Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices identify devices and assign keywords to such devices. Methods include retrieving data from at least one data source, the data comprising a plurality of data events associated with a plurality of devices, and generating a plurality of probability metrics for each of the plurality of devices based on device information and data event parameters included in the retrieved data. Methods also include generating an activity estimation parameter for each of the plurality of devices based on the plurality of probability metrics, the activity estimation parameter comprising an estimated probability of a subsequent data event being taken by a device.

Abstract: Radiation source and detector arrangement for a differential phase contrast CT scanner, in which the detector tiles are placed asymmetrically such that direct rays, which hit gaps between tiles are sampled by tile centers for the complementary rays. This may provide for good image quality without any approximate processing.

Abstract: Radiation source and detector arrangement for a differential phase contrast CT scanner, in which the detector tiles are placed asymmetrically such that direct rays, which hit gaps between tiles are sampled by tile centers for the complementary rays. This may provide for good image quality without any approximate processing.

Abstract: A soil removal apparatus in one embodiment has a motive power unit and an excavator joined to the motive power unit by a coupler, the excavator extending laterally of the motive power unit. The coupler includes a manipulator for manipulating the excavator to loosen and displace soil material in a path lateral to a path of movement of the motive power unit. The method relates to undercutting an object with a motive power unit, selectively halting and moving the motive power unit, and loosening and displacing soil lateral to the path of travel of the motive power unit.

Abstract: A soil removal apparatus in one embodiment has a motive power unit and an excavator joined to the motive power unit by a coupler, the excavator extending laterally of the motive power unit. The coupler includes a manipulator for manipulating the excavator to loosen and displace soil material in a path lateral to a path of movement of the motive power unit. The method relates to undercutting an object with a motive power unit, selectively halting and moving the motive power unit, and loosening and displacing soil lateral to the path of travel of the motive power unit.

Abstract: A molding strip has a front surface and a spaced apart rear surface, the front and rear surfaces extending between parallel top and bottom edges. The front surface is decorative with a horizontal groove for accepting a decorative filler strip. The bottom surface is indented from the front surface to form a space between the molding strip and the floor below it. The rear surface comprises a plurality of parallel grooves separated by horizontal contact edges. A cutaway surface extends from the bottom edge to a medial position on the rear surface for concealing a lesser sized molding strip.

Abstract: A molding strip has a front surface and a spaced apart rear surface, the front and rear surfaces extending between parallel top and bottom edges. The front surface is decorative with a horizontal groove for accepting a decorative filler strip. The bottom surface is indented from the front surface to form a space between the molding strip and the floor below it. The rear surface comprises a plurality of parallel grooves separated by horizontal contact edges. A cutaway surface extends from the bottom edge to a medial position on the rear surface for concealing a lesser sized molding strip.

Abstract: A crown molding unit for engagement with a ceiling surface and an adjacent wall surface of a room has a first surface positioned for flush contact with a ceiling surface and simultaneously, a second surface positioned for flush contact with a wall surface. Each of the first and the second surfaces provide a plurality of side-by-side parallel longitudinal grooves and a plurality of side-by-side parallel lateral grooves, the lateral grooves lie orthogonal to the longitudinal grooves and converge to a depression in the apparatus.

Abstract: A crown molding has a vertically oriented mounting leg joined with an outwardly angled decorative leg in a modified “V” configuration. A plurality of spaced apart webs are each extensive between the mounting leg and the decorative leg. Each of the webs provides at least one concave groove on an upwardly directed top edge, thereby forming a plurality of such grooves in longitudinally spaced apart positions. A flexible lighting tube is engaged within the grooves and extensive longitudinally. Apertures are placed in the decorative leg to allow light from the lighting tube to filter downwardly.

Abstract: A molding tile apparatus is mounted onto abutting wall surfaces forming either an inside corner or an outside corner. A corner turning portion has a horizontal, lateral extent for covering the wall abutment vicinity in the corner, and a horizontally oriented, linearly extensive, leg portion integral or separate from the corner turning portion. An interface between the leg portion and the corner turning portion is defined by a thickness differential. The corner portion may receive a decorative insert.

Abstract: This invention is a process for making modified silica filler comprising the steps of: (A) contacting an acidic aqueous suspension of precipitated or colloidal silica, optionally in the presence of a surfactant and/or a water-miscible solvent, with a combination of (a) a functionalizing coupling agent, and (b) an organometallic hydrophobing compound in a weight ratio of (a) to (b) of at least 0.001 to 1 to form an acidic aqueous suspension of chemically treated silica filler having a pH of 2.0 or less (B) treating the acidic aqueous suspension of the chemically treated filler with an acid-neutralizing agent to increase the pH of the suspension to a range of from greater than 2.0 to 10, and (C) recovering the chemically treated filler. This invention is also modified silica filler that has a pH of from about 5.0 to 10.0, where the silica filler is made by the method of this invention.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of hydrophilic silica gels with high pore volume. In the preferred method a hydrophilic silica hydrogel treated with an organosilicon compound to effect hydrophobing of the silica hydrogel is heated in the presence of an oxidizing atmosphere to a temperature sufficient to reduce the hydrophobicity imparted by the surface treatment thereby producing a hydrophilic silica gel having high pore volume.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of hydrophobic precipitated silica. The method comprises contacting an aqueous suspension of a hydrophilic precipitated silica with (1) a catalytic amount of an acid and (2) an organosilicon compound in the presence of (3) a water-miscible organic solvent in an amount sufficient to facilitate reaction of the hydrophilic precipitated silica with the organosilicon compound to form a hydrophobic precipitated silica.

Abstract: The present invention is neutral-aged hydrophobic silica gels having a reduced surface area and a method for their preparation. The method comprises three steps, where in the first step a mixture comprising a silica hydrosol and colloidal silica is contacted with a strong mineral acid at a pH less than about 1 to form a silica hydrogel having incorporated therein colloidal silica. In the second step the silica hydrogel is aged at a pH within a range of about pH 3.5 to pH 8. In the third step the silica hydrogel is contacted with an organosilicon compound in the presence of a catalytic amount of a strong acid to effect hydrophobing of the silica hydrogel to form a hydrophobic silica hydrogel having a surface area within a range of about 100 m.sup.2 /g to 450 m.sup.2 /g in the dry state. In a preferred method the hydrophobic silica hydrogel and is further contacted with a sufficient quantity of a water-immiscible organic solvent to convert the hydrophobic silica hydrogel into a hydrophobic silica organogel.

Abstract: A permanently mounted vehicle shade draws a blind across an aperture that is formed by the vehicle chassis, in order to shade the vehicle interior. To do this, a pair of hollow guide tracks are mounted on the chassis opposite the aperture from each other. For each guide track, a carriage is threaded onto a drive screw, and the drive screw is coaxially mounted for rotation within the hollow of the track. Each guide track also has a longitudinal slot, and each end of the rod is inserted into a respective slot and attached to a respective carriage. This positions the rod across the aperture. Next, a supply roller is permanently mounted on the vehicle chassis parallel to the rod. One end of the blind is attached to the rod, and the other end is attached to the supply roller. For operation, the drive screws are selectively rotated in unison. The rotation of the drive screws is converted into translational motion of the carriages, to move the attached rod and draw the blind across the aperture.

Abstract: A method for making hydrophobic non-aggregated colloidal silica comprising reacting an aqueous suspension of a hydrophilic non-aggregated colloidal silica having an average particle diameter greater than about 4 nm with a silicon compound at a pH less than about pH 4 in the presence of a sufficient quantity of a water-miscible organic solvent to facilitate contact of the hydrophilic non-aggregated colloidal silica with the silicon compound. The method is conducted at a temperature within a range of about 20.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to form a hydrophobic non-aggregated colloidal silica. The hydrophobic non-aggregated colloidal silicas prepared by the present method are particularly useful as fillers in silicone compositions such as adhesives, rubbers, and sealants.

Abstract: A method for removing metal contaminates from solution using mercapto-functional silica xerogels. The mercapto-functional silica xerogels are characterized by having a surface area greater than 365 m.sup.2 /g, an average pore diameter of at least 6 nm, and a pore volume of at least 2 cm.sup.3 /g. The mercapto-functional silica xerogels are particularly useful for removing Group VIII metals such as platinum from solutions comprising polyorganosiloxane fluids and resins.

Abstract: The present invention is hydrophobic silica gels having a reduced surface area and a method for their preparation under neutral conditions. The method comprises two steps, where in the first step the pH of a mixture comprising a silica hydrosol and colloidal silica is adjusted with a base to within a range of pH 3 to pH 6 to facilitate formation of a silica hydrogel having incorporated therein colloidal silica. In the second step the silica hydrogel is contacted with an organosilicon compound in the presence of a catalytic amount of a strong acid to effect hydrophobing of the silica hydrogel to form a hydrophobic silica gel having a surface area within a range of about 100 m.sup.2 /g to 450 m.sup.2 /g in the dry state. In a preferred process the hydrophobic silica gel is contacted with a sufficient quantity of a water-immiscible organic solvent to convert the hydrophobic silica hydrogel into a hydrophobic silica organogel.

Abstract: The present invention is neutral-aged hydrophobic organosilicate-modified silica gels and a method for their preparation. The method comprises three steps, where in the first step an organosilicate-modified silica hydrosol is contacted with a strong mineral acid at a pH less than about 1 to form an organosilicate-modified silica hydrogel. In the second step the organosilicate-modified silica hydrogel is aged at a pH within a range of about pH 3.5 to pH 8. In the third step the neutral-aged organosilicate-modified silica hydrogel is contacted with an organosilicon compound in the presence of a catalytic amount of a strong acid to effect hydrophobing of the organosilicate-modified silica hydrogel to form a hydrophobic organosilicate-modified silica hydrogel having a surface area within a range of about 100 m.sup.2 /g to 750 m.sup.2 /g in the dry state.

Abstract: The present invention is hydrophobic organosilicate-modified silica gels and a method for their preparation under neutral conditions. The method comprises two steps, where in the first step the pH of an organosilicate-modified silica hydrosol is adjusted with a base to within a range of about pH 3 to pH 7 to facilitate formation of an organosilicate-modified silica hydrogel. In the second step the organosilicate-modified silica hydrogel is contacted with an organosilicon compound in the presence of a catalytic amount of a strong acid to effect hydrophobing of the organosilicate-modified silica hydrogel to form a hydrophobic organosilicate-modified silica gel having a surface area within a range of about 100 m.sup.2 /g to 850 m.sup.2 /g in the dry state.