Abstract:
A method for preparing a surface of a substrate is provided. The method includes scanning the surface of the substrate by a meniscus, preparing the surface of the substrate using the meniscus, and performing a next preparation operation on the surface of the substrate that was prepared without performing a rinsing operation.
Abstract:
The present invention is an ingenuously designed self locking hinge that is simple to manufacture and can come in a variety of shapes given the application requirements. It has few parts making it cost effect and simple to use. The hinge can easily be opened and closed with one hand while at the same time creating a strong hinge connection. The invention can be used in a number of applications, including use with poles for many common applications such as walking sticks, canes, ski poles and wading staffs used by fly fishermen who need poles to navigate through a stream to avoid holes or rocks in the stream bed. The invention can also be used in conjunction with devices that require a collapsible frame.
Abstract:
The invention provides a system and method for receiving weather forecast information in a mobile unit and using that information to warn a user of a future weather hazard with reference to the mobile unit's location and/or intended direction of travel. A hazard location algorithm compares a forecast location of each mobile unit with a forecast hazard and transmits a warning to each mobile unit that is predicted to encounter the hazard. As the mobile unit moves, its actual position is updated in the forecasting center, and a revised warning is transmitted to the mobile unit. The hazard information may be displayed on the user's system in the form of a rotating map with an automatically adjustable range to display warning information in relation to the system's location. Warnings, including audio warnings for playback and crawls for display on a television, can be automatically generated and spoken or displayed to a user.
Abstract:
A system and method for controlling the level of a process water pond is provided. According to one aspect of the invention, the method includes increasing the evaporation rate of the process water pond through the addition of heat from a power plant. According to another aspect, the method includes pumping process water through a condenser of the power plant. According to a further aspect, the method includes pumping substantially pure feedwater between a condenser of the power plant and a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the process water pond. According to yet another aspect, the method includes selectively pumping feedwater between a cooling tower and a condenser of the power plant, or pumping process water between the process water pond and the condenser. Aspects further provide a method for increasing recovery of substances contained in process water, and a method for cleaning a stagnant process water pond.
Abstract:
In a network of intermittently-connected computers, a method and apparatus for maintaining and managing control over data objects authored, accessed, and altered by users in dynamic, distributed, and collaborative contexts. The invention method and apparatus attach to each data object an identification of a respective control policy. Each control policy comprises at least an indication of a subset of the users who may access the data object, an indication of the privileges granted to each subset of users able to access the data object, and an indication of a subset of users who may define or edit the control policy. The invention method and apparatus separate the management of the control policies of data objects from the creation and use of the data objects. The invention method and apparatus automate common policy changes, distribution of policy changes to the enforcement agents, and propagation of control policies to derivative works.
Abstract:
Myoglobin is shown to have Manganese (Mn.sup.2') binding and peroxidase capacity. Mn binding and peroxidase activity is enhanced by modification of the amino acid sequence of myoglobin to provide a Mn binding site on the surface of the protein near the heme group. Peroxidase activity of myoglobin not specific to Mn is enhanced by substituting amino acids at residues 39, 45, 46, 97 and 107 of myolglobin.
Abstract:
A method of transmitting a series of data elements by means of a series of discrete signal pulses separated by intervals, wherein the data elements are of a number of discrete types and are each represented by a respective interval between successive signal pulses, and wherein a number of further intervals, each different from the intervals assigned to data elements and different from the sums of or differences between any two data element intervals, is defined wherein each of the further intervals represents a change in the series of data elements from one element type to another, the number of further intervals being less than the number of different data element types.
Abstract:
A technique for providing automated direction and guidance to nurses to assist in the task of dispensing medication to patients. Information on all patients is stored in a stationary base computer. Information pertinent to the medication dispensing task is transferred from the base computer to a portable, hand-held computer adapted to be carried by the nurse during rounds. One portable computer contains information for only those patients assigned to one nurse. As the nurse approaches a patient, the portable computer is activated to display the name of each medication to be dispensed to that patient along with dose, route, and comments. The nurse enters into the portable computer whether the medication was dispensed or not. It can, thus, be determined whether any medication remains to be dispensed, and why it has not yet been administered. At the completion of rounds, data is transferred from the portable computer to the base computer to update the information stored in the base computer.
Abstract:
An electronic chart system in which charts of the earth are stored in digital representation and communicated to the operator by a visual display. Through the use of a Loran-C receiver or the like, the system additionally plots the carrier's position on the visual representation of the chart. The visual display is a cathode ray tube on which the visual representation is compressed or expanded to meet the demands of the operator so that the appropriate resolution is thereby obtained. To minimize memory size an encoding format is used which provides a data word for indicating the first physical element of the run line, a data word for the number of runs per line and data words for the lengths of N-1 runs of up to two variables for each line of the chart.
Abstract:
Methods of analyzing the rock content of a geologic formation are provided herein. The methods typically comprise obtaining samples from the formation and subjecting the samples to conditions that will cause the extraction and/or release of one or more volatile compounds from the samples, if present in the samples, and then analyzing the amount of such one or more volatile compounds released/extracted from the sample and then further relating such results to the physical and/or rock content composition of two or more regions of the geologic formation. The results can be used to inform or guide oil and/or gas exploration and/or production operations, such as placement of fracking operations.