Abstract: A frangible flying target for use in inanimate bird shooting. The target may include a body substantially formed from matter edible to animals. The body may include at least one of protein meal; urea; condensed distillers solubles; and cement. The protein meal may be encased in an edible binder. Making the target may be carried out by mixing the ingredients and curing in a desired target shape. This may be carried out by molding. In other examples, the target may be made by making a blank using molding or extrusion, and then trimming or machining the blank to the desired target shape. The mixture may comprise, by total weight of the mixture, 5-20 percent cement, 0.5-25 percent molasses, 0-10 percent salt, and 0.5-10 percent urea; and water.

Abstract: A container assembly includes a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface, the bag having a bottom end wall being comprised of a first sheet overlying a second sheet, the first sheet and the second sheet of the bottom end wall being welded together so as to form a first sparging area and a separated second sparging area that are both bounded between the first sheet and the second sheet, at least a portion of the first sheet overlying the first and second sparging areas being gas permeable.

Abstract: A container assembly includes a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface, the bag having a top end wall, a bottom end wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween, the bottom end wall including a first polymeric sheet overlying a second polymeric sheet. A first weld line welds the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet, the first weld line bounding a first sparging area formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet. A plurality of first perforations are formed through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the first sparging area so that gas can pass from the first sparging area, through the first perforations and into the chamber of the bag.

Abstract: A frangible flying target for use in inanimate bird shooting. The target may include a body substantially formed from matter edible to animals. The body may include at least one of protein meal; urea; condensed distillers solubles; and cement. The protein meal may be encased in an edible binder. Making the target may be carried out by mixing the ingredients and curing in a desired target shape. This may be carried out by molding. In other examples, the target may be made by making a blank using molding or extrusion, and then trimming or machining the blank to the desired target shape. The mixture may comprise, by total weight of the mixture, 5-20 percent cement, 0.5-25 percent molasses, 0-10 percent salt, and 0.5-10 percent urea; and water.

Abstract: A wind turbine system to provide electrical power in areas not connected to the electrical power grid. The wind turbine system includes a frame and a rotatable shaft supported by the frame. A ring and idler gear assembly is coupled to the rotatable shaft. An upper rotor assembly is coupled to the rotatable shaft. The upper rotor assembly is configured to rotate in a first direction and thereby to rotate the rotatable shaft in a first direction. A lower rotor assembly is coupled to the ring and idler gear assembly. The lower rotor assembly is configured to rotate in a second direction which is opposite of the first direction and thereby to rotate the rotatable shaft in the first direction via the ring and idler gear assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for in-situ sensing of longitudinal and transverse strain in biological tissue (e.g. tendons and ligaments) includes a set of sensing electrodes that contact biological tissue and enable measurement of an electrical property of the biological tissue along two or more directions. The apparatus may also include a sensing module that senses the electrical property of the biological tissue along the two or more directions to provide multi-directional measurements that are captured by a logging module. The apparatus may also include a transmission module that transmits the captured measurements to a data analysis workstation or the like. The data analysis workstation may include a strain estimation module that receives the multi-directional measurement and estimates a longitudinal strain and a transverse strain therefrom. A corresponding system and method for in-situ sensing of longitudinal and transverse strain in biological tissue is also presented.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for tracking one or more items. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method for tracking one or more items. The method may include periodically detecting, by a sensor device, sensor information of the one or more items, and periodically transmitting, by the sensor device, the sensor information. The method may also include determining if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information. The method may also include transmitting the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties. The method may further include determining if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information and the periodically transmitting the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties based on a set of one or more permissions that grants or restricts access of the one or more parties to the sensor information based on the set of one or more permissions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for recovering water from a condensation reaction of at least one carboxylic acid and at least one diamine to make polyamide. The method can include obtaining, from an evaporator, an aqueous mixture comprising a partially polymerized polyamide and at least one of a carboxylic acid and diamine; passing the aqueous mixture through a tubular reactor comprising subjecting the aqueous mixture to a temperature and pressure sufficient to further polymerize the partially polymerized polyamide by condensation of the carboxylic acid and diamine, thereby producing water having a substantially gaseous phase; passing the water having a substantially gaseous phase into a rectification column thereby removing one or more of a diamine, a carboxylic acid and polyamide to provide purified water having a substantially gaseous phase; and condensing the purified water having a substantially gaseous phase into purified water having a substantially liquid phase.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for manufacturing a polyamide. The method can include obtaining, from a reservoir, an aqueous solution comprising a dicarboxylic acid, a diamine, and water having a substantially liquid phase; concentrating the aqueous solution including transforming a portion of the water having a substantially liquid phase to water having a substantially gaseous phase; condensing the water having a substantially gaseous phase into condensed water having a substantially liquid phase; removing at least one impurity from at least one of the condensed water having a substantially liquid phase and the water having a substantially gaseous phase to produce cleaned water having a substantially liquid phase; and reusing the cleaned water having a substantially liquid phase.

Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) module framing and coupling system enables the attachment of PV modules to a roof or other mounting surface without requiring the use of separate structural support members which attach directly to and span between multiple PV modules in a formed PV array. The apparatus provides a parallel coupling for securely interlocking the outside surfaces of parallel frame members together in a side to side arrangement to form an array with improved structural load distribution. The coupling may attach to a slot in the frame at substantially any position along the length of the frame thereby enabling the interconnection of adjacent PV modules along both an x and y axis. The apparatus may further provide a rotating portion and locking portion, mounting brackets for direct connection to a mounting surface, grounding teeth, and a twist-lock engagement means for interlocking and aligning PV modules in the array.

Abstract: A method for high and low temperature laser trimming of resistors is provided. The method includes a ceramic heating plate for heating resistors to a designated temperature before trimming the resistors.

Abstract: An attachment system for attaching shoes having toe and heel areas to a wide variety of sports equipment, in particular to a rowing boat or a rowing machine. The system includes an attachment device that is connected to or otherwise a part of the equipment, and a shoe block assembly that accepts the attachment device. These parts generally removably lock together for use of the equipment, which provides users custom features, better control over the force applied to the equipment via the shoe, and automatic emergency functions. An adjustment device generally fits into the shoe block assembly and is fixed to the shoe block assembly with screws or any other attachment methods, or could be formed as a part of the shoe block assembly, and the shoe block assembly is removably attachable to the attachment device by magnetic force or non-magnetic devices.

Abstract: Foothold system on a sloped roof includes first flashing block with hole, second flashing block with hole, moveable foothold with hook portion removably inserted into first flashing block hole and lower portion comprising a step portion extending down-roof from hook portion, the moveable foothold moveable from first flashing block to second flashing block via unhooking hook portion from first flashing block and hooking hook portion to second flashing block; flashing blocks may include mounting portion to receive mounting foot for photovoltaic array, and/or step portion sized to receive and support weight of foot of human working on sloped roof.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed regarding an attachment system for solar equipment, sometimes referred to as a flashing device allowing quick and easy assembling of the solar equipment into an array or other combination in a sturdy and durable manner. In examples of the present technology, a flashing device may include a flashing plate which may contain one or more raised features to further direct and control the flow of liquid over the flashing plate. The flashing device may also contain a fluid restrictor such as a seal or part of a seal usually held within an aperture of a block having a skyward facing essentially or substantially flat surface. One or more various items of solar equipment may be attached to the essentially flat surface of the block. Also disclosed are adjustable mounting feet which may be installed in connection with other solar equipment.

Abstract: A system, method and medium for determining and displaying one or more locales on a web browser. The method can include the steps of providing in the web browser a plurality of display regions, associating a locale with a plurality of web pages, selecting by a user a user-specified locale, associating the locale with one or more particular display regions, and determining whether the locale is mandatory. If the locale is mandatory, content associated with the user-specified locale can be translated to content associated with the locale. Finally, content is displayed in the one or more particular frames in accordance with the locale.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for quickly and easily assembling PV modules into a PV array in a sturdy and durable manner. In examples of the present technology, the system includes various couplings having a first engaging portion adapted to engage a first PV module and a second engaging portion adapted to engage a second PV module. At least one of the engaging portions allows variable positioning of the engaged PV module along the engaging portion.

Abstract: Foothold system on a sloped roof includes first flashing block with hole, second flashing block with hole, moveable foothold with hook portion removably inserted into first flashing block hole and lower portion comprising a step portion extending down-roof from hook portion, the moveable foothold moveable from first flashing block to second flashing block via unhooking hook portion from first flashing block and hooking hook portion to second flashing block; flashing blocks may include mounting portion to receive mounting foot for photovoltaic array, and/or step portion sized to receive and support weight of foot of human working on sloped roof.

Abstract: An imitation solar module for structural and aesthetic use in an array of electricity generating solar modules. The imitation solar module having a non-standard shape and a visual representation such as a decal of an actual solar module surface thereon. The imitation solar module includes triangular shapes for use in staggered module arrays.

Abstract: A system and apparatus are disclosed including PV modules having a frame allowing quick and easy assembling of the PV modules into a PV array in a sturdy and durable manner. In examples of the present technology, the PV modules may have a grooved frame where the groove is provided at an angle with respect to a planar surface of the modules. Various couplings may engage within the groove to assemble the PV modules into the PV array with a pivot-fit connection. Further examples of the present technology operate with PV modules having frames without grooves, or with PV modules where the frame is omitted altogether.

Abstract: A system and apparatus are disclosed for quickly and easily assembling PV modules into a PV array in a sturdy and durable manner. In examples of the present technology, the system includes a leveling foot for engaging a PV module and supporting the PV module on a support structure. The leveling foot allow adjustment of the height of engaged PV modules relative to the support structure.