Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of polyether polyols with equivalent molecular weights of from 8,000 to 20,000 g/mol from one or more H-functional starter compounds and one or more alkylene oxides in the presence of a double metal cyanide catalyst, characterized in that the alkylene oxides are metered into the reactor in the course of from 15 to 23 h.

Abstract: Methods and systems of agnostic data storage are provided. The agnostic data storage systems and methods store data records of various data types from different data sources. The method stores IDs and data elements of data records in different data tables. IDs of data records are stored in a first table, and data elements of data records are stored in a second table. Data entries of the second table are linked to an entry in the first table. The second table stores data element name, data element value, and data element data type respectively.

Abstract: An airflow control system for use in a vehicle is provided. The airflow control system includes a manifold and a recirculation duct in flow communication with the manifold. The recirculation duct includes a fan and a recirculation valve. The system additionally includes a ventilation duct coupled in flow communication with the recirculation duct between the fan and the recirculation valve. The ventilation duct is in flow communication with an ambient environment surrounding the vehicle and includes at least one ventilation valve.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is presented for separating healthy plants from agricultural material, such as harvested plants. The apparatus includes a conveyor to present the agricultural material to a mesh, which may be, for example bristles. A rotating drum with a plurality of protruding tines moves through the mesh and pulls individual plants from the agricultural material. A machine vision system may then sort the healthy, individual plants. The method includes presenting the agricultural material to the mesh, and then pulling individual plants through the mesh.

Abstract: A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool includes a water pump, a variable speed motor, and an arrangement for controlling the variable speed motor. The pumping system further includes an auxiliary device operably connected to the arrangement for controlling, and an arrangement for providing two-way communication between the arrangement for controlling and the auxiliary device. The arrangement for controlling is capable of receiving a parameter from the auxiliary device through the arrangement for providing two-way communication. In one example, the arrangement for controlling is capable of independently controlling the variable speed motor without receipt of a parameter from the auxiliary device. In addition or alternatively, the arrangement for controlling is operable to selectively alter operation of the motor based upon the parameter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a hydroxy amino polymer comprising the steps: a) Reaction of an H functional starter compound bearing at least one Zerewitinoff active H atom with an unsaturated, cyclical carboxylic acid anhydride and at least one alkylene oxide compound for obtaining a prepolymer bearing hydroxyl groups, b) Addition of a primary amine and/or of ammonia to the double bond(s) of the prepolymer bearing hydroxyl groups obtained according to step a) for obtaining the hydroxy amino polymer, wherein the ratio of added amino groups to hydroxyl groups in a hydroxy amino polymer is at least 0.6. Furthermore, the invention relates to a hydroxy amino polymer, which can be achieved according to this process as well as a polyurea/polyurethane system, which contains such a hydroxy amino polymer.

Abstract: Devices and method for the extermination of pests are described. These devices and methods may be used to inject gases, which may be inert gases, underground to inject the gas into burrows of pests. In one embodiment, the device is an earth penetrator with hole for injecting gas through discharge holes at the distal end. The discharge holes maybe covered during penetration to prevent dirt from entering into the device. A device for covering and uncovering the hole are provided. The device includes a valve to controllably deliver the gas to the discharge ports. The method includes covering the discharge ports, inserting the device into the ground, uncovering the discharge ports, and then injecting the gas.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for diagnosing and treating deep vein thrombosis and other conditions associated with occluded or constricted vessels. According to certain aspects, methods of the invention involve inserting a sensing device into a vessel having a thrombus therein, assessing, with the sensing device, one or more functional parameters within the vessel, determining an interventional therapy for treating the thrombus based on the assessing step; and performing the interventional therapy.

Abstract: A method and system that enable the measurement of a second-harmonic-generation-forward/backward (SHG F/B) ratio from an object by performing only a single image scan using via epi-imaging using an epi-detection technique. Two simultaneous SGH images (a forward propagating SHG “F” image and a back propagating SHG “B” image) are generated during the single image scan. A pinhole mirror can be used to separate the F-SHG and the B-SHG, which are detected by separate detectors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of polyether polyols with equivalent molecular weights of from 8,000 to 20,000 g/mol from one or more H-functional starter compounds and one or more alkylene oxides in the presence of a double metal cyanide catalyst, characterized in that the alkylene oxides are metered into the reactor in the course of from 15 to 23 h.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media are provided for inducing customer loyalty that are configured to: identify a loyalty account associated with a consumer, wherein the loyalty account is part of a loyalty program established by a retailer, create a monetary account linked to the consumer's loyalty account, designate an amount of change from a cash transaction at the retailer to be deposited into the monetary account, deposit the amount of change into the monetary account by adding the designated amount of change to an existing balance of the monetary account to create a new balance, determine if the consumer is entitled to a reward based on the depositing of the designated amount of change into the monetary account and at least one threshold; and display to the consumer the outcome of the determining.

Abstract: A firearm support is disclosed herein. The firearm support may include a main body assembly, at least two legs operably attached to the main body assembly, and a mounting assembly operably attached to the main body assembly. The mounting assembly may include an attachment mechanism operable to attach a firearm to the mounting assembly, a pan mechanism operable to control an angular rotation about a first axis of the mounting assembly, and a cant mechanism operable to control an angular rotation about a second axis of the mounting assembly.

Abstract: Methods and systems of agnostic data storage are provided. The agnostic data storage systems and methods store data records of various data types from different data sources. The method stores IDs and data elements of data records in different data tables. IDs of data records are stored in a first table, and data elements of data records are stored in a second table. Data entries of the second table are linked to an entry in the first table. The second table stores data element name, data element value, and data element data type respectively.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media are provided for inducing customer loyalty that are configured to: identify a loyalty account associated with a consumer, wherein the loyalty account is part of as loyalty program established by a retailer, create a monetary account linked to the consumer's loyalty account, designate an amount of change from a cash transaction at the retailer to be deposited into the monetary account, deposit the amount of change into the monetary account by adding the designated amount of change to an existing balance of the monetary account to create a new balance, determine if the consumer is entitled to a reward based on the depositing of the designated amount of change into the monetary account and at least one threshold; and display to the consumer the outcome of the determining.

Abstract: The invention relates to infectious clones of parvovirus B19, methods of cloning infectious B19 clones, and methods of cloning viral genomes that have secondary DNA structures that are unstable in bacterial cells. A B19 infectious clone and methods of producing B19 infectious clones are useful for producing infectious virus. Infectious virus is useful for identifying and developing therapeutically effective compositions for treatment and/or prevention of human parvovirus B19 infections.

Abstract: Multiple leak rate methodologies are combined and operate in parallel in a system for providing optimal results under different tire conditions. The methodologies may operate continuously or alternatively. Tandem large leak rate and low leak rate algorithms and methodology, for example, may deployed in a system in which, for large leak rates, a large leak rate methodology is employed and used to trigger a warning. At some pre-designated low leak rate threshold value, the system employs a low leak rate methodology either as an exclusive diagnostic monitor or in parallel with the companion large leak rate methodology. In the low leak rate analytical system, a change in tire pressure is correlated to a change in energy within a vehicle system pursuant to the algorithm W=??P*dx and derivative algorithms are used to calculate a final time and pressure drop at the final time as a basis for issuing a low pressure warning.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided including a housing having a receptacle for receiving a wire. A fixed contact is positioned within the housing and has a termination contact configured to electrically couple to a signal path. A moveable contact is electrically coupled to the fixed contact. The moveable contact has a contact interface for engaging the wire. The contact interface is moveable between a connection position, wherein the contact interface engages the wire, and a release position, wherein the contact interface is disengaged from the wire to enable the wire to be removed from the receptacle.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) interconnection system is provided. The system includes a cable having a driver end and a termination end. The cable has conductive pathways extending between the driver end and the termination end. The driver end is configured to engage a driver to carry an electrical current to the conductive pathways. The termination end is configured to terminate the conductive pathways. A connector is provided having a cable contact and a LED contact joined to the cable contact. The cable contact pierces the cable and engages the conductive pathways to electrically join the connector to the conductive pathways. A LED board is provided having a circuit board including circuit board contacts. A LED is positioned on the circuit board and electrically joined to the circuit board contacts. The LED contact of the connector engages the circuit board contacts to electrically join the connector to the LED.

Abstract: Disclosed is a testing and learning method comprising a testing system that registers a student as having passed a test when the student completes a testing option chosen from the group consisting of (1) answering one hundred percent of the questions in a set of questions within a required time, (2) answering one hundred percent of the questions in a series of sets of questions, but failing to answer any individual set of questions within the required time, and (3) providing a cumulative percentage of correct answers over a series of sets of questions.