Abstract: A method of creating a computer-generated animation uses a graphical user interface including a two-dimensional array of cells. The array has a plurality of rows associated with visual characteristics of a computer-generated character and a plurality of columns associated with frames of the animation. The array includes a first cell associated with a first visual characteristic and a first frame. A first view of the array is displayed in which the first cell has a first width and includes a key frame indicator that indicates that a designated value is associated with the first visual characteristic for the first frame. A second view is displayed in which the first cell has a second width and includes an element value indicator. The second width is greater than the first width, and the element value indicator represents the value associated with the first visual characteristic.

Abstract: A method includes establishing a first session (e.g., a Wi-Fi call) via a first connection to a first network, where the connection to the first network is provided by a first receiver of the mobile device, and monitoring a characteristic of the first connection to the first network. The method includes determining whether the characteristic satisfies a threshold. When the characteristic does not satisfy the threshold, the method includes activating a second receiver of the mobile device, establishing a second connection to a second network, and initiating a handover procedure to transfer the first session from the first network to the second network. The second connection to the second network is provided by the second receiver of the mobile device. As a result of the handover procedure, the first session may be merged with or transferred to a second session (e.g., a cellular call) provided via the second network.

Abstract: A method includes establishing a first session (e.g., a Wi-Fi call) via a first connection to a first network, where the connection to the first network is provided by a first receiver of the mobile device, and monitoring a characteristic of the first connection to the first network. The method includes determining whether the characteristic satisfies a threshold. When the characteristic does not satisfy the threshold, the method includes activating a second receiver of the mobile device, establishing a second connection to a second network, and initiating a handover procedure to transfer the first session from the first network to the second network. The second connection to the second network is provided by the second receiver of the mobile device. As a result of the handover procedure, the first session may be merged with or transferred to a second session (e.g., a cellular call) provided via the second network.

Abstract: A cold beverage brewing system includes a container and a supply of water. The container holds a brewing substance which forms a brewed beverage when combined with the water. The water supplied to the container for brewing can be at a variety of temperatures, including ambient or below ambient temperatures. The system is controllably pressurized with a gas, preferably nitrogen, and controllably dispensed to provide a brewed beverage with selected characteristics in a relatively short period of time.

Abstract: The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring a vehicle operator during the course of vehicle operation to determine whether the vehicle operator is in an emotionally impaired state (e.g., aggressive or agitated) and presenting appropriate stimuli (e.g., music or sound recordings) to the vehicle operator when impairment is detected. The vehicle operator, the environment surrounding the vehicle, or forces acting on the vehicle may be monitored using a variety of sensors, including optical sensors, accelerometers, or biometric sensors (e.g., skin conductivity, heart rate, or voice modulation). When the vehicle operator is determined to be in an emotionally impaired state, stimuli are selected to improve the emotional state of the vehicle operator. The selection is based on sensor data and data regarding prior responses of the vehicle operator to various stimuli. After selection, the stimuli are presented to the vehicle operator while monitoring continues.

Abstract: The method, system, and computer-readable medium cause the monitoring of a vehicle operator during the course of vehicle operation to determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired and causes a mitigating response when an impairment is determined to exist. The vehicle operator, the environment surrounding the vehicle, or forces acting on the vehicle may be monitored using a variety of sensors, including optical sensors, accelerometers, or biometric sensors (e.g., skin conductivity, heart rate, or voice modulation). When the vehicle operator is determined to be impaired, an alert or other mitigating response is implemented, based on the sensor data. In some embodiments, mitigating actions may be taken to avoid vehicle operator impairment. In further embodiments, a training period may be used to generate a profile for the vehicle operator. In yet further embodiments, information regarding multiple types of impairments may be used to determine and implement an appropriate mitigating response.

Abstract: A pump, such as a vacuum pump, includes at least one housing and a motor and oil reservoir disposed within the housing. The pump housing can include a bottom exterior surface and one or more side and/or front exterior surfaces that extend generally up from the bottom exterior surface. An oil drain port can be positioned at or near the intersection of the bottom exterior surface and the side or front exterior surface. The housing can include an interior bottom surface that defines at least a portion of a drain passageway for the pump and can be fluidicly coupled to the oil reservoir. At least a portion of the interior bottom surface can be angled downward at an acute angle to the horizontal towards the oil drain port to improve the draining and replacement of oil in the pump.

Abstract: A skin deformation system for use in computer animation is disclosed. The skin deformation system accesses the skeleton structure of a computer generated character, and accesses a user's identification of features of the skeleton structure that may affect a skin deformation. The system also accesses the user's identification of a weighting strategy. Using the identified weighting strategy and identified features of the skeleton structure, the skin deformation system determines the degree to which each feature identified by the user may influence the deformation of a skin of the computer generated character. The skin deformation system may incorporate secondary operations including bulge, slide, scale and twist into the deformation of a skin. Information relating to a deformed skin may be stored by the skin deformation system so that the information may be used to produce a visual image for a viewer.

Abstract: The present concepts include a zero-porosity structure having a plurality of structural elements arranged to provide a negative Poisson's ratio and, further, a new mechanism to generate negative Poisson's ratio is single material, zero-porosity structure.

Abstract: A hole cutter has a substantially cylindrical blade body defining a blade body circumference, a cutting edge formed on one end of the blade body, and an axially-elongated slot formed through the substantially cylindrical blade body. The axially-elongated slot is configured to receive chips flowing from the cutting edge within the interior of the blade body and (i) into the slot and/or (ii) through the slot, to prevent the collection of such chips within the interior of the blade body and/or at an interface between the blade body and the work piece. The axially-elongated slot defines a first end adjacent to the cutting edge, a second end axially spaced further from the cutting edge, and a slot area. The hole cutter further defines a total slot area to blade body circumference ratio within the range of about 0.1 to about 0.3 depending on the size of the hole cutter.

Abstract: An apparatus to preserve liquid from a medicine vial may include a vial coupling member forming a vial coupling member cavity and a container forming a cavity. The apparatus may further include a first fluid pathway forming a first lumen that is in fluid communication with the vial coupling member cavity and the cavity and a second fluid pathway forming a second lumen that is in fluid communication with the vial coupling member cavity and the cavity. The vial coupling member cavity, the cavity, the first lumen, and the second lumen may form a sterile environment that is sealed from contaminants in an ambient environment. The apparatus may include a disengaging member configured to permit the container to disengage from the first fluid pathway and the second fluid pathway while permanently sealing at least one of the first lumen or the second lumen.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for managing and storing electronic health records data. In an embodiment, a database module containing a plurality of databases stores a plurality of different types of patient medical data records. Each patient medical data record is composed of one or more categories of data which may be stored in different databases. A server module configured to respond to requests received from a client is connected to the database module. The server module includes a layer of application logic, a layer of composite services, a layer of domain services, and a layer of foundation services. A request received by the server module is first processed by the application logic, then by the appropriate composite services, domain services and foundation services. Domain services may communicate with the database module, generating a response that may be processed by the composite and application logic layers before sending back to the client.

Abstract: A hole cutter has a substantially cylindrical blade body defining a blade body circumference, a cutting edge formed on one end of the blade body, and an axially-elongated slot formed through the substantially cylindrical blade body. The axially-elongated slot is configured to receive chips flowing from the cutting edge within the interior of the blade body and (i) into the slot, and/or (ii) through the slot, to prevent the collection of such chips within the interior of the blade body and/or at an interface between the blade body and work piece. The axially-elongated slot defines a first end adjacent to the cutting edge, a second end axially spaced further from the cutting edge, and a slot area. The hole cutter further defines a total slot area to blade body circumference ratio within the range of about 0.1 to about 0.3 depending on the size of the hole cutter.

Abstract: A skin deformation system for use in computer animation is disclosed. The skin deformation system accesses the skeleton structure of a computer generated character, and accesses a user's identification of features of the skeleton structure that may affect a skin deformation. The system also accesses the user's identification of a weighting strategy. Using the identified weighting strategy and identified features of the skeleton structure, the skin deformation system determines the degree to which each feature identified by the user may influence the deformation of a skin of the computer generated character. The skin deformation system may incorporate secondary operations including bulge, slide, scale and twist into the deformation of a skin. Information relating to a deformed skin may be stored by the skin deformation system so that the information may be used to produce a visual image for a viewer.

Abstract: A hole cutter has a substantially cylindrical blade body defining a blade body circumference, a cutting edge formed on one end of the blade body, and an axially-elongated slot formed through the substantially cylindrical blade body. The axially-elongated slot is configured to receive chips flowing from the cutting edge within the interior of the blade body and (i) into the slot, and/or (ii) through the slot, to prevent the collection of such chips within the interior of the blade body and/or at an interface between the blade body and work piece. The axially-elongated slot defines a first end adjacent to the cutting edge, a second end axially spaced further from the cutting edge, and a slot area. The hole cutter further defines a total slot area to blade body circumference ratio within the range of about 0.1 to about 0.3 depending on the size of the hole cutter.

Abstract: Approaches are described for determining, updating, and displaying recommended content on a lock screen of a computing device. For example, a lock screen can include recommended content that can display user-specific offers and/or other information determined to be relevant to the user. One of a full-screen template, a banner template, or a notification template can include the recommended content. The recommended content can include selectable elements that, when selected, can cause the computing device to perform an action such as launching an application, providing additional displays, etc. The recommended content can be updated. For example, in response to a lock screen event, such as powering on and off the display screen, recommended content can be updated and provided for display the next time the display screen is powered on.

Abstract: Embodiments include an offline application, encrypted patient medical data records, and an encryption key that are stored in a cache of a browser application on the local computing device when a network connection is available. The offline application is accessed when the network connection is subsequently lost. Embodiments allow the user to access decrypted patient medical data records stored in the browser application cache, as well as create and access new patient medical data records when a network connection is offline. Any access to a patient medical data record when the network connection is offline may be documented in an offline-access record, an audit record that satisfies HIPAA Security Rule restrictions, that is created and encrypted. When a network connection becomes available, corresponding patient medical data records in the EHR system are updated or created according to the offline-access record and/or an offline-updated patient medical data record.

Abstract: A hole cutter has a cylindrical blade body including a cutting edge and one or more axially-elongated apertures formed within a side wall of the blade body. The axially-elongated aperture is configured to receive a lever, such as a screwdriver, therethrough. Each axially-elongated aperture includes a first fulcrum axially spaced adjacent to the cutting edge, a second fulcrum axially spaced further away from the cutting edge than the first fulcrum, and optionally a third fulcrum axially spaced between the first and second fulcrums. A lever, such as a screwdriver, can be inserted into the aperture and placed against each of the fulcrums to lever slugs out of the interior of the blade body.

Abstract: The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring a vehicle operator during the course of vehicle operation to determine whether the vehicle operator is in an emotionally impaired state (e.g., aggressive or agitated) and presenting appropriate stimuli (e.g., music or sound recordings) to the vehicle operator when impairment is detected. The vehicle operator, the environment surrounding the vehicle, or forces acting on the vehicle may be monitored using a variety of sensors, including optical sensors, accelerometers, or biometric sensors (e.g., skin conductivity, heart rate, or voice modulation). When the vehicle operator is determined to be in an emotionally impaired state, stimuli are selected to improve the emotional state of the vehicle operator. The selection is based on sensor data and data regarding prior responses of the vehicle operator to various stimuli. After selection, the stimuli are presented to the vehicle operator while monitoring continues.

Abstract: A hole cutter has a cylindrical blade body including a cutting edge and one or more axially-elongated apertures formed within a side wall of the blade body. The axially-elongated aperture is configured to receive a lever, such as a screwdriver, therethrough. Each axially-elongated aperture includes a first fulcrum axially spaced adjacent to the cutting edge, a second fulcrum axially spaced further away from the cutting edge than the first fulcrum, and optionally a third fulcrum axially spaced between the first and second fulcrums. A lever, such as a screwdriver, can be inserted into the aperture and placed against each of the fulcrums to lever slugs out of the interior of the blade body.