Abstract: An inhalation system including a fluid transfer member, a valve member, a cartridge assembly, and a mouthpiece, and a method of use thereof are provided. The valve member connects to an open end of the fluid transfer member. The cartridge assembly, positioned within the valve member, includes a substance holder and an absorbent member accommodated within a cartridge for containing and absorbing an inhaling substance. When the valve member connects to a vaporizer, the vaporizer heats the absorbent member to vaporize and release an inhaling fluid into the fluid transfer member. When the valve member connects to the mouthpiece, the valve member receives and transfers the inhaling fluid vapor from the fluid transfer member to a user's mouth via the mouthpiece. The locking mouthpiece assembly allows authentication of the user prior to releasing the inhaling fluid to the user's mouth.

Abstract: The present invention includes a software tool, or widget, that links content to, rather than embeds content on, a host location from captured content from a subject location. Specifically, a the present invention includes a software tool or application that easily enables a user to capture content or a portion of content from one location (such as a web page, electronic document, or file on a server) and to embed code pointing to that captured content in another location (such as a user's blog-site, Facebook page, other social media site, or similar). This software tool or application, termed herein as a “WallWidget,” is a portable portion of code that may be installed or executed within any separate HTML, flash, or similar social media site, a webpage, a smart phone, or desktop by an end user without necessitating additional compilation of that code portion.

Abstract: A method of depopulating livestock is provided. The method comprises restricting the livestock in a defined space, and depositing foam into the defined space, forming a foam blanket covering the livestock. The livestock can be avians, such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys. A device for making medium expansion foam comprising a high expansion foam generator having a fan, and a shroud shielding the fan from ambient air intake. The shroud limits the amount of ambient air incorporated into the foam during operation. The device can include an alternative gas input positioned to direct an alternative gas to the fan. The alternative gas is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Machine operators rely on intuition and experience to evaluate vehicle performance. As we increasingly turn to automation, it is important to automatically evaluate sensor data and system performance. Fuzzy logic allows us to take advantage of domain knowledge to evaluate data and to describe a system linguistically. In this application a fuzzy quality module evaluates output from a noisy sensor. It compares the sensor data with an estimated sensor value, and based on that comparison, dynamically adapts a fuzzy logic rulebase used to determine whether the sensor value is valid or not.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an edge between a cut crop and an uncut crop in a field is disclosed. At least two scanlines of pixel data are processed based on an image of the field. A characteristic line corresponding to the cut/uncut edge is best fit between center location points of segments from each scanline using sequential regression analysis. A fuzzy logic algorithm is used to determine whether to continue processing each successive scanline of data based on the quality of the characteristic line. If certain fuzzy membership functions determine that the slope and intercept values have sufficiently converged, processing of the scanlines is completed and the agricultural vehicle is automatically guided along the cut/uncut edge corresponding to the characteristic line.

Abstract: A combine having a camera system is disclosed in which pictures of the ground in front of the vehicle are processed to extract the slope and intercept of a characteristic line indicative of the boundary between the cut and uncut portions of the field. A fuzzy logic algorithm compares the slope and intercept using four input membership functions and a single output membership function. If the slope and intercept extracted from the image are deemed acceptable, they are used to navigate the vehicle through the field. If they are not acceptable, the combine continues to use slope and intercept values previously deemed acceptable to guide the vehicle. This process of image data extraction and quality analysis continues repetitively as the combine traverses the field harvesting crops.

Abstract: Machine operators rely on intuition and experience to evaluate vehicle performance. As we increasingly turn to automation, it is important to automatically evaluate sensor data and system performance. Fuzzy logic allows us to take advantage of domain knowledge to evaluate data and to describe a system linguistically. In this application a fuzzy quality module evaluates output from a noisy sensor. It compares the sensor data with an estimated sensor value, and based on that comparison, dynamically adapts a fuzzy logic rulebase used to determine whether the sensor value is valid or not.