Abstract: The methods and systems described herein attempt to address the above-mentioned need by providing an algorithm and software capability to automatically detect and assess “natural experiments” that exist in any underlying dataset. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for identifying an experiment to use in an analysis of a business initiative comprises storing, by a computer, a set of historical data regarding entities in a business network; receiving, by the computer, a selection of inputs for the historical data; detecting, by the computer, a natural experiment based upon changes in the discretized historical data; and outputting, by the computer, a report of a detected experiment from the discretized historical data.

Abstract: The methods and systems described herein attempt to address the above-mentioned need by providing an algorithm and software capability to automatically detect and assess “natural experiments” that exist in any underlying dataset. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for identifying an experiment to use in an analysis of a business initiative comprises storing, by a computer, a set of historical data regarding entities in a business network; receiving, by the computer, a selection of inputs for the historical data; detecting, by the computer, a natural experiment based upon changes in the historical data; and outputting, by the computer, a report of a detected experiment from the historical data.

Abstract: A system for distributing a fracking proppant at a well site using a support frame to position a series of storage containers above a conveyor. The support frame receives a plurality of storage container and aligns the storage containers with hoppers formed on the conveyor. The support frame can include outriggers that extend to increase the stability and the amount of supported weight. The support frame includes a series of cross supports that extend across the conveyor belts to support the storage containers. The cross supports can include load cells to monitor the weight of the storage containers and stored proppant. The width of the cross supports can be adjusted and the support frame can include an extension frame to expand the width of the support frame. A control panel is included to display the status of the containers (full/empty/partially full) and control and monitoring the discharge rate of the plurality of containers.

Abstract: The methods and systems described herein attempt to address the above-mentioned need by providing an algorithm and software capability to automatically detect and assess “natural experiments” that exist in any underlying dataset. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for identifying an experiment to use in an analysis of a business initiative comprises storing, by a computer, a set of historical data regarding entities in a business network; receiving, by the computer, a selection of inputs for the historical data; detecting, by the computer, a natural experiment based upon changes in the historical data; and outputting, by the computer, a report of a detected experiment from the historical data.

Abstract: An intermodal container for transporting frac proppant, such as frac sand, and/or other types of granular material is disclosed. The intermodal container is designed to receive frac sand from a quarry or other frac sand supply source. Once the container is filled with material, the container is loaded onto a transportation device and transported to a well site. Once received at the well site, the containers can be stacked and the frac sand stored until needed. Once the frac sand is needed, the containers are placed on a base unit and the container discharges its contents onto a conveying system formed as part of the base unit. The conveying system directs the frac sand to a blending location. The empty intermodal containers can be removed from the base unit and loaded onto a transportation device to be refilled at a mine site.

Abstract: A system for distributing a fracking proppant at a well site using a support frame to position a series of storage containers above a conveyor. The support frame receives a plurality of storage container and aligns the storage containers with hoppers formed on the conveyor. The support frame can include outriggers that extend to increase the stability and the amount of supported weight. The support frame includes a series of cross supports that extend across the conveyor belts to support the storage containers. The cross supports can include load cells to monitor the weight of the storage containers and stored proppant. The width of the cross supports can be adjusted and the support frame can include an extension frame to expand the width of the support frame. A control panel is included to display the status of the containers (full/empty/partially full) and control and monitoring the discharge rate of the plurality of containers.

Abstract: An intermodal container for transporting frac proppant, such as frac sand, and/or other types of granular material is disclosed. The intermodal container is designed to receive frac sand from a quarry or other frac sand supply source. Once the container is filled with material, the container is loaded onto a transportation device and transported to a well site. Once received at the well site, the containers can be stacked and the frac sand stored until needed. Once the frac sand is needed, the containers are placed on a base unit and the container discharges its contents onto a conveying system formed as part of the base unit. The conveying system directs the frac sand to a blending location. The empty intermodal containers can be removed from the base unit and loaded onto a transportation device to be refilled at a mine site.

Abstract: An intermodal container for transporting frac proppant, such as frac sand, and/or other types of granular material is disclosed. The intermodal container is designed to receive frac sand from a quarry or other frac sand supply source. Once the container is filled with material, the container is loaded onto a transportation device and transported to a well site. Once received at the well site, the containers can be stacked and the frac sand stored until needed. Once the frac sand is needed, the containers are placed on a base unit and the container discharges its contents onto a conveying system formed as part of the base unit. The conveying system directs the frac sand to a blending location. The empty intermodal containers can be removed from the base unit and loaded onto a transportation device to be refilled at a mine site.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein can index the economic activity in a trade area of a location by identifying a set of data concerning the economic activity of a plurality of locations and storing it with the associated geographic position of each of the locations. A geographic trade area is then determined for each of the locations, using either a pre-set area defined as a radius from the location or through input by a user. The database is queried to identify all of the locations within the trade area of the subject location. The economic activity associated with the locations is aggregated and compared across time periods to create the index of the economic activity within the subject location's trade area. The economic activity from these locations may also be weighted by any number of factors, including distance from the subject location, and type of retailer.

Abstract: An intermodal container for transporting frac proppant, such as frac sand, and/or other types of granular material is disclosed. The intermodal container is designed to receive frac sand from a quarry or other frac sand supply source. Once the container is filled with material, the container is loaded onto a transportation device and transported to a well site. Once received at the well site, the containers can be stacked and the frac sand stored until needed. Once the frac sand is needed, the containers are placed on a base unit and the container discharges its contents onto a conveying system formed as part of the base unit. The conveying system directs the frac sand to a blending location. The empty intermodal containers can be removed from the base unit and loaded onto a transportation device to be refilled at a mine site.

Abstract: A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

Abstract: A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for use with a noninvasive optical measurement system, such as a thermal gradient spectrometer, for improved determination of analyte concentrations within living tissue. In one embodiment, a wearable window is secured to a patient's forearm thereby isolating a measurement site on the patient's skin for determination of blood glucose levels. The wearable window effectively replaces a window of the spectrometer, and thus forms an interface between the patient's skin and a thermal mass window of the spectrometer. When the spectrometer must be temporarily removed from the patient's skin, such as to allow the patient mobility, the wearable window is left secured to the forearm so as to maintain a consistent measurement site on the skin. When the spectrometer is later reattached to the patient, the wearable window will again form an interface between the spectrometer and the same location of skin as before.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for use with a noninvasive optical measurement system, such as a thermal gradient spectrometer, for improved determination of analyte concentrations within living tissue. In one embodiment, a wearable window is secured to a patient's forearm thereby isolating a measurement site on the patient's skin for determination of blood glucose levels. The wearable window effectively replaces a window of the spectrometer, and thus forms an interface between the patient's skin and a thermal mass window of the spectrometer. When the spectrometer must be temporarily removed from the patient's skin, such as to allow the patient mobility, the wearable window is left secured to the forearm so as to maintain a consistent measurement site on the skin. When the spectrometer is later reattached to the patient, the wearable window will again form an interface between the spectrometer and the same location of skin as before.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for use with a non-invasive optical measurement system, such as a thermal gradient spectrometer for improved determination of analyte concentrations within living tissue. In a preferred embodiment, a site selector is secured to a patient's forearm thereby isolating a measurement site on the patient's skin for determination of blood glucose levels. The site selector attaches to a thermal mass window of the spectrometer and thus forms an interface between the patient's skin and the thermal mass window. When the spectrometer must be temporarily removed from the patient's skin, such as to allow the patient mobility, the site selector is left secured to the forearm so as to maintain a consistent measurement site on the skin. When the spectrometer is later reattached to the patient, the site selector will again form an interface between the gradient spectrometer and the same location of skin as before.

Abstract: A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

Abstract: A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

Abstract: A device and method for selecting and stabilizing proper sites for the measurement of the concentration of an analyte, for example glucose, within the tissue of a subject or patient are disclosed. One embodiment of the device immobilizes the subject's forearm and finger, thereby stabilizing measurement sites thereon for exposure to a noninvasive monitor which captures analyte concentration data within the subject's skin. The method involves the choice of a location on the subject's body at which to take the analyte measurement, preferably based on the amount of time that has elapsed since the last time the subject ate.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for use with a noninvasive optical measurement system, such as a thermal gradient spectrometer, for improved determination of analyte concentrations within living tissue. In one embodiment, a wearable window is secured to a patient's forearm thereby isolating a measurement site on the patient's skin for determination of blood glucose levels. The wearable window effectively replaces a window of the spectrometer, and thus forms an interface between the patient's skin and a thermal mass window of the spectrometer. When the spectrometer must be temporarily removed from the patient's skin, such as to allow the patient mobility, the wearable window is left secured to the forearm so as to maintain a consistent measurement site on the skin. When the spectrometer is later reattached to the patient, the wearable window will again form an interface between the spectrometer and the same location of skin as before.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for use with a non-invasive optical measurement system, such as a thermal gradient spectrometer for improved determination of analyte concentrations within living tissue. In a preferred embodiment, a site selector is secured to a patient's forearm thereby isolating a measurement site on the patient's skin for determination of blood glucose levels. The site selector attaches to a thermal mass window of the spectrometer and thus forms an interface between the patient's skin and the thermal mass window. When the spectrometer must be temporarily removed from the patient's skin, such as to allow the patient mobility, the site selector is left secured to the forearm so as to maintain a consistent measurement site on the skin. When the spectrometer is later reattached to the patient, the site selector will again form an interface between the gradient spectrometer and the same location of skin as before.