Abstract: The present invention relates to a fixed-fixed membrane for a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphone. In one embodiment, a MEMS acoustic sensor includes a substrate; a membrane situated parallel to the substrate; and at least one vent formed into the membrane, wherein the at least one vent is a curved opening in the membrane, and wherein the at least one vent is disposed substantially along a length of the membrane.

Abstract: A retention nut for securing a separator element is described herein. The retention nut includes a first portion of the retention nut that includes a threaded cavity to enable coupling of the retention nut to a structural member attached to the separator element, wherein the first portion of the retention nut comprises a means for providing a positive seal between the retention nut and the separator element, and a second portion of the retention nut that includes a feature that is couplable to a retention nut tool using a mechanical force such that a torque applied to the retention nut tool is sufficiently transmitted to the retention nut to one of: tighten the retention nut onto the structural element and loosen the retention nut from the structural element.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for obtaining polyhydroxy 1,4-naphthoquinones from live sea urchins, comprising the following steps: a) injecting a KCl saline solution into the perivisceral coeloma of female sea urchins to induce spawning; b) collecting the eggs, and grinding them into a fine powder; c) mixing said fine powder with an alcoholic solvent; d) separating the alcohol supernatant comprising the polyhydroxy 1,4-naphthoquinones in solution. Where the polyhydroxy 1,4-naphthoquinones are selected from: echinochrome A (6-ethyl-2,3,5,7,8-pentahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), spinochrome A (2-acetyl-3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), spinochrome B (2,3,5,7-tetrahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), spinochrome C (2-acetyl-3,5,6,7,8-pentahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), spinochrome D (2,3,5,6,8-pentahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), spinochrome E (hexahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for obtaining polyhydroxy 1,4-naphthoquinones from live sea urchins, comprising the following steps: a) injecting a KCl saline solution into the perivisceral coeloma of female sea urchins to induce spawning; b) collecting the eggs, and grinding them into a fine powder; c) mixing said fine powder with an alcoholic solvent; d) separating the alcohol supernatant comprising the polyhydroxy 1,4-naphthoquinones in solution. Where the polyhydroxy 1,4-naphthoquinones are selected from: echinochrome A (6-ethyl-2,3,5,7,8-pentahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), spinochrome A (2-acetyl-3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), spinochrome B (2,3,5,7-tetrahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), spinochrome C (2-acetyl-3,5,6,7,8-pentahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), spinochrome D (2,3,5,6,8-pentahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), spinochrome E (hexahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An oscillation damper for damping unwanted oscillations in oscillation-sensitive systems, such as tall edifices and towers, especially wind turbines. The oscillation damper has a vertical spring mechanism and the oscillation characteristics, such as the frequency and amplitude, and thus the damping capabilities, can be adjusted across a wide range of values.

Abstract: An oscillation damper for damping unwanted oscillations in oscillation-sensitive systems, such as tall edifices and towers, especially wind turbines. The oscillation damper has a vertical spring mechanism and the oscillation characteristics, such as the frequency and amplitude, and thus the damping capabilities, can be adjusted across a wide range of values.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibration and biasing are described herein. In one example, a method for determining a playing height of a user is described. The method includes receiving an identification of a first corner of a display screen from the user by associating a first position of a tracked object with the first corner using image data from a capture device, receiving an identification of a second corner of the display screen from the user by associating a second position of the tracked object with the second corner using image data from the capture device, and triangulating between the first and second corners and the tracked object to define a range of movement made by the user. The tracked object is held by the user. The method further includes defining a height at which the tracked object is held by the user based on the range of movement.

Abstract: A list of offers that match search criteria provided by a searcher is retrieved and a list of social media site contacts that are linked to the searcher on a social media site is requested. For each offer in the list of offers, a quantity of qualified selections of the offer is determined. The quantity of qualified selections for an offer comprises a quantity of users in the list of social media site contacts who are registered users of an offer selection application and who selected the offer using the offer selection application. The list of offers is ordered based on the quantities of qualified selections to produce an ordered list of offers and a user interface is provided that displays the ordered list of offers.

Abstract: A heavy metal-resistant recombinant bacterium capable to remove mercury (II) species, cadmium and copper (II) in presence of other heavy metals from polluted sites, which corresponds to Cupriavidus metallidurans strain MSR33, deposited under the access number NRRL B-50299, a product for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with heavy metals, where the product includes a bacterial inoculum of this recombinant strain, the process of obtaining the product and a method for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with heavy metals, which uses this product for the bioremediation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibration and biasing are described herein. In one example, a method for determining a playing height of a user is described. The method includes receiving an identification of a first corner of a display screen from the user by associating a first position of a tracked object with the first corner using image data from a capture device, receiving an identification of a second corner of the display screen from the user by associating a second position of the tracked object with the second corner using image data from the capture device, and triangulating between the first and second corners and the tracked object to define a range of movement made by the user. The tracked object is held by the user. The method further includes defining a height at which the tracked object is held by the user based on the range of movement.

Abstract: A heavy metal-resistant recombinant bacterium capable to remove mercury (II) species, cadmium and copper (II) in presence of other heavy metals from polluted sites, which corresponds to Cupriavidus metallidurans strain MSR33, deposited under the access number NRRL B-50299, a product for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with heavy metals, where the product includes a bacterial inoculum of this recombinant strain, the process of obtaining the product and a method for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with heavy metals, which uses this product for the bioremediation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterial strain which is able to degrade or mineralize s-triazine compounds, such as simazine, which corresponds to Pseudomonas sp. strain MHP41, deposited under the accession number NRRL B-30908. The present invention provides a product for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with s-triazine, where the product includes a bacterial inoculum of Pseudomonas sp. strain MHP41. The present invention further provides a method for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with s-triazines, which uses this product for the bioremediation.

Abstract: A recombinant bacterium capable to completely degrade or mineralize pollutants such as polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), which corresponds to Cupriavidus necator strain JMS34, deposited under the access number NRRL B-30817 a product for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with PCBs, where the product includes a bacterial inoculum of this recombinant strain and a method for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with PCBs, which uses this product for the bioremediation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterial strain which is able to degrade or mineralize s-triazine compounds, such as simazine, which corresponds to Pseudomonas sp. strain MHP41, deposited under the accession number NRRL B-30908. The present invention provides a product for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with s-triazine, where the product includes a bacterial inoculum of Pseudomonas sp. strain MHP41. The present invention further provides a method for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with s-triazines, which uses this product for the bioremediation.