Abstract: An antimicrobial lighting system includes an antimicrobial lighting array that emits antimicrobial light within one or more antimicrobial wavelength ranges to inactivate one or more microorganisms on common touch surfaces. The common touch surfaces may include, for example, restaurant menus, airline safety instructions, pamphlets, instruction cards, or other common touch objects having a generally flat form factor, or that can be reduced to a flat form factor. Application of the antimicrobial light to the common touch surfaces may improve hygiene of such common touch surfaces and may help maintain microbial growth below acceptable levels.

Abstract: Vulnerability scanning systems and methods are provided for automatically performing the steps necessary for compliance testing and auditing of an organization's systems, and determining security posture in real time. A Machine-in-the-Middle Microserviced Security Engine (MiMMSE) is provided that provides one-way traffic for command execution and security improvement, management for automating services in OS containers, the elimination of multiple connections to services per client to give users more control of network access, total data destruction after each run to reduce attack surfaces, encryption over container services, reverse tunnel or VPN traffic between pods, clusters, and other separated networks, and machine learning (e.g., neural-network-based) maps for command execution order.

Abstract: An antimicrobial lighting system includes an antimicrobial lighting array that emits antimicrobial light within one or more antimicrobial wavelength ranges to inactivate one or more microorganisms on common touch surfaces. The common touch surfaces may include, for example, restaurant menus, airline safety instructions, pamphlets, instruction cards, or other common touch objects having a generally flat form factor, or that can be reduced to a flat form factor. Application of the antimicrobial light to the common touch surfaces may improve hygiene of such common touch surfaces and may help maintain microbial growth below acceptable levels.

Abstract: Embodiments in the present description are provided for a lever adapter device for use in lifting a vehicle or other heavy objects. Additional embodiments in the present description are provided for a Bi-pod rescue strut system for use in stabilizing a vehicle or other object. The lever adapter device includes stabilizing feet and one or more support legs. The lever adapter device further includes a hinge disposed at an end of each support leg. The lever adapter device further includes a rotatable attachment link that enables options for the orientation of a lifting device to assist in lifting the vehicle or the other heavy objects.

Abstract: Embodiments in the present description are provided for a lever adapter device for use in lifting a vehicle or other heavy objects. Additional embodiments in the present description are provided for a Bi-pod rescue strut system for use in stabilizing a vehicle or other object. The lever adapter device includes stabilizing feet and one or more support legs. The lever adapter device further includes a hinge disposed at an end of each support leg. Each support leg is extendable and retractable towards or away from the other support leg. The lever adapter device further includes a jack attachment piece and one or more hinges, which are also connected to the one or more support legs. The jack attachment piece is configured to be removably connected to a jack, such as a HI-LIFT jack, or to other lifting devices to assist in lifting the vehicle or the other heavy objects.

Abstract: Embodiments in the present description are provided for a lever adapter device for use in lifting a vehicle or other heavy objects. Additional embodiments in the present description are provided for a Bi-pod rescue strut system for use in stabilizing a vehicle or other object. The lever adapter device includes stabilizing feet and one or more support legs. The lever adapter device further includes a hinge disposed at an end of each support leg. The lever adapter device further includes a rotatable attachment link that enables options for the orientation of a lifting device to assist in lifting the vehicle or the other heavy objects.

Abstract: Embodiments in the present description are provided for a lever adapter device for use in lifting a vehicle or other heavy objects. Additional embodiments in the present description are provided for a Bi-pod rescue strut system for use in stabilizing a vehicle or other object. The lever adapter device includes stabilizing feet and one or more support legs. The lever adapter device further includes a hinge disposed at an end of each support leg. Each support leg is extendable and retractable towards or away from the other support leg. The lever adapter device further includes a jack attachment piece and one or more hinges, which are also connected to the one or more support legs. The jack attachment piece is configured to be removably connected to a jack, such as a HI-LIFT jack, or to other lifting devices to assist in lifting the vehicle or the other heavy objects.

Abstract: Embodiments in the present description are provided for a Bi-pod rescue strut system for use in stabilizing a vehicle or other object. The Bi-pod rescue strut system includes stabilizing feet and support legs. Each of the stabilizing feet is pivotally connected to an end of each support leg so that the stabilizing feet rotate around the support legs. The Bi-pod rescue strut system further includes a yoke disposed at an end of the support legs. The yoke permits the support legs to extend and retract towards or away from the other support leg. The yoke connecting to a telescoping strut extension. The telescopic strut extension extending and coming into contact with vehicle or other object, stabilizing the vehicle or other object.

Abstract: Embodiments in the present description are provided for a Bi-pod rescue strut system for use in stabilizing a vehicle or other object. The Bi-pod rescue strut system includes stabilizing feet and support legs. Each of the stabilizing feet is pivotally connected to an end of each support leg so that the stabilizing feet rotate around the support legs. The Bi-pod rescue strut system further includes a yoke disposed at an end of the support legs. The yoke permits the support legs to extend and retract towards or away from the other support leg. The yoke connecting to a telescoping strut extension. The telescopic strut extension extending and coming into contact with vehicle or other object, stabilizing the vehicle or other object.

Abstract: A high frequency band pass filter with a coupled surface mount transition is provided, including a filter substrate, circuit connection elements defining input and an output elements provided on a surface of the filter substrate, electronic filter components provided on the first surface of the filter substrate, and impedance matching structures provided on the first surface of the filter substrate between the electronic filter components and the respective input and output elements. Signal connection structures are provided on an opposed surface of the filter substrate, in locations that positionally correspond to respective positions of the input and output elements.

Abstract: A high frequency band pass filter with a coupled surface mount transition is provided, including a filter substrate, circuit connection elements defining input and an output elements provided on a surface of the filter substrate, electronic filter components provided on the first surface of the filter substrate, and impedance matching structures provided on the first surface of the filter substrate between the electronic filter components and the respective input and output elements. Signal connection structures are provided on an opposed surface of the filter substrate, in locations that positionally correspond to respective positions of the input and output elements.

Abstract: A high frequency band pass filter with a coupled surface mount transition is provided, including a filter substrate, circuit connection elements defining input and an output elements provided on a surface of the filter substrate, electronic filter components provided on the first surface of the filter substrate, and impedance matching structures provided on the first surface of the filter substrate between the electronic filter components and the respective input and output elements. Signal connection structures are provided on an opposed surface of the filter substrate, in locations that positionally correspond to respective positions of the input and output elements.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for a motor vehicle supports operation of a power steering gear and a power assisted park brake unit incorporating a spring actuated hydraulic release (SAHR) chamber. The hydraulic circuit includes a pump with the power steering gear being connected to receive hydraulic fluid under pressure from the pump. Hydraulic fluid from the pump is delivered to first and second valves, the first or release control valve being connected to the SAHR chamber and the second or recirculation valve being coupled to return hydraulic fluid to a pump inlet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for conducting an online auction via a social networking forum for a cohort of users that have a pre-established association with an experience scheduled to occur at a predetermined time, a predetermined date and a predetermined location. The system may provide a social networking forum that facilitates social networking communications amongst members of the forum combined with auction capabilities that provide items that may be relevant to its members. Users in the cohort may join the social networking forum as members. The social networking forum may provide a supplier of an item for auction with a target audience that may be interested in the item by virtue of their pre-established association with an experience. Similarly, from the perspective of a member of the forum, the system may provide an auction that includes items that may be of interest to the member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for facilitating creation of an ad hoc social networking forum for a cohort of users based on a determination of whether an ad hoc social networking forum associated with the cohort exists. Responsive to receiving a request from a user of the cohort to join a social networking forum associated with the cohort, a determination may be made as to whether a social networking forum associated with the cohort has already been created. A social networking forum associated with the cohort may be created responsive to a determination that a forum associated with the cohort has not yet been created. The user may be added as a member of the newly created forum.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for a motor vehicle supports operation of a power steering gear and a power assisted park brake unit incorporating a spring actuated hydraulic release (SAHR) chamber. The hydraulic circuit includes a pump with the power steering gear being connected to receive hydraulic fluid under pressure from the pump. Hydraulic fluid from the pump is delivered to first and second valves, the first or release control valve being connected to the SAHR chamber and the second or recirculation valve being coupled to return hydraulic fluid to a pump inlet.

Abstract: A motor vehicle (12) has a chassis (16) with wheels (26, 34) on which the motor vehicle travels, a powertrain having an engine (20) coupled to at least one of the wheels, a primary brake system (38) for braking the motor vehicle via foundation brakes at the wheels, and a secondary brake system for braking the vehicle via at least one powertrain brake mechanism (57) that can apply brake torque to at least one of the wheels to which the powertrain is coupled. The primary brake system has a mechanical operator (40) that when operated by a driver causes pressure to be created in the primary brake system for operating the foundation brakes to apply brake torque correlated with magnitude of the pressure. A device (42) signals a controller (44) that the foundation brakes are being applied. A selector (58) available to the driver signals the controller for selectively enabling use of the secondary brake system in conjunction with the primary brake system.

Abstract: A method is described for separating lignin from liquid solutions resulting from the pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials such as switchgrass with ammonium hydroxide. The method involves a sequence of steps including acidification, evaporation, and precipitation or centrifugation that are performed under defined conditions, and results in a relatively pure, solid lignin product. The method is tested on ammonium hydroxide solutions containing lignin extracted from switchgrass. Experimental results show that the method is capable of recovering between 66-95% of dissolved lignin as a precipitated solid.

Abstract: An automatically adjustable fifth wheel assembly for a vehicle and trailer combination that adjusts the position of the trailer relative to the vehicle is provided.

Abstract: A vehicle has at least one road wheel on which the vehicle travels and a park brake for selectively locking the at least one road wheel while the vehicle is parked. An actuator can apply the park brake to lock the at least one road wheel, and can release the park brake to unlock the at least one road wheel. An electronic controller interfaces the actuator with a wheel locking mechanism. The status of a variable status device, such as a lift platform, is communicated to the electronic controller and is effective on the electronic controller for causing the electronic controller to disallow park brake release by the actuator when a first status is communicated to the electronic controller and to allow park brake release by the actuator when a second status is communicated to the electronic controller.