Abstract: A drilling tool for use in machining a conductive work piece is provided. The tool includes a body portion, a forward electrode coupled to the body portion, and at least one side electrode coupled to the body portion. When electric current is supplied to the forward electrode and the at least one side electrode, material adjacent to the forward electrode and the at least one side electrode is removed from the conductive work piece. Further, the forward electrode and the at least one side electrode are selectively operable to form a bore hole having a variable geometry that extends through the conductive work piece when the material is removed therefrom.

Abstract: Methods of curing tobacco that reduce the levels of TSNAs and/or improve leaf quality are described herein.

Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner including a casing defining a pivot axis and having a locking member, a driving mechanism supported by the casing, a flexible connecting member, and a cam. The driving mechanism includes a movable member that moves relative to the casing during pretensioning. The flexible connecting member has a first end coupled to the movable member and a second end that is attachable to one of the anchor, the buckle and the webbing. The cam includes a locking surface having a cross-sectional shape that is an Archimedean spiral. The cam is rotatable about the pivot axis between a non-locking position, in which the connecting member is able to freely move between the cam and the locking member, and a locking position, in which the locking surface clamps the connecting member to the locking member to prevent any further movement of the connecting member relative to the locking member.

Abstract: Methods for determining a property of a trajectory of a ball with a mobile computer device are described, which include: (a) capturing a sequence of video frames of the ball with a camera of the mobile computer device; (b) determining a first picture coordinate of the ball in a first video frame of the sequence; (c) determining a second picture coordinate of the ball in a second video frame of the sequence; and (d) computing a property of the trajectory of the ball based on a difference of the first and second picture coordinates, a time difference between the first and second video picture and a reference quantity, which may be determined based on a form and/or dimension of the ball in a picture taken with the camera.

Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner including a casing defining a pivot axis and having a locking member, a driving mechanism supported by the casing, a flexible connecting member, and a cam. The driving mechanism includes a movable member that moves relative to the casing during pretensioning. The flexible connecting member has a first end coupled to the movable member and a second end that is attachable to one of the anchor, the buckle and the webbing. The cam includes a locking surface having a cross-sectional shape that is an Archimedean spiral. The cam is rotatable about the pivot axis between a non-locking position, in which the connecting member is able to freely move between the cam and the locking member, and a locking position, in which the locking surface clamps the connecting member to the locking member to prevent any further movement of the connecting member relative to the locking member.

Abstract: Methods for authenticating a security device at a local network location for providing a secure access from the local network location to a remote network location are provided. A security device is registered by installing private security software on the security device that generates an asymmetrical encryption key pair including an encryption key and a decryption key. The encryption key is stored only on the security device and the decryption key is stored only on a remote server. Embodiments of the present invention provide increased security by not storing the encryption key on the remote server so that attackers stealing data from the server cannot pretend to a user having the registered security device. A corresponding system for authenticating a security device is also provided.

Abstract: A rail vehicle compressor system comprises a compressor, driven by an electrical machine via a drive shaft, for producing compressed air for at least one compressed air tank. The electrical machine is activated at least indirectly via a control device for operating the electrical machine at at least one nominal speed between a maximum speed and a minimum speed. At least one pressure sensor determines the pressure for the control device and is disposed in a compressed-air-carrying line downstream of the compressor. A final control element for continuously influencing the speed of the electrical machine is disposed between an electrical supply and the electrical machine, wherein the control device controls activation of the final control element. A method for controlling the compressor system is also provided, wherein, the compressor is operated at a variable speed in between the maximum speed and the minimum speed based on rail vehicle operating state.

Abstract: Described are shoes for ball sports including an upper having an outer surface. An actuator is configured to change at least one surface property of a portion of the outer surface of the upper, and a sensor is configured to be sensitive to movements of the shoe. A processing unit is connected to the actuator and the sensor and configured to process sensor data retrieved from the sensor and to cause the actuator to change the at least one surface property of the portion of the outer surface of the upper if a predetermined event is detected in the sensor data.

Abstract: Described are methods and systems for associating frames in a video of an activity of a person with an event. The methods include recording a video of an activity of a person; storing a time-series of a plurality of sensor data (82) obtained from a sensor assembly (12) of at least one sensor (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) coupled to the person while the person is performing the activity; synchronizing the video with the sensor data (82); detecting an event in the time-series; and associating the event with at least one corresponding frame in the video showing the event.

Abstract: One embodiment of a brass musical instrument practice device (FIG. 3) consisting of a rimmed, (12) bowl shaped, cup (11) about 6 mm to 35 mm in diameter, and about 6 mm 35 mm deep with a 4 mm diameter hole (13) at the bottom of the cup to allow the player's air to escape. The rimmed cup is fitted into to a mounting (18) and is held against the player's lips by means of strap attachments (17) and two straps (14,15) that go around the player's head. This allows the musician to enjoy the lip muscle development benefits of practicing without having to use his hands and arms to hold either an instrument or a mouthpiece, (FIG. 1) thus freeing his hands for other use.

Abstract: One embodiment of a brass musical instrument practice device (FIG. 3) consisting of a rimmed, (12) bowl shaped, cup (11) about 6 mm to 35 mm in diameter, and about 6 mm 35 mm deep with a 4 mm diameter hole (13) at the bottom of the cup to allow the player's air to escape. The rimmed cup is fitted into to a mounting (18) and is held against the player's lips by means of strap attachments (17) and two straps (14,15) that go around the player's head. This allows the musician to enjoy the lip muscle development benefits of practicing without having to use his hands and arms to hold either an instrument or a mouthpiece, (FIG. 1) thus freeing his hands for other use.

Abstract: Integrated primary and secondary cyclone assembly includes a secondary cyclone having an outlet tube extending therefrom and a primary cyclone operatively coupled with the secondary cyclone. The outlet tube has a cross dimension and length and is configured to be secured to a pressure vessel closure head to support the secondary cyclone therefrom. The primary cyclone has a tubular support member extending therefrom. The tubular support member is aligned substantially parallel with and has a length similar to the outlet tube of the secondary cyclone and is configured to be joined to the pressure vessel closure head to support the primary cyclone therefrom.

Abstract: A sole for a sports shoe comprises a plurality of profile elements and a friction element. The profile elements are distributed such that the friction element can contact a sports ball to increase the friction between a lower side of the sole and the sports ball.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for evaluating a dental condition. A first digital representation of at least a portion of an oral cavity of a first patient is compared to a second digital representation of the oral cavity of the same patient. The first digital representation is representative of the oral cavity of the first patient at a first time and the second digital representation is representative of the oral cavity of the first patient at a second, later time. At least one clinically-significant difference between the first digital representation and the second digital representation are automatically identified and the first digital representation is displayed in a way that highlights the at least one clinically significant difference.

Abstract: A pitching training aid is provided. The pitching training aid includes an elongated poll having a first end, a second end, and a common axis running from the first end to the second end. The present invention further includes a ball having a slot running from a first side to a second side opposite the first side along a center of the ball. The slot is sized to fit around the elongated poll so that the ball slidably engages the elongated poll along the common center axis. A first stopper is secured to the first end of the elongated poll and a second stopper is secured to the second end of the elongated poll. The first stopper and the second stopper have a diameter greater than a diameter of the elongated poll, thereby preventing the ball from sliding off of the elongated poll.

Abstract: An integrated mobile test system and methods for characterizing in situ stress or strain/deflection—dependent stiffness and bearing capacity enables the testing of engineering properties of natural, compacted, stabilized, and reinforced soils and geo-materials. The mobile test system and associated methods (1) prepare the ground for testing and (2) apply static or cyclic loading to one or more bearing plates of various geometries positioned at the ground surface or below the ground surface to determine both stress and deflection dependent stiffness relationships and the bearing capacity of the soil or geo-material. Optionally, the mobile test system and associated methods (3) apply ground confining stress conditions independent of the bearing plate loading.

Abstract: Compositions, kits and methods for treating leukemia in a subject (e.g., human) include a first anti-cancer drug consisting of: ?12-prostaglandin J3 or a derivative thereof, or a prostaglandin D receptor (DP) agonist. The compositions may further include a second anti-cancer drug. ?12-prostaglandin J3 is a stable metabolite of omega-3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and was discovered to have anti-leukemic properties. ?12-prostaglandin J3 was shown to be highly effective in eradicating the leukemia stem cells (LSC) in two murine models of leukemia, thus increasing the survival of the mice. DP agonists were shown to induce apoptosis of human primary Acute Myelogenous Leukemia cells and may be used in compositions, kits and methods for treating leukemia in a subject. The compositions, kits and methods may be particularly useful for treating human subjects who are resistant to one or more anti-cancer drugs.

Abstract: A power plant may include a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator having an MHD exhaust that is cooled using a compressor exit flow to a temperature at which the MHD exhaust can be fed to at least one stage of a gas turbine. The heated compressor exit flow may be used to feed a combustor for the MHD generator. In an alternative embodiment, the gas turbine exhaust may be used in a heat recovery steam generator for a steam turbine system, and then fed back to a compressor for the combustor to the MHD generator. In another embodiment, a power plant may include a compressor exit flow feeding a combustor for an MHD generator and an MHD exhaust may be mixed with a compressor pre-exit, extraction flow for feeding to at least one stage of a gas turbine.