Abstract: The present invention relates to the inhalation delivery of aerosols containing small particles. Specifically, it relates to a device that forms drug containing aerosols for use in inhalation therapy. In a device aspect of the present invention, a device for delivering drug containing aerosols for inhalation therapy is provided. The device includes a housing and an airway that has a gas/vapor mixing airway. The airway further includes a subassembly, which has a metallic substrate coated on its surface with a composition comprising a drug.

Abstract: Methods for finding (i) the parameter var(?2), representing the variance of a prior historical distribution ?C(?2) of hidden error variances ?2; (ii) the parameter “a” defining the rate of change of the mean ensemble variance response to changes in true error variance; (iii) the parameter ?2min representing a prior historical minimum of true error variance; (iv) the parameter k?1, representing the relative variance of the stochastic component of variance prediction error; and (v) the parameter M, representing the effective ensemble size.

Abstract: An LES is a surface from which light emanates from a lighting fixture. The present disclosure relates to a providing a lighting fixture that has an actual light emitting surface (A-LES), which is substantially smaller than the maximum potential LES (M-LES) for the lighting fixture. The M-LES is defined as the theoretical maximum LES for the mounting structure of the lighting fixture, and the A-LES is defined as the actual LES of the lighting fixture, as dictated by the lens or optical structures of the lighting fixture. The A-LES may provide an LES that is not only smaller, but also shaped differently, from the M-LES, to help control the light output of the lighting fixture based on the lighting application.

Abstract: A profit optimization module identifies historical transaction data associated with a travel property. The historical transaction data includes bookings made for a same day of the week as the day of arrival during a forecast period for a plurality of previous weeks. The profit optimization module also identifies lost business data associated with the travel property from the historical transaction data. The lost business data includes at least one of a regret or a denial. The profit optimization module forecasts a demand for bookings at the travel property on a day of arrival, wherein the demand for bookings is based on at least in part on the historical transaction data and the lost business data.

Abstract: Described is a device comprising a retro-reflective marker sphere comprising: a core ball comprising: a generally spherical body portion, a mounting base extending from one end of the body portion of the core ball, and a mounting recess having a recess opening in the mounting base and extending into the body portion of the core ball, and a retro-reflective covering on the core ball, the retro-reflective covering comprising an opening through which the mounting base of the core ball extends, wherein a flat lower surface of the mounting base is spaced proximally from a lower edge of the opening of the retro-reflective covering, and wherein the mounting recess includes an interior screw thread for engaging an exterior screw thread of a mounting post when the retro-reflective marker sphere is mounted on the mounting post.

Abstract: The present invention provides hyperactive piggyBac transposons, in particular hyperactive piggyBac transposons from Trichoplusia ni (cabbage looper moth) that transpose at a higher frequency than wildtype. The invention also features integration defective piggyBac transposons. The piggyBac transposons and transposases can be used in gene transfer systems for stably introducing nucleic acids into the DNA of a cell. The gene transfer system can be used in methods, for example, but not limited to, gene therapy, insertional mutagenesis, or gene discovery.

Abstract: An animal trap may include a source of compressed gas; a trigger mechanism configured to be actuated by an animal, and a kill mechanism powered by compressed gas. The trap may include two or more trigger valves connected in series. At least one trigger valve may include an opening, a valve seat surrounding the opening, a valve member having a sealing surface, and an O-ring arranged to seal between the sealing surface and the valve seat. One or more flow paths may allow gas to flow along at least part of an internal periphery of the O-ring. The trigger may include a trigger rod extending in a rest position from a mount at or near a first end thereof. The trigger rod may be mounted for pivoting movement about the mount, and may have two rotational degrees of freedom. Pivoting movement of the trigger rod in any direction away from the rest position may result in actuation of the trigger.

Abstract: Various features are provided for a custom orthodontic appliance manufacturing or designing system. These include features for inputting of data of patient anatomy and practitioner decisions, features for interactively or automatically manipulating data to arrive at applicant characteristics, and features for affecting design or manufacture of the appliance.

Abstract: A braking assembly used in a dispenser that dispenses a continuous supply of material such as paper. The braking assembly includes a support structure. A first fixed gear is rotatably connected to the support structure. A movable chassis is also connected to the support structure. A second movable gear is held by the chassis and moves with the chassis. Teeth of the first gear and teeth of the second gear intermesh with each other and allow the paper to pass therethrough. The chassis maintains the teeth of the first and second gears in contact with each other while enabling a distance between gears to be adjustable. The assembly further includes a braking mechanism that varies an amount of force required to rotate the gears.

Abstract: A method and apparatus may segment a business' customer base and determine one or more business behaviors toward customers based on the segmentation. For example, the method and apparatus may communicate a survey to a plurality of customers including at least one needs-based question and at least one demographics question. The method and apparatus may also group received survey data into a plurality of segments. Using sets of received survey data, the method and apparatus may also classify each of the plurality of customers into a segments based on the received numerical values. The numerical values for each customer data set may correspond to one of the plurality of segments. The method and apparatus may then determine one or more needs of each customer based on the segment and a customer data set and determine a prerequisite business behavior for each segment based on the determined needs of each customer.

Abstract: In one example, a system for a flow cell for a flow battery, comprising: a first flow field; and a polymeric frame, comprising: a top face; a bottom face, opposite the top face; a first side; a second side, opposite the first side; a first electrolyte inlet located on the top face and the first side of the polymeric frame; a first electrolyte outlet located on the top face and the second side of the polymeric frame; a first electrolyte inlet flow path located within the polymeric frame and coupled to the first electrolyte inlet; and a first electrolyte outlet flow path located within the polymeric frame and coupled to the first electrolyte outlet. In this way, shunt currents may be minimized by increasing the length and/or reducing the cross-sectional area of the electrolyte inlet and electrolyte outlet flow paths.

Abstract: A cement for use in wells in which carbon dioxide is injected, stored or extracted, comprises elastomer particles. In the event of cement-matrix failure, or bonding failure between the cement/casing interface or the cement/borehole-wall interface, the elastomer particles swell when contacted by carbon dioxide. The swelling seals voids in the cement matrix, or along the bonding interfaces, thereby restoring zonal isolation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include control methods employed in multiphase distributed energy storage systems that are located behind utility meters typically located at, but not limited to, medium and large commercial and industrial locations. Current solutions for these types of electric load locations entail multiple discrete energy storage systems, where if any piece of an energy storage system is damaged, the ability of the complete power control strategy at the entire electric load location is at risk of becoming inoperable. Some embodiments of the invention include hardware and methods for dynamically reconfiguring networks of distributed energy storage systems that are able to provide automatic site layout discovery using a formed auto-discovering network formed at an electric load location.

Abstract: A method for actuating a tactile interface layer for a device that defines a surface with a deformable region, comprising the steps of detecting a gesture of the user along the surface of the tactile interface layer that includes a movement of a finger of the user from a first location on the surface to a second location on the surface; interpreting the gesture as a command for the deformable region; and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting in a reactor a reaction mixture comprising alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent under conditions effective to form a crude acrylate product. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude acrylate product to recover a finished acrylate product. The reaction is conducted at a reaction pressure less than 120 kPa.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for employing a token based arbiter. The apparatus includes a priority provider (26) comprising a processor for calculating an arbiter metric and an identity provider (18) having a processor for embedding the metric into a secured token. The apparatus also comprises memory coupled to the processor having one or more instructions executable at the processor. The processor is operable when executing the instructions to: collect authorization attributes (A) from one or more users seeking use of a resource (20) associated with a service provider; determine the level of priority to the one or more users based on prescribed policy of the priority provider; assign at least one arbiter metric (22, 32) to a secured token (T) for each of the one or more users based on the level of priority identified by the priority provider.

Abstract: An LES is a surface from which light emanates from a lighting fixture. The present disclosure relates to a providing a lighting fixture that has an actual light emitting surface (A-LES), which is substantially smaller than the maximum potential LES (M-LES) for the lighting fixture. The M-LES is defined as the theoretical maximum LES for the mounting structure of the lighting fixture, and the A-LES is defined as the actual LES of the lighting fixture, as dictated by the lens or optical structures of the lighting fixture. The A-LES may provide an LES that is not only smaller, but also shaped differently, from the M-LES, to help control the light output of the lighting fixture based on the lighting application.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel condensation aerosols for the treatment of disease and/or intermittent or acute conditions. These condensation aerosols have little or no pyrolysis degradation products and are characterized by having an MMAD of between 1-3 microns. These aerosols are made by rapidly heating a substrate coated with a thin film of drug having a thickness of between 0.05 and 20 ?m, while passing a gas over the film, to form particles of a desirable particle size for inhalation. Kits comprising a drug and a device for producing a condensation aerosol are also provided. The device contained in the kit typically, has an element for heating the drug which is coated as a film on the substrate and contains a therapeutically effective dose of a drug when the drug is administered in aerosol form, and an element allowing the vapor to cool to form an aerosol. Also disclosed, are methods for using these aerosols and kits.

Abstract: This invention discloses cannabinoid derivatives and pharmaceutical uses thereof.

Abstract: Articles of apparel include: (a) a garment structure having one or more fabric elements structured and arranged to provide a close fit to at least one predetermined portion of a body (e.g., area(s) of the body for which enhanced position sensing and/or feedback are desired, such as the lower back, the arch of the foot, etc.); and (b) a body position feedback system engaged with or integrally formed as part of the garment structure. The body position feedback system may apply higher tensile or constricting forces to selected portions of the wearer's body, which can help stimulate or interact with nerves and deep tissue receptors located in various portions of the body. The increased forces at selected locations of the body give the wearer sensory feedback regarding the position or orientation of these parts of the body and can improve or accelerate development of “muscle memory.