Abstract: A discrimination system that forms a fluid column and interrogates objects within the fluid column with an excitation source. An optical arrangement collects output electromagnetic radiation emanating from the excited objects disposed within the fluid column and directs the output electromagnetic radiation to a detector. An analyzer reduces the positional dependency of the detected intensity by normalizing the value based on the position of each object.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle including a body having a plurality of electrical connections, a device face connected to the body and movable with respect to the body, a plurality of electrical plug contacts positioned behind the device face, and wherein the electrical plug contacts retain an electrical plug prong at a first tension when the device face is in a first position and the electrical plug contacts retain the electrical plug prong at a second tension when the device face is in a second position.

Abstract: A drag reduction device for improving drag efficiency on a land vehicle includes one or more drag reduction devices that are coupled to an exterior portion or contained internally within the vehicle. The drag reduction devices include one or more fan assemblies each contained within a respective housing. The fan assemblies all include, in general, cross-flow fans and air foils that are configured to adjust the movement of air over and around the trailer unit as the land vehicle is being driven along a surface during normal use, and thus provide reduced resistance from air friction and pressure friction and contribute significantly to reduced fuel or other energy consumption as the land vehicle is being driven along a surface during normal use. The fan blades and air foils can be plasma-controlled.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel-cell system having a fuel cell, a purge valve, and a drain line extending from the purge valve. A controller is programmed to open the purge valve according to a baseline purge routine when the drain line slopes away from the purge valve, and open the purge valve according to an enhanced purge routine when the drain line slopes towards the purge valve.

Abstract: A method of forming a wick assembly is disclosed including positioning an inner ring in a first wick, positioning the inner ring in a second wick, abutting an end of the first wick with an end of the second wick, positioning an outer ring about a portion of the first wick and a portion of the second wick, positioning a mandrel within the inner ring, positioning a die about the outer ring, and applying a force to the die, wherein the force couples the outer ring, the inner ring, the first wick, and the second wick together to form the wick assembly.

Abstract: An automated wetstock management system can include a plurality of sensors disposed in a fuel storage facility, the plurality of sensors configured to sense fuel data characterizing one or more aspects of the fuel storage facility, and a wetstock management server communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors. The wetstock management server can process the fuel data to detect whether the fuel data satisfies an exception indicative of an operational issue of the fuel storage facility based on one or more predefined rules or models stored in the wetstock management server. In some embodiments, the wetstock management server can generate a workflow for assisting a user of the fuel storage facility to resolve the operational issue. In some embodiments, the wetstock management server can assign a risk category to the exception and electronically transmit an alert characterizing the operational issue to the user.

Abstract: A gripper assembly for a pipeline plug includes an actuator plate that includes at least two actuator wedges, a bowl that includes at least two bowl wedges, circumferential wedge sets, and gripper units. Each circumferential wedge set and gripper unit is positioned between the actuator plate and the bowl. Each circumferential wedge set includes a first circumferential wedge and a second circumferential wedge. Each circumferential wedge set is positioned such that an actuator wedge and a bowl wedge engage between the first and second circumferential wedges. Each gripper unit includes a gripper body positioned between and abutting a first circumferential wedge of a first circumferential wedge set and a second circumferential wedge of a second circumferential wedge set. Linear compression between the actuator plate and bowl causes circumferential movement of the circumferential wedges, which in turn causes radial expansion of the gripper units.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating uterine fibroids are described, wherein a uterine fibroid treatment agent comprising collagenase in an amount effective to cause shrinkage of uterine fibroids is injected or inserted into the uterine fibroid.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval system including a vertical array of storage levels, each storage level having storage locations, a multilevel vertical conveyor system configured to transport the uncontained case units to and from the vertical array of storage levels, each storage level being configured to receive uncontained case units from the multilevel vertical conveyor system, at least one autonomous transport confined to each storage level, the at least one autonomous transport being configured to transport the uncontained case units between respective storage locations and the multilevel vertical conveyor system, and a controller configured to effect operation of the multilevel vertical conveyor system and at least one autonomous transport for assembling orders of uncontained case units of different types without moving bundles of the same uncontained case unit type throughout the storage and retrieval system.

Abstract: A magnetic device includes a magnetic core, a plurality of first windings forming respective first winding turns, and a second winding forming a second winding turn. Each first winding turn is within the second winding turn, as seen when the magnetic device is viewed cross-sectionally in a first direction. Yet another magnetic device includes a magnetic core, one or more first windings, and one or more second windings magnetically isolated from the one or more first windings.

Abstract: Mining machines such as continuous miners and chain haulage units may include chain conveyors that are capable of deflecting laterally in order to travel through lateral turns. The chain conveyors may include flight members for pushing or urging material along a pan. The chain may be driven by one or more sprockets. In one independent aspect, a link for a chain conveyor includes a body including a first end a second end opposite the first end, a first opening proximate the first end and extending in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the link, a second opening proximate the second end and extending in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the link, and a relief opening extending through the link body and positioned between the first end and the second end.

Abstract: Cable fixation assemblies for telecommunications systems. A cable support body of a cable fixation assembly defines a tie wrap passage. The tie wrap passage includes features that can improve tie wrap tightening control and/or a preferred tie wrap advancement direction when securing a cable to the cable support with the tie wrap.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for video encoding and decoding. The apparatuses include an apparatus for video decoding. Processing circuitry of the apparatus for video decoding can decode coded information for a current block from a coded video bitstream. The coded information indicates a bi-prediction motion compensation mode for the current block. The processing circuitry determines, based on current neighboring reconstructed samples of the current block, first neighboring reconstructed samples of a first prediction block, and second neighboring reconstructed samples of a second prediction block, a weight used in the bi-prediction motion compensation mode. The processing circuitry reconstructs samples in the current block based on a weighted average of corresponding samples in the first prediction block and the second prediction block using the determined weight.

Abstract: A method of providing user access history for a collaborative document includes receiving, by a server, a first request for the collaborative document from a client device of a user of a plurality of users that have permission to access the collaborative document; providing the collaborative document to the client device for presentation to the user in a user interface on the client device; determining whether a collaborator type of the user matches a predefined collaborator type; responsive to determining that the collaborator type of the user matches the predefined collaborator type: creating a first user access history for the collaborative document based on accesses of the collaborative document by one or more of the plurality of users, and providing the first user access history for the collaborative document to the client device for display within a consolidated view of the user interface presenting the collaborative document.

Abstract: Communication systems are described that use unequally spaced constellations that have increased capacity compared to conventional constellations operating within a similar SNR band.

Abstract: A handheld controller configured to be held by a user's hand. The handheld controller comprising a main body, and a handle extending from the main body, wherein the handle has a palm side and a finger side. A control button is positioned on the main body or handle, and a detection sensor is on the handle. The detection sensor is positioned to detect the presence of the finger or palm of a user's hand engaging the handle. The detection sensor can be a capacitive touch sensor, a proximity sensor or other detection sensor operative to detect the touch or spatial presence of the user's hand or fingers.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, materials and devices for approximation of blood volume in a fluid, such as in a biological fluid collected during a surgical procedure. The method and devices may include the use of an RBC flocculant, for example polyDADMAC, and an approximate blood hematocrit from the type of animal blood being evaluated, as well as a calculated RBC packing ratio corresponding to the collection device being used. Also provided is a Blood Indicator Panel (BIP), comprising a series of markings calculated from an observed red blood settlement volume, the average animal blood hematocrit, and a calculated RBC packing ratio “ii” value for the collection device. A collection device with a BIP is disclosed. Pediatric (about 200 ml or 250 ml size container), adult human (about 1,000 ml-1,500 ml) and veterinary (about 500 ml-2,500 ml) collection containers are also disclosed, that include a RBC flocculant, for use in approximating blood volume in a fluid.