Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture of valve packing apparatus and related methods are described. An apparatus includes a cartridge including packing components and a spring. The cartridge is dimensioned to fit in a bore of a bonnet of a valve. A cap is coupled to the cartridge to retain the packing components and the spring. The cap is to compress the packing components and the spring to a predetermined load in response to the cartridge being fastened to the bonnet of a valve.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture of valve packing apparatus and related methods. An apparatus includes a cartridge including packing components and a spring. The cartridge is dimensioned to fit in a bore of a bonnet of a valve. A retainer is disposed in an aperture of the cartridge. The retainer is removable from the aperture to release the spring to apply a predetermined compressive load to the stack of packing components.

Abstract: This apparatus can detect a user proximity to handwashing stations by electronic mechanism of proximity sensing with radio tags and anonymously tracking tagless users. It can also guide them through proper approved hand washing hygiene steps through visual/auditory cues, can track Users time/proximity in following hand hygiene guidance, and can communicate User handwashing data to a remote database from which data can be accessed.

Abstract: This apparatus can detect a user proximity to handwashing stations by electronic mechanism of proximity sensing with radio tags and anonymously tracking tagless users. It can also guide them through proper approved hand washing hygiene steps through visual/auditory cues, can track Users time/proximity in following hand hygiene guidance, and can communicate User handwashing data to a remote database from which data can be accessed.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a product such as clothing, shoes, belts, handbags, luggage, cases, wallets, jewelry, watches and eyeglasses containing a wearable electronic device embedded in a product that can be scanned by an external device, comprising: a camera located on a phone, tablet, or reading apparatus in which information obtained from the wearable electronic device is transferred to an external device software application or internet website to retrieve and view purchase, product and marketing information.

Abstract: A low sludge trivalent chromium based conversion coating bath is provided which forms corrosion resistant coatings on aluminum and aluminum alloys by contact with the bath, which is suitable for use as a rinseable or dry-in place conversion coating for metal, that comprises trivalent chromium cations, fluorometallate anions, guanidinium ions and at least one organic anti-corrosion additive, and other optional components, as well as methods of making and using same, and metals coated using the compositions, the coated aluminum serving as an effective base for paint primers.

Abstract: A low sludge trivalent chromium based conversion coating bath is provided which forms corrosion resistant coatings on aluminum and aluminum alloys by contact with the bath, which is suitable for use as a rinseable or dry-in place conversion coating for metal, that comprises trivalent chromium cations, fluorometallate anions, guanidinium ions and at least one organic anti-corrosion additive, and other optional components, as well as methods of making and using same, and metals coated using the compositions, the coated aluminum serving as an effective base for paint primers.

Abstract: Uterine activity tools and methods of use thereof. The uterine activity tools of this invention are designed to provide clinicians with information to evaluate uterine activity of a pregnant patient utilizing a fetal monitor with a tocodynamometer external pressure sensor (“TOCO”) and/or an intrauterine pressure catheter (“IUPC”). The tool of this invention displays vital information for assessment and documentation of uterine activity including date, time, mode, contraction frequency, contraction duration, contraction intensity, resting tone, relax time, calculated Montevideo units, and number of contractions in a selected time period.

Abstract: A seed planting system that plants seeds at a precise location within a field to allow for efficient in-row cultivation is provided herein. The planting system receives a GPS signal, processes that signal to determine the precise time at which to dispense a seed from an agricultural seeder or planter, then generates an actuation signal that is transmitted to the seeder or planter. GPS signals are also processed to steer the seeder or planter so that seeds are properly placed within the field.

Abstract: Electronic fetal monitoring assessment tools and methods of use thereof. The electronic fetal monitoring assessment tools are useable in connection with Electronic Fetal Monitoring (“EFM”) systems, such as those EFM systems currently used by and available to medical professionals. Electronic fetal monitoring assessment tools may include an electronic measurement tool for one or more of assessing the baseline FHR, assessing variability of the baseline FHR, assessing decelerations in the FHR and/or assessing acceleration in the FHR. Electronic measurement tools may be used as electronically generated visual tools to assess one or more fetal heart rate patterns.

Abstract: In one embodiment of a computer-implemented method, layout data and product data is collected and a planogram development module processes this data to create multiple test planograms for a display space. Multiple potential planograms may be created by placing merchandise in a planogram using one or more optional rules permitting deformation of non-rigid products such as bags of non-fragile items, permitting product impingement into an adjacent shelf or peg space, allowing for hanging products on a pegboard vertically adjacent to a shelf, allowing product placement a set distance from a shelf or pegboard boundary and allowing two adjacent instances of the same product where those instances are in vertical alignment. In this embodiment, an optimized planogram is selected based on the criteria of packing efficiency, sell-through index, the aggregate sell-through index of each item multiplied by the item's profit margin, and/or overall planogram profitability.

Abstract: An ice bucket is provided that includes an ice chamber, a dispensing tube, a base, and a sliding dispenser. The ice chamber has a chamber opening in a bottom wall. The dispensing tube is fixed to the bottom wall in communication with the chamber opening. The base has a base opening and a stabilizing bar. The sliding dispenser has a front lip, a depressed tray section, and a slider opening. The sliding dispenser is positioned through the base opening on the stabilizing bar so that an appendage of the dispensing tube is received in the depressed tray section. The sliding dispenser is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The slider opening, in the retracted position, is blocked by the stabilizing portion. However, the slider opening, in the extended position, is unblocked by the stabilizing portion.

Abstract: Electronic fetal monitoring assessment tools and methods of use thereof. The electronic fetal monitoring assessment tools are useable in connection with Electronic Fetal Monitoring (“EFM”) systems, such as those EFM systems currently used by and available to medical professionals. Electronic fetal monitoring assessment tools may include an electronic measurement tool for one or more of assessing the baseline FHR, assessing variability of the baseline FHR, assessing decelerations in the FHR and/or assessing acceleration in the FHR. Electronic measurement tools may be used as electronically generated visual tools to assess one or more fetal heart rate patterns.

Abstract: An ice bucket is provided that includes an ice chamber, a dispensing tube, a base, and a sliding dispenser. The ice chamber has a chamber opening in a bottom wall. The dispensing tube is fixed to the bottom wall in communication with the chamber opening. The base has a base opening and a stabilizing bar. The sliding dispenser has a front lip, a depressed tray section, and a slider opening. The sliding dispenser is positioned through the base opening on the stabilizing bar so that an appendage of the dispensing tube is received in the depressed tray section. The sliding dispenser is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The slider opening, in the retracted position, is blocked by the stabilizing portion. However, the slider opening, in the extended position, is unblocked by the stabilizing portion.

Abstract: A simplified Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) sample preparation apparatus and method of using a PCR sample preparation for both liquid and dry samples. A portable apparatus comprising a handle removably attached to a wand assembly. The handle includes a cover and a swab with an absorbent material. The wand assembly includes a buffer container for a buffer that is ruptured by a spike when the holder is inserted into the wand assembly. The apparatus may include a waste container removably attached to a tube comprising a plunger, a safety clip to prevent the plunger from depressing, and a port for introduction of a liquid sample. A filter on the waste container collects a specimen of the liquid sample for preparation as described above.

Abstract: A fluid intake tracking apparatus that is configured to reversibly couple with a water bottle, mug or other fluid container to keep track of the number of bottles that are consumed by the user during a selected period of time. In one embodiment, the indicator is an electronic device with a display, timer and alarm and powered by a solar cell. In another embodiment, the indicator is permanently mounted to a cup and includes a slidable post within a longitudinal slot and a parallel scale of numbers indicating the intake events.

Abstract: A fluid intake tracking apparatus that is configured to reversibly couple with a water bottle, mug or other fluid container to keep track of the number of bottles that are consumed by the user during a selected period of time. In one embodiment, the indicator is an electronic device with a display, timer and alarm and powered by a solar cell. In another embodiment, the indicator is permanently mounted to a cup and includes a slidable post within a longitudinal slot and a parallel scale of numbers indicating the intake events.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for early physical design validation and identification of texted metal short circuits in an integrated circuit design includes steps of: (a) receiving as input a representation of an integrated circuit design; (b) receiving as input a physical design rule deck that specifies rule checks to be performed on the integrated circuit design; (c) generating a specific rule deck from the physical design rule deck wherein the specific rule deck includes only physical design rules that are specific to one of identifying texted metal short circuits in the integrated circuit design and power distribution and input/output cell placement in the integrated circuit design; and (d) performing a physical design validation on the integrated circuit design from the specific rule deck.

Abstract: Skip logic is provided in a storage controller that informs a direct memory access (DMA) context list manager of consecutive ones and zeroes in a skip mask table. The DMA context list manager then manages data counters and location pointers based on the number of consecutive ones and the number of consecutive zeroes. For writes and non-cached reads, the number of zeroes is used to adjust a logical sector address without actually moving data. For cached reads, the number of zeroes is used to adjust the logical sector address and a host address pointer. The DMA context list manager also determines an instruction length based on a number of consecutive ones and issues one or more instructions for each group of consecutive ones and subtracts the instruction lengths from the overall transfer length until the transfer is complete.

Abstract: A payout tube for containers that is used to package and store continuous lengths of materials is described. The payout tube is configured with a high degree of flexibility. With this flexibility, the continuous lengths of material (like communication cables) do not kink or tangle when being removed from the storage container through the payout tube. The payout tube can be provided with this flexibility by eliminating the rigidity of the payout tube without destroying the structure of the tube, such as by forming slots or corrugations in the portion of the payout tube that needs to be flexible.