Abstract: A bending instrument is disclosed having first and second lever assemblies. The first lever assembly has a first lever and a first bending member, and the second lever assembly has a second lever that is configured for pivotal motion relative to the first lever. The bending instrument also has a gear assembly that is rotatively coupled to a distal portion of the first lever and which defines a lobe on which a second bending member is mounted. The second bending member of the gear assembly is configured to be angularly rotated upon the pivotal rotation of the second lever relative to the first lever.

Abstract: Provided are methods, circuits and apparatuses for detecting pressure variations. The circuit can comprise at least two pressure sensors electrically coupled in parallel. At least one pressure sensor can have a differential input and a differential output. The circuit can also comprise a first switching mechanism electrically coupled to the differential input of the at least one pressure sensor. The first switching mechanism can be configured to electrically couple a first current source to the at least one pressure sensor according to a first reference signal. The circuit can also comprise a second switching mechanism electrically coupled to the differential output of the at least one pressure sensor. The second switching mechanism can be configured to electrically couple a second current source to the at least one pressure sensor according to a second reference signal.

Abstract: A water-powered fish carcass disposal system that floats in a body of water, grinds fish carcasses into pieces having a desired size, and returns the pieces of the ground fish carcasses into the body of water.

Abstract: Mouth guards and related systems and methods for determining linear and angular accelerations of the head of a subject. A plurality of accelerometers are operatively associated with the mouth guard and spaced from one another about the mouth guard. The accelerometers produce outputs indicative of the linear and angular acceleration of the mouth guard. Optionally, the mouth guard can be used in conjunction with a helmet that is provided with a plurality of accelerometers spaced about the helmet. In use, the outputs of the accelerometers of the helmet can be correlated to the outputs of the accelerometers of the mouth guard.

Abstract: Mouth guards having electrodes, sensors, and/or accelerometers for determining one or more physiological conditions of a subject. Processing circuitry receives the outputs of the electrodes, sensors, and/or accelerometers. Optionally, at least a portion of the processing circuitry can be positioned within a helmet that is worn by a subject. The mouth guard can optionally be tethered to the helmet.

Abstract: A system and method for heating concrete structures to either prevent the build-up of freezing precipitation or eliminate freezing precipitation on a top surface of the concrete structures. The system includes a heating assembly integrally formed with a concrete structure to apply thermal energy to the top surface of the concrete structure. Optionally, the heating assembly includes heating elements formed of carbon fiber tape. Following formation of the concrete structure, the heating assembly is configured for unified movement with the concrete structure. The system optionally includes a control assembly operatively coupled to the heating assembly. The control assembly selectively powers the heating assembly and can be configured for remote operation. In use, the control assembly can be selectively activated from a remote location to power the heating assembly and heat the concrete structure.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for managing sensor information are disclosed. An example apparatus can comprise a power unit configured to collect energy, a sensor unit configured to receive sensor data from a sensor, a memory unit configured to store the sensor data, a communication unit configured to wirelessly broadcast the sensor data to one or more sensor nodes in a network of sensor nodes, and a processing unit. The processing unit can be configured to operate at least one of the sensor unit, the memory unit, and the communication unit after the energy collected in the power unit reaches a threshold value.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein describe the construction of frequency domain estimates of generalized power density and the filters that can be constructed from those estimates. Using the concept of the Stokes vector representation of the spectral matrix in an M-dimensional vector space, a generalization of the process in which the spectral matrix may be represented by a set of trace-orthogonal matrices that are based upon a particular signal state can be produced. One aspect of the process is as follows: given a particular signal, represented as by a state vector in the space, a complete, orthonormal set of vectors can be produced that includes the signal of interest. Then, a generalized set of matrices is constructed, based upon the developed vectors, that are trace-orthogonal and which serve as a basis set for the expansion of the spectral matrix. The coefficients of this expansion form a generalized Stokes vector that represents the power in the spectral matrix associated with the various state vectors.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided herein for signal source tracking. A signal emitted over time from a moving source is a collection of small sub-signals that were emitted by the source at different positions along its path. If the source is traveling at a slower speed than the signal, the sub-signals will arrive at a given sensor in the same order that they were released. By identifying the locations and times of the releases of several of these sub-signals, the path and velocity of the moving source can be estimated.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for dynamic color equalization that can be used for image viewer applications. The methods and systems described involve linking enhancement parameters to a changing viewport. When a large image is being viewed, only a portion of the image can fit in a viewer window at a time. A viewport can be defined as the portion of image data that is displayed on a screen. Scrolling or zooming the image can be described as moving the viewport.

Abstract: Methods and systems for multiple factor authentication combining eye tracking hardware with iris scanning. The resulting multiple factor authentication is a highly secure and highly accurate authentication procedure. Iris scanning provides excellent identification and eye tracking provides the information that the iris is live and provides identification capabilities based on the eye movement itself while enabling gaze-based password entry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a droplet-based digital microdialysis method that utilizes discrete perfusate droplets marched through a microchannel in an intermittent manner. The droplets sequentially reside on a microdialysis membrane that is in contact with the test fluid, e.g., fluid in an extracellular space. The droplets remain stationary at the membrane site for a period of time for rapid equilibration with the test fluid, and is then marched to an outlet port for processing. The invention further relates to microdialysis probes and methods based on the droplet-based digital microdialysis.

Abstract: A pin bone removal device that provides a plurality of fixed members arranged substantially in side-by-side orientation. The invention also comprises a plurality of moveable members also substantially arranged in a side-by-side orientation. In one aspect, the fixed members and moveable members collectively form a stack of members in which a moveable member is positioned adjacent each fixed member. In this aspect, a linear drive is operatively connected to each of the moveable members and is configured to cause oscillating movement of each moveable member to cause the moveable members to contact the adjacent fixed member. This movement causes pinch points to be created and released between the fixed and moveable members. As the fillet of fish is moved along the stack of members, the pin bones are caught at each pinch point and then released.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fast method that locates nearby sources based solely on the time-of-flight of a signal across an array of sensors. The time delay for signal passage between all pairs of sensors is determined using cross-correlation estimates and a vector of time delays, ?, is constructed from the results. In the noise free case, each point in the plane is associated with a unique value of the ? vector. The plane is searched for a source location by minimizing the difference between the value of ? associated with the candidate location on the plane and the value estimated from cross-correlations. The search takes place over the three dimensional space that includes two coordinates in the plane and the propagation speed. The starting point for the search is constructed from an analytic fit of circular wave fronts to groups of sensors within the array.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided herein for signal source tracking. A signal emitted over time from a moving source is a collection of small sub-signals that were emitted by the source at different positions along its path. If the source is traveling at a slower speed than the signal, the sub-signals will arrive at a given sensor in the same order that they were released. By identifying the locations and times of the releases of several of these sub-signals, the path and velocity of the moving source can be estimated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a droplet-based digital microdialysis method that utilizes discrete perfusate droplets marched through a microchannel in an intermittent manner. The droplets sequentially reside on a microdialysis membrane that is in contact with the test fluid, e.g., fluid in an extracellular space. The droplets remain stationary at the membrane site for a period of time for rapid equilibration with the test fluid, and is then marched to an outlet port for processing. The invention further relates to microdialysis probes and methods based on the droplet-based digital microdialysis.

Abstract: A composition including a vegetable oil and a structural material selected from a group comprising soil, sand, bitumen, asphalt, and concrete. The polymerized vegetable oil being substantially within a range of 2%-20% by weight of the structural material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing a pin bone or pin bones from a fillet of fish. The apparatus of the present invention uses a rotating stack of individual disks that are engaged by a shaft, oscillate axially and are timed to alternately tilt in a rapid fashion so as to effect the action of multiple pairs of tweezers. The pin bone is disposed between a pair of tweezer or two adjacent rotating disks and pulled out of the fillet by the rotating disks. The rotating stack of individual disks operates at different speeds in an operation circle to enhance the operational efficiency.

Abstract: An ultrasonic computed tomography tree or log scanner has a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers carried on a belt (102) sized to encircle a tree (100). The belt includes an apparatus for engaging is tightly around the tree (104). The transceivers are strapped around the tree, and their mutual relative distances are known. Electronic circuitry energizes the transmitters in a known sequence. The signals received at each of the receivers are also collected and analyzed. Computed tomographic techniques analyze the time of arrival of the acoustic pulse that is first to arrive at each receiver. A signal processor generates a two-dimensional image of a slice of the tree (110) at the locus of the belt.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing pin bones from a fillet of fish. The apparatus of the present invention uses a plurality of spring-tempered sheet metal disks that each has a periphery that can be either non-linear or linear. The disks are assembled to form a stack of the disks aligned so that the peripheries form at least one "pinch-point," in which the periphery of two disks contact each other, to grip a pin bone. The stack of the disks is rotated and moved over the fillet. The pill bone is disposed between two adjacent rotating disks. As the gap between the disks closes to the pinch-point, the pin bone becomes wedged and is plucked out of the fillet as the wedged pin bone is pulled by the rotating disks.