Abstract: Provided in this disclosure is a selectively replaceable spindle for a banister. The spindle includes a generally longitudinal body having first and second ends for respectively engaging recesses on opposing surfaces of a handrail and a lower rail of a banister. A securement mechanism is attached to either of the first or second ends of the body, for releasably securing the respective end to the respective recess. The securement mechanism includes a spring-biased clip extending from the respective end of the body that is urged into contact with the respective recess. A lever is attached to the spring-biased clip for compressing an internal spring and enabling retraction of the spring-biased clip from the respective recess. The lever thus releases the secured one of the first or second ends of the generally longitudinal body from the respective one of the first or second recesses, thereby permitting removal of the spindle.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and controllers for detecting and mitigating well screen outs may include a controller configured to operate a fracturing pump to supply fluid at a discharge rate to a wellhead at a fracturing well site. The controller may also operate a blender positioned to deliver a blend of proppant and fluid to the fracturing pump. The controller may compare a fluid pressure increase rate to a preselected increase rate indicative of a potential well screen out. The controller may incrementally decrease the discharge rate of the fracturing pump and a flow rate of a blender when the fluid pressure increase rate of the wellhead exceeds the preselected increase rate and the fluid pressure is within a preselected percentage of a maximum wellhead pressure until the fluid pressure of the fluid supplied to the wellhead is stabilized.

Abstract: Images in bitonal formats often include watermarks, stamps, or other patterns and artifacts. These patterned artifacts may be represented as a series of geometric points, dots, and/or dashes in the general shape of the original pattern. These patterned artifacts make other processes such as optical character recognition (OCR) difficult or impossible when items or pixels of interest are also found within the pattern of such artifact(s). Current patterned artifact removal solutions use methods of erosion to minimize the unwanted patterned artifact. However, such methods also erode the pixels/items of interest which, in turn, cause failures in other processes, such as OCR, that are desired to be carried out on or with the image.

Abstract: A mobile fracking system and methods may include a gas turbine housed at least partially inside a trailer and an exhaust attenuation system configured to receive exhaust gas from the gas turbine. The exhaust attenuation system may include a lower elongated plenum configured to receive exhaust gas from the gas turbine and an upper noise attenuation system that is movably connected relative to a distal end of the lower elongated plenum.

Abstract: An example grip safety interlock can include a lower receiver with a trigger assembly, a safety selector having a detent channel, a grip having an internal recess, an extended detent pin having a detent point and an interference abutment surface, a grip safety lever having an interference ledge, and a lever bias spring positioned within the grip, extending between the grip and the grip safety lever. The grip safety lever can be positioned to pivot within the internal recess of the grip, and the extended detent pin can extend within the grip such that the detent point contacts the detent channel of the safety selector. The lever bias spring can push the grip safety lever to a first pivot position such that the interference ledge of the grip safety lever abuts the interference abutment surface of the extended detent pin to prevent movement and rotation of the safety selector.

Abstract: Methods of extracting ribonucleic acid from plant tissue involve treating multiple groups of plant seeds with different plant growth regulators. Each group of plant seeds can be treated with a different plant growth regulator. Methods further involve germinating the plant seeds to form seedlings, harvesting tissue samples from subgroups within each group of plant seeds and seedlings at different timepoints, and extracting total RNA from each harvested tissue sample. Methods can also involve sequencing the extracted RNA, determining an expression level of a plurality of genes relative to a negative control, and identifying a subset of differentially expressed genes at each distinct timepoint.

Abstract: Adjustable, handheld, woodworking squaring jig that is stable, versatile, and easily maneuvered for the rapid and precise squaring of jointed cuts of varying size across various workpieces which can be used in various work environments, the jig being freely adapted to move across an axis of motion as to accommodate mortise and hinge plate notch cuts of varying sizes, the jig also having a plurality of clamping surfaces which allow it to be conveniently secured to a variety of workpieces and surfaces in different positions, as well as a plurality of slots which allow for the attachment of index clamps, screws or bolts to firmly attach the jig to itself and the mortise or notch cut to be squared.

Abstract: A first fracturing pump is selectively engaged or disengaged a from an electric prime mover based on operation of a first lever by a user. The first lever, the electric prime mover, and the first fracturing pump are mounted on a mobile transport. A second fracturing pump is selectively engaged or disengaged a from the electric prime mover based on operation of a second lever by the user. The second lever is also mounted on the mobile transport. The electric prime mover is operable to drive one of the first and second fracturing pumps that is engaged with the electric prime mover while not driving the other of the first and second fracturing pumps that is disengaged from the electric prime mover by operation of a corresponding one of the first and second levers.

Abstract: A robotic shuttle system includes a rack system and one or more shuttles. The rack system includes a rack and a shuttle frame. The rack has storage locations for containers containing items. The shuttle frame has rails disposed along the rack. The shuttle includes a powertrain, container transfer mechanism, and a robot arm. The power train is configured to move the shuttle along the rails of the rack and on a surface outside of the rack system. The container transfer mechanism is configured to transfer the containers between the rack and the shuttle. The robot arm extends from the shuttle to transfer the items between one of the containers on the shuttle and a container in a container holder of the shuttle.

Abstract: A system and method of enhancing operation of hydraulic fracturing equipment at a hydraulic fracturing wellsite may include determining if a hydraulic fracturing stage profiles are available for use for hydraulic fracturing equipment at a wellsite. The method may include prompting an acceptance or amendment of one of the hydraulic fracturing stage profiles for a hydraulic fracturing pumping stage. The method may include, in response to an amendment of one of the hydraulic fracturing stage profiles, prompting acceptance of the amended hydraulic fracturing stage profile as the current hydraulic fracturing stage profile for use in association with the controller. The method may include, when a hydraulic fracturing stage profile is not available, prompting configuration of hydraulic fracturing pumping stage parameters for the current hydraulic fracturing stage profile.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods disclosed provide a hydraulic fracturing unit that includes a reciprocating plunger pump configured to pump a fracturing fluid and a powertrain configured to power the reciprocating plunger pump. The powertrain includes a prime mover and a drivetrain, the prime mover including a gas turbine engine. The hydraulic fracturing unit also includes auxiliary equipment configured to support operation of the hydraulic fracturing unit including the reciprocating plunger pump and the powertrain. A power system is configured to power the auxiliary equipment. The power system includes a power source and a power network. The power source is configured to generate power for the auxiliary equipment. The power network is coupled to the power source and the auxiliary equipment, and configured to deliver the power generated by the power source to the auxiliary equipment. Associated systems including a plurality of hydraulic fracturing units are also provided.

Abstract: In a computerized search system, a document corpus is searched according to a query and results of the search are presentable as an ordered search result set comprising one or more search hits, a search hit being a document of the document corpus or reference thereto. Based on content of the search result set, a number of suggested queries and/or parameter options are presented to a querier, thereby allowing the querier to select a suggested query and/or provide values for the parameters and those selections can be used to reorder the hits of the search result set. The particular suggested queries and/or parameters presented depend on the page elements of the search result set's documents and their categorization. The categorization might be done using concept networks.

Abstract: An exhaust energy recovery system (EERS) and associated methods for an engine are disclosed. An embodiment of an EERS, for example, includes an inlet duct that is configured to divert exhaust gas from an exhaust duct of the engine into the recovery system and an outlet duct configured to return the exhaust gas to the exhaust duct downstream of the inlet duct. The recovery system is configured to heat components or fluids associated with engine to operating temperatures. The recovery system may be part of a mobile power system that is mounted to a single trailer and includes an engine and a power unit such as a high pressure pump or generator mounted to the trailer. Methods of operating and purging recovery systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mobile fracking system and methods may include a gas turbine housed at least partially inside a trailer and an exhaust attenuation system configured to receive exhaust gas from the gas turbine. The exhaust attenuation system may include a lower elongated plenum configured to receive exhaust gas from the gas turbine and an upper noise attenuation system that is movably connected relative to a distal end of the lower elongated plenum.

Abstract: Modular wall panels having a frame of a plurality of frame components and at least one wall sheet affixed to the frame. The frame components may have angled ends, straight ends, or a combination thereof to collectively form a frame which may include corners. Each frame component includes an outer surface with at least one aperture configured to receive and retain an insert therein. The apertures are also configured to permit a cable(s) to pass therethrough for running cables and such through the interior of the wall panel. Connectors and spacers may be inserted into the apertures as inserts and bridge between adjacent panels to selectively connect the panels. Caps may be placed in empty apertures to cover the openings for aesthetic purposes. A wall system includes a plurality of such wall panels connected to one another along the outer surfaces of the frame components of their respective frames.

Abstract: A computer program product for use with dictated medical patient information resides on a computer-readable medium and comprises computer-readable instructions for causing a computer to analyze the dictated information, identify likely confidential information in the dictated medical patient information, and treat the likely confidential information disparately from likely non-confidential information in the dictated medical patient information.

Abstract: A needle dispenser includes a hopper configured to receive and hold a plurality of bulk needles for dispensing. A singularizing drum is positioned to rotate with a portion of the singularizing drum exposed to the interior of the hopper. The singularizing drum includes at least one groove in an outer surface of the singularizing drum. A positioning drum positioned to rotate adjacent to the singularizing drum. The positioning drum includes at least one groove in an outer surface of the positioning drum. The singularizing drum and the positioning drum rotate in coordination to pass a needle from the at least one groove of the singularizing drum to the at least one groove of the positioning drum.

Abstract: A face mask may include a main body that has a rear, a front, a bottom, a top, and a pair of opposing side portions extending between the top and the bottom. The face mask may also include an opening formed through the front and the rear of the main body and an opening cover member moveable between an opened position and a closed position. The face mask may further include a first fastener member connected to the main body and positioned to surround the opening and a second fastener member connected to an inner portion of the opening cover member and adapted to engage the first fastener member to secure the opening cover member to the main body.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for routing a packet in a packet switching network in disconnected routing mode, implemented by a router, comprising the following steps: —receiving (E1) the packet; —reading (E2) a field, called the longevity field of the packet, intended to be decremented when traversing a router; —decrementing (E5) the value of the longevity field using a step of a predefined value, called the decrementation step; —deciding (E6) on the routing of the packet on the basis of the value of the decremented longevity field, the packet being destroyed (E7) when said value is less than or equal to zero; the method further comprising, prior to the step of decrementing, the following steps: —obtaining (E3) at least one item of information from a group of items of information comprising an item of information relative to routing conditions of the packet and an item of information relative to parameters of the packet; —determining (E4) the value of the decrementation step on the basis of at least the ob

Abstract: Renewably-sourced biodegradable polyolefin packaging, utensils, and containers include a renewably-sourced polyolefin (for example, polyethylene and polypropylene) and a biodegrading agent. The renewably-sourced biodegradable polyolefin packaging is made from plant materials typically by polymerizing olefins that are made from reducing alcohols created by fermenting plant materials. An example of a suitable plant material is sugarcane and its derivatives. The biodegrading agent accelerates the biodegradation of polyolefin packaging even in anaerobic and dark (i.e., absent of ultraviolet light) environments. Such a packaging is particularly useful for packaging frozen food that is to be microwaved in the packaging. The package is also particularly usable as packaging for frozen comestibles, which are often stored at dry-ice temperatures.