Abstract: A ball-coupling and protection apparatus and system is disclosed. In a typical embodiment, a coupler apparatus is disposed along an outer perimeter of a racket, typically a location along the perimeter farthest from the user's grip on the racket. In a typical embodiment, the coupler is a set of hooks from a hook and loop fastener set.

Abstract: A method and system of evaluating crop performance facilitates characterization of the environmental impact of a geographic region or areas within the region for growing plant-life. Environmental measurements are obtained. The environmental measurements are associated with a geographic region. Each environmental measurement includes at least one of soil data and weather data. Respective location data is obtained. The location data is associated with corresponding environmental measurements. An estimated performance characteristic is determined for a particular crop planted in the geographic region based on the obtained environmental measurements and respective location data. Contours are established for one or more uniform performance areas with generally uniform performance characteristic within the geographic region by applying a decision-tree analysis to the obtained environmental measurements.

Abstract: A real-time performance monitoring system for monitoring an electric power grid. The electric power grid has a plurality of grid portions, each grid portion corresponding to one of a plurality of control areas. The real-time performance monitoring system includes a monitor computer for monitoring at least one of reliability metrics, generation metrics, transmission metrics, suppliers metrics, grid infrastructure security metrics, and markets metrics for the electric power grid. The data for metrics being monitored by the monitor computer are stored in a data base, and a visualization of the metrics is displayed on at least one display computer having a monitor. The at least one display computer in one said control area enables an operator to monitor the grid portion corresponding to a different said control area.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of making metallic fibers and electrodes. The metallic fibers are manufactured by milling a stock piece of material, preferably with a computer number controlled (CNC) milling machine. According to one embodiment, the length of the fibers is determined by the width of the stock material and stock material may be stacked so as to produce a number of fibers. According to another embodiment, the cutting tool comprises chip breakers which determine the length of the fibers. Zinc fibers made according to the present invention may be used to manufacture battery electrodes by compressing the fibers into the desired shape and porosity.