Abstract: A disclosed bead tray for holding and sorting beads includes a tray with a contoured bottom surface for orientating beads and guiding the beads from the tray onto a track. The track is disposed between side surfaces that are angled away from the track. The side surfaces are angled such that an end of a string is guided upward toward the track and into an opening of a bead within the track.

Abstract: A system and method of delivering fiber optic communication service is provided. The method includes monitoring a strain signal generated by a strain-sensing optical fiber embedded in a roadway. The method includes comparing the strain signal to a predetermined allowable strain threshold of an optical communication cable associated with the strain-sensing optical fiber. The method includes relieving strain at a position along a length of the optical communications cable when the strain signal is determined to exceed the predetermined allowable strain threshold.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring an amount of force required to apply a mechanical parking brake of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a body adapted for mounting to a parking brake lever of the type which is manually pivotable about an axis to apply a parking brake. First and second force sensors are disposed on the body at different distances from a pivot axis of the lever when the body is mounted to the lever. The force sensors measure force applied to a lower surface of the lever to cause the lever to pivot when the lever is pulled upward to apply the parking brake. An angle sensor is disposed on the body and measures an actuation angle through which the lever pivots about the pivot axis during application of the parking brake. An electronic unit reads respective first and second forces applied to the force sensors during pivoting of the lever, calculating therefrom an effective actuation force applied at a reference point on the lever, and associates the effective actuation force with the actuation angle.

Abstract: A computing system is monitored by collecting monitoring information from two or more different monitoring tools associated with respective portions of the computing system, where the monitoring tools having different information collection capabilities associated therewith. The monitoring information received from the different monitoring tools is consolidated in a unified data store. The unified data store is utilized to perform analytics relating to inter-dependencies of storage, compute and networking components of the computing system managed by different ones of the monitoring tools. The analytics results are presented utilizing a monitoring dashboard.

Abstract: A sterile dual-purpose closed intermittent urinary catheter system that may be used as either a drain line or a collection bag. A catheter resides within an inner cavity of an extensible sheath and may be extracted from a forward end through a hub for insertion into the urethra. A valve at a rearward end of the sheath may be opened to permit the sheath to function as a drain line, or closed to permit the sheath to function as a collection bag. The sheath has an extended length substantially longer than the catheter length. The catheter is extracted from within the sheath and inserted into the urethra to start urine flow. The urine may be collected in the sheath with the valve closed, or drained straight into a toilet with the valve open. The hub may have a source of lubrication to wet the catheter as it passes through.

Abstract: Programmable telematics systems, methods and apparatus for two-way transmission of data and information between fleet vehicles and a fleet management system. The systems and methods employ a programmable telematics communications unit (TCU) configured to connect to the OBD II port of a vehicle, enabling two-way transmission of data and information between a fleet management system and vehicles in the fleet. The TCU device includes cellular data connectivity enabling communication with the management system through existing cellular telephone networks. The programmable TCU may be toggled between multiple operating modes, wherein the TCU provides different functionality, such that a single vehicle may participate in multiple vehicle programs at different points in time, including separate vehicle rental and vehicle sharing programs.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a flexible regasification system comprises a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage vessel; a LNG vaporizer disposed on a jetty proximate the LNG storage vessel to vaporize the LNG into natural gas; and a thermal fluid source. The LNG storage vessel is coupled to the LNG vaporizer and supplies LNG to the LNG vaporizer. The thermal fluid source is coupled to the LNG vaporizer and sends heated thermal fluid to the LNG vaporizer for converting the LNG to natural gas, which converts the heated thermal fluid to a cooled thermal fluid. The cooled thermal fluid is discharged back to the thermal fluid source, comprising a closed loop. In particular embodiments, the thermal fluid storage comprises a floating vessel disposed near the jetty. In some embodiments, the cooled thermal fluid from the LNG vaporizer is first sent to a power plant or refrigeration plant.

Abstract: Methods and systems for envisioning benefits of a software upgrade. One system includes at least one electronic processor configured to detect when a user performs actions within a software application, capture data about user actions and application features, and determine through a set of rules if an updated or new feature to perform the user actions exists in an upgraded version of the application software. The electronic processor is also configured to, when a rule triggers, store user and application data and present to the user a visualization of the updated feature available in the upgraded application software. User and application data can be aggregated for a plurality of users, a plurality of application software, or both. Display of new features to a plurality of users can be user controlled or controlled by a super user based on analysis and reporting of user data accumulated over time.

Abstract: A visual query such as a photograph, a screen shot, a scanned image, a video frame, or an image created by a content authoring application is submitted to a visual query search system. The search system processes the visual query by sending it to a plurality of parallel search systems, each implementing a distinct visual query search process. These parallel search systems may include but are not limited to optical character recognition (OCR), facial recognition, product recognition, bar code recognition, object-or-object-category recognition, named entity recognition, and color recognition. Then at least one search result is sent to the client system. In some embodiments, when the visual query is an image containing a text element and a non-text element, at least one search result includes an optical character recognition result for the text element and at least one image-match result for the non-text element.

Abstract: A loading apparatus is provided that includes a set of stairs, a platform, and a handle. The stairs are attached to the platform and the platform has a locking mechanism. The handle has a first end that is pivotally attached to the set of stairs and the locking mechanism is capable of engaging the handle.

Abstract: A tie system and method for forming a wall from a hardenable building material over a footing. The tie system includes multiple wall ties configured to be directly interconnected to form a wall tie stack such that multiple wall tie stacks can be positioned over the footing in a spaced apart, vertically extending arrangement. Each wall tie includes first and second planar surfaces to be directly fastened to respective first and second panel structures. In one embodiment, the tie system includes tabs for supporting multiple insulation panels positioned between the vertically extending tie stacks and between the first and second panel structures.

Abstract: A computer system, computer program product and method for determining a probability of attaining a PK-PD target associated with efficacy for a patient that includes a processor obtaining information identifying an infection and based on the information, generating and displaying, by the processor, a list comprising one or more pathogens consistent with the information, the processor then obtaining a first indication designating at least one pathogen from the list comprising one or more pathogens and based on at the obtaining of the least one pathogen, generating a list comprising one or more drug therapies utilized to treat the at least one pathogen.

Abstract: Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.

Abstract: A system and method of wirelessly communicating data originating at a central facility between a plurality of vehicles using vehicle-to-vehicle short-range wireless communications includes wirelessly receiving, at a seed vehicle, one or more data files that have been encoded into data chunks from a central facility; storing the data chunks included in the received data file(s) at the vehicle; receiving interest messages for the data file(s) at the seed vehicle from each of a plurality of other vehicles via a short-range wireless broadcast, wherein the interest messages include one or more data file names and, for each data file name, the identity of the data chunks requested; identifying data files and data chunks existing in more than one received interest message; and transmitting the data chunks to the plurality of vehicles via the short-range wireless broadcast.

Abstract: A robotic device for providing vertical mobility has a payload is disposed inside a central compartment and supported by a skid. The skid can move up and down through latch and hook pairs to keep intimate contact with the surface and cross over bumps. The apparatus uses a flexible seal to create a reliable vacuum chamber. The flexible seal comprises a foam ring inside fabric pocket. A plurality of rod and spring strips are configured to apply a downward force to the flexible seal to conform with surface curvatures. The fabric pocket fills in the gaps or seams to maintain a vacuum. The air flows inside a manifold and passes through a filter to avoid debris from damaging the vacuum motor assembly.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive information indicating the presence of an upcoming obstacle along a route and determine a vehicle-control strategy to minimize expected fuel usage between a current location and an obstacle location. The processor may further control the vehicle in accordance with the control strategy or recommend driver actions in accordance with the control strategy.

Abstract: A knife drive assembly for use with a header of an agricultural harvester is provided. The knife drive assembly includes a housing, a rotatable driver having at least one curved channel or sloped lateral side, at least one wobble arm engaging the curved channel and a at least one mounting bar that engages the wobble arm and a cutter bar such that when the rotatable driver is rotated, the cutter bar engages in substantially linear oscillating motion.

Abstract: A soybean cultivar designated 74182911 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 74182911, to the plants of soybean cultivar 74182911, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 74182911, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 74182911. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 74182911. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 74182911, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 74182911 with another soybean cultivar.