Abstract: An acoustic panel assembly may have one or more panels adaptable for reflecting sound waves and a support member to which the one or more panels may be attached. The support member may be extendable and retractable. The one or more panels and the support member may be collapsible into a housing. The one or more panels may be configured in one or more substantially planar portions, one or more substantially curved portions, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method of distributing content over multiple social media networks and providing analysis based thereon is disclosed herein. Additionally, an apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed. In one embodiment the apparatus includes: (1) a content publisher configured to automatically distribute content over multiple social media networks according to a delivery schedule; and (2) an action analyzer configured to monitor, on at least one of the social media networks, reaction to the content that has been distributed and generate a stimulus report based on the reaction according to a selectable format.

Abstract: Processes for producing polyethylene terephthalate copolyesters are disclosed, that include the steps of: esterifying a mixture of at least terephthalic acid, from 20 mole percent to 45 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, and ethylene glycol, optionally in the presence of one or more alkaline earth metals or alkali metals, to form an oligomer; polycondensing the oligomer in the melt phase in the presence of aluminum and one or more alkaline earth metals or alkali metals, to obtain a copolyester having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.5 dL/g; and thereafter adding to the copolyester a phosphorus-containing compound.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for adjusting processor utilization data in polling environments are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An amount of a computing resource consumed during polling performed by the polling application over a predetermined period is received at a processor in a data processing system from a polling application executing in the data processing system. The amount forms a polling amount of the computing resource. Using the polling amount of the computing resource, another amount of the computing resource consumed for performing meaningful task is determined. The other amount forms a work amount of the computing resource. Using the work amount of the computing resource, an adjusted utilization of the computing resource is computed over a utilization interval. The data of the adjusted utilization is saved.

Abstract: Processes for producing polyethylene terephthalate copolyesters are disclosed, that include the steps of: esterifying a mixture of at least terephthalic acid, from 20 mole percent to 45 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, and ethylene glycol, optionally in the presence of one or more alkaline earth metals or alkali metals, to form an oligomer; polycondensing the oligomer in the melt phase in the presence of aluminum and one or more alkaline earth metals or alkali metals, to obtain a copolyester having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.5 dL/g; and thereafter adding to the copolyester a phosphorus-containing compound.

Abstract: Methods of controlling dynamic host control protocol (DHCP) communication on a network are presented including: receiving a data frame on a network switch; and if the data frame is a DHCP offer frame that is not received from an authorized DHCP server port, dropping the data frame. In some embodiments, methods further include if the data frame is not the DHCP offer frame, forwarding the data frame. In some embodiments, methods further include if the data frame is the DHCP offer frame that is received from the authorized DHCP server port, forwarding the data frame.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed that adjust the phase of a read/write clock signal. The read/write clock signal may be used in a data storage apparatus to regulate reading/writing on a data storage media. An apparatus includes an adjustment circuit that adjusts phase of an edge of a read/write clock signal based on the timing of information that is read from a data storage media. Another apparatus includes a servo circuit and a read/write channel circuit. The servo circuit generates a leading edge transition of a servo gate signal in response to a signal indicating that a read/write transducer is approaching a start of a servo wedge. The read/write channel circuit generates a trailing edge transition of the servo gate signal in response to occurrence of a defined time delay following the transducer reading a servo address mark from the servo wedge.

Abstract: A cotton module building apparatus, utilizing imaging apparatus operable for capturing real-time images of the module building process, including accumulated cotton in the module building chamber, cotton inflow, and the in-process cotton module, and a method for building a cotton module using the images. The imaging apparatus includes a camera or cameras disposed at advantageous locations about the module building chamber, and cotton is distributed and moved within the chamber responsive to the images, for advantageous placement and distribution for forming a module having a desired consistency and top shape. Imaging apparatus can also be provided for observing unloading of a module from the chamber, and for facilitating maneuvering and positioning the unloading apparatus.

Abstract: An unloader for a cotton compacting structure such as a module builder, including loose cotton retaining apparatus configured and operable for retaining loose cotton carried from, and returning the loose cotton to, the compacting structure. Apparatus of the invention can include an array or arrays of individual upstanding filaments, or flaps, located on a cotton conveying surface of a door arrangement or ramp extending from the compacting structure and over which a mass of compacted cotton or module is unloaded. The apparatus is configured to allow passage of a mass or module of compacted cotton thereover, while preventing passage of at least a substantial portion of any loose cotton following the mass or module along the surface. The apparatus is also configured for returning the loose cotton to the compacting structure upon folding or closing of the door or ramp.

Abstract: A decontamination method is provided that contacts a biologically contaminated object with first radiation having a first wavelength distribution and with second radiation having a second wavelength distribution. The first radiation kills at least most of the microbes on the surface of the contaminated object but not in an interior region of the object. The second radiation kills at least most of the microbes in the interior region of the object.

Abstract: An unloader for a cotton compacting structure such as a module builder, including loose cotton retaining apparatus configured and operable for retaining loose cotton carried from, and returning the loose cotton to, the compacting structure. Apparatus of the invention can include an array or arrays of individual upstanding filaments, or flaps, located on a cotton conveying surface of a door arrangement or ramp extending from the compacting structure and over which a mass of compacted cotton or module is unloaded. The apparatus is configured to allow passage of a mass or module of compacted cotton thereover, while preventing passage of at least a substantial portion of any loose cotton following the mass or module along the surface. The apparatus is also configured for returning the loose cotton to the compacting structure upon folding or closing of the door or ramp.

Abstract: A cotton module building apparatus, utilizing imaging apparatus operable for capturing real-time images of the module building process, including accumulated cotton in the module building chamber, cotton inflow, and the in-process cotton module, and a method for building a cotton module using the images. The imaging apparatus includes a camera or cameras disposed at advantageous locations about the module building chamber, and cotton is distributed and moved within the chamber responsive to the images, for advantageous placement and distribution for forming a module having a desired consistency and top shape. Imaging apparatus can also be provided for observing unloading of a module from the chamber, and for facilitating maneuvering and positioning the unloading apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed that adjust the phase of a read/write clock signal. The read/write clock signal may be used in a data storage apparatus to regulate reading/writing on a data storage media. An apparatus includes an adjustment circuit that adjusts phase of an edge of a read/write clock signal based on the timing of information that is read from a data storage media. Another apparatus includes a servo circuit and a read/write channel circuit. The servo circuit generates a leading edge transition of a servo gate signal in response to a signal indicating that a read/write transducer is approaching a start of a servo wedge. The read/write channel circuit generates a trailing edge transition of the servo gate signal in response to occurrence of a defined time delay following the transducer reading a servo address mark from the servo wedge.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for transporting a cotton module from the cotton field to a storage location. A conveyor apparatus is attached to the hitch of a tractor. The conveyor is operated by a hydraulic motor that is reversible such that the conveyor can be operated in both directions. To pick up a cotton module, the operator lowers the end of the conveyor close to the ground and backs under the cotton module while the conveyor is operated in a forward direction. Once the module is loaded onto the apparatus by the conveyor, the operator stops the conveyor and raises the conveyor for transportation to a desired location. To deposit the module, the operator lowers the apparatus to the ground and operates the conveyor in reverse while pulling the tractor forward at desirably the same speed as the conveyor.

Abstract: The time difference of arrival for a signal received at two or more receiving sites as transmitted from a wireless communications device, is determined by a frequency domain technique. The constituent frequencies of the signals received at the two or more receiving sites are determined, including the phase, or a value representative of the phase, of each frequency component. The phase values for the same frequency are subtracted to yield a phase difference values as a function of frequency. The slope of the function represents the time difference of arrival for the wireless communications device signal as received at the two receiving sites. To determine the mobile location based on the determined time difference of arrival values, a seed or initial location is first assumed for the wireless communications device and the distance difference of arrival (the time difference of arrival multiplied by the speed of light) is calculated.

Abstract: An aircraft flight management system having a flight management computer that stores a pre-planned lateral route of flight of the aircraft comprising a plurality of successive waypoints to be overflown, the next proximate waypoint being an active waypoint, a method providing a return-to-path maneuver in the event that the aircraft deviates from the pre-planned route, including selecting a new active waypoint, calculating a return-to-path route to overfly the new active waypoint, and selectably accepting the calculated return-to-path route.

Abstract: The time difference of arrival for a signal received at two or more receiving sites as transmitted from a wireless communications device, is determined by a frequency domain technique. The constituent frequencies of the signals received at the two or more receiving sites are determined, including the phase, or a value representative of the phase, of each frequency component. The phase values for the same frequency are subtracted to yield a phase difference values as a function of frequency. The slope of the function represents the time difference of arrival for the wireless communications device signal as received at the two receiving sites. To determine the mobile location based on the determined time difference of arrival values, a seed or initial location is first assumed for the wireless communications device and the distance difference of arrival (the time difference of arrival multiplied by the speed of light) is calculated.