Abstract: A humidifier includes a housing, a water reservoir configured to hold a quantity of water, a fan assembly configured to generate an air flow path within the humidifier, a sanitizing system, and a wick assembly. The sanitizing system is configured to generate a sanitizing gas and to transfer the sanitizing gas to the water reservoir such that at least a portion of the sanitizing gas is absorbed into the water in the water reservoir. The wick assembly is fluidly configured to receive water from the water reservoir and transfer the water into the air flow path to generate humidified air. The water received by the wick assembly includes at least a portion of the sanitizing gas absorbed into the water, wherein at least a portion of the water received by wick assembly flows back to the water reservoir.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite comprising a metal alloy matrix; where the metal alloy matrix comprises aluminum in an amount greater than 50 atomic percent; a first metal and a second metal; where the first metal is different from the second metal; and where the metal alloy matrix comprises a low temperature melting phase and a high temperature melting phase; where the low temperature melting phase melts at a temperature that is lower than the high temperature melting phase; and a contracting constituent; where the contracting constituent exerts a compressive force on the metal alloy matrix at a temperature between a melting point of the low temperature melting phase and a melting point of the high temperature melting phase or below the melting points of the high and low temperature melting phases.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite comprising a metal alloy matrix; where the metal alloy matrix comprises aluminum in an amount greater than 50 atomic percent; a first metal and a second metal; where the first metal is different from the second metal; and where the metal alloy matrix comprises a low temperature melting phase and a high temperature melting phase; where the low temperature melting phase melts at a temperature that is lower than the high temperature melting phase; and a contracting constituent; where the contracting constituent exerts a compressive force on the metal alloy matrix at a temperature between a melting point of the low temperature melting phase and a melting point of the high temperature melting phase or below the melting points of the high and low temperature melting phases.

Abstract: A liquid quality system for removing particulates from liquid (e.g., storm-water runoff). The system can include tubular portion (e.g., a manhole). The tubular portion has an inlet and an outlet. The system includes liquid quality device. The liquid quality device includes a partitioning portion. The partitioning portion has a first region including a funnel shape with a sump inlet aperture. The partitioning portion also has a second region including a sump outlet aperture and optionally a sump access aperture. A sump region is located between a base portion and the partitioning portion, wherein a flow of the liquid travels from the inlet in the tubular portion, into the funnel, through the sump inlet aperture, into the sump region, through the sump outlet aperture, and out the outlet of the tubular portion. At least one drag-inducing portion is positioned proximate the tubular portion in the sump region and projecting inwardly towards a central axis of the sump region.

Abstract: A liquid quality system for removing particulates from liquid (e.g., storm-water runoff). The system can include tubular portion (e.g., a manhole). The tubular portion has an inlet and an outlet. The system includes liquid quality device. The liquid quality device includes a partitioning portion. The partitioning portion has a first region including a funnel shape with a sump inlet aperture. The partitioning portion also has a second region including a sump outlet aperture and optionally a sump access aperture. A sump region is located between a base portion and the partitioning portion, wherein a flow of the liquid travels from the inlet in the tubular portion, into the funnel, through the sump inlet aperture, into the sump region, through the sump outlet aperture, and out the outlet of the tubular portion. At least one drag-inducing portion is positioned proximate the tubular portion in the sump region and projecting inwardly towards a central axis of the sump region.

Abstract: An implantable heart assist system includes a compressible pumping chamber including an inlet conduit configured to be placed in fluid connection with the descending thoracic aorta and an outlet conduit configured to be placed in fluid connection with the thoracic aorta; and a pump system comprising a first rigid member, a second rigid member spaced from the first rigid member so that at least a portion of the pumping chamber may be positioned between the first rigid member and the second rigid member, a drive system configured to cause the second rigid member to move toward the first rigid member or away from the first rigid member, and a controller in operative connection with the drive system and controlling the motor, wherein movement of the second rigid member toward the first rigid member results in compression of the pumping chamber and movement of the second rigid member away from the first rigid member causes expansion of the pumping chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite comprising a metal alloy matrix; where the metal alloy matrix comprises aluminum in an amount greater than 50 atomic percent; a first metal and a second metal; where the first metal is different from the second metal; and where the metal alloy matrix comprises a low temperature melting phase and a high temperature melting phase; where the low temperature melting phase melts at a temperature that is lower than the high temperature melting phase; and a contracting constituent; where the contracting constituent exerts a compressive force on the metal alloy matrix at a temperature between a melting point of the low temperature melting phase and a melting point of the high temperature melting phase or below the melting points of the high and low temperature melting phases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a battery comprising liquid electrolyte, used in moving vehicles, wherein the battery includes a battery housing comprising side walls, a housing floor and a cover, a liquid electrolyte, the level of which is within predetermined tolerance limits, electrodes, a flow channel plate arranged at least on one side wall so as to form .a flow channel, wherein the upper end of said flow channel serves as exhaust port, a mixing vessel comprising a mixing vessel floor and mixing vessel side walls being arranged above the electrodes wherein the mixing vessel side wall adjoining the exhaust port is formed as an overflow the mixing vessel floor being located below the minimum level for the liquid electrolyte, which minimum level is provided for operational reasons, and at least one floor opening being provided in the mixing vessel floor.

Abstract: A system for assisting blood flow in a patient includes an implantable pump system for assisting in blood flow from the heart and an implantable control system for communicative connection with the implantable pump system. The control system includes a pacemaker system that is operative to control heart rate and the pump system interdependently to achieve a determined level of blood flow assist. The control system is adapted to increase the heart rate of the patient to above a normal heart rate for the patient under the present conditions of the patient via the pacemaker while controlling the pump system to achieve the determined level of blood flow assist based upon the increased heart rate and a level of assist provided by the pump system.

Abstract: An implantable pump system for assisting blood flow includes a flexible conduit, at least one movable valve in fluid connection with the flexible conduit, a drive system comprising a rotary motor and a speed reducer operatively connected to the rotary motor; and a converter operatively connected to the drive system and operatively connected to the valve to drive the valve in a reciprocating linear manner. In a number of embodiments, the speed reducer includes a spur gear driving a ring gear, wherein the converter is operatively connected to the speed reducer.

Abstract: In one aspect, an implantable pump system for assisting blood flow in a patient includes a blood flow path comprising a flexible conduit, at least one valve in fluid connection with the flexible conduit, a drive system in operative connection with the valve to move the valve in a reciprocating manner, an implantable control system and at least one sensor in communicative connection with the control system. The sensor is adapted to measure at least one property of blood. The control system is adapted to control movement of the valve on the basis of data regarding position of the valve with respect to time or a derivative thereof (that is, position, velocity, acceleration or a derivative thereof) in combination with data of the measured at least one property of blood from the sensor.

Abstract: An implantable pump system for assisting blood flow includes a conduit adapted to be placed in fluid connection with a blood vessel and at least one movable valve in fluid connection with the conduit. The valve includes at least one closure member in operative connection with an opening therein. The pump system further includes and an activating system adapted to actively move the closure member toward at least one of a closed position or an open position and a drive system to move the valve. The closure member can, for example, be biased toward an open position.

Abstract: A method for hardware characterization in a virtual environment is provided in the illustrative embodiments. The hardware resource is allocated to a test virtual machine (VM). A characterization workload is configured to execute in the test VM to characterize a parameter of the hardware resource. The characterization workload is caused to execute on the test VM. A first result of the characterization workload execution is received from the test VM, wherein the result assigns a value to a characteristic of the hardware resource indicative of a behavior of the hardware resource under a set of circumstances.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention provides a system wherein light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be tuned within a given range by selecting their operating drive current in order to obtain a precise wavelength. The present invention further provides a manner in which to calibrate and utilize an LED probe, such that the shift in wavelength for a known change in drive current is a known quantity. In general, the principle of wavelength shift for current drive changes for LEDs is utilized in order to allow better calibration and added flexibility in the use of LED sensors, particularly in applications when the precise wavelength is needed in order to obtain accurate measurements. The present invention also provides a system in which it is not necessary to know precise wavelengths of LEDs where precise wavelengths were needed in the past. Finally, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the operating wavelength of a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode.