Abstract: A skew adjustment method and apparatus for adjusting the skewed condition of a movable rail of a window covering in which the movable rail is supported by lift cords wrapped around spools. A drive train disconnecting mechanism is used to disconnect a first spool from a second spool, the first spool is rotated relative to the second spool, thereby changing the length of the first lift cord relative to the second lift cord until the movable rail is in the desired position; and then the first and second spools are reconnected so the first and second spools rotate together. An end cap may be used to enable multiple disassemblies and reassemblies of the end cap to access the skew adjustment mechanism. In one embodiment, there are two movable rails, and the lift cords for both movable rails extend through the same rout holes in the covering. Disconnecting the first spool from the second spool may activate a mechanism that prevents the second spool from rotating.

Abstract: A suture button for a surgical procedure provides an anchor for pulling and maintaining suture tension through a transosseous tunnel during an operation such as meniscal root repair in the knee. The suture button includes a body having a first tapered longitudinal end, a second tapered longitudinal end, a first side, a second side, an anterior surface and a posterior surface. A first concave notch is defined in the first side, and a second concave notch is defined in the second side. The first notch is open to a first suture dock in the first side, and the second notch is open to a second suture dock in the second side. Each of the first and second suture docks includes a seat to centrally position suture material. A center passage is defined through the suture body at a location between the first and second suture docks.

Abstract: A pre-vapor formulation of an e-vaping device including a vapor former, nicotine, sugars or polysaccharide carbohydrates, an oxidant, and a base. A method of increasing stability of ingredients of a pre-vapor formulation includes mixing a vapor former, nicotine, sugars and/or polysaccharide carbohydrates, an oxidant and an added base, catalyzing a reaction between the sugars or polysaccharide carbohydrates, the oxidant and the base, and generating acids via a reaction therebetween, wherein a concentration of the nicotine in a vapor phase of the vapor is equal to or smaller than substantially 1% by weight.

Abstract: A skew adjustment method and apparatus for adjusting the skewed condition of a movable rail of a window covering in which the movable rail is supported by lift cords wrapped around spools. A drive train disconnecting mechanism is used to disconnect a first spool from a second spool, the first spool is rotated relative to the second spool, thereby changing the length of the first lift cord relative to the second lift cord until the movable rail is in the desired position; and then the first and second spools are reconnected so the first and second spools rotate together. An end cap may be used to enable multiple disassemblies and reassemblies of the end cap to access the skew adjustment mechanism. In one embodiment, there are two movable rails, and the lift cords for both movable rails extend through the same rout holes in the covering. Disconnecting the first spool from the second spool may activate a mechanism that prevents the second spool from rotating.

Abstract: Inventive concentrated solar power systems using solar receivers, and related devices and methods, are generally described. Low pressure solar receivers are provided that function to convert solar radiation energy to thermal energy of a working fluid, e.g., a working fluid of a power generation or thermal storage system. In some embodiments, low pressure solar receivers are provided herein that are useful in conjunction with gas turbine based power generation systems.

Abstract: A power assist module for use in roller tube driven products, such as roller shades. The module may be pre-wound prior to installation in a roller tube and retains its pre-wound condition, even after use, when removed from the roller tube.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for identification and response to an unauthorized transmission to a networked critical system. The invention employs a pre-defined parameter which matches trusted sources with defined destinations to enable secure access to the networked critical system. Once the method receives a transmission to the destination, it filters the transmissions based on specific architecture constraints. Should the transmission survive, the method continues with a plurality of layers of system level checks to verify the source matches the pre-defined parameter of a trusted source. Should the transmission fail any of the layers of system level checks, the method provides an appropriate response. Once the transmission survives, the method continuously monitors the data stream for possible threats and allows access the transmission to reach the destination and the networked critical system.

Abstract: A light blocking element is movably coupled to and recessed into one of a first rail and a movable rail, and, when the movable rail moves to a position closest to the first rail, the light-blocking element enters into a recess in the other of said first rail and said movable rail and thereby is recessed into both said first rail and said movable rail.

Abstract: A knotless self-cinching suture construct device includes a shuttling suture, a continuous loop and a self-cinching suture member. The shuttling suture is configured for insertion into a passage hole in injured soft tissue, such as a torn or damaged meniscus in the knee. The shuttling suture and continuous loop are passed entirely through the passage hole in the tissue, and the self-cinching suture member is inserted through the continuous loop to form a hitch using the continuous loop around the tissue. The self-cinching suture member is then pulled tight, allowing a first strand to slide through both the hitched continuous loop and a self-cinching sleeve on the suture member. When tension is applied, the sleeve tightens around the strand much like a finger trap, preventing inadvertent release of the applied suture tension. The suture construct is configured for use through a transosseous tunnel with a suture button in some embodiments.

Abstract: A system and method may ensure certified operation of a safety-critical avionics system incorporating a multi-core processor (MCP) aboard an aircraft via external architectural mitigation. A redundant processing element (RPE) may be associated with a processing core of the MCP and with safety-critical applications configured to execute on the core. The critical applications generate critical results based on sensed critical data parameters and pass the parameters and results to an external system monitor. The system monitor performs fault detection external to the original core by comparing the critical results and the critical data parameters and notifies the associated critical application if a fault is detected. The associated critical application may then log the fault to a fault history, reset an associated sensor, or notify the crew of the fault.

Abstract: A light blocking element is movably coupled to and recessed into one of a first rail and a movable rail, and, when the movable rail moves to a position closest to the first rail, the light-blocking element enters into a recess in the other of said first rail and said movable rail and thereby is recessed into both said first rail and said movable rail.

Abstract: A power assist module for use in roller tube driven products, such as roller shades. The module may be pre-wound prior to installation in a roller tube and retains its pre-wound condition, even after use, when removed from the roller tube.

Abstract: An end cap for use on a rail for a covering for an architectural opening. At least one securement leg secures the end cap to the rail.

Abstract: Petroleum Analytics Learning Machine (or PALM) system is a machine learning based, “brutally empirical” analysis system for use in all upstream and midstream oil and gas operations. PALM system optimizes exploration, production and gathering from at least one well of oil and natural gas fields to maximize production while minimizing costs. Normalized data are processed to determine clusters of correlation in multi-dimensional space to identify a machine learned ranking of importance weights for each attribute. Predictive and prescriptive optimization on the normalized data is performed utilizing unique combinations of machine learning and statistical algorithm ensembles. The unstructured textual data are classified to correlate with optimal production to capture the dynamics of at least one or more wells of oil and natural gas fields and to provide categorization results from labeled data sets to identify patterns.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to carbon monoxide releasing molecules (“CORMs”), and methods of synthesizing and applying the molecules. More specifically, this disclosure relates to structurally tunable CORMS, compounds containing CORMS (and salts thereof).

Abstract: A blind is arranged such that minimal force is required to rotate the tilt drum to tilt the slats from the fully open to the fully closed position and back, with each of the front and rear tilt cables sharing the load nearly equally throughout the entire path from the fully open to the fully closed position and back.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting an actuator button to a rail wherein the fastener for securing the button housing to the rail is hidden from view of the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for separating oxygen from air using a sorption/desorption cycle that includes a reduced or minimized difference between the maximum and minimum pressures involved in the sorption/desorption cycle. The reduced or minimized difference in pressures can be achieved in part by using valves that can allow for commercial scale flow rates while avoiding large pressure drops for flows passing through the valves. A rotary wheel adsorbent is an example of a system that can allow for a sorption/desorption cycle with reduced and/or minimized pressure drops across valves associated with the process. Stationary adsorbent beds can also be used in combination with commercially available valves that have reduced and/or minimized pressure drops.

Abstract: An end cap for use on a rail for a covering for an architectural opening. At least one securement leg secures the end cap to the rail.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an inline substrate processing tool may include a substrate carrier having a plurality of slots configured to retain a plurality of substrates parallel to each other when disposed in the slots, a first substrate processing module and a second substrate processing module disposed in a linear arrangement, wherein each substrate processing module includes an enclosure and a track that supports the substrate carrier and provides a path for the substrate carrier to move linearly through the first and second substrate processing modules, and a first gas cap disposed between the first and second substrate processing modules, wherein the first gas cap includes a first process gas conduit to provide a first process gas to the first substrate processing module, and a second process gas conduit to provide a second process gas to the second substrate processing module.