Abstract: A method of measuring strain includes providing laminated material having ply layers, and a thickness along a direction orthogonal to the ply layers, and a strain sensor embedded between adjacent ply layers, wherein: the strain sensor includes first and second planar optical waveguide, each of the waveguides having a waveguiding core defining an optical propagation direction parallel to the laminated material and a Bragg grating in the waveguiding core, the optical propagation directions of the optical waveguides being non-parallel; interrogating the first optical waveguide Bragg grating with transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarized light, to obtain a TE spectral response and a TM spectral response; interrogating the second optical waveguide Bragg grating with TE and TM polarized light to obtain a TE spectral response and a TM spectral response; and processing the TE spectral responses and the TM spectral responses to extract a through-thickness component of strain.

Abstract: Various exemplary devices and methods for heating fuel hoses and nozzles are provided. In general, the devices and methods for heating fuel hoses and nozzles can be configured to heat fluid dispensable by a user into a fuel tank or other type of container. In some embodiments, a fuel dispensing device can include a first passageway configured to pass fluid therethrough and can include a second passageway configured to pass heated air therethrough. The heated air passing through the second passageway can be configured to heat the fluid passing through the first passageway. In some embodiments, a fuel dispensing device can include a single hose configured to pass fluid and heated air through separate passageways therein, and the device can include a manifold configured to facilitate passage of the fluid and the heated air from separate sources into the single hose.

Abstract: A system for airborne storage, assembly and launch of aircraft and spacecraft.

Abstract: A flip-top dispensing closure is provided. The closure includes a base and a lid. The base is attachable to a container neck and includes an integral spout. The lid includes a fixing ring and a cap. The fixing ring is attachable to the base and the cap is hingedly attached to the ring. The closure is provided with tamper-evident parts including first and second parts which are initially frangibly connected to each other within the lid, and upon first opening of the cap, the first and second parts are separated, one of the parts being retained by the cap and the other of the parts dropping onto the base.

Abstract: A flip-top dispensing closure is provided. The closure includes a base and a lid. The base is attachable to a container neck and includes an integral spout. The lid includes a fixing ring and a cap. The fixing ring is attachable to the base and the cap is hingedly attached to the ring. The closure is provided with tamper-evident parts including first and second parts which are initially frangibly connected to each other within the lid, and upon first opening of the cap the first and second parts are separated, one of the parts being retained by the cap and the other of the parts dropping onto the base.

Abstract: Various exemplary devices and methods for heating fuel hoses and nozzles are provided. In general, the devices and methods for heating fuel hoses and nozzles can be configured to heat fluid dispensable by a user into a fuel tank or other type of container. In some embodiments, a fuel dispensing device can include a first passageway configured to pass fluid therethrough and can include a second passageway configured to pass heated air therethrough. The heated air passing through the second passageway can be configured to heat the fluid passing through the first passageway. In some embodiments, a fuel dispensing device can include a single hose configured to pass fluid and heated air through separate passageways therein, and the device can include a manifold configured to facilitate passage of the fluid and the heated air from separate sources into the single hose.

Abstract: A processing system (10) and a corresponding method are provided for processing work products (WP), including food items, to locate and quantify voids, undercuts and similar anomalies in the work products. The work products are conveyed past an X-ray scanner (14) by a conveyance device (12). Data from the X-ray scanning is transmitted to control system (18). Simultaneously with the X-ray scanning of the work product, the work product is optically scanned at the same location on the work product where X-ray scanning is occurring. The data from the optical scanner is also transmitted to the control system. Such data is analyzed to develop or generate the thickness profile of the work product. From the differences in the thickness profiles generated from the X-ray scanning data versus the optical scanning data, the location of voids, undercuts and similar anomalies can be determined by the control system.

Abstract: A single-piece flip-top dispensing closure (10) is provided. The closure comprises a base (15) and a lid (20) joined by a hinge (25). The base is attachable to a container neck and includes an integral spout (45). A tamper-evident member is frangibly connected to the lid. The tamper-evident member includes a hook (85). The base is provided with a raised crossbar (550) under which the hook engages with the closure in an initially closed condition. When the lid is initially opened the interaction between the crossbar and the hook causes the tamper-evident member to release from the lid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for virtual reality (VR) training of medical events are described herein. In one aspect, a method for generating a VR medical training environment can include displaying a medical event through a VR headset, receiving, from a user of the VR headset, a set of verbal responses corresponding to the user reacting to the medical event, determining a timestamp for at least one verbal response received from the user, determining a medical event score for the user based on the set of verbal responses and the timestamp, and displaying a summary of the medical event score via the VR headset or a display screen.

Abstract: Various exemplary devices and methods for heating fuel hoses and nozzles are provided. In general, the devices and methods for heating fuel hoses and nozzles can be configured to heat fluid dispensable by a user into a fuel tank or other type of container. In some embodiments, a fuel dispensing device can include a first passageway configured to pass fluid therethrough and can include a second passageway configured to pass heated air therethrough. The heated air passing through the second passageway can be configured to heat the fluid passing through the first passageway. In some embodiments, a fuel dispensing device can include a single hose configured to pass fluid and heated air through separate passageways therein, and the device can include a manifold configured to facilitate passage of the fluid and the heated air from separate sources into the single hose.

Abstract: Various exemplary devices and methods for heating fluid dispensers, hoses, and nozzles are provided. In general, the devices and methods for heating fluid dispensers, hoses, and nozzles can be configured to heat fluid dispensable by a user into a fuel tank or other type of container. In some embodiments, a fuel dispensing device can include a first passageway configured to pass fluid therethrough and can include a second passageway fluidically isolated from the first passageway and having a heating element disposed therein. The heating element can be configured to heat the fluid passing through the first passageway. The first and second passageways can extend through at least a distal portion of a hose of the fluid dispensing device and through at least a proximal portion of a nozzle of the fluid dispensing device that has a proximal end attached to a distal end of the hose.

Abstract: A processing system (10) and a corresponding method are provided for processing work products (WP), including food items, to locate and quantify voids, undercuts and similar anomalies in the work products. The work products are conveyed past an X-ray scanner (14) by a conveyance device (12). Data from the X-ray scanning is transmitted to control system (18). Simultaneously with the X-ray scanning of the work product, the work product is optically scanned at the same location on the work product where X-ray scanning is occurring. The data from the optical scanner is also transmitted to the control system. Such data is analyzed to develop or generate the thickness profile of the work product. From the differences in the thickness profiles generated from the X-ray scanning data versus the optical scanning data, the location of voids, undercuts and similar anomalies can be determined by the control system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for virtual reality (VR) training of medical events are described herein. In one aspect, a method for generating a VR medical training environment can include displaying a medical event through a VR headset, receiving, from a user of the VR headset, a set of verbal responses corresponding to the user reacting to the medical event, determining a timestamp for at least one verbal response received from the user, determining a medical event score for the user based on the set of verbal responses and the timestamp, and displaying a summary of the medical event score via the VR headset or a display screen.

Abstract: A flip-top dispensing closure is provided. The closure comprises a base and a lid. The base is attachable to a container neck and includes an integral spout. The lid comprises a fixing ring and a cap. The fixing ring is attachable to the base and the cap is hingedly attached to the ring. The closure is provided with tamper-evident means comprising first and second parts which are initially frangibly connected to each other within the lid, and upon first opening of the cap the first and second parts are separated, one of the parts being retained by the cap and the other of the parts dropping onto the base.

Abstract: Various exemplary devices and methods for heating fuel hoses and nozzles are provided. In general, the devices and methods for heating fuel hoses and nozzles can be configured to heat fluid dispensable by a user into a fuel tank or other type of container. In some embodiments, a fuel dispensing device can include a first passageway configured to pass fluid therethrough and can include a second passageway configured to pass heated air therethrough. The heated air passing through the second passageway can be configured to heat the fluid passing through the first passageway. In some embodiments, a fuel dispensing device can include a single hose configured to pass fluid and heated air through separate passageways therein, and the device can include a manifold configured to facilitate passage of the fluid and the heated air from separate sources into the single hose.

Abstract: Various exemplary devices and methods for heating fuel hoses and nozzles are provided. In general, the devices and methods for heating fuel hoses and nozzles can be configured to heat fluid dispensable by a user into a fuel tank or other type of container. In some embodiments, a fuel dispensing device can include a first passageway configured to pass fluid therethrough and can include a second passageway configured to pass heated air therethrough. The heated air passing through the second passageway can be configured to heat the fluid passing through the first passageway. In some embodiments, a fuel dispensing device can include a single hose configured to pass fluid and heated air through separate passageways therein, and the device can include a manifold configured to facilitate passage of the fluid and the heated air from separate sources into the single hose.

Abstract: A path disruption alert vehicle system that positions an alert vehicle forward of an ensuing vehicle, alerts the ensuing vehicle of sensed path disruption events, and alerts individuals that are in the path of the oncoming ensuing vehicle.

Abstract: Customer churn risk scores are based on a multi-variable churn risk model relating customer and customer account characteristics to a risk of customer churn. A computer-implemented method of generating and presenting churn risk scores of customers of a telecommunication provider involves analyzing, on an in-memory database platform, customer call data records and customer records to calculate a churn likelihood value, an influence factor value, and an average spend value for each customer. The method assigns a churn risk score to each customer according to the model using the calculated churn likelihood value, the calculated influence factor value, and the calculated average spend value as input to the model. The churn risk scores for one or more customers are displayed visually on an interactive computer-user interface (UI).