Abstract: A machine and method for making bags is described and includes a web, traveling from an input section to a rotary drum, to an output section. The rotary drum includes at least one seal bar, having a first sealing zone, and an adjacent weakening zone. The weakening zone may be a heated perforator, includes a heating wire, or be disposed to create an auxiliary sealed area. The heating wire can have, connected thereto, a source of power that is at an adjustable voltage or magnitude, and/or pulsed, and/or a feedback loop. The heating wire may be an NiCr wire and make intermittent contact with the web and be disposed in an insert. The weakening zone may create a line of weakness that is uniform or varies in intensity, is a separating zone, or includes a heat film, a toothed blade, a row of pins, a source of air, or a source of vacuum. The sealing zones may include temperature zones, cartridge heaters, cooling air, or heated air, or a source of ultrasonic, microwave or radiative energy.

Abstract: An economizer includes a separation wheel, a motor, and a liquid storage portion. The separation wheel is arranged and configured to separate refrigerant into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant. The separation wheel is attached to a shaft rotatable about a rotation axis. The motor is arranged and configured to rotate the shaft in order to rotate the separation wheel. The liquid storage portion is arranged and configured to store the liquid refrigerant. The economizer is adapted to be used in a chiller system including a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser.

Abstract: A communication device is removable and operable within a vehicle and is in communication with a data network as the communication device travels in the vehicle. Vehicle identification data is obtained from the communication device, and a type of media file supported by a media system of the vehicle is determined based upon the vehicle identification data. Media content is obtained in a format corresponding to the determined type of media file. When the communication device is within a desired range of a target location, the media content is transmitted to the communication device for presentation on the media system of the vehicle.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method implemented in an agricultural machine harvesting alfalfa plants, the method comprising: receiving, in real time, input corresponding to a plurality of sensed parameters corresponding to alfalfa plant height and cut alfalfa volume; associating the cut alfalfa volume to an alfalfa stem diameter; and automatically determining a feed quality value for the alfalfa plants based on the sensed alfalfa plant height and the alfalfa stem diameter.

Abstract: An admixture includes a cementitious component, an unprocessed biomass component, calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, and an adhesive element. The admixture is suitable for mixing with water to form a flowable material that cures to produce a hardened material. A flowable material includes the admixture and water. A method of producing a flowable material includes turning on a mixer and adding an unprocessed biomass component to a drum of the mixer. The unprocessed biomass component is sprayed with an adhesive element to form a first composition. Calcium carbonate is added to the first composition in the mixing chamber, to form a second composition. The second composition is mixed. A cementitious component is added to the mixed second composition in the mixing chamber, to form a third composition, which is mixed with water and calcium chloride to produce the flowable material. The flowable material cures to form the hardened material.

Abstract: A method and electron linac system for production of radioisotopes is provided. The electron linac is an energy recovery linac (ERL) with an electron beam transmitted through a thin bremsstrahlung radiator. Isotopes are produced through bremsstrahlung photon interactions in an isotope production target that is spatially separated from the bremsstrahlung radiator. The electron beam does not pass through the isotope production target. The electron beam energy is recollected and reinjected into the linac accelerating structure. The reduction of material in the beam by removing the isotope production target and making the radiator thin is the essential aspect of the invention because large spreads in energy and transverse scattering angles caused by material in the beam preclude efficient energy recovery. The method described here can reduce the cost of energy to produce a quantity of radioisotope by more than a factor of 3 compared to a non-ERL bremsstrahlung method.

Abstract: The invention provides viral vectors (e.g., herpes viral vectors) and methods of using these vectors to treat disease.

Abstract: Vessel wound closure systems and method for sealing a puncture wound in a target vessel, such as those puncture wounds that occur from prior interventional procedures. A sealing member is deployed intravascularly into the target vessel, and an anchor member is deployed extravacularly of the target vessel. The sealing member and the anchor member are connected by a suture that may be drawn to tighten the sealing member and the anchor member relative to one another in order to effect the seal of the puncture wound. After tightening, the suture is secured to maintain the sealing member and the anchor member relative to one another in order to maintain the seal. Preferably, the anchor member, the suture and the sealing member are comprised of biocompatible, bioresorbable materials that are absorbed into the body after the sealing of the puncture wound has been achieved.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method provides a designated link in a notification to an intended recipient of the message. The designated link includes a unique identifier associated with the message. Upon receiving a request to access the message, the method authenticates the request. Authentication includes verifying whether the request corresponds to the designated link provided in the notification. If the request passes authentication, the method communicates the message.

Abstract: A device for determining the presence and/or quantity of one or more analytes in a sample of human body fluid has a container for receiving a sample of body fluid, with an interior that is delimited by a base and by a circumferential surface. It further comprises at least one test strip and a holding element for receiving and holding the one or more test strips. The holding element is designed such that it has a shape corresponding and adapted to the peripheral circumferential surface of the container. The device further comprises an elongate sampling element having an absorbent sampler that takes up the sample of body fluid and by means of which the sample of body fluid is transferred into the container. The sampling element can include an indicator strip for determining whether the amount of liquid sample sufficient for carrying out an assay.

Abstract: A system and method for investigating rock formations outside a borehole are provided. The method includes generating a first compressional acoustic wave at a first frequency by a first acoustic source; and generating a second compressional acoustic wave at a second frequency by a second acoustic source. The first and the second acoustic sources are arranged within a localized area of the borehole. The first and the second acoustic waves intersect in an intersection volume outside the borehole. The method further includes receiving a third shear acoustic wave at a third frequency, the third shear acoustic wave returning to the borehole due to a non-linear mixing process in a non-linear mixing zone within the intersection volume at a receiver arranged in the borehole. The third frequency is equal to a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency.

Abstract: In a valve cartridge for a plumbing fixture that comprises a cartridge housing that has one connection opening, each for the inflowing cold and hot water and at least one discharge opening for the outflowing water, a mixing valve with a control element/operating handle for selecting the mixing ratio of cold and hot water, and a rotary valve with a control element/operating handle for selecting the flow rate of water through the valve cartridge, wherein the mixing valve and the rotary valve and/or the control element of the mixing valve and the control element of the rotary valve are arranged in series on an axis of the cartridge housing. The control element of the rotary valve can take the form of a hollow cylinder that is coaxial to the control element of the mixing valve and is attached to the rotary valve in a rotationally fixed manner.

Abstract: A device for determining the presence and/or quantity of one or more analytes in a sample of human body fluid has a container for receiving a sample of body fluid, with an interior that is delimited by a base and by a circumferential surface. It further comprises at least one test strip and a holding element for receiving and holding the one or more test strips. The holding element is designed such that it has a shape corresponding and adapted to the peripheral circumferential surface of the container. The device further comprises an elongate sampling element having an absorbent sampler that takes up the sample of body fluid and by means of which the sample of body fluid is transferred into the container. The sampling element can include an indicator strip for determining whether the amount of liquid sample sufficient for carrying out an assay.

Abstract: A self-contained, port-closing trocar and method of use which may include an elongated body having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a side wall between the first end and the second end, the body further including at least two channels therein, each of the channels originating near the second end, running parallel to the elongated body, and curving towards and forming an opening in the side wall near the first end. The self-closing trocar may also include at least two needles, each disposed within one of the at least two channels, and a handle insertable into the second end of the elongated body, the handle having at least two needle drivers coupled thereto, each needle driver being insertable into one of the at least two channels and engagable with an end of a needle.

Abstract: Technologies are presented that optimize graphics processing performance. A method of frequency scaling may include beginning a graphics workload with a starting geometry preprocessing frequency of a multiple of a streaming shader engine frequency where the multiple is non-zero; determining a primitive start pitch for a primitive of the graphics workload; comparing the determined primitive start pitch to a predetermined threshold and, if it exceeds the predetermined threshold: reducing the geometry preprocessing frequency, and, at the start of the next primitive, setting the geometry preprocessing frequency back to the starting geometry preprocessing frequency; and repeating the determining and comparing for each remaining primitive until an end of the graphics workload. Performance gain based on primitive start pitch information may also be determined.

Abstract: A CMOS image sensor combining CMOS read-out integrated circuits (ROICs) and photodiode on active pixel (POAP) technology with quantum dot (PbS-CQD) detector material. This approach provides sensors and systems that are easily manufacturable with high yields The approach dramatically lowers the cost per pixel, reduces the pixel size, and increases the pixel count of SWIR sensors and cameras. The PbS-CQD detector material provides optical performance approaching that of InGaAs, and outperforms it in some respects. PbS-CQD detectors include multi-layered conformal thin-films, applied to the ROICs in liquid form. The films are perfectly suited for application over wide surface areas, limited only by wafer or substrate size.

Abstract: A system and method of characterizing properties of a medium from a non-linear interaction are include generating, by first and second acoustic sources disposed on a surface of the medium on a first line, first and second acoustic waves. The first and second acoustic sources are controllable such that trajectories of the first and second acoustic waves intersect in a mixing zone within the medium. The method further includes receiving, by a receiver positioned in a plane containing the first and second acoustic sources, a third acoustic wave generated by a non-linear mixing process from the first and second acoustic waves in the mixing zone; and creating a first two-dimensional image of non-linear properties or a first ratio of compressional velocity and shear velocity, or both, of the medium in a first plane generally perpendicular to the surface and containing the first line, based on the received third acoustic wave.

Abstract: An aircraft wing system for differentially adjusting a first deployable lift device and a second deployable lift device on a wing during take-off and landing, the system having a controller, which is programmed to determine desired positions for the first and second deployable lift devices, based on a desired position signal, and to activate high and low horsepower motors to move the first deployable lift devices to desired positions. The system has a controller which determines an adjustment amount for each motor, based on the system architecture.

Abstract: A mold for making dry cast concrete blocks includes a pair of vertical shoulder forming sections, one along each of the opposite sides of the mold to form vertical front shoulders of a block. Each shoulder forming section has a shoulder roughening arrangement to result in molded, roughened shoulders of the block. Methods of making such blocks and the resulting block are included.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides for an electrochemical cell comprising: a fuel electrode comprising a metal fuel, a second electrode, and an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes; the ionically conductive medium comprising hetero-ionic aromatic additives. The fuel electrode and the second electrode are operable in a discharge mode wherein the metal fuel is oxidized at the fuel electrode functioning as an anode, whereby electrons are generated for conduction from the fuel electrode to the second electrode via a load. An ionically conductive medium and methods of operating an electrochemical cell are also disclosed.