Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for operating gas meters are described herein. The systems may include a gas meter connectable to a gas line, where the gas meter may have a metrology unit in communication with a flow of gas through the gas line and an index unit in communication with and releasably coupled to the metrology unit. The metrology unit may be configured to generate flow rate data of the flow through the gas line based on outputs from a flow rate sensor, generate gas temperature data based on outputs from a temperature sensor, compensate the flow rate data based on the temperature data, generate an average flow rate, and output the average flow rate data to the index unit. The index unit may generate gas volume data based on flow rate data received from the metrology unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure relate to non-intrusive tracking or locating of objects in a conduit from a single location. A system comprises a vessel comprising a pressurized fluid, a valve positioned to control a flow of the pressurized fluid into the conduit to induce at least one pressure wave directed at the object, a pressure transducer in fluid communication with the conduit, the pressure transducer positioned to measure at least one pressure response in the conduit due to contact of the at least one pressure wave with the object, and a system controller operable to: receive pressure data from the pressure transducer, wherein the pressure data includes the at least one pressure response and determines a distance of the object in the conduit, relative to a reference point, based on the at least one pressure response.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems for accurate measurement of the bulk modulus of a fluid in a fluid distribution system. An apparatus comprises a pipe, a first endcap, and a second endcap defining a cylindrical cavity, a means for filling the cylindrical cavity with a fluid sample, and a vibrational sensor coupled to an end plate of the second endcap and communicatively connected to a water property measurement system. The vibrational sensor is operable to, subsequent to the filling of the cylindrical cavity with the fluid sample, send a signal representative of sensed vibrations in the end plate of the second endcap to the water property measurement system while an end plate of the first endcap is excited. The water property measurement system computes a frequency response function from the signal and determines a bulk modulus value for the fluid sample based on the frequency response function.

Abstract: A high pressure freezing cartridge (300, 400, 500) for use in vitrification of a biological sample (10) is provided, the cartridge (300, 400, 500) being adapted to fixedly hold a sample chamber (216, 218, 220) at a sample chamber position (320, 420, 520) in the cartridge (300, 400, 500), a refrigerant channel arrangement comprising at least one refrigerant channel (208, 308, 408, 462, 464, 466, 468, 508, 562, 564, 566, 569) being provided in the cartridge (300, 400, 500) and extending from a surface of the cartridge (300, 400, 500) to the sample chamber position, and the cartridge (300, 400, 500) comprising a baffle structure (350, 450, 550, 571) at a baffle position being adapted to interact with a refrigerant stream in the refrigerant channel arrangement before the refrigerant of the refrigerant stream reaches the sample chamber position in the cartridge (300, 400, 500). A corresponding method in which the high pressure freezing cartridge (300, 400, 500) is used is also part of the present disclosure.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention pertains to an affinity biosensor for sensing an analyte (a biomolecule) in a fluid, comprising an interface for contacting the fluid and adsorption of the analyte. The interface comprises a binary pattern of nanoscale regions having affinity for the analyte and a passivated region. The nanoscale regions are isolated from one another by the passivated region in such a way that adsorption of the analyte on the interface is confined to the nanoscale regions. The nanoscale regions have diameters comprised in the range from 5 to 200 nm. The nanoscale regions have together a surface area amounting to at least 15% of the surface area of the interface. A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of using such a sensor.

Abstract: A gas detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a casing and a plurality of sensor elements. The casing includes a gas introducing port, a first chamber that communicates with the introducing port, a second chamber that communicates with the first chamber, a flow limiter that limits a flow of gas from the first chamber to the second chamber, and a gas exhausting portion that communicates with the second chamber. The plurality of sensor elements are disposed within the second chamber and have different detection sensitivities depending on a gas type.

Abstract: A developing unit, which is attachable to and detachable from a photosensitive member unit, includes: a developing roller; a housing in which a holding space that holds toner is formed; and a pressing receiving portion that receives pressing force from a pressing member. The housing includes a first bottom portion that projects toward an outer side of the holding space, and a second bottom portion that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use. When viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the developing roller, at least part of the pressing receiving portion is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.

Abstract: An in vitro dynamic mouth model includes an upper jaw that includes a plurality of protuberances simulating human teeth, a lower jaw that is coupled with a rounded silicone pad simulating human tongue, and a mouth wall that encapsulates food sample(s) subjected to in vitro mastication such that the food sample remains within the mouth model. The mouth wall contains at least one hole that allows injection of simulated saliva fluid. As simulated chewing takes place, the injected fluid directly interacts with the food sample.

Abstract: An odor analysis system is provided to analyze odors present at a particular location and perform a preliminary identification of the odors while still at the location. The odor analysis system can have an odor processing device that collects samples of the odors and provides a series of odor notes to a user. The odor notes can be based on the separated and concentrated molecules in the collected sample. The odor analysis system can also include a hand-held computing device with a user interface that permits the user to enter information, both verbally and through touch input, about the series of odor notes provided by the odor processing device. The information entered by the user about the series of odor notes along with retention index information about the series of odor notes can be to perform a preliminarily identification of the molecules associated with the odors present at the location.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a cylindrical sensor window defining an axis oriented vertically and a ramp. The sensor window includes an exterior surface facing radially outward relative to the axis. The ramp is on the exterior surface of the sensor window. The ramp includes a leading surface and a trailing surface. The leading surface and the trailing surface are elongated parallel to the axis.

Abstract: A physical quantity detection circuit including a differential amplification circuit that differentially amplifies a signal pair based on a first signal containing a first physical quantity component and a first vibration leakage component and a second signal containing a second physical quantity component having a phase opposite the phase of the first physical quantity component and a second vibration leakage component having the same phase as the phase of the first vibration leakage component, an adder circuit that adds the signal pair, a first synchronous wave-detection circuit that performs synchronous wave-detection on a signal based on an output signal from the differential amplification circuit, a second synchronous wave-detection circuit that performs synchronous wave-detection on a signal based on an output signal from the adder circuit, a physical quantity detection signal generation circuit that generates a physical quantity detection signal based on an output signal from the first synchronous wave

Abstract: A method for quantitative analysis of a cavity at the top of a concrete-filled steel tube is disclosed. By substitution of the determined inner radius of the steel tube, the thickness of the steel tube wall and the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves in the steel tube and in the concrete, the propagation time of the ultrasonic wave between the top and the bottom of the concrete-filled steel tube enables calculation of the height of the cavity. The method can be used to quantify the cavity height at the top of the concrete-filled steel tube, with small relative errors and high accuracy.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing; a drawer; and first and second process cartridges attachable to the drawer. The first process cartridge includes a first drum cartridge including a first photosensitive drum and a first developing cartridge including a first developing roller. When attached to the first drum cartridge, the first developing cartridge is movable between a first position where the first developing cartridge is detachable from the first drum cartridge and a second position where the first developing cartridge is not detachable from the first drum cartridge. In a state where the first and second process cartridges are attached to the drawer at positions adjacent to each other, the first developing cartridge comes into contact with the second process cartridge during movement of the first developing cartridge from the second position to the first position before the first developing cartridge reaches the first position.

Abstract: A 3D printer includes a nozzle and a camera configured to capture an image, a video, or both of a plurality of drops of liquid metal being jetted through the nozzle. The 3D printer also includes a computing system configured to measure a signal proximate to the nozzle based at least partially upon the image, the video, or both. The computing system is also configured to determine one or more metrics that characterize a behavior of the drops based at least partially upon the signal.

Abstract: A method includes attaching a gas capture device to a bypass system adjacent to a gas meter. The method also includes rotating an internal cartridge near the gas meter to a bypass mode. The rotation of the internal cartridge enables gas to be diverted through a bypass system and away from the gas meter into an outlet. Remaining gas is captured from the gas meter to prevent the gas from releasing externally. The gas meter is removed from its original position. The internal cartridge is rotated from the bypass mode to a purge mode.

Abstract: A test fixture for identifying the sweet spot of a bat suspends the bat in a vertical orientation via a fixed pivot point and limits rotational movement of the bat to a single plane. A pendulum with an impact mass is caused to contact the bat at various locations along the barrel of the bat at a fixed velocity. Rotational movement of the impact mass is limited to the single plane. Peak acceleration is measured proximate to the handle of the bat. The sweet spot is identified based on measured minimum peak acceleration. For example, if there is a single measured minimum peak acceleration then the corresponding contact location at the barrel is the sweet spot. If there are multiple measured minimum peak acceleration instances then a center or average contact location of those instances in identified as the sweet spot.

Abstract: A device for determining information of a substance in a matter comprising a substrate layer; an inter-layer dielectric disposed on the substrate layer; an electronic circuitry substantially formed in the inter-layer dielectric and includes a plurality of metal layers with at least one metal layer being used as an inner electrode, a sensing instrument having at least one sensing component that includes a piezoelectric layer and the inner electrode that is positioned adjacent to an inner surface of the piezoelectric layer, and at least one binding layer disposed on the inter-layer dielectric for binding the substance, wherein the sensing component allows the device to determine the information of the substance upon detecting presence of the substance at the binding layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a selection method of base asphalt for rubber asphalt based on grey relational analysis, which belongs to the technical field of selection methods of base asphalt. The selection method includes the following steps: determining factors affecting the performance of rubber asphalt and rubber asphalt performance evaluation indicators; ranking the factors affecting the performance of rubber asphalt according to respective affecting degrees thereof on each of the rubber asphalt performance evaluation indicators by using a grey relational method; and determining affecting factors of chemical components of base asphalt to the performance of rubber asphalt, and selecting base asphalt according to the affecting factors. The present disclosure uses the grey relational analysis method to systematically study the influences of chemical components of base asphalt on the performance of rubber asphalt.

Abstract: Multifunctional RF limiting amplifiers having various configurations and functions are disclosed. In a first configuration, the RF limiting amplifier includes an active load output circuit that allows one to adjust the output impedance based upon the anticipated connected load impedance. In a second configuration, the RF limiting amplifier includes a pair of emitter-followers to buffer the output of a first stage, allowing the RF limiting amplifier to drive one or more second stages. A third configuration includes a pair of RF limiting amplifiers with their outputs mixed to implement a down conversion function. The third configuration may be used to drive dual SAW resonators for detecting the presence of biological or chemical agents. The RF limiting amplifier may be implemented in either bipolar junction transistors or CMOS transistors.

Abstract: A process cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including a driving shaft, to be driven by a motor, having a rotational force applying portion, wherein the process cartridge is dismountable from the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft, the process cartridge includes i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer at a peripheral surface thereof, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof; ii) process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; iii) a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to t