Abstract: Spray-dried thrombin materials obtained from feedstock solutions comprising less than 5% by weight albumin and excluding trehalose or other excipients as well as methods of manufacturing the thrombin materials and methods of treating bleeding wounds are disclosed. The methods of use include applying reconstituted spray-dried thrombin topically to a bleeding site, optionally in conjunction with gelatin.

Abstract: Spray-dried thrombin materials obtained from feedstock solutions comprising less than 5% by weight albumin and excluding trehalose or other excipients as well as methods of manufacturing the thrombin materials and methods of treating bleeding wounds are disclosed. The methods of use include applying reconstituted spray-dried thrombin topically to a bleeding site, optionally in conjunction with gelatin.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a multilayered hemostatic device including a first layer including carboxymethyl cellulose, a second layer including a powdered hemostatic agent provided on the first layer, and a third layer including at least one of gauze, oxidized cellulose, or collagen provided on the second layer, wherein the first layer and the third layer encapsulate the second layer and the hemostatic agent comprises one of fibrinogen, thrombin, fibrin monomers, or the combination of thrombin and gelatin.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to access and align sealing discs are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a cage of a fluid regulator, where the cage has a central aperture, and a valve stem to be received by the central aperture. The example apparatus also includes a diaphragm coupled to the valve stem, where an integral protrusion of the cage is to constrain a peripheral edge of the diaphragm against a removable portion of a valve body when the cage is coupled to the valve body.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag distance measuring system and method is disclosed. One example includes a first replica path that receives a signal that is simultaneously transmitted to an RFID tag. The first replica path includes a plurality of taps at known distances along the first replica path. Each of the plurality of taps has a first tap input coupled with the first replica path. In addition, an RFID signal receiver receives a return signal from the RFID tag and provides the return signal along a measurement input, wherein each of the plurality of taps have a second tap input coupled with the measurement path. A distance determiner detects at least the first of the plurality of taps to have an output and determine a distance measurement to the RFID tag based thereon.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag distance measuring system and method is disclosed. One example includes a first replica path that receives a signal that is simultaneously transmitted to an RFID tag. The first replica path includes a plurality of taps at known distances along the first replica path. Each of the plurality of taps has a first tap input coupled with the first replica path. In addition, an RFID signal receiver receives a return signal from the RFID tag and provides the return signal along a measurement input, wherein each of the plurality of taps have a second tap input coupled with the measurement path. A distance determiner detects at least the first of the plurality of taps to have an output and determine a distance measurement to the RFID tag based thereon.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag distance measuring system and method is disclosed. One example includes a first replica path that receives a signal that is simultaneously transmitted to an RFID tag. The first replica path includes a plurality of taps at known distances along the first replica path. Each of the plurality of taps has a first tap input coupled with the first replica path. In addition, an RFID signal receiver receives a return signal from the RFID tag and provides the return signal along a measurement input, wherein each of the plurality of taps have a second tap input coupled with the measurement path. A distance determiner detects at least the first of the plurality of taps to have an output and determine a distance measurement to the RFID tag based thereon.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to access and align sealing discs are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a cage of a fluid regulator, where the cage has a central aperture, and a valve stem to be received by the central aperture. The example apparatus also includes a diaphragm coupled to the valve stem, where an integral protrusion of the cage is to constrain a peripheral edge of the diaphragm against a removable portion of a valve body when the cage is coupled to the valve body.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag distance measuring system and method is disclosed. One example includes a first replica path that receives a signal that is simultaneously transmitted to an RFID tag. The first replica path includes a plurality of taps at known distances along the first replica path. Each of the plurality of taps has a first tap input coupled with the first replica path. In addition, an RFID signal receiver receives a return signal from the RFID tag and provides the return signal along a measurement input, wherein each of the plurality of taps have a second tap input coupled with the measurement path. A distance determiner detects at least the first of the plurality of taps to have an output and determine a distance measurement to the RFID tag based thereon.

Abstract: A system for counting objects, such as people, crossing an area includes a camera configured for capturing video images along a surface in the area. The surface includes a plurality of detectable features on the surface. A user interface allows an individual to define a region where object detection is desired. A processor processes the images and counts a detected object in the region when criteria for counting are satisfied.

Abstract: A system for counting objects, such as people, crossing an area includes a camera configured for capturing video images along a surface in the area. The surface includes a plurality of detectable features on the surface. A user interface allows an individual to define a region where object detection is desire. A processor processes the images and counts a detected object in the region when criteria for counting are satisfied.

Abstract: A system for counting objects, such as people, is provided having a camera (22) for capturing video images along an image plane (25) in which two-dimensional shapes or design (28) are spaced along the image plane (25), and a computer system (14, 22) for receiving the images and detecting objects associated with change occurring in the images, and counting one of the detected objects when of the detected objects approximates a shape (31) associated with the object being counted (e.g., ellipse shape, to count a person) that fully or substantially blocks a portion said two-dimensional shapes or design (28) in the image associated with the detected object, and the detected object meeting other criteria for the object, such as size or compactness of detected change within the object. The system is especially useful for counting people near external windowed doors (19) of a building entranceway doors by discriminating between spurious light crossing the image plane and people.

Abstract: A system for counting objects, such as people, is provided having a camera (22) for capturing video images along an image plane (25) in which two-dimensional shapes or design (28) are spaced along the image plane (25), and a computer system (14, 22) for receiving the images and detecting objects associated with change occurring in the images, and counting one of the detected objects when of the detected objects approximates a shape (31) associated with the object being counted (e.g., ellipse shape, to count a person) that fully or substantially blocks a portion said two-dimensional shapes or design (28) in the image associated with the detected object, and the detected object meeting other criteria for the object, such as size or compactness of detected change within the object. The system is especially useful for counting people near external windowed doors (19) of a building entranceway doors by discriminating between spurious light crossing the image plane and people.

Abstract: A personal refueling station for a personal-sized electric vehicle has a polygonal base structure housing a refueling system and a plurality of flat panels hinged thereto which open to form a flat surface and close up to an upright pyramid for storage. The flat panels have solar PV arrays mounted on their inside surfaces which generate electricity from sunlight in the open position. The electricity is used to generate hydrogen for hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles, or is stored for recharging non-hydrogen electric vehicles. Alternatively, hydrogen or electricity may be provided from an external renewable power source. The station can also have utility hookups to provide excess hydrogen or electricity to an external energy usage, such as a home, business, or other station. The personal refueling station has a compact design that can be installed at home or business locations. It is designed to accommodate a personal-use electric vehicle such as an electric car or cart or a personal VTOL hovercraft.

Abstract: A PLL circuit provides a self-selecting divide ratio, which is varied as necessary to lock the circuit to a reference clock which may have several possible frequencies, thereby enabling the VCO to employ a type of oscillator having a superior jitter characteristic. The PLL circuit includes a variable divider which divides the VCO output by a divide ratio value provided by a frequency band select circuit, which provides the divide ratio needed to drive the phase difference between the reference and divided clocks toward zero while the VCO clock output operates within a predetermined frequency range. The self-selecting variable divide ratio allows the VCO's oscillator to have a narrow output frequency range, thereby allowing the use of an oscillator type with a jitter characteristic which may be low enough to meet the requirements of JEDEC, for example.

Abstract: A system and method for predicting acoustic loads expected on a boiling water reactor (BWR) may include a BWR scale model, a test fixture for generating air flow in the scale model, and one or measurement devices for monitoring system behavior to predict how acoustic loads may affect plant operation for the BWR being evaluated.

Abstract: A PLL circuit provides a self-selecting divide ratio, which is varied as necessary to lock the circuit to a reference clock which may have several possible frequencies, thereby enabling the VCO to employ a type of oscillator having a superior jitter characteristic. The PLL circuit includes a variable divider which divides the VCO output by a divide ratio value provided by a frequency band select circuit, which provides the divide ratio needed to drive the phase difference between the reference and divided clocks toward zero while the VCO clock output operates within a predetermined frequency range. The self-selecting variable divide ratio allows the VCO's oscillator to have a narrow output frequency range, thereby allowing the use of an oscillator type with a jitter characteristic which may be low enough to meet the requirements of JEDEC, for example.

Abstract: An automatic meter reading (AMR) system and a method of operating an AMR system are disclosed. The AMR system stores and transfers consumptive data, demand data, and data archives. The system and method can also provide a demand reset to reduce or eliminate the need to physically visit a remote endpoint device, for example a residential utility meter, to directly connect to the endpoint device for the collection of data. The system and method provide two-way wireless communication between at least one reader and a plurality of remote endpoint devices and are adapted for use with mobile readers. The AMR system and method therefore provide efficient and reliable storage and transfer of data, including high volumes of data, at mobile read rates.

Abstract: A fishing rod with a metal spike on one end is provided, so that the fishing rod can be inserted securely into the ground in a fishing area, for example alongside a body of water. The spike is attached to the hand grip of the fishing rod. Male threads at the end of the hand grip allow a cap with female threads to be screwed over the spike to protect against accidents when the spike is not in use. A fisherman can remove the cap and insert the spike into the ground, so that the fisherman does not have to hold the fishing rod.

Abstract: A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver using phase lock loops for strong GNSS signals and (AFC) loops for weak GNSS signals on a satellite-by-satellite basis. The phase lock loops or the AFC loops associated with particular GNSS satellites generate frequency feedback adjustments for tracking the carrier frequencies of the incoming GNSS signals in order to determine pseudoranges for calculating a location fix. The transition from an AFC loop to a phase lock loop is controlled for each GNSS signal depending on location quality parameters including a history of previous loop transitions, knowledge of whether a transition is in-progress, and a conditional PDOP where the pseudorange from the GNSS signal is removed from the computation of the location fix.