Abstract: A versatile cajón having a compact footprint that incorporates actuators for an internal bass-beater and an external hi-hat. The cajón may further serve as a base for supporting additional percussive instruments, such as snare drums, tom drums, cymbals, and Latin percussion. In an embodiment, a bass drum pedal may be secured inside the cajón and having a rotating shaft protruding through a side wall of the cajón. The shaft protrusion may be coupled to a foot pedal in an actuating manner. As such, when a percussionist presses down on the foot pedal (e.g., with a foot action), the shaft rotates the beater head to strike an internal wall of the cajón, thereby producing a bass-like percussive sound. Similarly, the system may include a hi-hat pedal and shaft combination that is also attached directly to one or more external side walls of the cajón.

Abstract: An implantable access port for use in transferring fluid transdermally between an external fluid storage or dispensing device and a site within a patient is disclosed. The access port includes a body, at least two reservoirs defined within the access port body, and at least one septum secured to the body and enclosing the reservoirs within the body. The access port also includes reservoir outlets defined within the reservoirs. The access port also has body conduits defined within the body and in fluid communication with the reservoir outlets and external openings defined in the exterior of the body. An implantable access port and system for use in apheresis is also provided that includes an implantable access port, at least one needle, and a catheter that is fluidly connected to the access port.

Abstract: An implantable access port for use in transferring a fluid transdermally between an external fluid storage or dispensing device and a site within a patient's body is disclosed. The access port includes a base, a bowl-shaped reservoir defined within the base by a smooth surfaced wall, and a septum secured to the base and enclosing the reservoir within the base. The access port also has an outlet passageway defined within the base and extending in communication with a reservoir outlet defined within the reservoir and an external opening defined in the exterior of the base.

Abstract: A porous electrolytic composite membrane for electrochemical energy systems, such as alkaline fuel cells, metal-air batteries and alkaline electrolyzers, comprises a porous polymeric material and nanomaterials. The polymeric material is preferably polybenzimidazole (PBI). The nanomaterials are preferably functionalized or non-functionalized. The nanomaterials are preferably titania nanotubes and/or graphene oxide nanosheets. The membrane further comprises an electrolyte solution, such as KOH. A method of preparing the membrane is also provided.

Abstract: A printed memory reader adapted to determine an original value from a printed memory device including a plurality of contact pads and an encoded value created by encoding the original value. The encoded value including N bits of data, where N is equal to a number of bits of data stored in the printed memory device. The printed memory reader includes a plurality of probes arranged to contact the plurality of contact pads and a memory storage element including instructions programmed to execute the steps: a) reading the encoded value or an inverse encoded value from the printed memory device using the plurality of probes to obtain a read value; and, b) decoding the read value to obtain a decoded value equal to the original value. The printed memory reader further includes a processor arranged to execute the instructions.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to oral care systems and devices. An oral care system includes a container defining an interior portion. The container includes a repository provided within the interior portion and configured to hold a fluid, and a barrier configured to maintain the fluid separate from the interior portion. The barrier is configured to be breached to expose the interior portion to the fluid. The oral care system may further include a toothbrush. The container is configured to retain at least a portion of the toothbrush.

Abstract: A product dispensing system and a method of queuing usage of products. In one form, a plurality of layers of products, each having multiple items in separate packages, is provided, each layer having a carrier with the separate packages being secured to and extending from the carrier. The layers are assembled in a stacked orientation behind a front layer with layers behind the front layer being at least partially concealed and inaccessible. Products are used one layer at a time, and when the separate packages from the front layer are removed, the packages of the next-succeeding layer are exposed for use. In another form of the invention, the packages for each layer are secured to and extend in series from the carrier for each layer, with a first package secured to the carrier for the layer, and each succeeding package being secured to the next preceding package.

Abstract: An implantable access port for use in transferring fluid transdermally between an external fluid storage or dispensing device and a site within a patient is disclosed. The access port includes a body, at least two reservoirs defined within the access port body, and at least one septum secured to the body and enclosing the reservoirs within the body. The access port also includes reservoir outlets defined within the reservoirs. The access port also has body conduits defined within the body and in fluid communication with the reservoir outlets and external openings defined in the exterior of the body. An implantable access port and system for use in apheresis is also provided that includes an implantable access port, at least one needle, and a catheter that is fluidly connected to the access port.

Abstract: A product dispensing system and a method of queuing usage of products. In one form, a plurality of layers of products, each having multiple items in separate packages, is provided, each layer having a carrier with the separate packages being secured to and extending from the carrier. The layers are assembled in a stacked orientation behind a front layer with layers behind the front layer being at least partially concealed and inaccessible. Products are used one layer at a time, and when the separate packages from the front layer are removed, the packages of the next-succeeding layer are exposed for use. In another form of the invention, the packages for each layer are secured to and extend in series from the carrier for each layer, with a first package secured to the carrier for the layer, and each succeeding package being secured to the next preceding package.

Abstract: A printed memory reader adapted to determine an original value from a printed memory device including a plurality of contact pads and an encoded value created by encoding the original value. The encoded value including N bits of data, where N is equal to a number of bits of data stored in the printed memory device. The printed memory reader includes a plurality of probes arranged to contact the plurality of contact pads and a memory storage element including instructions programmed to execute the steps: a) reading the encoded value or an inverse encoded value from the printed memory device using the plurality of probes to obtain a read value; and, b) decoding the read value to obtain a decoded value equal to the original value. The printed memory reader further includes a processor arranged to execute the instructions.

Abstract: An implantable access port for use in transferring a fluid transdermally between an external fluid storage or dispensing device and a site within a patient's body is disclosed. The access port includes a base, a bowl-shaped reservoir defined within the base by a smooth surfaced wall, and a septum secured to the base and enclosing the reservoir within the base. The access port also has an outlet passageway defined within the base and extending in communication with a reservoir outlet defined within the reservoir and an external opening defined in the exterior of the base.

Abstract: Purified water can be obtained via a continuous or semi-continuous process by mixing a liquid composition (e.g., sea water or produced frac water) including water with a directional solvent to selectively dissolve water from the liquid composition into the directional solvent. The concentrated remainder of the liquid composition (e.g., brine) is removed, and the water is precipitated from the directional solvent and removed in a purified form. The solvent is then reused as the process is repeated in a continuous or semi-continuous operation.

Abstract: Described are systems and methods for managing data traffic to a plurality of mobile devices over a wireless network. For each mobile device, a facility is provided that is capable of: (i) assigning a utility function to mathematically represent the value of a plurality of applications running on that mobile device with respect to a factor, (ii) aggregating the plurality of utility functions to generate an aggregated utility function corresponding to that mobile device, and (ii) communicating at least one of the associated aggregate utility function and a bid price based on the associated aggregate utility function over a network. A resource allocation is determined among a plurality of mobile devices based on a bidding process which accounts for the aggregate utility functions, and the data traffic between the mobile devices and the resource is managed using a network traffic shaping element according to the resource allocation.

Abstract: An implantable access port for use in transferring fluid transdermally between an external fluid storage or dispensing device and a site within a patient is disclosed. The access port includes a body, at least two reservoirs defined within the access port body, and at least one septum secured to the body and enclosing the reservoirs within the body. The access port also includes reservoir outlets defined within the reservoirs. The access port also has body conduits defined within the body and in fluid communication with the reservoir outlets and external openings defined in the exterior of the body. An implantable access port and system for use in apheresis is also provided that includes an implantable access port, at least one needle, and a catheter that is fluidly connected to the access port.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for facilitating high quality communications in an image forming device by providing a mechanism that fixes a position of an electronically readable/writable memory module, such as a customer replaceable unit monitor (CRUM) for a rotatable customer replaceable unit (CRU), with respect to a CRUM reader in the image forming device. A ring-like mounting device is non-fixedly attached to the CRU in a manner that limits axial relative movement between the ring-like mounting device and the CRU along a rotating axis of the CRU. The non-fixed attachment of the ring-like mounting device to the CRU is effected in such a manner so as not to inhibit relative rotational movement. In operation, a projection from the ring-like mounting device stops rotation of the ring-like mounting device, and therefore the CRUM mounted thereon, with respect to the image forming device structure, and specifically the CRUM reader.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for facilitating high quality communications in an image forming device by providing a mechanism that fixes a position of an electronically readable/writable memory module, such as a customer replaceable unit monitor (CRUM) for a rotatable customer replaceable unit (CRU), with respect to a CRUM reader in the image forming device. A ring-like mounting device is non-fixedly attached to the CRU in a manner that limits axial relative movement between the ring-like mounting device and the CRU along a rotating axis of the CRU. The non-fixed attachment of the ring-like mounting device to the CRU is effected in such a manner so as not to inhibit relative rotational movement. In operation, a projection from the ring-like mounting device stops rotation of the ring-like mounting device, and therefore the CRUM mounted thereon, with respect to the image forming device structure, and specifically the CRUM reader.

Abstract: A porous electrolytic composite membrane for electrochemical energy systems, such as alkaline fuel cells, metal-air batteries and alkaline electrolyzers, comprises a porous polymeric material and nanomaterials. The polymeric material is preferably polybenzimidazole (PBI). The nanomaterials are preferably functionalized or non-functionalized. The nanomaterials are preferably titania nanotubes and/or graphene oxide nanosheets. The membrane further comprises an electrolyte solution, such as KOH. A method of preparing the membrane is also provided.

Abstract: An implantable access port for use in transferring a fluid transdermally between an external fluid storage or dispensing device and a site within a patient's body is disclosed. The access port includes a base, a bowl-shaped reservoir defined within the base by a smooth surfaced wall, and a septum secured to the base and enclosing the reservoir within the base. The access port also has an outlet passageway defined within the base and extending in communication with a reservoir outlet defined within the reservoir and an external opening defined in the exterior of the base.

Abstract: Described are systems and methods for managing data traffic to a plurality of mobile devices over a wireless network. For each mobile device, a facility is provided that is capable of: (i) assigning a utility function to mathematically represent the value of a plurality of applications running on that mobile device with respect to a factor, (ii) aggregating the plurality of utility functions to generate an aggregated utility function corresponding to that mobile device, and (ii) communicating at least one of the associated aggregate utility function and a bid price based on the associated aggregate utility function over a network. A resource allocation is determined among a plurality of mobile devices based on a bidding process which accounts for the aggregate utility functions, and the data traffic between the mobile devices and the resource is managed using a network traffic shaping element according to the resource allocation.