Abstract: A ball valve having a valve stem assembly disposed within a valve body through-hole. The valve body through-hole is encircled with secondary bores to accommodate components of the valve stem assembly. The valve stem assembly includes an upper bearing and lower bearing, which are seated into corresponding secondary bores and a stem seal that seats within a stem seal gland. The upper bearing further includes a step that interdigitates with the stem seal gland to form a stem seal groove when the valve stem assembly is disposed within the through-hole.

Abstract: A patient support includes a patient support surface, a fluid movement system provided at the patient support, a port mounted at the patient support in selective fluid communication with the fluid movement system, and a device selected from the group consisting of an inflatable device, a conduit, an air operated device, an actuator, a ventilator, and a chamber, with the port adapted for coupling to the device for delivering fluid to the device from the fluid movement system when the device is coupled to the port.

Abstract: A ball valve having a valve stem assembly disposed within a valve body through-hole. The valve body through-hole is encircled with secondary bores to accommodate components of the valve stem assembly. The valve stem assembly includes an upper bearing and lower bearing, which are seated into corresponding secondary bores and a stem seal that seats within a stem seal gland. The upper bearing further includes a step that interdigitates with the stem seal gland to form a stem seal groove when the valve stem assembly is disposed within the through-hole.

Abstract: An assembly for initiating flushing of a toilet includes a handle and a bushing. The handle includes an axially extending stem that defines an axis of rotation. The bushing is configured to rotatably couple the handle to a tank of the toilet and includes a passage with the stem of the handle received therein. The handle defines two or more annular handle surfaces that are configured to cooperatively engage two or more annular bushing surfaces for rotation of the handle relative to the bushing about the axis.

Abstract: During manufacturing a unique encrypted authentication code is created for each product based upon device specific information relating to that product. The unique encrypted authentication code together with the device specific information is stored in a database, and a representation of the unique encrypted authentication code is stored on the product. To determine whether a product in question is authentic, the readable representation of the unique encrypted authentication code is read and sent to a server along with a request for product authentication. The server provides an indication of authenticity of the product in question based upon the unique encrypted authentication code received and the device specific information associated with that unique encrypted authentication code in the database.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for updating a workflow when a user reaches an impasse in the workflow. A workflow program processes user input at a current node in a workflow comprised of nodes and workflow paths connecting the nodes, and wherein the user provides user input to traverse through at least one workflow path to reach the current node. The workflow program processes user input at the current node to determine whether there is a next node in the workflow for the processed user input. The workflow program transmits information on the current node to an analyzer in response to determining that there is no next node in the workflow. The analyzer processes the information on the current node to determine whether there are modifications to the current node. The analyzer transmits to the workflow program an update including the determined modifications to the current node in response to determining the modification.

Abstract: A wearable device for vibration and/or percussion treatment, such as a covering configured to be worn by a person, such as patient, around the chest of the person, a plurality of actuators provided at the covering, and a control system in communication with the actuators and configured to provide independent and sequential operation of the actuators to generate progressive constriction and relaxation for providing movement of material in a person's lungs in the direction of the sequential operation of the actuators.

Abstract: An stent delivery system may include a delivery device and a tubular body having a lumen sized to slidably fit about an outer diameter of the delivery device and a drainage stent having an anchoring mechanism, wherein the delivery device includes a constraining member configured to engage an external portion of the tubular body at the proximal end of the delivery device. A method of delivering a stent may include inserting a tubular body into the port of an endoscope, inserting a stent delivery device and a stent having an anchoring mechanism into the tubular body, wherein the delivery device includes a constraining member configured to engage and retain the tubular body at the proximal end of the delivery device, advancing the drainage stent distally through the tubular body, sliding the tubular body proximally, and engaging an external portion of the tubular body with the constraining member.

Abstract: A microclimate management support, for placing under a person's body, includes a flexible breathable upper layer and a generally liquid impermeable intermediate layer beneath the upper layer. An inlet operative to be in fluid communication with the space between the two layers for delivering a gas to the space to control the moisture under the upper layer and increase the wicking of moisture away from the interface between the patient and the upper layer.

Abstract: A system comprises a differential pressure sensor, a process pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a microprocessor. The differential pressure sensor is positioned to sense differential pressure along a fluid flow, where fluid properties of the fluid flow have first and second phases separated along a transition curve. The process pressure sensor is positioned to sense a pressure of the fluid flow, and the temperature sensor is positioned to sense a temperature of the fluid flow. The microprocessor is coupled to the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor to determine a flow rate, and the microprocessor generates a diagnostic based on the process pressure and the temperature as compared to the transition curve.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for updating a workflow when a user reaches an impasse in the workflow. A workflow program processes user input at a current node in a workflow and provides user input to traverse through at least one workflow path to reach the current node. The workflow program processes user input at the current node to determine whether there is a next node in the workflow for the processed user input. The workflow program transmits information on the current node to an analyzer in response to determining that there is no next node in the workflow. If there are modifications to the current node, then the analyzer transmits to the workflow program an update including the determined modifications to the current node in response to determining the modification.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an online or mobile application for playing a location-based multiplayer game. In one configuration and by non-limiting example, the game is a cross-platform, location-based, massively-multiplayer game of strategy. Players interact to capture millions of battle zones that correspond to real world locations in hundreds of countries using their mobile devices, web browsers, and consoles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for bonding refractory substrates, such as zircon substrates, without the use of a bonding agent. Exemplary methods include (a) providing a plurality of refractory components, each component having at least one surface to be bonded, (b) polishing each surface to be bonded to a surface roughness (Ra) of 200 nm or finer, (c) contacting the surfaces to be bonded to form an unbonded refractory substrate, (d) firing the unbonded refractory substrate, and (e) subjecting the surfaces to be bonded to a compressive force during firing.

Abstract: A system to configure a field device of the type used to calculate a flow of a process fluid. The system includes a flow repository comprising a list of process fluids with which the field device can be used, fluid equation data which provides information related to fluid equations for calculating fluid parameters of the process fluid, a list of primary elements, and primary element equation data which provides information related to primary element equations and fluid equations for calculating flow of the process fluid. The flow application is adapted to retrieve data from the flow repository and to generate information which is used by field device to calculate the flow of the process fluid.

Abstract: A modular frame structure that can accept buoyancy members for construction of floating structures such as boats, rafts, barges, bridges and other platforms includes generally L-shaped planar sheet form drop gussets having horizontal and vertical leg portions provided with respective upper and lower receivers for connection to upper and lower tubular frame members.

Abstract: A mechanism for coupling a first structure to a second structure may include a first member and a second member. The first member may include first and second end portions, and the first end portion of the first member may be coupled to the first structure. The second end portion of the first member may include an opening to a cavity extending between the first and the second end portions. The second end portion of the first member may include an engagement member that protrudes into the cavity. The second member also may include a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the second member may be received into the cavity. The second end portion of the second member may include an engagement structure that cooperates with the engagement member to prevent the movement of the first structure relative to the second structure.

Abstract: A system includes a probe assembly having sensing circuitry configured to sense at least one parameter relating to a rotating machine and a cable coupled to the sensing circuitry. The probe assembly also includes a molded probe body that is integrally molded about the cable and the sensing circuitry and a machined groove disposed on the molded probe body. The machined groove includes a machined surface.

Abstract: A ball valve having a valve stem assembly disposed within a valve body through-hole. The valve body through-hole is encircled with secondary bores to accommodate components of the valve stem assembly. The valve stem assembly includes an upper bearing and lower bearing, which are seated into corresponding secondary bores and a stem seal that seats within a stem seal gland. The upper bearing further includes a step that interdigitates with the stem seal gland to form a stem seal groove when the valve stem assembly is disposed within the through-hole.

Abstract: Presented herein are various adjustable support apparatus and methods for using the same. The apparatus comprises a cover defining a user-facing surface, at least a portion of the user-facing surface defining a plurality of raised members. The apparatus includes an adjustment mechanism that enables a user to selectively and incrementally increase the pressure exerted by the user-facing surface of the support apparatus and, specifically, the raised members, on the back of the user. In one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism comprises a bladder at least partially enclosed by the cover; and wherein the bladder is structured to be inflated or deflated so as to urge the user-facing surface and plurality of raised members toward or away from the user, respectively, so as to increase or decrease, respectively, the force exerted by the raised members against the user.