Abstract: Methods are provided for making layers with nano- and micro-patterned topographies by laser action or inkjet printing on a first surface. These topographies have a periodicity of 5 nm to 500 ?m in a first direction in the plane of the first surface. These layers can be used as anisotropically patterned alignment layers in electro-optical devices and generate an orientational order of at least 0.30.

Abstract: A flooring module (100) for forming a temporary access floor comprises a base component (1) defining a cruciform channel formation (3, 4) for receiving cabling or the like. The channels (3, 4) have a floor (1A) defined by the base component and a removable channel cover (2). The channel cover (2) comprises one or more channel cover components for covering the channel formation, such that the channel formation and channel cover may combine to provide a closed channel for the cabling or the like. Removal of the cover (2) allows access to the channel formation from above, in use. The sides of the base component (1) define module connector clips (20, 21) for engaging with corresponding module connector clips on adjacent modules to lock the modules together in an array. The base component (1) defines retaining formations (13, 14) for engaging with and retaining the channel cover components over the channel formation.

Abstract: A flooring module (100) for forming a temporary access floor comprises a base component (1) defining a cruciform channel formation (3, 4) for receiving cabling or the like. The channels (3, 4) have a floor (1A) defined by the base component and a removable channel cover (2). The channel cover (2) comprises one or more channel cover components for covering the channel formation, such that the channel formation and channel cover may combine to provide a closed channel for the cabling or the like. Removal of the cover (2) allows access to the channel formation from above, in use. The sides of the base component (1) define module connector clips (20, 21) for engaging with corresponding module connector clips on adjacent modules to lock the modules together in an array. The base component (1) defines retaining formations (13, 14) for engaging with and retaining the channel cover components over the channel formation.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a gas sensing element positioned at least partially within a body and being exposed at a first end to measure a gas in contact with the first end. A sleeve is fixed to the body and extends from the body in a direction opposite the first end of the gas sensing element. The sleeve includes it remote end portion having an engagement feature. A connector housing is overmolded onto the end portion of the sleeve to lock onto the sleeve via the engagement feature. The connector housing includes a plug connector portion partially enclosing a plurality of electrical terminals electrically connected to the gas sensing element.

Abstract: A lens includes a lens body, and an electro-active section (liquid crystals and a diffraction section) that is provided to a region of part of the lens body. The lens includes a pair of electrodes that are embedded in the lens body, that are electrically connected to a focal length modification section, that extend downward from an upper side end of the lens body, and that are disposed substantially parallel to each other spaced apart in a width direction orthogonal to an up-down direction of the lens body. Lower ends of the pair of electrodes are disposed spaced apart from the electro-active section in the up-down direction of the lens body.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for the design and manufacturing of electronic eyeglasses and associated components thereof. Electronic eyeglasses consist of electro-active lenses, receiving electrical signals that turn them on and off from an electronic control module. The electronic control module is embedded within a temple of the eyeglass frame, and is powered by a removable power source pack residing at a temple tip through a flexible cable. Various methods describe the interconnection schemes between the components of the electronic eyeglasses.

Abstract: A method for forming graphene includes providing a substrate, subjecting the substrate to a reduced pressure environment, and providing a carrier gas and a carbon source. The method also includes exposing at least a portion of the substrate to the carrier gas, the carbon source, and at least one atmospheric gas and performing a CMOS compatible etching process on the at least a portion of the substrate. The method further includes performing, concurrently with the performing the CMOS compatible etching process, a CMOS compatible graphene growth process to convert a portion of the carbon source to graphene on the at least a portion of the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for the design and manufacturing of electronic eyeglasses and associated components thereof. Electronic eyeglasses consist of electro-active lenses, receiving electrical signals that turn them on and off from an electronic control module. The electronic control module is embedded within a temple of the eyeglass frame, and is powered by a removable power source pack residing at a temple tip through a flexible cable. Various methods describe the interconnection schemes between the components of the electronic eyeglasses.

Abstract: Each of one or more temperature sensors of a computing system can measure and provide a temperature value (e.g., provide temperature data) to the system. In some embodiments, the system can apply an offset value, a time-based filter, and a weighting factor to each temperature value received from the one or more temperature sensors of the system. Based, at least in part, on the offsetting, filtering, and/or weighting, the computing system can determine (e.g., calculate, estimate, predict, etc.,) a temperature value representative of an enclosure temperature of the system. In some embodiments, based on the determined temperature value that is representative of the enclosure temperature, the computing system can perform appropriate subsequent processing in accordance with thermal management of the system.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensor housing and a sensing element located within the sensor housing. The sensing element has a distal end and defines an axis. The gas sensor also includes a sensor protection device coupled to the sensor housing and at least partially surrounding the distal end of the sensing element. The sensor protection device includes a first member coupled to the housing, the first member having a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the axis. The first member includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The sensor protection device also includes a second member coupled to the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for the design and manufacturing of electronic eyeglasses and associated components thereof. Electronic eyeglasses consist of electro-active lenses, receiving electrical signals that turn them on and off from an electronic control module. The electronic control module is embedded within a temple of the eyeglass frame, and is powered by a removable power source pack residing at a temple tip through a flexible cable. Various methods describe the interconnection schemes between the components of the electronic eyeglasses.

Abstract: A method of identifying a sample includes placing the sample in proximity to a plurality of nanoparticles and irradiating the plurality of nanoparticles with laser radiation. A plasmon resonance process results in heating of the plurality of nanoparticles due to the laser irradiation. The method also includes transferring energy from the plurality of nanoparticles to the sample, obtaining a Raman spectrum associated with sample, and identifying the sample based on the Raman spectrum.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensor housing and a sensing element located within the sensor housing. The sensing element defines an axis. The sensing element has a distal end extending from the sensor housing. The gas sensor further includes a sensor protection element coupled to the sensor housing and at least partially surrounding the distal end of the sensing element. The sensor protection element includes a tube having a conical portion, and a gas inlet located on the tube, the gas inlet spaced from the axis. The gas inlet is shaped to direct gas into the tube to induce a vortex gas flow within the conical portion of the tube.

Abstract: Mechanisms and techniques for managing devices within an energy management system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the energy management system includes a first controller and a second controller that control communications with and manage devices. The first controller determines to transmit a system management application instruction to a device and converts the system management application instruction to a device controller instruction based on an identifier of the device. The first controller generates a system message that includes the device controller instruction and formats the system message based on a network transmission format. The second controller receives the system message from the first controller and reformats the system message based on a device controller interface format. The second controller transmits the reformatted system message to a controller interface of the device.

Abstract: A battery system is disclosed herein that includes a battery enclosure and a battery assembly contained within or substantially surrounded by the enclosure. The enclosure may include enclosure walls having fluid pathways defined therein. In an example, enclosure walls are formed from multiple instances of a repeating modular wall component. A cooling fluid may be circulated through the fluid pathways to provide thermal regulation of the battery assembly. The battery assembly may include one or more electric batteries. An example battery assembly includes a plurality of batteries that are organized into rows. These rows of batteries may be electrically interconnected with each other by electrically conductive strips to form a battery pack. The battery system may be used to provide energy storage within the context of automotive applications or other electronic systems.

Abstract: A battery system is disclosed that includes a battery enclosure and a battery assembly contained within or substantially surrounded by the enclosure. The enclosure may include enclosure walls having fluid pathways defined therein. In an example, enclosure walls are formed from multiple instances of a repeating modular wall component. A cooling fluid may be circulated through the fluid pathways to provide thermal regulation of the battery assembly. The battery system may further include a manifold that distributes the fluid among the fluid pathways of the enclosure. The battery assembly may include one or more electric batteries. An example battery assembly includes a plurality of batteries that are organized into rows. These rows of batteries may be electrically interconnected with each other by electrically conductive strips to form a battery pack. The battery system may be used to provide energy storage within the context of automotive applications or other electronic systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forecasting remittances of a target claim filed for reimbursement of a healthcare service provided to an insured patient. A set of data associated with the target claim is extracted from a database. A claim value engine queries the database using the set of data, and based on the query, selects a plurality of claims from the database that are associated with the service provider and the claim payer of the target claim, are older than the target claim by at least a predetermined period of time, and have a previous remittance status similar to that of the target claim. The claim value engine also evaluates a mean expectation value for a predetermined date based on the reimbursement amounts for the selected plurality of claims, and determines a net reimbursement of the target claim by multiplying the evaluated mean expectation value by the claim amount.

Abstract: In a network that includes static bandwidth and dynamic bandwidth links, traffic flow at the OSI network layer is simulated at a traffic-flow level at interfaces to fixed bandwidth links, and simulated at a discrete-packet level at interfaces to dynamic bandwidth links. The resultant discrete-packet reception events at the receiving interface(s) of the dynamic bandwidth link are processed to determine the effective bandwidth/throughput of the link, as well as the allocation of this bandwidth among the individual flows through the link. The discrete-packet level receptions are used to reconstruct the parameters of the traffic flow at the network layer of the receiving interface, and this determined traffic flow is simulated accordingly at the next link, depending upon whether the next link is a static or dynamic bandwidth link.

Abstract: A number of devices (floor grommets) for providing an air seal of an aperture through which one or more cables or conduits pass are disclosed. The devices (1, 90) include a frame (6) and at least first and second opposing sealing members (91, 92) defining sealing faces mounted in the frame. At least one of the sealing members (91, 92) is movable between a position in which the aperture is substantially closed and a position in which the aperture is substantially open. The sealing members (91, 92) includes resilient flexible compressible foamed plastics or polymeric material or the like. The sealing members provide a substantial air seal across the frame opening in use with said resilient flexible compressible foamed plastics or polymeric material forming the sealing members deforming and conforming around any cables or conduits or the like extending through the frame.

Abstract: A system for graphene production includes a plurality of gas sources, a plurality of mass flow controllers, and a processing chamber. The system also includes a plasma source operable, a vacuum pump, a processor, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a plurality of computer-readable instructions. The plurality of instructions include instructions that cause the data processor to subject a substrate to a reduced pressure environment, to provide a carrier gas and a carbon source, and to expose at least a portion of the substrate to the carrier gas and the carbon source. The plurality of instructions also include instructions that cause the data processor to perform a surface treatment process on the at least a portion of the substrate and to convert a portion of the carbon source to graphene disposed on the at least a portion of the substrate.