Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a unit that includes a semiconductor and a plasmonic material disposed on the semiconductor, where a potential barrier is formed between the plasmonic material and the semiconductor. The unit further includes an insulator disposed on the semiconductor and adjacent to the plasmonic material and a transparent conductor disposed on the plasmonic material, where, upon illumination, the plasmonic material is excited resulting the excitation of an electron with sufficient energy to overcome the potential barrier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for recovering a flammable vapor emanating from a vent of a tank. The apparatus comprises an input conduit for connecting to the vent of the tank. An input manifold connects the input conduit to an input of a compressor with an output manifold connecting an output of the compressor to an input of a storage tank. An output conduit connects an output of the storage tank to the turbine generator for generating electrical power by processing the flammable vapor. An electrical connector directs electrical power from the turbine generator to drive the apparatus as well as to supply surplus power to an external load.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for recovering a flammable vapor emanating from a vent of a tank. The apparatus comprises an input conduit for connecting to the vent of the tank. An input manifold connects the input conduit to an input of a compressor with an output manifold connecting an output of the compressor to an input of a storage tank. An output conduit connects an output of the storage tank to the turbine generator for generating electrical power by processing the flammable vapor. An electrical connector directs electrical power from the turbine generator to drive the apparatus as well as to supply surplus power to an external load.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for recovering a flammable vapor emanating from a vent of a tank. The apparatus comprises an input conduit for connecting to the vent of the tank. An input manifold connects the input conduit to an input of a compressor with an output manifold connecting an output of the compressor to an input of a storage tank. An output conduit connects an output of the storage tank to the turbine generator for generating electrical power by burning the flammable vapor. An electrical connector directs electrical power from the turbine generator to drive the apparatus as well as to supply surplus power to an external load.

Abstract: A rattle stick having an elongated member with an outwardly extending flange at one end and a handle at the opposite end. On the outer surface of the elongated member is at least one knob. Slidably fitted over the elongated member is a sleeve having at least one knob on an inner surface that is positioned to engage at least one knob on the outer surface of the member.

Abstract: A method for interacting with an online database through a variety of communications methods is described. Using e-mail programs, instant messaging applications, or SMS for mobile devices, a user of an online service composes and sends a language-based text message to an online service. A user services application implemented by the online service reads the incoming messages, verifies rights to the requested data, and determines whether the text message is a query or command. If the rights to the requested data have been confirmed by the mail reader application, the requested data is returned to the user in response to a query or the change is made to a record in the database in response to a command. In the case of e-mail, a confirmation step may be required in order to prevent spoofed e-mail commands.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying critical features in an ordered scale space within a multi-dimensional feature space is described. Features are extracted from a plurality of data collections. Each data collection is characterized by a collection of features semantically-related by a grammar. Each feature is normalized and frequencies of occurrence and co-occurrences for the feature for each of the data collections is determined. The occurrence frequencies and the co-occurrence frequencies for each of the features are mapped into a set of patterns of occurrence frequencies and a set of patterns of co-occurrence frequencies. The pattern for each data collection is selected and distance (similarity) measures between each occurrence frequency in the selected pattern is calculated. The occurrence frequencies are projected onto a one-dimensional document signal in order of relative decreasing similarity using the similarity measures.

Abstract: A mixer apparatus is disclosed for mixing livestock feed and the like. The apparatus includes a container for the reception therein of the feed. The container includes a housing and a wall extending away from the housing. The wall defines an opening which is disposed remote from the housing for the reception therethrough of the feed. The arrangement is such that the housing and the wall define therebetween an enclosure for the feed received through the opening. An auger is disposed within the enclosure, the auger having an axis of rotation which extends through the housing. A final driven wheel is disposed within the housing, the final driven wheel being rotatable about the axis of rotation. The final driven wheel is drivingly connected to the auger so that when the final driven wheel is rotated within the housing, the auger is rotated therewith within the enclosure. The final driven wheel and the auger together as a unit are removable and replaceable relative to the housing and enclosure respectively.

Abstract: A method of distinguishing between fluorescent light emitted by green fluorescent protein and fluorescent light emitted by auto-fluorescent molecules, the method comprising: using plane-polarised light to illuminate a sample containing green fluorescent protein and auto-fluorescent molecules; detecting the intensity of fluorescent light that is emitted with a first polarisation from the sample; detecting the intensity of fluorescent light that is emitted with a second polarisation from the sample; and subtracting a first of said detected intensities from a second of said detected intensities to obtain a difference signal.

Abstract: A fragrance emitting device comprising a container containing two differently colored, differently fragranced immiscible liquids, and a light source. The light source is located in the base of the device and shines through the container heating a first of said two immiscible liquids. Portions of said first immiscible liquid rise from a layer formed by said first immiscible liquid at the bottom of said container into a layer formed immediately above said first layer by said second immiscible liquid thereby heating said second immiscible liquid. Vapors are released from the device when portions of the first immiscible liquid reach the uppermost surface of the second immiscible liquid and also when the second immiscible liquid reaches a specified temperature. Preferably a replacement container and a cap are removable from the base for easy, inexpensive replacement of said immiscible liquids.

Abstract: A mixer apparatus is disclosed for mixing livestock feed and the like. The apparatus includes a container for the reception therein of the feed. The container includes a housing and a wall extending away from the housing. The wall defines an opening which is disposed remote from the housing for the reception therethrough of the feed. The arrangement is such that the housing and the wall define therebetween an enclosure for the feed received through the opening. An auger is disposed within the enclosure, the auger having an axis of rotation which extends through the housing. A final driven wheel is disposed within the housing, the final driven wheel being rotatable about the axis of rotation. The final driven wheel is drivingly connected to the auger so that when the final driven wheel is rotated within the housing, the auger is rotated therewith within the enclosure. The final driven wheel and the auger together as a unit are removable and replaceable relative to the housing and enclosure respectively.

Abstract: A battery box for holding a single battery includes a one-piece container portion to receive a battery therein and a one-piece, vented lid releasably attached to the container portion through a latching arrangement. The container portion has a base with a raised portion for supporting the battery and at least one depression for receiving battery acid. Four walls extend from the base with opposed side walls including latching components. The lid has at least one extension spaced from an associated wall of the container portion adapted to accommodate battery cables or the like. Each lid vent includes a snap-on vent cover. A pair of handles attached to the container portion is attached to a pair of elongated ribs for distributing forces between the handle and the end wall. A pair of grooves in the base extend between opposed walls and are adapted to receive a strap therein on an exterior of the battery box and form the raised area and adjacent depressions in the interior.

Abstract: A muzzleloading rifle has a stock, a receiver, a forwardly extending barrel, a removable breech plug in the rearward end of the barrel and forwardly of the receiver, and a trigger mechanism. An elongated bolt member has a rearward end pivotally secured within the receiver and adapted to be pivoted from an aligned position within the receiver to an angular position outwardly through a slot in the side of the receiver. A transverse cross lug is mounted in a locking position within the receiver and has one end pivotally secured to the bolt so that when the bolt is pivoted outwardly from the receiver, the cross lug will be unlocked from the receiver to allow the bolt to be moved to a rearward position in the slot of the receiver. The bolt is operatively connected to an elongated striker pin in the bolt to pull the striker pin rearwardly against a compression spring when the bolt is moved forwardly to cock the striker pin.