Abstract: A floatation device is provided. In some embodiments, a floatation device is provided, comprising an inflatable ring composed of a transparent material, wherein the inflatable ring includes: an outer air chamber having a first valve for inflating the outer air chamber; an inner air chamber having a second valve for inflating the inner air chamber, wherein the outer air chamber and the inner air chamber are not in communication; a cut through the outer air chamber and the inner air chamber of the inflatable ring that forms opposing ends of the inflatable ring; and a plurality of fasteners placed on a top surface and a bottom surface of the outer or inner air chamber for detachably connecting the opposing ends of the inflatable ring.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy product and method for producing the aluminum alloy product that, in some embodiments, includes an aluminum alloy strip having at least 0.8 wt. % manganese, at least 0.6 wt % iron, or at least 0.8 wt. % manganese and at least 0.6 wt % iron. A near surface of the aluminum alloy strip, in some embodiments, is substantially free of large particles having an equivalent diameter of at least 50 micrometers and includes small particles. Each small particle, in some embodiments, has a particular equivalent diameter that is less than 3 micrometers, and a quantity per unit area of the small particles having the particular equivalent diameter is at least 0.01 particles per square micrometer at the near surface of the aluminum alloy strip.

Abstract: A method of forming and filling a pouch, comprises forming opposing walls of a film; sealing the opposing walls of film together to form at least one pouch; filling an interior section of the at least one pouch through an opening in an upper portion of the at least one pouch with a flowable material; forming a top sealed expressing-shaped region to close the opening in the at least one pouch; and cradling the pouch with a foldable flat that is more rigid than the pouch that can be folded or rolled to compress the pouch to express the flowable material through the expressing shaped region.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for presenting media content items belonging to a media content group are provided.

Abstract: A communication system includes an earth station configured to receive a downlink transmission from a satellite and transmit an uplink transmission to the satellite. The communication system further includes a server in operable communication with the earth station, a beacon detector in operable communication with the server, an access point configured to operate within a proximity of the earth station, and a beacon transmitter disposed within close proximity to the access point. The beacon transmitter is configured to transmit a beacon signal to one or more of the server and the beacon detector. The beacon signal uniquely identifies the access point. The server is configured to implement a measurement-based protection scheme with respect to at least one of the downlink transmission and the uplink transmission.

Abstract: An oral-care implement having a housing extending along a longitudinal-extension direction, a functional element mounted at the housing for driven motion relative to the housing, a motion-transmitter element disposed within the housing and extending along the longitudinal-extension direction. The motion-transmitter element has a first coupling portion coupled with the functional element. The motion-transmitter element has a metal-sheet portion made from a punched and bent metal sheet. The metal-sheet portion can have at least one section having a non-flat cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal-extension direction, such as an L-shape, or U-shape, or S-shape.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes at least one needle bar, a threading motor, a threading mechanism, a processor, and a memory. The threading mechanism is configured to pass an upper thread through an eye of a sewing needle. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include making one of a setting that prohibits operation of the threading mechanism and a setting that does not prohibit the operation of the threading mechanism. The processes include switching the operation of the threading mechanism by prohibiting the operation of the threading mechanism in a case where the setting that prohibits the operation of the threading mechanism is made, and permitting the operation of the threading mechanism in a case where the setting that does not prohibit the operation of the threading mechanism is made.

Abstract: The present invention relates to HMGB1 variants that maintain HMGB1 wild type chemoattractant function while displaying abolished cytokine and/or chemokine stimulating properties. Such molecules are useful in therapy.

Abstract: A processor comprises an execution unit and a detection unit which are functionally connected. The execution unit is configured to execute computer programs, and the detection unit is configured to detect infinite loops during the execution of a computer program in the execution unit during run-time. The computer program has a plurality of go-to instructions, and each go-to instruction is characterized by a corresponding branch address. The detection unit is configured to calculate a detection function of the branch addresses of a branch sequence, the branch sequence including a sequence of executed go-to instructions. The detection function is chosen such that an increased value of the detection function is characteristic of an infinite loop in the branch sequence in which at least one go-to instruction is repeated.

Abstract: An intelligent preventative maintenance architecture for maintaining a plurality of cloud components operating within a cloud computing environment is disclosed. The architecture can perform a predictive failure analysis that monitors health of at least a portion of the plurality of cloud components that hosts a mission critical application. The predictive failure analysis receives sensor data that includes environmental data associated with environmental characteristics of the cloud computing environment and cloud component data associated with operational characteristics of at least a portion of the plurality of cloud components operating within the cloud computing environment. The predictive failure analysis analyzes the sensor data to detect an abnormal pattern within the sensor data, determines a root cause of the abnormal pattern, and predicts a probability of a failure of at least one cloud component of the plurality of cloud components.

Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a substrate, an active device, a first light-shielding layer, a transparent electrode, a second light-shielding layer, a light-converting layer, an electroluminescent structure, and a top electrode. The active device is located on the substrate. The first light-shielding layer is disposed on the active device and has a first opening. The transparent electrode is located on the first light-shielding layer and electrically connected to the active device. The second light-shielding layer is located on the transparent electrode and has a second opening corresponding to the first opening. The light-converting layer is substantially located in the first opening. The electroluminescent structure is substantially located in the second opening. The transparent electrode is located between the first opening and the second opening. The electroluminescent structure is located between the top electrode and the transparent electrode.

Abstract: A converter includes a first diode having an anode and a cathode connected respectively to an input terminal and a first output terminal, a second diode having an anode and a cathode connected respectively to a second output terminal and the input terminal, a first transistor connected between the first output terminal and the input terminal, a second transistor connected between the input terminal and the second output terminal, and a bidirectional switch connected between the input terminal and a third output terminal and including third to sixth diodes and a third transistor. Each of the first diode, the second diode, and the third transistor is made of a wide bandgap semiconductor. Each of the first and second transistors and the third to sixth diodes is made of a semiconductor other than the wide bandgap semiconductor.

Abstract: Provided is a battery state detection device suitable for detecting a state of a battery mounted on a vehicle. A ?COM uses a first capacitor to measure a first sample of battery voltage, and after a predetermined standby time has elapsed, executes sample hold processing using the second capacitor for performing the second sample hold of the battery voltage. The ?COM detects the state of the battery based on the output of the differential amplifier when a condition is satisfied that the battery current is constant during both the first sample hold and the second sample hold and the battery current fluctuates during the standby time.

Abstract: Provided are a refractive index measuring device and a refractive index measuring method. A detector (2) detects an intensity of a measuring beam transmitted through the sample. A camera (200) images a color image of the measuring beam which is dispersed into multiple colors by transmitting through the sample. A scanning processing portion (101) carries out scanning by changing an angle of receiving the measuring beam transmitted through the sample or an angle of the measuring beam incident on the sample. A wavelength specifying processing portion (102) specifies, based on the detected intensity of the detector (2) varying with the scanning by the scanning processing portion (101) and color information corresponding to a position of the measuring beam incident on the detector (2) in a color image which is imaged by the camera (200), the wavelength corresponding to each peak of the detected intensity.

Abstract: The present sheet processing apparatus is to obtain that folding in the center portion in the width direction of sheets is made, folding in the end portion is made more reliably by repeatedly pressing the end portion in the width direction, the folded sheets are harder to open, the appearance is also enhanced, and that collection characteristics are improved in stacking bunches of folded sheets, a sheet processing apparatus is provided with pairs of press members (press rollers 70) that press a folded loop BL of folding sheets BS, and a support unit 56 that shifts in the width direction of the folding sheets, while supporting a plurality of rows with a distance between the press members narrowed stepwise in the shift direction.

Abstract: A power generator for generating power using a liquid that can alternatively flow at a lower flow rate and at a higher flow rate. The power generator includes a conduit and a rotor mounted in the conduit so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis. The rotor includes a top set of blades provided in a conduit top portion and configured for rotating about the rotation axis when the liquid flows at the higher flow rate in the conduit. The rotor also includes a bottom set of blades provided in a conduit bottom portion and configured for rotating about the rotation axis when the liquid flows at the lower flow rate in the conduit. An output shaft protrudes from the conduit and is rotatable by at least one of the top and bottom sets of blades. The top and bottom blades have different configurations.

Abstract: A communication system includes an earth station configured to receive a downlink transmission from a satellite and transmit an uplink transmission to the satellite. The communication system further includes a server in operable communication with the earth station, a beacon detector in operable communication with the server, an access point configured to operate within a proximity of the earth station, and a beacon transmitter disposed within close proximity to the access point. The beacon transmitter is configured to transmit a beacon signal to one or more of the server and the beacon detector. The beacon signal uniquely identifies the access point. The server is configured to implement a measurement-based protection scheme with respect to at least one of the downlink transmission and the uplink transmission.

Abstract: A control device (130) for controlling a domestic appliance system (100) comprises: a first remote controllable device (110), a second remote controllable device (120) and a remote control (150). The remote control typically comprises a pointing detection unit (140) configured for identifying a remote controllable device (110, 120) at which the remote control is pointing (156, 156?). The remote control is configured for commanding a read in response to a user input commanding a copy while the user points the remote control at the first device and the remote control is configured for commanding a write in response to a user input commanding a paste while the user points the remote control at the second device.