Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for mating with a mating connector includes a housing having spaced apart sidewalls and first and second slides slide slideably supported in the housing. The first and second slides each include at least one mating slot adapted to receive a mating portion of the mating connector and slideable with respect to the housing between a pre-staged position where the electrical connector is removable from the mating connector and an engaged position where said electrical connector assembly is locked to said mating connector. A slide assist lever is pivotally interconnected with the housing and each of the slides to move the slides between the pre-staged position and the engaged position such that recesses are formed in the housing with the slides when said slides are in the engaged position. The electrical connector assembly also includes an environmental cover positionable to substantially prevent debris from entering the recesses.

Abstract: Described herein is a photovoltaic device operable to convert light to electricity, comprising a substrate, a first junction, a second junction and a third junction; wherein the first junction and the second junction are arranged with opposite polarity and the second junction and the third junction are arranged with opposite polarity. The photovoltaic device may further comprise a terminal directly electrically connected to anodes of the first and second junctions or to cathodes of the first and second junctions.

Abstract: A lighting system including modules containing LEDs or other electroluminescent devices and loosely constrained magnetic structures at least partially contained within cavities in the module substrate that are connected to fixtures under magnetic force. The loosely constrained magnetic structures accommodate mechanical variations in the system and provide a method to connect modules mechanically, electrically and thermally to different fixtures or positions in fixtures without tools. The relatively short distance separating magnetic structures provides high connection forces with the use of relatively small magnets. Magnets and electrical contacts are not located directly between the LED subassembly and the fixture, which provides higher thermal conductivity pathways to remove heat from the LEDs. Biasing members may be used to increase thermal contact. Magnetic structures may, but are not required, to conduct electricity.

Abstract: Aspects describe capturing various bacteria levels within a process affected by microbial agents. A model of the process and a model of expected bacteria growth are analyzed and, based on the analysis, at least one process parameter is automatically modified to improve or optimize the product or process or other business or operational objectives. Also provided are at least two autonomous agents within the process. The at least two autonomous agents communicate and autonomously implement an action in an upstream stage and/or downstream stage within the process, wherein the at least two autonomous agents access the representation of the process and the biological representation and/or bio-chemical representation to implement the action.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting scale in a subterranean formation comprises pretreating the subterranean formation with a polyquaternary amine that serves as a squeeze life extention (SLE) agent, and then introducing a scale inhibitor pill into the subterranean formation, wherein the scale inhibitor pill includes one or more scale inhibitor compositions. For example, the polyquaternary amine may be a polymer having up to 5 quaternary amine centers, but is preferably a nonpolymeric diquaternary amine having a molecular weight of from 250 to 500. One such example is 1,3-propandiaminium, 2-hydroxy-N,N,N,N?,N?,N?-hexamethyl-, dichloride. The SLE agent is preferably introduced into the formation in a brine solution having a concentration from 0.1 to 20 weight percent. The SLE agents may be used with a variety of known scale inhibitors and scale inhibitor chemistries.

Abstract: A telepresence device may autonomously check patients. The telepresence device may determine the frequency of checking based on whether the patient has a risk factor. The telepresence device may include an image sensor, a thermal camera, a depth sensor, one or more systems for interacting with patients, or the like. The telepresence device may be configured to evaluate the patient's condition using the one or more sensors. The telepresence device may measure physiological characteristics using Eulerian video magnification, may detect pallor, fluid level, or fluid color, may detect thermal asymmetry, may determine a psychological state from body position or movement, or the like. The telepresence device may determine whether the patient is experiencing a potentially harmful condition, such as sepsis or stroke, and may trigger an alarm if so. To overcome alarm fatigue, the telepresence device may annoy a care provider until the care provider responds to an alarm.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating and running and industrial control system simulation are described herein. The physical I/O and other modules of the industrial control system may be modeled and specific communication channels may be created by a modeling software module. This may increase the likelihood that the timing of the simulation may be more like real-time operation of the industrial control system. This may enhance the system design and save time of system design and start-up and troubleshooting of the operational industrial control system.

Abstract: A massively parallel processing (MPP) database can be re-partitioned/re-balanced while remaining on-line through a staged migration procedure. Staged migration may include a first stage and a second stage. During the first stage, entries in an existing partition are reallocated to the new partition, and the catalog is updated to associate the re-allocated entries with both the existing partition and the new partition such that queries for the re-allocated entries are directed toward the existing partition and the new partition. During the second stage, the re-allocated entries are migrated from the existing partition to the new partition, and after the migration is complete, the catalog is re-updated to associate the migrated entries with the new partition such that new queries are directed toward the new partition.

Abstract: A distributed power system including multiple (DC) batteries each DC battery with positive and negative poles. Multiple power converters are coupled respectively to the DC batteries. Each power converter includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal and a fourth terminal. The first terminal is adapted for coupling to the positive pole. The second terminal is adapted for coupling to the negative pole. The power converter includes: (i) a control loop adapted for setting the voltage between or current through the first and second terminals, and (ii) a power conversion portion adapted to selectively either: convert power from said first and second terminals to said third and fourth terminals to discharge the battery connected thereto, or to convert power from the third and fourth terminals to the first and second terminals to charge the battery connected thereto.

Abstract: The present invention provides genetically engineered strains of Pichia capable of producing proteins with reduced glycosylation. In particular, the genetically engineered strains of the present invention are capable of expressing either or both of an ?-1,2-mannosidase and glucosidase II. The genetically engineered strains of the present invention can be further modified such that the OCH1 gene is disrupted. Methods of producing glycoproteins with reduced glycosylation using such genetically engineered stains of Pichia are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems and related apparatus are provided for controlling an electronic device to operate an external sensor connectable to an audio interface of the electronic device by applying a first harmonic driving signal to a first contact and a second harmonic driving signal to a second contact of the audio interface for driving the external sensor, receiving a response signal at a third contact of the audio interface, adjusting at least one of the first and second harmonic driving signals, determining one or more physiological parameters based on characteristics of the first and second harmonic driving signals and the response signal, and outputting the determined one or more physiological parameters.

Abstract: Processes and systems for treating high salinity aqueous liquids containing dissolved minerals, suspended solids, colloidal solids, free oil and grease, dissolved organics, and dissolved hydrocarbons. The liquid is passed into an electrocoagulation system in fluid communication with a solids removal clarifier, pressurized ultrafiltration system, the draw side of forward osmosis, and a dilute draw water reverse osmosis system. Impaired water with high sulfate content is used as a source of deionized water for dilution of the forward osmosis draw solution. After concentration, the forward osmosis feed solution is further treated by lime soda softening and sludge from the softening system may be recycled to increase hardness precipitation and silica removal, the outfall from which may be treated by a separate ultrafiltration system and a feed water reverse osmosis system. Concentrate from the feed water reverse osmosis system can be treated to offer a zero liquid or near zero liquid discharge.

Abstract: A robot system with a robot that has a camera and a remote control station that can connect to the robot. The connection can include a plurality of privileges. The system further includes a server that controls which privileges are provided to the remote control station. The privileges may include the ability to control the robot, joint in a multi-cast session and the reception of audio/video from the robot. The privileges can be established and edited through a manager control station. The server may contain a database that defines groups of remote control station that can be connected to groups of robots. The database can be edited to vary the stations and robots within a group. The system may also allow for connectivity between a remote control station at a user programmable time window.

Abstract: A terrestrial receiver recovers universal services in a satellite radio transmission system including discrete signal sources producing overlapping spot beam loci within a coverage area, wherein the signals forming the beams each contain repeating time aligned universal services having a master synchronizing frame, at least one common channel, and at least one spot specific channel with differing frequency and/or polarization. The receiver switches among antenna elements. A portion of antenna elements receive a transmitted signal, including a plurality of sub-channels that are transmitted in predetermined time intervals. A switching device switches among single antenna elements to receive the transmitted signal. A controller commands the switching device to select each of the antenna elements separately in predetermined periods of time based upon the predetermined time intervals of each of the master synchronizing frames.

Abstract: The gas flare system includes a vertical flare stack having an opened top end and a bottom floor wall. A weatherproof protective hood arrangement prevents rain and snow from entering through the opened top end. The gas flare system also includes a burner arrangement provided through the bottom floor wall. The burner arrangement receives a waste gas stream from a waste gas circuit and also primary air. Secondary air orifices around the burner supply secondary air coming from a plenum housing located directly underneath the bottom floor wall. The gas flare system can destroy the flammable gas in the waste gas stream with a combustion efficiency of more than 99% under almost any operating conditions. It can start automatically and operate efficiently without any supervision under any possible atmospheric conditions. A method of destroying a flammable gas in a waste gas stream is also disclosed.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of antenna assemblies having dipole elements and Vivaldi elements. In an exemplary embodiment, an antenna assembly includes a plurality of dipole elements operable in at least a first frequency range and a plurality of Vivaldi elements operable in at least a second frequency range. The plurality of Vivaldi elements may be crossed or arranged relative to each other in a cruciform or a crossed Vivaldi arrangement.

Abstract: An embodiment mobile device includes an environment sensing unit configured to sense parameters of an environment, a data processing unit in communication with the environment sensing unit, the data processing unit configured to compile usage statistics based previously sensed parameters of the environment and to determine if any applications correspond to the environment based on currently sensed parameters of the environment and the usage statistics stored in a memory, and a display in communication with the data processing unit, the display configured to display on a homescreen the applications that correspond to the environment.

Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material molded to provide details to accept audio devices and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate having a surface and a plurality of solder balls arranged on the surface to form a ball grid array. A portion of the plurality of solder balls is arranged to have a pitch between adjacent solder balls. The adjacent solder balls having the pitch have a shape of a truncated sphere. At least one solder ball of the plurality of solder balls is included in a solder island on the surface having a shape that is different than the shape of the truncated sphere.

Abstract: In order to increase the efficiency of the worker and ultimately decrease the cost of the worker performing work-related tasks, a method and a system for presenting information relevant to user activity of a user at a computing device is provided. A database including data records that each include information relevant to at least one user activity and at least one identifier identifying the at least one user activity is provided. Activities of a user are monitored and compared to the data records of the database. When a monitored activity matches an identifier of one of the data records, the information corresponding to the matched data record is presented to the user.