Abstract: A machine may be configured to subscribe a user to a data feed that corresponds to an activity. The machine may generate an optically scannable code that encodes an activity identifier of the activity. The machine may cause a first device to access this optically scannable code, and the first device may present the optically scannable code to a second device. The second device may scan the optically scannable code, and the machine may detect that the optically scannable code has been scanned by the second device. In response to this detection, the machine may subscribe a user of the second device to a data feed that corresponds to the activity. Hence, a first user may present the optically scannable code using one device, and a second user can scan the optically scannable code using another device and be subscribed to the data feed for the activity.

Abstract: A completely disposable cooking apparatus used for filling and decorating of foods, that is a one-piece disposable construction, comprising a one-piece, funnel-shaped bag with a soft side wall, having an open first end at the “top” or wider end of the funnel through which food material can be inserted into the bag and a closed second end at the “bottom” or narrow end of the funnel, with an integral, malleable, conical shaped, discharge orifice (also sometimes referred to as a nozzle or a tip). The orifice has serrations or ridges extending inwardly from the internal wall of the orifice, running longitudinally or parallel to the cone axis for all or a part of the length of the orifice. The orifice can either be initially closed or manufactured with a small opening or hole. The orifice is made of a material so that it is capable of being cut at any point along its longitudinal axis to yield an exit opening or hole with a desired size. Regardless of the point of cut, i.e.

Abstract: A system and method for processing, i.e., sampling and tracking, plant material requires the ability to identify each plant in a plurality of plants. Initially, samples are taken from selected plants and are collected in respective storage locations in a magazine. During sampling, the identity of the plant source for each plant sample is stored. Further, the identity of each storage location receiving a plant sample is stored. Subsequently, the samples are transferred from the storage locations and are placed in respective wells of a receiving member for further downstream processing. Again, the identity of each well receiving a plant sample is stored. As a result, a plant sample in a well can be traced back to its plant source.

Abstract: A magnetron includes a cathode and a vacuum envelope in which the cathode extends. The vacuum envelope includes a portion extending radially relative to the axis of the cathode. A pair of electrically conducting support arms for supporting the cathode are in electrical connection with cathode supply terminals. The support arms have free ends connected to the cathode by leads. A wall extends across an area of the radially-extending portion. The wall is positioned along the radially-extending portion nearer to an end of the radially-extending portion that is adjacent to the cathode than to an end that is remote from the cathode and the support arms are mounted in the wall.

Abstract: A system includes a relay, an actuation circuit, and an actuation delay circuit. The relay is coupled to a source of an input voltage or current waveform. The relay includes an actuation coil. The actuation circuit detects a peak or valley of a rectified voltage ripple waveform. The rectified voltage ripple waveform is generated from the input voltage or current waveform. The actuation circuit also causes an actuation voltage to be provided to the actuation coil. The actuation delay circuit delays the actuation circuit from providing the actuation voltage. The actuation delay circuit is configured based on the peak or valley of the rectified voltage ripple waveform. The actuation delay generated by the actuation delay circuit causes the relay to begin allowing current to flow to a load device at a time coincident with a zero-crossing time value of the input voltage or current waveform.

Abstract: A machine may be configured to subscribe a user to a data feed that corresponds to an activity. The machine may generate an optically scannable code that encodes an activity identifier of the activity. The machine may cause a first device to access this optically scannable code, and the first device may present the optically scannable code to a second device. The second device may scan the optically scannable code, and the machine may detect that the optically scannable code has been scanned by the second device. In response to this detection, the machine may subscribe a user of the second device to a data feed that corresponds to the activity. Hence, a first user may present the optically scannable code using one device, and a second user can scan the optically scannable code using another device and be subscribed to the data feed for the activity.

Abstract: A method of making an absorbent structure having a three-dimensional topography includes placing at least a portion of the absorbent structure between opposed mold surfaces. At least one of the mold surfaces has a three-dimensional topography. The three-dimensional topography of the mold surface is imparted onto the absorbent structure so that the absorbent structure has a three-dimensional topography corresponding to the three-dimensional topography of the mold surface.

Abstract: A method of making an absorbent structure having a three-dimensional topography includes placing at least a portion of the absorbent structure between opposed mold surfaces. At least one of the mold surfaces has a three-dimensional topography. The three-dimensional topography of the mold surface is imparted onto the absorbent structure so that the absorbent structure has a three-dimensional topography corresponding to the three-dimensional topography of the mold surface.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for deploying a configuration in a process control system wherein at least a portion of the configuration is deployed to a set of field devices. Initially the set of deployment packages are stored within a configuration storage. Thereafter, deployment is initiated on the set of deployment packages from the configuration storage. In response to the initiating deployment step, an automated cascaded deployment is commenced to the set of connected field devices. The automated cascaded deployment includes first deploying the sets of deployment packages to a set of control module assemblies. The method furthermore includes second deploying the received portions of the set of deployment packages to a set of I/O module assemblies. The set of I/O module assemblies maintain and pass the received sub-portions of the set of deployment packages to sets of field devices.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus used for filling and decorating of foods, comprising in some embodiments a one-piece, funnel-shaped bag with a soft side wall, having an open first end at the “top” through which food material and coloring agents can be inserted into the bag and a closed second end at the “bottom” end of the funnel, with an integral, malleable, conical shaped, discharge orifice. The orifice may have serrations or ridges extending inwardly from the internal wall of the orifice, running longitudinally or parallel to the cone axis. The orifice may be initially closed or manufactured with a small opening. The orifice may be made of a material capable of being cut to yield an exit opening. The inwardly extending serrations that remain after a cut may insure that the material is “treated” as it is expelled from the bag through the orifice to yield a ribbon candy design.

Abstract: The invention provides nucleic acid therapeutics and methods for using these nucleic acid therapeutics in the treatment of complement-related disorders.

Abstract: A mechanism for integrating print quality enhancement (PQE) and multi-bit halftone data is disclosed. A system of embodiments of the invention includes a print control unit communicably coupled to a printer, the print control unit operable to process received multi-bit input print data for printing by the printer. The system further comprises a PQE card communicably coupled with the printer, the PQE card configured to separate multi-bit text and line art input data from multi-bit halftone image input data in the multi-bit input print data, ignore any of the identified multi-bit halftone image input data for purposes of applying PQE technology to the identified multi-bit halftone image input data, and apply the PQE technology to the identified multi-bit text and line art input data. Lastly, the system includes a print head communicably coupled to the printer, the print head operable to print multi-bit output created by the PQE card.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating frac water may include a vacuum container to support a vacuum, a heating device to heat the vacuum container, a spiral auger to rotate to separate the frac water being positioned within the vacuum container, a condenser to condense the water vapor to liquid water, a second vacuum chamber to receive the liquid water and a storage container to store the liquid water.

Abstract: An adjustment mechanism (20) for an article of furniture includes a support structure (22) securable to a seat base of the article of furniture. A carrier (24) is displaceably arranged relative to the support structure (22), the carrier (24) being configured to mount a component (12) of the article of furniture. A link assembly (26) interconnects the support structure (22) and the carrier (24). The link assembly (26) comprises at least one linkage mechanism (52) which causes initial, substantially linear motion of the carrier (24) relative to the support structure (22) to become substantially rotary motion as the carrier (24) moves from a first position to a second position relative to the seat base of the article of furniture.

Abstract: The invention provides nucleic acid therapeutics and methods for using these nucleic acid therapeutics in the treatment of complement-related disorders.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing plant material samples and a transfer station designed for use in such systems and methods. In one embodiment, the system includes a controller, a plant-material sampling device, and a transfer station. The plant-material sampling device is configured to communicate with the controller and to read an identifier of a plant. The sampling device also has a removable magazine, and is designed to take at least one plant sample from multiple plants, place such samples in the magazine, and track the identity of the plant from which each sample is taken. The transfer station is configured to hold, at multiple positions, multiple magazines and multiple trays such that the positions of the magazines are mirrored by the positions of the trays, read an identifier of each magazine, read an identifier of each tray, map storage locations for each one of the magazines to storage locations of one of the trays, and sequentially unload plant samples from the magazines to the trays.

Abstract: A completely disposable cooking apparatus used for preparing, filling assembling and decorating of foods, that is a one-piece disposable construction, comprising an elongated bag with a soft side wall, an open first end through which food material can be inserted into the bag and a second end that is closed by a tapered discharge orifice (also sometimes referred to as a nozzle or a tip). The orifice has a first end in contact with the second end of the bag and a distal end away from the bag. The cross-sectional area of the orifice at the first end is greater than the cross-sectional area of the orifice at the distal end. The orifice is made of a material so that it is capable of being cut at any point along its longitudinal axis to yield an exit opening or hole with a desired size.

Abstract: A completely disposable cooking apparatus used for filling and decorating of foods, that is a one-piece disposable construction, comprising a one-piece, funnel-shaped bag with a soft side wall, having an open first end at the “top” or wider end of the funnel through which food material can be inserted into the bag and a closed second end at the “bottom” or narrow end of the funnel, with an integral, malleable, conical shaped, discharge orifice (also sometimes referred to as a nozzle or a tip). The orifice has serrations or ridges extending inwardly from the internal wall of the orifice, running longitudinally or parallel to the cone axis for all or a part of the length of the orifice. The orifice can either be initially closed or manufactured with a small opening or hole. The orifice is made of a material so that it is capable of being cut at any point along its longitudinal axis to yield an exit opening or hole with a desired size. Regardless of the point of cut, i.e.

Abstract: The invention provides nucleic acid therapeutics and methods for using these nucleic acid therapeutics in the treatment of complement-related disorders.

Abstract: A method of making an absorbent structure having a three-dimensional topography includes placing at least a portion of the absorbent structure between opposed mold surfaces. At least one of the mold surfaces has a three-dimensional topography. The three-dimensional topography of the mold surface is imparted onto the absorbent structure so that the absorbent structure has a three-dimensional topography corresponding to the three-dimensional topography of the mold surface.