Abstract: A high-velocity low-pressure cooling system (100), especially suited for data center applications, includes an air coolant loop (102), a non-air coolant loop (104) and a cooler unit (126) for heat transfer between the loops (102 and 104). The air loop (102) is used to chill ambient air that is blown across heat transfer surfaces of equipment mounted in data center racks (110). In this manner, effective cooling is provided using a coolant that is benign in data center environments.

Abstract: A disposable, sterile guide constructed of medically-acceptable plastic used for compartmentalizing and therefore protecting the ligament or fascia during three different orthopedic surgical procedures: ECTR, ECuTR, and EPFR. This device reduces the risk of damage to any other part of the surrounding anatomy. The device is disposable and packaged so as to be sterile and therefore readily usable by the surgeon means that it can reduce the risk of infection and is a less expensive alternative to traditional non-disposable, metal instruments that must be sterilized prior to each procedure.

Abstract: A fire protection system includes a dry pipe system and a controlled discharge gas vent. The dry pipe system and controlled discharge gas vent operate using a breathing cycle to displace oxygen and/or water vapor from within the piping network of the dry pipe system. The controlled gas discharge vent allows displacement of pressurized air with nitrogen, for example, using manual or automated processes that can employ one or more sensors. Corrosion resulting from oxygen, water, and/or microbial growth is reduced or nearly eliminated.

Abstract: An electrostatic particle collector may generally include a housing having sidewalls extending lengthwise between a first end and a second end. The housing may define a plate slot that extends heightwise within the housing between a top end and a bottom end. The housing may further include a plate access window that provides access to the bottom end of the plate slot. The collector may also include a collector plate configured to be installed within the plate slot that extends heightwise between a top edge and a bottom edge. Additionally, when the collector plate is installed within the plate slot, the bottom edge of the collector plate may be accessible from an exterior of the housing via the plate access window so as to allow the bottom edge of the collector plate to be moved relative to the housing to facilitate removal of the collector plate from the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for fracturing a well in a hydrocarbon bearing formation. The apparatus can include a valve subassembly that is assembled with sections of casing pipe to form a well casing for the well. The valve subassembly includes a sliding piston that is pinned in place to seal off ports that provide communication between the interior of the well casing and a production zone of the formation. A dart can be inserted into the well casing and propelled by pressurized fracturing fluid until the dart reaches the valve subassembly to plug off the well casing below the valve subassembly. The force of the fracturing fluid against the dart forces the piston downwards to shear off the pins and open the ports. The fracturing fluid can then exit the ports to fracture the production zone of the formation.

Abstract: The instant disclosure provides methods to identify herbicidal compositions that consist of a combination of compounds that inhibit the growth of or kill undesired plant species in a synergistic manner. Also provided are herbicidal compositions identified using this method.

Abstract: Methods and systems regarding an electricity meter in a wireless network are disclosed. The network may comprise a collector and a plurality of electricity meters that measure consumption of electricity and that bi-directionally communicate wirelessly with the collector. The electricity meter may have an established association with at least one battery-powered meter that measures consumption of a commodity other than electricity. The electricity meter may receive information about measured consumption of the other commodity from the battery-powered meter and store the received information. The electricity meter may transmit both information about consumption of electricity measured by the electricity meter and the information about consumption of the other commodity received from the associated battery-powered meter to the collector via the wireless network and also to a remotely located display associated with the electricity meter.

Abstract: APs are made by binary condensation via base-to-acid or acid-to-base routes. In the base-to-acid route, an aluminum hydroxide slurry is added to phosphoric acid that reacts to produce an aluminum phosphate condensate. In the acid-to-base route, phosphoric acid is added to an aluminum hydroxide slurry that reacts to produce an aluminum phosphate condensate. In an alternative base-to-acid route, an acidic aluminum phosphate is first made by adding phosphoric acid to a first amount of aluminum hydroxide slurry, and such acidic aluminum phosphate is added to a remaining amount of aluminum hydroxide slurry to react and produce an aluminum phosphate condensate. The reactions can be controlled to form an in-situ layered aluminum phosphate. So-formed APs can be amorphous, crystalline, or a combination thereof, and have low oil absorption and surface area, making them particularly useful in such end-use applications as extender pigments in coating compositions, replacing up to 70 wt % of TiO2.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning surfaces is disclosed. The system includes an elongated blade configured to remove at least one of dirt, dust, debris and film from a smooth surface. A drive system is provided for causing the blade to contact the entire smooth surface, thereby removing at least a portion of at least one of dirt, dust, debris, and film. A cleaning device automatically cleans the blade before and after the blade is cleaning the smooth surface. In one example, system is part of a heliostat system for use in a solar collection field as part of a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant.

Abstract: Monitoring behavior of a rodent within a cage includes applying a vibration stimulus to a component of the cage and after applying the vibration stimulus, sensing a signal from a piezoelectric sensor within the cage, the sensed signal indicative of a behavioral response of the rodent. A plurality of attributes of the signal can be determined and the attributes can then be stored in a manner that associates the behavioral response of the rodent with the vibration stimulus.

Abstract: An electromagnetic rotor drive assembly for use with an internal combustion engine, the electromagnetic rotor drive assembly including a conductive coil capable of generating a magnetic field upon energization; a rotor rotatably mounted proximate the conductive coil; and a magnet coupled to the rotor, the magnet responsive to the magnetic field to angularly displace the rotor; whereby the rotor fixedly couples to a crankshaft rotated by at least one piston reciprocally disposed within a cylinder; and whereby the conductive coil is energized at a predetermined time point associated with a position of the piston within the cylinder.

Abstract: An automatic water control system for open ditch drainage includes a drainage control apparatus that is designed to be disposed in a drainage ditch and to control the water level in the drainage ditch, as well as the water table level in the field.

Abstract: An electrical circuit to interrupt a DC current includes a bypass switch and an AC high voltage breaker which includes interrupters that are rated for carrying a current having a value of the DC current for a period of time less than or equal to continuous duty. The first interrupter is electrically coupled in parallel with the bypass switch. A making switch causes a cancellation current to flow from an energy source through the second interrupter, and through the first interrupter, in addition to the DC current. The AC high voltage breaker is adapted to a DC service as the DC current in addition to the cancellation current causes an arc quench which allows the AC high voltage breaker to cause the interruption of the DC current in the electrical circuit. A method for interrupting a DC current flowing in an AC high voltage circuit breaker is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a user interface module configured to receive user information associated with a user. The apparatus also includes a classification module configured to apply a classifier defined within a classification tree to the user information, and to calculate a classification score representing an estimated likelihood that the user is associated with at least one user type. The classification module is also configured to classify the user to an identified user type based on the classification score. The apparatus also includes a database configured to store at least one of user account information associated with the user, historical information associated with the user, or historical information associated with a group of users including the user. The apparatus also includes an interface generation module configured to generate a signal based on the information in the database, the signal specifying a user interface to be presented to the user.

Abstract: Management software for increasing of return on assets (ROA) and, more particularly, to software-enabled systems, methods and apparatus using the metric profit per asset-hour (PPAH) for measuring and increasing profit generated by asset utilization to increase return on assets (ROA) and likewise return on equity (ROE).

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and methods for notifying first responders of the general or specific location of a security crisis or threat in a building or public location, and the type of threat or crisis that has occurred, while notifying building occupants or others in the public location of the crisis and how to respond. The crisis notification system alarm system can provide critical information to the first responders, including location of crisis and whether the crisis location is changing, audio and video of the crisis arena, communications with designated occupants in the crisis arena, and other information. The crisis notification system can be scaled to allow the effective use in facilities of differing sizes and layouts. The system is also flexible, enabling the system to integrate with currently existing systems or to operate with new devices.

Abstract: A novel metal-organic framework (MOF) templated process for the synthesis of highly porous inorganic sorbents for removing radionuclides, actinides, and heavy metals is disclosed. The highly porous nature of the MOFs leads to highly porous inorganic sorbents (such as oxides, phosphates, sulfides, etc) with accessible surface binding sites that are suitable for removing radionuclides from high level nuclear wastes, extracting uranium from acid mine drainage and seawater, and sequestering heavy metals from waste streams. In some cases, MOFs can be directly used for removing these metal ions as MOFs are converted to highly porous inorganic sorbents in situ.