Abstract: Exemplary systems for detecting energetic materials include: a sample wipe comprising a fibrous substrate configured to absorb and/or adhere to the energetic material; means for applying at least a first reagent configured to produce a visible color upon reaction with the energetic material to the sample wipe; means for applying at least a second reagent configured to produce a second visible color upon reaction with the energetic material to the sample wipe; and means for applying at least one solvent configured to solvate the energetic material to the sample wipe. Sample wipes may also be used independently to detect energetic materials, and include: a fibrous substrate configured to absorb/adhere to an energetic material; and a solvent configured to solvate the energetic material. Methods for detecting presence of energetic materials in a sample are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a non-aqueous liquid foul release coating composition for controlling aqueous biofouling on man-made objects comprising a moisture curable polysiloxane comprising repeating units of according to formula (I) as described in the application and at least one terminal or pendant group of according to formula (II) as described in the application; and at least one of a marine biocide or a non-volatile component comprising units selected from hydrocarbyl, heterocarbyl, halocarbyl, ether, ester, amide, ketone, siloxane, urethane or urea groups. Embodiments herein further relate to a substrate coated with such coating composition and to processes of use of such coating compositions to control aquatic biofouling of a man-made object.

Abstract: Various features relate to processing a scanned image to facilitate accurate locator pattern identification and/or detection of the corner locations of the locator pattern. In some embodiments to facilitate the identification of corner points the scanned image is processed to reduce the effect of noise and/or other damage on the subsequent location identification process. Individual white pixels which have black pixels on four sides are converted to black as part of the processing while multiple white pixels adjacent each other are left unaltered. In some embodiments processing does not alter the color of black pixels. Corner points of the locator pattern are identified through additional processing and identification of line segments satisfying an expected black, white, black, white, black segment portion ratio.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently computing vertical run length values corresponding to an image and/or identifying image patterns, e.g., bar codes and QR codes, where binary image data is stored sequentially in memory, e.g., according to a horizontal row by row basis, are described. A set of detected pixel value change location information is initialized for each column of the image and is updated as processing occurs, e.g., recording row numbers in which a pixel value change was detected between the current row and the previous row. Scanning horizontally across each row, the bitmap is processed in a horizontal fashion, the same way bitmap pixels are laid out in memory. In accordance with a feature of various embodiments of the current invention, the order of bitmap accesses is such that the spatial locality of the code is vastly improved, and the cache performance increases in comparison to a traditional approach.

Abstract: A metamaterial (400) for attenuating acoustic transmission comprises a plurality of layers (410). Each layer (410) comprises a transmission structure (420) and a resonator (450), coupled to the transmission structure (420). The transmission structure (420) in a layer (410) is coupled to the transmission structures (420) of the layers (410) neighboring said layer (410). The resonator (450) in a layer (410) is coupled to the transmission structure (420) of the layers (410) neighboring said layer (410).

Abstract: The present invention provides a fouling-resistant composition which comprises an elastomer and a component comprising sterol(s) and/or sterol derivative(s), wherein the component is selected from acylated lanolin, alkoxylated lanolin, or lanolin oil, or a composition comprising at least 20 weight % of one or more sterol(s), at least 20 weight % of one or more C1-C12 sterol ester(s), or at least 20 weight % of alkoxylated sterol(s), wherein weight % is the percentage of the sterol or sterol derivative to the total weight of the component.

Abstract: A metamaterial (400) for attenuating acoustic transmission comprises a plurality of layers (410). Each layer (410) comprises a transmission structure (420) and a resonator (450), coupled to the transmission structure (420). The transmission structure (420) in a layer (410) is coupled to the transmission structures (420) of the layers (410) neighbouring said layer (410). The resonator (450) in a layer (410) is coupled to the transmission structure (420) of the layers (410) neighbouring said layer (410).

Abstract: A system and method for incrementally accomplishing brake pipe reductions using an operator button, touch sensitive screen or other human machine interface. The system is preferably made available to the user when the brake handle is positioned in the ‘minimum’ brake application position and allows an operator to create a more precise target reduction value without having to manually move the brake handle to the location that the operator believes may result in the desired reduction. Using small, predetermined increments, the system allows for more precise control over brake pressure without an operator having to estimate what handle movement will accomplish the desired brake pressure.

Abstract: A connection is established between a network gateway and a particular device. An identity is generated for the particular device and a secure communication tunnel is established with another device at the network gateway using the identity. The secure communication tunnel can be established by the network gateway on behalf of the other device and is for use by the particular device to communicate with the other device. Data to be received from the other device over the secure communication tunnel can be sent on the connection to the particular device.

Abstract: A virtualization environment is provided to include a security management instance and an application instance. The application instance is separated from the security management instance and includes a first operating system and a particular software application. The security management instance includes a second operating system and one or more security tools to provide security for the particular application. Data for the application instance is received at the security management instance, the data is processed using at least one of the security tools, and the processed data is securely passed from the security management instance to the application instance.

Abstract: A plurality of devices in a system are identified, each device having an operational context. One of a plurality of agents are identified for each of the plurality of devices, which correspond to the device. Data is received from the plurality of agents that describes security attributes of the plurality of devices. Policy data is sent to each of the plurality of agents to cause a set of security policies to be applied to the plurality of devices through the security management instances. Each of the plurality of agents can be provided in a respective security management instance separate from the operational context.

Abstract: An anti-fouling composition which comprises a curable polymer and a fluorinated oxyalkylene-containing polymer or oligomer wherein the fluorinated oxyalkylene-containing polymer or oligomer comprises: (a) one or more fluorinated moiety of the formula (I): wherein if there is more than one fluorinated moiety, the fluorinated moiety may be the same or different, p can be independently 0 or 1, m can be independently an integer from 0 to 6, and R1, R2, R3, and R4 can be independently H; F; Cl; Br; a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms optionally substituted with F; or a linear, branched or cyclic alkyloxyalkane group having 1 to 16 carbon 1 atoms optionally substituted with F; and: (b) an average of from 4.0 to 100.

Abstract: A system and method for incrementally accomplishing brake pipe reductions using an operator button, touch sensitive screen or other human machine interface. The system is preferably made available to the user when the brake handle is positioned in the ‘minimum’ brake application position and allows an operator to create a more precise target reduction value without having to manually move the brake handle to the location that the operator believes may result in the desired reduction. Using small, predetermined increments, the system allows for more precise control over brake pressure without an operator having to estimate what handle movement will accomplish the desired brake pressure.

Abstract: A solar energy receiver comprises a panel, having a graphite core, a substantially gas tight housing encasing the graphite core, a heat exchanger comprising heat exchanger tubing, a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet. The heat exchanger tubing is at least partially embedded in the graphite core, and the heat exchanger inlet and the heat exchanger outlet extend through the housing. The housing is sealed around the heat exchanger inlet and the heat exchanger outlet. A method of manufacturing a solar energy receiver comprises: a) fabricating the heat exchanger in a serpentine coil shape; b) inserting grooved planks of graphite between individual coils of the heat exchanger to form the graphite core such that the coils are encompassed in the grooves; c) inserting the graphite and heat exchanger into the housing; and d) sealing the housing and sealing openings around the inlet and outlet where they pass through the housing.

Abstract: A turbine driven from renewable or waste energy sources has a working fluid in a two stage heating process using a first heating apparatus using a renewable or waste energy source and a second heating apparatus comprising a graphite body containing an embedded heat exchanger heated by concentrated solar energy where the graphite body releases stored heat to heat the working fluid to provide a continuous stream of the working fluid heated to a working temperature for input to the turbine. A relationship exists between an outer surface area of the embedded heat exchanger tube and a mass of graphite in the graphite body whereby there is from 0.60 m2 to 20 m2 of outer surface area of embedded heat exchanger tube per tonne of graphite in the graphite body.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, an apparatus for transporting objects comprises a frame for receiving at least one object, at least one handle coupled to the frame, at least one set of wheels coupled to the frame, at least one track coupled to the frame, wherein the track allows movement of the apparatus in addition to the wheels, and at least one brake mechanism coupled to the frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fouling-resistant composition which comprises an elastomer and a component comprising sterol(s) and/or sterol derivative(s), wherein the component is selected from acylated lanolin, alkoxylated lanolin, or lanolin oil, or a composition comprising at least 20 weight % of one or more sterol(s), at least 20 weight % of one or more C1-C12 sterol ester(s), or at least 20 weight % of alkoxylated sterol(s), wherein weight % is the percentage of the sterol or sterol derivative to the total weight of the component.

Abstract: This invention is related to a portable texture-spraying apparatus for uniformly dispersing a viscous material. This apparatus broadly includes a tank assembly having a body with an inner wall that defines a sealed cavity, and a piston assembly slidably disposed within the sealed cavity. The piston assembly divides the sealed cavity into an air-side chamber and a material-side chamber by providing an airtight seal therebetween. Additionally an air-control assembly is provided that broadly includes a pressure-control mechanism configured for receiving compressed air and routing a controlled pneumatic pressure to a directional valve configured for adjusting between a dispensing mode and a loading mode. In dispensing mode, the directional valve routes the controlled pneumatic pressure to the air-side chamber biasing the piston assembly toward the material-side chamber.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently locating QR code finder patterns and/or code QR alignment patterns in an image are described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently locating QR code finder patterns and/or code QR alignment patterns in an image are described.