Abstract: A fan assembly includes a motor-driven impeller for creating an air flow, a casing including an interior passage for receiving the air flow, and a plurality of air outlets for emitting the air flow from the casing. The casing defines and extends about an opening through which air from outside the casing is drawn by the air flow emitted from the air outlets. The fan assembly also includes at least one heater for heating at least a first portion of the air flow, and means for diverting at least a second portion of the air flow away from said at least one heater. The plurality of outlets includes at least one first air outlet for emitting the relatively hot first portion of the air flow and at least one second air outlet for emitting the relatively cold second portion of the air flow.

Abstract: A combined intraocular pressure (IOP) measuring and eye medication dispensing device may include a first micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) sensor to generate IOP measurements of a living organism's eye; a medication dispensing device to dispense medication into the living organism's eye; a second MEMS micro-dispenser to interface with the medication dispensing device and to control the dispensing of the medication into the living organism's eye; and an analog-to-digital (A-to-D) converter to receive control signals. The A-to-D converter may communicate the control signals to the first MEMS sensor or the second MEMS micro-dispenser; receive the generated IOP measurements from the first MEMS sensor; receive medication dispensing parameters from the second MEMS micro-dispenser or medication dispensing device, and communicate the generated IOP measurements or the medication dispensing parameters.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to agricultural canopies used primarily to control the amount of light, moisture and heat reaching growing plants within the canopy footprint. More specifically, it relates to mechanisms for pulling a flexible canopy over a support structure and then for removing the canopy to uncover the structure and the plants below. The mechanisms include an arm mounted rotationally on a base. When the arm is rotated in one direction the canopy is pulled over the support structure and when the arm is rotated in the other direction the canopy is pulled off the support structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that certain non-naturally occurring, non-peptide amide compounds and amide derivatives, such as oxalamides, ureas, and acrylamides, are useful flavor or taste modifiers, such as a flavoring or flavoring agents and flavor or taste enhancer, more particularly, savory (the “umami” taste of monosodium glutamate) or sweet taste modifiers,—savory or sweet flavoring agents and savory or sweet flavor enhancers, for food, beverages, and other comestible or orally administered medicinal products or compositions.

Abstract: Heating apparatus includes an air inlet, a plurality of air outlets, an impeller, a motor for rotating the impeller to draw air through the air inlet, a user interface for allowing a user to select a rotational speed of the motor from a user selectable range of values, and a plurality of heater assemblies each comprising at least one positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element for heating air passing from the air inlet to a respective air outlet. The magnitude of a current drawn by the heater assemblies is detected, and the rotational speed of the motor is controlled independently from the rotational speed selected by the user depending on a characteristic of the current drawn by the heater assemblies.

Abstract: A process for making nanoparticles of biocompatible materials is described, wherein an aqueous reaction mixture comprising cerous ion, malic acid, an oxidant, and water, is provided along with temperature conditions to directly form within the reaction mixture, a stable dispersion of nanoceria particles. Biocompatible nanoparticles comprised of ceria and malic acid are described. A reduction in cell death in a murine model of ischemic stroke utilizing intact brain slices is demonstrated by a prophylactic treatment of ceria nanoparticles prepared with malic acid.

Abstract: A representative system for dispensing liquid vapor to a user includes: a vapor-producing device having a vaporizer, a vapor outlet, a vapor identification system, and a liquid cartridge receptacle, the liquid cartridge receptacle being configured to receive a liquid cartridge, the liquid cartridge being configured to contain a dispensable liquid, the liquid cartridge having identification information configured to identify the liquid contained therein, the vaporizer being configured to selectively vaporize an amount of liquid from the liquid cartridge coupled to the receptacle and deliver a corresponding dose of vaporized liquid to the vapor outlet for inhalation by the user, and the vapor identification system being configured to determine the identification information corresponding to the liquid cartridge coupled to the receptacle and communicate the identification information of the liquid cartridge to a mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method of network privacy enables end-users of a Network to have legal title or rights to all data knowingly or unknowingly transmitted while traversing a network and make individual determinations about privacy. The components may include fiber optic, copper wire, wireless satellite and or terrestrial data transport, network-level (TCP/IP) switches, an apparatus that anonymizes and redistributes user data to network data and service providers, an apparatus, system, software or process that maintains end-user security using any network protocol, any encryption method or protocol, any anonymization method and a client Graphical User Interface (“GUI”). A client GUI, electronic communication or parcel enables network end-users to option out or option into every field of end-user data that is defined and determined to be technically and contractually collectable by the network owner as represented to the end-user by the end-user and network owner agreement terms and conditions.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a package with a rigid or semi-rigid container and a polymeric or plastic header with a reclosure, such as a zipper. The rigid or semi-rigid container is typically provided in a stack of flat containers. The header is sealed, glued or otherwise secured to the containers. The container, typically inverted, is filled, and the bottom is formed by folding and sealing the bottom portion of the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that certain non-naturally occurring, non-peptide amide compounds and amide derivatives, such as oxalamides, ureas, and acrylamides, are useful flavor or taste modifiers, such as a flavoring or flavoring agents and flavor or taste enhancer, more particularly, savory (the “umami” taste of monosodium glutamate) or sweet taste modifiers,—savory or sweet flavoring agents and savory or sweet flavor enhancers, for food, beverages, and other comestible or orally administered medicinal products or compositions.

Abstract: Aqueous and substantially crystalline iron oxide nanoparticle dispersions and processes for making them are disclosed. The nanoparticle size and size distribution width are advantageous for use in a fuel additive for catalytic reduction of soot combustion in diesel particulate filters. Nanoparticles of the aqueous colloid are transferred to a substantially non-polar liquid comprising a carboxylic acid and one or more low-polarity solvents. The transfer is achieved by mixing the aqueous and substantially non-polar materials, forming an emulsion, followed by a phase separation into a substantially metal-free remnant polar phase and a substantially non-polar organic colloid phase. A method for rapid and substantially complete transfer of non-agglomerated nanoparticles to the low polarity phase in the presence of an organic amine, and a rapid phase separation of the substantially non-polar colloid from a remnant aqueous phase, are provided.

Abstract: A poison-resistant catalytic converter includes a washcoat having a support material comprised of titania and/or silica and a plurality of platinum group metal particles disposed in the support material. The washcoat is disposed on a substrate having a plurality of cells that define respective apertures. The catalytic converter is resistant to poisoning from sulfur and phosphorous compounds while operating at low temperatures. Applications include spark ignited internal combustion engines in combined heat and power systems, vehicles, combustion turbines, boilers and other applications for utilities, industry and vehicle emissions control.

Abstract: A method of making stable aqueous dispersions and concentrates of cobalt oxide nanoparticles is described, wherein a reaction mixture comprising cobalt(II) ion, a carboxylic acid, a base, an oxidant and water is formed, and in which cobalt oxide nanoparticles are formed. Cobalt oxide nanoparticles ranging in average crystallite size from about 4 nm to 15 nm are described. The cobalt oxide nanoparticles may be isolated and redispersed to form stable, homogeneous, aqueous dispersions of cobalt oxide nanoparticles containing from about 1 to about 20 weight percent cobalt oxide.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods of preparing ionic polyimides. Also disclosed are methods to tune the properties of the ionic polyimide by designing the components of the ionic polyimide. Additionally, disclosed herein is a composition comprising an ionic polyimide. Also disclosed herein is a composition comprising an ionic polyimide and an ionic liquid. The disclosed compositions can be utilized to capture gases.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling corneal topography includes an attachment to align a placido disc illumination system with a camera of a mobile communication device. The placido disc illumination system generates concentric rings and reflects the concentric rings off a cornea. A portion of the reflected concentric rings are utilized to confirm vertex distance. The apparatus further comprises a memory, a processor, and computer-readable instructions in a mobile communication device. The camera captures an image of reflected concentric rings and communicates the captured image of the reflected concentric rings to an external computing device. A method for performing corneal topography utilizes a mobile computing and/or communication device, projects a plurality of peripheral concentric rings onto a subject's cornea and projects center rings onto the subject's cornea. The method further includes capturing, via a smartphone camera, an image of the projected peripheral concentric rings and the center rings.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the probability of a presentation being randomly selected during random play based on user feedback where the length of delay prior to the user pressing the skip button causes a modification in the probability of that presentation being displayed again.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the probability of a presentation being randomly selected during random play based on user feedback where the length of delay prior to the user pressing the skip button causes a modification in the probability of that presentation being displayed again.

Abstract: A process for making cerium-containing nanoparticles with biocompatible stabilizers is described, wherein an aqueous reaction mixture comprising cerous ion, citric acid, a stabilizer (chelator) selected from the group consisting of nitrilotriacetic acid, ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, and an oxidant, is provided, followed by a heating step to effectively form the nanoparticles. These biocompatible nanoparticles can be used to treat oxidative stress related diseases and events, such as ischemic stroke.

Abstract: Approaches for managing a library of digital images and information about any editing operations performed on those digital images are provided. A managed library of digital images and a referenced library of digital images may be maintained. Digital images may be moved from the managed library of digital images to the referenced library of digital images, and vice-versa. A preview digital image data may also be generated from master digital image data. Rather than performing image operations directly on the master digital image data, change data that identifies one or more operations to perform to a digital picture represented by either the preview digital image data or the master digital image data may be stored, thereby allowing operations to be performed on the preview digital image data when the master digital image data is not accessible. Digital image may be automatically renamed based on rules for doing so.

Abstract: A bladeless fan assembly for creating an air current includes a nozzle mounted on a base housing a device for creating an air flow. The nozzle includes an interior passage for receiving the air flow and a mouth for emitting the air flow. The nozzle defines, and extends about, an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth. The nozzle also includes a heater for heating the air flow upstream of the mouth.