Abstract: This invention provides processes for suppressing emission of mercury vapor from substances containing vaporizable mercury.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing geospatial images representing flows of commodities between geographic regions and their dependencies are disclosed. Raw economic and other data associating with discrete geographic locations are combined with data metadata from other sources, including transportation network data. Images may be generated at user-specified degrees of commodity category granularity and geographic granularity and may be contain information at significantly higher degree of geographic granularity than the original raw economic data. Quantities of flows are represented graphically by parameters such as widths of lines, paths, or other graphic elements.

Abstract: A system for election document processing is disclosed. Image data representative of a scanned election document is matched with a template for processing and consideration of a new elections record. The template defines areas of interest and rules for processing the image data. Data associated with picture elements defining the areas of interest is applied to predetermined validation functions to validate whether the image data includes sufficient information for populating predefined fields and accepting the scanned election document. Additional functions are applied to the image data to compare the image data with information of a voter registration database in order to verify a voter associated with the election document. The scanned election document is further processed for validation sampling.

Abstract: A system for election document processing is disclosed. Image data representative of a scanned election document is matched with a template for processing and consideration of a new elections record. The template defines areas of interest and rules for processing the image data. Data associated with picture elements defining the areas of interest is applied to predetermined validation functions to validate whether the image data includes sufficient information for populating predefined fields and accepting the scanned election document. Additional functions are applied to the image data to compare the image data with information of a voter registration database in order to verify a voter associated with the election document. The scanned election document is further processed for validation sampling.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing geospatial images representing flows of commodities between geographic regions and their dependencies are disclosed. Raw economic and other data associating with discrete geographic locations are combined with data metadata from other sources, including transportation network data. Images may be generated at user-specified degrees of commodity category granularity and geographic granularity and may be contain information at significantly higher degree of geographic granularity than the original raw economic data. Quantities of flows are represented graphically by parameters such as widths of lines, paths, or other graphic elements.

Abstract: A system for election document processing is disclosed. Image data representative of a scanned election document is matched with a template for processing and consideration of a new elections record. The template defines areas of interest and rules for processing the image data. Data associated with picture elements defining the areas of interest is applied to predetermined validation functions to validate whether the image data includes sufficient information for populating predefined fields and accepting the scanned election document. Additional functions are applied to the image data to compare the image data with information of a voter registration database in order to verify a voter associated with the election document. The scanned election document is further processed for validation sampling.

Abstract: A process for making steel armor products for use, for example as body armor. The steel armor product made has a compound curve and is made from a flat blank of armor steel by high-temperature annealing an armor steel blank to slightly above its austenitizing temperature, then followed by a slow, temperature-controlled cooling it, over-pressing the annealed blank to a first configuration so it springs back to a second configuration approximating the desired product shape when released from the press, and then heat-treating the product back to its austenitizing temperature, quenching it, and tempering it at a low temperature. The tool is conveniently made by lamination, using a series of thin plates of tool steel each cut to produce an approximation of the desired die.

Abstract: A disposable food packaging ideal for use in feeding an infant or child, the packaging having rounded corners to permit easy insertion and removal from a crowded, diaper bag, purse, or other crowded carrying environment. Additionally, the packaging is contoured for easy handling and use. Further, the smooth corners minimize the risk of scratching an infant or child when the contents are expressed into mouth of the consumer.

Abstract: A knee pad for attachment to a person's knee cap and an adjacent portion of the person's lower leg, comprising a cushioning pad that includes a forward section and a rearward section. The forward section has a knee well for receiving the person's knee cap and the knee well is off-center in the forward section. The rearward section of the cushioning pad has an interior concavity for receiving the person's lower leg.

Abstract: A portable electronic device and a method to protect the portable electronic device from a battery bounce are provided. The portable electronic device (100) can comprise a free-fall condition sensor (105) enabled to detect a pre-battery bounce condition in the portable electronic device and a processor (110) coupled to the free-fall condition sensor (105). The processor (110), in response to a detection of the pre-battery bounce condition by the free-fall condition sensor (105), can be programmed to place the portable electronic device (100) in a pre-battery bounce setting. The method can include detecting a pre-battery bounce condition in the portable electronic device (405) and in response to the detection of the pre-battery bounce condition (405), placing the portable electronic device in a pre-battery bounce setting (410).

Abstract: Tile nippers are provided with hardened teeth formed with a short radius curvature extending from substantially flat interior shoulders configured to be substantially parallel when used for gripping and breaking tile. A compound leverage assembly connects the jaws of the tile nippers to the handles of the tile nippers. A retractable cutter or scoring wheel may be provided in a free end of a handle. A nail puller notch may be provided on a jaw of the tile nippers to allow the tile nippers to be used for gripping and pulling nails without damaging the tips of the teeth.

Abstract: Armor for a helmet includes a soft-armor attachment and a hard-armor attachment. The soft-armor attachment encases a flexible soft-armor anti-ballistic member within its interior, and detachably mounts to the helmet exterior using one or more fasteners. The hard-armor attachment encases one or more hard-armor members within its interior, and detachably mounts to the soft-armor attachment using one or more fasteners. When both the soft-armor attachment and the hard-armor attachment are in the mounted position, the soft-armor attachment is disposed between the helmet exterior and the hard-armor attachment.

Abstract: A fuel control system for regulating fuel to cylinders of an internal combustion engine during an engine start and crank-to-run transition includes a first module that determines a plurality of step-ahead cylinder air masses (GPOs) for a cylinder based on a plurality of GPO prediction models. A second module regulates fueling to a cylinder of the engine based on the plurality of step-ahead GPOs until a combustion event of the cylinder.

Abstract: A fuel control system for regulating fuel to cylinders of an internal combustion engine during an engine start and crank-to-run transition includes a first module that determines a plurality of step-ahead cylinder air masses (GPOs) for a cylinder based on a plurality of GPO prediction models. A second module regulates fueling to a cylinder of the engine based on the plurality of step-ahead GPOs until a combustion event of the cylinder. Each of the plurality of GPO prediction models is calibrated based on data from a plurality of test starts that are based on a pre-defined test schedule.

Abstract: The combination wedge and notch trowel includes a reversible grip handle and an integrated wedge, for applying cement or adhesive to a substrate surface for installation of tiles. The ergonomically contoured reversible handle allows a user to use the notch trowel in a forward or backwards position with the same hand. The blade portion includes a notch pattern of conically shaped trapezoidal notches and large parabolic notches. The integrated wedge allows a user to use the wedge side of the trowel to pry up and remove tiles.

Abstract: The invention relates to armor that is intended to withstand and provide protection against blunt trauma or ballistic impact from a projectile or the impact of a stabbing weapon. Such impacts on the armor may transmit a high localized load to the body of the wearer. The invention reduces the intensity of this loading thereby reducing tissue trauma. The invention uses one or more layers of an energy absorbing material that contains a large volume fraction of fluid filled free space, distributed throughout an internal cellular structure that accommodates deformation on one surface without passing on the same degree of deformation to its adjacent surface. It is, in effect, a highly compressible layer that disperses a dynamic load applied normal to its surface (resulting for example from the bullet impact) into a more laterally extensive pressure distribution. When this material is combined with reinforcing fiber material layers, the deformation reduction is further enhanced.