Abstract: Illustrative marine propulsion systems are disclosed. In a non-limiting, illustrative embodiment, a marine propulsion system includes a pump housing that is configured to be disposed below a waterline of a marine vessel and a centrifugal pump assembly that is disposed in the pump housing. The centrifugal pump assembly includes an inlet pump stage configured to receive inlet water and to discharge impulse water. The centrifugal pump assembly also includes an outlet pump stage that includes an impulse turbine wheel configured to rotate about an axis responsive to the impulse water and an outlet pump stage impeller integral with the impulse turbine wheel. The outlet pump stage impeller is configured to rotate about the axis.

Abstract: A woody biomass baler having a baling chamber adapted to receive woody biomass material, a compression system adapted to compact the material into a rectangular bale in the chamber, and an ejection system adapted to move the bale from the chamber, wherein the baling chamber has a front wall consisting of a reciprocating compression platen corresponding in dimensions to the width W and height H of the bale, opposing upper and lower walls corresponding in dimensions to the length L and either of the W and H of the bale, and opposing sidewalls corresponding in dimensions to the L and the other of the W and H of the bale, wherein each chamber wall selected from among the upper wall, the lower wall, and each of the sidewalls can withstand a minimum distributed force perpendicular to the selected wall of at least (0.

Abstract: A transport system including a fleet of semi-trailer trucks, wherein a plurality of the semi-trailer trucks are loaded with rectangular bales of tall grass biomass, wherein the total weight of the bales is greater than 80% of the sum of the maximum transport weight capacities of the loaded semi-trailer trucks, wherein the total volume of the bales is greater than 80% of the sum of the maximum transport volumes of the loaded semi-trailer trucks, and wherein the bales on at least one of the plurality of loaded semi-trailer trucks have a net energy value of at least 244 million Btu. The trucks are preferably loaded to at least 85%, and most preferably to at least 90%, of their legal payloads.

Abstract: A system and method of web-based computer software and hardware is disclosed for recording and analyzing sports statistics to allow a sports team to evaluate the efficiency of its team, players, lineups, games, plays, playbooks, and other related attributes. Computerized algorithms analyze thousands of complex event outcomes based on various user specifications to produce innumerable statistical results. The system is optimized for use on a touch-screen tablet computer but can also be accessed via any computing device with a web browser and an Internet connection. The invention is designed to be used in real-time, but can also be used after the game to record event information or analyze previously recorded data.

Abstract: The pressures provided by several wheels or rollers on various members of a metal panel are controlled to produce a curved panel of desired radius with little or no distortion. Predetermined pressures are used to achieve the desired curvature and increased pressures provide smaller radii of curvature. For metal “U” panels pressure is preferably applied on two members. For seamed metal panels pressure is preferably applied on three members. Additional curvature may be obtained by use of a curving bar. Motors drive the wheels, which urge these panel members through the wheels, the wheels having a separation distance less than the original thickness of the metal. This results in the metal of those members being elongated, thereby curving the panel with little or no distortion. In exemplary embodiments curved panels may be formed at a rate of 22-25 feet per minute or at 40-55 feet per minute.

Abstract: The present invention is a shrinkable tube with pre-attached fletching with or without cresting. When heat is applied to the tube, it only takes seconds to shrink the tube to the arrow. The tube will shrink to a tight and secure fit on any size-hunting arrow. The fletching can be made with plastic vanes or feathers of any length, size or color. The shrinkable tube can be of any thickness or color or of any length, with or without cresting designs. This shrinkable fletching will allow hunters to fletch their own arrows in most situations. The situations where the shrink fletching can be used are unlimited as long as access to a proper heat source is available.

Abstract: A Sort-on-the-Fly/Search-on-the-Fly search engine provides an intuitive means for searching databases, allowing a user to access data in the database without having to know anything about the database structure. A user selects a desired search term, and the search engine searches the database for all instances of the desired term, even if a specific file or table does not contain the instance. The database need not have a specific file (in a flat database) or a table (in a relational database) of names. The user may specify other criteria, or constraints to narrow the search results, or for other reasons. The search engine then conducts a further search using this criteria and produces a second search result. Further narrowing or broadening of the search are permitted, with the search-on-the-fly search engine returning results based on any new constraints.

Abstract: A new class of plant biomass feedstock particles characterized by consistent piece size and shape uniformity, high skeletal surface area, and good flow properties. The particles of plant biomass material having fibers aligned in a grain are characterized by a length dimension (L) aligned substantially parallel to the grain and defining a substantially uniform distance along the grain, a width dimension (W) normal to L and aligned cross grain, and a height dimension (H) normal to W and L. In particular, the L×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel side surfaces characterized by substantially intact longitudinally arrayed fibers, the W×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel end surfaces characterized by crosscut fibers and end checking between fibers, and the L×W dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces.

Abstract: A portable device is provided that is used to warm a mammography machine and which comprises a warmer and a holder for the warmer, the holder having a charging mechanism for charging the warmer. The warmer includes an enclosed heating element and power source. The heating element is precisely regulated to ensure that the sensitive imaging elements are not damaged by an over-temperature condition, while at the same time permitting a rapid heating of the warmer for high cycle use. The warmer warms surfaces of the mammography machine that contacts human skin.

Abstract: A series of interlocking or non-interlocking stackable containers have an identical size and shape. The containers may include transparent sides and a transparent cover. The cover may include a raised area. The bottom of container may include an inward recess sized to accept the raised area of the cover of a lower container. Each container may include an interchangeable faceplate that affixes to the transparent cover. The interchangeable faceplate may be used to accessorize the containers for visual recognition and cover an outer area of the cover, leaving an inner area of the cover exposed for viewing contents. The containers may similarly display contents at both a merchant and a customer location. A customer may purchase a container for home-use such as for interlocking or stacking with previously purchased containers of the same size. The containers may contain contents of the same type, such as jewelry, shoes, or other articles.

Abstract: A series of interlocking or non-interlocking stackable containers have an identical size and shape. The containers may include transparent sides and a transparent cover. The cover may include a raised area. The bottom of container may include an inward recess sized to accept the raised area of the cover of a lower container. Each container may include an interchangeable faceplate that affixes to the transparent cover. The interchangeable faceplate may be used to accessorize the containers for visual recognition and cover an outer area of the cover, leaving an inner area of the cover exposed for viewing contents. The transparent cover may have an downwardly extending lip that snaps onto a protrusion on a container base. The faceplate may cover both horizontal and vertical surfaces of the cover. The cover may have a depressed perimeter configured to accept the faceplate. An insert may be provided that holds contents in place.

Abstract: A system and method for a physically-based gift key enabling a purchaser to deliver a single, fully-integrated gift item to a recipient and including an electronic greeting card and store credits redeemable online is presented. The method includes the steps of activating a gift key, customizing an electronic greeting card associated with the gift key at a host site via physical or wireless linkage of a gift key to a first local computer, accessing the greeting card at the host site via linkage of the gift key to a second local computer, and redeeming a store credit associated with the gift key at a retail website accessible from the host site. The system includes a gift key and a host computer system directly or indirectly controlling a host site. The gift key has a housing, an integrated circuit within the housing, and a connector or wireless interface extending from the housing so as to allow linkage of the gift key with a computer remotely located with respect to the host and retailer sites.

Abstract: A baler for making compacted bales of a cellulosic and preferably woody biomass material, the baler comprising: a housing defining a compaction chamber therein, wherein the housing comprises a top wall, an infeed opening defined in the top wall for introducing the material into the compaction chamber, and a hopper system comprising: first and second doors pivotably attached to the housing in opposing array over the infeed opening, wherein each door comprises a pivot having a plurality of fingers extending in planar array therefrom and defining a plurality of recesses disposed therebetween, and wherein the fingers of the first and second doors are staggered such that the fingers of each door are positioned opposite to and receivable by the recesses of the other door, and actuator means for pivoting the doors upwardly to form a chute for directing the material toward the infeed opening, and downwardly to intermesh and preferably interlock the fingers and substantially cover the infeed opening.

Abstract: A biomass baler having a baling chamber adapted to receive tall grass biomass material, a compression system adapted to compact the material into a rectangular bale in the chamber, and an ejection system adapted to move the bale from the chamber, wherein the baling chamber has a front wall consisting of a reciprocating compression platen corresponding in dimensions to the width W and height H of the bale, opposing upper and lower walls corresponding in dimensions to the length L and either of the W and H of the bale, and opposing sidewalls corresponding in dimensions to the L and the other of the W and H of the bale, wherein each chamber wall selected from among the upper wall, the lower wall, and the sidewalls can withstand a minimum distributed force perpendicular to the selected wall of at least (0.22×Pp×Aw) pounds, wherein Pp is the maximum pressure that the compression platen can apply to the material and Aw is the area of the selected wall expressed in square inches.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tissue ablation. Systems include needles with deployable filaments capable of producing asymmetrical offset lesions at target volumes, which may include a target nerve. Ablation of at least a portion of the target nerve may inhibit the ability of the nerve to transmit signals, such as pain signals, to the central nervous system. The offset lesion may facilitate procedures by directing energy towards the target nerve and away from collateral structures. Example anatomical structures include lumbar, thoracic, and cervical medial branch nerves and rami and the sacroiliac joint.

Abstract: A resistance apparatus includes a track adapted to be secured in a vertical position on a support. A vertical slide is mounted and slideable and has on the track a spring loaded plunger near a first end thereof. A hook is mounted on the slide and has a pair of spaced apart legs, with upper and lower end portions, with the lower end portions of the legs connected by an upwardly extending U-shape portion. The upper end portion of the second leg has a downwardly extending curved portion which is laterally spaced from the upper end portion of the first leg to form therewith an entrance opening into the interior of the hook. A resistance band has an intermediate portion which is received in the interior of the hook through the entrance opening to permit a person to grasp the ends of the resistance band and to perform various resistance exercises.

Abstract: The pressures provided by several wheels or rollers (18, 20, 22, 24, 30, 32) on various members of a metal panel are controlled to produce a curved panel of desired radius with little or no distortion. Predetermined pressures are used to achieve the desired curvature and increased pressures provide smaller radii of curvature. For metal “U” panels pressure is preferably applied on two members. For seamed metal panels pressure is preferably applied on three members. Additional curvature may be obtained by use of a curving bar (82). Motors (34, 36, 38) drive the wheels, which urge these panel members through the wheels, the wheels having a separation distance less than the original thickness of the metal. This results in the metal of those members being elongated, thereby curving the panel with little or no distortion. Repeatable results are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for facilitating financing of a product transaction. A method may include determining a maximum available back-end product for the product transaction as a function of one or more of a target payment limit or a total advance limit. The method may also include determining a maximum available back-end spread for the product transaction as a function of the target payment limit. The method may further include presenting the maximum available back-end product and the maximum available back-end spread. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.