Abstract: A multi-modal programmable sound-responsive lighting system includes a set of lighting units to facilitate various functions associated with practices and performances by a marching band and individual musicians. Each lighting unit may be designed to enable attachment to a musical instrument and/or to an individual performer and may produce various lighting effects according to programmable timing and/or color settings.

Abstract: A lighting device for a musical instrument includes an LED configured to attach to the musical instrument, a microphone, a communication interface configured to communicate with a mobile device, and a controller. The controller is selectable between a plurality of operating modes including at least one tone-responsive mode and at least one performance mode. In the tone-responsive mode, the controller receives an ambient audio signal from the microphone, detects a tone of the musical instrument based on the ambient audio signal, and dynamically controls a lighting characteristic output by the LED based on the detected tone. In the performance mode, the controller wirelessly receives a set cuing signal from the communication interface for changing between a predefined group of sets, and controls the LED during each of the predefined group of sets according to respective preprogrammed lighting patterns for each of the predefined group of sets.

Abstract: This disclosure describes microbial compositions that contain novel combinations of at least two microbial organisms that, when included in a microbial inoculate and applied to applied to seeds, plants, roots, or growth substrates, promotes plant growth or resistance to plant pathogens.

Abstract: This disclosure describes microbial compositions that contain novel combinations of at least two microbial organisms that, when included in a microbial inoculate and applied to applied to seeds, plants, roots, or growth substrates, promote plant rooting, or if applied to seeds, promote seed germination.

Abstract: Systems and methods for building images used in software containers are disclosed. A computer-implemented method includes: receiving, at a host computer, plural commands defined in a build file; determining, by the host computer, one of the plural commands is indicated as a temporal layer; building, by the host computer, an image including respective layers corresponding to respective ones of the plural commands; deleting from the image, by the host computer, one of the respective layers corresponding to the one of the plural commands indicated as the temporal layer; and pushing, by the host computer, the image to a registry.

Abstract: Systems and methods for building images used in software containers are disclosed. A computer-implemented method includes: receiving, at a host computer, plural commands defined in a build file; determining, by the host computer, one of the plural commands is indicated as a temporal layer; building, by the host computer, an image including respective layers corresponding to respective ones of the plural commands; deleting from the image, by the host computer, one of the respective layers corresponding to the one of the plural commands indicated as the temporal layer; and pushing, by the host computer, the image to a registry.

Abstract: The unitary cellular telephone antenna includes a junction box to which is mounted both the antenna element, preferably a 5/8 wavelength antenna, and two 1/4 wavelength downwardly oriented radials to establish the antenna's ground plane. Electrical elements are included within the junction box to match the impedance of the antenna system to the cellular telephone transceiver and to maximize the radiated signal.

Abstract: A ratchet nut runner is energized either manually or by a non-manual power source such as a battery, on-line electrical power or a pneumatic supply. A tubular body or housing, which contains speed-reducing and power-amplifying structures, serves also as the handle or hand grip for the device. A driven drive shaft which extends coaxially from the housing is connected to a head of the device through a pivot joint assembly. An important feature of the drive device is that the housing-enclosed drive shaft is pivotable from a non-manual power drive mode in which the drive shaft is coaxial with a tool-engaging stud or coupler, to a configuration in which the drive shaft extends normally of the coupler for rotation of the drive head manually. A switch which connects non-manual power to the drive shaft operates to cut off power when the device is disposed in a manual mode of operation.

Abstract: The snap release system consists of interfitting base and top members, the base member including a catch plate, the top plate having a T-shaped stud that is captured in aligned openings in the base plate and catch plate. The catch plate includes a bar portion lying alongside the base plate, which bar may be pressed to release the head of the T-shaped stud and to permit the plates to be separated.

Abstract: The improved U-shaped antenna mounting assembly consists of a U-shaped clip and a U-shaped bracket, the bracket overfitting the clip, the base of the clip being notched to receive in that notch the base portion of the bracket. Preferably indentations are provided in the clip and the bracket to assist in interlocking them with one another.

Abstract: A vibration free fluid compressor particularly adapted for Stirling cycle cryogenic refrigeration apparatus comprising a pair of identical opposing ferromagnetic pistons (10, 12) located in a housing (22) and between a gas spring including a sealed volume (52, 54, 60) of a working fluid such as gas under pressure. The gas compresses and expands in accordance with movement of the pistons (10, 12) to generate a compression wave which can be vented out to other apparatus, for example, a displacer unit in a Stirling cycle engine. The pistons (10, 12) are urged outwardly due to the pressure of the gas; however, a fixed electromagnetic coil assembly (56), located in the housing adjacent the pistons, is periodically energized to produce a magnetic field which interlinks the pistons (10, 12) in such a fashion that the pistons are mutually attracted to one another.