Abstract: A food product is provided. The food product may comprise a sugar blend; fat content consisting of less than 2% of solids in the food product by weight; and protein content consisting of less than 8% of solids in the food product by weight. The sugar blend may comprise at least 50% of solids in the food product by weight. The sugar blend may comprise galactose, glucose, and fructose in their respective monosaccharide forms or contained within disaccharides. Glucose, galactose, and fructose, respectively, may each constitute at least 1% of the sugar blend by weight. The food product may be formed as, for example, a gummy/chew, a sports gel, a drink mix, or a hydrated beverage. Methods of manufacture are additionally provided.

Abstract: Embodiments provide various systems and methods for using operating parameters of a drilling system for improving a drilling performance of the drilling system, including monitoring, determining, predicting, and/or controlling tool face orientation, tool face wagging, returning the spindle to a neutral position, and spindle reaction time. These systems and methods may be used together in combination with one or more of the others, or all together in one combination, or may be used separately, and may be combined with one or more other systems of a drilling rig, such as a bit guidance system, an autoslide system, and/or one or more autodrill systems.

Abstract: A metering device for attaching to a container configured to store a fluid, the device including: a valve configured to control the amount of fluid dispensed from the container; a user interface comprising at least one control configured to operate the valve between an open position and a closed position; and a control circuit configured to set a threshold amount of the fluid to be dispensed from the container, where the control circuit is configured to override the user interface and close the valve when the threshold amount of fluid to be dispensed has been reached.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evaluating the quality of an environment or process by measuring light emitted from a bioluminescent sample containing ATP, ADP, or alkaline phosphatase. The apparatus comprises a sample collection and analysis system used to collect a sample, mix reagents, react the sample, and collect it in a measurement chamber. The system includes an instrument having a photon detection assembly for use with the sample testing device and one or more probe assemblies that optically cooperate with the instrument. The instrument includes a dark chamber with a reflective interior surface which may be concave or preferably spherical, and a photon detection sensor such as a multi-pixel photon counter sensor. A substantially transparent portion of the probe assembly, and liquid contained therein, focus bioluminescence toward the photon detection sensor.

Abstract: A shipping mattress structured to resist shipping creases including a plurality of core layers with stacked individual layers. The individual layers may each include at least one surface with at least one surface corner and one surface end. Furthermore, at least one of the surface corner and surface end of each individual layer may be secured to at least one of the surface corner and surface end of another individual layer.

Abstract: A universal conduit assembly for a welding torch is provided that includes a conduit liner defining a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a conduit tip secured to the proximal end portion of the conduit liner, and an interchangeable conduit stop removably secured to the conduit tip. The interchangeable conduit stop is adapted for connection to a specific OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) power connector.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evaluating the quality of an environment or process by measuring light emitted from a bioluminescent sample containing ATP, ADP, or alkaline phosphatase. The apparatus comprises a sample collection and analysis system used to collect a sample, mix reagents, react the sample, and collect it in a measurement chamber. The system includes an instrument having a photon detection assembly for use with the sample testing device and one or more probe assemblies that optically cooperate with the instrument. The instrument includes a dark chamber with a reflective interior surface which may be concave or preferably spherical, and a photon detection sensor such as a multi-pixel photon counter sensor. A substantially transparent portion of the probe assembly, and liquid contained therein, focus bioluminescence toward the photon detection sensor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evaluating the quality of an environment or process by measuring light emitted from a bioluminescent sample containing ATP, ADP, or alkaline phosphatase. The apparatus comprises a sample collection and analysis system used to collect a sample, mix reagents, react the sample, and collect it in a measurement chamber. The system includes an instrument having a photon detection assembly for use with the sample testing device and one or more probe assemblies that optically cooperate with the instrument. The instrument includes a dark chamber with a reflective interior surface which may be concave or preferably spherical, and a photon detection sensor such as a multi-pixel photon counter sensor. A substantially transparent portion of the probe assembly, and liquid contained therein, focus bioluminescence toward the photon detection sensor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evaluating the quality of an environment or process by measuring light emitted from a bioluminescent sample containing ATP, ADP, or alkaline phosphatase. The apparatus comprises a sample collection and analysis system used to collect a sample, mix reagents, react the sample, and collect it in a measurement chamber. The system includes an instrument having a photon detection assembly for use with the sample testing device and one or more probe assemblies that optically cooperate with the instrument. The instrument includes a dark chamber with a reflective interior surface which may be concave or preferably spherical, and a photon detection sensor such as a multi-pixel photon counter sensor. A substantially transparent portion of the probe assembly, and liquid contained therein, focus bioluminescence toward the photon detection sensor.

Abstract: A universal conduit assembly for a welding torch is provided that includes a conduit liner defining a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a conduit tip secured to the proximal end portion of the conduit liner, and an interchangeable conduit stop removably secured to the conduit tip. The interchangeable conduit stop is adapted for connection to a specific OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) power connector.

Abstract: A welding contact tip and diffuser assembly for use in a welding apparatus. The assembly includes an electrically conductive contact tip having a tapered exterior surface, a diffuser having a cavity with a tapered interior surface, and a releasable connection for holding the contact tip in the diffuser. The connection includes at least one detent element in either the diffuser or the contact tip, at least one recess forming a ramp in the other of the diffuser or contact tip, and at least one spring. The spring biases the detent element into the recess and against the ramp to generate an axial force against the ramp. The axial force tends to urge the tapered surfaces of the contact tip and diffuser into contact with one another.

Abstract: A welding contact tip and diffuser assembly for use in a welding apparatus. The assembly includes an electrically conductive contact tip having a tapered exterior surface, a diffuser having a cavity with a tapered interior surface, and a releasable connection for holding the contact tip in the diffuser. The connection includes at least one detent element in either the diffuser or the contact tip, at least one recess forming a ramp in the other of the diffuser or contact tip, and at least one spring. The spring biases the detent element into the recess and against the ramp to generate an axial force against the ramp. The axial force tends to urge the tapered surfaces of the contact tip and diffuser into contact with one another.