Abstract: An improved method and device for the reduction of aerodynamic drag and for improved performance of bluff base vehicles by increasing the pressure on the bluff base of the vehicle by controlling the wake flow and the interaction of the wake flow with the vehicle bluff base region. An improved method and device for generating a reduction in drag force on the bluff base of a body moving through a fluid. The apparatus consists of two opposing panels attached to the bluff base and aligned approximately parallel to the side edge of the bluff base and lying in a plane that is parallel to the vehicle centerline. The drag force reduction results from controlling the flow entering the bluff base trailing wake from the left side surface, right side surface, bottom surface, and top surfaces of the vehicle. The objects and advantages also extend to other applications in which an object, body, or vehicle is moving through either a gas or a fluid.

Abstract: A complete water management system employing a plurality of tanks to control the use of potable, gray, and black water. The system is centrally controlled and continuously monitors the condition of all reservoirs, (i.e. the potable, the gray, and the black). The same controller also manages the treatment and interaction between the three reservoirs.

Abstract: Provided is a device, system, and method for the fixation of the spine, which provides dynamic support for spinal vertebra so as to better control load transfers and avoid deterioration of the bone of adjacent spinal vertebra. The present invention can be applied posteriorly to support the vertebra of the spine or can be adapted to attach to existing spinal constructs.

Abstract: Provided is a device and method for replacing a diseased or damaged intervertebral disc in the spine of a patient. The device provided having at least two units, each of the units having an articulation surface and a bone contacting surface, the articulation surfaces of each of the at least two being in articulating opposition one to the other, one of which having a convex articulation surface and the other having a complementary concave articulation surface. The bone contacting surfaces being provided with bone implantation securing elements such as keel type or spike type protrusions. Also provided is a method of implanting the device into an intervertebral space from a posterior approach.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel minimally invasive surgical system and method for introducing instruments and/or biomaterial into the interior of a bone, particularly the interior of a vertebral body, using a unique cannulated screw that is sized and configured to penetrate the cortical bone and thereby provide access to the interior of the bone through the integral cannula of the screw. That same screw having a screw head that is then adaptable to employ a connector for securely holding a connecting device, such as a spinal rod or plate that can then be used to fix bones or bone fragments together. A method of fixing bones or bone fragments is also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for qualifying and quantifying the quality of navigational data emanating from any GPS receiver using its NMEA 0183 output messages for use in a dead reckoning system. It does this by deriving a first distance measurement travelled for a predetermined time period from a dead reckoning system or a GPS system. It then also calculates a second distance being the distance between two global positioning system (GPS) position measurements in the predetermined time. Finally, it calculates the difference between the first and second distances to derive a distance error. The statistical variance of the distance errors derived by repeating the above steps a predetermined number of times is representative of a figure of merit of a prior GPS position of the vehicle.

Abstract: A repair system including a closure prosthesis and deployment device, and associated methods for repairing any imperfection including a flaw, hole, tear, bulge, or, in some cases, a deliberate cut or incision in any tissue including an intervertebral disc is disclosed. The prosthesis has first and second side portions with a connecting central portion, and is designed to span an imperfection with opposite ends positioned on opposite sides of the imperfection or the same side of the imperfection. The prosthesis may include anchoring features including barbs and/or members that extend transversely or at different angles. The deployment device can include a cannula for positioning the prosthesis near the imperfection, and, in some cases, a mechanism that may cause the two sides of the prosthesis to be deployed in a specific order.

Abstract: Provided is a surgical rod fixation assembly having a pedicle screw for insertion into spinal bone of a subject, the pedicle screw having a polyaxial mounted coupling member for driving the pedicle screw into bone on or off axis and coupling the pedicle screw to an orthopaedic device such as a spinal rod by means of a slidable coupling action.

Abstract: Provided is a novel cross-connector assembly for interconnecting first and second bracing members or rods, one to the other. The cross-connector assembly is capable of multi-directional articulation in three dimensions, length, azimuth, and elevation and is also capable of having one end rotated along its longitudinal axis in relation to the other end so as to custom fit and securely connect the assembly to two opposing bracing members or rods. Also provided is a kit including the device and ancillary instrumentation to facilitate the method of the present invention.

Abstract: A system for producing an auxiliary fuel stream containing a low concentration of sulfur compounds from a primary fuel stream includes a first separation stage to separate a portion of a primary fuel stream into a first vapor permeate stream and a first retentate stream, a first separation stage partial condenser connected to the first vapor permeate stream condensing a portion of the first vapor permeate stream into a first liquid stage stream and a first vapor stage stream, and a second separation stage partial condenser condensing a portion of the first vapor stage stream into a second liquid stage. The first vapor permeate stream is preferable sent through a vapor phase reactive desulfurization catalyst reactor to condition any sulfur compounds present into species that can be easily separated from the fuel stream.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent device is provided having emitting layers with materials and thicknesses that provide constructive optical interference of emitted light. The device includes additional layers that provide contrast enhancement through destructive optical interference of ambient light entering the device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an insulating material between adjacent metal layers of a soft magnetic core, and a process for forming this insulating material. The insulating material is composed of the native metal oxides of the metallic core material.

Abstract: A repair system including a closure prosthesis and deployment device, and associated methods for repairing any imperfection including a flaw, hole, tear, bulge, or, in some cases, a deliberate cut or incision in any tissue including an intervertebral disc. The prosthesis has first and second side portions with a connecting central portion, and is designed to span an imperfection with opposite ends positioned on opposite sides of the imperfection. The prosthesis may include anchoring features including barbs and/or members that extend transversely. The deployment device can include a canula for positioning the prosthesis near the imperfection, and, in some cases, a mechanism that may cause the two sides of the prosthesis to be deployed in a specific order.

Abstract: A repair system including a closure prosthesis and deployment device, and associated methods for repairing any imperfection including a flaw, hole, tear, bulge, or, in some cases, a deliberate cut or incision in any tissue including an intervertebral disc. The prosthesis has first and second side portions with a connecting central portion, and is designed to span an imperfection with opposite ends positioned on opposite sides of the imperfection. The prosthesis may include anchoring features including barbs and/or members that extend transversely. The deployment device can include a canula for positioning the prosthesis near the imperfection, and, in some cases, a mechanism that may cause the two sides of the prosthesis to be deployed in a specific order.

Abstract: A hydrogen production apparatus for generating hydrogen comprises a first input for mixing a stream of liquid water with a stream of feed gas to produce a feed gas-water mixture stream and a heating mechanism for heating the feed gas-water mixture stream to a temperature sufficient to evaporate the water in the feed gas-water mixture stream to steam to produce a humidified feed-gas stream. A second input is provided for mixing the humidified feed-gas stream with a hydrocarbon fuel to produce a reformer reactant mixture of fuel, oxidant, and steam. A steam-methane reforming component reacts the hydrocarbon fuel and the steam in the reformer reactant mixture in a steam-methane reforming reaction to reform the hydrocarbon fuel in the reformer reactant mixture and produce a hydrogen enriched reformer product gas.

Abstract: A method for controlling fraud using a personal hybrid card and a verification process is disclosed. The method includes registering personal information of an individual in a database forming a registered account for the individual, and assigning a personal hybrid card to the individual with the registered account. The personal hybrid card includes a data storage and a copy of the personal information, including first biometric data stored in the data storage. The method continues by verifying, at an access point, that the individual with the personal hybrid card matches the first biometric data of the individual, that is stored on the personal hybrid card. Next, the individual's personal information is transmitted from the access point to the database for requesting verification of the individual to use the personal hybrid card, and receiving eligibility verification or denial of the individual for accessing services, benefits, programs, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining whether a component defined in a computer program is authorized to activate. One method can include receiving an activation authorization request from the component; accessing a license control file defining a plurality of mappings, each of the plurality of mappings associating at least one of a plurality of components defined in the computer program to at least one required license; determining if the component is associated with at least one required license based on the plurality of mappings; and providing a response to the component.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing data. In one embodiments, a system for processing data can include a first rules engine configured to obtain the data, to obtain a first object including a rule identifier to contain the data, to generate an instance of a first rule based on the first object, and to execute the instance of the first rule passing the first object as input to the instance of the first rule, wherein the instance of the first rule configured to perform an action in order to process the data contained in the first object, and to modify the rule identifier included in the first object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user interface. One system can include a server configured to provide a form repository including a plurality of form definitions defining a plurality of forms and to provide data to populate at least one of the plurality of forms and a browser-based application configured to obtain the form repository, to request data from the server based on at least one of the form definitions, and to use the data and at least one of the form definitions to generate a completed form.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for use with a plurality of transaction devices. In one embodiment, the graphical user interface includes a plurality of detail screens including detail information associated with a plurality of measurable features of the plurality of transaction devices, and a summary screen including a summary section for each of the measurable features and a detail selection mechanism for each of the measurable features.