Abstract: An exhaust system includes first and second exhaust pipes each of which has an upstream end communicating with an engine and a downstream end. The exhaust pipes are of different lengths. A length equalizer includes an outer pipe and an inner pipe disposed within the outer pipe. Once end of the inner pipe communicates with a space between the inner and outer pipes. The longer of the two exhaust pipes communicates with the space between the inner and outer pipes of the length equalizer. The shorter of the two exhaust pipes communicates directly with the inner pipe of the length equalizer. The distance between the downstream end of the longer exhaust pipe and the inner end of the inner pipe of the length equalizer is substantially equal to the difference in length between the longer and shorter exhaust pipes.

Abstract: In a method to remove toner deposits on a surface of a cleaning element, electrically charged toner particles are transferred from a transfer element surface to a photoconductor. On the cleaning element, untransferred, electrically charged toner particles as residual toner from the transfer element surface are received. Electrically charged toner particles on the cleaning element are directed past an electrode arrangement arranged at a distance from the surface of the cleaning element. An alternating electrical field is generated which acts on the toner particles to loosen them. The toner particles remaining on the surface of the cleaning element are brought into contact with a mixture of carrier particles and toner particles during further transport along a transport direction of the cleaning element.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a special paper plot (referred to herein as a dynamic plot) for which corresponding metadata is maintained is printed. A mobile appliance obtains corresponding metadata for the dynamic plot. A camera of the mobile appliance computes an image of the dynamic plot. A position of the camera of the mobile appliance with respect to the dynamic plot is calculated from the image of the dynamic plot. Using the calculated position, information or icons are overlaid at particular locations in the image captured by the camera of the dynamic plot. The image captured by the camera of the dynamic with the overlaid information or icons is then displayed on a display screen of the mobile appliance. A user may add annotations beyond what is printed on the dynamic plot. This information may subsequently be shared with other users involved in the project.

Abstract: A method of reducing electricity usage during peak demand periods includes the steps of establishing predetermined load reduction criteria representative of a desire by a power provider to reduce loading on an electricity supply grid, and coordinating with a facility having HIF lighting equipment to permit the power provider to turn-off one or more of the HIF lighting equipment by sending instructions to a master controller at the facility in response to the predetermined load reduction criteria, and establishing a list of HIF lighting equipment to be turned-off in response to the instructions, and configuring the master controller to send an override control signal to the HIF lighting equipment to implement the instructions, and configuring the HIF lighting equipment to send a response signal to the master controller providing a status of the HIF lighting equipment.

Abstract: The movement of small vertebrates, e.g. endangered or threatened species, into and/or out of defined areas, e.g. construction sites, is controlled by use of a barrier fence which includes an apertured polymeric sheet. The polymeric sheet includes an upper portion which extends upwards from the ground and a lower portion which is buried in the ground. The polymeric sheet is formed by first and second sets of polymeric strands which are bonded to each other and are spaced apart from each other, thus providing apertures. The height and depth of the barrier fence and the size of the apertures prevent the small vertebrates from crossing the fence, and the apertures permit wind and water flow through the barrier fence.

Abstract: Automated banking machines (10) operate to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. Each of the automated banking machines includes a card reader that is operative to read data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. Transactions are authorized responsive at least in part to correspondence between card data and stored data corresponding to authorized users. Entities responsible for operating the automated banking machines may receive messages that include information or update code items for software or firmware usable in the banking machines for which they have operational responsibility.

Abstract: Some of the embodiments herein provide a seamless cloud of storage. This storage may be content-addressable storage. An end application may or may not be exposed to the fact that content-addressable storage is used. Various embodiments herein provide event notification, which may allow applications or users to subscribe to particular events (such as storage of an X-ray by a particular entity). Some embodiments provide for a shared archive. A shared archive may provide homogeneous access to medical data, etc. that was previously stored into the CAS cloud by heterogeneous applications, varied data types, etc. Additionally, embodiments herein allow for the creation and distribution of virtual packages. For example, a user may create a virtual package for all images related to a patient so that she may have a virtual package of all of her medical data to present to a referring physician.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake actuator adapted to be mounted on a vehicle handlebar and hydraulically coupled to a brake mechanism. The brake actuator includes a brake base adapted to be secured to the handlebar, and a reservoir adapted to be coupled to the brake base and containing brake fluid, the reservoir having a bottom surface. The hydraulic brake actuator further includes a piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the reservoir, a brake lever movable relative to the brake base between a released position and an actuated position, and a locking pawl positioned to limit movement between the brake lever and the piston-cylinder assembly, the locking pawl being at least partially positioned directly below the bottom surface of the reservoir.

Abstract: A method and system for noninvasive face lifts and tissue tightening are disclosed. The method and treatment system are configured for thermal treatment of Superficial Muscular Aponeurosis System (SMAS) tissue, muscular fascia, or both. In one embodiment, a cosmetic system is configured for treating the SMAS and/or muscular fasica through delivery of ultrasound energy at a depth, distribution, timing, and energy level to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.

Abstract: An electronic control unit for a vehicle including a nonvolatile memory capable of erasing and writing data electrically and two buffers to acquire, by communication, divided data obtained by dividing a program by predetermined size. Then, in parallel with using the two buffers alternately to receive divided data, the electronic control unit for a vehicle uses one buffer that is not used to receive divided data to write the received divided data into the nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A composition and method of providing nitric oxide and nitrite therapy to patients whereby a therapeutic amount is bioavailable within approximately 30 minutes of administration. In embodiments of the invention, nitric oxide is produced in the oral cavity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for imaging and analyzing a patient heart are described. Imaging can be performed with a variety or combination of methods, including single photon emission computed tomography, to provide a comprehensive, three-dimensional image or model of the heart including high-resolution details relating to scar tissue and other abnormalities. Data, including information related to the heart developed through the imaging process, can be analyzed to determine if a patient is a desirable candidate for cardiac resynchronization therapy. Specific details relating to a cardiac resynchronization therapy device and a procedure for implantation can be developed through analysis of available information. A heart model and “virtual roadmap” can be generated to guide a medical practitioner through patient-individualized procedures related to the specific details gleaned through analysis.

Abstract: An example embodiment of the present invention includes a security device for secure attachment to an object. The security device comprises a housing, a cable, and a spool assembly. The cable defines an anchor end non-removably secured in the housing, a removable end, and a loop therebetween. The spool assembly is rotatably supported by, and at least partially enclosed within, the housing. The spool assembly defines a cable winding portion and a capture portion. The loop defines a first effective length when the removable end of the cable is received by the capture portion. The loop defines a second effective length smaller than the first effective length when the removable end of the cable is received by the capture portion and the spool assembly is rotated in a winding direction such that at least part of the cable is wound onto the cable winding portion of the spool assembly.

Abstract: A system for constructing a residential or commercial structure and/or retrofitting an existing structure provides a series of construction components employed that cooperate with standard construction materials to enhance the building structural integrity when subjected to destructive wind forces such as those commonly associated with hurricanes and tornados. The resultant strength of the structure is increased beyond what the standard construction materials were capable of on their own. The enhanced components further cooperate with standard construction materials to provide a secondary water sealing ability such that the typical veneer coverings of siding and/or shingles, which are typically required to provide a primary sealing system from water influent to the structure, are relegated to the role of cosmetics for the structure.

Abstract: A radar or other microwave antenna comprises at least one antenna element, a feed structure for the element extending to the antenna element substantially normally thereto through a dielectric substrate, and characterised in that the dielectric substrate is anisotropic whereby to reduce unwanted common-mode currents in the feed structure. The anisotropy may be provided by elongate conductive elements distributed through the dielectric substrate and aligned with their longitudinal axes parallel to the feed structure.

Abstract: A roof member anti-torsion bracket device includes a base plate portion having a planar base plate surface. The planar base plate surface is adapted to sit on a top plate of a wall construction and to receive a truss assembly. At least one transverse planar surface is oriented substantially transverse to the base plate surface. A locating tab extending longitudinally with respect to the base plate portion abuts an edge of the top plate, thereby locating the anti-torsion bracket device an offset distance from the edge of the wall construction top plate. The base plate portion further includes first and second fastening openings oppositely located with respect to the at least one transverse planar surface. The first and second fastening openings define first and second fastening positions in the base plate, thereby providing torsion resistance, compressive load support, and tension lifting resistance for the base plate portion.

Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus for precisely positioning an optical instrument, such as a wavefront aberrometer, in three dimensions with respect to a patient's eye. The ophthalmic apparatus may include an optical instrument directed in a first direction toward a target area to receive light therefrom and a camera directed in a second direction toward the target area to receive light therefrom, the first and second directions being non-parallel. The camera may include imaging optics to form an optical image on a photodetector array using light reflected from the target area. The ophthalmic apparatus may also include a processor configured to correlate a position of the optical image on the photodetector array with the distance between the optical instrument and the target area.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are computationally optimized broadly reactive dengue virus E polypeptide sequences for DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4. Also disclosed are dengue virus E protein fragments (such as the E protein ectodomain and DIII domain) fused to the molecular adjuvant P28. The disclosed nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences can be used as vaccines for immunization against dengue virus infection. In some cases, the vaccine includes a virus-like particle containing the universal dengue virus E protein, or fragment thereof, or the vaccine is a DNA molecule encoding the VLP.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of playing a game on a plurality of networked terminals comprises receiving a plurality of requests to play the first game, facilitating play of the first game on at least one of the plurality of networked terminals, triggering play of a second game at a particular point in time, determining eligible players whom are eligible to play the second game from a plurality of players submitting requests to play the first game, in response to receiving each of the plurality of requests from the eligible players that occur after the particular point in time, facilitating a play of the second game concurrently with a respective play of the first game, determining which plays of the second game result in a prize, and decrementing a second game total prize pool by an amount of each prize that results from each play of the second game.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer unit includes: an ultrasound element; a substrate; a signal transmission cable; a cylindrical metal shield member that has a large-diameter portion, a small-diameter portion, and a step portion, in which the large-diameter portion covers an outer circumference of the substrate; ground wiring that electrically connects the substrate and an outer circumferential face of the metal shield member; and an opening portion formed in the step portion or the small-diameter portion. The ground wiring is extended to outside the metal shield member from inside the large-diameter portion through the opening portion, and is electrically connected to an outer circumferential face of the small-diameter portion to thereby electrically connect the substrate and the outer circumferential face of the metal shield member.