Abstract: An air interface plane (AIP) of a radio frequency (RF) aperture includes: a circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; and a matrix of tapered elements arranged on the first side of the circuit board and secured to the circuit board, the matrix of tapered elements cooperating to at least one of receive or transmit an over-the-air RF signal. Suitably, each tapered element of the matrix has: a central hub extending along a longitudinal axis from a hub base which is proximate to the first side of the circuit board to an apex of the tapered element which is distal from the first side of the first circuit board; and a plurality of arms extending from the central hub at the apex of the tapered element, each of the plurality of arms including a first portion that projects the arm radially away from the longitudinal axis and a second portion that projects the arm longitudinally toward the first side of the circuit board.

Abstract: A ski equipment securement device having a body formed by a C-shaped member is adapted for removable engagement to a pair of snow skis and the poles used with the skis. A strap is engageable around the skis and to both ends of the body forming the C-shaped member to hold the skis adjacent and in a connection to the securement device. An opening in the body of the C-shaped member is sized to hold one or both ski poles and forms a handle to carry the engaged ski equipment.

Abstract: A pipe cleaning tool for cleaning pipe surfaces is configured for operative engagement with a drill motor. The cleaning tool includes a body having a sidewall extending between a first end and a second end of the body. Cleaning blades located in each of a plurality of slots which extend to respective openings in the sidewall of the body. The cleaning blades are biased to project past the sidewall and thereby contact a pipe surface positioned adjacent the sidewall to clean the pipe surface of oxidation and dirt when the body of the cleaning tool is rotated by the engaged drill motor.

Abstract: A pipe cleaning tool for cleaning pipe surfaces is configured for operative engagement with a drill motor. The cleaning tool includes a body having a sidewall extending between a first end and a second end of the body. Cleaning blades located in each of a plurality of slots which extend to respective openings in the sidewall of the body. The cleaning blades are biased to project past the sidewall and thereby contact a pipe surface positioned adjacent the sidewall to clean the pipe surface of oxidation and dirt when the body of the cleaning tool is rotated by the engaged drill motor.

Abstract: A ski equipment securement device having a body formed by a C-shaped member is adapted for removable engagement to a pair of snow skis and the poles used with the skis. A strap is engageable around the skis and to both ends of the body forming the C-shaped member to hold the skis adjacent and in a connection to the securement device. An opening in the body of the C-shaped member is sized to hold one or both ski poles and forms a handle to carry the engaged ski equipment.

Abstract: A pipe cleaning tool for cleaning pipe surfaces is configured for operative engagement with a drill motor. The cleaning tool includes a body having a sidewall extending between a first end and a second end of the body. Cleaning blades located in each of a plurality of slots which extend to respective openings in the sidewall of the body. The cleaning blades are biased to project past the sidewall and thereby contact a pipe surface positioned adjacent the sidewall to clean the pipe surface of oxidation and dirt when the body of the cleaning tool is rotated by the engaged drill motor.

Abstract: A fishing sinker assembly that is used in combination with a fishing pole that maintains and direct an extendable length of fishing line to which bait is attached the assembly is secured to an end or section of baited fishing line that is placed into a body of water during fishing. The assembly causes the baited fishing to sink below the surface of the water to an optimal depth, and can attract fish. The assembly includes a two-section containing member and a two-section enclosing member. The containing member's first section has cavities into each of which is inserted a wedge. The wedge can be made of a variety of materials or a fish attracting substance. The second section functions as a cover over the cavities and wedges a cover over the cavities and wedges. The enclosing member's two sections are placed on and over the containing member and are made of an impact-resistant or impact-absorbing material to protect against inadvertent contact between the assembly and a vessel.

Abstract: The present invention includes, but is not limited to, methods, assays, and compositions for preparing libraries of nucleic acid molecules from biological samples, and for detecting and measuring the abundances of nucleic acid molecules, including RNA and DNA. The methods, assays, and compositions of the present invention provide in whole or in part for the detecting and measuring the abundances of nucleic acid molecules, and particularly but not limited to those nucleic acids that have structures that cannot be determined reliably by routine alignment to a reference sequence or concatenation of smaller sequences by matching homologous ends.

Abstract: A detection system for a rail vehicle includes a control module, which has a sensor input for receiving a signal from a sensor. The control module is configured to receive the signal and to output information responsive to the signal. In operation, the control module and a sensor are deployed on board the rail vehicle. The sensor is configured to generate the signal responsive to detecting a designated condition on board the rail vehicle. When the condition occurs, the sensor outputs the signal, which is received by the control module. Responsive to the signal, the control module outputs the information, such as communicating information of the signal content to another rail vehicle, or to an off board location. The designated condition may be unauthorized use of a handheld wireless device in a rail vehicle, or intruder entry into an unmanned rail vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention includes, but is not limited to, methods, assays, and compositions for preparing libraries of nucleic acid molecules from biological samples, and for detecting and measuring the abundances of nucleic acid molecules, including RNA and DNA. The methods, assays, and compositions of the present invention provide in whole or in part for the detecting and measuring the abundances of nucleic acid molecules, and particularly but not limited to those nucleic acids that have structures that cannot be determined reliably by routine alignment to a reference sequence or concatenation of smaller sequences by matching homologous ends.

Abstract: A system includes a weight determination device and a trip control system. The weight determination device is configured to receive weather data of weather at least one of encountered or to be encountered by one or more vehicles in a vehicle system traveling on a trip along a route, and to determine a first estimated weight of the vehicle system based at least in part on the weather data. The first estimated weight accounts for mass attributable to the weather. The trip control system is configured to control the vehicle system for movement along the route based at least in part on the first estimated weight and/or display information of the first estimated weight on a display device for an operator to control the vehicle system for movement along the route based at least in part on the information of the first estimated weight that is displayed.

Abstract: A system includes a weight determination device and a trip control system. The weight determination device is configured to receive weather data of weather at least one of encountered or to be encountered by one or more vehicles in a vehicle system traveling on a trip along a route, and to determine a first estimated weight of the vehicle system based at least in part on the weather data. The first estimated weight accounts for mass attributable to the weather. The trip control system is configured to control the vehicle system for movement along the route based at least in part on the first estimated weight and/or display information of the first estimated weight on a display device for an operator to control the vehicle system for movement along the route based at least in part on the information of the first estimated weight that is displayed.

Abstract: A method includes receiving weather data of weather at least one of encountered or to be encountered by one or more vehicles in a vehicle system traveling on a trip along a route. The method also includes, based at least in part on the weather data, determining a first estimated weight of the vehicle system. The first estimated weight accounts for mass attributable to the weather. The method further includes controlling movements of the vehicle system during the trip based at least in part on the first estimated weight of the vehicle system.

Abstract: A method for determining a slack condition of a vehicle system includes determining when each of first and second vehicles reaches a designated location along a route. The method also includes communicating a response message from the second vehicle to the first vehicle responsive to the second vehicle reaching the designated location, calculating a separation distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on a time delay between a first time when the first vehicle reached the designated location and a second time when the second vehicle reached the designated location, and determining a slack condition of the vehicle system based on the separation distance. The slack condition is representative of an amount of slack in the vehicle system between the first and second vehicles.

Abstract: A detection system for a rail vehicle includes a control module, which has a sensor input for receiving a signal from a sensor. The control module is configured to receive the signal and to output information responsive to the signal. In operation, the control module and a sensor are deployed on board the rail vehicle. The sensor is configured to generate the signal responsive to detecting a designated condition on board the rail vehicle. When the condition occurs, the sensor outputs the signal, which is received by the control module. Responsive to the signal, the control module outputs the information, such as communicating information of the signal content to another rail vehicle, or to an off board location. The designated condition may be unauthorized use of a handheld wireless device in a rail vehicle, or intruder entry into an unmanned rail vehicle.

Abstract: A system includes a simulation module and a mapping module. The simulation module is configured to simulate performance of a first mission over at least one route by a first vehicle, and to simulate the performance of the first mission using route information corresponding to one or more characteristics of the at least one route and vehicle information corresponding to one or more characteristics of the first vehicle. The simulation module is configured to determine performance characteristics for the first mission, with the performance characteristics including at least one fuel usage characteristic evaluated for plural sections of the at least one route. The mapping module is configured to provide a fuel efficiency map describing fuel usage along at least a portion of the at least one route using the performance characteristics determined by the simulation module.

Abstract: Described and illustrated herein is an exemplary method of operating an analyte measurement device having a display, user interface, processor, memory, and user interface buttons. Such method can be achieved by measuring an analyte with the analyte measurement device, displaying a value representative of the analyte, querying a user to select a predetermined flag to associate the predetermined flag with the value, and pressing only one of the user interface buttons once to store the predetermined flag with the value in the memory of the analyte measurement device. In one embodiment, the testing device is a glucose meter and the analyte being tested is glucose.

Abstract: A method includes receiving weather data of weather at least one of encountered or to be encountered by one or more vehicles in a vehicle system traveling on a trip along a route. The method also includes, based at least in part on the weather data, determining a first estimated weight of the vehicle system. The first estimated weight accounts for mass attributable to the weather. The method further includes controlling movements of the vehicle system during the trip based at least in part on the first estimated weight of the vehicle system.

Abstract: A method for determining a slack condition of a vehicle system includes determining when each of first and second vehicles reaches a designated location along a route. The method also includes communicating a response message from the second vehicle to the first vehicle responsive to the second vehicle reaching the designated location, calculating a separation distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on a time delay between a first time when the first vehicle reached the designated location and a second time when the second vehicle reached the designated location, and determining a slack condition of the vehicle system based on the separation distance. The slack condition is representative of an amount of slack in the vehicle system between the first and second vehicles.