Abstract: An embodiment of an electronic access control system includes an electronic access apparatus, an electronic lock, and an access control administration program. The electronic access apparatus provides a wireless power signal and a wireless digital data signal to the electronic lock. The wireless power signal can be the only source of power used by the electronic lock to actuate an electronic lock mechanism. In some embodiments, the lock mechanism includes a piezoelectric latch.

Abstract: A landscape paver includes a PV panel and a frame. The PV panel includes one or more PV cells and is operable to provide electrical power at a panel output terminal in response to operating light incident on a panel upper surface. The frame extends along the panel peripheral edge and defines a frame inside surface which, together with a lower panel surface, defines a base volume. A molded base material is located in the base volume. A light-transmissive paver cover material extends over the panel first surface and over at least a portion of a frame outside surface which faces away from the base volume. The landscape paver may be incorporated in a landscape installation and connected with other such pavers in the installation to provide a ground mounted PV panel array which also functions as a hardscape such as a walkway or patio.

Abstract: A downhole tool having a mandrel, and a bottom slip disposed around the mandrel. The bottom slip includes a circular body having a one-piece configuration characterized by a plurality of slip segments by at least partial material connectivity therearound. The bottom slip is made of a filament wound composite material, which means the bottom slip has a plurality of layers joined by respective interface layers. An outer slip surface of at least one of the plurality of slip segments is defined in cross-section by a plane P that intersects a longitudinal axis of the downhole tool at an angle a1 in a range of 10 degrees to 20 degrees when the bottom slip is in an unset position.

Abstract: An insulating insert for a packaging system includes six pockets and multiple sealed dividers. The six pockets are rectangular in shape and are each filled with an insulating material. The six pockets include a bottom pocket configured to contact a bottom inside surface of a box, four side pockets each configured to contact a respective side inside surface of the box, and a top pocket configured to contact a top inside surface of the box when the insulating insert is placed into the box. Each sealed divider is located between two adjacent pockets. The sealed dividers provide fold locations to permit the insulating insert to be folded and installed within the box so that each of the six pockets contacts a respective inside surface of the box.

Abstract: A direct drive resistance system for exercise machines having a weighted moment arm that is lifted and lowered by a lifting moment arm and lifting component, which is moved by a force transfer assembly, which is operatively connected to a rotary component of an exercise machine, such that when the exercise machine is activated the force transfer assembly, the lifting moment arm, the lifting component and the weighted moment arm move concurrently to create a resistance force to the motion of the exercise machine.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an optical element for a lighting device, the optical element comprising a body capable of conducting light, wherein the body comprises: a light incoupling surface; a light outcoupling surface; and side faces situated opposite to each other and extending from the light incoupling surface to the light outcoupling surface; wherein at least one of the side faces has an aspherical shape at least in sections. The at least one side face having the aspherical shape is capable of focussing light originating from a first point on the light incoupling surface to a second point on the light outcoupling surface by internal reflection at least in the sections. The optical element may serve in the lighting device as a precollimator with configurable intensity distribution of the precollimated light. The shape of the optical element may be easily determined for various dimensions of the optical element.

Abstract: Methods and systems for utilizing a listening application on a mobile device to limit multiple redemptions of an offer are disclosed. The method stores a listening application on a mobile device. One or more processors access an offer. The one or more processors open the listening application when the offer is accessed and access a microphone of the mobile device. The offer is then presented on a display of the mobile device. The listening application listens for one or more sounds occurring in an environment about the mobile device. A database of sound files is accessed and a comparing occurs between the one or more sounds occurring in the environment with one or more sound files in the database of sound files. When it is determined, based on the comparing, that a successful scanning sound has been heard the offer is expired.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is described, wherein the autonomous vehicle is configured to estimate a change in direction of a vehicle that is on a roadway and is proximate to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle has a mechanical system, one or more sensors that generate one or more sensor signals, and a computing system in communication with the mechanical system and the one or more sensors. The autonomous vehicle is configured to detect an imminent lane change by another vehicle based on at least one of a computed angle between a wheel of the other vehicle and a longitudinal direction of travel of the other vehicle, a degree of misalignment between the wheel of the other vehicle and a body of the other vehicle, and/or an eccentricity of the wheel of the other vehicle. The mechanical system of the autonomous vehicle is controlled by the computing system based upon the detected imminent lane change.

Abstract: A method for computing the release rate of a controlled release drug and medical device using a combination of imaging data and computational physics is described. The method employs a three-dimensional digital representation of a drug sample, derived from two-dimensional or three-dimensional imaging, which captures the drug active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), excipients, and porosity with distinctive contrasts. Direct numerical simulations are conducted on the three-dimensional digital representation to derive effective transport properties of the API going through a porous matrix or membrane. Drug release rate can be predicted more efficiently than laboratory-based methods. When there is strong heterogeneity presented in the drug, a further method is described that engages imaging and release simulations at multiple scales. Computerized systems and programs for performing the methods are also described.

Abstract: Techniques for interactive scorekeeping and animation generation are described, including evaluating a play to form an event datum associated with execution of the play, using the event datum to form an event packet, generating an animation using the event packet, the animation being associated with the execution of the play, and presenting the animation on an endpoint.

Abstract: A control system includes a communication device onboard a vehicle system approaching or entering an airflow restricted area along a route and one or more processors. The communication device configured to receive status messages that contain data parameters representative of ambient conditions within the airflow restricted area. The processors are configured to monitor the ambient conditions and determine different power output upper limits that a trail propulsion vehicle of the vehicle system can generate within the airflow restricted area based on the ambient conditions and different power outputs generated by a lead propulsion vehicle of the vehicle system. The processors further configured to communicate instructions to control the lead propulsion vehicle within the airflow restricted area to generate the power output of the different power outputs that results in the greatest total available power output of the vehicle system as the vehicle system travels within the airflow restricted area.

Abstract: An electrode connector adapted for attachment to a biomedical patient electrode by either pinch or snap connection includes a pair of pivotally connected members including a connector body and a jaw pivotally connected to said connector body, with the jaw defining a beveled lower surface that functions to urge the jaw open by engagement of the top surface of an ECG stud thereby allowing the connector to be attached by snap engagement. An electrically conducting plate is disposed at the bottom of the connector to maximize electrical contact with the electrode stud. The jaw member further includes a lip functioning to engage a lower portion of the head of the stud and urge the radially enlarged base of the stud into electrical contact with the bottom surface of said electrically conducting member. An ECG electrode connector in accordance with the present invention may further be fabricated of radiolucent materials.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide methods of treating diabetes and other glucose regulation disorders. In one embodiment, the method comprises removing L-cells from a donor, obtaining stem cells from a patient, and culturing the L-cells in the presence of the stem cells under conditions such that the stem cells differentiate into stem cell-derived L-cells (SCDLC). An amount of the SCDLC is introduced into the patient sufficient to cause a lowering of the patient's blood glucose level after ingestion of food. In another embodiment, the method comprises removing K-cells from a donor, obtaining stem cells from a patient, and culturing the K-cells in the presence of the stem cells under conditions such that the stem cells differentiate into stem cell-derived K-cells (SCDKC). An amount of the SCDKC is introduced into the patient sufficient to cause a lowering of the patient's blood glucose level after ingestion of food.

Abstract: A firearm safety mechanism assembly is provided. The firearm safety mechanism assembly includes a firearm with a receiver, a trigger guard coupled to the firearm, and a housing pin. The firearm safety mechanism assembly includes a trigger safety mechanism. The trigger safety mechanism includes a plate, a rod extending from the plate, a trigger coupled to the rod, and a lever nested within the trigger. The lever includes a lever first end and a lever second end, where the lever rotates between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the lever first end abuts a housing pin.

Abstract: The present invention concerns surveillance systems that flag the potential threats automatically using intelligent systems. It can then notify or automatically alert the security personnel of impending dangers. Such a system can lower the cognitive load on the security personnel and can assist them to bring to prioritize their attention to potential threats and thereby improve the overall efficiency of the system. There could also be savings in labor cost.

Abstract: A reception device including processing circuitry is provided. The processing circuitry is configured to receive a video stream that includes, for each of a plurality of units of N consecutive pictures of a plurality of pictures, an encoded averaged picture and encoded N?1 of the N consecutive pictures of the respective unit. The averaged picture is generated based on an averaging process in which a non-linear average of the N consecutive pictures of the respective unit is calculated with different gains. The video stream includes a first sub-layer having the encoded averaged pictures and a second sub-layer having the encoded N?1 pictures of the plurality of units. The processing circuitry is configured to receive information including averaging process information indicating a method for the averaging process, and process the received video stream in accordance with the averaging process information.

Abstract: A system for tong assembly operation includes a mode switch for shifting the tong assembly between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, the mode switch having a first portion associated with the first mode and a second portion associated with the second mode; a first target coupled to the first portion, the first target movable to a first position corresponding to the first mode of operation; a second target coupled to the second portion, the second target movable to a second position corresponding to the second mode of operation; a first sensor configured to identify the first position of the first target; and a second sensor configured to identify the second position of the second target.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing aerogel materials are generally described. In certain cases, the methods do not require supercritical drying as part of the manufacturing process. In some cases, certain combinations of materials, solvents, and/or processing steps may be synergistically employed so as to enable manufacture of large (e.g., meter-scale), substantially crack free, and/or mechanically strong aerogel materials.

Abstract: A liquid direct injection assembly includes a direct injection supply kit to mix liquid components into a mixture and deliver the mixture to a treatment device. The supply kit includes liquid component containers that each include an elongated flexible bladder and a discharge nozzle to discharge a corresponding liquid component from the bladder. The supply kit also includes metering bodies each defining a metering orifice to control a flow rate of the corresponding liquid component from the bladder. The liquid direct injection assembly also includes a container tray configured to removably support a liquid component container.

Abstract: A system and method for processing content access rights and/or entitlement rights are disclosed. A method, in one aspect, provides for receiving a selection of a content option, requesting access information associated with the selected content option, receiving access information comprising location information relating to a compatible format, requesting access rights from a first service associated with the location information, wherein the first service requests an access decision relating to the selected content option from a second service based upon the access rights, and receiving the access rights.