Abstract: There is described a method and apparatus for monitoring the play at a gaming table. The disclosed embodiment comprises a dealing shoe adapted to output signals when cards are dealt, and an input device operable by means of sensors and/or by the dealer to output signals indicating the occurrence of events during game play such as the arrival and departure of players from the table, the placing of the first bet for each game, and the resolution of the wagers to end the game. Output signals are received and stored in a memory with an associated timestamp, and analysis of the signals and their respective timestamps enables the apparatus to determine the number of players present for each game, and to calculate the number of games played, and the duration of each game.

Abstract: A process is presented where a feed stream containing a hydrogen sulfide and another feed component is introduced into an absorber that the feed stream flows upward from the bottom of the absorber and contacts a liquid treatment solution, where the liquid treatment solution contains a sulfur dye catalyst. The hydrogen sulfide is absorbed into the liquid treatment solution and converted into sulfide ions. The other feed component is removed from the absorber vessel substantially free of the hydrogen sulfide and a spent treatment solution is also removed from the absorber vessel and fed to an oxidation vessel where it is contacted with an oxygen containing gas causing the sulfide ions to oxidize to thiosulfate and converting the spent sulfur dye catalyst to regenerated sulfur dye catalyst. The thiosulfate is recovered, and the regenerated sulfur dye catalyst can be recycled as part of the liquid treatment solution.

Abstract: Methods and systems measure a vehicle body parameter; e.g., a wheel alignment parameter such as ride height. Embodiments include a system having a target attachable to a vehicle body, and an image sensor for viewing the target and capturing image data thereof. A processor processes the image data, determines an initial spatial position of the target based on the processed image data, compares the initial spatial position of the target with a reference position, and prompts a user to align the target to an adjusted spatial position when the initial spatial position differs from the reference position more than a threshold amount. The vehicle body parameter value is determined based on the target's adjusted spatial position. In certain embodiments, the adjusted spatial position differs from the reference position by a position error value, and the processor mathematically corrects the vehicle body parameter value based on the position error value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, compositions and kits for the treatment or prevention of respiratory conditions. In particular, the methods, compositions and kits are particularly useful, but not limited to, the prevention and/or treatment of rhinovirus infection and the prevention and/or treatment of asthma exacerbation. The invention provides a method inhibiting a rhinovirus infection in a subject comprising administering a composition consisting of a compound comprising a TLR2 agonist and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for modifying a template double stranded polynucleotide, especially for characterization using nanopore sequencing. The method produces from the template a plurality of modified double stranded polynucleotides. These modified polynucleotides can then be characterized.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an object, comprising depositing a first layer of first object material on a support substrate electrode; applying a conductive agent material onto the first layer; depositing a first layer of charged powder on an intermediate substrate; conveying the first layer of charged powder on the intermediate substrate proximate to the first layer of first object material; and applying a transferring electric field to cause transfer of the first layer of charged powder from the intermediate substrate onto the first layer on the support substrate electrode, to form a first powder layer on the first layer on the support substrate electrode. Multiple powder layers may be deposited on the first layer. The method may be further comprised of fusing the powder layer(s) to form a first fused layer on the support substrate electrode. A related object fabrication apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices include mechanisms configured to deliver an aerosol precursor composition from a reservoir to an atomizer including a vaporization heating element to produce a vapor. For example, a bubble jet head may be configured to dispense the aerosol precursor composition to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may be fixedly coupled to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may include a precursor inlet, an ejection heating element, and a precursor nozzle. The atomizer may include a vaporization heating element.

Abstract: Among other things, a video is downloaded to a mobile device. The video includes a TV show and commercials embedded within the TV show. The video is stored persistently on the mobile device. At least part of the video is played on the mobile device while the device is offline. Metadata is stored on the mobile device that indicates an expiry applicable to at least one of the commercials embedded in the video. The mobile device performs an action at a time related to the expiry.

Abstract: A process is presented to treat a process stream containing a hydrocarbon (oil and/or gas) and hydrogen sulfide with a liquid treatment solution containing a sulfur dye catalyst. The process stream can be within a pipeline, wellbore, subsea pipeline or a wellhead that contains hydrogen sulfide where the liquid treatment solution is injected at a predetermined point to define a scavenger zone such that the sulfur dye catalyst in the liquid treatment solution causes the sulfide from the hydrogen sulfide to react with the catalyst. The hydrocarbon component is separated substantially free of the hydrogen sulfide from a spent treatment solution containing spent sulfur dye catalyst which can then be fed to an oxidation vessel where it is contacted with an oxygen containing gas causing the sulfide to oxidize to thiosulfate and converting the spent sulfur dye catalyst to regenerated sulfur dye catalyst.

Abstract: Among other things, videos and commercials are downloaded to a mobile device for storage on the mobile device and later playout on the mobile device. The downloading includes downloading of metadata associated with the commercials and based on which the mobile device can select commercials for insertion into videos being played back to the user of the mobile device. The commercials to be downloaded are selected based on one or a combination of any two or more of the location of the user, the type of mobile device, and personally-identifiable information about a user of the mobile device.

Abstract: Vehicle alignment systems and methods are disclosed which operate based on a calculation of “drive direction,” or the direction in which a vehicle is moving. Since a vehicle can be assumed to be a rigid body, each wheel has the same drive direction. Consequently, an alignment parameter of one wheel can be compared to the same parameter of another wheel by equating their drive direction, eliminating the need for the aligner to “see” both sides of the vehicle at the same time. Embodiments include a system having one or more cameras on a fixture carrying a calibration element for an ADAS system, and one or more targets placed on the vehicle to measure the drive direction of the vehicle. The drive direction is assumed to be parallel to the vehicle thrust line and can be used as the line for orientation of the fixture to the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment system has a plurality of cameras, each camera for viewing a respective target disposed at a respective wheel of the vehicle and capturing image data of the target as the wheel and target are continuously rotated a number of degrees of rotation without a pause. The image data is used to calculate a minimum number of poses of the target of at least one pose for every five degrees of rotation as the wheel and target are continuously rotated the number of degrees of rotation without a pause. At least one of the cameras comprises a data processor for performing the steps of preprocessing the image data, and calculating an alignment parameter for the vehicle based on the preprocessed image data.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing coupled to a medicament container, which is coupled to a needle. An injection assembly is disposed within the housing and includes an energy storage member and an actuation rod. A distal end portion of the actuation rod is disposed within the medicament container. The energy storage member can produce a force on a proximal end portion of the actuation rod sufficient to move the distal end portion of the actuation rod within the medicament container. This can convey at least a portion of a substance from the medicament container via the needle when a distal tip of the needle is disposed within a first region of a target location. The force is insufficient to move the distal end portion of the actuation rod within the medicament container when the distal tip of the needle is disposed within a second region of the target location.

Abstract: A portable vehicle alignment system has a vertical central column with a carriage movable along its length, and a pair of camera arms pivotably attached to the carriage, each with a camera pod. The camera pods each have a camera for capturing image data of a respective vehicle-mounted target. One pod also has a calibration target disposed in a known relationship to its camera, and the other pod has a calibration camera disposed in a known relationship to its camera for capturing images of the calibration target. The camera arms pivot between an extended position where the cameras are disposed to capture image data of the vehicle targets and the calibration camera is disposed to capture images of the calibration target, and a folded position where the aligner has a width smaller than the width between the camera pods.

Abstract: A detachable electrical device can be formed from a kit comprising a pair of component parts adapted for connection to each other, wherein the connected components of the device may be subsequently disconnected, comprising: an array of electrical connectors, each electrical connector comprising an electrically conductive liquid; and an array of electrodes; wherein the arrays can be brought into contact with each other so as to provide a plurality of electrical connections between the electrically conductive liquid of the array of electrical connectors and the electrodes of the array of electrodes, and wherein the electrical connections may be subsequently broken by detaching the electrically conductive liquid from the electrodes of the array.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices include mechanisms configured to deliver an aerosol precursor composition from a reservoir to an atomizer including a vaporization heating element to produce a vapor. For example, a bubble jet head may be configured to dispense the aerosol precursor composition to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may be fixedly coupled to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may include a precursor inlet, an ejection heating element, and a precursor nozzle. The atomizer may include a vaporization heating element.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing coupled to a medicament container, which is coupled to a needle. An injection assembly is disposed within the housing and includes an energy storage member and an actuation rod. A distal end portion of the actuation rod is disposed within the medicament container. The energy storage member can produce a force on a proximal end portion of the actuation rod sufficient to move the distal end portion of the actuation rod within the medicament container. This can convey at least a portion of a substance from the medicament container via the needle when a distal tip of the needle is disposed within a first region of a target location. The force is insufficient to move the distal end portion of the actuation rod within the medicament container when the distal tip of the needle is disposed within a second region of the target location.

Abstract: Methods and systems measure a vehicle body parameter; e.g., a wheel alignment parameter such as ride height. Embodiments include a system having a target attachable to a vehicle body, and an image sensor for viewing the target and capturing image data thereof. A processor processes the image data, determines an initial spatial position of the target based on the processed image data, compares the initial spatial position of the target with a reference position, and prompts a user to align the target to an adjusted spatial position when the initial spatial position differs from the reference position more than a threshold amount. The vehicle body parameter value is determined based on the target's adjusted spatial position. In certain embodiments, the adjusted spatial position differs from the reference position by a position error value, and the processor mathematically corrects the vehicle body parameter value based on the position error value.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing coupled to a medicament container, which is coupled to a needle. An injection assembly is disposed within the housing and includes an energy storage member and an actuation rod. A distal end portion of the actuation rod is disposed within the medicament container. The energy storage member can produce a force on a proximal end portion of the actuation rod sufficient to move the distal end portion of the actuation rod within the medicament container. This can convey at least a portion of a substance from the medicament container via the needle when a distal tip of the needle is disposed within a first region of a target location. The force is insufficient to move the distal end portion of the actuation rod within the medicament container when the distal tip of the needle is disposed within a second region of the target location.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment system has a plurality of cameras, each camera for viewing a respective target disposed at a respective wheel of the vehicle and capturing image data of the target as the wheel and target are continuously rotated a number of degrees of rotation without a pause. The image data is used to calculate a minimum number of poses of the target of at least one pose for every five degrees of rotation as the wheel and target are continuously rotated the number of degrees of rotation without a pause. At least one of the cameras comprises a data processor for performing the steps of preprocessing the image data, and calculating an alignment parameter for the vehicle based on the preprocessed image data.