Abstract: A route examining system includes first and second application devices, a control unit, first and second detection units, and an identification unit. The first and second application devices are disposed onboard a vehicle traveling along a route having conductive tracks. The control unit controls injection of a first examination signal into the conductive tracks via the first application device and injection of a second examination signal into the conductive tracks via the second application device. The first and second detection units monitor electrical characteristics of the route in response to the first and second examination signals being injected into the conductive tracks. The identification unit examines the electrical characteristics of the conductive tracks in order to determine whether a section of the route is potentially damaged based on the electrical characteristics.

Abstract: A method (and structure) for implementing a software tool, as executable by a processor on a computer to exercise any of a plurality of prediction tools. Questions are provided to a user output port, and inputs from a user input port are received as responses to the questions. The question responses are used to instantiate, customize, and configure a specific one of said plurality of prediction tools for executing a specific application on the software tool.

Abstract: The nature of the invention relates to eyewear retaining devices. In the past, many eyewear retainers have been produced; however, none have combined an attached resealable container with an eyewear retainer. The invention provides the user with a new location to store personal affects. Personal items such as ID cards, credit cards, sunscreen and electronic devices, etc. . . . can now be worn on the user's head and around the user's neck while attached to the user's eyewear. The invention also combines the advantages of floating wallet and floating eyewear retainers. The invention allows the user to keep his or her eyewear and personal items inside the invention from sinking. Several variations of the invention exist such that the present invention can be waterproof, have a translucent viewing window and/or be connected to itself to form a band that con be affixed to the user's body without the use of eyewear.

Abstract: A heart valve implant according to one embodiment may include a shaft and an anchor disposed on one end of the shaft, the anchor configured to engage tissue. The heart valve implant may further include an expandable member disposed over at least part of the shaft, the expandable member comprising a resiliently deformable internal layer and a resiliently deformable external layer disposed over the internal layer, the expandable member defining a chamber and being configured to receive an inflation medium in the chamber to expand the expandable member, the expandable member further configured to deform upon contact with at least a portion of at least one leaflet of a heart valve to at least partially conform to the shape of the leaflet.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assemblies, and related fiber optic connectors, cables, and methods. In certain embodiments, an optical fiber stub is pre-installed in a ferrule bore of a ferrule of a fiber optic connector sub-assembly, to provide the pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assembly. The optical fiber stub can be pre-installed in the ferrule bore prior to termination of the fiber optic connector sub-assembly. Because the pre-terminated optical fiber stub disposed in the ferrule bore is not directly accessible through a ferrule body of the ferrule when a field optical fiber is disposed in the ferrule bore for fusion splicing, the ferrule has properties that allow thermal energy to be directed through the ferrule body into the ferrule bore. In this manner, the optical fiber stub pre-installed in the ferrule bore can be fusion spliced with the field optical fiber to terminate a fiber optic cable.

Abstract: A fuel nozzle apparatus includes: a fuel distributor including an annular distributor ring, an aft interior mounting surface; and a pilot supply tube; a venturi defining a splitter with a first bore, and axially spaced-apart forward and aft exterior mounting surfaces; and a swirler including second bore and a forward interior mounting surface. The pilot supply tube is received in the second bore, outer ends of the inner vanes are received in the first bore; and the forward and aft exterior mounting surfaces of the venturi are received in the forward and aft interior mounting surfaces, respectively.

Abstract: Optical autodiscovery is provide between two optical modules to insure that when an optical signal is coupled between the two optical module, the optical signal from a first module does not interfere with operation of a second module. The autodiscovery is implemented by sending an optical identification signal from the first optical module via the coupling to the second optical module from which signal, the second optical module can verify and determined acceptance of the coupled first optical module. During this autodiscovery process, the optical identification signal from the first optical module may be attenuated or shifted in optical spectrum so as not to interfere with the operation of the second optical module. Autodiscovery may also be employed in cases where a first optical module is to receive an optical signal from a second module.

Abstract: An automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. The method includes the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, performing an image segregation operation on the image file to generate a set of intrinsic images corresponding to the image, modifying a preselected one of the set of intrinsic images according to a set of preselected operations and merging the modified one of the set of intrinsic images relative to the set of intrinsic images to provide a modified output image.

Abstract: Techniques are described for securely booting and executing a virtual machine (VM) image in an untrusted cloud infrastructure. A multi-core processor may be configured with additional hardware components—referred to as a trust anchor. The trust anchor may be provisioned with a private/public key pair, which allows the multi-core CPU to authenticate itself as being able to securely boot and execute a virtual machine (VM) image in an untrusted cloud infrastructure.

Abstract: A bone adhesive application device has a pliable structure with an application surface upon which a bone adhesive may be applied. The application surface has a surface energy substantially equal to or less than a surface energy of the bone adhesive to reduce adhesion between the bone adhesive and the bone adhesive application device. The bone adhesive application device may be included in a kit for repairing bone defects having a bone adhesive formed from a reactive biocompatible polyurethane material. The bone adhesive may be applied to a bone defect by positioning the pliable structure over at least a portion of the bone defect, delivering the bone adhesive to the bone defect and removing the pliable structure from the bone adhesive.

Abstract: A network device may receive an activation instruction. The network device may provide network resources. The activation instruction may request the network device to activate a particular network resource that is deactivated. The activation instruction may be associated with a license that identifies the particular network resource and identifies a resource request of a user. The network device may configure, based on the activation instruction, a component of the network device to activate the particular network resource. The component, after being configured to activate the particular network resource, may allow data flows, received by the network device, to be provided towards a destination device using the particular network resource. The network device may receive a data flow and provide, by the component of the network device, the data flow towards the destination device using the particular network resource.

Abstract: A predictive enhanced maneuverability system providing enhanced timely delivery of vehicle performance selection of chassis, and steering modes for potential predicted safety collisions is disclosed. The primary inputs of the disclosed invention include a determination of the proximity to a preceding vehicle, the density of the surrounding traffic, a forward collision warning alert, and the predictive enhanced maneuverability decision sub-system for vehicle mode selection. The system of the disclosed invention provides a customized vehicle dynamics chassis and steering dynamic mode output, based on a predicted decision about vehicle potential for collision, for improved driver maneuverability and safety. In addition, the disclosed invention provides an improved system and method for incorporating the time dependent headway, forward collision warning alert, and the traffic density for chassis collision-mode embedded decision-making.

Abstract: A dual magnetic phase rotor lamination for use in induction machines is disclosed. A rotor assembly is provided that includes a rotor core and a plurality of rotor conductors mechanically coupled to the rotor core and positioned thereabout, with the plurality of rotor conductors positioned within slots formed in the rotor core. The rotor core comprises a plurality of rotor laminations that collectively form the rotor core, with each of the rotor laminations being composed of a dual magnetic phase material and including a first rotor lamination portion comprising a magnetic portion and a second rotor lamination portion comprising a non-magnetic portion, wherein the second rotor lamination portion comprises a treated portion of the rotor lamination that is rendered non-magnetic so as to adjust a leakage inductance of the induction machine.

Abstract: A gaming device provides a single player poker game including one or more opportunities for forming player hands. In one embodiment, for a play of the poker game, a player places a wager on each of a plurality of player hands. The gaming device provides the player with one or more opportunities to fold one or more of the player hands and withdraw the wager associated with the folded hand. A number of community cards are dealt. The gaming device determines and provides any awards associated with a ranking of each of the remaining player hands according to a paytable.

Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine engine is disclosed, the fuel nozzle comprising at least one unitary component made using a rapid manufacturing process. In one aspect, the rapid manufacturing process is a laser sintering process. Unitary components disclosed include a conduit, swirler, distributor, venturi and a centerbody.

Abstract: An automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. The method includes the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, performing an image segregation operation on the image file to generate a set of intrinsic images corresponding to the image, modifying a preselected one of the set of intrinsic images according to a set of preselected operations and merging the modified one of the set of intrinsic images relative to the set of intrinsic images to provide a modified output image.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle may include at least one controller configured to monitor a plurality of parameters representing a driver's dynamic control of the vehicle and to establish a reference range based on values of the monitored parameters during a first time period. The at least one controller may be further configured to detect a change in driver behavior condition when, during a second time period, a parameter derived from the monitored parameters falls outside of the reference range, and in response to detecting the change in driver behavior condition, to alter a response of the vehicle to driver inputs or to generate output representing a recommendation to alter a response of the vehicle to driver inputs.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, identifying token regions in the image as a function pixel color comparisons relative to threshold values and varying the threshold values in selected areas of the image.

Abstract: A system for controlling an engine in a vehicle according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a fuel control module and a valve control module. The fuel control module controls fuel delivery to a cylinder of the engine. The valve control module closes an exhaust valve of the cylinder when fuel delivery to the cylinder is disabled during operation of the vehicle and exhaust gas has been exhausted from the cylinder after fuel delivery to the cylinder is disabled.

Abstract: An indirect evaporative cooler for cooling inlet supply air from a first temperature to a second, lower temperature using a stream of liquid coolant and a stream of exhaust or purge air. The cooler includes a first flow channel for inlet supply air and a second flow channel adjacent the first for exhaust air. The first and second flow channels are defined in part by sheets of a membrane permeable to water vapor such that mass is transferred as a vapor through the membrane from the inlet supply air to a contained liquid desiccant for dehumidification and also to the exhaust air as heat is transferred from the inlet supply air to the liquid coolant. A separation wall divides the liquid desiccant and the coolant but allows heat to be transferred from the supply air to the coolant which releases water vapor to the counter or cross flowing exhaust air.