Abstract: Various devices, systems, and methods are described herein that provide bi-directional, and even multi-directional airflow within fan systems. These fan systems can be utilized by devices such as datacenter switches to change from one direction of airflow (such as port side inlet) to another direction (such as port side exhaust). This can be done manually by having a multi-directional fan housed within an enclosure that provides access through a hatch door. The multi-directional fan can be removed and reoriented to a second direction, thus providing airflow with the same quality and pressure in multiple directions. Fan changes can also be automated through one or more interlocking rotational gears coupled to the fans within a housing, such that rotating one gear will rotate each of the fans within the housing, thus changing the direction of the airflow. By doing this, only one fan is needed to provide airflow in multiple directions.

Abstract: Hammock mounting systems are disclosed herein that may be used to mount a hammock in a variety of ways, including anchoring the system to a vehicle roof rack or from bed rails extending across a truck bed, or using the system as a hammock stand positioned on the ground. These hammock mounting systems include arms that can be deployed in one or more hammock-supporting positions, or folded flat to provide a low profile for height clearance. In some implementations the hammock mounting systems are adjustable to allow the system to be secured to anchor points located various distances apart.

Abstract: A material characterization system and method for characterizing a stream of material emanating from a material identification, exploration, extraction or processing activity, the system including a source of incident radiation configured to irradiate the stream of material in an irradiation region, one or more detectors adapted to detect radiation emanating from within or passing through the stream of material as a result of the irradiation by the incident radiation and thereby produce a detection signal, and one or more digital processors configured to process the detection signal to characterise the stream of material, wherein the source of incident radiation and the one or more detectors are adapted to be disposed relative to the stream of material so as to irradiate the stream of material and detect the radiation emanating from within or passing through the stream as the stream passes through the irradiation region.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for holding the generation of alarm and congratulatory messages. One method includes an operation for capturing motion data using an activity tracking device. Intervals during a day are identified, each interval including a start and an end time, and a near-end time being defined between the start and end times. Another operation is for generating a first notification for display on the activity tracking device when the near-end time of the current interval is reached and the steps taken by the user during the current interval is less than a goal of a predetermined number of steps. Further, the method includes operations for receiving a hold command with a hold period, and for suspending the generation of the first notification during the hold period. After the hold period expires, the generation of the first notification is resumed without requiring user input.

Abstract: A method of determining a spectrum of energies of individual quanta of radiation received in a radiation detector is disclosed. Spectrum sensitive statistics are computed from a time series of digital observations from the radiation detector, defining a mapping from a density of amplitudes of the pulses to the spectrum sensitive statistics. The spectrum is determined by estimating the density of amplitudes of the pulses by applying an inversion of the mapping to the spectrum sensitive statistics. The statistics may be based on a first set of nonoverlapping time intervals of constant length L at least as long as a duration of the pulses without regard to entirety of clusters of the pulses; and a second set of nonoverlapping time intervals of constant length L1 less than L also without regard to entirety of clusters of the pulses. A method of estimating count rate is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for characterising at least part of a material comprising: a source of incident X-rays (4, 28) configured to irradiate at least part of the material; one or more detectors (300,302,312,1701,1704,1600,1607,1608,1604) adapted to detect radiation emanating from within or passing through the material as a result of the irradiation by the incident radiation (1700) and thereby produce a detection signal (313); and one or more digital processors (304-311,2000-2009) configured to process the detection signal (313) to characterise at least part of the material; wherein the one or more detectors (300,302,312,1701, 1704,1600,1607,1608,1604) and one or more digital processors (304-311,2000-2009) are configured to characterise at least part of the material by performing energy resolved photon counting X-ray transmission spectroscopy analysis.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to battery system having a plurality of battery modules and a battery management system. The plurality of battery modules are arranged in series to define a battery string. Each of the plurality of battery modules comprises a supervisory circuit, one or more cell packs, and one or more switches to electrically connect the one or more cell packs to the battery string. The battery management system to selectively switch, for each of the plurality of battery modules, the one or more switches between a first position that electrically places the one or more cell packs in series with the battery string and a second position that electrically bypasses the one or more cell packs from the battery string. The battery management system is configured to electrically couple the battery string with a battery bus via a string switch.

Abstract: A material characterization system and method for characterizing a stream of material emanating from a material identification, exploration, extraction or processing activity, the system including a source of incident radiation configured to irradiate the stream of material in an irradiation region, one or more detectors adapted to detect radiation emanating from within or passing through the stream of material as a result of the irradiation by the incident radiation and thereby produce a detection signal, and one or more digital processors configured to process the detection signal to characterise the stream of material, wherein the source of incident radiation and the one or more detectors are adapted to be disposed relative to the stream of material so as to irradiate the stream of material and detect the radiation emanating from within or passing through the stream as the stream passes through the irradiation region.

Abstract: Provided are a material characterization system and method for characterizing a stream of material emanating from a material identification, exploration, extraction or processing activity, the system including: a source of incident radiation configured to irradiate the stream of material in an irradiation region, one or more detectors configured to detect radiation emanating from within or passing through the stream of material as a result of the irradiation by the incident radiation and thereby produce a detection signal, and one or more digital processors configured to process the detection signal to characterize the stream of material. The source of incident radiation and the one or more detectors are configured to be disposed relative to the stream of material so as to irradiate the stream of material and detect the radiation emanating from within or passing through the stream as the stream passes through the irradiation region.

Abstract: The invention provides a device (100) for screening one or more items (101,1806) of freight or baggage for one or more types of target material, the device comprising: a source (200, 201,1800) of incident radiation (204,206,1804) configured to irradiate the one or more items (101,1806); a plurality of detectors (202,209,1807, 301) adapted to detect packets of radiation (205,207,1700) emanating from within or passing through the one or more items (101, 1806) as a result of the irradiation by the incident radiation (204, 206, 1804), each detector being configured to produce an electrical pulse (312) caused by the detected packets having a characteristic size or shape dependent on an energy of the packets; one or more digital processors (203, 210, 303, 304, 306, 305) configured to process each electrical pulse to determine the characteristic size or shape and to thereby generate a detector energy spectrum for each detector of the energies of the packets detected, and characterize a material associated with the o

Abstract: An infusion extractor is provided including a plunger to be inserted into an infusing container containing the infusion mixture that has vertical inner walls oriented parallel to a vertical axis of the container. The plunger includes a first surface with a seal situated at an edge of the surface. The seal is adapted for sealing against the inner walls of the infusing container as the plunger moves within the container, to define a first chamber containing the mixture of infusible material and extract. The plunger also includes a second surface extending from the first surface and defining a second chamber; the second surface includes extract flow openings which permit flow of extract from the first chamber into the second chamber. At least a portion of the extract flow openings are situated at a depth either above or below the first surface along the vertical axis.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for characterising at least part of a material comprising: a source of incident X-rays (4, 28) configured to irradiate at least part of the material; one or more detectors (300,302,312,1701,1704,1600,1607,1608,1604) adapted to detect radiation emanating from within or passing through the material as a result of the irradiation by the incident radiation (1700) and thereby produce a detection signal (313); and one or more digital processors (304-311,2000-2009) configured to process the detection signal (313) to characterise at least part of the material; wherein the one or more detectors (300,302,312,1701, 1704,1600,1607,1608,1604) and one or more digital processors (304-311,2000-2009) are configured to characterise at least part of the material by performing energy resolved photon counting X-ray transmission spectroscopy analysis.

Abstract: The invention provides a material characterisation system and method for characterising a stream of material emanating from a material identification, exploration, extraction or processing activity, the system comprising: a source of incident radiation (64) configured to irradiate the stream of material in an irradiation region (18); one or more detectors (300,302,312,1701,1704,1600,1607,1608,1604) adapted to detect radiation emanating from within or passing through the stream of material as a result of the irradiation by the incident radiation (1700) and thereby produce a detection signal (313); and one or more digital processors (304-311,2000-2009) configured to process the detection signal to characterise the stream of material; wherein the source of incident radiation (64) and the one or more detectors (300,302,312,1701,1704,1600,1607,1608,1604) are adapted to be disposed relative to the stream of material so as to irradiate the stream of material and detect the radiation emanating from within or passing

Abstract: The invention provides a device (100) for screening one or more items (101,1806) of freight or baggage for one or more types of target material, the device comprising: a source (200, 201,1800) of incident radiation (204,206,1804) configured to irradiate the one or more items (101,1806); a plurality of detectors (202,209,1807, 301) adapted to detect packets of radiation (205,207,1700) emanating from within or passing through the one or more items (101, 1806) as a result of the irradiation by the incident radiation (204, 206, 1804), each detector being configured to produce an electrical pulse (312) caused by the detected packets having a characteristic size or shape dependent on an energy of the packets; one or more digital processors (203, 210, 303, 304, 306, 305) configured to process each electrical pulse to determine the characteristic size or shape and to thereby generate a detector energy spectrum for each detector of the energies of the packets detected, and characterise a material associated with the o

Abstract: An infusion extractor is provided including a plunger to be inserted into an infusing container containing the infusion mixture that has vertical inner walls oriented parallel to a vertical axis of the container. The plunger includes a first surface with a seal situated at an edge of the surface. The seal is adapted for sealing against the inner walls of the infusing container as the plunger moves within the container, to define a first chamber containing the mixture of infusible material and extract. The plunger also includes a second surface extending from the first surface and defining a second chamber; the second surface includes extract flow openings which permit flow of extract from the first chamber into the second chamber. At least a portion of the extract flow openings are situated at a depth either above or below the first surface along the vertical axis.

Abstract: Techniques for administering member profiles on a social networking web site. In some embodiments, for example, a computer-implemented method comprises: sending a browser cookie to a computing device of an authenticated user containing information representing at least one administrative privilege the authenticated user has on a social networking web site; receiving a request for a profile page of a member of a social network from the authenticated user; determining, based on the browser cookie, if the request is made with the at least one administrative privilege; and if so, causing at least a portion of the profile page of the member to be displayed to the authenticated user with a visual indication on the portion of the profile page that the authenticated user currently has the at least one administrative privilege with respect to the member's profile page.

Abstract: An espresso tamper including a force calibration means is shown. The tamper is optimally handheld. Upon force of a desired magnitude being applied by a user, at least one discrete signal, such as an audible, visual, tactile or electrical signal is emitted. The tamper handle includes an anti-rotation feature. The handle is flared to avoid pinching the user's fingers during operation and to stop the user's fingers from sliding down the handle or in any way touching the base, thereby rendering the tamper more effective and safe. The tamper and force-calibration kit and method of use optimize espresso making.

Abstract: A steaming pitcher comprising a flow receiving surface adapted to receive an incoming flow of steam at a substantially oblique angle provides enhanced control of fluid flow inside the steaming pitcher to enhance mixing and heating of the fluid by the incoming steam. The steaming pitcher may also comprise flow directing and launching surfaces to assist in control of fluid flow patterns. A flow control kit with a flow receiving surface may be installed in an existing flat-bottom steaming pitcher to provide aspects of fluid flow control. The flow receiving, flow directing and launching surfaces of the steaming pitcher may be substantially smooth, faceted, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An electrical generating system consists of a fuel cell, and an oxygen gas delivery. The fuel cell includes and anode channel having an anode gas inlet for receiving a supply of hydrogen gas, a cathode channel having a cathode gas inlet and a cathode gas outlet, and an electrolyte in communication with the anode and cathode channel for facilitating ion exchange between the anode and cathode channel. The oxygen gas delivery system is coupled to the cathode gas inlet and delivers oxygen gas to the cathode channel. The electrical current generating system also includes gas recirculation means couple to the cathode gas outlet for recirculating a portion of cathode exhaust gas exhausted from the cathode gas outlet to the cathode gas inlet.

Abstract: Gas separation by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA), to obtain a purified product gas of the less strongly adsorbed fraction of the feed gas mixture, is performed with an apparatus having a plurality of adsorbers. The adsorbers cooperate with first and second valves in a rotary PSA module, with the PSA cycle characterized by multiple intermediate pressure levels between the higher and lower pressures of the PSA cycle. Gas flows enter or exit the PSA module at the intermediate pressure levels as well as the higher and lower pressure levels, under substantially steady conditions of flow and pressure. The PSA module may comprise a rotor containing laminated sheet adsorbers and rotating within a stator, with ported valve faces between the rotor and stator to control the timing of the flows entering or exiting the adsorbers in the rotor.