Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing detection of optical signals indicating the presence of an analyte of interest in a blood sample are described. In one aspect, a blood culture test vial having a sensor is inoculated with the blood sample, light at an excitation frequency of the sensor is transmitted to the test vial, an intensity of a plurality of fluorescence signals emitted from the test vial is measured, and the plurality of measured fluorescence signals are normalized using by a reference signal that is not dependent on a measured intensity of a fluorescence signal emitted from the test vial. In another aspect, a measurement system measures fluorescence signals from one or more reference vials performing in extreme pH conditions. Fluorescence signals emitted from test vials inoculated with samples under test are measured and compared to the signals measured from the one or more reference vials to address or mitigate variability in hardware components of the measurement system.

Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyester film including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and at least one hydrolysis stabilizer selected from a glycidyl ester of a branched monocarboxylic acid, wherein the monocarboxylic acid has from 5 to 50 carbon atoms, wherein the hydrolysis stabilizer is present in the film in the form of its reaction product with at least some of the end-groups of the polyester; a process for making the same; and use of the film as a layer in a photovoltaic cell.

Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyester film comprising polyester and at least one hydrolysis stabilizer selected from a glycidyl ester of a branched monocarboxylic acid, wherein the monocarboxylic acid has from 5 to 50 carbon atoms, wherein said hydrolysis stabilizer is present in the film in the form of its reaction product with at least some of the end-groups of said polyester, and wherein said reaction product is obtained by the reaction of the hydrolysis stabilizer with the end-groups of the polyester in the presence of a metal cation selected from the group consisting of Group I and Group II metal cations.

Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyester film comprising polyester and at least one hydrolysis stabiliser selected from a glycidyl ester of a branched monocarboxylic acid, wherein the monocarboxylic acid has from 5 to 50 carbon atoms, wherein said hydrolysis stabiliser is present in the film in the form of its reaction product with at least some of the end-groups of said polyester, and wherein said reaction product is obtained by the reaction of the hydrolysis stabiliser with the end-groups of the polyester in the presence of a metal cation selected from the group consisting of Group I and Group II metal cations.

Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyester film comprising polyester and at least one hydrolysis stabiliser selected from a glycidyl ester of a branched monocarboxylic acid, wherein the monocarboxylic acid has from 5 to 50 carbon atoms, wherein said hydrolysis stabiliser is present in the film in the form of its reaction product with at least some of the end-groups of said polyester, and wherein said reaction product is obtained by the reaction of the hydrolysis stabiliser with the end-groups of the polyester in the presence of a metal cation selected from the group consisting of Group I and Group II metal cations.

Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyester film including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and at least one hydrolysis stabiliser selected from a glycidyl ester of a branched monocarboxylic acid, wherein the monocarboxylic acid has from 5 to 50 carbon atoms, wherein the hydrolysis stabiliser is present in the film in the form of its reaction product with at least some of the end-groups of the polyester; a process for making the same; and use of the film as a layer in a photovoltaic cell.

Abstract: A method for determining component patterns of a raw substrate map. A subset of substrate patterns is selected from a set of substrate patterns, and combined into a composite substrate map. The substrate patterns are weighted. The composite substrate map is compared to the raw substrate map, and a degree of correlation between the composite substrate map and the raw substrate map is determined. The steps are iteratively repeated until the degree of correlation is at least a desired degree, and the weighted subset of substrate patterns is output as the component patterns of the raw substrate map.

Abstract: A method for determining outlier data points in. A subset of dataset patterns is selected from a set of mathematical dataset patterns, and the subset of dataset patterns is combined into a composite dataset. The composite dataset is compared to the dataset, and a degree of correlation between the composite dataset and the dataset is determined. Data points within the composite dataset are selectively weighted to improve the degree of correlation, and the steps described above are selectively iteratively repeated until the degree of correlation is at least a desired value. Residuals for the data points within the composite dataset are selectively determined. At least one of the weighted data points within the composite dataset that are weighted within a first specified range, and data points within the composite dataset that have a residual within a second specified range, are selectively output as outlier data points.

Abstract: The travel trailer includes a chassis having wheels and a trailer body attached to the chassis. The trailer body includes sidewalls, a front end wall, a rear end wall, a roof, and a floor. The sidewalls, end walls, roof, and floor form an internal living space of the trailer body. A slide-out area is slidably extendable outward from the trailer body. The slide-out area is extendable from a retracted position received substantially within the trailer body to an extended position extended outward from the trailer body. The slide-out area has a roof, sidewalls, a bottom wall, and a front end wall. The front end wall of the slide-out areas is adapted to seal against the trailer body in the retracted position.

Abstract: The travel trailer includes a chassis having wheels and a trailer body attached to the chassis. The trailer body includes sidewalls, a front end wall, a rear end wall, a roof, and a floor. The sidewalls, end walls, roof, and floor form an internal living space of the trailer body. A slide-out area is slidably extendable outward from the trailer body. The slide-out area is extendable from a retracted position received substantially within the trailer body to an extended position extended outward from the trailer body. The slide-out area has a roof, sidewalls, a bottom wall, and a front end wall. The front end wall of the slide-out areas is adapted to seal against the trailer body in the retracted position.

Abstract: A burst disk assembly has a burst disk which is interposed within the high pressure relief vent of a superconducting magnet. The burst disk is a composite design constructed of a solid carbon graphite center surrounded by an integrally formed stainless steel ring. A captured burst disk flange insures proper placement and seating of the burst disk during replacement and supports the burst disk so as to prevent it from falling or dropping out of the assembly during replacement of the ruptured burst disk. A deformable gasket contiguous to the burst disk seals the burst disk to the captured burst disk flange when the disk and the flange are pressed together. Attachment bolts are used to provide even application of pressure along the face of the burst disk and the captured burst disk flange.

Abstract: A burst disk assembly has a burst disk which is interposed within the high pressure relief vent of a superconducting magnet. The burst disk is a composite design constructed of a solid carbon graphite center surrounded by an integrally formed stainless steel ring. A captured burst disk flange insures proper placement and seating of the burst disk during replacement and supports the burst disk so as to prevent it from falling or dropping out of the assembly during replacement of the ruptured burst disk. A deformable gasket contiguous to the burst disk seals the burst disk to the captured burst disk flange when the disk and the flange are pressed together. Attachment bolts are used to provide even application of pressure along the face of the burst disk and the captured burst disk flange.

Abstract: The travel trailer includes a chassis having wheels and a trailer hitch for towing the travel trailer. The travel trailer further includes a trailer body attached to the chassis defined by sidewalls, a front end wall, a rear end wall, a roof, and a floor. The sidewalls, end walls, roof, and floor form an internal space of the trailer body. A slide-out area is slidably extendable outward from the trailer body. The slide-out area is extendable from a retracted position received within the trailer body to an extended position extended outward from the trailer body. The slide-out area includes a peaked roof, sidewalls, a bottom wall, and a front end wall. The front end wall includes a flange extending around the perimeter thereof. A sealing gasket is attached to the flange to face the trailer body for sealing against the trailer body in the retracted position of the slide-out area.

Abstract: The travel trailer includes a chassis having wheels and a trailer hitch for towing the travel trailer. The travel trailer further includes a trailer body attached to the chassis defined by sidewalls, a front end wall, a rear end wall, a roof, and a floor. The sidewalls, end walls, roof, and floor form an internal space of the trailer body. A slide-out area is slidably extendable outward from the trailer body. The slide-out area is extendable from a retracted position received within the trailer body to an extended position extended outward from the trailer body. The slide-out area includes a peaked roof, sidewalls, a bottom wall, and a front end wall. The front end wall includes a flange extending around the perimeter thereof. A sealing gasket is attached to the flange to face the trailer body for sealing against the trailer body in the retracted position of the slide-out area.

Abstract: A folding trailer which includes a slide-out room movable from a retracted position within the trailer to an extended position which adds additional living space to the inside of the trailer. The slide-out room includes a front wall, a rear wall and an exterior wall, with the floor attached therebetween and spaced above the trailer floor. A pair of lateral roller supports attached to the trailer floor along the front wall engages a roller track attached to the inside surface of the front wall. Similarly, a pair of lateral roller supports attached to the trailer floor on the other side of the slide-out room, and adjacent the rear wall, engages a roller track on an inner surface of the rear wall. A plurality of vertical roller supports attached to the trailer floor supports and contacts the lower surface of the slide-out floor.

Abstract: A pressure reduction mattress construction for a liquid or gel bed having a flexible basin forming a cavity with inclines head and foot for surrounding and supporting a liquid or gel filled flotation bladder that is anchored to the head of the basin. The inclines made of a soft yielding material allow the head or foot of the bed to be easily raised as the liquid or gel moves toward the center of the bed. The head incline also serves to provide a soft yielding surface to support a patient after liquid or gel has naturally moved to the sacral area. The entire structure is then covered with a flexible and yielding hospital fabric cover, giving the bed the appearance of a conventional hospital mattress. An optional heater pad may be used with a fiber filled sacral/pelvic bladder placed over the heater pad.

Abstract: A pressure reduction mattress construction for a liquid or gel bed having a flexible basin (10) forming a cavity (20) with inclines head (16H) and foot (16F) for surrounding and supporting a liquid or gel filled flotation bladder (30) that is anchored (36) to the head of the basin (10). The inclines (16F & 16H) made of a soft yielding material allow the head or foot of the bed to be easily raised as the liquid or gel (48) moves toward the center of bed. The head incline (16H) also serves to provide a soft yielding surface to support a patient after liquid or gel (48) has naturally moved to the sacral area (21). The entire structure is then covered with a flexible and yielding hospital fabric cover (40), giving the bed the appearance of a conventional hospital mattress. In some disclosed embodiments, an optional heater pad (22) may be used with a fiber (25) filled sacral bladder (26) placed over the heater pad (22) to prevent complete displacement of water over heater pad (22).

Abstract: An improved folding trailer includes a base member supported by a pair of wheels with a top member movably connected to the base member. A plurality of extendable support units is mounted on the base member and can be hydraulically driven to extend the top member. The hydraulic system is connected to the extendable support units through pulleys and cables and includes a pressure-compensated flow control valve system for hydraulically limiting the retraction rate of these extendable support units.

Abstract: Power couplings are provided from outside the shell of a superconducting magnet through the intervening space and through the cryogen pressure vessel to the magnet coils within the vessel. The multi-pin shim magnet connector is replaceable without cutting the vessel open and the shim and main magnet main coil connectors include central apertures through which cryogen boil-off gas is flowed before venting to cool the connectors and reduce boil-off.

Abstract: A method of papermaking in which a wet paper web is supported on press felt and passed through the nip between cooperating press rolls to extract water from the web. The felt, supporting the paper web, then travels through a span of distance and is passed around a heated dryer roll in the dryer section with the felt being interposed between the heated roll and the paper web. The felt is thus heated and insulates the paper web from the high temperature roll. The paper web is separated from the felt and travels around the remaining dryer rolls in the dryer section, while the heated felt is returned to the nip into position to support the wet paper web.