Abstract: In a system for evaluating classification systems such as an operating system (OS) fingerprinting tool (e.g., Nmap), information gain is used as a metric to evaluate the quality of the tool's classification tests, including fingerprinting tests and their associated probes. Information gain is determined using the OS fingerprinting tool's signature database rather than raw training samples, including taking into account signatures/data that are represented by ranges of test values, disjunctive values, and missing values. Uniform distributions over test values and classifications are assumed in applying these methods to an example signature database for Nmap. Other assumptions or a priori information (e.g., normal distributions over ranges) can also be accommodated. The information gain measure provided can be applied to other classification problems as well.

Abstract: An airfoil or vane for a combustive power plant includes an inner core formed from a first composite material having discontinuous fibers. An outer sleeve is formed from a second composite material having continuous fibers. The first composite material is different from the second composite material. The outer sleeve generally surrounds and is bonded or otherwise connected to the inner core. A method of fabrication includes injecting or otherwise introducing thermoplastic fiber composite material including chopped or otherwise discontinuous fibers into a mold to form the core and platforms of an airfoil assembly. The injected thermoplastic fiber composite material is then cured in the mold. The cured thermoplastic fiber composite material is then removed from the mold. A layup including one or more surface plies of a thermoset continuous fiber composite material is then applied to the core material. The surface plies are then compressed and cured in a mold.

Abstract: In a method to support geo-location emergency services in a wireless network, a request message is transmitted from a source base station of one vendor to a target base station of another vendor. For example, the request message might be sent subsequent to a wireless unit initiating an emergency services communication, where it is desired to determine the location of the wireless unit by radiolocation, or otherwise at the network level. Upon receiving the request message, the target base station transmits a report message to the source base station, which includes a one-way transmission delay (or other propagation delay information) of the wireless unit as measured at the target base station. Communication protocols in the network are configured so that there are no automatic transmissions of propagation delay information. Instead, base stations transmit propagation delay information only upon the receipt of request messages requesting the information.

Abstract: In cylinder chambers 14 and 15 of a housing 10 constituting an actuator main body 13, racks 17 and 18, to both end portions of which piston portions 17a and 18a are provided, are reciprocably incorporated. A pinion 25 meshing with the racks 17 and 18 is provided on a rotary shaft 24 rotatably mounted to the housing 10. An inner ring 32 is incorporated inside an outer ring 41 fixed to the housing 10, and the inner ring 32 is attached to the rotary shaft 24 and rotates and drives a swung member. Rollers 43 serving as rolling elements are incorporated between an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 41 and an outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 32, and the rotary shaft 24 and the inner ring 32 are rotatably supported by the outer ring 41 via the rollers 43.

Abstract: An electrical pop out device has a shroud and an outlet housing. The outlet housing is sized to be placed inside the shroud. A guidance mechanism connects the outlet housing with the shroud. The guidance mechanism includes multiple rack gears and multiple pinion gears. The outlet housing is moveable with respect to the shroud along a direction defined by the rack gear. A spring connector electrically couples the shroud to the outlet housing.

Abstract: A shock absorber is attached coaxially with a reciprocating rod driven by a reciprocating unit to prevent a bending moment from being applied to the reciprocating rod in absorbing an impact force. The shock absorber has a hollow rod provided with a through hole and an outer cylindrical body mounted outside the hollow rod so as to be movable axially relatively and attached to the reciprocating unit. An accommodating space is formed between the hollow rod and the outer cylindrical body. A spring force in a direction of being relatively directed to one end portion side of the hollow rod is applied to the outer cylindrical body by a compression coil spring. An annular piston for partitioning an accommodating space into two liquid chambers is provided in the hollow rod. When the impact force is applied to the hollow rod so as to be slid to the hollow rod, the liquid flows from one liquid chamber to another liquid chamber through a gap, whereby a resistance force is applied to the annular piston.

Abstract: A piston compressor, particularly a refrigerant compressor includes a compression chamber in a compressor block, the compression chamber being delimited by a cylinder head (10), the cylinder head (10) comprising at least one valve plate arrangement with at least one suction valve (23, 24) and at least one pressure valve (21, 22), as well as a valve cover (12). To achieve low manufacturing costs, though maintaining a good efficiency, the valve plate arrangement (16) is formed by a carrier plate (17) that comprises the suction valve (23, 24, 26, 27) and the pressure valve (18, 19, 21, 22) and is connected by at least one gas-tight connection seam (28, 31) to the valve cover (12), the connection seam (28, 31) separating a suction area (32) and a pressure area (29, 30) from one another and sealing at least the pressure area (29, 30) towards the outside.

Abstract: A pressure reducing valve includes a opening/closing valve between primary and secondary pressure chambers, a diaphragm body, a valve hole through which the secondary pressure chamber is communicatively connected with the atmosphere, a relief valve which opens/closes the valve hole, and a linkage member which links the opening/closing valve with the relief valve so as to open/close in association with each other. The linkage member includes a valve guide having a valve passage through which the primary and secondary pressure chambers are communicatively connected, and a pintle inserted into a pintle hole and guided thereby. The opening/closing valve and the relief valve are provided on lower and upper ends of the pintle, respectively. The valve hole has a common axis with those of the valve passage and the pintle hole. One and the other of the valve guide and the pintle are made of resin and metal.

Abstract: A bone defect filler for implantation in a bone defect of a patient includes a particulate polymer distributed within a polymeric binder. The particulate polymer includes a plurality of particles, which may have substantially the same material composition as the polymeric binder. The particles of the particulate polymer may be formed in a variety of shapes and/or sizes to provide the bone defect filler with improved pore interconnectivity, material expansion and contamination characteristics, while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength and handling characteristics for bone repair applications. The bone defect filler also provides the flexibility to be molded or shaped in situ to fill the bone defect.

Abstract: An intelligent battery system for powering a mobile workstation includes a mounting block having a first battery interface bracket for the releasable attachment of a first battery, a second battery interface bracket for the releasable attachment of a second battery and a third battery interface bracket for the releasable attachment of a backup battery, and a power control circuit functionally integrated with the mounting block and being capable of detecting a change in status of at least one of the first and second batteries and routing the flow of electrical power from the first, second and backup batteries in dependence thereon.

Abstract: When switching an exhaust throttle valve from full opening to a closed position to warm up an engine, an intake throttle valve is fixed to full opening, an EGR valve is fixed to full closing, and a variable turbo-vane is fixed to a predetermined opening degree to accelerate a gas flow rate from an intake passage to an exhaust passage, a fully opened flow rate is detected and stored by gas flow rate detector, with the exhaust throttle valve being full opening. Then, an instruction is issued to the exhaust throttle valve to switch from the full opening to a closed position, after which a rotation number of the engine is detected, a threshold value is determined based thereon, a closed position flow rate is detected, a flow rate difference relative to the stored fully opened flow rate is determined, and failure of the exhaust throttle valve is judged based on whether the flow rate difference is less than the determined threshold value.

Abstract: The “Umbrella Water Control” is a gutter with tubes, affixed to the circumference of the umbrella. It is snapped onto the circumference of the umbrella, which is supported by a retractable frame. The gutter channels the water flowing off the umbrella's surface through the tubes. The gutter is made of plastic and nylon (or material used to make the umbrella covering). All tubes are made of plastic and act like a straw to funnel the water. They are joined into one main tube that extends along the stick of the umbrella. At the end of the main tube is an added extension that is made to open like an antenna where the water continues. This allows the user to direct where the water flow is deposited. This prevents the excess dripping of water on by-standers as the umbrella user walk, sits or stands in an arena, stadium or crowded area.

Abstract: A method for sternal closure of a separated sternum includes applying an adhesive to a portion of an incision between at least a first sternum portion and at least a second sternum portion and maintaining the first sternum portion proximate to the second sternum portion until the adhesive has bonded with the first sternum portion and the second sternum portion. The adhesive may be applied over substantially the entire length of the incision or may be applied in intervals. The method for sternal closure may also include compressing the first sternum portion and the second sternum portion together using one or more compression devices and introducing adhesive to contact regions where the compressive devices contact the sternum. The method may also include cutting an interface feature in the first and second sternum portions or spanning the incision between the first and second interface portions with a structural support.

Abstract: The invention concerns methods and apparatuses for quantitatively determining the concentration of fluorophores of a substance in a sample. A constant portion of the reference light of a reference light wave length (?r) emitted by a reference light source is coupled in by an optical element in the direction of a receiving element. A first value corresponding to the portion of the reference light coupled in which is incident on the receiving element is detected. The sample is irradiated with the excitation light of an excitation wave length (?ex) emitted by an excitation light source. A second value corresponding to the portion of the fluorescent light of an emission wave length (?em) emitted by the sample which is incident on the receiving element. The ratio of the second value to the first value is determined. The number of fluorophores in the substance is determined based on the ratio.

Abstract: A computerized system and computer-implemented method for enabling insurance vendor self-audits that receives referral data from a vendor, samples the referrals, assigns audit questions to each referral within the sample of referrals, presents the audit questions to the vendor and receives answers from the vendor, scores the answers based on rules, and reports the audit scores.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a nacelle, a plurality of pipes and a drains assembly, the drains assembly including a drains mast that extends through the nacelle and provides an outlet for the pipes. The engine is characterised in that drains assembly has a connection block defining internal passages and is arranged to connect between the pipes and the drains mast. The connection block also has lateral connections to the pipes enabling the nacelle to have a lower profile; thereby reducing aerodynamic drag.

Abstract: A reconfigurable FADEC includes a reconfigurable CPU configured for performing digital computing functions. A reconfigurable MSPD communicates with the CPU and is configured for performing analog I/O functions. A data bus is coupled to the CPU and the MSPD. The data bus is configured for connecting the CPU and the MSPD to an external connector.

Abstract: Collapsible articles of furniture comprise at least one leg assembly including a first leg and a second leg, each with an upper leg segment and a lower leg segment coupled together by a link. The two links are pivotally connected to each other for movement between an open position wherein the first and second legs cross each other to form a generally X-shaped configuration and a closed position wherein the upper and lower leg segments are aligned, the upper leg section of the first leg receivable within the lower leg section of the second leg and the upper leg section of the second leg is receivable within the lower leg section of the first leg.

Abstract: A transporter for transporting a subject over a surface that may be irregular. The transporter includes a support platform for supporting a load, the loaded support platform defining fore-aft and lateral planes and characterized by a load distribution. A plurality of ground contacting elements are coupled to the support platform. At least one of the plurality of ground contacting elements is driven by a motorized drive arrangement. A sensor module generates a signal indicative of the load distribution of the loaded support platform. Based at least on the load distribution, a controller commands the motorized drive arrangement.

Abstract: A connector includes an insulator, into which a thin sheet connection target is removably insertable, contacts, each provided with a fixed contact portion and a movable contact portion, and an actuator. Each fixed contact portion of the contacts is provided with a stopper protrusion and a hook portion provided on the stopper protrusion. Each movable contact portion of the contacts is provided with an engagement protrusion to be engaged with a cam portion formed in the actuator at the locked position. The actuator is provided with escape recesses, into each of which an end of the movable contact portions enter when the actuator is at the unlocked position. The actuator is provided with a rotation prohibition surface on a surface opposite to the escape recess, the rotation prohibition surface engaging with the hook portion from the fixed contact portion side when the actuator is at the unlocked position.