Abstract: A backpack includes a frame, a pack attached to the frame to define an interior space, and at least one divider positioned within the interior space to define at least one compartment within the interior space. The frame and the pack define a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, and a depth direction within the backpack. The compartment positions at least one equipment within the interior space such that a center of mass of the backpack is centered on a backpacker's back when the backpacker is wearing the backpack centered in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction within the interior space.

Abstract: A backpack includes a frame, a pack attached to the frame to define an interior space, and at least one divider positioned within the interior space to define at least one compartment within the interior space. The frame and the pack define a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, and a depth direction within the backpack. The compartment positions at least one equipment within the interior space such that a center of mass of the backpack is centered on a backpacker's back when the backpacker is wearing the backpack centered in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction within the interior space.

Abstract: One example includes an underwater docking system. The system includes an underwater dock that includes a docking rod. The docking rod includes electrical contacts around a periphery of the docking rod. The system also includes a docking assembly mounted on an underwater vehicle. The docking assembly includes an actuator and a hook assembly that includes a docking arm and a jaw assembly. The docking arm physically guides the docking rod into the jaw assembly and the actuator closes the jaw assembly around the docking rod to provide electrical connection of brush contacts of the jaw assembly with the electrical contacts of the docking rod to provide electrical power from a power source via the electrical contacts to the underwater vehicle. Each of the electrical contacts and the brush contacts can be formed from a self-passivating material.

Abstract: One example includes an underwater docking system. The system includes an underwater dock that includes a docking rod. The docking rod includes electrical contacts around a periphery of the docking rod. The system also includes a docking assembly mounted on an underwater vehicle. The docking assembly includes an actuator and a hook assembly that includes a docking arm and a jaw assembly. The docking arm physically guides the docking rod into the jaw assembly and the actuator closes the jaw assembly around the docking rod to provide electrical connection of brush contacts of the jaw assembly with the electrical contacts of the docking rod to provide electrical power from a power source via the electrical contacts to the underwater vehicle. Each of the electrical contacts and the brush contacts can be formed from a self-passivating material.

Abstract: A backpack includes a frame, a pack attached to the frame to define an interior space, and at least one divider positioned within the interior space to define at least one compartment within the interior space. The frame and the pack define a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, and a depth direction within the backpack. The compartment positions at least one equipment within the interior space such that a center of mass of the backpack is centered on a backpacker's back when the backpacker is wearing the backpack centered in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction within the interior space.

Abstract: One example includes an underwater docking system. The system includes an underwater dock that includes a docking rod. The docking rod includes electrical contacts around a periphery of the docking rod. The system also includes a docking assembly mounted on an underwater vehicle. The docking assembly includes an actuator and a hook assembly that includes a docking arm and a jaw assembly. The docking arm physically guides the docking rod into the jaw assembly and the actuator closes the jaw assembly around the docking rod to provide electrical connection of brush contacts of the jaw assembly with the electrical contacts of the docking rod to provide electrical power from a power source via the electrical contacts to the underwater vehicle. Each of the electrical contacts and the brush contacts can be formed from a self-passivating material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for machine-based matching of lodging inventory from a plurality of disparate reservation provider systems address the difficulties inherent in comparing prices to obtain a lowest possible price, which difficulties are inherent in the distribution of inventory to multiple third-party reservation providers who are generally permitted to utilize their own naming conventions when describing lodging inventory and who are also free to at least some extent to set prices for the various lodging inventory within their control. The systems and methods match room types using information obtained from the multiple third-party reservation providers, whereby direct comparisons can be made between prices for the same room types even when the reservation providers do not utilize identical descriptions or naming conventions for the respective room inventories.

Abstract: Systems and methods for machine-based matching of lodging inventory from a plurality of disparate reservation provider systems address the difficulties inherent in comparing prices to obtain a lowest possible price, which difficulties are inherent in the distribution of inventory to multiple third-party reservation providers who are generally permitted to utilize their own naming conventions when describing lodging inventory and who are also free to at least some extent to set prices for the various lodging inventory within their control. The systems and methods match room types using information obtained from the multiple third-party reservation providers, whereby direct comparisons can be made between prices for the same room types even when the reservation providers do not utilize identical descriptions or naming conventions for the respective room inventories.

Abstract: Systems and methods for machine-based matching of lodging inventory from a plurality of disparate reservation provider systems address the difficulties inherent in comparing prices to obtain a lowest possible price, which difficulties are inherent in the distribution of inventory to multiple third-party reservation providers who are generally permitted to utilize their own naming conventions when describing lodging inventory and who are also free to at least some extent to set prices for the various lodging inventory within their control. The systems and methods match room types using information obtained from the multiple third-party reservation providers, whereby direct comparisons can be made between prices for the same room types even when the reservation providers do not utilize identical descriptions or naming conventions for the respective room inventories.

Abstract: Systems and methods facilitate transfer of lodging reservations on a secondary market, thereby maintaining increased inventory availability and flexibility, and avoiding sold-out or no-reservations-available conditions. Would-be travelers or lodgers are permitted to benefit from changing market conditions as they are able to consider selling/transferring previously made reservations to take advantage of price changes in their favor. At the same time, lodging providers are able to participate in profits realized from increasing lodging demand and prices, even where lodging reservations were originally made long in the past.

Abstract: A method for remediating Frac water and other emulsions created during hydraulic fracturing includes storing contaminated Frac water in a first collection unit, operating at least one pumping unit to pump a portion of the contaminated Frac water, and storing remediated Frac water in a second collection unit. A microwave separation technology (“MST”) unit, an ultra-violet light remediation (“UVLR”) unit, and a chemical additive unit are used to reduce contamination levels of the contaminated Frac water. The MST unit can work alone, or in combination with the UVLR unit, the chemical additive unit, or both, to further reduce contamination levels of the contaminated Frac water. A system operating according to the method can be deployed at an onsite drilling facility or at a centralized offsite location. By reusing remediated Frac water, entities can realize significant cost savings and better environmental compliance.

Abstract: A piezoelectric field disturbance sensing system includes a piezoelectric element for generating mechanical energy when electrically excited and for generating electrical energy when mechanically deformed. A mass is coupled to the piezoelectric element. A signal generator is coupled to the piezoelectric element for applying electrical energy thereto for a fixed period of time. As a result, the piezoelectric element undergoes mechanical deformation and the mass reverberates in response to such mechanical deformation. A charge monitor is coupled to the piezoelectric element for monitoring electrical energy generated thereby during a time period subsequent to the fixed period of time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for machine-based matching of lodging inventory from a plurality of disparate reservation provider systems address the difficulties inherent in comparing prices to obtain a lowest possible price, which difficulties are inherent in the distribution of inventory to multiple third-party reservation providers who are generally permitted to utilize their own naming conventions when describing lodging inventory and who are also free to at least some extent to set prices for the various lodging inventory within their control. The systems and methods match room types using information obtained from the multiple third-party reservation providers, whereby direct comparisons can be made between prices for the same room types even when the reservation providers do not utilize identical descriptions or naming conventions for the respective room inventories.

Abstract: An application on a device includes multiple experience modules that each implement a set of features when the application is running on the device. Each of the multiple experience modules includes a first component that includes code specific to a particular type of the device, and a second component that includes code that is common across multiple types of devices. Update packages changing individual ones of the multiple experience modules can be received from a deployment service and installed on the device.

Abstract: A method for remediating Frac water and other emulsions created during hydraulic fracturing includes storing contaminated Frac water in a first collection unit, operating at least one pumping unit to pump a portion of the contaminated Frac water, and storing remediated Frac water in a second collection unit. A microwave separation technology (“MST”) unit, an ultra-violet light remediation (“UVLR”) unit, and a chemical additive unit are used to reduce contamination levels of the contaminated Frac water. The MST unit can work alone, or in combination with the UVLR unit, the chemical additive unit, or both, to further reduce contamination levels of the contaminated Frac water. A system operating according to the method can be deployed at an onsite drilling facility or at a centralized offsite location. By reusing remediated Frac water, entities can realize significant cost savings and better environmental compliance.

Abstract: A compact flow-through water collection and processing device includes a configurable fluidic path through multiple flow-through sampling cartridges connected to a distribution valve ring. Simultaneous parallel and/or serial flow paths may be controllably selected, allowing the cartridges in the flow paths to collect material suspended or dissolved in the water flowing through the flow path.

Abstract: Described is an improved method and system for remediating Frac water and other emulsions created during hydraulic fracturing. The system can include a first collection unit adapted to store contaminated Frac water, at least one pumping unit adapted to pump a portion of the contaminated Frac water, and a second collection unit for storing remediated Frac water. The system can further include a microwave separation technology (“MST”) unit, an ultra-violet light remediation (“UVLR”) unit, and a chemical additive unit adapted to reduce contamination levels of the contaminated Frac water. The MST unit can work alone, or in combination with the UVLR unit, the chemical additive unit, or both, to further reduce contamination levels of the contaminated Frac water. The system can be deployed at an onsite drilling facility or at a centralized offsite location. By reusing remediated Frac water, entities can realize significant cost savings and better environmental compliance.

Abstract: According to one disclosed embodiment, a skateboard deck comprises a carbon-fiber shell surrounding a longitudinally-extending interior space. The carbon-fiber shell has an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface opposite the upper inner surface; and a longitudinal beam disposed within the interior space. The longitudinal beam has an upper flange bonded to the upper inner surface of the shell, a lower flange bonded to the lower inner surface of the shell, and a web interconnecting the upper flange and the lower flange. The skateboard deck further comprises a generally rigid exterior portion encasing the core member. The exterior portion comprises at least one layer of wood disposed above or below the shell.

Abstract: Described is an improved method and system for remediating Frac water and other emulsions created during hydraulic fracturing. The system can include a first collection unit adapted to store contaminated Frac water, at least one pumping unit adapted to pump a portion of the contaminated Frac water, and a second collection unit for storing remediated Frac water. The system can further include a microwave separation technology (“MST”) unit, an ultra-violet light remediation (“UVLR”) unit, and a chemical additive unit adapted to reduce contamination levels of the contaminated Frac water. The MST unit can work alone, or in combination with the UVLR unit, the chemical additive unit, or both, to further reduce contamination levels of the contaminated Frac water. The system can be deployed at an onsite drilling facility or at a centralized offsite location. By reusing remediated Frac water, entities can realize significant cost savings and better environmental compliance.

Abstract: A skateboard deck is formed of several layers pressed and bonded together. Apertures are formed through the bottom-most layers, and impact support members are arranged within the apertures. The impact support members are more rigid than the other portions of the skateboard deck, and provide localized impact support while allowing the remaining layers of the deck to retain their performance characteristics and feel while strengthening the most vulnerable areas of the deck.