Abstract: A computer system for identifying medical care providers outside a process-of-care standard for a field of health care is configured to perform steps that include retrieving claim line item information including procedure/service codes, and retrieving definitions for marker code groups associated with each of a set of medical conditions; deriving, for each marker-condition pair, an actual rate of utilization of the marker code group for episodes of the associated medical condition; and assigning a status to each marker-condition pair in response to the actual rate of utilization respectively exceeding or not exceeding a target rate. The steps also include aggregating the statuses across the marker-condition pairs to obtain an overall score, and causing an output to be displayed in a viewable format. The output includes the overall score, each marker-condition pair of the set of medical conditions, and the status for each marker-condition pair of the set of medical conditions.

Abstract: A computer system for identifying medical care providers outside a process-of-care standard for a field of health care is configured to perform steps that include retrieving claim line item information including procedure/service codes, and retrieving definitions for marker code groups associated with each of a set of medical conditions; deriving, for each marker-condition pair, an actual rate of utilization of the marker code group for episodes of the associated medical condition; and assigning a status to each marker-condition pair in response to the actual rate of utilization respectively exceeding or not exceeding a target rate. The steps also include aggregating the statuses across the marker-condition pairs to obtain an overall score, and causing an output to be displayed in a viewable format. The output includes the overall score, each marker-condition pair of the set of medical conditions, and the status for each marker-condition pair of the set of medical conditions.

Abstract: A computer system for identifying medical care providers outside a process-of-care standard for a field of health care is configured to perform steps that include retrieving claim line item information including procedure/service codes, and retrieving definitions for marker code groups associated with each of a set of medical conditions; deriving, for each marker-condition pair, an actual rate of utilization of the marker code group for episodes of the associated medical condition; and assigning a status to each marker-condition pair in response to the actual rate of utilization respectively exceeding or not exceeding a target rate. The steps also include aggregating the statuses across the marker-condition pairs to obtain an overall score, and causing an output to be displayed in a viewable format. The output includes the overall score, each marker-condition pair of the set of medical conditions, and the status for each marker-condition pair of the set of medical conditions.

Abstract: A computer system for identifying medical care providers outside a process-of-care standard for a field of health care is configured to perform steps that include retrieving claim line item information including procedure/service codes, and retrieving definitions for marker code groups associated with each of a set of medical conditions; deriving, for each marker-condition pair, an actual rate of utilization of the marker code group for episodes of the associated medical condition; and assigning a status to each marker-condition pair in response to the actual rate of utilization respectively exceeding or not exceeding a target rate. The steps also include aggregating the statuses across the marker-condition pairs to obtain an overall score, and causing an output to be displayed in a viewable format. The output includes the overall score, each marker-condition pair of the set of medical conditions, and the status for each marker-condition pair of the set of medical conditions.

Abstract: A computer system for identifying medical care providers outside a process-of-care standard for a field of health care is configured to perform steps that include retrieving claim line item information including procedure/service codes, and retrieving definitions for marker code groups associated with each of a set of medical conditions; deriving, for each marker-condition pair, an actual rate of utilization of the marker code group for episodes of the associated medical condition; and assigning a status to each marker-condition pair in response to the actual rate of utilization respectively exceeding or not exceeding a target rate. The steps also include aggregating the statuses across the marker-condition pairs to obtain an overall score, and causing an output to be displayed in a viewable format. The output includes the overall score, each marker-condition pair of the set of medical conditions, and the status for each marker-condition pair of the set of medical conditions.

Abstract: A computer system for identifying medical care providers outside a process-of-care standard for a field of health care is configured to perform steps that include retrieving claim line item information including procedure/service codes, and retrieving definitions for marker code groups associated with each of a set of medical conditions; deriving, for each marker-condition pair, an actual rate of utilization of the marker code group for episodes of the associated medical condition; and assigning a status to each marker-condition pair in response to the actual rate of utilization respectively exceeding or not exceeding a target rate. The steps also include aggregating the statuses across the marker-condition pairs to obtain an overall score, and causing an output to be displayed in a viewable format. The output includes the overall score, each marker-condition pair of the set of medical conditions, and the status for each marker-condition pair of the set of medical conditions.

Abstract: Barriers to retain livestock and deter trespassers are more easily accomplished with electric fence lines. Immediate notification of failing electrical fence systems is essential to avoid problematic conditions: livestock escape and predator entry. Interpretation of fence power output requires the Electric Fence Monitoring Method: sensor ability to read high voltages and an algorithm to translate the sensors' transcriptions. Remote locations have communication and powering limitations. With such communication methods as radio transceivers and Internet connection, it is possible to report details at remote locations to a wider scale. With such powering methods as solar voltaic cells and rechargeable batteries, it is possible to power monitoring technology in locations without direct, standard power sources. With the combination of these technologies, the Electric Fence Monitor allows for reliable and immediate notifications on conditions of an electric fence line.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus, the MR apparatus including a tissue pressing surface having one or more MR coil elements, the pressing surface being configured and sized to selectively indent a portion of an exterior tissue of a subject when a physical force is applied to the indenting substrate thereby reducing a distance between the one or more MR coil elements and a structure of interest located inside the subject.

Abstract: Immediate clearing of the field of view for a visual or photographic device is often essential and somewhat complicated. This loss of time and vision can have consequences on image capture quality, workman's performance, and workman's safety. The CLEAiR remedies this by pressurized air and fluid discharge over the device's area of view during live action viewing and recording. The CLEAiR 2.0 further remedies these problems by fine tune adjustment of the location and angle of incidence of the discharged air/fluid over the device's area of view. With these inventions attached to a visual/photographic device, continuous work or filming is possible without loss of time, loss of image quality, or loss of user safety.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a test online is provided. The test may include questions that can be automatically graded by a test server. The test may include questions that incorporate math applications that do not include functionality for grading the math application.

Abstract: A multi-spectral concealment assembly includes a garnish panel having a panel perimeter and a web spanning the panel perimeter. The web includes garnish bands extending across the panel perimeter. Gaps are positioned between each of the garnish bands. A method for assembling a garment panel includes joining the garnish panel with a liner. Joining includes fixing a garnish panel first location to a liner first location, gathering the garnish panel at the garnish panel first location, and fixing a garnish panel second location at a liner second location. A method for cutting plies of a multi-spectral concealment laminate includes stacking the laminate into plies and interposing an isolation sheet between each ply. The garnish panels are laser cut from the plies, and seared along respective edges. The searing of the edges of each garnish panel is isolated from searing along edges of other garnish panels with the isolation sheet.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for: a rectification circuit operating to convert a source of AC power into a final DC power source; a rectification filtering capacitance operating to at least partially smooth a voltage of the final DC power source, which exhibits a voltage sag and recovery characteristic in response to time-variant current drawn therefrom; a power amplification circuit drawing power from the final DC power source and producing an output signal, for driving a speaker, having audible characteristics influenced by the voltage sag and recovery characteristic of the final DC power source; and a control circuit operating to continuously vary, in response to user input, one or more parameters of the voltage sag and/or recovery characteristic of the final DC power source.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a nucleic acid component of a sample for amplification includes a porous support having an agent that deactivates a nucleic acid amplification inhibitor component of the sample. The apparatus further includes a housing with an opening and defining an interior. The interior of the housing is in fluid communication with the porous support, and at least a portion of a fluid directed through the opening is directed through at least a portion of the porous support. The apparatus also includes a magnetic substrate for separating nucleic acid from a sample.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for: a rectification circuit operating to convert a source of AC power into a final DC power source; a rectification filtering capacitance operating to at least partially smooth a voltage of the final DC power source, which exhibits a voltage sag and recovery characteristic in response to time-variant current drawn therefrom; a power amplification circuit drawing power from the final DC power source and producing an output signal, for driving a speaker, having audible characteristics influenced by the voltage sag and recovery characteristic of the final DC power source; and a control circuit operating to continuously vary, in response to user input, one or more parameters of the voltage sag and/or recovery characteristic of the final DC power source.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for scaling and translating gestures such that the applicable gestures for control may vary depending on the user's distance from a gesture-based system. The techniques for scaling and translation may take the varying distances from which a user interacts with components of the gesture-based system, such as a computing environment or capture device, into consideration with respect to defining and/or recognizing gestures. In an example embodiment, the physical space is divided into virtual zones of interaction, and the system may scale or translate a gesture based on the zones. A set of gesture data may be associated with each virtual zone such that gestures appropriate for controlling aspects of the gesture-based system may vary throughout the physical space.

Abstract: A battery supply system comprising a display tray, an outer box and at least one inner box. The display tray includes a receiving area and a plurality of slots on sides of the receiving area. The outer box has a receptacle area and a pair of side flanges extending outwardly from the receptacle area. The at least one inner box is in the receptacle area of the outer box. The at least one inner box has at least one battery therein. The outer box is positioned in the tray by inserting the side flanges of the outer box in a pair of the slots, thereby maintaining the outer box in an upright displayed position within the tray.

Abstract: The invention provides a railroad switch for use in un-signaled (dark) territory. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A wirelessly controlled railroad switch designed for uses in a dark territory. The switch is configured to operate without the use of vital communications links to a central location, or requiring a central dispatching system or requiring a vital processor such that the wirelessly controlled railroad switch maintains its status as a railroad switch in a dark territory.

Abstract: A method for preparing a nucleic acid component of a sample for amplification includes contacting the sample with a porous support that deactivates a nucleic acid amplification inhibitor component of the sample and directing a fluid through the porous support, whereby the nucleic acid component of the sample is directed through at least a portion of the porous support and is separated from the support, thereby preparing the nucleic acid component for amplification. The sample is separated from raw sample components through means that include a magnetic substrate. An apparatus suitable for conducting the method of the invention also is described.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling packet header information in a packet communications switch fabric. The method comprises: programming the cell header overhead (OH) field definitions; accepting a packet including a plurality of cells and corresponding cell headers, each cell header including a plurality of overhead fields; defining the cell header OH fields; and, transmitting the packet. Defining the cell header OH fields includes defining cell header OH field location, position, meaning, structure, and length. In other aspects, the method comprises redefining the cell header overhead fields, once they are accepted. For example, the OH field information can be modified, relocated, or an OH field can be added to the cell header. In yet other aspects, the OH field information can be extracted and/or reformatted.