Abstract: Disclosed is a system for monitoring the water level proximate to a vehicle. The system comprises a control unit and at least one sensor in communication with the control unit. The at least one sensor is configured such that the control unit can determine a pitch of a trailer coupled to the vehicle and the height of a surface of water proximate to the trailer. The system includes a display screen displaying a representation of the trailer including the pitch of the trailer, and a representation of the surface of water proximate to the trailer.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for using AMI smart meter messaging types and data mining decision trees to determine if local equipment failure is present. The system and method may be used to predict impending failure based upon smart meter message behaviors and to create proactive investigation tickets. The predictions models may be generated from a database of smart meter messaging and customer outage reports. The system and method can be applied to detect failures of higher level device equipment and may be incorporated into customer service processes. The system and method may also be used to determine customer owned equipment failures for referral to electricians.

Abstract: A fiber-SAP particle includes a superabsorbent core particle (SAP core particle) and a plurality of fibers attached to the SAP core particle and extending therefrom. The fiber-SAP particles may be formed in a fluidized bed chamber using a spray drying process. The fiber-SAP particles may be incorporated into absorbent cores and articles, such as in disposable diapers.

Abstract: A method and system for processing a plurality of unordered software patches for one or more computer readable software programs configured to be executed in a computer system. The unordered software patches are obtained. The unordered software patches include relationship information for defining a relationship the unordered software patches have with a second software patch. For each unordered software patch, the relationship information of the unordered software patch is analyzed to determine the relationship the unordered software patch has with the second software patch. An entry for each unordered software patch is stored in a relationship data store in the data processing system or computer system. The entry comprises dependency data representative of the determined relationship the unordered software patch has with the second software patch. The unordered software patches are ordered based on the dependency data in the relationship data store.

Abstract: An absorbent article may include an inner elasticised chassis. An opening may be formed through the inner elasticised chassis. The absorbent article may include an outer elasticised chassis, and an absorbent member located between the inner elasticised chassis and the outer elasticised chassis. The inner elasticised chassis may include sets of elastic strands surrounding the absorbent member. The opening may be located in a space between the sets of elastic strands.

Abstract: A vehicle dashboard instrument display for displaying vehicle operating information to a driver includes a lens system adjacent the instruments and interposed between the driver and the instruments. The lens system includes a variable focus lens operable for, responsive to input from a lens controller, adjusting to a focal length suitable for countering the visual impairment of the driver to render the instruments more easily readable by the driver.

Abstract: An air propeller assembly for moving a boat in shallow water includes a mount that can be mounted on a gunwale of a boat. A rod slidably is slidably coupled to the mount and the rod is rotatable about a vertical axis. A plate is coupled to the rod such that the plate is horizontally oriented when the mount is positioned on the gunwale. A steering handle is coupled to and extending away from the plate for steering. A motor is coupled to the plate and a propeller is coupled to the motor. The motor rotates the propeller when the motor is turned on. Additionally, the propeller agitates the air when the propeller is rotated to urge the boat through shallow water.

Abstract: Described herein are latching devices where relative speed of movement between members is in part controlled or reduced via eddy current formation and in part controlled or relative motion stopped via a latch arrangement. Various embodiments are described, one being use of a conductive member; at least one magnetic field and a latch member that, prior to latching, moves independently to the at least one conductive member. A kinematic relationship exists between the conductive member and at least one magnetic field that enables the conductive member to move at a different speed relative to the magnetic field on application of an energizing force, thereby inducing an eddy current drag force by relative movement of the conductive member in the magnetic field. The eddy current drag force resulting causes movement of the conductive member causing the conductive member to engage the latch member thereby halting movement between the at least one conductive member and the at least one latch member.

Abstract: Method and system are provided for notification of network connection errors between connected software systems. The method includes providing an error notification process for a local software system that uses one or more network connections to interact with a remote software system, wherein the error notification process includes a configuration of a selection of one or more error notification paths and enabling the error notification process that remains dormant and monitors the one or more network connections. The method detects an error in a network connection and invoking the error notification process, including: gathering information and building an error notification message; and sending the error notification message to the remote software system at the end of the network connection on which the error is detected via one or more error notification paths selected according to the configuration.

Abstract: An air propeller assembly for moving a boat in shallow water includes a mount that can be mounted on a gunwale of a boat. A rod slidably is slidably coupled to the mount and the rod is rotatable about a vertical axis. A plate is coupled to the rod such that the plate is horizontally oriented when the mount is positioned on the gunwale. A steering handle is coupled to and extending away from the plate for steering. A motor is coupled to the plate and a propeller is coupled to the motor. The motor rotates the propeller when the motor is turned on. Additionally, the propeller agitates the air when the propeller is rotated to urge the boat through shallow water.

Abstract: An absorbent article is disclosed. The absorbent article includes a core and a chassis. One or more discrete bonding zones bond the core to the chassis, and one or more unbonded zones of the core are not bonded to the chassis, forming a floating core. The core is not elastically coupled with the chassis. A method of making the absorbent article may include selectively bonding the chassis to the core at discrete bonding zones.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for establishing an operating environment by certifying a code image received from a host over a communication link are described. The code image may be digitally signed through a central authority server. Certification of the code image may be determined by a fingerprint embedded within a secure storage area such as a ROM (read only memory) of the portable device based on a public key certification process. A certified code image may be assigned a hash signature to be stored in a storage of the portable device. An operating environment of the portable device may be established after executing the certified code.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a torque release tubing rotator comprising a rotator body and a split drive mandrel rotatably coupled to the rotator body. The split drive mandrel receives and engages at least a portion of a tubing hanger. The split drive mandrel comprises an outer driven portion, an inner mandrel portion, and a one-way locking mechanism coupling the outer driven portion and the inner mandrel portion. The disclosure also provides a torque release tubing hanger for a tubing rotator comprising an outer housing, a tubing mandrel suspended from the outer housing, and a locking swivel rotatably coupled to the outer housing. The locking swivel is movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. A bi-directional coupling is also provided. The disclosure also provides a torque release tubing rotator system comprising the tubing rotator and tubing hanger.

Abstract: A computing device for dental impression scan merging includes a processor configured to generate a first model and a second model including a first and second plurality of geometric faces indicative of a first and second dental arch of a user. The processor generates a first point cloud of the first model and a second point cloud of the second model. The processor aligns the first point cloud and the second point cloud. The processor merges the first and second model to generate a merged model where merging the first and second model is based on the alignment of the first point cloud and the second point cloud.

Abstract: Systems and methods facilitate efficient and effective monitoring and control of various activities using a remote self-contained in-field installed device capable of self-harvesting power. A power self harvesting control device comprises: a power sub-system configured to self-harvest energy required of its internal components; a communication sub-system configured to communicate with other external devices; an exterior function interface sub-system configured to generate and receive input/output signals associated with the external component interactions; and a management sub-system configured to manage and coordinate activities of the power control sub-system, the communication sub-system, and external function control sub-system. The management sub-system directs management and coordination of the self-harvested energy supply and consumption. The power sub-subsystem includes a non-removable self contained energy storage component that stores self-harvested energy.

Abstract: Described herein is an elastic core assembly having a base nonwoven layer, a top nonwoven layer, and a plurality of spaced apart elastics sandwiched therebetween. The elastics are secured to one or both layers and form therewith, a plurality of elongated spaces wherein SAP material is deposited. Also described are s system and method of making the elastic core composite or assembly, and a disposable absorbent article incorporating the elastic core assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides alkaline-stable m-terphenyl benzimidazolium hydroxide compounds, in which the C2-position is attached to a phenyl group having various substituents at the ortho positions. Polymers incorporating m-terphenylene repeating groups derived from these alkaline-stable benzimidazolium hydroxide compounds are also presented, along with their inclusion in ionic membranes and in electrochemical devices.

Abstract: Tailoring diagnostic information specific to current activity of multiple threads within a computer system. A request to dump system state is received. A system dump is created, including main memory and system state information. The system dump is stored to a database. In response to a request to format the system dump, the system dump is loaded from the database, whereby a virtual memory image of system state at system dump time is created. The virtual memory image and system state information is scanned to identify tasks that were running, tasks that have failed due to an error, and tasks that were suspended at system dump time. State information and control blocks associated with the identified tasks are collected from the system dump and collated based on task number. The database is updated with a formatted system dump, including the state information and control blocks associated with the identified tasks.

Abstract: An agricultural sensing system includes multiple sensor and/or actuator modules configured to communicate with a relay unit. The sensor and/or actuator modules are powered using solar energy and contain no batteries. The modules feature sleep modes in which some circuits are placed in a low energy mode to conserve energy and remove the need for batteries. Communications to or from the relay unit are optionally timed to avoid interference between transmissions from different sensor and/or actuator modules. The relay units are configured to relay sensor data and send commands to the sensor and/or actuator modules.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for executing, by one or more first processors, one or more software products associated with a measured usage pricing model. An indication is received, during the execution of the software products, to execute a set of diagnostic machine instructions related to the execution of the software products. Responsive to that received indication, the one or more first processors initiate execution, by one or more distinct second processors, of the set of diagnostic machine instructions. The initiating of the execution by the distinct second processors of that set of diagnostic machine instructions is based at least in part on such execution not being associated with the measured usage pricing model.