Abstract: A cuff is described for a target anatomic feature within a body, along with a system for utilizing the cuff. The cuff includes a band defining a circumferential opening extending along a length of the band; and a pair of engagement surfaces defined by or affixed to the cuff, the engagement surfaces structured for application of a spreading force to be distributed continuously along a portion of the circumferential opening, thereby increasing the circumferential opening and expanding the cuff for a closed configuration to an open configuration sized for placement of the cuff. The cuff is structured to remain in the closed configuration in the absence of the spreading force and automatically return to the closed configuration after removal of the spreading force.

Abstract: This disclosure describes various configurations and components of a molten fuel fast or thermal nuclear reactor for managing the operating temperature in the reactor core. The disclosure includes various configurations of direct reactor auxiliary cooling system (DRACS) heat exchangers and primary heat exchangers as well as descriptions of improved flow paths for nuclear fuel, primary coolant and DRACS coolant through the reactor components.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for using foam fractionation to remove non-polar waste molecules, including, but not limited to, sewage bacteria, environmental contaminants, and/or sediment/turbidity caused by dredging activities, from open-water aquatic environments. Some foam fractionation systems disclosed herein generally include a plurality of floating foam fractionation devices, each floating foam fractionation device including a floating body, a submerged hood coupled to the body, and at least one submerged air conduits for releasing bubbles into the surrounding water. Other foam fractionation systems disclosed herein generally include a submerged bubble generation device and a floating intake unit positioned remotely from the submerged bubble generation device.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable assembly comprises: a cable jacket; optical fibers carried within the cable jacket and extending beyond a first end of the cable jacket; a furcation body positioned on the first end of the cable jacket such that the optical fibers extend beyond the furcation body; and a pulling grip assembly having a proximal end selectively secured to the furcation body, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and an interior that contains fiber end sections. The interior of the pulling grip assembly is sealed off from an exterior of the cable assembly to provide sealed protection for the fiber end sections. The pulling grip assembly may include one or more air intake devices (e.g., cap or diaphragm) to harness energy from pressurized air used in a jetting process and thereby make it easier to pull the cable assembly through ducts.

Abstract: A hyperspectral facial analysis system and method for personalized health scoring to assess the risk that a person has a disease. Embodiments capture images in multiple spectral bands, such as visible, infrared, and ultraviolet, and analyze these images to generate multiple health metrics, such as pallor, temperature, sweat, and chromophores. These metrics may be combined into an overall health score that may be used for screening. Image analysis may focus on the area under the eyes, where skin is thinnest. Images may be compared to a reference population to identify anomalous values, so that health scoring automatically adjusts for local conditions. Pallor may be calculated based on hue and saturation of visible light images. Temperature may be calculated based on infrared image intensity. Sweat may be calculated using cross-polarized images to identify specular highlights. Chromophores may be calculated by comparing frequency domain ultraviolet images to those of the reference population.

Abstract: A lead device is provided for a medical treatment apparatus, where the lead device includes protruding anchoring mechanisms for anchoring the lead device in tissue. The anchoring mechanism include permanent anchoring mechanisms, or a combination of permanent and dissolvable anchoring mechanisms, to anchor the device in tissue. The anchoring mechanism resists migration of the lead device in at least one or both axial directions.

Abstract: A lead device is provided for a medical treatment apparatus, where the lead device includes mechanisms for anchoring the lead device in tissue.

Abstract: A telepresence device comprising: a body; a camera apparatus; a first microphone; a loudspeaker; a transceiver receiving port, the transceiver receiving port operable to connect a detachable transceiver to the body; and a processor coupled to the camera apparatus, the first microphone, the loudspeaker, and the transceiver receiving port, the processor operable to communicate with an electronic communications device, wherein the transceiver receiving port is configured to couple the detachable transceiver to the processor when the detachable transceiver is connected to the body at the transceiver receiving port to enable the telepresence device to wirelessly communicate with a headset.

Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that allow for active cooling of the containment vessel of the reactor by the primary coolant. Furthermore, naturally circulating reactor configurations are described in which the reactor cores are substantially frustum-shaped so that the thermal center of the reactor core is below the outlet of the primary heat exchangers. Heat exchanger configurations are described in which welded components are distanced from the reactor core to reduce the damage caused by neutron flux from the reactor. Radial loop reactor configurations are also described.

Abstract: A system and method configured to improve the function of a network of Power Over Ethernet (POE) devices. The system and method is configured such that a digital video recorder (DVR) actively monitors the POE devices using the POE device application programming interface (API). The DVR, in response to a POE failure or non-responsive POE status may automatically power cycle the port of the network switch corresponding to the POE device, or may power cycle (reboot) the network switch. The system and method also may notify a remote user through a wide area network (WAN) and remote monitor, allowing the remote user to alternatively manually power cycle the network switch and/or the POE(s) ports.

Abstract: Hand recognition system that compares narrow band ultraviolet-absorbing skin chromophores to identify a subject. Ultraviolet images of hands show much greater detail than visible light images, so matching of ultraviolet images may be much more accurate. A database of known persons may contain reference ultraviolet hand images tagged with each person's identity. Reference images and subject images may be processed to locate the hands, identify features (such as chromophores), compare and match feature descriptors, and calculate correlation scores between the subject image and each reference image. Locating and normalizing hand images may use infrared and visible light cameras in addition to ultraviolet. If the subject is moving, the subject's hand may be tracked, a 3D model of the subject's hand may be developed from multiple images, and this model may be rotated so that the orientation matches that of the reference images.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a video system. The video system includes a digital video recorder comprising a first camera interface configured to receive video captured from a first plurality of cameras, a packet interface configured to receive in a packet format video captured by a second plurality of cameras, and a storage system configured to store the video captured by the first plurality of cameras and the video captured by the second plurality of cameras. The video system also includes a video encoder coupled to the digital video recorder by a packet link, where the video encoder includes a second camera interface configured to receive video captured from the second plurality of cameras and an output interface configured to transfer in the packet format the video captured by the second plurality of cameras for delivery to the digital video recorder over the packet link.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable assembly comprises: a cable jacket; distinct groups of optical fibers carried within the cable jacket and extending beyond a first end of the cable jacket; a furcation body positioned on the first end of the cable jacket such that the distinct groups of optical fibers extend beyond the furcation body; and a pulling grip assembly having a proximal end selectively secured to the furcation body, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and an interior between the proximal end and the distal end that contains fiber end sections. The interior of the pulling grip assembly is sealed off from an exterior of the cable assembly to provide sealed protection for the fiber end sections over an ambient temperate range of at least between ?20 to 50° C. while applying a tensile load of at least 300 lbs to the distal end of the pulling grip assembly.

Abstract: A system and method configured to improve the function of a network of Power Over Ethernet (POE) devices. The system and method is configured such that a digital video recorder (DVR) actively monitors the POE devices using the POE device application programming interface (API). The DVR, in response to a POE failure or non-responsive POE status may automatically power cycle the port of the network switch corresponding to the POE device, or may power cycle (reboot) the network switch. The system and method also may notify a remote user through a wide area network (WAN) and remote monitor, allowing the remote user to alternatively manually power cycle the network switch and/or the POE(s) ports.

Abstract: A fitness training apparatus comprising a controller configured to communicate instructions to a load generator to apply a selectively adjustable load to at least one retractable line provided in or on a base, the retractable line having a free end region, the at least one retractable line being extendible from a retracted state to an extended state upon application of a force to the free end region, wherein the load applied to the at least one retractable line acts against the force applied to the free end region. The controller is configured to perform operations comprising setting a target speed band for the at least one retractable line, receiving a speed of the at least one retractable line, and responsive to comparing the speed to the target speed band, modifying the selectively adjustable load to the at least one retractable line to maintain the target speed band.

Abstract: A hopper barge is disclosed. The hopper barge comprises a hopper compartment for carrying a plurality of containers, the hopper compartment comprising a hopper compartment deck. The hopper barge comprises an inner-bottom portion defined in part by the hopper compartment deck and a bottom portion of the hopper barge. A plurality of longitudinal bulkheads are arranged in parallel within the inner-bottom portion of the hopper barge. A plurality of transverse bulkheads are arranged in parallel within the inner-bottom portion of the hopper barge, the plurality of transverse bulkheads running perpendicular to the plurality of longitudinal bulkheads. A plurality of pedestal supports are affixed to the hopper compartment deck, wherein at least one of the plurality of longitudinal bulkheads intersects at least one of the plurality of transverse bulkheads at a position beneath at least one of the plurality of pedestal supports.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor includes a heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy from a primary reactor coolant to a secondary coolant. The heat exchanger is a compact plate heat exchanger and more than one heat exchanger may be spaced about the reactor vessel. A plurality of heat exchangers may be spaced vertically, radially, and/or circumferentially about the reactor vessel. A first heat exchanger may be in fluid communication with a second heat exchanger. Two or more heat exchangers may share a thermal load and therefore share thermal stresses. The heat exchanger may have a third fluid flow path and a third fluid. The third fluid may be used to remove fission products, be used for leak detection, create an oxidation layer to inhibit migration of activation products, and/or provide additional heat transfer.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor is designed to couple the load path of the control elements with the reactor core, thus reducing the opportunity for differential movement between the control elements and the reactor core. A cartridge core barrel can be fabricated in a manufacturing facility to include the reactor core, control element supports, and control element drive system. The cartridge core barrel can be mounted to a reactor vessel head, and any movement, such as through seismic forces, transmits an equal direction and magnitude to the control elements and the reactor core, thus inhibiting the opportunity for differential movement.

Abstract: A fitness training apparatus comprising: a base, at least one retractable line provided in or on the base, and a load generator provided in or on the base for applying a selectively adjustable load to the at least one retractable line. The retractable line has a free end region for operation by a user, wherein the at least one retractable line is configured and arranged to be extended from a retracted state in or on the base to an extended state upon application of a force to the free end region of the retractable line by the user. The load applied to the retractable line by the load generator resists or acts against the force applied to the free end region by the user for extending the retractable line from the retracted state to the extended state.

Abstract: Facial recognition system that compares narrow band ultraviolet-absorbing skin chromophores to identify a subject. Ultraviolet images show much greater facial detail than visible light images, so matching of ultraviolet images may be much more accurate. Embodiments of the system may have a camera that is sensitive to ultraviolet, and a special lens and filter that pass the relevant ultraviolet wavelengths. A database of known persons may contain reference ultraviolet facial images tagged with each person's identity. Reference images and subject images may be processed to locate the face, identify features (such as chromophores), compare and match feature descriptors, and calculate correlation scores between the subject image and each reference image. If the subject is moving, the subject's face may be tracked, a 3D model of the subject's face may be developed from multiple images, and this model may be rotated so that the orientation matches that of the reference images.