Abstract: The preparation and colloidal gold nanoparticles deposited using a wet-chemical, three-phase ligand-exchange procedure carried out at room temperature on anodic alumina oxide to enhance detection of materials using Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of cleaning exhaust gasses, including first placing a plurality of filtration modules into a housing to define a filtration bed, then weighing the filtration bed to determine an unladen weight, filling the filtration bed with filter media to define a laden filtration bed, and weighing the laden filtration bed prior to exposure to exhaust gas. Next, calculating the weight of the filtration media prior to exposure to exhaust gas to determine an initial weight of the filtration media, directing exhaust gas through an inlet into a housing, directing exhaust gas from the inlet through the filtration bed, removing particulates and chemicals from the exhaust gas to define a cleaned gas, and directing the cleaned gas through an outlet. While cleaning the gas, periodically measuring the weight of the filtration bed and calculating the weight gain of the filtration media.

Abstract: A swimming pool assembly, including a pool body defining a pool top edge and an opposite pool floor member connected by at least one pool wall, a dry area formed within the pool body and defining a dry area wall portion, a dry area bottom portion operationally connected thereto, and an aperture operationally connected to the dry area bottom portion for providing fluid communication from the dry area into the support structure. The dry area includes seating and a central feature, such as a fire pit, pool table, wet bar, or the like. A support structure is provided to support the dry area and is connected to the dry area bottom portion. The support structure further includes a support structure floor member, at least one support structure wall member extending therefrom and connected to the shallow deck portion to define an enclosure, and at least one fluid access aperture formed through the support structure wall member to provide fluidic communication with the enclosure.

Abstract: A skimmer assembly for connection to a fiberglass swimming pool via a circular fluidic access port formed therethrough, and having a conduit for fluidic connection to the fluidic access port, wherein the conduit defines a circular end for connection to the fluid access port and an oppositely disposed rectangular end with a contoured body portion extending therebetween defining a flow path. The assembly further includes a skimmer defining a rectangular fluid inlet, a cylindrical skimmer body portion, a generally rectangular channel connecting the rectangular inlet and the cylindrical body portion in fluidic communication, and a fluid outlet connected in fluidic communication with the cylindrical body portion.

Abstract: A swimming pool assembly, including a pool body defining a top edge and an bottom connected by a wall, an access port positioned through the bottom, a first conduit connected to the access port and extending away from the body, a valve connected with the first conduit, a second conduit connected with the first conduit and extending toward the top edge, wherein the second conduit is water permeable. An actuator is positioned in the second conduit and connected to the valve. First and second water level sensors are positioned to measure ground water level and pool water level. A microprocessor is operationally connected to the water level sensors and to the actuator, wherein when the ground water level exceeds the pool water level by a predetermined amount, the microprocessor sends a signal to the actuator to open the valve.

Abstract: A fiberglass swimming pool system, including a fiberglass swimming pool body defining an interior volume for holding water and positioned in an excavation, a fiberglass flange operationally connected to the fiberglass swimming pool body, a fiberglass lip extending from the flange away from the fiberglass swimming pool body, a truncated fiberglass top wall extending perpendicularly from the flange, a fiberglass ramp extending from the elongated fiberglass riser wall into the interior volume, and a deck extending over the lip and operationally connected to the fiberglass ramp at the top wall. The fiberglass ramp has an angle of decline of between one and fifteen degrees.

Abstract: A swimming pool assembly, including a swimming pool body defining a pool top edge and an oppositely disposed bottom pool floor member connected by at least one pool wall and having a shallow deck portion and a support structure for providing support to the deck portion operationally connected to the deck portion and extending away from the pool top edge. The support structure further includes a support structure floor member, at least one support structure wall member extending therefrom and connected to the shallow deck portion to define an enclosure, and at least one fluid access aperture formed through the support structure wall member to provide fluidic communication with the enclosure.

Abstract: A fiberglass swimming pool system, including a fiberglass swimming poll body defining an interior volume for holding water and positioned in an excavation, a fiberglass flange operationally connected to the fiberglass swimming pool body, a fiberglass lip extending from the flange away from the fiberglass swimming pool body, an elongated fiberglass riser wall extending perpendicularly from the flange, a fiberglass ramp extending from the elongated fiberglass riser wall into the interior volume, and a deck extending over the lip and operationally connected to the fiberglass ramp at the riser wall. The fiberglass ramp has an angle of decline of between one and fifteen degrees.

Abstract: A fiberglass swimming pool system, including a fiberglass swimming poll body defining an interior volume for holding water and positioned in an excavation, a fiberglass flange operationally connected to the fiberglass swimming pool body, a fiberglass lip extending from the flange away from the fiberglass swimming pool body, an elongated fiberglass riser wall extending perpendicularly from the flange, a fiberglass ramp extending from the elongated fiberglass riser wall into the interior volume, and a deck extending over the lip and operationally connected to the fiberglass ramp at the riser wall. The fiberglass ramp has an angle of decline of between one and fifteen degrees.

Abstract: A fiberglass swimming pool system, including a fiberglass swimming pool body defining an interior volume for holding water and positioned in an excavation, a fiberglass flange operationally connected to the fiberglass swimming pool body, a fiberglass lip extending from the flange away from the fiberglass swimming pool body, a truncated fiberglass top wall extending perpendicularly from the flange, a fiberglass ramp extending from the elongated fiberglass riser wall into the interior volume, and a deck extending over the lip and operationally connected to the fiberglass ramp at the top wall. The fiberglass ramp has an angle of decline of between one and fifteen degrees.

Abstract: A swimming pool assembly, including a pool body defining a top edge and an bottom connected by a wall, an access port positioned through the bottom, a first conduit connected to the access port and extending away from the body, a valve connected with the first conduit, a second conduit connected with the first conduit and extending toward the top edge, wherein the second conduit is water permeable. An actuator is positioned in the second conduit and connected to the valve. First and second water level sensors are positioned to measure ground water level and pool water level. A microprocessor is operationally connected to the water level sensors and to the actuator, wherein when the ground water level exceeds the pool water level by a predetermined amount, the microprocessor sends a signal to the actuator to open the valve.

Abstract: A swimming pool assembly, including a pool body defining a pool top edge and an opposite pool floor member connected by at least one pool wall, a dry area formed within the pool body and defining a dry area wall portion, a dry area bottom portion operationally connected thereto, and an aperture operationally connected to the dry area bottom portion for providing fluid communication from the dry area into the support structure. The dry area includes seating and a central feature, such as a fire pit, pool table, wet bar, or the like. A support structure is provided to support the dry area and is connected to the dry area bottom portion. The support structure further includes a support structure floor member, at least one support structure wall member extending therefrom and connected to the shallow deck portion to define an enclosure, and at least one fluid access aperture formed through the support structure wall member to provide fluidic communication with the enclosure.

Abstract: A swimming pool assembly, including a pool body defining a top edge and an bottom connected by a wall, an access port positioned through the bottom, a first conduit connected to the access port and extending away from the body, a valve connected with the first conduit, a second conduit connected with the first conduit and extending toward the top edge, wherein the second conduit is water permeable. An actuator is positioned in the second conduit and connected to the valve. First and second water level sensors are positioned to measure ground water level and pool water level. A microprocessor is operationally connected to the water level sensors and to the actuator, wherein when the ground water level exceeds the pool water level by a predetermined amount, the microprocessor sends a signal to the actuator to open the valve.

Abstract: A swimming pool assembly, including a swimming pool body defining a pool top edge and an oppositely disposed bottom pool floor member connected by at least one pool wall and having a shallow deck portion and a support structure for providing support to the deck portion operationally connected to the deck portion and extending away from the pool top edge. The support structure further includes a support structure floor member, at least one support structure wall member extending therefrom and connected to the shallow deck portion to define an enclosure, and at least one fluid access aperture formed through the support structure wall member to provide fluidic communication with the enclosure.

Abstract: A swimming pool assembly, including a preformed swimming pool body defining bottom floor member and at least one sidewall member connected thereto and extending therefrom, and a groundwater protection device positioned in the bottom floor member. The groundwater protection device defines a predetermined failure mode under applied external hydrostatic forces generated by groundwater to yield an aperture through the bottom floor member through which groundwater may flow into the fiberglass swimming pool body.

Abstract: A swimming pool assembly, including a pool body defining a top edge and an bottom connected by a wall, an access port positioned through the bottom, a first conduit connected to the access port and extending away from the body, a valve connected with the first conduit, a second conduit connected with the first conduit and extending toward the top edge, wherein the second conduit is water permeable. An actuator is positioned in the second conduit and connected to the valve. First and second water level sensors are positioned to measure ground water level and pool water level. A microprocessor is operationally connected to the water level sensors and to the actuator, wherein when the ground water level exceeds the pool water level by a predetermined amount, the microprocessor sends a signal to the actuator to open the valve.

Abstract: A swimming pool assembly, including a pool body defining a top edge and an bottom connected by a wall, an access port positioned through the bottom, a first conduit connected to the access port and extending away from the body, a valve connected with the first conduit, a second conduit connected with the first conduit and extending toward the top edge, wherein the second conduit is water permeable. An actuator is positioned in the second conduit and connected to the valve. First and second water level sensors are positioned to measure ground water level and pool water level. A microprocessor is operationally connected to the water level sensors and to the actuator, wherein when the ground water level exceeds the pool water level by a predetermined amount, the microprocessor sends a signal to the actuator to open the valve.

Abstract: A swimming pool assembly, including a preformed swimming pool body defining bottom floor member and at least one sidewall member connected thereto and extending therefrom, and a groundwater protection device positioned in the bottom floor member. The groundwater protection device defines a predetermined failure mode under applied external hydrostatic forces generated by groundwater to yield an aperture through the bottom floor member through which groundwater may flow into the fiberglass swimming pool body.

Abstract: A kit for raising and lowering a fiberglass swimming pool body, including at least three elongated structural members, wherein each elongated member includes a pully operationally connected thereto, at least three base portions, at least three couplers, each respective coupler connectible to a respective base portion for receiving a respective elongated member, and at least three winches, each winch connectible to a respective coupler, wherein each winch includes a length of cable ending in a grapple operationally connected thereto.