Abstract: A wearable breathing apparatus includes a thermal capacitor that a user inhales and exhales through. Inhaled air is cooled as it passes through the thermal capacitor, and exhaled air cools the material of the thermal capacitor for the next breathing cycle. The breathing apparatus may be used by a firefighter, for example, as a lightweight apparatus to enable the firefighter to safely breathe dangerously heated air, for example while in a fire shelter, that may otherwise cause injury to the user. The breathing apparatus advantageously does not require external power for cooling. The thermal capacitor may also be used as a part of a rebreather that uses a scrubber that removes carbon dioxide from exhaled air, for rebreathing. Further, the thermal capacitor may be used for other purposes, such as in recirculation of building air.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a configurable LCD driver system having a plurality of configurable LCD drivers. Each LCD driver may be configured as a common or segment driver by selecting a drive voltage from an appropriate set of drive voltages associated with a common or segment driver in accordance with certain parameters, such as whether a user may configure the LCD driver as a common driver or segment driver, a multiplex ratio, and/or bias ratio of an LCD panel. The drive time and drive strength associated with the LCD driver may also be configurable. The selected drive voltage may be provided to a drive buffer to output an LCD drive voltage waveform for driving one or more segments or pixels in an LCD panel. A memory may store appropriate display data for both the segment and common drivers to control the output drive capability of the LCD driver.

Abstract: A system for improving a swing has a transmitter coil for creating an electromagnetic field aligned with respect to a desired swing plane of a sporting implement and a plurality of coils for detecting an actual swing plane relative to the desired swing plane.

Abstract: A wagering game is played on processor-based gaming apparatus including: providing a gaming apparatus of processor, video display and gaming input system; after a wager, the processor executes code to play a first wagering game and display images associated with the first wagering game on the video display; when the processor recognizes a predefined trigger outcome, bonus play of a second game different from the first wagering game begins; the processor identifies bonus points accumulated during bonus play distinct from any wagering credits; the processor displays at least two distinct bonus events of a first bonus event played on the first wagering game and a second bonus event played on the first wagering game. The first bonus event and the second bonus event being activated by the processor diminishing accumulated bonus points. An amount of bonus points needed to activate the first bonus event is different from an amount of points needed to activate the second bonus event.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for isolation, separation and detection of a molecular species using a low resource device for processing of samples. Methods include isolation, separation and detection of whole cells.

Abstract: A method is described for treating a gas stream comprising fluorine (F2) gas. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises adding water vapor to a gas stream and conveying the gas stream and water vapor to a reaction chamber containing a heated bed of material to react with F2 to form an inorganic fluoride while inhibiting formation of CF4 within the reaction chamber, and at least partially evacuating the reaction chamber so that the gas stream is conveyed to and from the reaction chamber at sub-atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A method for tandem mass spectrometry of a plurality of eluting compounds comprises: (a) performing, during a time period, the steps of: ionizing the plurality of eluting compounds to generate a plurality of precursor ion species; introducing the plurality of precursor ions into a fragmentation cell operated at constant fragmentation energy so as to generate a plurality of product-ion species from at least a portion of the precursor ion species; and generating a mass spectrum of the plurality of product-ion species; and (b) recognizing matches between certain of the product ion species generated during the time period based on correlations between elution profiles of the product ion species.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for enabling authentication of on-line communications. In some embodiments, a message code is embedded in an e-mail, where the message code can be used by the recipient to verify the authenticity of the e-mail or of a Web site. In some embodiments, this code can be created for a particular e-mail message; in other embodiments, the code is created as a watermark for use by a customer or other a specific user or recipient. The message code is associated with both the e-mail message and the recipient. In the case of a message-specific code, a recipient can verify the e-mail message by inputting the code via a Web server to be looked up in the database. Provision is also made for including stenographic information in graphical or other codes as further authentication when accessing a Web site.

Abstract: A method and system provide in-band protection switch signaling in a communication system arranged as a point-to-multipoint tree. The point-to-multipoint tree includes a root node communicatively coupled to a plurality of leaf nodes through both a working link and a protection link. Data is transferred through a current link of the point-to-multipoint tree. The current link is either the working link or the protection link. A fault is detected in the current link in the point-to-multipoint tree. Each leaf node in the point-to-multipoint tree is notified of the fault using the current link. Upon receiving the notification, the root node and each leaf node switch to the other link of the working link and the protection link.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving pilot situational awareness during brown-over-brown display situations. An image is rendered, on a display, that includes one of, or both, rendered terrain and rendered sky. A sky veil is at least selectively rendered on a portion of the display. The sky veil, when rendered, is rendered at least partially transparent and in a manner that portions of the sky veil that overlap with rendered sky are not discernable, and rendered terrain is viewable through portions of the sky veil that overlap with terrain.

Abstract: A method for matching each of a plurality of progenitor ion types to respective product or fragment ion types, comprising: generating the plurality of progenitor ion types over a time range by ionizing compounds eluting during the time range using an atmospheric pressure ion source; generating the product or fragment ion types within a pressure range of 750 mTorr to atmospheric pressure in an ionization chamber or first vacuum chamber; detecting abundances of the plurality of progenitor ion types and the product or fragment ion types using a mass analyzer; calculating a plurality of extracted ion chromatograms (XICs) relating to the detected abundances; automatically detecting and characterizing chromatogram peaks within each XIC; automatically generating synthetic analytical fit peaks; performing cross-correlation score calculations between each pair of synthetic analytical fit peaks; and recognizing matches based on the cross correlation scores.

Abstract: A method, a network, and a network element use dynamic packet traffic performance adjustment techniques. In an exemplary embodiment, the dynamic resizing techniques utilize different packet connections providing connectivity to same sites between which bandwidth resizing is needed. Each of the packet connections has a separate and independent bandwidth profile that governs an amount of traffic that is dispatched over each packet connection. A network element sourcing traffic into the packet connections uses bridge functionality that dispatches client traffic onto all of the packet connections or an individual packet connection. This effectively means that the transport network bandwidth utilization is only consumed by a single packet connection, i.e., the packet connection-A (even through there are multiple configured). The network element sinking the traffic selects from a single active packet connection.

Abstract: Both power and H2 are produced from a gaseous mixture, comprising H2 and CO2, using first and second pressure swing adsorption (PSA) systems in series. The gaseous mixture is fed at super-atmospheric pressure to the first PSA system, which comprises adsorbent that selectively adsorbs CO2 at said pressure, and CO2 is adsorbed, thereby providing an H2-enriched mixture at super-atmospheric pressure. A fuel stream is formed from a portion of the H2-enriched mixture, which is combusted and the combustion effluent expanded to generate power. Another portion of the H2-enriched mixture is sent to the second PSA system, which comprises adsorbent that selectively adsorbs CO2 at super-atmospheric pressure, and CO2 is adsorbed, thereby providing a high purity H2 product. In preferred embodiments, the division of H2-enriched mixture between forming the fuel stream and being fed to the second PSA system is adjustable.

Abstract: Systems and methods for stabilizing a riser or similar object against motion can include engaging two or more cylinder apparatus to the object. Communication of fluid between cylinder apparatus, responsive to a force on the object, can limit movement of the object, such as through extension or retraction of pistons within the cylinders. The cylinder apparatus can include internal channels that can accommodate coiled tubing, slickline, wireline, and similar conduits or devices, enabling operations to be performed through the cylinders, independent of their position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing operations on a well include first and second flow control devices positioned between upper and lower sections of a conduit. An upper connector assembly engaged with the upper section includes connectors adapted for connection to a chemical stimulation device, a blowout preventer, or other well intervention apparatuses. A lower connector assembly engaged with the lower section includes connectors adapted for connection to a chemical stimulation device, a running tool, wellbore conduits, or other well intervention apparatuses. The two connector assemblies, above and below the flow control devices, enable sequential or simultaneous operations to be performed, and can enable operations to be performed independent of the state of the flow control devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods enable connection of, and are usable to connect, well servicing equipment to other well equipment, including wellheads, blowout preventers, and other well servicing equipment. The systems comprise connecting apparatus having a male connector and female connector. The male connector comprises an elongate body having an axial bore extending therethrough and a plurality of protrusions extending from the elongate body at an angle relative to the axial bore. The female connector can be adapted for connection with the male connector, wherein engagement between the male connector and female connector communicates the axial bore of the male connector with a bore of the female connector to define a flowpath for communicating a medium. The systems and methods enable the ability to connect or disconnect well equipment remotely without the need of a diver, an ROV, and without the need to bring the well equipment to the surface for disassembly.

Abstract: A method is provided for acquiring and interpreting data using a mass spectrometer, said method comprising: (a) generating a multiplexed mass spectrum using the mass spectrometer system, the multiplexed mass spectrum comprising a superposition of a plurality of product-ion mass spectra comprising a plurality of product-ion types having respective product-ion mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios, each product-ion mass spectrum corresponding to fragmentation of a respective precursor-ion type formed by ionization of a chemical compound, each precursor-ion type having a respective precursor-ion mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio and (b) recognizing a set comprising a precursor-ion type and one or more product-ion types corresponding to each of one or more of the product-ion mass spectra by recognizing one or more losses of a respective valid neutral molecule from each said precursor-ion type.

Abstract: A method of acquiring and interpreting data using a mass spectrometer system and a local mass spectral library comprises: (a) generating a multiplexed mass spectrum, the multiplexed mass spectrum comprising a superposition of a plurality of product-ion mass spectra comprising a plurality of product-ion types, each product-ion mass spectrum corresponding to fragmentation of a respective precursor-ion type; (b) recognizing a respective set of two or more product-ion types corresponding to each of one or more of the product-ion mass spectra by recognizing correlations between the elution profiles of said two or more product-ion types corresponding to each said respective set; and (c) determining if each recognized set of two or more product-ion types corresponds to a product-ion mass spectrum previously observed using said mass spectrometer system by comparing the m/z ratios of the product ion types to information in at least one entry of the local mass spectral library.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) driving system includes a reference voltage generator to generate a plurality of reference voltages. The LCD driving system also includes a plurality of drive buffers to generate drive voltages according to at least one of the reference voltages, and to drive at least a portion of a liquid crystal display to present data according to the drive voltages.