Abstract: A valve assembly for integration within a wellbore string disposed within a hydrocarbon-containing reservoir is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve housing having a plurality of frac ports for establishing fluid communication between a central passage and the reservoir. The valve assembly includes a bottom sleeve operatively mounted within the valve housing configured to selectively open the frac ports, and a top sleeve operatively mounted within the valve housing slidable between (i) a first position defining a first fluid pathway whereby fluid is flowable down into the central passage and into the reservoir via the frac ports, and (ii) a tracing position defining a second fluid pathway whereby fluid is flowable from the reservoir into an annulus defined between the top sleeve and the housing. The valve assembly also has a tracer compartment defined within the annulus forming part of the second fluid pathway and accommodating a tracer material.

Abstract: Methods and systems for remote self-checkout are described. One method includes presenting a code at a self-checkout point-of-sale device that may be captured by a user (e.g., a store customer or a store employee) mobile device. The code may enable the mobile device to request a connection with the self-checkout point-of-sale device that allows for user interactions associated with a self-checkout session to be performed at the self-checkout point-of-sale device or at the mobile device. The self-checkout session includes adding items to be purchased into a cart instance and receiving payment for items in the cart instance. User interactions associated with weighed items may be performed on the mobile device in a manner integrated with a scale/scanner portion of the self-checkout point-of-sale device to avoid user contact with a touchpoint of the self-checkout point-of-sale device. Accordingly, contact with a self-checkout point-of-sale device by all users may be reduced.

Abstract: Methods and systems for remote self-checkout are described. One method includes presenting a code at a self-checkout point-of-sale device that may be captured by a user (e.g., a store customer or a store employee) mobile device. The code may enable the mobile device to request a connection with the self-checkout point-of-sale device that allows for user interactions associated with a self-checkout session to be performed at the self-checkout point-of-sale device or at the mobile device. The self-checkout session includes adding items to be purchased into a cart instance and receiving payment for items in the cart instance. User interactions associated with weighed items may be performed on the mobile device in a manner integrated with a scale/scanner portion of the self-checkout point-of-sale device to avoid user contact with a touchpoint of the self-checkout point-of-sale device. Accordingly, contact with a self-checkout point-of-sale device by all users may be reduced.

Abstract: A cutterhead for dredging water-bed material from a body of water. The cutterhead comprises a shroud presenting a front margin for receiving water-bed material into an interior space of the shroud. The shroud additionally includes a port from which water-bed material can be removed from the interior space of the shroud. The cutterhead additionally comprises a rotatable cutterbar at least partially received within the interior space of the shroud. The cutterhead further comprises a debris guard positioned between the cutterbar and the port. The debris guard is operable to filter the water-bed material removed from the shroud through the port. At least a portion of the debris guard that faces the cutterbar includes a concave shape.

Abstract: A cutterhead for dredging water-bed material from a body of water. The cutterhead comprises a shroud presenting a front margin for receiving water-bed material into an interior space of the shroud. The shroud additionally includes a port from which water-bed material can be removed from the interior space of the shroud. The cutterhead additionally comprises a rotatable cutterbar at least partially received within the interior space of the shroud. The cutterhead further comprises a debris guard positioned between the cutterbar and the port. The debris guard is operable to filter the water-bed material removed from the shroud through the port. At least a portion of the debris guard that faces the cutterbar includes a concave shape.

Abstract: A specialty support surface for a variable width bed that can easily change its width from a wide bariatric mattress to a standard width so it can fit through a standard hospital door frame. The support surface can be placed on any bariatric bed frame that is designed to reduce its width to fit through a standard door. The support surface has the normal traverse air cells (used to reduce or relieve pressure). In addition, transverse air cells have independently controlled compartments on their ends. By inflating or deflating the controlled compartments, the length of the transverse air cells can be varied. These controllable compartments are controlled through an electronic controller by simply pressing a keypad on its touch panel. The electronic controller is used to control air pressure to the various compartments of the specialty support surface. The mattress replacement can be single or multi zone.

Abstract: A unique support surface that provides a controllable inflation system, and a turning bladder structure for turning a patient quickly for the application of a nursing protocol. The support surface includes air cell arrays and turning bladders which are used to turn the patient in either direction under control of the medical practitioner. The air cell arrays can be arranged longitudinally or laterally. The multiple turning bladders are preferably formed with a unique butterfly shape that minimizes the amount of air required to inflate, which then results in high-speed turning of the patient.

Abstract: A unique support surface that provides a controllable inflation system, and a turning bladder structure for turning a patient quickly for the application of a nursing protocol. The support surface includes air cell arrays and turning bladders which are used to turn the patient in either direction under control of the medical practitioner. The air cell arrays can be arranged longitudinally or laterally. The multiple turning bladders are preferably formed with a unique butterfly shape that minimizes the amount of air required to inflate, which then results in high-speed turning of the patient.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for functioning, subsequent to exposure to a designated microbial-biocidal treatment-cycle, for automated measurement, reporting, and recording, along with treatment-cycle data, for verifying effectiveness of each such treatment-cycle, by automatically monitoring a respective biological-indication (B-I) Test Ampoule for such a cycle. Prior burdensome requirements on personnel, in establishing and evaluating bacterial-lethality, and documenting all relevant steps and data are eliminated; while enabling accurate and prompt evaluations of bacterial-lethality. B-I Test-Ampoules types having differing sizes and configurations are evaluated in respective housing-structure test-cell receptacles, each having a correlated size and configuration with that of the respective Test-Ampoule; which augments establishing the culturing temperature required for the B-I Test Ampoule being evaluated.

Abstract: Procedures and means for evaluating effectiveness of bacterial-lethality, following batch-processed containerized food production operations and aseptic-flow food-production operations as containerized in aseptic-containers, in preparing for non-refrigerated marketing are described. The evaluations significantly expedite determining whether thermally-processed containerized food-production is safe for non-refrigerated marketing. The presence or absence of live spore-forming bacteria is determined chemically free of extended storage requirements relying on a mechanical-failure indication of food-spoilage. Also, a biological-indication verification of microbial-biocidal status of the packaged food is made available.

Abstract: A specialty support surface for a variable width bed that can easily change its width from a wide bariatric mattress to a standard width so it can fit through a standard hospital door frame. The support surface can be placed on any bariatric bed frame that is designed to reduce its width to fit through a standard door. The support surface has the normal traverse air cells (used to reduce or relieve pressure). In addition, transverse air cells have independently controlled compartments on their ends. By inflating or deflating the controlled compartments, the length of the transverse air cells can be varied. These controllable compartments are controlled through an electronic controller by simply pressing a keypad on its touch panel. The electronic controller is used to control air pressure to the various compartments of the specialty support surface. The mattress replacement can be single or multi zone.

Abstract: Prior art architectures of power amplifiers employ a substantial die area, and utilize multiple integrated circuit technologies with a net higher manufacturing cost and large associated packaging area. A new scheme is presented wherein several sense and control signals are used to provide fine and gross control over the key figures of merit associated with integrated semiconductor power amplifiers. How and where these sense and control signals are used is crucial to achieving the most manufacturable and most economic integrated amplifier. In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a Dual Feedback-Low power regulation circuit for a three-stage power amplifier integrated circuit is provided. In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, a current source feedback circuit having low RF output signal power regulation for a three-stage power amplifier integrated circuit is provided.

Abstract: Prior art architectures of power amplifiers employ a substantial die area, and utilize multiple integrated circuit technologies with a net higher manufacturing cost and large associated packaging area. A new scheme is presented wherein several sense and control signals are used to provide fine and gross control over the key figures of merit associated with integrated semiconductor power amplifiers. How and where these sense and control signals are used is crucial to achieving the most manufacturable and most economic integrated amplifier. In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a Dual Feedback-Low power regulation circuit for a three-stage power amplifier integrated circuit is provided. In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, a current source feedback circuit having low RF output signal power regulation for a three-stage power amplifier integrated circuit is provided.

Abstract: Multiple-component integral-structure dual-test sterility indicator, method of assembling physical components, selected spores, and chemical constituents in solution, within the indicator and arranged to enable dual-evaluations of bacterial-lethality of a dry-goods load, resulting from exposure to a selected saturated-steam sterilizing cycle. The chemical constituents are formulated to chemically produce reaction-product, which is quantitatively responsive to the combined effect of cycle steam temperature and time of exposure at that temperature, for providing a promptly-available spectroscopic evaluation of bacterial-lethality. Absorption of narrow-band selected visible-light wavelength by reaction-product, if any, of chemical-constituent solution, is used to quantitatively measure that combined-effect exposure.

Abstract: Prior art architectures of power amplifiers employ a substantial die area, and utilize multiple integrated circuit technologies with a net higher manufacturing cost and large associated packaging area. A new scheme is presented wherein several sense and control signals are used to provide fine and gross control over the key figures of merit associated with integrated semiconductor power amplifiers. How and where these sense and control signals are used is crucial to achieving the most manufacturable and most economic integrated amplifier. In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a Dual Feedback-Low power regulation circuit for a three-stage power amplifier integrated circuit is provided. In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, a current source feedback circuit having low RF output signal power regulation for a three-stage power amplifier integrated circuit is provided.

Abstract: Prior art architectures of power amplifiers employ a substantial die area, and utilize multiple integrated circuit technologies with a net higher manufacturing cost and large associated packaging area. A new scheme is presented wherein several sense and control signals are used to provide fine and gross control over the key figures of merit associated with integrated semiconductor power amplifiers. How and where these sense and control signals are used is crucial to achieving the most manufacturable and most economic integrated amplifier. In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a Dual Feedback-Low power regulation circuit for a three-stage power amplifier integrated circuit is provided. In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, a current source feedback circuit having low RF output signal power regulation for a three-stage power amplifier integrated circuit is provided.

Abstract: Prior art architectures of power amplifiers employ a substantial die area, and utilize multiple integrated circuit technologies with a net higher manufacturing cost and large associated packaging area. A new scheme is presented wherein several sense and control signals are used to provide fine and gross control over the key figures of merit associated with integrated semiconductor power amplifiers. How and where these sense and control signals are used is crucial to achieving the most manufacturable and most economic integrated amplifier. In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a Dual Feedback-Low power regulation circuit for a three-stage power amplifier integrated circuit is provided. In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, a current source feedback circuit having low RF output signal power regulation for a three-stage power amplifier integrated circuit is provided.

Abstract: Prior art architectures of power amplifiers employ a substantial die area, and utilize multiple integrated circuit technologies with a net higher manufacturing cost and large associated packaging area. A new scheme is presented wherein several sense and control signals are used to provide fine and gross control over the key figures of merit associated with integrated semiconductor power amplifiers. How and where these sense and control signals are used is crucial to achieving the most manufacturable and most economic integrated amplifier. In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a Dual Feedback-Low power regulation circuit for a three-stage power amplifier integrated circuit is provided. In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, a current source feedback circuit having low RF output signal power regulation for a three-stage power amplifier integrated circuit is provided.

Abstract: An inventive stringed musical instrument comprising an independent string copoing device adapted to secure a string of a guitar or other fretted stringed musical instrument at selected fret position in order to quickly and easily vary the length of the string available for vibration, to change the pitch when the string is plucked or bowed. The independent string copoing device describes clips and a clip placement installation area adapted to secure a clip style fixing device to a selected fret on the fretboard, the clips and clip insertion area so shaped as to complement each other for locking a string or plurity thereof to a pressed down or mechanically fingered position. The instrument may also include the use of a split-nut structure comprising a permanently divided nut, and a method for tuning the stringed instrument comprising tuning the instrument to a non-standard or altered configuration while utilizing a means of varying the length of independent strings with mechanical devices.

Abstract: An inventive stringed musical instrument comprising an independent string copoing device adapted to secure a string of a guitar or other fretted stringed musical instrument at selected fret position in order to quickly and easily vary the length of the string available for vibration, to change the pitch when the string is plucked or bowed.