Abstract: A system for filling a tank for a firefighting helicopter with water without ground personnel, comprising a pilot controlled valve assembly to selectively permit water to flow into the refill tank upon the receipt of a communication transmitted by a communication device within the helicopter. The pilot controlled valve assembly can include a supply valve configured to move between at least a closed state and an open state, a controller configured to control the supply valve, and a receiver configured to send a signal to a controller to cause the controller to at least open the supply valve upon receipt by the receiver of a communication meeting one or more predetermined criteria. The water tank can be filled from a water source, including a municipal water source, when the supply valve is open to provide a more efficient, semi-autonomous refill tank system greatly improves costly and time-consuming manually refill systems.

Abstract: A computing device includes: a memory storing sensor placement rules; a processor connected with the memory, the processor configured to: obtain a floor plan representing a facility, the floor plan including contextual data representing spatial and structural features of the facility; define, based on the contextual data of the floor plan, one or more sensor placement regions within the facility; for each sensor placement region: generate a sensor layout within the sensor placement region based on the sensor placement rules; generate, based on a correspondence between the sensor placement region and the floor plan, a list of sensor devices and corresponding coordinates for each sensor device; and output the list of sensor devices and the corresponding coordinates.

Abstract: A hearing system is disclosed comprising a support unit, and at least one abutment unit, wherein the support unit supports the at least one abutment unit. The at least one abutment unit has a contact surface. The support unit is configured to be placed at a user's head such that the contact surface of the at least one abutment unit contacts the user's head in an area surrounding one of the user's ears, in particular, in an area of one of the user's mastoid bones. The at least one abutment unit comprises a contact element, the contact element being configured to transmit vibrations generated by a vibration generating unit towards the contact surface. The contact element is made of a fiber-reinforced plastic material.

Abstract: Methods for minimally invasive electro-surgical systems are disclosed. One method includes determining if an input device is selected at a control console. If the input device is selected then, providing feedback to a user of the selection of the input device, delaying a first predetermined period of time for the user to receive the feedback, determining if the input device is deselected, and if not deselected, then activating an electrosurgical device to couple energy to tissue. If deselected, the method skips activation of the electrosurgical device. While active, a method includes determining if the input device is deselected, and if so, then deactivating the electrosurgical device, determining if the input device is reselected and if the input device is not reselected, then waiting and determining if a second predetermined period of time has lapsed prior to reselection of the input device and if not, then repeating the reselected determining step.

Abstract: Disclosed is an antimicrobial coating and antimicrobial laminate that can be used on surfaces to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. Spray-on techniques can be used with antimicrobial agents mixed with an air-drying antimicrobial coating and a heated liquid plastic antimicrobial coating. Efficacy of the antimicrobial coating can be monitored by detecting changes in texture, color, opaqueness, fluorescence, and other techniques. Soft plastics and acrylics can be used to suspend the antimicrobial agents to provide better efficacy in the release of antimicrobial agents over time.

Abstract: Balloon catheters for delivery of prosthetic hear valves is provided. The balloon catheters are configured to deploy a prosthetic heart valve through inflation. The balloon catheters are further configured with one or more retention bumpers to reduce or prevent migration of the prosthetic heart valve during delivery. Balloon catheters described herein are configured with substantially incompressible retention bumpers that promote longitudinal inflation fluid flow.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, detecting a first wireless signal associated with a first communication device that interferes with a second wireless signal associated with a second communication device. Further embodiments include identifying a first frequency band in which the first wireless signal is assigned, the first frequency band associated with a first mobile network, and identifying a second frequency band in which the second wireless signal is assigned, the second frequency band associated with a second mobile network. Additional embodiments can include detecting the first wireless signal is above a first power threshold, and providing instructions to a base station associated with the first communication device. The instructions indicate the base station to assign first wireless signal associated with the first communication device from the first frequency band to a third frequency band associated with the first mobile network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for estimating ambient light at a display screen of a device. The method comprises determining one or more expected colour values of display screen output light, detecting light with a sensor positioned behind the display screen, determining one or more colour values of the detected light, determining a difference between the one or more expected colour values of the display screen output light and the one or more colour values of the detected light, and, from the determined difference, estimating a first portion of the detected light corresponding to the display screen output light and a second portion of the detected light corresponding to ambient light.

Abstract: A method of computerized monitoring of investment trading includes providing historic trading data for a specific trader, selecting a plurality of trading parameters for the specific trader and obtaining current information regarding the selected parameters, and/or providing historic trading data and applying rules to the current information and/or historic trading data to determine if a rules violation has occurred. The system may be employed to monitor whether market timing of mutual fund investments has occurred. A corresponding computerized system is disclosed.

Abstract: Compliance inspection system and method. The compliance inspection system includes an interface for at least communicating an inspection assignment to an inspector, wherein the inspection assignment includes an inspection location indicting where an inspection is to occur and for receiving location data related to the inspector. The compliance inspection system also includes a processor executing instructions stored on a memory to analyze the received location data related to the inspector, verify the inspector is at the inspection location based on the analysis of the received location data, and receive inspection documentation related to the inspection from the inspector.

Abstract: A device comprising a plurality of antennas operable to transmit and receive communication packets via a plurality of communication protocols and an integrated circuit chip coupled to the plurality of antennas. The integrated circuit chip comprises a first and a second plurality of processing elements. The first plurality of processing elements operable to receive communication packets via a first one of a plurality of communication protocols and process an optimal route. The second plurality of processing elements communicatively coupled to the first plurality of processing elements and operable to determine the optimal route to transmit the communication packets from a source device to a destination device based, at least in part, on transmission characteristics associated with at least one of the source or destination devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of a sensor device, method and system employ a multiplicity of environmental sensors as a single monitoring and alerting mechanism, operable to provide a profile of any contaminant in terms of various gases and particles in the atmosphere, quantified in terms of relative concentrations. In various embodiments, the sensor device can comprise hardware and firmware elements, including an electronic control system, a case, a shield and a cover. The environmental sensors can be secured as part of the electronic control system and the shield can be formed so as to facilitate proper channeling of air and sound for effective operation.

Abstract: The current invention involves a series of fully recombinant multimerized forms of immunoglobulin Fc which thereby present polyvalent immunoglobulin Fc to immune cell receptors. The fusion proteins exist as both homodimeric and highly ordered multimeric fractions, termed stradomers. In comparison to the homodimeric fraction, purified multimeric stradomers have higher affinity and avidity for Fc?Rs with slower dissociation and are useful in the treatment and prevention of disease. The current invention demonstrates that directly linking IgG1 Fc regions to multimerization domains leads to enhanced multimerization and biological activity.

Abstract: An end-to-end automated testing platform that allows for standardized, enterprise-wide process, compliance and operational exposure testing. The testing platform is self-service, in that, users can manage the process by which (i) data sources are identified and data connections established, (ii) data is mapped from the data sources to meet test requirements, (iii) schedules for executing the test are established, and (iv) rules sets are established as the baseline for testing criteria. In addition, the platform provides for definition of the business rule logic to be used to perform the testing, application of the rule logic against appropriate business data to determine testing results and the dissemination of those results. Additionally, the platform provides for automated generation of test code, execution of the test code and compilation and dissemination of test results.

Abstract: A backpack material dispenser that includes a pumpless pressure tank for storing and discharging a material under pressure contained in the pressure tank and a hose and a shut off valve connected to an output opening of the pressure tank for allowing flow of the material from the pressure tank under pressure and through a nozzle communicating with a discharge end of the hose. A discharge valve communicates with the nozzle proximate the hose for allowing controlled discharge of the material from the nozzle. A backpack assembly mounts the pressure tank for being carried by a user. A charging tank contains a gas under pressure to charge the pressure tank to a predetermined pressure, and a releasable connector of the charging tank attaches to a complementary connector of the pressure tank for charging the pressure tank with the gas under pressure to the suitable pressure tank pressure.

Abstract: Embodiments provide for improved placement bounds. An example method includes identifying, based on a first synthesizing of an integrated circuit layout representation, a plurality of integrated circuit endpoints. The example method further includes identifying, based on a plurality of feature vectors each representing an endpoint of the plurality of integrated circuit endpoints, a plurality of integrated circuit clusters. Each integrated circuit cluster comprises a unique subset of integrated circuit endpoints of the plurality of integrated circuit endpoints. The example method further includes applying, using a processor and based on a subsequent synthesizing of the integrated circuit layout representation, placement bounds to the integrated circuit layout representation. The placement bounds are applied based on the plurality of integrated circuit clusters.

Abstract: A method of constructing a detachment system for delivering an implantable medical device to a target location of a body vessel is presented. The method includes forming a compressible portion on a distal tube, engaging an implantable medical device with an engagement system, extending the engagement system through the distal tube such that the implantable medical device is distal of a distal end of the distal tube, applying a force to the engagement system to compress the compressible portion to a compressed state, fixing the engagement system to the distal tube to maintain the compressed state of the compressible portion, and joining a proximal end of the distal tube to a distal end of a proximal tube. The engagement system can include a loop wire that is fixed to the distal tube and engages the medical device.

Abstract: System, method, and apparatus including receiving an identification of content played by a playback system and an identification of location of the playback system. A playlist of content is associated with the location. A request is received to retrieve the playlist of content and the requested playlist of content is sent to a playback system.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include a method in a user equipment (UE) for transmitting uplink control information in time slots of a subframe over a radio channel to a radio base station. The uplink control information is comprised in a block of bits. The UE maps the block of bits to a sequence of complex valued modulation symbols. The UE block spreads the sequence across Discrete Fourier Transform Spread-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (DFTS-OFDM) symbols. This is performed by applying a spreading sequence to the sequence of complex valued modulation symbols, to achieve a block spread sequence of complex valued modulation symbols. The UE further transforms the block-spread sequence, per DFTS-OFDM symbol. This is performed by applying a matrix that depends on a DFTS-OFDM symbol index and/or slot index to the block-spread sequence. The UE also transmits the block spread sequence, as transformed, over the radio channel to the radio base station.

Abstract: Introduced here is a technology that enables a merchant to create customer-targeted, customized communications by use of a merchant platform executing on a financial service system. The merchant platform generates content for communications that is based on a particular customer segment. The customer segment includes one or more groups of customers segmented based on one or more attributes associated with each group of customers. An attribute is determined based on data collected by the financial service system, where the data is related to transaction data of a plurality of merchants.