Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus and method for treating a bowel obstruction. An example apparatus includes a first tong element and a second tong element forming a pair of tong elements pivotally connected at a junction point and movable between an opened position and a closed position. Each tong element defines a distal end and a proximal end and a body extending therebetween. The distal end of the first tong element defines a first collection half element and the distal end of the second tong element defines a second collection half element. The first collection half element and the second collection half element form a collection element when the pair of tong elements are in the closed position, which defines an inwardly facing cavity. At least one of an interior of the first collection half element or an interior of the second collection half element define a plurality of grasping teeth.

Abstract: A power control system for use with an electric lock mechanism including an actuator having a coil with a particular coil impedance. The power control system comprises a power supply configured to provide an output voltage having a drive current to the actuator, a credential device powered by the power supply and configured to signal the power supply to provide the output voltage upon receiving an authorized access code, an actuator driver including a multiple-gain current-sensing circuit, and a microcontroller configured to monitor and control the power supply, credential device, actuator driver, and actuator, and determine the impedance of the coil. The microcontroller is populated by a look-up table having performance data for a plurality of coils such that the microcontroller selects a duty ratio to establish the optimum magnitude of drive current to the coil based only on the determined impedance of the coil.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic generating of a Bayes net content graph are disclosed herein. The system can include a memory including a mapping matrix. The system can include at least one server. The at least one server can generate a user matrix having n columns and p rows. In some aspects, each of the n columns is associated with a student and each of the p rows is associated with a content item. The at least one server can: store the user matrix in the memory; retrieve the mapping matrix from the memory; iteratively identify prerequisite relationships between the skills identified in the user matrix; generate edges between the skills in the user matrix based on the iteratively identified prerequisite relationships; and orient the edges between the skill.

Abstract: A power control system for use with an electric lock mechanism having an actuator comprises a power supply to output an output voltage to the actuator. A credential device signals the power supply to output the voltage upon receiving an authorized code. A microcontroller controls the power supply, the credential device, and the actuator and may operate in an Access Mode or a Dog Mode. When in Access Mode, the actuator is unpowered and the credential device is powered until an authorized code is received and the power supply powers the actuator. The Dog Mode has an awake mode where the actuator is powered and the credential device is unpowered after the actuator remains in the powered state for a length of time. A sleep mode has the actuator unpowered and the credential device powered until an authorized code is received and the power supply powers the actuator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for using heat energy in a gypsum board plant. More specifically, the method contemplates taking heat from a gasifier, or other alternative heat source, and using it to dry gypsum boards. In order to control humidity levels, this heat is delivered to one or more board dryers via a heat exchanger.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated content delivery and evaluation are disclosed herein. The system can include a memory. The memory can include a content library database including a plurality of problems and data for stepwise evaluation of each of the plurality of problems. The system can include at least one server. The at least one server can automatically decompose a content item into a plurality of potential steps and associate attributes with the potential steps. The at least one server can receive a response from a user for the content item, identify steps in the received response, and select a next action based the identified steps of the received response.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated content delivery and evaluation are disclosed herein. The system can include a memory. The memory can include a content library database including a plurality of problems and data for stepwise evaluation of each of the plurality of problems. The system can include at least one server. The at least one server can automatically decompose a content item into a plurality of potential steps and associate attributes with the potential steps. The at least one server can receive a response from a user for the content item, identify steps in the received response, and select a next action based the identified steps of the received response.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic generating of a Bayes net content graph are disclosed herein. The system can include a memory including a mapping matrix. The system can include at least one server. The at least one server can generate a user matrix having n columns and p rows. In some aspects, each of the n columns is associated with a student and each of the p rows is associated with a content item. The at least one server can: store the user matrix in the memory; retrieve the mapping matrix from the memory; iteratively identify prerequisite relationships between the skills identified in the user matrix; generate edges between the skills in the user matrix based on the iteratively identified prerequisite relationships; and orient the edges between the skill.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic generating of a Bayes net content graph are disclosed herein. The system can include a memory including a mapping matrix. The system can include at least one server. The at least one server can generate a user matrix having n columns and p rows. In some aspects, each of the n columns is associated with a student and each of the p rows is associated with a content item. The at least one server can: store the user matrix in the memory; retrieve the mapping matrix from the memory; iteratively identify prerequisite relationships between the skills identified in the user matrix; generate edges between the skills in the user matrix based on the iteratively identified prerequisite relationships; and orient the edges between the skill.

Abstract: A power control circuit assembly for an electric door latch mechanism comprises a load control circuit module configured to distribute a DC operating voltage to power an electromechanical door latch mechanism and its associated access control device. An energy storage device such as a rechargeable battery is coupled to the load control circuit module and is configured to deliver a DC voltage to the load control circuit module wherein the DC energy storage device voltage supplies the DC operating voltage. A rectifier is configured to receive an input AC voltage and convert the input AC voltage to an input DC voltage. The input DC voltage is adapted to deliver an energy storage device recharge voltage. An energy storage device voltage detection module is configured to interrogate a DC voltage supplied by the energy storage device.

Abstract: A power control system for use with an electric lock mechanism having an actuator comprises a power supply to output an output voltage to the actuator. A credential device signals the power supply to output the voltage upon receiving an authorized code. A microcontroller controls the power supply, the credential device, and the actuator and may operate in an Access Mode or a Dog Mode. When in Access Mode, the actuator is unpowered and the credential device is powered until an authorized code is received and the power supply powers the actuator. The Dog Mode has an awake mode where the actuator is powered and the credential device is unpowered after the actuator remains in the powered state for a length of time. A sleep mode has the actuator unpowered and the credential device powered until an authorized code is received and the power supply powers the actuator.

Abstract: A power control circuit assembly for an electric door lock comprises a load control circuit module configured to distribute a DC operating voltage to power an electromechanical door latch mechanism and its associated access control device. An energy storage device such as a rechargeable battery is coupled to the load control circuit module and is configured to deliver a DC voltage to the load control circuit module wherein the DC energy storage device voltage supplies the DC operating voltage. A rectifier is configured to receive an input AC voltage and convert the input AC voltage to an input DC voltage. The input DC voltage is adapted to deliver an energy storage device recharge voltage. An energy storage device voltage detection module is configured to interrogate a DC voltage supplied by the energy storage device.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to an online film festival allows a first user and a second user to submit a first film and a second film, respectively. The films are submitted via a digital interface and a viewer can view the submitted films through those means as well. The viewer can vote, comment on, and/or contribute funds to film of his or her choice, with the funds being contributed after presentation of the film. A vote tallying portion of the digital interface tracks and counts a number of votes associated with the film. The winning film can be determined by the number of votes or a jury.

Abstract: A method for producing a transgenic plant includes providing a nucleic acid molecule comprising at least two regions of nucleic acid sequence that lack sequence homology with genomic DNA of the plant cell, and at least two zinc finger nuclease recognition sites, wherein the at least two regions of nucleic acid sequence that lack sequence homology with genomic DNA of the plant cell flank the at least two zinc finger nuclease recognition sites. A plant cell or tissue having the nucleic acid molecule stably integrated into the genome of the plant cell is transformed. A plant is regenerated from the plant cell. Transgenic plants are produced by the method. Seeds are produced by the transgenic plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for using heat energy in a gypsum board plant. More specifically, the method contemplates taking heat from a gasifier, or other alternative heat source, and using it to dry gypsum boards. In order to control humidity levels, this heat is delivered to one or more board dryers via a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method for producing a transgenic plant includes providing a nucleic acid molecule comprising at least two regions of nucleic acid sequence that lack sequence homology with genomic DNA of the plant cell, and at least two zinc finger nuclease recognition sites, wherein the at least two regions of nucleic acid sequence that lack sequence homology with genomic DNA of the plant cell flank the at least two zinc finger nuclease recognition sites. A plant cell or tissue having the nucleic acid molecule stably integrated into the genome of the plant cell is transformed. A plant is regenerated from the plant cell. Transgenic plants are produced by the method. Seeds are produced by the transgenic plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for using heat energy in a gypsum board plant. More specifically, the method contemplates taking heat from a gasifier, or other alternative heat source, and using it to dry gypsum boards. In order to control humidity levels, this heat is delivered to one or more board dryers via a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A high frequency flexure-based dynamometer for measuring vibrations to use in determining cutting forces in a tool is disclosed. The dynamometer device may operate within a pre-selected high frequency range while measuring cutting forces less than about 1 N. The dynamometer may include two coupled flexures that interact to produce vibration modes at the edge of a selected bandwidth of interest. These modes may produce a frequency response function within the desired frequency band that has a magnified response and is substantially constant. The dynamometer may include a workpiece mounted to one of the two flexures and a one or more precision accelerometers mounted to the first or second flexures. Finite element analysis may be used to optimize the flexure design.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a salt optic provided with a multilayer coating in order to improve upon the moisture resistance of a salt optic, when compared to the moisture resistance of an uncoated salt optic. In one aspect, the present invention is comprised of a coated salt optic having at least a first coating layer and a second coating layer, the first coating layer being surface-smoothing layer and adhesion layer, and the second coating layer being a moisture barrier layer.

Abstract: An electrokinetic pump for pumping a liquid includes a pumping body having a plurality of narrow, short and straight pore apertures for channeling the liquid through the body. A pair of electrodes for applying a voltage differential are formed on opposing surfaces of the pumping body at opposite ends of the pore apertures. The pumping body is formed on a support structure to maintain a mechanical integrity of the pumping body. The pump can be fabricated using conventional semiconductor processing steps. The pores are preferably formed using plasma etching. The structure is oxidized to insulate the structure and also narrow the pores. A support structure is formed by etching a substrate and removing an interface oxide layer. Electrodes are formed to apply a voltage potential across the pumping body. Another method of fabricating an electrokinetic pump includes providing etch stop alignment marks so that the etch step self-terminates.