Abstract: An actuator having a first actuating channel, having a first motor, and a second actuating channel having a second motor where the output of the first actuating channel and the output of the second actuating channel are synchronized and methods of mechanically synchronizing two outputs of a two channel actuator.

Abstract: A method and system for energy-based (e.g., ultrasound treatment and/or other modalities) of sweat glands are provided. An exemplary method and system for targeted treatment of sweat glands can be configured in various manners, such as through use of therapy only, therapy and monitoring, imaging and therapy, or therapy, imaging, and monitoring, and/or through use of focused, unfocused, or defocused ultrasound (or other energy) through control of various spatial and temporal parameters. As a result, ablative energy can be deposited at the particular depth at which the aberrant sweat gland population is located below the skin surface.

Abstract: Dense fiber optic connector assemblies and related connectors and cables suitable for establishing optical connections for optical backplanes in equipment racks are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fiber optic connector is provided. The fiber optic connector is configured to be directly optically connected in an optical backplane. The fiber optic connector is comprised of at least one fiber optic connector body, at least one fiber optic ferrule in the at least one fiber optic connector body. The fiber optic ferrule is configured to support a fiber count and to optically align fiber openings with lenses disposed on the fiber optic connector body. The dense fiber optic connectors may be optical backplane fiber optic connectors or blade fiber optic connectors.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a lead-acid battery having higher specific power and specific energy than prior known lead-acid batteries. A lead-acid electrochemical storage device is provided, comprising a specific power of between about 650 and about 3,050 Watts/kilogram; and a specific energy of between about 10 and about 80 Watt-hours/kilogram. In some embodiments, the device has a cycle life of greater than 150 cycles and is adapted for use in a vehicle application. The application comprises stop/start or the partial or complete electrification of the vehicle propulsion system. The device may have a bipolar or pseudo-bipolar design, multiple cells disposed within a common casing, and the cells are connected ionically within each cell and electronically between cells.

Abstract: A system and method for providing irrigation management services is disclosed. The system may include a plurality of controllers, where each controller controls application of water by an irrigation system associated with the controller. A central computer that is remote from each of the controllers may be configured to implement an irrigation management plan that is individualized to each location and based, at least in part, upon one or more characteristics of the location as determined by an on-site visit. The irrigation manager may guarantee that the system will provide a return on investment within a predefined period of time. The system may also detect faults in the irrigation systems using water usage data from the controllers and diagnose the faults. A technician may be notified and dispatched to repair the faults.

Abstract: An aerodynamic state estimation system includes a real-time actual measurement device, an air data computer, and a plurality of sensors. The measurement device receives laser scatter energy indicative of one or more atmospheric data parameters and outputs one or more truth measurements. The air data computer module receives the one or more truth measurements, calculates one or more state parameter estimations based on a plurality of functional parameters, and outputs at least one of the one or more truth measurements and the one or more state parameter estimations as one or more high accuracy state parameters, The plurality of sensors, located at the air data computer module, measure the plurality of functional parameters.

Abstract: An illumination system correlates solar time to a clock and controls lighting or illumination based on time. The illumination system may turn ON light source(s) at a first level at a turn ON time, correlated to be around or at dusk, and turn OFF light source(s) at a turn OFF time, correlated to be around or at dawn. The illumination system may reduce a level of light output, and hence power consumption, at a time after turning ON a light source, and increases the level of light output at a time prior to turning OFF the light source. Turn ON, turn OFF, decrease and increase times may be determined based on recent levels of light or illumination in the environment, for example via average or median levels over a number of previous daily cycles. Filtering may eliminate aberrant events.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon-containing mixture including acetylene and butenyne is disclosed. The hydrocarbon-containing mixture can include 10% to 89% acetylene, 10% to 89% butenyne, and at least 0.25% dimethyl butadiyne. A method and system for producing the hydrocarbon-containing mixture is also disclosed. The system can include an acetylene production subsystem comprising at least one vessel and an acetylene output for delivering acetylene to a finishing vessel via a finishing vessel inlet. The finishing vessel can include a diffuser in fluid communication with the finishing vessel inlet, and gas exiting the diffuser can pass through a reaction chamber filled with solid calcium carbide before passing through a finishing vessel outlet.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically taking an image of a participant in an event wherein a timing system is used to determine a time of a passing a detection line on a route by a participant having an RFID tag on the participant or an object associated with the participant traveling along the route is disclosed, the system includes a RFID tag reader system configured for obtaining the RFID tag numbers of the RFID tag in one or more RFID tag reads, time stamping each RFID tag read, and transmitting a tag read message including the RFID tag number, an image capture device capturing one or more images of one or more participants when in proximity to one of the RFID tag reader monitored points, generating image data over a data interface, an image capture system receiving the generated image message, creating an image capture message including the image data, and transmitting the image capture message, and timing system receiving the tag read message from the RFID tag reader system and the image capture message

Abstract: An air dryer cartridge 100 configured for use on both conventional air dryer systems having internal purge air valving and newer air dryer systems wherein at least some of the purge air valving is located in the cartridge. The air dryer cartridge 100 has a first connector 112 for mating with a corresponding connector of a conventional air dryer system, and a second connector 156 for mating with a corresponding connector of a newer-style air dryer system. When the cartridge 100 is installed on a conventional air dryer system, purge air valving 144/146 within the cartridge is deactivated causing the cartridge to act as a conventional air dryer cartridge. When the cartridge 100 is installed in a newer-style system, the purge air valving 144/166 within the cartridge is activated thus enabling the system to function as designed.

Abstract: A split-core current transformer core comprises a U-core section in combination with a closing-bar core section that has extra length, width, and cross-sectional area as compared to the U-core section, shielding above and below secondary windings wound on bobbins that are mounted around leg portions of the U-core section and extending at least partially along a yoke portion of the core that joins the leg portions of the core, unitary construction and assemblage that accommodates calibration of output signals after assembly of the components in a base module and cover module that is hinged to the base module and has squeeze latches formed in a unitary manner with the cover housing such that they do not require assembly and do not protrude outwardly from adjacent surfaces in either open or closed mode, and other features that minimize magnetic reluctance and increase clearance and creepage distances.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes independent wastewater treatment facilities. Each of the facilities has a number of wastewater treatment subsystems. A wastewater collection subsystem holds wastewater to be treated. A pump subsystem moves wastewater from a wastewater collector to a filtration subsystem having a bioreacting filter. The filter has a sump and a fluidized-bed filter therein and supports the filter upright. The filter has an upwardly expanding, hollow, conical filter body with filter media. A monitoring subsystem measures wastewater process parameters. Control devices receive control commands and, dependent upon the command received, alter parameters of the wastewater treatment subsystems.

Abstract: An instrument for assisting in guiding a spinal connector or rod through one or more spinal implants placed in the spine includes a main assembly having the ability to accurately guide a rod through the implants by way of rotation and translation. By introducing the rod via rotation, the tip of the rod can be located very accurately deep in soft tissue for percutaneous applications. Once inside the first implant, the rod tip can be advanced by translation and rotation to the next implant. The number of implants connected in this manner is only limited to the length and curvature of the rod introduced. However, an advantage to the instrument is the ability to handle multiple length rods of different curvatures by adjustments to the instrument.

Abstract: A computer-network implemented system recognizes that (i) the security issuer retains (i.e. withholds) the right to lend a debt or equity security prior to security issuance, and (ii) the system allows security borrowers to request from the security issuers, through the system, the right to borrow the non-borrowable security from the security issuer, according to borrowing/lending rates and time periods set by the security issuer with the system, so that (iii) security borrowers can then acquire the right to lend the non-borrowable security from the security issuer, and thereafter, (iv) security borrowers can sell the non-borrowable security short in the financial marketplace and profit from a short sale, without adversely effecting the security issuer.

Abstract: A method of forming a gas separation membrane including: depositing a first hydrophilic polymer solution; depositing on top of the first hydrophilic polymer solution a second, different hydrophilic polymer solution, thereby forming a two-layer polymer solution; forming the two-layer polymer solution into one of a forward osmosis membrane and a pressure retarded osmosis membrane by bringing the second, different hydrophilic polymer solution into contact with water to form the dense layer; coating one of the forward osmosis membrane and the pressure retarded osmosis membrane with a thin layer of a third, different, hydrophilic polymer more pH tolerant than the first and second hydrophilic polymer solutions to form a dense rejection layer thereon; and exposing one of the coated forward osmosis membrane and the coated pressure retarded osmosis membrane to a high pH solution. A gas separation membrane formed from the foregoing process.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of playing a game on a plurality of networked terminals comprises receiving a plurality of requests to play the first game, facilitating play of the first game on at least one of the plurality of networked terminals, triggering play of a second game at a particular point in time, determining eligible players whom are eligible to play the second game from a plurality of players submitting requests to play the first game, in response to receiving each of the plurality of requests from the eligible players that occur after the particular point in time, facilitating a play of the second game concurrently with a respective play of the first game, determining which plays of the second game result in a prize, and decrementing a second game total prize pool by an amount of each prize that results from each play of the second game.

Abstract: A container having a base and a cap is disclosed herein for protecting needles and/or catheters during transport. The base has a cavity for storing the needle and/or catheter and a flange region for securing the needle and/or catheter within the base. The cap can be releasably coupled to the base and provide a seal to protect the needle and/or catheter from contamination. Semi-permeable plugs can be disposed on the ends of the base and cap to enable gas sterilization of the container and the needle and/or catheter contained inside.

Abstract: Cables are constructed with discontinuities in the cable jacket that allow the jacket to be torn to provide access to the cable core. The discontinuities can be longitudinally extending strips of material in the cable jacket. The discontinuities allow a section of the cable jacket to be pulled away from a remainder of the jacket using a relatively low peel force.

Abstract: Multiple intensifier injectors with positive needle control and methods of injection that reduce injector energy consumption. The intensifiers are disposed about the axis of the injectors, leaving the center free for direct needle control down the center of the injector. Also disclosed is a boost system, increasing the needle closing velocity but without adding mass to the needle when finally closing. Direct needle control allows maintaining injection pressure on the fuel between injection events if the control system determines that enough fuel has been pressurized for the next injection, thus saving substantial energy when operating an engine at less than maximum power, by not venting and re-pressurizing on every injection event.