Abstract: A downhole tool for connecting and releasing portions of a tool string includes a housing; an electronics assembly; an activation mechanism; a valve assembly and a set of retainer dogs to connect and release a neck of another tool. The downhole tool may also include one or more measurement sensors for measuring a parameter and transferring one or more measured parameter values to the surface of the well.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for nutritional information exchange. The system may comprise: a backend component implemented on a computer, and the backend component is configured to: (a) receive data from a system in a veterinary practice, and the data comprises information about one or more characteristics of an animal and a nutrition goal; (b) create a nutritional plan based on the data, and the nutritional plan includes a set of meals each comprising one or more elements varied based at least in part on a type of meal; (c) select a combination of ingredients for each of the set of meals based on (i) available ingredients received from a manufacture system and the (ii) one or more elements for each of the set of meals; and (d) transmit the combination of ingredients for each of the set of meals to the manufacture system for fabrication and distribution.

Abstract: A system and method to detect acoustic signals from fire sprinkler heads discharging water and to locate such devices in a public building, airport, sports stadium or other structure which can include a system to measure speech intelligibility. Time and frequency domain analysis are carried out to establish the presence of signals characteristic of water discharge from a fire sprinkler.

Abstract: A measurement system and method combine an audio announcement system with a plurality of spaced apart sensors to evaluate intelligibility of audio output from loudspeakers of the audio announcement system. Processing can take place at some or all of the sensors as well as at a common control element. Evaluations can be based on use of an appropriate speech intelligibility index method.

Abstract: A system and method to detect PASS-type device audio alarm signals and to locate such devices in alarm in a public building, airport, sports stadium or other structure which can include a system to measure speech intelligibility. Time and frequency domain analysis are carried out to establish the pressure of PASS-type device audio output signals.

Abstract: Embodiments generally include a container tilter and method of tilting and/or loading a container which are more efficient and time and cost effective than previous apparatus and methods. Embodiments further include a backstop apparatus and method of using which allow for more effective, efficient, and time and cost savings in loading a container than previous methods and container loading apparatus. Additional embodiments include a weighing apparatus and method which provide efficient and time and cost effective weighing of materials within a container during loading and/or at one or more time intervals of the container loading process.

Abstract: A process for making pet food treats including a meat base, the treats themselves and a processing system for making the treats. The meat base is ground to obtain a ground meat base. The ground meat base is mixed with one or more ingredients to obtain a meat mixture. Slugs of the meat mixture are formed. The slugs of meat mixture are cooked to obtain cooked slugs of meat mixture. The cooked slugs of meat mixture are chilled. The cooked slugs of meat mixture are packaged while reducing the amount of oxygen in the package.

Abstract: A pet food mixture, pet food processing system, and process for making the pet food are disclosed. The pet food includes meat pieces formed from a mixture of meat and at least one vegetable, wherein the meat pieces are cooked and coated with a first liquid and color changed to obtain color coated meat pieces, the coated meat pieces providing a balanced nutrition for a pet. The process for making pet food includes forming slugs of a meat mixture, cooking the slugs of meat mixture to form cooked meat pieces, cooling the cooked meat pieces, packaging the meat pieces, and maintaining the meat pieces refrigerated to achive a refrigerated shelf life between approximately 8 weeks and approximately 30 weeks.

Abstract: A measurement system and method combine an audio announcement system with a plurality of spaced apart wirelessly coupled devices which evaluate speech intelligibility of audio output from loudspeakers of the audio announcement system. Processing can take place at some or all of the devices as well as at a common control element. Evaluations can be based on use of a method which maps to a Common Intelligibility Scale.

Abstract: A system and method to detect acoustic signals from fire sprinkler heads discharging water and to locate such devices in a public building, airport, sports stadium or other structure which can include a system to measure speech intelligibility. Time and frequency domain analysis are carried out to establish the presence of signals characteristic of water discharge from a fire sprinkler.

Abstract: In recognizing plans of agents, the actions of the agents are observed. Based on the observed actions and plans stored in a plan library, a pending set of actions that are pending execution by the agent are generated. Explanations for these pending actions are then generated. The plan library contains plans, the plans stored in the plan library include typed variables and/or temporal constraints, and the explanations depend on the typed variables and/or temporal constraints. Probabilities as to the likelihood that the explanations represent at least one actual plan of the agent may be computed, and at least one of the explanations may be recognized as the actual plan of the agent based on the computed probabilities.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring an electromagnetic radiation response property associated with a substrate and calibrating an electromagnetic measurement device are disclosed. The methods and apparatus generate electromagnetic waves and capture a portion of the generated waves after the waves pass through a first polarized filter, reflect from a substrate, and pass through a second polarized filter arranged in a cross polar arrangement with respect to the first polarized filter. In addition, the apparatus captures electromagnetic waves that pass through an attenuating filter and reflect from one or more calibration standards. Digital data is determined from the captured electromagnetic waves. The digital data is used to recalibrate the apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method to detect PASS-type device audio alarm signals and to locate such devices in alarm in a public building, airport, sports stadium or other structure which can include a system to measure speech intelligibility. Time and frequency domain analysis are carried out to establish the pressure of PASS-type device audio output signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring an electromagnetic radiation response property associated with a substrate are disclosed. The methods and apparatus generate electromagnetic waves and capture a portion of the generated waves after the waves pass through a first polarized filter, reflect from a substrate, and pass through a second polarized filter arranged in a cross polar arrangement with respect to the first polarized filter. Digital data is determined from the captured electromagnetic waves. Based on the digital data, the customer is given certain choices and/or informed of certain personal care product recommendations.

Abstract: Systems and methods operable on a network to coordinate resource utilization amongst agents in a multi-agent systems in a decentralized manner. In one embodiment, this includes interconnected agents that circulate coordination keys amongst coordination group members. The coordination key includes information defining the coordination group, resources coordinated by group members, and information about scheduled resource utilization. In some embodiments, each agent in a coordination group determines its local schedule of resource utilization based on information in the coordination key to achieve its local goals while coordinating with other agents to achieve coordination group goals.

Abstract: A system for coordinating the activity of a plurality of humans in teams with a central automated controller having reasoning capability based on a predetermined set of criteria by sending messages to and from each of the humans. The controller processes input from each of the humans in accordance with programmed decision making capability to accomplish predetermined objectives and provide output to at least some of the humans to assess a situation, direct steps in response thereto and coordinate decisions based on a predetermined model and task assessment reasoning to determine the best way to accomplish the predetermined objectives. The coordinator assesses changes to the situation, and makes decisions about the various tasks to be performed and when they are to be begun. Outputs to the humans may be instructions, questions, information and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A system and a method identify the presence and actions of first responders in a region. Receivers can respond to radio frequency identifying tags affixed to people or building assets in the region. One of a plurality of regional cameras can be selected, based on at least one responding receiver, to provide at least one visual display.

Abstract: A measurement system and method combine an audio announcement system with a plurality of spaced apart wirelessly coupled devices which evaluate speech intelligibility of audio output from loudspeakers of the audio announcement system. Processing can take place at some or all of the devices as well as at a common control element. Evaluations can be based on use of a method which maps to a Common Intelligibility Scale.

Abstract: A system for coordinating the activity of a plurality of humans in teams with a central automated controller having reasoning capability based on a predetermined set of criteria by sending messages to and from each of the humans. The controller processes input from each of the humans in accordance with programmed decision making capability to accomplish predetermined objectives and provide output to at least some of the humans to assess a situation, direct steps in response thereto and coordinate decisions based on a predetermined model and task assessment reasoning to determine the best way to accomplish the predetermined objectives. The coordinator assesses changes to the situation, and makes decisions about the various tasks to be performed and when they are to be begun.

Abstract: A measurement system and method combine an audio announcement system with a plurality of spaced apart sensors to evaluate intelligibility of audio output from loudspeakers of the audio announcement system. Processing can take place at some or all of the sensors as well as at a common control element. Evaluations can be based on use of an appropriate speech intelligibility index method.