Abstract: A fastener is disclosed for anchoring a tether within a body of a patient. The fastener includes a one-way tissue engagement feature having an opening that receives a length of a tether and permits the length of the tether to pass through the opening in a first direction and restricts movement of the tether in a second direction opposite the first direction. The fastener also includes an engagement feature configured to maintain contact between the fastener and a bone, or other tissue, of the patient in response to tension applied to the tether in the second direction to keep the fastener in place relative to the bone.

Abstract: A combined anaerobic digester system and gas-to-liquid system is disclosed. The anaerobic digester requires heat, and produces methane. The gas-to-liquid system produces heat, and converts methane to higher-value products, including methanol and formaldehyde. As such, the combination of the two systems results in significant savings in terms of capital and operating expenses. A process for producing bio-formaldehyde and bio-formalin from biogas is also disclosed.

Abstract: A combined anaerobic digester system and gas-to-liquid system is disclosed. The anaerobic digester requires heat, and produces methane. The gas-to-liquid system produces heat, and converts methane to higher-value products, including methanol and formaldehyde. As such, the combination of the two systems results in significant savings in terms of capital and operating expenses. A process for producing bio-formaldehyde and bio-formalin from biogas is also disclosed.

Abstract: A FIRDAC with a return-to-zero or return-to-open drive uses multiple DACs receiving delayed copies of a digital input data signal to reduce thermal noise and intersymbol interference to produce a summed analog output. The SNR of sigma-delta ADCs using current-source-based DACs is significantly limited by the thermal noise of the DAC current sources. DACs using a switched voltage connected via a resistor or other passive element are quieter, but in a non-return-to-zero configuration tend to suffer from intersymbol interference if used at GHz clock frequencies. The intersymbol interference can be avoided by using a return-to-zero or return-to-open drive using multiple DACs clocked on successive half clock cycles (a finite-impulse-response DAC).

Abstract: The present invention provides for an off-shore unitary fish farming apparatus, including: a plurality of floatable fish containers aligned sequentially having attachment means for flexibly connecting the containers to maintain the containers in a predetermined relationship to one another, a dampening means attached to at least one or the containers to reduce current and wave and also deflect any floating debris away from the containers, a fish feed tank for holding, mixing and distribution of fish feed slurry to each of the plurality of fish containers, the fish tank having a securing means for attaching the dampening means to the tank; a feed dispenser for radially dispensing fish feed in the container directly beneath the water surface, anchor means to anchor the apparatus to an aquatic floor, the anchor means allowing radial movement or the tank around an anchor position and a crane mounted on the fish feed tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an off-shore unitary fish farming apparatus, including: a plurality of floatable fish containers aligned sequentially having attachment means for flexibly connecting the containers to maintain the containers in a predetermined relationship to one another, a dampening means attached to at least one or the containers to reduce current and wave and also deflect any floating debris away from the containers, a fish feed tank for holding, mixing and distribution of fish feed slurry to each of the plurality of fish containers, the fish tank having a securing means for attaching the dampening means to the tank; a feed dispenser for radially dispensing fish feed in the container directly beneath the water surface, anchor means to anchor the apparatus to an aquatic floor, the anchor means allowing radial movement or the tank around an anchor position and a crane mounted on the fish feed tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an off-shore unitary fish farming apparatus, including: a plurality of floatable fish containers aligned sequentially having attachment means for flexibly connecting the containers to maintain the containers in a predetermined relationship to one another, a dampening means attached to at least one of the containers to reduce current and wave and also deflect any floating debris away from the containers, a fish feed tank for holding, mixing and distribution of fish feed slurry to each of the plurality of fish containers, the fish tank having a securing means for attaching the dampening means to the tank; a feed dispenser for radially dispensing fish feed in the container directly beneath the water surface, anchor means to anchor the apparatus to an aquatic floor, the anchor means allowing radial movement of the tank around an anchor position and a crane mounted on the fish feed tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an off-shore unitary fish farming apparatus, including: a plurality of floatable fish containers aligned sequentially having attachment means for flexibly connecting the containers to maintain the containers in a predetermined relationship to one another, a dampening means attached to at least one of the containers to reduce current and wave and also deflect any floating debris away from the containers, a fish feed tank for holding, mixing and distribution of fish feed slurry to each of the plurality of fish containers, the fish tank having a securing means for attaching the dampening means to the tank; a feed dispenser for radially dispensing fish feed in the container directly beneath the water surface, anchor means to anchor the apparatus to an aquatic floor, the anchor means allowing radial movement of the tank around an anchor position and a crane mounted on the fish feed tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus for dispensing a slurry feed suitable for fish under the surface of an aqueous body, the apparatus comprising a housing having a feed inlet and radial feed dispensing means, means for providing a slurry containing a feed product to the feed inlet means in the housing and a radial feed dispensing means comprising a plurality of spaced-apart slurry dispensing outlets therein for dispensing slurry radially and outwardly from the housing under the water surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for storing, transporting and accessing a packaged collection of geospatial information. A geospatial toolkit including source, handler, and data modules is configured to access geospatial data from a variety of sources, parse the geospatial data, and provide geospatial content in a unified format. Parameters, including source, layer information, boundaries, and query filters, are set to allow retrieval of diverse geospatial data from different sources while providing a unified presentation on a system interface. The interface is associated with a framework that internally handles complex open-geospatial standards and services and facilitates open-geospatial development for Windows applications, on platforms such as Component Object Module (COM) and .NET. The information gathered in the source module and the data module is preserved with its corresponding visualization instructions.

Abstract: A hybrid heating and/or cooling system may combine different energy sources (e.g., solar and geothermal) into a single system. The hybrid heating and/or cooling system may include one or more heat pumps, a heat exchanger system, a solar and/or waste energy system, and a delivery system for delivering heat (and/or cool air) to a space such as a building. These systems may be interconnected and controlled using various conduits, pumps, valves and controls. The solar energy system may provide heat (e.g., low grade heat) to the working fluid at the input to the source side of the heat pump and/or may provide heat (e.g., high grade heat) to the delivery system for direct solar and/or waste energy heating.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for searching, obtaining, and distributing geospatial information in peer-to-peer networks. A geospatial information application identifies regions of geospatial information available at various peer nodes. The regions may be multidimensional and time varying and are typically associated with associated with information layers and/or components. Regions that overlap with or otherwise correspond to a user requested target region are obtained from peer nodes. The obtained regions may be combined, displayed, marked, and/or stitched to respond to a request. Various content types such as raster or feature based geospatial content from various sources such as files, databases or Web services can be shared within the distributed network.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for automated testing of a patient's hearing. The automated hearing test allows the patient to quickly and accurately test his own hearing. The patient is instructed and prompted for inputs and responses as needed. The patient and/or operator can select one or several tests to be performed, including air and bone conduction testing with masking, speech reception threshold, speech discrimination, tympanogram, acoustic reflex, and otoacoustic emissions testing. Stenger screening is automatically performed for some patients based on the difference in pure tone frequency air conduction thresholds. Multiple languages are supported. Data obtained from one test may be used for another test or another iteration of the same test to calculate masking levels. The automatic hearing test also detects and compensates for ambient noise in the test results. If a contingency occurs, the automated hearing test is configured to page the operator for assistance.