Abstract: Systems and methods are described for transferring and verifying the transfer of an asset from a limited-participant side chain back to a main blockchain. A public difference, associated with a secret difference, is determined as a difference between a main blockchain address and the public offline key of a transferring participant. The public difference is used, along with each participant public online key, to generate a ring signature key for each participant. A ring signature is then generated over the ring signature keys, based on the public online keys and a set of uniform random scalars (each associated with a participant public online key). The main blockchain address, a first coefficient from the ring signature, and the uniform random scalars are then published. When verified, the published ring signature shows that the transferring participant has control of the main blockchain address and the private offline key.

Abstract: A user may select more than one device to be installed in a building. An order of installation of the devices may be determined based on the type of devices selected. A user may be presented with a module for each device selected. The modules may be presented in the order of installation. The modules may include instructions for installation for the corresponding device.

Abstract: A user may select more than one device to be installed in a building. An order of installation of the devices may be determined based on the type of devices selected. A user may be presented with a module for each device selected. The modules may be presented in the order of installation. The modules may include instructions for installation for the corresponding device.

Abstract: A binder material for binding a plurality of particles together to form a conglomerate such as a carbon-containing briquette, a sand casting core and the like is provided. The binder material can include a collagen and/or lignin and a plurality of inorganic particles. In some instances, the binder material can be used to make a composite material. The composite material can include a plurality of particles and the binder material that contains the collagen and/or lignin. The binder material affords for the plurality of particles to be bound together into a desired shape, the desired shape having desirable properties.

Abstract: A system for monitoring fitness and diet programs on a portable handheld device includes a graphical user interface device, and a bar code reader for electronically coupling with the graphical user interface device. The graphical user interface device includes a processor programmed to: receive data corresponding to at least one bar code as read by the bar code reader; and provide data corresponding to a graphical user interface for display on the graphical user interface device for monitoring at least one of diet, exercise or weight training, in accordance with the at least one bar code read by the bar code reader.

Abstract: A hollow, tapered, fiber-reinforced plastic utility pole, and a method for making the pole. The pole is designed by a computer-modelling technique that simulates applying resin-coated, reinforcing strands over the outer surface of a mandrel. A plurality of test stations are incrementally spaced from the tip portion to the butt portion of the pole simulated on the mandrel. The thickness-to-diameter ratio must be equal to or greater than an established constant at each station or additional circuits of resin-coated, reinforcing strands deemed to have been applied, as required. One then calculates the stress resistance at each successive station to determine if the acceptable stress is greater than the stress resistance required. Whatever additional circuits of resin-coated, reinforcing strands are necessary are then deemed to have been applied.

Abstract: A "lost foam" method of making a casting having a preform embedded at a selective location therein including the steps of: engulfing a porous preform in a fugitive pattern; embedding the pattern in a loose sand mold in a vessel; pouring molten metal into the mold cavity via a sprue and runner system formed in the sand bed so as to destroy the pattern and fill the mold cavity with metal; pressurizing the vessel to force molten metal from the cavity into the porous preform; replacing metal lost from the cavity with make-up metal from the sprue and runner system; allowing the casting to solidify; and removing the casting from the sand bed.

Abstract: A vacuum chill device is provided for reducing porosity in a bore wall of a lost foam metal casting. In a preferred embodiment, the chill device is attached to a vaporizable pattern formed of polystyrene or the like and includes a vacuum chamber received in a bore defined by the pattern. The pattern and chill device are embedded in a body of unbonded sand particles or the like, whereupon the refractory body extends therebetween. The vacuum chamber is connected to a vacuum line that leads outside the mold and includes screened orificies through which the vacuum chamber communicates with the surrounding refractory body. During casting, pattern decomposition vapors venting into the bore are drawn through the orifices into the vacuum chamber and exhausted through the vacuum line. Removal of the hot vapors from the bore by the vacuum device accelerates solidification of the bore wall to reduce shrink porosity therein.