Abstract: Various examples are provided for fragmented aperture antennas. In one example, a fragmented aperture antenna includes a two-dimensional lattice of conducting elements, where positioning of the conducting elements in adjacent rows are offset based upon a fixed skew angle. In another example, a fragmented aperture antenna includes a two-dimensional lattice comprising a combination of first and second geometric conducting elements, where a second geometric conducting element provides a connection between adjacent sides of diagonally adjacent first geometric conducting elements. In another example, a fragmented aperture antenna includes a two-dimensional lattice of conducting elements having a single common non-rectangular shape, where the conducting elements interleave in a digitated fashion. Diagonally adjacent conducting elements overlap along a portion of adjacent edges of the diagonally adjacent conducting elements.

Abstract: A real-time location and communications system may provide two-way communication in real-time between and among personal mobile devices and/or borrowed devices as well as fixed communication points and/or assets. The real-time location and communications system may be utilized to accept and provide on-premises service or ordering in real-time, as well as request and receive assistance in real-time. A push-for-service mechanism may be incorporated in a device that is associated with a user and may locate that user based on the location of the device. The user may be located in real-time both inside of a location and near the location. The location of the user may be updated in real-time when the user is mobile.

Abstract: Various examples related to microwave dielectric analyzers and their use are provided. In one example, a microwave dielectric analyzer includes a measurement apparatus having a conductive electrode that can couple to a microwave analyzer and processing circuitry that can determine a dielectric characteristic of the dielectric specimen using a reflection coefficient measured by the microwave analyzer. The dielectric characteristic can be determined using a computational electromagnetic model of the measurement apparatus. The reflection coefficient can be measured by the microwave analyzer with the dielectric specimen in contact with the conductive electrode and/or sandwiched between conductive electrodes. The conductive electrodes can be axially aligned, and the second electrode may not be coupled to the microwave analyzer.

Abstract: Various examples of methods and systems are disclosed for non-contact determination of coating thickness. In one example, among others, a method includes illuminating a surface having a layer of a coating material with electromagnetic (EM) energy transmitted at two or more frequencies, obtaining measured reflection data from reflected EM energy, and matching the measured reflection data to modeled reflection data of a reflection model based upon minimization of an error between the measured reflection data and the modeled reflection data to determine a measured thickness of the layer. In another example, a system includes a probe configured to illuminate an area of the surface including a layer of a coating material with EM energy and receive reflected EM energy, and a processing device configured to determine a measured thickness of the layer based upon minimization of an error between measured reflection data and modeled reflection data.

Abstract: A plant or algae control composition is disclosed. The composition contains a herbicide and/or algaecide adsorbed onto a solid carrier. The composition may comprise a free-flowing granular product. The solid carrier contains a mixture of different clay materials. Two different clay materials are combined that synergistically mix together to allow for greater amounts of the herbicide or algaecide to be adsorbed onto the particles. The composition is particularly well suited for treating aquatic environments.

Abstract: An infusion pump is provided for pumping fluid through an administrative set at a desired flow rate over a specified duration, and includes a pumping mechanism for releasably receiving and for exerting a pulsing force on the administrative set, thus pressurizing a portion of the set for creating a flow of fluid from a set outlet. A controller is connected to and is configured for operating the pumping mechanism, the controller determines a pulse frequency based on a volume of fluid infused over a portion of the specified duration and the desired flow rate, outputs a control signal to the pumping mechanism for operating the pumping mechanism based on the determined pulse frequency, determines a first pulse frequency based on the desired flow rate; and adjusts the first pulse frequency based on the volume of fluid infused to provide a second pulse frequency being different from the first pulse frequency.

Abstract: A system for provisioning an elastic computing infrastructure is provided. The system include a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The system also includes a management component executed by the at least one processor and configured to instantiate an objective object having a resource collection and instructions that specify processing performed by the objective object, the resource collection identifying at least one resource object that controls a capacity of at least one resource provided by at least one computer system, the capacity being sufficient for processing to be performed at a predetermined performance level.

Abstract: A plant or algae control composition is disclosed. The composition contains a herbicide and/or algaecide combined with an amplifying agent. The amplifying agent may comprise a polypeptide, such as a protein. The amplifying agent is added in an amount sufficient for the efficacy of the herbicide and/or algaecide to be improved. For instance, the presence of the amplifying agent allows for the herbicide and/or algaecide to be used at lower concentrations but have the same potency.

Abstract: The disclosed technology regards a tool useful for cleaning whisks, beaters, and similar kitchen utensils, to effectively remove batter, frosting and other food from the prongs or tines thereof. The technology includes a longitudinally extending handle and three prongs (a central prong and opposing outer prongs) which project longitudinally from, and coplanar with, a first end of the handle. In some embodiments a scraper spatula or other kitchen utensil extends longitudinally from an opposing or second end of the handle.

Abstract: A system for provisioning an elastic computing infrastructure is provided. The system include a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The system also includes a management component executed by the at least one processor and configured to instantiate an objective object having a resource collection and instructions that specify processing performed by the objective object, the resource collection identifying at least one resource object that controls a capacity of at least one resource provided by at least one computer system, the capacity being sufficient for processing to be performed at a predetermined performance level.

Abstract: A device is provided to aid prevention and treatment of ear infections in animals. In an embodiment, the device comprises a first strip and second strip of material such as elastomeric fabric. Each strip defines first and second holes corresponding to an animal's ears. Each ear may be received by one of the holes defined by the first strip. Then, the ears may be folded over the first strip to expose the animal's outer ear canal. Finally, the second strip may be placed over the folded ears and secured to the first strip to maintain the ears between the first and second strips. Thus, in practice, the device fixedly exposes the outer ear canals to air flow to prevent the growth of bacteria and yeast and further aids cleaning and medicinal applications.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for fragmented aperture antennas. In one example, a fragmented aperture antenna includes a two-dimensional lattice of conducting elements, where positioning of the conducting elements in adjacent rows are offset based upon a fixed skew angle. In another example, a fragmented aperture antenna includes a two-dimensional lattice comprising a combination of first and second geometric conducting elements, where a second geometric conducting element provides a connection between adjacent sides of diagonally adjacent first geometric conducting elements. In another example, a fragmented aperture antenna includes a two-dimensional lattice of conducting elements having a single common non-rectangular shape, where the conducting elements interleave in a digitated fashion. Diagonally adjacent conducting elements overlap along a portion of adjacent edges of the diagonally adjacent conducting elements.

Abstract: A device is provided to aid prevention and treatment of ear infections in animals. In an embodiment, the device comprises a first strip and second strip of material such as elastomeric fabric. Each strip defines first and second holes corresponding to an animal's ears. Each ear may be received by one of the holes defined by the first strip. Then, the ears may be folded over the first strip to expose the animal's outer ear canal. Finally, the second strip may be placed over the folded ears and secured to the first strip to maintain the ears between the first and second strips. Thus, in practice, the device fixedly exposes the outer ear canals to air flow to prevent the growth of bacteria and yeast and further aids cleaning and medicinal applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for rapidly stress relieving laminated RFID cards sheets (1) or individually cut cards (2) so that the effect of card wrap, bending and distortion is reduced. A freezer tunnel (5) is located down-stream of a laminator machine. The freezer tunnel (5) uses nozzles (8) to supply a cryogenic liquid in vaporized form. Laminated RFID card sheets (1) are transported through the freezer tunnel (5), where they are exposed to an ambient temperature between ?40° C. to ?100° C. during two minutes or less.

Abstract: Various examples of methods and systems are disclosed for correction of phase and amplitude errors that occur in transmission lines connecting transmitter/receiver devices to measurement fixtures. In one example, a method is described that includes using time domain processing to determine a phase shift from the measurement fixture that can occur between calibration measurements and measurements of the specimen under test. In another example, a method is described that includes frequency-domain processing of the signals to obtain both phase and amplitude corrections. Including these phase and amplitude corrections in the calibration procedure can reduce or minimize the errors induced in the measurements when the transmission line(s) experience either temperature changes or physical deflections, among other things.

Abstract: A plant or algae control composition is disclosed, The composition contains a herbicide and/or algaecide adsorbed onto a solid carrier. The composition may comprise a free-flowing granular product. The solid carrier contains a mixture of different clay materials. Two different clay materials are combined that synergistically mix together to allow for greater amounts of the herbicide or algaecide to be adsorbed onto the particles. The composition is particularly well suited for treating aquatic environments.

Abstract: Various examples of methods and systems are disclosed for non-contact determination of coating thickness. In one example, among others, a method includes illuminating a surface having a layer of a coating material with electromagnetic (EM) energy transmitted at two or more frequencies, obtaining measured reflection data from reflected EM energy, and matching the measured reflection data to modeled reflection data of a reflection model based upon minimization of an error between the measured reflection data and the modeled reflection data to determine a measured thickness of the layer. In another example, a system includes a probe configured to illuminate an area of the surface including a layer of a coating material with EM energy and receive reflected EM energy, and a processing device configured to determine a measured thickness of the layer based upon minimization of an error between measured reflection data and modeled reflection data.

Abstract: A gage tool (700) for inspecting tolerances of a gas turbine engine seal plate (430) includes a base plate (710) and a top plate (720). The base plate (710) includes a base opening (712) and a slot (711) with an annular shape sized to receive a seal plate (430). The top plate (720) includes a top opening (723). The base opening (712) and top opening (723) each provide access to a portion of a seal plate (430) within the gage tool (700). The gage tool (700) also includes a first gage (750) with a probe tip for measuring a variation in an outer interlacing surface (433) of a seal plate (430) and a seal slide gage (740) for measuring a force required to rotate the seal plate (430) within the gage tool.