Abstract: An improved case for a handheld electronic device is provided. The case comprises: a housing for enclosing an audio transducer and a display, the housing having a front portion having an interior region formed therein, a window for the audio transducer and the display in the interior region, a housing surface surrounding the window and a transducer hole for part of the audio transducer; and a lens having an interior lens surface, the interior lens surface formed to mate with the housing surface and the lens having a first region having an indentation formed in the interior lens surface. For the case, a cavity is formed by the indentation with the transducer hole when the interior lens surface is mated with the housing surface to cover the transducer hole; and the case has an opening formed therein in fluid communication with the cavity and atmosphere around the handheld electronic device.

Abstract: The invention provides the isolated promoter polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, and fragments and variants thereof. The invention also provides constructs, plant cells and plants genetically modified to contain the promoter polynucleotide. The invention also provides methods for producing plants with altered gene expression and traits via genetic transformation of plants with the promoter polynucleotides.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a mobile communication device. The device comprises: a housing including a housing port; a microphone in the housing; circuitry in the housing and connected to the microphone; a coupler including an acoustic conduit having a first end in communication with the housing port and a second end, and a body section associated with the microphone and in communication with the second end of the acoustic conduit; and a support to brace the coupler in the housing.

Abstract: A climbing tree stand for enabling a user to climb a tree or other substantially vertical object to be climbed adaptable for use in a plurality of different utilization modes including a tree stand mode, a backpack mode, and a chair mode, the tree stand including a seat platform assembly having a pair of tree engaging members associated therewith movable between a first storage position and a second operative position for selectively engaging the object to be climbed, a footbed assembly having a pair of tree engaging members associated therewith movable between a first storage position and a second operative position for likewise selectively engaging the object to be climbed, and a pair of cable members, each cable member being respectively adjustably attachable to the seat platform assembly and the footbed assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for testing a cement by measuring both axial shrinkage/expansion and radial shrinkage/expansion of a sample.

Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing data and executable instructions to operate a municipal financial guaranty mutual insurance company. The processor processes the data and executable instructions to track insurance premiums paid by members of the municipal financial guaranty mutual insurance company, monitor private investment capital into a holding firm, follow the investment of a first subset of the private investment capital of the holding firm into the municipal financial guaranty mutual insurance company in exchange for first promissory notes, track a second subset of the private investment capital of the holding firm into a reinsurance firm, follow the investment of a segment of the second subset of the private investment capital of the reinsurance firm into the municipal financial guaranty mutual insurance company in exchange for second promissory notes, and manage reinsurance firm first loss claims from the municipal financial guaranty mutual insurance company.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a microphone coupler and coupler system for a communication device. The microphone coupler comprises a conduit having an internal channel therein, a distal end, a proximal end, a first opening in the distal end connecting to the internal channel and a second opening in the proximal end connecting to the internal channel, the conduit being attachable to a printed circuit board of the communication device over an opening in the printed circuit board with the second opening mating to the opening and with the distal end of the coupler extending towards an end of the printed circuit board. The coupler has a microphone having a port that is mounted on the printed circuit board and the port is aligned with the opening in the printed circuit board.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for testing a cement by applying force in a first direction until the first portion of the cement sample fails in compression or tension; and applying force a second direction opposite the first direction until the second portion of the cement sample fails in tension or compression.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enables linered label applicators to use labels on thin liners. Linered labels comprise a composite of an elongate sheet of thin or light-weight temporary liner having a precut label adhered to a low adhesion surface. The cut-out labels on the liner are fed into the linered label applicator. The use of support mechanisms other then vacuum application on rollers enables the use of thinner liner sheets on labels. A die head for cutting or perforating labels comprising adhesive on label stock comprising a die head having at least 80% of its outer surface comprising flat areas between cutting edges, multiple cutting edges on the outer surface, and an internal volume in the die head, the internal volume for carrying coolant liquid into and out of the volume so as to cool the outer surface of the die head when the coolant temperature is at least 10° C. cooler than the outer surface of the die head.

Abstract: A method comprising preparing a baseline cement slurry comprising a cement, water, and one or more additives, placing a sample of the baseline cement slurry into a sample container having a vertical height, and measuring time of flight of energy through the sample at one or more locations along the vertical height to determine a settling property of the baseline cement slurry. A method comprising providing a settling test apparatus comprising a column having a vertical height and at least one pair of transducers positioned opposite each other with the column there between, placing a cement slurry sample within the column, and measuring time of flight of ultrasonic energy through the sample at one or more locations along the vertical height to determine a settling property of the cement slurry.

Abstract: A substantially toroidal container for coiled vegetation trimmer line has a front shell and a rear shell capable of bonding at the center with heat and pressure, radio frequency, ultrasonic welding, adhesive, or attachment mechanisms. The bonding of the shells leaves a separation between the outer edges of the shells. The separation is nonlinear around the circumference of the container, so that a user can access the trimmer line, but the trimmer line cannot uncoil and spill out of the container. The separation is preferably defined by a series of offset uniform teeth on the outer edges of the shells. One or more teeth may be removed, providing a line aperture through which the end of the trimmer line extends out of the container. Male and female indices on each shell are used to align the teeth during packaging.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for producing plant with altered biomass, the methods comprising the step of altering the expression and/or activity of the polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or a variant thereof, in a plant cell or plant. The invention also provides a polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, and fragments of variants thereof the sequence. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding such polypeptide sequences. The invention also provides constructs, cells and plants comprising such polynucleotides.

Abstract: A substantially toroidal container for coiled vegetation trimmer line has a front shell and a rear shell capable of bonding at the center with heat and pressure, radio frequency, ultrasonic welding, adhesive, or attachment mechanisms. The bonding of the shells leaves a separation between the outer edges of the shells. The separation is nonlinear around the circumference of the container, so that a user can access the trimmer line, but the trimmer line cannot uncoil and spill out of the container. The separation is preferably defined by a series of offset uniform teeth on the outer edges of the shells. One or more teeth may be removed, providing a line aperture through which the end of the trimmer line extends out of the container. Male and female indices on each shell are used to align the teeth during packaging.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for producing plant with altered biomass, the methods comprising the step of altering the expression and/or activity of the polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or a variant thereof, in a plant cell or plant. The invention also provides a polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, and fragments of variants thereof the sequence. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding such polypeptide sequences. The invention also provides constructs, cells and plants comprising such polynucleotides.

Abstract: A signature scheme is provided in which a message is divided in to a first portion which is hidden and is recovered during verification, and a second portion which is visible and is required as input to the verification algorithm. A first signature component is generated by encrypting the first portion alone. An intermediate component is formed by combining the first component and the visible portion and cryptographically hashing them. A second signature component is then formed using the intermediate component and the signature comprises the first and second components with the visible portion. A verification of the signature combines a first component derived only from the hidden portion of the message with the visible portion and produces a hash of the combination. The computed hash is used together with publicly available information to generate a bit string corresponding to the hidden portion.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a microphone coupler and coupler system for a communication device. The microphone coupler comprises a conduit having an internal channel therein, a distal end, a proximal end, a first opening in the distal end connecting to the internal channel and a second opening in the proximal end connecting to the internal channel, the conduit being attachable to a printed circuit board of the communication device over an opening in the printed circuit board with the second opening mating to the opening and with the distal end of the coupler extending towards an end of the printed circuit board. The coupler has a microphone having a port that is mounted on the printed circuit board and the port is aligned with the opening in the printed circuit board.

Abstract: The invention provides the isolated promoter polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 from perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and fragments and variants thereof. The invention also provides constructs, plant cells and plant genetically modified to contain the promoter polynucleotide. The invention also provides methods for producing plants with altered gene expression and traits via genetic transformation of plants with the promoter polynucleotide.

Abstract: A climbing tree stand for enabling a user to climb a tree or other substantially vertical object to be climbed adaptable for use in a plurality of different utilization modes including a tree stand mode, a backpack mode, and a chair mode, the tree stand including a seat platform assembly having a pair of tree engaging members associated therewith movable between a first storage position and a second operative position for selectively engaging the object to be climbed, a footbed assembly having a pair of tree engaging members associated therewith movable between a first storage position and a second operative position for likewise selectively engaging the object to be climbed, and a pair of cable members, each cable member being respectively adjustably attachable to the seat platform assembly and the footbed assembly.

Abstract: An improved case for a handheld electronic device is provided. The case comprises: a housing for enclosing an audio transducer and a display, the housing having a front portion having an interior region formed therein, a window for the audio transducer and the display in the interior region, a housing surface surrounding the window and a transducer hole for part of the audio transducer; and a lens having an interior lens surface, the interior lens surface formed to mate with the housing surface and the lens having a first region having an indentation formed in the interior lens surface. For the case, a cavity is formed by the indentation with the transducer hole when the interior lens surface is mated with the housing surface to cover the transducer hole; and the case has an opening formed therein in fluid communication with the cavity and atmosphere around the handheld electronic device.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a microphone coupler and coupler system for a communication device. The system comprises: a printed circuit board; a microphone having a port facing towards the printed circuit board and aligned with an opening through the printed circuit board; and a microphone coupler for the microphone. The coupler comprises: a conduit having an internal channel therein, a distal end, a proximal end, a first opening in the distal end connecting to the internal channel and a second opening in the proximal end connecting to the internal channel. In the system, the proximal end of the coupler is locatable about the opening of the printed circuit board to have the second opening mated to the opening of the printed circuit board; and the distal end of the coupler extends towards an end of the printed circuit board.