Abstract: A new composition of matter is disclosed wherein oxygen vacancies in a semiconducting transition metal oxide such as titanium dioxide are filled with a halogen such as Fluorine, whereby the conductivity of the composition is greatly enhanced, while at the same time the chemical stability of the composition is greatly improved. Stoichiometric titanium dioxide having less than 3% oxygen vacancies is subject to fluorine insertion such that oxygen vacancies are filled, limited amounts of fluorine replace additional oxygen atoms and fluorine interstitially inserts into the body of the TiO2 composition.

Abstract: An interrogator for a plurality of sensor fiber optic gratings. The interrogator includes an optical source for providing signals to the plurality of sensor fiber optic gratings. At least one optical filter converts optical signals, returned from the plurality of sensor fiber optic gratings, from (a) changes in peak reflection wavelength to (b) changes in intensity. At least one optical receiver receives the converted optical signals from the at least one optical filter.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are shortening compositions comprising from about 40% to about 90% sucrose polyester, by weight, wherein said shortening compositions may comprise, based on total weight of the shortening composition, a Solid Fat Index of from about 5% to about 10% solids at 40° C. and a Firmness of from about 90,000 Pa to about 1,500,000 Pa.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions that include a blend of sucrose polyesters, wherein each sucrose polyester includes a sucrose moiety and a plurality of fatty acid ester moieties, wherein from about 50% to about 90%, by weight, of the combined fatty acid ester moieties of the sucrose polyesters in the blend are palmitic fatty acid ester moieties.

Abstract: An interrogator for a plurality of sensor fiber optic gratings. The interrogator includes a broadband optical source; at least one beam splitter directing output of the optical source to the sensor fiber optic gratings; at least one linear filter for converting changes in peak reflection wavelength to changes in intensity; at least one optical receiver; and at least one amplifier associated with each optical receiver. The interrogator also includes an analog integrator following the at least one amplifier.

Abstract: An orthopedic pet bed including an upper sheet and a lower sheet coupled together so as to define an interior volume subdivided into a plurality of cells, of which adjacent cells are in fluid communication with one another. The cells may be substantially shaped as hexagons, triangles, parallelograms, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to shielded electrical cables and shielded electrical connectors to be affixed thereto, and in particular to the termination of the shielding braid provided at the electrical cable. According to the present invention, a shielding termination structure for engaging a shielding (104) of a shielded cable (100) having an insulated conductor (102) that is encompassed by said shielding is provided, said shielding termination structure (110) comprising: an electrically conductive shield body (114) for establishing an electrical connection between said shielding (104) and an electrically conductive interface (118), fixing means (126) for securing said shield body (114) at the interface (118); an electrically conductive spring element (120) that is arranged between said shield body (114) and the interface (118) for establishing the electric contact in a compressed state of the spring element (120).

Abstract: A repeater that facilitates communication in a wireless environment comprises a scheduling component that analyzes a schedule relating to when communications are active in the forward link direction and when communications are active in the reverse link direction, the communications are subject to time division duplexing. An amplifier that amplifies received communications as a function of the schedule. The repeater can further comprise a configuration component that configures the amplifier to amplify the received communications in one or more of a forward link direction and a reverse link direction.

Abstract: An optical detection system. The optical detection system includes a host node having (a) an optical source for generating optical signals, and (b) an optical receiver. The optical detection system also includes a plurality of fiber optic sensors for converting at least one of vibrational and acoustical energy to optical intensity information, each of the fiber optic sensors having: (1) at least one length of optical fiber configured to sense at least one of vibrational and acoustical energy; (2) a reflector at an end of the at least one length of optical fiber; and (3) a field node for receiving optical signals from the host node, the field node transmitting optical signals along the at least one length of optical fiber, receiving optical signals back from the at least one length of optical fiber, and transmitting optical signals to the optical receiver of the host node.

Abstract: A vine training system is disclosed, including an improved vineyard stake. The system includes a vineyard stake, a training wire, and end posts for holding tension in the wire. A plurality of vineyard stakes are positioned between the end posts to keep the wire a desired distance above the ground. The stake engages the wire via openings in the tube wall. The openings include a central horizontal leg and oppositely disposed vertical legs, such that the legs form a tab therebetween. The wire is receivable in the opening, and the tab retains the wire to fix it to the stake. This engagement is achieved without the use of clips. The stake can include a plurality of openings so that the wire can be positioned and repositioned at any of a variety of distances above the ground, to accommodate vine growth. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A fiber optic security system is provided. The fiber optic security system includes at least one length of fiber optic cable affixed to at least one item to be monitored using the fiber optic security system. The fiber optic security system also includes at least one local control node, the at least one local control node including at least one light source for generating and transmitting light through the at least one length of fiber optic cable, and the at least one local control node monitoring a status of the light. The fiber optic security system also includes a remote control unit for receiving information from the at least one local control node regarding the status of the light.

Abstract: A firearm accessory rail adaptor bracket includes a bracket body, a rifle attachment jaw assembly carried by the bracket body, a first jaw operating mechanism provided in the rifle attachment jaw assembly, a pistol attachment jaw assembly carried by the bracket body and a second jaw operating mechanism provided in the pistol attachment jaw assembly.

Abstract: A personnel monitoring system. The personnel monitoring system includes a host node having an optical source for generating optical signals, and an optical receiver. The personnel monitoring system also includes a plurality of fiber optic sensors for converting at least one of vibrational and acoustical energy to optical intensity information, each of the fiber optic sensors having: (1) at least one length of optical fiber configured to sense at least one of vibrational and acoustical energy; (2) a reflector at an end of the at least one length of optical fiber; and (3) a field node for receiving optical signals from the host node, the field node transmitting optical signals along the at least one length of optical fiber, receiving optical signals back from the at least one length of optical fiber, and transmitting optical signals to the optical receiver of the host node.

Abstract: An optical detection system for monitoring a pipeline. The optical detection system includes a host node in the vicinity of or remote from, a pipeline to be monitored. The optical detection system includes (a) an optical source for generating optical signals, and (b) an optical receiver.

Abstract: A sensor manager provides dynamic input fusion using thermal imaging to identify and segment a region of interest. Thermal overlay is used to focus heterogeneous sensors on regions of interest according to optimal sensor ranges and to reduce ambiguity of objects of interest. In one implementation, a thermal imaging sensor locates a region of interest that includes an object of interest within predetermined wavelengths. Based on the thermal imaging sensor input, the regions each of the plurality of sensors are focused on and the parameters each sensor employs to capture data from a region of interest are dynamically adjusted. The thermal imaging sensor input may be used during data pre-processing to dynamically eliminate or reduce unnecessary data and to dynamically focus data processing on sensor input corresponding to a region of interest.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions that include a blend of sucrose polyesters, wherein each sucrose polyester includes a sucrose moiety and a plurality of fatty acid ester moieties, wherein from about 50% to about 90%, by weight, of the combined fatty acid ester moieties of the sucrose polyesters in the blend are palmitic fatty acid ester moieties.

Abstract: A detected region of interest is used to reduce the data processed by a capture device and/or transmitted by the capture device to a console, and/or to reduce power consumption by the capture device. Raw data from the one or more sensors is processed in the capture device to reduce data corresponding to regions outside the region of interest. Such a data reduces computational requirements, which conserves power. Operational parameters of the capture device are adjusted based on the region of interest mask. A field of view, the resolution, or the sensitivity of at least one of the sensors may be narrowed to focus resources on the region of interest. Adjusting the operational parameters of a sensor reduces the power consumption of the capture device and reduces data input. An illumination source may be adjusted to focus the illumination source on the region of interest to use less power.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are shortening compositions comprising from about 40% to about 90% sucrose polyester, by weight, wherein said shortening compositions may comprise, based on total weight of the shortening composition, a Solid Fat Index of from about 5% to about 10% solids at 40° C. and a Firmness of from about 90,000 Pa to about 1,500,000 Pa.

Abstract: An interrogator for a plurality of sensor fiber optic gratings. The interrogator includes a broadband optical source; at least one beam splitter directing output of the optical source to the sensor fiber optic gratings; at least one linear filter for converting changes in peak reflection wavelength to changes in intensity; at least one optical receiver; and at least one amplifier associated with each optical receiver. The interrogator also includes, alternatively, a driver/modulator for the optical source providing on/off pulses; an analog integrator following the at least one amplifier; or a mechanism compensating for masking of one sensor fiber optic grating by another.