Abstract: A toilet assembly includes a flush engine having a bowl defining a sump and a trapway extending from the sump. A bowl insert is configured to be located in the bowl and a shroud is configured to be positioned over the flush engine to conceal at least a portion of the flush engine.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are bacterial strains and products thereof, and uses thereof for example to increase, improve or facilitate plant growth. Also disclosed herein are method to increase or improve plant tolerance or resistance to one or more abiotic stress conditions.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to barriers for use with anesthesia machines. In certain aspects, the present disclosure provides unique medical devices, systems, and methods that can effectively provide a clean touch surface on medical equipment without inhibiting function of the medical equipment. In accordance with certain embodiments, such medical devices are configured as barriers adapted for placement over a portion of an anesthesia machine. Accordingly, in one embodiment the present disclosure demonstrates a system for providing clean touch surfaces on anesthesia equipment, the system including: one or more touchscreen barriers configured to securely adhere to and substantially cover the touchscreen of an anesthesia machine, and one or more control member barriers configured to securely adhere to and substantially cover a control member portion of an anesthesia machine.

Abstract: Ignition systems, devices, and methods of using a resistive heating element to initiate combustion in internal combustion engines are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ignition system comprises a conductive member having a portion arranged for positioning within a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine and comprising at least two high-resistance portions separated by a low-resistance portion, the high-resistance portions arranged to reach a temperature sufficient to cause ignition within the engine. In some instances, a conductive member positioned within a combustion chamber and arranged to ignite an air/fuel mixture comprises an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion comprising a heat removing portion arranged to remove heat from the outer portion sufficient to prevent pre-ignition. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is a controlled distribution grain container for transporting feed or grain into a hunting area for feeding or planting. The first end and the second end of the “poncho”, which in use will form the lower edges of the front and back of the poncho, each have an open spout, each with a closure means. The first end and second end of the controlled distribution grain container will be located at the front and the back of the user, respectively, when the device is worn over the user's shoulders. The poncho style controlled distribution grain container has one or more openings, each with a closure means such as zippers, to fill or refill the device. These openings are located on the front or back panels or along the edges of the sides of the device. The device allows the user to carry grain with the weight evenly distributed front to back and over his shoulders.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for preserving bandwidth in data networks. The method includes determining whether to perform functional redundancy processing for a current data set. Determining whether to perform functional redundancy processing for a current data set may be conducted according to redundancy rules. In performing functional redundancy processing, the method includes receiving a first data set and a second data set and storing the first data set in a queue. The method may also include determining whether the content of the first data set is functionally redundant to the content of said second data set. If the contents of the first data set are functionally redundant to the contents of the second data set, the method includes transmitting the first data set and dropping the second data set. Functionally redundant messages are dropped prior to transmission, optimizing bandwidth.

Abstract: The presently described technology provides a computing device capable of being connected to a node in a first network and capable of applying one or more Quality of Service (“QoS”) algorithms to one or more subsets of data communicated in the first network. The device is also capable of applying the QoS algorithms to the subsets of data at or above a transport layer of a protocol of the first network. The presently described technology also provides a method for applying one or more QoS algorithms. The method includes connecting a computing device to a first network and applying the QoS algorithms to one or more subsets of data independent of a protocol of the first network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for facilitating communication of data. A method includes communicating data including prioritizing a block of data, setting an indicator in a header of the block of data, transmitting the block of data, and retransmitting the block of data. The indicator indicates that reliable delivery of the block of data is desired. The indicator is set based at least in part on a rule. The indicator is set on a per-message basis. The block of data is retransmitted when a predetermined time has elapsed and when an acknowledgement of delivery of the block of data has not been received.

Abstract: The system includes at least one sampler including a body having a hollow interior accessed through holes in the body and optionally a slide which can selectively cover and expose the holes in the body. A stand is provided made of a base and a floor. The base includes at least one recess therein. The recess is configured to support the sampler therein so that the sampler can be held by the stand while sampling an airspace at a particular location. The floor can be separated at least partially from the base in a removably attachable fashion to provide selective access to a hollow inside. A sampler can be placed within this hollow inside space and resealed so that the stand doubles as a shipping container for the sampler after collection of an air sample.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for communicating inbound network data to provide QoS. The method includes receiving data over a network at a node, prioritizing the data at the node by assigning a priority to the data, and communicating the data to an application at the node based at least in part on the priority of the data. The data priority is based at least in part on message content. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for communicating inbound networking data to provide QoS. The system includes a data prioritization component adapted to prioritize data by assigning a priority to the data and a data communications component adapted to receive the data over a network and to communicate the data to an application based at least in part on the priority of the data. The data priority is based at least in part on message content.

Abstract: The system includes at least one sampler including a body having a hollow interior accessed through holes in the body and optionally a slide which can selectively cover and expose the holes in the body. A stand is provided made of a base and a floor. The base includes at least one recess therein. The recess is configured to support the sampler therein so that the sampler can be held by the stand while sampling an airspace at a particular location. The floor can be separated at least partially from the base in a removably attachable fashion to provide selective access to a hollow inside. A sampler can be placed within this hollow inside space and resealed so that the stand doubles as a shipping container for the sampler after collection of an air sample.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for communicating data over a network to provide Quality of Service. The method includes receiving data over a network, prioritizing the data, and communicating the data based at least in part on the priority. The step of prioritizing the data includes sequencing the data based at least in part on a user defined rule. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for communicating data including a data prioritization component and a data communications component. The data prioritization component is adapted to prioritize data. The data prioritization component includes a sequencing component. The sequencing component is adapted to sequence the data based at least in part on a user defined rule. The data communications component is adapted to communicate the data based at least in part on the priority.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for fault-tolerant QoS data communication including differentiating one or more message data into a primary storage, storing the differentiated one or more message data in a secondary storage if the primary storage becomes exhausted, prioritizing the one or more message data, and communicating the one or more message data. The one or more message data may be differentiated based on one or more queue selection rules. The one or more message data may be prioritized based on one or more queue sequencing rules. The one or more message data may be communicated based at least in part on the prioritization of the one or more message data.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for preserving bandwidth in data networks. The method includes determining whether to perform functional redundancy processing for a current data set. Determining whether to perform functional redundancy processing for a current data set may be conducted according to redundancy rules. In performing functional redundancy processing, the method includes searching at least one queue for a data set that is functionally redundant to the current data set. The searching may be conducted according to redundancy rules. If a queued data set is found to be functionally redundant to the current data set, the queued data set may be dropped from the queue and the current data set added to the queue. In such a manner, functionally redundant messages are dropped prior to transmission and bandwidth is optimized.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for facilitating communication of data. A method for prioritizing a block of data to provide content-based quality of service in a network includes receiving a block of data, selecting a selected rule from a set of available rules, processing the block of data, and prioritizing the block of data. The selected rule includes an operation and a key. The block of data is processed according to the selected rule based at least in part on the operation to determine a decision value based at least in part on the key. The block of data is prioritized based at least in part on the decision value.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data communication via a network. Certain embodiments provide a method for data communication via a network. The method includes receiving a first data packet for transmission. The method also includes comparing a size of the first data packet to a data packet size criterion. The method further includes segmenting the first data packet to produce a plurality of segmented data packets when the size of the first data packet does not satisfy the data packet size criterion. The method includes transmitting the plurality of segmented data packets. Additionally, the method includes reassembling the plurality of segmented data packets into the first data packet for delivery to an application.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for controlling the quality of service for data communication. The method includes reviewing a timestamp of a data set, the timestamp having a time value. The time value may be the time the data set expires. Alternatively, the time value may be the time the data set was acquired. In yet another alternative, the time stamp may include both the time the data set expires and the time the data set was acquired. Next, the method includes determining if the time value of the time stamp is greater than the current time. If the time value is the time the data set expires and the time stamp is greater than the current time, the data set has become stale and is dropped.

Abstract: A system and associated method of marking a molded vehicle tire with laser engraved information to provide both human visible and machine readable data concerning the tire. Information contained in a barcode on the tire is read at a first station and supplied to a control unit. The physical location of human visible information previously molded into the tire is read from the tire at a second station and supplied to the control unit which uses this information to position a laser located at a third station for engaging additional human visible information pertaining to the manufacture of the tire adjacent the existing visible information to satisfy the Department of Transportation (DOT) tire marking requirements. The additional information also can be laser engraved into the tire in a machine readable encoded format, such as 2D symbols, for subsequent control and verification throughout the life of the tire.