Abstract: An apparatus for hanging an instrument includes a wall plate, an axial arm, and a yoke. The wall plate is configured to secure the apparatus to a wall or other suitable surface. The axial arm extends axially between the wall plate and the yoke. The yoke is configured to receive at least a portion of an instrument. The apparatus also includes a humidistat disposed on a surface of the wall plate opposite the wall or other suitable surface. The humidistat is configured to display a relative humidity value corresponding to an amount of water vapor in the atmosphere proximate the instrument.

Abstract: A database management engine provides a user interface that allows users to access and modify employee information in a database. The database includes entries for employees, and each database entry includes identifying information about the associated employee. A user can request to modify data within database entries, for instance in order to update information associated with an employee. Responsive to the request, the database management engine identifies liabilities associated with the database modification stemming from associated tax laws. Based on the identified tax liabilities, the engine computes the aggregate tax liability owed by the employer and/or employee. Before modifying a database entry, the engine modifies the user interface to include interface elements detailing the computed aggregate tax liability. The user explicitly can be required to confirm the database modification in view of the aggregate tax liability.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device comprising a control device that is connectable with a cartridge and that can include one or more additional elements for improving one or both of visible indications of use to a user and resistance to infiltration of liquid into the control device. More particularly, the control device may include a light guide configured for transmitting to a window from a light source that is off-set from the window and a controller configured to direct a varying level of light from the light source. The control device may include one or more elements that are configured to limit infiltration of liquids into the control device and thus may be consider to be water-resistant or water-proof.

Abstract: A clock data recovery circuit includes a deglitch filter circuit and a timer circuit. The deglitch filter circuit is configured to remove pulses of less than a particular duration from a data signal to produce a deglitched data signal. The timer circuit is coupled to the deglitch filter, and is configured to compare a duration of a pulse of the deglitched data signal to a threshold duration, and identify the pulse as representing a logic one based on the duration of the pulse exceeding the threshold duration.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices comprising a power unit and a cartridge that is configured for engagement with the power unit. In particular, the cartridge can be configured for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof so as to be insertable into a chamber of the power unit in a plurality of different orientations. Further, the aerosol delivery device can include processing circuitry that can be configured for detection of the cartridge orientation and execution of a control function assigned to the respective orientation.

Abstract: Apparatus uses engineered collection media to recover mineral particles in a slurry. The apparatus has a tumbler cell and a rotation device to rotate the tumbler cell. The tumbler cell has a container to hold a mixture of the engineered media and the slurry containing the mineral particles. The container is turned such that at least part of the mixture in the upper part of the container is caused to interact with at least part of the mixture in the lower part of the container. As such, the contact between the engineered media and the mineral particles is enhanced. The surfaces of the engineered media are functionalized with a chemical having molecules to attract the mineral particles to the surfaces so as to form mineral laden media. After the mineral laden media are discharged from the tumbler cell, the mineral particles can be separated from the engineered media by stripping.

Abstract: Array microphone systems and methods that can automatically focus and/or place beamformed lobes in response to detected sound activity are provided. The automatic focus and/or placement of the beamformed lobes can be inhibited based on a remote far end audio signal. The quality of the coverage of audio sources in an environment may be improved by ensuring that beamformed lobes are optimally picking up the audio sources even if they have moved and changed locations.

Abstract: Many hand-held diagnostics are limited in their functionality due to the challenging physics associated with small dimensional systems. An example of this is capillary forces in hydrophilic systems, such as the tight retention of liquid passing through a small pore filtration membrane, or capillary force driven microfluidics where, to keep liquid flowing the dimensions of the system become so small that the flow rates are too low to be useful, or the manufacturing of such devices becomes uneconomical. This disclosure details methods to ‘reset’ the capillary force condition to avoid the requirement of transient pressure spikes associated with the breakthrough pressure of small pore membranes, and avoid the necessity of extremely small microfluidic channels, which can be useful in applications such as filtration of whole blood to plasma using only suction pressure or passive capillary pressure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices and cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridge comprises a mouthpiece having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the mouthpiece having an exit portal defined therethrough, a tank defining a proximal end and a closed distal end, the tank being configured to contain a liquid composition that includes a distinctive characteristic, and a heater configured to heat the liquid composition. The distal end of the mouthpiece is configured to engage the proximal end of the tank, and when the cartridge is coupled with the aerosol delivery device at least one feature of the cartridge, or at least one feature of the control device, or at least one feature of both the cartridge and the control device, provides a visual indication of a color associated with the distinctive characteristic.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a secondary airfoil apparatus, system and method for improving lift, takeoff, landing and aerodynamic performance of a floatplane. The secondary airfoil can be integrated into the floatplane during manufacture, or retrofitted to an existing floatplane after manufacture. The secondary airfoil is itself of sufficient structural rigidity to withstand any and all forces added by the airfoil during floatplane operation. The secondary airfoil is fixedly attached between the floats of the floatplane, and are purposefully not attached to spreader bars that can exist typically between the floats. The secondary airfoil can be arranged at an optimal angle of incidence and vertical lift position relative to the primary airfoil, or wing of the aircraft, and relative to the floats center of gravity and drag for optimal maneuverability of the floatplane.

Abstract: A detection system for use with a powered ground maintenance vehicle, the detection system adapted to detect and avoid contact of a ground maintenance implement carried by the vehicle with an object associated with the ground surface. In some embodiments, the detection system may automatically disengage the implement from the ground surface before the implement contacts the object and, optionally, automatically re-engage the implement with the ground surface after the implement has passed the object.

Abstract: Hybrid audio beamforming systems and methods with narrower beams and improved directivity are provided. The hybrid audio beamforming system includes a time domain beamformer for processing upper frequency band signals of an audio signal using a time domain beamforming technique, and a frequency domain beamformer for processing groups of lower frequency band signals of the audio signal using frequency domain beamforming techniques.

Abstract: In an approach to X-ray inspection image display systems, a colorized X-ray inspection image is received comprising a monochrome X-ray inspection image that is colorized in accordance with an X-ray inspection system false colorization scheme. The colorized X-ray inspection image is filtered by performing pixel shading on the colorized X-ray inspection image to generate a custom colorized X-ray inspection image having a custom false colorization scheme that is different from the X-ray inspection system false colorization scheme.

Abstract: A clock data recovery circuit includes a deglitch filter circuit and a timer circuit. The deglitch filter circuit is configured to remove pulses of less than a predetermined duration from a data signal to produce a deglitched data signal. The timer circuit is coupled to the deglitch filter, and is configured to compare a duration of a pulse of the deglitched data signal to a threshold duration, and identify the pulse as representing a logic one based on the duration of the pulse exceeding the threshold duration.

Abstract: A golf ball dispenser includes: a receptacle configured to hold multiple golf balls; a passageway connecting an outlet of the golf dispenser with the receptacle; a gateway coupled between the passageway and the receptacle to restrict a passage of the multiple golf balls into the passageway, the gateway being selectively moveable to allow a golf ball to pass into the passageway for delivery to a tee area; and a display device embedded in the golf ball dispenser to present at least information regarding the golf ball in flight after the golf ball is hit from the tee area. Further, methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for use with such golf ball dispensers, can control holding and dispensing of golf balls at a golf facility, e.g., a driving range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing beverages, more particularly, the present invention relates to a method for producing a kombucha tea drink from the Camellia sinesis plant. Traditionally, kombucha tea is prepared through a practiced fermentation method that consists of the fermentation of black tea, dissolved in sugar, in a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria (Scoby). Considering the immense antioxidants and benefits of kombucha, it is crucial to not reduce any of these properties through preparation with hot water that could destroy key benefits. In this regard, embodiments of the present invention comprise a method of making a tea-based fermented drink, comprising steps of preparing the tea leaves picked from a plant source; preparing the water with temperature not greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit (F); adjusting the water temperature to 40 degrees F. or less for a brewing temperature range of 33-40 degrees F.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices comprising a power unit and a cartridge that is configured for engagement with the power unit. In particular, the cartridge can be configured for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof so as to be insertable into a chamber of the power unit in a plurality of different orientations. Further, the aerosol delivery device can include processing circuitry that can be configured for detection of the cartridge orientation and execution of a control function assigned to the respective orientation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electrospray thrusters, processes of making electrospray thrusters, and methods of using such electrospray thrusters. Applicant's thruster incorporates a unique geometry for the emitters and extractor grid that effectively eliminates ion interception on the grid, which is the primary failure mechanism of current devices, yet maintains the electric field conditions necessary for ion emission to occur. Without grid impingement, the thrust produced by the thruster is increased and thruster operational lifetime is increased substantially. Additionally, this non-traditional geometry also allows for higher electric fields at the emitter tip for a given applied voltage, thus enabling lower operational voltage of the thruster as compared to conventional designs.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to monitoring network traffic using network monitoring computers (NMCs). Metrics may be determined based on monitoring network traffic associated with a plurality of entities each associated with a profile that includes the metrics for each entity. Beaconing metrics associated with beaconing activity may be determined based on the metrics. The profile of each entity may be compared with the beaconing metrics to determine the entities that may be engaged in beaconing activity. The entities may be characterized based on beaconing activity such that the beaconing activity includes communication with endpoints associated with the third parties, employing communication protocols associated with the third-parties, or exchanging payloads consistent with the beaconing activity. Reports that include information associated with the entities and its beaconing activity may be generated.