Abstract: Composite wound dressings including an activated carbon material, a barrier material layer, a liquid-absorbing material layer and an outer liquid-impermeable layer are disclosed herein. The composite wound dressings include a bond substantially bonding a portion of the liquid-impermeable outer layer and the barrier material layer to the activated carbon containing layer, the bond forming a sealed pouch of un-bonded layer of the composite and encapsulating the liquid-absorbing layer. Methods for manufacturing and using such composite wound dressings to effectuate healing of wounds on humans or other animals are described herein.

Abstract: Systems for examining a route inject one or more electrical examination signals into a conductive route from onboard a vehicle system traveling along the route, detect one or more electrical characteristics of the route based on the one or more electrical examination signals, and detect a break in conductivity of the route responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics decreasing by more than a designated drop threshold for a time period within a designated drop time period. Feature vectors may be determined for the electrical characteristics and compared to one or more patterns in order to distinguish between breaks in the conductivity of the route and other causes for changes in the electrical characteristics.

Abstract: A system for testing or calibrating a part, the system including: a plurality of test stations, each test station including a container and a clamping mechanism, wherein the clamping mechanism includes: a clamp frame including: two clamp plates; a plurality of clamp bars configured to securely hold the clamp plates at a distance relative to each other; a seal manifold provided on one of the two clamp plates; and a clamping module, located opposite the seal manifold on another of the two clamp plates, wherein the clamping module includes: a plurality of pistons to hold the part against the seal manifold for the test operation; and at least one cleaning station comprising a spin mechanism for spinning the part to remove excess fluid; and a robotic system for moving individual parts to and from the plurality of test stations and to and from the at least one cleaning station.

Abstract: A system for monitoring compliance with a retail display program includes a beacon coupled to a promotional display structure. The beacon is configured to transmit a beacon signal that includes a beacon ID and is configured to be received by a user device. A database stores the beacon ID along with a specified retail facility and time period associated with the promotional display structure. A computing device is configured to receive a beacon data record at least partially generated by the user device. The beacon data record includes the beacon ID, a time stamp, and location-specific data associated with a retail facility in which the beacon data record is generated. The computing device is configured to compare the location-specific data and time stamp to the specified retail facility and time period to determine whether the promotional display structure is displayed in the specified retail facility during the specified time period.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are discussed for a passive optical camera-based system to detect a presence of one or more vehicles with one or more cameras. A detection algorithm is applied to recognize of the presence of the one or more vehicles using one or more imaging processors and the one or more cameras to detect fluctuations in light intensity from scattered light and/or reflections off of that vehicle. Those scattered light and/or reflections are captured in images contained in a set of frames from the one or more cameras.

Abstract: A system for monitoring compliance with a retail display program includes a beacon coupled to a promotional display structure. The beacon is configured to transmit a beacon signal that includes a beacon ID and is configured to be received by a user device. A database stores the beacon ID along with a specified retail facility and time period associated with the promotional display structure. A computing device is configured to receive a beacon data record at least partially generated by the user device. The beacon data record includes the beacon ID, a time stamp, and location-specific data associated with a retail facility in which the beacon data record is generated. The computing device is configured to compare the location-specific data and time stamp to the specified retail facility and time period to determine whether the promotional display structure is displayed in the specified retail facility during the specified time period.

Abstract: A system for comfort based management of thermal systems, including residential and commercial buildings with active cooling and/or heating, is described. The system can operate without commissioning information, and with minimal occupant interactions, and can learn heat transfer and thermal comfort characteristics of the thermal systems so as to control the temperature thereof while minimizing energy consumption and maintaining comfort.

Abstract: A method for operating a wireline winch configured to convey a wireline coupled to a downhole tool disposed in a borehole penetrating the earth includes: receiving a first cumulative surface wireline tension limit for downhole wireline components; calculating a second cumulative surface wireline tension limit for surface components using wireline speed and surface equipment data; combining the first and the second cumulative surface wireline tension limits to provide a total cumulative surface wireline tension limit as a function of depth; presenting the total cumulative surface wireline tension limit as a function of depth and operating wireline tension values as a function of depth for the downhole tool to a user; performing an assessment of the operating wireline tension values as a function of depth versus the total cumulative surface wireline tension limit as a function of depth; and operating the wireline winch using the assessment and a winch controller.

Abstract: The INTERIOR COMFORT HVAC USER-FEEDBACK CONTROL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS transforms qualitative feedback received from a user/occupant into a “comfort map,” or modifications thereto, a comfort map being defined at least in part by one or more comfort event windows. The comfort map data is used to determine a temperature setpoint sequence that avoids regions of the map corresponding to known and/or predicted regions of user discomfort.

Abstract: A diagnostic device is described herein that can be used to perform magneto-optical detection and discernment of crystals within a biofluid sample. A magnetic field can be applied by the diagnostic device in a direction relative to light traveling through the sample. The presence of a crystal can be determined based on the magneto-optical properties of the sample. The detected crystal can be one of two similar crystal types that may be in the biofluid sample. The two similar crystal types can exhibit different magneto-optical properties under a magnetic field in a different direction. Accordingly, the type of crystal can be discerned by applying the magnetic field in the different direction as light travels through the sample. Discernment of the type of crystal can lead to diagnosis of the particular disease condition and subsequent proper treatment of the disease condition.

Abstract: A frame error correction circuit may identify and correct errors in data frames provided to a receiver as part of a diversity communications scheme. The frame error correction circuit may further align the data frames so that the data frames can be compared. The frame error correction circuit may perform a bit-wise comparison of the data frames and identify inconsistent bit positions where bits in the data frames differ from one another. Once inconsistent bit positions have been identified, the frame error correction circuit may access a permutation table of permutations of bits at the inconsistent bit positions. In some implementations, the frame error correction circuit uses the permutation table to reassemble permutations of the data frames. In various implementations, the frame error correction circuit performs a CRC of each permutation of the data frames, and provides a valid permutation to a network.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of probiotic selection and use based on the capability of microbial biogenic amine uptake as a method for targeted clinical and veterinary applications, including promoting health and well-being and/or treating therapeutic conditions. The present invention utilizes a microbially-focused approach for the development of drug selection and/or probiotic administration in a variety of diseases and disorders.

Abstract: A frame error correction circuit may identify and correct errors in data frames provided to a receiver as part of a diversity communications scheme. The frame error correction circuit may further align the data frames so that the data frames can be compared. The frame error correction circuit may perform a bit-wise comparison of the data frames and identify inconsistent bit positions where bits in the data frames differ from one another. Once inconsistent bit positions have been identified, the frame error correction circuit may access a permutation table of permutations of bits at the inconsistent bit positions. In some implementations, the frame error correction circuit uses the permutation table to reassemble permutations of the data frames. In various implementations, the frame error correction circuit performs a CRC of each permutation of the data frames, and provides a valid permutation to a network.

Abstract: A system and method for treating a portion of a wellbore that includes a bottom hole assembly (BHA) connected to a work string. The BHA includes a packing element movable between an unset position and a set position and a locator device movable between retracted position and expanded positions. The locator device may be a locator collet. The locator collet may be expanded by a cone movable with respect to the collet. The expanded locator device is configured to engage a profile in a ported tubular within the wellbore. The engagement between the locator device and the profile selectively prevents further movement of the BHA and provides an indication of the location the BHA. The packing element may then be actuated and the wellbore treated through a port in the ported tubular. The BHA may then be moved to a different ported housing to treat another portion of the wellbore.

Abstract: An aircraft wing system and method comprising: an aircraft wing including upper and lower surfaces, and a leading edge between the upper and lower surfaces; a fairing coupled to the leading edge; and actuation means configured to move the fairing relative to the aircraft wing between a stowed position, a first deployed position, and a second deployed position. The stowed position is when the fairing is in contact with the aircraft wing and serves as a continuation of the aircraft wing. The first deployed position is when the fairing is in contact with the aircraft wing and located below the stowed position. The second deployed position is when the fairing is spaced apart from the leading edge to create a gap between the fairing and the leading edge.

Abstract: An aircraft wing system and method comprising: an aircraft wing; an edge device coupled to a leading edge or trailing edge of the aircraft wing; a drive shaft rotatable about its axis; a crank arm, a first end of the crank arm being coupled to the drive shaft, and a second end of the crank arm opposite to the first end being coupled to the edge device; and a gear system (e.g. a strain wave gear system) coupled between the drive shaft and the first end of the crank arm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computing architecture and method that provides consumers of remote database administrative services with access to both database monitoring and related service provision tools from a single, mobile point of access. The present disclosure provides an architecture that facilitates client access, from a single-point, to ticketing, monitoring, and request actions via a mobile device.

Abstract: A fire protection sprinkler including a frame body having an inlet, an outlet, defining an internal passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet along a sprinkler axis. A dome shaped deflector member is centered, axially aligned with the sprinkler axis, and spaced from the outlet. The deflector member has an outer surface and an inner surface that preferably includes: a peripheral region, a central region and an intermediate region. The intermediate region includes a primary deflecting surface, and a secondary deflecting surface that is surrounded by the primary deflecting surface. The deflector member provides for generation of a non-circular spray pattern defined by four zones of fluid density concentrically formed about the sprinkler axis.