Abstract: An orthopedic screw system. The screw system comprises an outer member and an inner screw. The outer member has a longitudinal inner channel that defines an interior sidewall and is provided with screw threads on its exterior and interior sidewalls. An inner screw has threads constructed and arranged to engage with those on the interior sidewall, such that the inner screw may be secured within the inner channel. When secured within the inner channel, at least a portion of the length of the inner screw extends beyond the outer member. Methods of installing the orthopedic screw system into osteoporotic or otherwise weakened bone are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods are described for integrating a UL compliant power generating system within an exterior shell or façade of a building structure. The energy generating devices (which can be photovoltaic), control units and associated power/signal wiring are incorporated and integrated within individual unitized curtain wall units making up the façade, and are adapted to be UL compliant.

Abstract: Items—including gourmet products—are evaluated and rated by participants in a controlled event, which can be coordinated by software locally or at a dedicated website. Event data, including item scores and participant scores can be shared with vendors, merchants and other commercial entities associated with the products. Promotional incentives from such entities for the products (and related products) can then be directly targeted and provided to participants and other members of the public. The participant's activities can also be collected and disseminated to affiliates/friends of the participants through social networking sites, personalized web pages, etc.

Abstract: A feed support for use with a bale ring, a system for feeding animals, and systems and methods for moving bale rings are disclosed. The feed support has a generally vertical support member, an attachment plate, and a plurality of telescoping arm assemblies that are mounted on the attachment plate for rotation. As mounted, the telescoping arm assemblies can rotate between an operational position in which they are generally horizontal and radiate outwardly from the attachment plate and a stored position, in which they extend perpendicular to the attachment plate. The arm assemblies have primary sections and secondary sections that are mounted within the primary sections for sliding, telescoping movement. Ends of the secondary arm sections may carry engaging structure for attaching to the bale ring. The feed support may allow the bale ring to be picked up and moved with a tractor or other equipment.

Abstract: A removable console for a boat and a boat including such a removable console are disclosed. The removable console is adapted to be positioned before a passenger seating position in the boat to shield the passenger position from wind. The connection between the deck of the boat and the removable console is fastenerless, so as to facilitate easy installation and replacement. The console itself may be enclosed, with both upper and lower surfaces.

Abstract: A floating underwater support structure is disclosed. The underwater support structure includes a joint capable of rotation and angular movement along two or three axes coupled to a truss. The truss is capable of sustaining loads in tension, compression, and bending, and comprises one or more elongate, rigid members. The elongate, rigid members are capable of sustaining loads in at least tension and compression. A buoyant member positioned between or around the members of the truss at a predetermined distance below the water provides a buoyant force that typically exceeds the weight of the entire structure. In deeper water, cross bracing may be provided between the members of the truss, and in particularly deep water, a single tendon may connect between the joint, typically anchored to the floor of the body of water, and the truss. The support structure may be used to support wind turbines and other structures.

Abstract: Maternal and fetal birthing simulators are disclosed. The maternal simulator has a rotatable pelvis, legs articulated at the hip and knee joints, and a deformable covering that simulates the feel of the skin and underlying tissues. The fetal simulator has an extensible neck, a movable head, movable clavicles, and arms articulated at the shoulder and elbow joints, and may include sensors to measure spinal extension, head rotation, applied traction force, and brachial plexus displacement.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a fire resistant wood product and method of manufacture thereof. In one embodiment, the fire resistant wood product comprises a resin and a fire retardant composition, wherein the resin comprises an isocyanate and the fire retardant composition comprises a boron containing compound.

Abstract: A range hood for a kitchen range or other similar appliance is disclosed. The range hood is adapted to be coupled to a blower to draw the contaminated effluent stream from the range into the hood. The effluent stream is drawn through a substantially horizontal perforated liquid support or impingement tray that is filled with a working liquid, and is then passed through a high-efficiency mist eliminator. The range hood offers a substantially straight airflow path from a point just inside the inlet to the outlet. The range hood also has a low profile, and offers direct access to its interior components for easy inspection and cleaning.

Abstract: Methods for reducing leaf senescence in plants or portions thereof by treating them with methyl dihydrojasmonate are disclosed. The methyl dihydrojasmonate may be in the form of an aqueous foliar spray, which may also include additives such as wetting agents, adjuvants, emulsifiers, dispersants, spreaders, surfactants, anchorage, disintegrants, and plant nutrients.

Abstract: Cryogenic storage and separator vessels made of polyolefin foams are disclosed, as are methods of storing and separating cryogenic fluids and fluid mixtures using these vessels. In one embodiment, the polyolefin foams may be cross-linked, closed-cell polyethylene foams with a density of from about 2 pounds per cubic foot to a density of about 4 pounds per cubic foot.

Abstract: A removable console for a boat and a boat including such a removable console are disclosed. The removable console is adapted to be positioned before a passenger seating position in the boat to shield the passenger position from wind. The connection between the deck of the boat and the removable console is fastenerless, so as to facilitate easy installation and replacement. The console itself may be enclosed, with both upper and lower surfaces.

Abstract: An intelligent query system for processing voiced-based queries is disclosed, which uses a combination of both statistical and semantic based processing to identify the question posed by the user by understanding the meaning of the user's utterance. Based on identifying the meaning of the utterance, the system selects a single answer that best matches the user's query. The answer that is paired to this single question is then retrieved and presented to the user. The system, as implemented, accepts environmental variables selected by the user and is scalable to provide answers to a variety and quantity of user-initiated queries.

Abstract: An intelligent query system for processing voiced-based queries is disclosed, which uses a combination of both statistical and semantic based processing to identify the question posed by the user by understanding the meaning of the user's utterance. Based on identifying the meaning of the utterance, the system selects a single answer that best matches the user's query. The answer that is paired to this single question is then retrieved and presented to the user. The system, as implemented, accepts environmental variables selected by the user and is scalable to provide answers to a variety and quantity of user-initiated queries.

Abstract: A tapering-depth shelving unit is disclosed. The tapering-depth shelving unit is particularly suitable for use in the space behind a door. The shelving unit has two generally vertically extending support members spaced horizontally from one another, with a plurality of shelves mounted generally horizontally between them. The first support member has a depth less than the depth of the second support member, and each of the shelves matches the depth of the first support member on one side edge and matches the greater depth of the second support member along the other side edge. Each of the shelves increases gradually in depth between the first support member and the second support member. The shelves have a generally trapezoidal shape in plan view.

Abstract: A vehicle passenger restraint system is disclosed. The restraint system has a pair of vertically extending shoulder strap portions, horizontally extending positioning strap portions attached to the shoulder strap portions, and horizontally extending lower strap portions spaced vertically below the positioning strap portions. The shoulder strap portions may be contiguous with one another, so as to form one continuously linked shoulder strap portion. The shoulder strap portions and positioning strap portions may be connected to retractors. The restraint system is particularly suitable for use in emergency vehicles such as ambulances, and may be used in forward-facing, rearward-facing or side-facing seating.

Abstract: A network based interactive speech system responds in real-time to speech-based queries addressed to a set of topic entries. A best matching response is provided based on speech recognition processing and natural language processing performed on recognized speech utterances to identify a selected set of phrases related to the set of topic entries. Another routine converts the selected set of phrases into a search query suitable for identifying a first group of one or more topic entries corresponding to the speech-based query. The words/phrases can be assigned different weightings and can include entries which are not actually in the set of topic entries.

Abstract: A thoracic closure device. The device has a handle member, a base member, and a feed path, and is designed to accept and, with a ratcheting mechanism, tension a toothed closure tie. A guide member is also provided, and assists in the placement of a closure tie prior to tensioning. Methods of closing a median sternotomy using toothed closure ties are also disclosed.