Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a fiber mat comprising polymer fibers with ferroelectric particles embedded in the polymer fibers. The ferroelectric particles are oriented to generate a net polarization in the fiber mat. The ferroelectric particles may comprise barium titanate particles. The polymer fibers may comprise polylactic acid (PLA) fibers. The piezoelectric device may further include substrates sandwiching the fiber mat, and the fiber mat may be formed by electrospinning polymer fibers containing ferroelectric particles onto one of the substrates. The piezoelectric device may be a piezoelectric actuator configured to receive an input voltage applied across the fiber mat and to output a mechanical displacement in response to the voltage, or the piezoelectric device may be configured to output a voltage in response to a mechanical force applied to the fiber mat.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide resistance hanging screens, configured for installation into a storm drain or a component of a storm drain, that comprise a front plate and first and second hanging pivots. The combination of the location of the center of gravity of the resistance hanging screens and the first and second hanging pivots confers a bias of the resistance hanging screens to occupy a closed position when the resistance hanging screen is installed in the storm drain or the storm drain component.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide automatically retractable screens, adapted for installation into a storm drain curb inlet, configured such that the automatically retractable screens are biased toward the closed position and thereby reliably closed during periods of no, low, or moderate surface runoff water flows, yet also reliably open when surface runoff water flow rates increase to moderate or high levels.

Abstract: Device identification techniques using identifiable device functions are described. In one or more implementations, data is obtained that describes functions of a device that are identifiable for use in conjunction with a computing device and a device identifier (ID) is computed for the peripheral device based on the identifiable device functions.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for vehicle monitoring with processing interruption tolerance. One or more vehicle sensors can transmit one or more data streams to a primary data processing system via a data channel. A secondary data buffer can be coupled to the data channel to continuously capture the set of data streams and/or subsets thereof. During normal operation, the set of data streams are processed by the primary data processing system. After a limited-duration fault occurs in the primary data processing system, it can recover by accessing the backup data in the secondary data buffer. The lost data can be retrieved from the secondary data buffer using timestamp information to process the data in its original time context and to ensure that no already-processed data is included. The set of data streams can be downsampled or decimated in the secondary data buffer to extend storage capacity.

Abstract: A fenestrated stent graft (1) with a tubular side arm (11) extending therefrom in which the side arm can be turned inside out to extend into the stent graft during deployment of the stent graft and extended out during deployment. Also disclosed is a deployment device (19) for such a side arm stent graft which has a deployment catheter (26) and a side arm guide (32), the side arm guide is releasably fastened at a proximal end to the branch tube (11) and is able to be moved independently of the deployment catheter such that the branch tube can be extended from the tubular body of the stent graft while it is fastened onto the side arm guide. The side arm guide can be formed from a side arm catheter (32) and a side arm guide wire (34) carried in the side arm catheter.

Abstract: A thoracic arch stent graft (1) has a tubular body of a biocompatible graft material (3) and at least one fenestration (13, 15) in the wall on one side thereof. A combination guide and tubular side arm assembly (20, 22) is mounted into the or each fenestration. The combination guide and tubular side arm assembly comprises a tubular portion (24) and a funnel portion (26) extending from a distal end of the tubular portion. The funnel portion has an angled open end. The tubular portion and the funnel portion are formed from a biocompatible graft material wall and have a lightweight space frame (38 40) formed from a resilient wire and supporting the graft material and defining the combination guide and tubular side arm assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computer-based simulations and synthetic environment generation, and more particularly, to a system, a computer-readable medium, a method and an apparatus for generating synthetic environments in a distributed architecture to, among other things, introduce dynamic content.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds and methods for treating viral diseases. Some compounds of the invention are described by Formula I: (I), wherein M+ is Na+, Li+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, or NRcRdReRf+ and Rc, Rd, Re and Rf are each independently hydrogen or C1-5 alkyl, or a stereoisomer, a diastereomer, an enantiomer or racemate thereof.

Abstract: A high-throughput flow system includes an array of wells and a separate mechanical tip positioned within each well. Each mechanical tip is separately actuated to impart a shear stress pattern. A separate sleeve may be associated with each tip for maintaining a predetermined distance between the tip and a floor of the tip's corresponding well, with each tip being rotatable within its corresponding sleeve. Alternatively, a separate post may be associated with each tip for maintaining a predetermined distance between the tip and a floor of the tip's corresponding well, with each tip being rotatable about its corresponding post.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for attaching tissue structures to orthopaedic implants. In one exemplary embodiment, the methods and apparatuses are used to attach soft tissue and/or bone to a proximal tibial implant. In another exemplary embodiment, the methods and apparatuses are used to attach soft tissue and/or bone to a proximal femoral implant.

Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus may comprise an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, a surface cleaning head having the dirty air inlet, a support structure moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head, the support structure comprising a cleaning unit. The cleaning unit may comprise suction motor and an air treatment member and positioned in the air flow path. A lock releasably locks the cleaning unit on the support structure and the cleaning unit and the support structure are configured to retain the cleaning unit on the support structure when the lock is in an unlocked position.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and a suction motor. The surface cleaning apparatus may also comprise a cyclone chamber provided in the air flow passage. The cyclone chamber may comprise a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet and a dirt outlet. The surface cleaning apparatus may comprise a dirt collection chamber having a dirt inlet, a dirt collection chamber first end, an opposed dirt collection chamber second end and a longitudinally extending sidewall. Various design improvements are provided.

Abstract: A ground station antenna including a torus shaped reflector having multiple feed points along a focal arc in front of the reflector. The ground station antenna includes transceiver feeds having their electrical phase centers located on the focal arc and supported by a rotating feed platform. The transceiver feeds are configured to simultaneously track rising and falling satellites when the platform rotates. The ground station antenna further includes a wireless power receiver coupled to the transceiver feeds to power the transceiver feeds. The ground station antenna further includes a wireless signal interface coupled to the transceiver feeds to communicate signals with a base unit to perform subsequent processing.

Abstract: A bracket for mounting an air conditioning unit in a window has a base plate having a front edge and a rear edge and a pair of support legs connected to the base plate and extending from the rear edge, each support leg having an end face that faces in a same direction as the front edge and a support trough connected to the front edge. There are adjustable arms connected to the support trough. These arms are slidable in opposite directions to increase the width of the bracket and fit it exactly to the width of the window frame. When the bracket is positioned in a window frame of a structure, the support trough fits within the window frame and the end faces of the each support leg rest against an exterior of the structure.

Abstract: An optical system includes a lens assembly and a light source. The lens assembly includes an optical lens positioned to transmit and refract light provided by the light source, and a lens holder coupled to the optical lens and maintaining a position of the optical lens relative to the light source. The optical lens is coupled to the lens holder with a bonding agent arranged in an interrupted configuration at positions proximate to a circumference of the optical lens. The light source provides light to the optical lens of the lens assembly. The light provided to the optical lens has an optical footprint that includes a plurality of high-intensity regions separated from one another by low-intensity regions and the bonding agent is positioned in a circumferential orientation relative to the light source such that the bonding agent is spaced apart from the high-intensity regions of the optical footprint of the light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hair treatment compositions and methods. More particularly, the invention relates to hair treatment compositions comprising lipids and creatine. The hair treatment compositions of the present invention may be used to improve the tensile properties of hair, such as hair elasticity and strength.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for conditional deletes of storage objects are disclosed. A storage medium comprises program instructions that when executed, implement a metadata node of a storage service in which a protocol based on sequence numbers is used to resolve update conflicts. The instructions store, as part of a conditional deletion record associated with a key of a particular storage object identified as a deletion candidate, a deletion sequence number derived from a particular modification sequence number of the object. In accordance with the protocol, the instructions determine whether an additional modification sequence number larger than the deletion sequence number has been generated in response to an operation associated with the key. If such an additional sequence number has been generated, the deletion of the storage object is canceled.

Abstract: A method forms a non-circular socket in a jawbone of a patient for receiving a dental implant. A pilot hole is formed in the jawbone. A framework having one or more sets of opposing drill points configured to rotate along axes that are transverse to a vertical axis is directed along the pilot hole. The framework produces the non-circular socket, which may have a series of tiers. A dental implant is inserted into the socket. The dental implant may have a series of tiered sections shaped so that each tiered section conforms to a respective one of the tiers in the socket. An abutment may be securely fastened to the dental implant.