Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a social media analytics platform. An entity may be configured with respect to the platform and a number of social media accounts, and other data such as aliases or search terms associated with the entity. Data is collected at certain intervals from the various online sites, including social media sites, using the various disparate and proprietary interfaces and data models provided by the sites and the configurations for the social media accounts associated with an entity. Using this data obtained from these online sites one or more scores can be calculated or update based on the data, where the score(s) may serve to quantify a facet of the entity's social media exposure and may serve to be domain specific to the entity. The scores for each of the indices for an entity can thus serve to quantify facets of an entity's social media exposure.

Abstract: Processes for manufacturing a purified aromatic carboxylic acid include contacting crude aromatic carboxylic acid with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst in a hydrogenation reactor to form a purified aromatic carboxylic acid; separating vapor effluent from the purified aromatic carboxylic acid; scrubbing the vapor effluent to form a scrubber effluent; treating the scrubber effluent vapor to form a gaseous treated scrubber effluent and a liquid treated scrubber effluent; and removing at least a portion of organic impurities from the liquid treated scrubber effluent.

Abstract: Buckles for use in exercise assemblies employing force restorative exercise straps. A looped component and a hooked component of the buckle hold the exercise strap. The looped component and the hooked component can be pivotally mounted to each other. The buckle can hold the strap in two orientations, on an end of a looped strap, or at an adjustable position of the looped strap.

Abstract: An athletic tire training device includes a compressible body having a flat surfaced top, flat surfaced base, a surrounding wall extending between the top and base, and an interior wall extending between the top and base. The surrounding wall has an exterior surface with flat sides. The interior wall surrounds an open interior volume. The body has a weight of at least 20 pounds. The training device is usable in a variety of functional training exercises.

Abstract: A weight bar system includes a weight bar, and two lock collars on each end of the weight bar for holding one or more weights on each end of the weight bar. The ends of the weight bar include circumferentially positioned grooves. A locking collar is engageable with the grooves both in an unlocked and a locked position. The locking collar includes a main body collar including pins which extend in a cross direction relative to the axis and are moveable radially inwardly and outwardly relative to the grooves. A rotatable collar includes a cam surface to move the pins radially inwardly to lock the locking collar to the weight bar. A stationary collar may also be provided to limit rotation of the rotatable collar, and to provide a gripping surface. A space on the lock collar may be provided to press against the weights.

Abstract: Buckles for use in exercise assemblies employing force restorative exercise straps. A looped component and a hooked component of the buckle hold the exercise strap. The looped component and the hooked component can be pivotally mounted to each other. The buckle can hold the strap in two orientations, on an end of a looped strap, or at an adjustable position of the looped strap.

Abstract: A tool for closing a shipping container door comprises a head with two extensions curving away from the head and having a space between them sufficient to accommodate a bar bracket of a locking bar on a shipping container door. The head also has a handle that can function as a lever, so that when the tool engages the locking bar about the bar bracket, an operator can close and secure the shipping container door. Optionally, the tool also includes other components, such as features to engage other mechanisms useful in shipping, such as locking bars for opening shipping container doors, and twist locks for coupling and uncoupling shipping containers.

Abstract: A monitoring system having one or more sensors configured for providing dynamic information from one or more machinery assets, wherein in the system continuously samples monitoring data under predetermined states of the machine.

Abstract: Processes for manufacturing purified aromatic carboxylic acids include: generating high-pressure steam from boiler feed water supplied to a boiler; heating a crude aromatic carboxylic acid using the high-pressure steam, whereby the high pressure steam is condensed to form a high-pressure condensate; and purifying the crude aromatic carboxylic acid to form a purified aromatic carboxylic acid. The boiler feed water includes at least a portion of the high-pressure condensate and makeup boiler feed water from at least one additional source.

Abstract: Processes for manufacturing purified aromatic carboxylic acids include: generating high-pressure steam from boiler feed water supplied to a boiler; heating a crude aromatic carboxylic acid using the high-pressure steam, whereby the high pressure steam is condensed to form a high-pressure condensate; and purifying the crude aromatic carboxylic acid to form a purified aromatic carboxylic acid. The boiler feed water includes at least a portion of the high-pressure condensate and makeup boiler feed water from at least one additional source.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a social media analytics platform. An entity may be configured with respect to the platform and a number of social media accounts, and other data such as aliases or search terms associated with the entity. Data is collected at certain intervals from the various online sites, including social media sites, using the various disparate and proprietary interfaces and data models provided by the sites and the configurations for the social media accounts associated with an entity. Using this data obtained from these online sites one or more scores can be calculated or update based on the data, where the score(s) may serve to quantify a facet of the entity's social media exposure and may serve to be domain specific to the entity. The scores for each of the indices for an entity can thus serve to quantify facets of an entity's social media exposure.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein can be employed in a social media analytics platform to monitor which data has been acquired for entities from online sites at which entities may maintain an account, including social media platforms by continually moderating, coordinating or scheduling requests for data retrieval across the online sites to substantially maximize the data pulled from each site, and the freshness of that data, given any imposed rate limits associated with those online sites without slowing or idling the social media analytics platform. This results in increased efficiencies in time and expense and a simultaneous reduction in the number of errors received from the online sites, as the analytics platform can spread out requests over time and fully utilize parallel update processes in a way that respects the rate limiting while still improving freshness of data given that rate limiting.

Abstract: An interlocking thrust washer is presented. The thrust washer including a first annular upper ring having first inner and outer side circumferential surfaces and first top and bottom surfaces. The upper ring providing at least two holes that extend therethrough the first top and bottom surfaces and a first annular lower ring having second inner and outer side surfaces and second top and bottom surfaces. The first lower annular ring includes at least two annular projections extending upward from the second top surface. The at least two annular projections align with the at least two holes to create an interlocking fit between the first annular upper and lower rings. The interlocking fit allows the first upper and lower rings to combine and function as the single element thrust washer 10 once interlocked together. The interlocking fit further prevents any rotation between the first upper and lower annular rings during operation.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a plurality of terminal base assemblies each having at least one module, at least some of the plurality of terminal base assemblies having varying levels of redundancy in the at least one module, the plurality of terminal base assemblies being connected together by circuitry within each of the plurality of terminal base assemblies.

Abstract: A monitoring system with dynamically configurable non-interfering signal processing is disclosed. In one aspect, data relating to the management of the operation of a machine and data relating to the safety protection of the machine are combined in a non-interfering manner.

Abstract: A system and method for exercising core muscles, particularly the lumbar intrinsic musculature, including the multifidi. A system is disclosed that includes: a first sensor for detecting upper body exertions of a user engaged in an exercise; a second sensor for detecting lower torso exertions for the user engaged in the exercise; a third sensor for detecting lower extremity exertions for the user engaged in the exercise; a control system for processing sensor data from the first, second and third sensor, said control system including: a user interface system for communicating information with the user; a data collection system for collecting sensor data; an analysis system for analyzing the sensor data and determining if the user is performing the exercise in a technically correct manner; and a feedback system for alerting the user when the exercise is not being performed in the technically correct manner.

Abstract: A system includes a comparator that triggers a signal indicating an event occurrence of a moving element of a machine that is sensed by a sensor. The signal is triggered in response to a raw signal from the sensor exceeding a trigger level. Logic calculates a hold off time for re-triggering of the signal, and a timer monitors expiration of the hold off time. A trigger screener monitors amplitude of the raw signal and accepts a triggering of the signal from the comparator in response to expiration of the hold off time and the raw signal exceeding a re-trigger level.

Abstract: A system includes a phase sensor signal input for receiving a phase signal of a moving element of a machine; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the phase signal to a digital signal; and a storage system for saving the digital signal during an occurrence of an anomaly in operation of the machine. A related method includes obtaining a phase signal from a phase sensor that senses a phase of a moving element of a machine; converting the phase signal into a digital signal; and saving the digital signal during an occurrence of an anomaly in operation of the machine.

Abstract: A method for interconnecting modules using a local area network daisy chained architecture is disclosed. The architecture includes point-to-point connections between the module and the two modules preceding and/or the two modules following such module in the chain. This architecture allows the chain to be extended and for modules to be removed from the chain without interrupting service to the other modules. A microprocessor and additional Ethernet port provide an additional gateway for connection to an external device.