Abstract: A compact electrical plug characterized as a receptacle with a self-contained programmable, networkable controller which can be installed directly onto an electromechanical valve or relay. The plug has a controller built into the receptacle housing. It can be configured to run autonomously based on an internal closed loop feedback algorithm or manually controlled based on commands received remotely by a computer or custom control interface. The invention can be networked with other plugs like it providing a streamlined network where multiple electromechanical valves and\or relays can be controlled at one time. The plug has multiple visual indications providing the operating status and error states of the connected component and contained controller.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, apparatus, and non-transitory, computer-readable product target potential investors for a company. A computer server obtains investment characteristics information associated with each of a first number of investors and determines asset characteristics information associated with a company interested in attracting investment. The server then analyzes the investment characteristics information associated with each of the first number of investors and the asset characteristics information associated with the company. The analysis includes determining a total compatibility score for each of the first number of investors that is based on a first quantitative fit parameter, a second total impact parameter, and a third quality rating parameter.

Abstract: A system includes a light source configured to illuminate a subject with a pattern, a first optical sensor configured to capture a first pattern image and a first object image of the subject, and a processing unit configured to determine elevation data of the subject based on the first pattern image and create a three-dimensional image file based on the first object image and the elevation data of the subject.

Abstract: A therapeutic vaporizer is disclosed having two or more housing portions configured to form an inner cavity. The housing portions are movable between an open and closed position, such that at least a portion of the inner cavity is enclosed when the housing portions are in the closed position. The vaporizer includes at least one accessory-receiving element configured to receive at least one accessory within the inner cavity when the housing portions are in the closed position.

Abstract: A network appliance is configured to determine a security policy controlled by a system of an organization. The network appliance creates an association between the security policy and support agent access to the system. The network appliance creates portals where the access is based on the security policy and access includes connectivity for providing remote support service to the system from a remote support service disconnected from the system.

Abstract: A data-capable strapband is described, including techniques for monitoring co-participation in an activity using a data-capable strapband. Data associated with each co-participant's participation in the physical activity may be gathered, processed, analyzed, monitored and compared by each co-participant using data-capable strapbands. Additional devices, such as mobile communications devices, mobile computing devices, computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like, along with any available accompanying software applications, may be used in conjunction with the data-capable strapbands to further analyze the data that is gathered and presented via, for example, a server configured to provide a social networking service.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of creating an array of features. The method can include steps of (a) providing a plurality of beads, wherein each bead in the plurality of beads includes probe content; (b) contacting the plurality of beads with a surface to produce a layer of beads on the surface; and (c) transferring the probe content from the beads to the surface to create an array of spatially discrete features on the surface, wherein each spatially discrete feature includes probe content from a bead in the plurality of beads.

Abstract: Systems and methods for granting access to digital content using electronic tickets and ticket tokens in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes a processor, and memory configured to store an electronic ticket, and a ticket token. In addition, the processor is configured to authenticate a merchant server, receive a request for a ticket token for a specific piece of content from the merchant server, generate a ticket token that expires after a predetermined time period, associate the ticket token with an electronic ticket, send the ticket token to the merchant server for delivery to a user device, receive a request to access the identified piece of digital content from the user device, where the request includes the ticket token, send the electronic ticket and access information to the user device, and expire the ticket token.

Abstract: Using data from a wireless telephony network to support transportation planning and engineering. Data related to wireless network users is extracted from the wireless network to determine the location of a mobile station. Additional location records for the mobile station can be used to characterize the movement of the mobile station: its speed, its route, its point of origin and destination, and its primary and secondary transportation analysis zones. Aggregating data associated with multiple mobile stations allows characterizing and predicting traffic parameters, including traffic speeds and volumes along routes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aircraft cabin noise analysis are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer based system to monitor vehicle conditions comprises a trigger table stored in a tangible computer readable memory which stores at least one set of logic conditions which may trigger directive to analyze if alert conditions exist. The system further comprises a trigger processor to receive one or more data streams comprising vehicle condition data for a monitored vehicle and transmit the directive to analyze alert logic to an alert evaluation queue when the vehicle condition data satisfies the at least one set of logic conditions in the trigger table, and an alert evaluation processor to execute a stand-alone program to analyze vehicle data and generate an alert when the vehicle condition data satisfies the at least one set of alert conditions. In some embodiments, the system may be implemented in a computing system or as logic instructions recorded on a computer readable medium.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for providing a ring topology for physically connecting compute devices having PCIe bridges are disclosed. Each device, having an internal PCIe bus or other similar standard that natively support a tree structure, is connected in a ring to neighboring compute devices. Two physical links connecting each device to the ring are provided, enabling each device to communicate with all of the other devices on the ring, without requiring a server or main host to enumerate or control the flow of information between devices. If a failure occurs in the physical connection at any single point in the ring, there is still an alternate path to communicate with every device. Methods for performing data transfer between PCIe compute devices connected to the ring are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention describes intermediate(s), pre-cursor(s), for the preparation of radialabelled choline analogs to be used as radiotracers for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) imaging of diseases.

Abstract: This invention is generally directed to one or more systems or methods relating to social network analysis. More specifically, this invention is generally directed to one or more systems or methods relating to personal communication networks and the analysis of personal-communication-network data.

Abstract: A hammer bit for drilling a borehole in earthen formations. In an embodiment, the bit comprises a bit body having a bit axis and a bit face. The bit face includes an inner region extending from the bit axis to about 50% of the bit radius and an outer region extending from the inner region to the outermost radius. In addition, the bit comprises a plurality of gage cutter elements mounted to the bit face in a circumferential gage row in the outer region. Further, the bit comprises a plurality of adjacent to gage cutter elements mounted to the bit face in a circumferential adjacent to gage row in the outer region. The cutting profile of at least one cutter element in each row in the outer region radially overlaps with the cutting profile of at least one other cutter element in a different row in rotated profile view.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for adaptation of continuous time-decision feedback equalizers with programmable adaptation patterns. A continuous time-decision feedback equalizer is adapted by obtaining at least one programmable signature pattern that triggers adaptation of one or more of a pole and a gain of the continuous time-decision feedback equalizer; detecting the at least one programmable signature pattern in an incoming signal; and adapting one or more of the pole and the gain of the continuous time-decision feedback equalizer when the at least one programmable signature pattern is detected in the incoming signal. The programmable signature pattern can be selected to ensure an unambiguous direction of change in an error sample when a corresponding one of the pole and the gain are modified.

Abstract: A structured illumination surgical system is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: a light source for providing a light beam; an optical cable, comprising an optical fiber, optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam; a handpiece, operably coupled to the optical cable; an optical element, a proximal end of the optical element optically coupled to a distal end of the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and scattering the light beam to illuminate an area (e.g., a surgical site), wherein the surface area of the proximal end of the optical element is greater than the surface area of the distal end of the optical fiber; and a cannula, operably coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing the optical fiber and the optical element.

Abstract: A sign for the displaying of a number of characters in either a first orientation or at least one additional orientation. The sign includes a frame and a series of characters, including at least one variable position character, mounted to the frame. The variable position character is movable relative to the frame such that it may be read in different positions, to display a message when the variable position character is either in a first orientation or a second orientation. The variable position character may be interconnected with the frame via a pivoting mechanism for adjusting the orientation of the variable position character. The pivoting mechanism may include a latching mechanism that secures the variable position character in a selected orientation. The characters may each include a source of illumination, such as LEDs, that are interconnected with a power supply for selectively illuminating the LEDs.

Abstract: Padding or adding data to a data signal can increase the speed with which a signal processor can process the data. Methods are provided herein that can accurately predict the optimal pad size of a two dimensional array of data, which can be used to increase the processing speed of a signal processor by optimizing run-time for a two-dimensional (2-D) fast Fourier transform (FFT) operation.

Abstract: A stretch composite having one or more elastomeric members disposed on at least one region of an extensible fibrous substrate to provide stretch properties to a targeted region of the substrate. The composite has been incrementally stretched to at least partially break up the structure of the substrate in order to reduce its resistance to stretch. The stretch composites are useful for disposable and durable articles, such as disposable absorbent articles including diapers, pull-on diapers, training pants, incontinence briefs, catamenial garments, baby bibs, and the like, and durable articles like garments including sportswear, outerwear and the like. The present invention also relates to methods of forming such stretch composites.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for allowing subscriber message sending profiles to be maintained and used in conjunction with behavior-based anomaly detection techniques and traditional content-based spam signature filtering to enable application of appropriate message disposition policies to outbound subscriber message traffic. According to one embodiment, subscriber profiles are constructed for multiple subscriber accounts associated with a service provider based on outbound message flow originated from the subscriber accounts. Then, possible subscriber account misuse may be discovered by performing behavior-based anomaly detection, including a comparison of a subscriber profile associated with the subscriber account with recent subscriber account usage information, to identify one or more behavioral anomalies in outbound message flow originated from a subscriber account, the behavior-based anomaly detection.