Abstract: In order to provide efficient support for a user's back, the belt of the present application includes structures to help align and maintain the position of three portions of the users body—an upper abdominal region, a lower abdominal region and the lower back. To provide this support, a belt has an abdominal panel configured to be positioned over the user's abdomen, and a belt member wrapping around the waist region. The abdominal panel has a specific configuration and size to cause an upper portion of the abdomen is held in position and a lower portion of the abdomen to be held in position, with forces being applied so that these portions remain in a preferred alignment. The belt member includes a strap that is configured so that it can be positioned within the user's waist groove, and will provide additional supporting forces. In this way, the belt provides support to three critical locations on the user's body, thus insuring optimum alignment and support of the user's central body region.

Abstract: A device for delivering an implant to a surgical location of a patient is provided. In some embodiments, an example device includes a polymer body having first and second tapered sections and a sealed cavity defined by the polymer body. The polymer body is separable between the first and second tapered sections.

Abstract: Methods for forming alane are described. The method includes addition of toluene at a temperature above the crystallization temperature of alane to a lower temperature solution that includes alane adduct, ether, and toluene. Upon the addition, a crystallization mixture is formed that is at or near the crystallization temperature of alane. The alane of the mixture crystallizes over a period of time to form a high purity alane polymorph.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for improving the quality of subsequent searches. A request is received from a user to perform a search using the term(s) provided by the user. A search is then performed using the provided term(s). A representation of the search result is depicted as an area (e.g., bubble) with terms of interest displayed outside the area. The area represents a set of documents that were found in the performed search and the terms of interest represent terms that may be of interest to the user based on this set of documents. These terms of interest may be selected by the user to adjust the search result. In this manner, the user is presented with an intuitive view as to how different terms or different searches will have an impact on the search results thereby improving the quality of subsequent searches.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques and tools for verifying data for semantic correctness and/or verifying data for network correctness. In one respect, a method includes receiving input defining a validation point, the validation point comprising at least two or more validation functions applicable to (i) raw data and (ii) other data stored within a semantic network comprising nodes and links, importing source data; applying one or more transformations to the source data, populating the source data into one or more of the nodes and links comprising the semantic network, executing the validation point with respect the source data, based on the executing, determining one or more rules associated with the validation point are not satisfied, and based on the determining, revising either the source data or the other data stored within the semantic network.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for improving the quality of subsequent searches. A request is received from a user to perform a search using the term(s) provided by the user. A search is then performed using the provided term(s). A representation of the search result is depicted as an area (e.g., bubble) with terms of interest displayed outside the area. The area represents a set of documents that were found in the performed search and the terms of interest represent terms that may be of interest to the user based on this set of documents. These terms of interest may be selected by the user to adjust the search result. In this manner, the user is presented with an intuitive view as to how different terms or different searches will have an impact on the search results thereby improving the quality of subsequent searches.

Abstract: A device including a first clip portion including a bottom section having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a first leg section extending from the first end of the bottom section, a second leg section extending from the second end of the bottom section, and a pole adaptor attachment portion; an arm projecting away from the first leg section; and a light string attachment portion located on the first leg section, the light string attachment portion including a substantially C-shaped clip defined by the arm, the first leg section, and the pole adaptor attachment portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing bent multi-sided pultruded fibre reinforced plastic reinforcement bar for concrete (commonly known as FRP rebar) comprises multiple resin wetting stages to simultaneously resin impregnate multiple bundles of fibreglass rovings continuously drawn through the resin wetting stages, multiple spiral winding stages arranged to spiral wind warps around the multiple wet rovings, and multiple rotating multi-sided former frames for continuously winding thereon the multiple wet rovings and holding the multiple rovings while curing. A related method is also claimed.

Abstract: Gravity assisted reservoir drainage systems and methods, which improve preexisting reservoir drainage systems and artificial lift methods using the interwell hydraulic communication that exists between closely spaced horizontal wells in certain fully developed leases completed with large multi-stage hydraulic fracture treatments in batch fashion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for extracting phenols from a wood barrel whereby one or more of the wood barrels filled with a distilled spirit or wine are placed inside a container to which a gas transfer system is connected. The gas transfer system is provided with a pumping means for removing air from the cavity, filling the cavity with a gas, pressurizing the cavity with the gas, and reducing the pressure of the cavity. Means are provided for controlling the distilled spirit or wine evacuating from and absorbing and impregnating the porous structures of the wood barrel.

Abstract: Gas is injected into the interior of the production string. The gas eventually reaches a gas lift mandrel that provides access from the interior of the gas lift mandrel to a chamber on the exterior of the gas lift mandrel. The chamber includes a cap that provides gas access between the interior of the chamber and the annulus. However, the cap is fitted with a gas lift valve and a check valve that regulates the gas flow into the fluid.

Abstract: A decoder includes circuitry configured to receive a bitstream; construct, for a current block, a motion vector candidate list including a motion vector candidate having motion information that characterizes a global motion vector; reorder the motion vector candidate list such that the motion vector candidate having the motion information that characterizes the global motion vector is first in the reordered motion vector candidate list; and reconstruct pixel data of the current block and using the reordered motion vector candidate list. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: A pop-out flag for use along a retail shelf edge is printed on a sheet, with information on the front and back sides of the flag being printed without having to duplex the sheet through the printer. When the flag is removed from the sheet it folds onto itself so that an adhesive trim portion of the front and back sides of the flag come into contact with one another. The pop-out design also allows the liner to remain with the face stock to add necessary stiffness to the flag. A pair of concave, arcuate-shaped reliefs along the fold line permit the flag to fold flat onto itself so that the adhesive trim portion contains no voids or bubbles where the two sides of the flag contact one another.

Abstract: An indoor electrical wall outlet cover permitting full functional use of a two-plug or duplex electrical wall outlet while fully concealing the plug contact openings of the outlet. The cover has two functional electrical plugs that insert respectively into the two receptacles in the outlet and are respectively connected to two extended electrical cords having at their distal ends one or more functional electrical receptacles or a direct connection to a small appliance or electronic device for indirect use of the wall outlet. The electrical cords can extend outward from the cover in the same or different directions and from the same or different sides of the cover. The functional electrical plugs have electrical connection pins that are bent at an angle enabling the cover to function without extending any significant degree outward of the wall outlet. In one embodiment, the cover can also hide the outlet from view.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a penetration rate of a drilling operation, where the drilling operation is carried out by a drilling rig having a hammer drill apparatus. A reference penetration rate for the hammer drill bit is chosen. A starting depth of cut is computed from the reference penetration rate, the measured hammer frequency, and the drill bit parameters. The system measures the actual penetration rate of the drill bit and computes an actual depth of cut. From the actual depth of cut a target bit rotation speed is computed. The target rotation speed is compared to the actual rotation speed, and the rotation speed is adjusted up or down to set the bit rotation speed at a value that will maintain the target rotation speed, notwithstanding changes in hammer frequency or ground conditions.

Abstract: An encoder includes circuitry configured to receive a video including a current frame, select a cropped sub-frame of the current frame, signal in a bitstream the cropped sub-frame of the current frame as a function of the initial block segment, wherein the cropped sub-frame is signaled using at least a vertical offset and at least a horizontal offset, the at least a vertical offset includes an sps_conf_win_top_offset and an sps_conf_win_bottom offset, the at least a horizontal offset includes an sps_conf_win_left_offset and an sps_conf_win_right_offset, and signal in the bitstream a scaling constant associated with the cropped sub-frame.

Abstract: Couplings for coupling pre-cast construction segments together and pre-cast construction segments having such couplings. A construction coupling for connecting prefabricated segments includes a pair of anchors. Each anchor includes a central portion and a pair of legs. The central portion defines an elongated bore. The pair of legs extending from opposite sides of the central portion. Each leg extending in a direction generally transverse to the elongated bore and having a proximal end attached to the central portion and a free distal portion disposed away from the central portion. The construction coupling also includes a pin adapted to be received in the elongated bores of the pair of the anchors to connect the pair of anchors together.

Abstract: A coupling segment can comprise an arcuate central portion defining a first end, a second end, a first axial side, and a second axial side; a first end portion defining a shank and a bend, the shank extending from the first end of the arcuate central portion proximate the first axial side, the bend extending from the shank towards the second axial side, the bend defining a proximal end coupled to the shank and a distal end distal from the shank, the bend defining an engagement surface and a bottom surface opposite the engagement surface, the bottom surface lying in a plane, wherein the bottom surface faces away from the coupling segment such that the plane does not intersect the coupling segment; and a second end portion extending from the second end of the arcuate central portion, the second end portion defining an opening.

Abstract: A system and method of securing a computer system by controlling write access to a storage medium by monitoring an application; detecting an attempt by the application to write data to said storage medium; interrogating a rules database in response to said detection; and permitting or denying write access to the storage medium by the application in dependence on said interrogation.

Abstract: A rope releasing apparatus includes an actuator, a wireless receiver for receiving a wireless signal to control the actuator, and a rope securing mechanism mechanically coupled to the actuator. The rope securing mechanism secures a rope. The rope is attached to a fishing net. In response to receiving the wireless signal, the wireless receiver activates the actuator to cause the rope securing mechanism to release the rope.