Abstract: A smart device holder assembly includes a base that has a pair of foldable sections that is each positionable in a flattened position for positioning beneath cushions on an article of furniture. An arm is coupled to and extends away from the base to extend upwardly between a respective pair of cushions on the article of furniture when the base is positioned beneath the cushions. The arm has a first portion that is pivotally coupled to the second portion such that the first portion is positionable at a variety of angles with respect to the second portion. A holder is movably disposed on the arm to hold a smart device in a preferred orientation above the cushions on the article of furniture.

Abstract: A data processing system including a processor and machine-readable media including instructions for the processor. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to monitor events in a plurality of communications channels associated with a user, identify monitored events that are determined to be pertinent to the user, sort the identified events by priority to create a prioritized list of events, monitor interactions with the data processing system by the user for a task initiation signal, and, in response to detecting the task initiation signal, cause display of the prioritized list of events to the user on a display device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing status indicators for various forms of user activity that occurs across different digital contexts of a collaboration platform. A system can monitor activity that a particular user is performing within a particular digital context and provide status indicators to a different user within a different digital context when the monitored activity meets one or more criteria. For example, a system may cause a status indicator to be displayed in association with a data object within the digital context of a message thread when a specific type of user activity is occurring with respect to that data object within the digital context of an application that facilitates editing of the content of the data object. Thus, a system can deliver timely and contextually relevant status indicators about how team members are currently interacting with a data object without users having to switch between digital contexts.

Abstract: A data processing system including a processor and machine-readable media including instructions for the processor. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to monitor events in a plurality of communications channels associated with a user, identify monitored events that are determined to be pertinent to the user, sort the identified events by priority to create a prioritized list of events, monitor interactions with the data processing system by the user for a task initiation signal, and, in response to detecting the task initiation signal, cause display of the prioritized list of events to the user on a display device.

Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein enable systems to provide status indicators for intended recipients about a person's future or predicted availability. A system can analyze contextual information from a number of different resources and provide status indicators about a person when parameters of a person's status meet one or more criteria. For example, a system may deliver a status indicator describing a person's status when a time, duration, or type of a status, such as a vacation or holiday, meet one or more criteria. By controlling the display of status indicators using one or more criteria, a system only shows a particular user's status indicators that matter to a particular recipient. A system can deliver timely, contextually relevant status indicators while mitigating distractions that may be caused by a large number of unwanted status indicators. Timely status indicators also allow users to establish efficient collaboration protocols with other users.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes maintaining a pool of server resources, maintaining a pool of storage resources, maintaining a pool of network resources, and initializing, via a meta-cluster software manager, a multi-function cluster associated with a first customer of a datacenter including the pools. This multi-function cluster may include first servers of the pool of server resources, first storage devices of the pool of storage resources, and first network devices of the pool of network resources, and may be managed by the meta-cluster manager.

Abstract: A dry heat sterilizing system for use in sterilizing non-ferromagnetic and/or ferromagnetic parts includes a sterilization chamber and at least one ferromagnetic structure within the sterilization chamber. At least one inductive EMF energy field generator inductively heats the at least one ferromagnetic structure during a sterilization operation. The at least one ferromagnetic structure is in thermal communication with the non-ferromagnetic and/or ferromagnetic part during a sterilization operation to transfer heat from the ferromagnetic structure to the non-ferromagnetic and/or ferromagnetic part.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes maintaining a pool of server resources, maintaining a pool of storage resources, maintaining a pool of network resources, and initializing, via a meta-cluster software manager, a multi-function cluster associated with a first customer of a datacenter including the pools. This multi-function cluster may include first servers of the pool of server resources, first storage devices of the pool of storage resources, and first network devices of the pool of network resources, and may be managed by the meta-cluster manager.

Abstract: A ceramic-encased hot surface igniter system for jet engines is presented. The advanced ceramic-encased hot surface igniter system comprises at least one electrical resistance heated element encased in a durable, thermal and mechanical shock resistant, high temperature advanced ceramic compound such as silicon nitride. The one or more advanced ceramic-encased hot surface igniter elements are mounted proximally upstream or within a combustion chamber of a jet engine enclosure or within the afterburner section of a jet propulsion engine's exhaust. The surface temperature of each ignition element's encasement being of sufficient temperature to cause the ignition of a gaseous, atomized, or liquid fuel.

Abstract: A dry heat sterilizing system for use in sterilizing non-ferromagnetic and/or ferromagnetic parts includes a sterilization chamber and at least one ferromagnetic structure within the sterilization chamber. At least one inductive EMF energy field generator inductively heats the at least one ferromagnetic structure during a sterilization operation. The at least one ferromagnetic structure is in thermal communication with the non-ferromagnetic and/or ferromagnetic part during a sterilization operation to transfer heat from the ferromagnetic structure to the non-ferromagnetic and/or ferromagnetic part.

Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical simulator for teaching, practicing, and evaluating surgical techniques. Such a simulator may comprise a cassette of organs, blood vessels, and tissues that may be disposable. The simulator also comprises a hemodynamic simulator and a frame assembly, the frame assembly providing support for the cassette of organs as well as a fluid conduit through which simulated blood flow from the hemodynamic simulator may be connected to the blood vessels of the organs and related tissues. The hemodynamic simulator provides adjustable and variable pressures to the arteries and veins, as well as variable pulse rates, which can be programmed at settings chosen by an instructor or user.

Abstract: A ceramic-encased hot surface igniter system for jet engines is presented. The advanced ceramic-encased hot surface igniter system comprises at least one electrical resistance heated element encased in a durable, thermal and mechanical shock resistant, high temperature advanced ceramic compound such as silicon nitride. The one or more advanced ceramic-encased hot surface igniter elements are mounted proximally upstream or within a combustion chamber of a jet engine enclosure or within the afterburner section of a jet propulsion engine's exhaust. The surface temperature of each ignition element's encasement being of sufficient temperature to cause the ignition of a gaseous, atomized, or liquid fuel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical simulator for teaching, practicing, and evaluating surgical techniques. Such a simulator may comprise a cassette of organs, blood vessels, and tissues that may be disposable. The simulator also comprises a hemodynamic simulator and a frame assembly, the frame assembly providing support for the cassette of organs as well as a fluid conduit through which simulated blood flow from the hemodynamic simulator may be connected to the blood vessels of the organs and related tissues. The hemodynamic simulator provides adjustable and variable pressures to the arteries and veins, as well as variable pulse rates, which can be programmed at settings chosen by an instructor or user.

Abstract: An LED light unit includes a tile, a plurality of discrete LED light sources, and an edge connector. The LED light sources are on and dispersed across a major surface of the tile and are electrically connected to electrical pads along an edge region of the tile. The edge connector includes a plurality of contracts that are connected to a plurality of wires extending away from the edge connector, and is configured to releasably connect to an edge of the tile so that the contacts directly connect to the pads and electrically connect the wires of the edge connector to the LED light sources. An LED lighting assembly includes a plurality of the discrete tiles mounted to a plurality of bars, and a plurality of edge connectors that are each connected to an end one of the tiles along different ones of the bars.

Abstract: A solid state lighting unit includes a plurality of solid state lighting tiles including a planar surface and a plurality of solid state light sources on the planar surface. The lighting unit includes a plurality of bar support members. Respective ones of the bar support members include at least two of the plurality of tiles affixed thereon to form respective bar assemblies, and respective ones of the solid state light sources on the solid state lighting tiles of a bar assembly are electrically connected in series so as to be simultaneously energized upon application of a voltage thereto. Methods of forming a solid state lighting unit are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid state lighting tile includes a substrate and a plurality of lighting element clusters on a surface of the substrate. Respective ones of the plurality of lighting element clusters include first and second mounting positions configured to receive solid state light emitting devices, and at least first and second ones of the solid state lighting element clusters may be electrically connected in series. The tile further includes a plurality of solid state light emitting devices configured to emit a first color light, and respective ones of the solid state light emitting devices may be mounted in respective ones of the plurality of solid state lighting element clusters. One of the first color light emitting devices is mounted in the first mounting position of the first solid state lighting element cluster and a second of the first color light emitting devices is mounted in the second mounting position of the second solid state lighting element cluster.

Abstract: A gas turbine system is configured to inhibit release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere in such a manner that methane is combusted with oxygen that has been separated from air by an oxygen generator to allow an oxygen combustion type gas turbine to be driven. Carbon dioxide emitted from the turbine is fed under pressure into an underground coal bed along with an air component after separating the oxygen from the air and fixed into the coal bed, and the coal bed methane is collected above the ground by a gas drive action of the gas and supplied to the gas turbine as fuel.

Abstract: There are provided methods of purifying a material, comprising melting solid material to form liquefied material, directionally solidifying a portion of the liquefied material; and removing a liquid remainder from the purified solidified material. Preferably, the purified solidified material is melted to form re-liquefied purified material, and re-liquefied purified material is removed. Preferably, the material is positioned in a container as it is being purified. The method is particularly useful for purifying elemental material, e.g., semiconductor material such as silicon and/or germanium, such as recycle scrap silicon and/or metallurgical grade silicon. There are also provided systems for carrying out such methods.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed at providing a gas turbine system, in particular a gas turbine power generation system, which is configured to use a coal bed methane and to collect substantially all of generated carbon dioxide to inhibit release of carbon dioxide to atmosphere. For this purpose, the gas turbine system of the present invention is configured to inhibit release of carbon dioxide to atmosphere in such a manner that methane is combusted with oxygen separated from air by an oxygen generator (3) to allow an oxygen combustion type gas turbine (1) to be driven, carbon dioxide emitted from the turbine is fed under pressure into an underground coal bed (7) along with air component after separating oxygen from air, and fixed into the coal bed (7), and the coal bed methane is collected up above the ground by a gas drive action of the gas and supplied to the gas turbine as fuel.