Abstract: An inverted telescoping mast configured to be mounted to a ceiling or other structure within a building for supporting a payload at a range of heights within the building. The mast can include cable management for routing of cables external the mast for supplying/exchanging power, control signals, data etc. to the payload. An internal spring retains the mast in the retracted position. A tension control system restricts extension and/or retraction of the mast when actuating cable tension is above or below respective tension thresholds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tree watering apparatus that can be used to irrigate the base of a tree and to protect the roots thereof. The present invention comprises a semi-circular ring having a bottom half that serves as a root barrier and a top half that serves as a barrier to retain water around a tree while the water percolates to the root system of the tree. A distribution tubing is attached to a water supply and directs water around a tree which is then retained on the ground around the tree by the top half of the present invention while it percolates into the ground. Water that percolates into the ground is then directed to the root system of the tree by the bottom half of the present invention that is buried.

Abstract: A multi-stage product gas generation system converts a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas which may subsequently be converted into a liquid fuel or other material. One or more reactors containing bed material may be used to conduct reactions to effect the conversions. Unreacted inert feedstock contaminants present in the carbonaceous material may be separated from bed material using a portion of the product gas. A heat transfer medium collecting heat from a reaction in one stage may be applied as a reactant input in another, earlier stage.

Abstract: A spark plug having a shell with a ground electrode recess. A ground electrode having an insertion end, a firing end, and a round cross-sectional profile toward the insertion end is inserted into the ground electrode recess of the shell. An attachment portion surrounds at least a portion of the ground electrode and includes a solidified bonding material at a connection interface between the ground electrode and the shell. In some implementations, the ground electrode can have a copper core that extends further into the shell, past the distal end of the insulator. In some embodiments, the ground electrode has a sheath surrounding the copper core that has aluminum and a high weight percentage of nickel.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of enabling distributed computers to communicate more effectively in an enterprise that provides flexible approval notifications in an organization, wherein at least one of the distributed computers stores a graph database in which attributes regarding individuals of the organization are stored. The computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a server computer in the distributed computers, a request for a task to be performed, wherein the task requires approval by at least a first person in the organization who has authority to approve the request. The computer-implemented method also includes traversing, by the server computer, the graph database, to determine an identity of the first person, wherein traversing is performed based on criteria determined at least partially by information automatically extracted from the request.

Abstract: Methods and systems for characterizing fluids from a patient are disclosed. The method includes receiving a time series of images of a conduit receiving fluids from the patient, identifying a conduit image region in each of the images, classifying a flow type through the conduit based on an evaluation of the conduit image region in the time series of images, and estimating at least one of a volume of fluids and a quantity of a blood component that has passed through the conduit within a predetermined period of time, based at least in part on the classification of the flow type.

Abstract: A multi-stage product gas generation system converts a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas which may subsequently be converted into a liquid fuel or other material. One or more reactors containing bed material may be used to conduct reactions to effect the conversions. Unreacted inert feedstock contaminants present in the carbonaceous material may be separated from bed material using a portion of the product gas. A heat transfer medium collecting heat from a reaction in one stage may be applied as a reactant input in another, earlier stage.

Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub and spray arm assembly for a dishwasher having a spray arm assembly for spraying wash liquid in the tub. The spray arm assembly has spray arm inlet, a bearing assembly with a bearing body that defines a through passage with a bearing inlet and a bearing outlet fluidly coupled to the spray arm inlet. The spray arm assembly also has a liquid supply conduit with a supply outlet fluidly coupled to the bearing inlet, a seal positioned between the bearing body and the liquid supply conduit; and a deflector provided within the supply outlet to effectively divide the supply outlet into at least two portions. At least one of the two portions faces upstream and defining an effective cross-sectional area confronting the bearing inlet that is less than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the bearing inlet. The deflector is also aligned with the bearing inlet and defines a turn in the supply outlet for directing liquid into the bearing inlet.

Abstract: A method for calculating the height and the density of a fluidized bed is described. In a first mode of operation, a first differential pressure and a second differential pressure are obtained, a bed density of the fluidized bed is calculated, and a bed height is calculated by dividing the first differential pressure by the calculated bed density. In a second mode of operation the system is purged by using a pressurized gas.

Abstract: A spray arm assembly for a dishwasher having a spray arm having a spray arm inlet, a bearing assembly having a bearing body defining a through passage with a bearing inlet and a bearing outlet fluidly coupled to the spray arm inlet; and a liquid supply conduit having a supply outlet fluidly coupled to the bearing inlet.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to enabling access to a game instance through a social network system. A client-side player component facilitates communication between a game instance on the client device and a backend server of a social networking system. The communication information can be stored in or retrieved from a social graph of the social networking system. The game instance can be initialized from a social platform of the social networking system, and the game can be played without leaving a social network application.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating estimated blood loss parameters of a patient to a user, the method comprising: receiving data representative of an image, of a fluid receiver; automatically detecting a region within the image associated with a volume of fluid received at the fluid receiver, the volume of fluid including a blood component; calculating an estimated amount of the blood component present in the volume of fluid based upon a color parameter represented in the region, and determining a bias error associated with the estimated amount of the blood component; updating an analysis of an aggregate amount of the blood component and an aggregate bias error associated with blood loss of the patient, based upon the estimated amount of the blood component and the bias error; and providing information from the analysis of the aggregate amount of the blood component and the aggregate bias error, to the user.

Abstract: Systems for monitoring blood loss include a display for simultaneously depicting a current blood loss metric at different time points or along a time line. In addition, historical or comparative blood loss information is provided on the display so that the healthcare provider can see assess the current blood loss metric relative to other metrics, so that the healthcare provider can more accurately assess and manage the patient's status.

Abstract: A multi-stage product gas generation system converts a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas which may subsequently be converted into a liquid fuel or other material. One or more reactors containing bed material may be used to conduct reactions to effect the conversions. Unreacted inert feedstock contaminants present in the carbonaceous material may be separated from bed material using a portion of the product gas. A heat transfer medium collecting heat from a reaction in one stage may be applied as a reactant input in another, earlier stage.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to enabling access to a game instance through a social network system. A client-side player component facilitates communication between a game instance on the client device and a backend server of a social networking system. The communication information can be stored in or retrieved from a social graph of the social networking system. The game instance can be initialized from a social platform of the social networking system, and the game can be played without leaving a social network application.

Abstract: One method for estimating the extracorporeal blood volume in a portion of a physical sample includes: extracting a feature from a portion of an image of the sample; tagging the portion of the image of the sample with a blood volume indicator according to the extracted feature; and estimating the extracorporeal blood volume in at least the portion of the physical sample, associated with the portion of the image of the sample, according to the blood volume indicator.

Abstract: A feedstock delivery system transfers a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas generation system. The feedstock delivery system includes a splitter for splitting bulk carbonaceous material into a plurality of carbonaceous material streams. Each stream is processed using a weighing system for gauging the quantity of carbonaceous material, a densification system for forming plugs of carbonaceous material, a de-densification system for breaking up the plugs of carbonaceous material, and a gas and carbonaceous material mixing system for forming a carbonaceous material and gas mixture. A pressure of the mixing gas is reduced prior to mixing with the carbonaceous material, and the carbonaceous material to gas weight ratio is monitored. A transport assembly conveys the carbonaceous material and gas mixture to a first reactor where at least the carbonaceous material within the mixture is subject to thermochemical reactions to form the product gas.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of enabling distributed computers to communicate more effectively in an enterprise that provides flexible approval notifications in an organization, wherein at least one of the distributed computers stores a graph database in which attributes regarding individuals of the organization are stored. The computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a server computer in the distributed computers, a request for a task to be performed, wherein the task requires approval by at least a first person in the organization who has authority to approve the request. The computer-implemented method also includes traversing, by the server computer, the graph database, to determine an identity of the first person, wherein traversing is performed based on criteria determined at least partially by information automatically extracted from the request.

Abstract: A solids discharge system (SDS) is configured to separate solids from product gas. The system includes a solids separation device and at least one solids transfer conduit configured to receive solids from the solids separation device. The solids transfer conduit is selectively partitioned into a plurality of compartments (or “sections”) along its length by isolation valves. A gas supply conduit and a gas discharge conduits are connected to one of the sections to facilitate removal of solids. A filter in fluid communication with that section is configured to prevent solids from passing through the gas discharge conduit so that the solids can be removed from one of the sections of the solids transfer conduit. A product gas generation system incorporates first and second reactors, the latter of which receives products created by the second reactor.