Abstract: An apparatus for converting solar energy may have a heat-capturing element that generates thermal energy when exposed to solar radiation and a canopy arranged about the heat-capturing element. The canopy may define a chamber with an intake and an output, and may be configured for substantially trapping air particles in proximity to the heat-capturing element throughout a pathway from the intake to the output. A portion of the chamber arranged near the output may have a decreased cross section. The apparatus may also include a thermal transfer system configured for creating a positive thermal feedback between a portion of the heat-capturing element near the output and a portion of the heat-capturing element near the intake, and at least one horizontal turbine arranged at the output.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically establishing an enhanced electronic health record (EHR) for a patient include an automatic data collection facility that collects data of a medically related event in proximity to a patient upon occurrence of the event. The collected data may include medication administration data such as medication, time of administration, administration of a dosage of medication, reaction data, and the like. The collected data is communicated to a real-time data integration facility that automatically integrates the data with a patient's electronic health record to establish an enhanced electronic health record.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide surface compositions and methods for repairing durable and/or load-bearing surfaces including roadway voids, manhole structures, and/or safety flooring. Compositions and methods may comprise utilizing a liquid binder, catalyst, and/or primer to provide durable, waterproof, and/or long-lasting surface compositions to dispose within the roadway voids and/or to coat flooring. The surface compositions may cure rapidly through an internal exothermic reaction process to form the repair and/or the safety flooring. In some embodiments, filler materials may be disposed within the liquid binders to provide elasticity, compression, slip resistance, heat transfer, reduced cure time, and/or a desired surface texture to the surface composition.

Abstract: A dilution apparatus includes a container having an adjustable float-operated make-up valve wherein the make-up valve has an inlet end connected to a water supply tube and an outlet end connected to a fill tube inside the container. The make-up valve is connected to a float disposed inside the container. The water supply tube is connected to a reservoir that contains a concentrate. The water flow through the water supply tube siphons the concentrate, into the water stream and through the make-up valve to form a first dilution. A proportioner is connected to a water supply and to the bottom of the container. The water flow through the proportioner siphons the first dilution into the proportioner, thereby mixing the first dilution with water to form a final product having a predetermined dilution ratio.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a skin treatment assembly comprises a handpiece comprising a distal end, the handpiece comprising a recess or cavity configured to receive a cartridge or other fluid container, a tip configured to be positioned along the distal end of the handpiece, the tip being configured to contact a skin surface of a subject during use, and at least one rollerball configured to extend to or near the tip, wherein the rollerball is configured to be in fluid communication with an interior of a cartridge or other fluid container secured to the handpiece, wherein the at least one rollerball is configured to contact the skin surface of the subject during use and to facilitate the delivery of fluids to said skin surface as the rollerball is moved relative to said skin surface.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles includes a housing and a drive system. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles, a dispensing outlet, and a dispensing path between the hopper chamber and the dispensing outlet. The drive system includes a belt and a belt actuator operable to drive the belt. The dispensing apparatus is configured such that articles disposed in the hopper chamber are directed onto the belt and the belt, when driven by the belt actuator, conveys the articles received from the hopper chamber in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed.

Abstract: A thermal reservoir including a heating section and an upper section is provided. The upper section defines a storage cavity. The upper section is formed from an insulated, non-stick or insulated non-stick material. The upper section is fluidly connected to the heating section and upstream from the heating section for receiving material to be heated prior to the heating section.

Abstract: A processing device controls an associated display. The processing device includes an input for receiving electronic signals from an object detector. The object detector detects an object relative to a vehicle. The processing device also includes a means for predicting a position of the vehicle at a future time, a means for generating first signals for causing an image of the vehicle at the predicted position at the future time relative to the object to be displayed on the associated display device, and an output transmitting the first signals to the associated display for causing the image of the vehicle at the predicted position at the future time relative to the object to be displayed on the associated display device.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a data packet including a header having a structure from an operating system at a virtualization layer, where the virtualization layer is above a physical layer and below all other layers. The method also includes performing an operation on a portion of the data packet other than the header, thereby creating a modified data packet and maintaining the original header structure. The method further includes transmitting the modified data packet, including the original header structure, to the physical layer.

Abstract: Light weight fiber-reinforced polymeric (FRP) structural building panels and panel assemblies, sized and configured for construction of non-portable wall structures permanently fixed to the ground. Fibers in the panel are typically oriented within 15 degrees of a top-to-bottom, e.g. axial, direction in the panel providing, in part, enhanced top-to-bottom crush strength of a panel/wall. The panels typically have a bias to deflect toward the surface of the panel which faces outwardly of the building, toward the backfill soil which faces the panel on the outside the building. Panels of the invention typically have mass of no more than 18 pounds per foot height per linear foot length of the building panel, and vertical crush resistance capacity of at least 2000 pounds per linear foot length of the building panel, using a safety factor of 3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low-profile ultrasound transducer. The low-profile ultrasound transducer includes a piezoelectric component operative to receive a driving signal from an energy generating module and to emit the driving signal as ultrasonic energy. The piezoelectric component has a front surface and a back surface, and the energy generating module includes a plurality of electronic components. The low-profile ultrasound transducer also includes a lens component directly or indirectly deposited on the front surface of the piezoelectric component. The lens component includes a lens portion and a support portion. The lens portion of the lens component is configured to control the direction and wave pattern of the ultrasonic energy emitted from the piezoelectric component. The support portion of the lens component is configured to hold the piezoelectric component in place and to provide a chamber for housing at least one electronic component of the energy generating module.

Abstract: A method for identifying a best item among a plurality of respective different items includes selecting a current best score, identifying a set of attributes associated with each of the items, and for each of the sets of attributes: determining a best possible score for a subset of the set of attributes, if the best possible score is greater than the current best score, determining an actual score for the set of attributes, and if the actual score for the set of attributes is greater than the current best score, setting the current best score as the actual score for the set of attributes. After both of the determining steps and the setting step for each of the sets of attributes, the item associated with the current best score is identified.

Abstract: A food waste management system includes a tank having an internal chamber for containing food waste and sufficient water for fully submersing the food waste. The system further includes a water supply system for supplying water to the internal chamber, a gas supply system for supplying a gas to the internal chamber, a discharge system for discharging water and food waste from the internal chamber, a grinder system for grinding the food waste, the grinder system being disposed in the internal chamber to be fully submersed in the water, a circulation system disposed in the internal chamber for circulating water and food waste and a control system for controlling operation of the food waste management system in accordance with a desired control process. The system further includes a nutrient additive to be supplied to the internal chamber in predetermined amounts at predetermined intervals.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a time of an event participant passing a detection point having a participant identifier number by a proximity detector at a detection point, a highly portable device with a transceiver and a location detector for selectively receiving a participant number read, and determining a location of the portable device, and a timing system having the geographic location of the proximity detector, receiving the geographic location of the handheld device, the handheld read participant number and a handheld determined time, determining that the timing system has not received a usable tag read time from the proximity detector and determining a time of passing of the participant by the detection point by determining a delta time between the proximity detector and the handheld device and an adjusted time of participant passing based on the determined delta time and handheld determined time.

Abstract: A carton (8) has a top wall (120), end walls and a strap carrying handle (16). The carrying handle (16) includes a strap section (72, 74) that is formed at least partially in a top wall (120) of the carton (8). The strap section (72, 74) is deployable above the top wall (120) and is attached to each end of the carton (8). The carrying handle (16) further includes a handle structure (6) affixed to the underside of the strap section (72, 74). The handle structure (6) includes a series of foldably interconnected panels that is foldable into a substantially tubular structure having three or more sides disposed at least partially beneath the strap section (72, 74) of the carrying handle (16).

Abstract: An illumination system and methods to control a light source are provided. An illumination system includes a light source, a two-dimensional non-Passive Infrared (non-PIR) imager, and a controller. The light source may provide at least two levels of illumination. The non-PIR imager images an area and to produce image data representative of images across at least part of a visible portion of an electromagnetic spectrum. The controller is communicatively coupled to receive the image data from the non-PIR imager and process the received image data to detect at least one object in the area of a defined type of object. The controller is also coupled to control operation of the light source based on, at least in part, detection of the ambient characteristic of the environment. Alternatively, one or more components of a system may be used to monitor traffic, with or without active illumination.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, systems for energy delivery to targeted tissue comprise a catheter with an ablation member, a radiometer configured to detect temperature data from the targeted tissue, a processor configured to determine a calculated temperature (e.g., an extreme temperature, such as a peak or trough temperature) within the tissue by applying at least one factor to the temperature data detected by the radiometer, the processor configured to compare the calculated temperature to a setpoint and an energy source configured to energize the ablation member and to regulate delivery of ablative energy to the targeted tissue of the subject based at least in part on the comparison. In some embodiments, the factor depends on at least one characteristic of the targeted tissue. Information regarding a tissue characteristic can be provided using information from an imaging set (e.g., intracardiac echo) or an electrical signal of the subject (e.g., electrocardiogram).

Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus and method for determining a wheel end condition are disclosed. In one example, a controller for determining a wheel end condition comprises a plurality of wheel speed sensor inputs for receiving wheel speed sensor signals from a plurality of associated wheel speed sensors installed at associated wheel ends. The controller includes control logic that determines a speed as a function of the wheel speed sensor signal; receives a resistance value of the individual wheel speed sensor and compares the resistance value to a first and second high resistance threshold and a low resistance threshold. The control logic determines a wheel end condition exists at the associated wheel end as a function of the speed and the resistance value.

Abstract: A puller head mold for receiving molten metal or alloy during the casting of an ingot, the puller head mold having a tapered screw thread structure. The tapered threaded puller head is used to pull and withdraw a cast ingot from a casting furnace, and can be particularly useful for the handling of ingots having a relatively narrow diameter. The tapered threaded puller head profile provides for full release of the tapered threaded puller head from a cast ingot in a fraction of a turn. The size and profile of the cast ingot formed with the tapered threaded puller head is resilient to thermal gradients while cooling.