a core of the reactor.

Abstract: There is provided a portable, lightweight, trauma treatment and patient monitoring device. The device comprises a base having a top surface and a pair of housings each having an inner surface. The housings are in pivotal communication with the base to enable selective articulation between a closed orientation and an open orientation. In the closed orientation, the inner surfaces of the housings are substantially parallel to the top surface of the base. In the open orientation, the pair of housings are in spaced opposed relation to each other and the inner surfaces are substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the base. The device also includes at least one bay located within at least one of the pair of housings. The bay is capable of receiving at least one medical monitoring/treatment device.

Abstract: A rod assembly for a fuel bundle of a nuclear reactor may include an upper end piece, lower end piece and a plurality of rod segments attached between the upper and lower end pieces and to each other so as to form an axial length of the rod assembly. The rod assembly may include an adaptor subassembly provided at given connection points for connecting adjacent rod segments or a given rod segment with one of the upper and lower end pieces. The connection points along the axial length of the rod assembly may be located where the rod assembly contacts a spacer in the fuel bundle. One (or more) of the rod segments may include an irradiation target therein for producing a desired isotope when a fuel bundle containing one (or more) rod assemblies is irradiated in a core of the reactor.