Abstract: A spray system includes nozzles spaced along a distribution line. Each nozzle actuates the position of one or more internal valves based on a spray command received from a system control module. Sensors generate position information regarding the actuation of the valves. The actual valve positions are compared to expected valve positions to determine a deviation between the two. The deviation can be compared to a threshold to determine a status of that nozzle. A normal nozzle status can be generated based on the deviation being less than the threshold. An abnormal nozzle status can be generated based on the deviation being equal to or exceeding the threshold.

Abstract: A TEG system is attached to a rotating shaft and generates electricity from radiant energy that is substantially radiatively transmitted through the atmosphere from a stationary source to the TEG system that is rotating with the shaft. The rotation of the shaft provides cooling to the TEG system, but not heat energy. The TEG system includes at least one TEG, each TEG equipped with an energy receiving and heat containment window and an energy conversion system in combination with controlled convection cooling enhanced by an airflow moving in response to the rotation of the rotating shaft. Individual TEGs having controlled convection cooling also are described.

Abstract: A method of producing a granulated product from photopolymer printing plate materials. The method includes the steps of (a) sorting the photopolymer printing plate materials based on an identifiable property, wherein the photopolymer printing plate materials comprise one or more photopolymer layers; (b) grinding the photopolymer printing plate materials to particles; and (c) screening the particles to remove particles above a certain size and create the granulated product.

Abstract: A system providing self-service access to locked merchandise comprising: (a) providing a fixture that restricts access to the locked merchandise, wherein the fixture can automatically lock or unlock, allowing or restricting access to the locked merchandise; (b) providing a means of uniquely identifying an individual attempting to access the merchandise; (c) measuring a set of behaviors of the individual during any time the fixture is an open mode; (d) assessing whether the set of behaviors of the individual are suspicious or not relative to a set of suspicious event thresholds; (e) storing the individual and their set of behaviors as accessible records in at least one database; and (f) providing an algorithm which determines future access privileges of the individual to the enclosure based on a set of variables.

Abstract: Tear and heat resistant foams used in packaging, protective packaging bags and related methods are provided. The tear and heat resistant foam can include a nonwoven substrate, a polyethylene film, and a base layer of polyethylene foam joined together by applying at least one of heat or heat and pressure to the top nonwoven substrate, the polyethylene film and the polyethylene foam to heat the first surface of the top nonwoven substrate to a temperature that is above the melting point of polyethylene film but below the melting point of top nonwoven substrate. The temperature of the polyethylene film rises causing the polyethylene film to melt and bind the top nonwoven substrate to the polyethylene foam to form the heat and tear resistant packaging foam.

Abstract: A concrete form apparatus and system for connecting opposing form sections at a desired distance from each other defining a space to receive poured concrete, the apparatus preventing the form section separation, the apparatus including a locking pin, form connector rotatably and releasably affixed to a form, and retainer affixed to arm defining a channel therein sized to be engaged within the slot whereby the locking pin is placed through corresponding holes in adjacent forms and engages a first form, extends through the relative distance between the forms, exits through a hole in the second form, and the channel of the retainer attached to the second form engages the locking slot on the locking pin maintaining a fixed distance between the forms and preventing form separation when pouring concrete. A system using the foregoing and also including clamps for affixing adjoining forms to one another is also claimed.

Abstract: An ozone and/or hydroxyl laundry system that injects ozone and/or hydroxyls into the chemical injection system in order to allow the system to inject ozone and/or hydroxyls as other cleaning chemicals are injected into the washer. This allows ozone and/or hydroxyls to be injected through the wash cycle rather than just during the initial fill phase and avoids the expense and maintenance of adding ozone and/or hydroxyls recirculation plumping to an ozone and/or hydroxyls laundry system. Accordingly, ozone and/or hydroxyl levels may be maintained at superior levels throughout the wash cycle.

Abstract: A chelated zinc adjuvant composition includes water, an effective amount of a micronutrient consisting of zinc chelated with an organic acid and an organic amine, a mono-, di- or polysaccharide and an alkyl polysaccharide. The adjuvant has a pH of up to 6.5. When admixed with a pesticide capable of precipitating with the zinc, due to the zinc being chelated, the zinc is prevented from precipitating with the pesticide and is available for uptake. When the adjuvant composition is applied in seed, soil, foliage or fruit applications, zinc uptake is improved.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is new approach for structuring an organization's data, involving at a high level establishing a digital context and populating the digital context with digital content to thereby form what is referred to herein as a digital duplicate. In one aspect, the disclosed approach may be embodied in a computer-implemented method that involves: establishing a data structure comprising (i) a structural context that has at least one data component, where each component of the structural context has associated therewith one or more respective data properties (ii) a semantic context that has at least two data types that further describe individual data properties and; and populating underlying data into an instance of the data structure such that underlying data populated into each respective property of the at least one data component has each of the at least two data types of the semantic context.

Abstract: A system and method for removably securing a decoration to a variety of surfaces by removing a liner from an adhesive pad to expose an adhesive layer, placing the exposed adhesive layer against a surface to secure the clip to a surface, and placing a decoration such as a holiday string light within the clip. The clip may be tightened to fit snugly around a decoration, and the clip may be rotated such that the clip is at approximately a 90-degree angle with the adhesive pad. A hook and catch system on the clip and neck provide additional support, so that even when rotated the clip can adequately support the weight of the decoration. This allows for decorations to be hung in a variety of orientations, or to orient string lights so that wires and cables do not interfere with other decorations.

Abstract: A loyalty switch for examining loyalty messages and routing the loyalty messages to one or more loyalty hosts and examining responses and routing the responses back to stores. Such a switch has configurable number of selector handlers pool, and the switch accepts a connection from stores and reads loyalty host information from master data to establish the connection with a loyalty host and to route messages. Each selector handler in the switch has multiple store objects that contain a routing map and connection information from companies' sites and the loyalty host.

Abstract: A wrap container having a body including a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall forming an enclosure. A roll of wrap is disposed within the enclosure. The top wall has a perforated section. A folding surface has a top surface and a bottom surface with a cutter assembly including a track and a slidable cutter attached to the bottom surface of the folding surface. The cutter assembly has a first retracted position in the enclosure and a second deployed positon folded out of the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for classifying a multi-channel user data set to a program category configuring the processor to receive user data by displaying a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface having at least a user input field, receiving, at the user input field, a first element of user data and capture, using a sensor, a second element of user data, wherein the second element of user data indicates a current user state, determine a user compatibility with a plurality of program category admission requirements as a function of user data utilizing a machine-learning model, wherein generating the machine-learning model comprises receiving training data, wherein the training data comprises user data inputs correlated to user compatibility outputs and determining, using the machine-learning model, as a function of the user data, the user compatibility with program category admission requirements, generate program category data for a user as a function of user data and user compatibility and gene

Abstract: A fuel filler neck assembly and a method of making a funnel for a fuel fill tube assembly includes forming a tube blank with a first punch tool, forming the tube blank with a second punch tool, forming the tube blank with a third punch tool, forming the tube blank with a fourth punch tool, and forming the tube blank with a trim ring and trim insert.

Abstract: A system has been developed to facilitate hands-free autonomous control of material handling equipment or vehicles, such as forklifts and pallet trucks. The system has been designed to facilitate visual tracking by the automated vehicle and further facilitates voice commands. In some use cases, visual tracking is only used, and in other cases only voice commands are used. In other cases, both visual tracking and voice commands are used to control the material handling vehicle. For visual tracking, one or more cameras are configured to capture one or more images of a fiducial. In one case, the vehicle moves, turns, and/or stops based on the movement of the fiducial. For voice control, the operator provides voice commands via a voice controller. The voice controller converts the voice commands to vehicle control commands that are sent to a remote receiver unit (RRU) in the vehicle.

Abstract: A pessary for the prevention of preterm birth, and in particular two pathological conditions of pregnancy known as isthmico-cervical incontinence and cervical shortening, both of which are associated with increased risks for pregnancy loss and/or premature deliveries of babies. The pessary includes a sleeve supported within a ring by an annular member. The sleeve is intended to contact the cervix and maximize the length of the cervix while the annular member and ring contact the vagina. The pessary may be fabricated from a pliable medical-grade silicon, and the pessary may include one or more sensors to measure various patient parameters indicative of a premature cervical contraction. The sleeve may be wirelessly powered from a charging device, such as a pillow, a table-top device, or a pelvic belt.

Abstract: A system for remote transdermal alcohol monitoring includes and/or interfaces with a transdermal alcohol sensing device. Additionally or alternatively, the system can include and/or interface with any or all of: a user device; a supplementary alcohol sensing device; a set of supplementary sensors; a computing subsystem; a user interface; and/or any other components. A method for remote transdermal alcohol monitoring includes: receiving a set of inputs; determining a set of outputs; and triggering an action based on the set of outputs.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the generation and interactive display of three-dimensional (3D) models that accurately represent buildings and other large, complex objects possessing both internal and external features. More specifically, an exterior mesh can be generated that captures all the external features of the building. An interior mesh can also be generated that captures all the internal features of the building. The exterior mesh and the interior mesh may be layered and combined using geographical coordinates (e.g., global positioning system (GPS) data) in order to create a combined mesh that can be used to render a 3D model of the object. Any images taken of external or internal features may also be appended to the 3D model or even overlaid on the 3D model (like textures), based on the location and directional view associated with those images.

Abstract: The subject process relates generally to producing an aqueous solution through a simple but highly effective chemical reaction. The aqueous solution is composed of a blended solution with water and an added solubilizer for the chemical reaction. The results produce an ionic solid and an alkaline liquid solution which are useful commercial products, and various applications including but not limited to use as a CO2 capture solvent.