Abstract: In some embodiments, devices, systems, and methods herein may be used to operate an environmental control system in order to improve environmental satisfaction and/or cognitive function for one or more occupants or groups of occupants of an indoor environment. By some approaches, the devices, systems, and methods described herein may be employed by occupants, managers or owners of indoor environments to improve satisfaction with lighting and/or improve the performance of various executive functions for one or more occupants of an indoor environment. In some embodiments, the devices, systems, and methods described herein may be used to adjust various lighting parameters in an indoor environment, for example, lighting parameters that are indicative of access to natural light in the indoor environment.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to surgical devices and methods. The disclosed surgical device and method may be used to resect, cut or otherwise remove tissue during an orthopaedic procedure. The surgical device may be reconfigured to reduce a size of the surgical device during placement in the patient.

Abstract: A guide apparatus for a surgical cutting tool includes a plurality of plates arranged in parallel with a guide plane. The plates form opposing bearing surfaces spaced apart over a clearance distance that defines an opening. A sheath includes a cylindrical portion that extends along a longitudinal axis and forms an interior passage extending through cylindrical portion along the longitudinal axis. The cylindrical portion of the sheath slidably engages the opening through the clearance distance, and the interior passage of the sheath receives a rotary cutting head of the surgical cutting tool in an operating configuration.

Abstract: In some embodiments, devices, systems, and methods herein may be used to operate an environmental control system in order to improve environmental satisfaction and/or cognitive function for one or more occupants or groups of occupants of an indoor environment. By some approaches, the devices, systems, and methods described herein may be employed by occupants, managers or owners of indoor environments to improve satisfaction with lighting and/or improve the performance of various executive functions for one or more occupants of an indoor environment. In some embodiments, the devices, systems, and methods described herein may be used to adjust various lighting parameters in an indoor environment, for example, lighting parameters that are indicative of access to natural light in the indoor environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methods for enabling a user control in third-party computing environments or cloud computing via a virtual private network created by a control module, which contains parameters defined by the user. The system and methods are used to create a fault tolerant virtual private network that allows user control over addressing, security encryption, routing, and the enablement of multicast protocols, regardless of the prohibition set by the third-party computing environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methods for enabling a user control in third-party computing environments or cloud computing via a virtual private network created by a control module, which contains parameters defined by the user. The system and methods are used to create a fault tolerant virtual private network that allows user control over addressing, security encryption, routing, and the enablement of multicast protocols, regardless of the prohibition set by the third-party computing environment.

Abstract: A retransfer intermediate sheet for receiving an image to be printed onto an article by thermal retrasfer comprises a substrate which is preferably heat-deformable; and an image-receiving coating on one side of the substrate, comprising an image-receiving layer for receiving an image by printing, preferably inkjet printing, of dye-containing ink, the image-receiving layer comprising amorphous porous silica, a first, non-dye absorbing polymeric binder and a second, flexible polymeric binder. The sheet is particularly useful for printing on three dimensional articles, e.g. being heated and vacuum formed to conform to an article. The invention also coven a method of printing and an article bearing a printed image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methods for enabling a user control in third-party computing environments or cloud computing via a virtual private network created by a control module, which contains parameters defined by the user. The system and methods are used to create a fault tolerant virtual private network that allows user control over addressing, security encryption, routing, and the enablement of multicast protocols, regardless of the prohibition set by the third-party computing environment.

Abstract: An embodiment of a musical drum with a single outer shell and divided internally into a plurality of resonant chambers. A plate with a plurality of cutouts is mounted to an open end of the outer shell and a plurality of playing surfaces is mounted to the cutouts. The playing surfaces are joined to resonant chambers in the outer shell. The playing surfaces can be tensioned independently and are interchangeable with playing surfaces of similar shape and size, and are constructed of a variety of materials. The outer shell forms a general hourglass shape with a flat side that can be used as a base. A seat for the player is affixed to the outer shell.

Abstract: A retransfer intermediate sheet for receiving an image to be printed onto an article by thermal retransfer comprises a substrate; and an image-receiving coating on one side of the substrate for receiving an image by printing of dye-containing ink, the coating comprising a fluid-absorbing layer and a superposed dye management layer comprising functionalised polyvinyl alcohol and/or an ionic polymer. The dye management layer functions to reduce back diffusion and to increase dye transfer efficiency, resulting in production of printed images of improved optical density. The sheet can be heat-deformable, and finds particular use in printing on 3D articles, e.g. being heated and vacuum formed to conform to an article. The invention also covers a method of printing and an article bearing a printed image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methods for enabling a user control in third-party computing environments or cloud computing via a virtual private network created by a control module, which contains parameters defined by the user. The system and methods are used to create a fault tolerant virtual private network that allows user control over addressing, security encryption, routing, and the enablement of multicast protocols, regardless of the prohibition set by the third-party computing environment.

Abstract: A retransfer intermediate sheet for receiving an image to be printed onto an article by thermal retrasfer comprises a substrate which is preferably heat-deformable; and an image-receiving coating on one side of the substrate, comprising an image-receiving layer for receiving an image by printing, preferably inkjet printing, of dye-containing ink, the image-receiving layer comprising amorphous porous silica, a first, non-dye absorbing polymeric binder and a second, flexible polymeric binder. The sheet is particularly useful for printing on three dimensional articles, e.g. being heated and vacuum formed to conform to an article. The invention also coven a method of printing and an article bearing a printed image.

Abstract: A method of aligning a second layer to a first layer of a semiconductor structure by forming a first layer of a wafer having a distinguished feature via a first etching process that employs a first ionized gas generating machine. Forming a second layer having a circuit pattern via a second etching process that employs a second ionized gas generating machine, wherein the forming the second layer includes minimizing relative shifting between the distinguished feature located at an edge of the wafer for the first layer and the second circuit pattern located at the edge of the wafer for the second layer.

Abstract: A method of aligning a second layer to a first layer of a semiconductor structure by forming a first layer of a wafer having a distinguished feature via a first etching process that employs a first ionized gas generating machine. Forming a second layer having a circuit pattern via a second etching process that employs a second ionized gas generating machine, wherein the forming the second layer includes minimizing relative shifting between the distinguished feature located at an edge of the wafer for the first layer and the second circuit pattern located at the edge of the wafer for the second layer.

Abstract: A sanitary pet-waste collection pouch including an interior open-topped chamber for holding tied loaded plastic bags containing retrieved pet-waste, the pouch having a flap portion carrying interior and exterior opening pockets on opposite sides thereof, a pair of deep side-pockets on opposite sides of the chamber, releasable retaining loops coupled to the respective deep side-pockets, the interior opening pocket carrying a supply of plastic litter bags and the exterior opening pocket carrying personal effects, releasable retainer loops coupled to the deep side-pockets and each formed of a strip carrying opposite sided “hook” and “pile” portions which are engaged to form the loop, “hook” and “pile” portions being self-engagable forming the loops, and pockets on opposite sides thereof.

Abstract: A sanitary pet-waste collection pouch having front, rear and side-walls defining an interior open topped chamber for holding tied pet-waste loaded plastic litter bags containing retrieved pet-waste. The rear wall is extended forming a unitary flap cover having interior opening and exterior opening pockets on opposite sides threof. The exterior opening pocket is closed by a “hook and pile” Velcro closure. An open topped side-pocket having a restricted bottom opening is secured along a side-wall of the pouch. A sanitizer dispensing container with a dispensing cap is seated securely within the side-pocket with the dispensing cap passing through the restricted bottom opening. The flap cover carries the “hook” portion of a second “hook and pile” Velcro closure and the front wall carries the “pile” portion of said closure, the “pile” portion being longer than the “hook” portion and being located on the front wall.

Abstract: An electrically powered apparatus for automatically washing and wiping an outer side of a building window; the apparatus including a horizontal rotary brush rotating against the window and at the same time being vertically carried on vertical screws turned by an electric motor, a detergent solution supply tank above the window being contacted by the brush at its upper limit of travel so to fill a chamber inside the brush from which the solution is gradually dispensed to the brush bristles, a wiper blade above and below the brush wiping the window dry of the solution.