Abstract: Described herein is an indoor greenhouse that includes a rack unit, an outer layer that surrounds the rack unit and defines a greenhouse interior, at least one light surrounded by a light enclosure, a cooling system, and a ventilation system all disposed in the greenhouse interior. The ventilation system includes a fan, a filter and at least one duct that cooperate to exhaust air out of the exhaust vent opening. The rack unit includes a top, a bottom, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween. The outer layer includes a top, a bottom, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween that correspond to the similar portions of the rack unit. The outer layer also has intake and exhaust vent and light cooling openings defined therein. The cooling system includes at least one duct that cooperates with the light enclosure to define an air path between the intake and exhaust light cooling openings.

Abstract: There is provided a chain tension applying device for a bicycle that can accommodate a change in an axial distance between a frame and a sprocket. A chain tensioner 40 is a device for applying tension to a chain 26, including: a bracket 56; a tension member 58; a securing position adjustment mechanism 60; and an urging member 62. The bracket is mountable to a frame (a mounting lug 24b) of the bicycle. The tension member is secured to the bracket immovably in a first direction and movably in a second direction different from the first direction, and can apply tension to the chain. The securing position adjustment mechanism can adjust a securing position of the tension member to the bracket in the first direction by sliding. The urging member urges the tension member in the second direction.

Abstract: The bicycle brake and shift operation device is a device mounted on a drop handle of a bicycle, and includes: a bracket, a lever member, a winding body, a positioning mechanism, and a shift position display portion. The bracket is mounted on the drop handle. The lever member is a member that is pivotally supported by the bracket. The winding body is mounted to be rotationally movable on a support shaft provided on the lever member, and engages with a shift cable. The positioning mechanism, supported by the lever member, is a mechanism for positioning the winding body to positions that correspond to a plurality of shift positions of a rear derailleur. The shift position display portion is mechanically interlocked with the rotational movement of the winding body to display shift positions.

Abstract: A hydraulic assembly for a hydraulic disc brake system that includes a housing defining a cylinder, a piston received in and moveable within the cylinder, a first lever operatively associated with one of the piston or the cylinder, and a second lever operatively associated with the other of the piston or the cylinder. Moving the first lever pushes one of the piston or the cylinder in a first direction, and moving the second lever pulls the other of the cylinder or the piston in a second direction. In a preferred embodiment, the piston has a non-actuated position and a fully actuated position, and the piston is biased towards the non-actuated position, and wherein the cylinder has a non-actuated and a fully-actuated position, and the cylinder is biased towards the non-actuated position.

Abstract: Described herein is a surgical instrument that includes a tubular member having first and second opposite ends and a longitudinal axis, an instrument dock extending from the first end of the tubular member that includes an opening for receiving a rod, and a light source. Light from the light source is directed out of the opening in the instrument dock. In a preferred embodiment, the article of manufacture includes a nose cone and a tail cone that actuates the light source.

Abstract: An alkalizing composition comprising calcium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, potassium bicarbonate, and dicalcium phosphate. The alkalizing composition may further comprise any one or a combination of magnesium hydroxide, tricalcium phosphate, vitamin, a binder, sea minerals and water. The alkalizing compositions may be formulated as an antacid, a nutritional or dietary supplement, or a sports beverage. The alkalizing composition may be used in methods to buffer garlic. The buffered garlic compositions produced in accordance with the methods provides high allicin yield under acidic conditions. The alkalizing compositions may also be used in methods to enhance the flavor of fruits and vegetables.

Abstract: A packaging device preferably including a clam shell, wherein the clam shell is adapted to at least partially encase a single wheel of a device with wheels.

Abstract: An input video signal is encoded at a plurality of coding layers exhibiting different spatial resolutions. Decoded is a given signal coded at a lower coding layer lower than a specific coding layer among the plurality of coding layers to generate a decoded signal of the lower coding layer. Spatial interpolation is applied to the decoded signal of the lower coding layer to generate an upscaled decoded video signal. The spatial interpolation is an upscaling procedure to upscale the decoded signal of the lower coding layer into a spatial resolution of the specific coding layer. A spatial high-frequency components estimation and scale up procedure is applied to the decoded signal of the lower coding layer to generate a high-frequency components signal. The upscaled decoded video signal and the high-frequency components signal are subtracted from the input video signal exhibiting a spatial resolution of the specific coding layer to produce a predictive-error signal.

Abstract: A method for threading a suture in a patient's body. The method includes the steps of providing a suture, providing a threading device comprising an elongated rod having a suture tie-off location and first and second ends, tying the suture to the suture tie-off location, inserting the first end of the elongated rod through a first opening in the patient's skin, passing the first end of the elongated rod subcutaneously to a second opening in the patient's skin, pulling the first end of the elongated rod and a portion of the suture through the second opening, without turning the elongated rod around, and passing the second end of the elongated rod subcutaneously to an opening in the patient's skin. At least one point during the performance of the method the first end of the elongated rod extends out of the first opening and the second end of the elongated rod extends through the second opening.

Abstract: A self-calibration method and apparatus for on-axis rotary encoders comprising the steps of: receiving output signals from a detector during a spindle-free response period, the signals including a plurality of data sets wherein each data set comprises the periods between sampling events occurring in one revolution of the encoder at an angular speed, selecting a data set pair from the output signals, wherein the data set pair contains two linearly uncorrelated data sets; defining a model of the angular distances between each sampling event occurring in one revolution of the encoder as a function of one or more damping coefficients and the periods between each sampling event as contained in the data set pair; solving the model for the angular distances for the data set pair using circular closure and dynamic reversal techniques; and establishing an encoder error map using the selected solved angular distances from the model.

Abstract: Described herein is a threading device that includes an elongated tube having first and second open ends and a suture tie-off location disposed approximately halfway between the first and second ends, a light guide extending through the elongated tube, and a suture received in an tied around the suture tie-off location. The light guide has first and second ends that are substantially flush with the first and second ends of the tube.

Abstract: Described herein is an indoor greenhouse that includes a rack unit, an outer layer that surrounds the rack unit and defines a greenhouse interior, at least one light surrounded by a light enclosure, a cooling system, and a ventilation system all disposed in the greenhouse interior. The ventilation system includes a fan, a filter and at least one duct that cooperate to exhaust air out of the exhaust vent opening. The rack unit includes a top, a bottom, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween. The outer layer includes a top, a bottom, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween that correspond to the similar portions of the rack unit. The outer layer also has intake and exhaust vent and light cooling openings defined therein. The cooling system includes at least one duct that cooperates with the light enclosure to define an air path between the intake and exhaust light cooling openings.

Abstract: A packaging device preferably including a clam shell, wherein the clam shell is adapted to encase just a wheel of a wheeled toy.