Abstract: An eductor includes inner and outer channels and a manifold region where these channels come together. The eductor has an outlet and inlets including a water inlet, a fire suppressant material inlet, and an air inlet. In certain embodiments, the eductor has mixing, rinse, and air purge configurations. In the mixing configuration, the eductor has both: i) a primary water flow path extending from the water inlet, through the outer channel, and into the manifold region, and ii) a fire suppressant flow path extending from the fire suppressant inlet, through the inner channel, and into the manifold region. In the rinse configuration, the eductor has a secondary water flow path extending from the water inlet, through the inner channel, and into the manifold region. In the air purge configuration, the eductor has an air flow path extending from the air inlet, though the inner channel, and into the manifold region.

Abstract: A communication device and method can include one or more processors operatively coupled to memory and an audible output device, where the one or more processors receive a call from a calling party that includes a voice or video message associated, presenting the voice message or video message as an alias of or to a ring tone or interleaved with the ring tone before the call from the calling party is answered or rejected. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Occlusion devices, earpiece devices and methods of forming occlusion devices are provided. An occlusion device is configured to occlude an ear canal, but other biological and non-biological conduits or chambers can be occluded using the devices and methods herein. The occlusion device includes an insertion element and at least one occluding member or element (which can be expandable) disposed on the insertion element. The occluding member is configured to receive a medium via the insertion element and is configured to expand, responsive to the medium, to contact the ear canal. Alternatively, the occluding member is made of a non-Newtonian fluid and can be enclosed by a balloon or not. Physical parameters of the occlusion device are selected to produce a predetermined sound attenuation characteristic over a frequency band. Use of a non-Newtonian fluid provides additional options or variables in customizing or designing a predetermined sound attenuation characteristic.

Abstract: A system and computer implemented method for conducting play of Internet-based lottery games includes providing players with a plurality of different Internet-based lottery games playable on an Internet enabled device in communication with an Internet game site, wherein the games have different game themes and mechanics of play by the player. A selection is accepted from a player for play of a particular one of the Internet-based lottery games. The plurality of different Internet-based games are linked to a common predetermined prize structure associated with a defined set of data files loaded in a secure game outcome generator such that the data files determine the outcome and prize structure of a defined number of game plays regardless of the particular game selected for play by the player from the plurality of different games.

Abstract: The present disclosure improves upon existing systems and methods by providing a tool for managing processing resources. For instance, the presently described tool may be used to time replacement, plan for uplifts, budget for uplifts/decommissioning of hardware, and/or maintain a plurality of servers. This tool may lead to increased satisfaction, uptime, and a reduction of unexpected costs. The system may include initiating collection of variables to compile a prioritized list of servers, executing, a calculation application for determining a prioritized list of servers' end of life targets based on both technical and business parameters based on the entered variables, and prioritizing uplifts of the servers based on the technical and the business parameters.

Abstract: An internet gaming system includes a core platform, and a vertical extension functionality configured with the core platform and having a first application programming interface. A plurality of game specific modules are provided with a hardware and software configuration to conduct different respective Internet-based games with players via an Internet lottery site, with each game specific module including a dedicated second application programming interface. Input/output data between the core platform and the game specific modules occurs only through the first and second application programming interfaces. A secure game outcome generator has a hardware and software configuration to determine a game outcome for each game played via the system and is linked to the core platform via a secure interface with the vertical extension.

Abstract: A protective foam material and pads are disclosed herein. The material is a rounded foam pellet having a hole through the center of the pellet. The pellets may be arranged and interconnected to form a pad. These pads may be applied to persons, animals, or other objects for protective functions.

Abstract: A protective foam material and pads are disclosed herein. The material is a rounded foam pellet having a hole through the center of the pellet. The pellets may be arranged and interconnected to form a pad. These pads may be applied to persons, animals, or other objects for protective functions.

Abstract: A monitoring device configured for insertion into a conduit of a subject includes a housing, at least one physiological sensor coupled to the housing, a transmitter coupled to the housing, an expandable element, inflatable element, stretched membrane or balloon coupled to the housing and configured to occlude at least a portion of the conduit, a power source attached to the housing, and a processor coupled to the housing and operatively coupled to memory containing computer instruction causing the monitoring device to obtain physiological information via the at least one physiological sensor where the physiological information includes one or more of pulse rate information, body temperature information, breathing rate information, blood pressure information, cardiac output information, or blood gas level information, and processing and analyzing the physiological information to provide a result.

Abstract: The present disclosure improves upon existing systems and methods by providing a tool for managing processing resources. For instance, the presently described tool may be used to time replacement, plan for uplifts, budget for uplifts/decommissioning of hardware, and/or maintain a plurality of servers. This tool may lead to increased satisfaction, uptime, and a reduction of unexpected costs. The system may include initiating collection of variables to compile a prioritized list of servers, executing, a calculation application for determining a prioritized list of servers' end of life targets based on both technical and business parameters based on the entered variables, and prioritizing uplifts of the servers based on the technical and the business parameters.

Abstract: A retractable connector assembly for establishing an electrical connection to a power bus bar from an electrical device is disclosed. The retractable connector assembly includes a frame plate and a sled. The sled has a rack and a connector assembly having an electrical contact. The sled has an extended position and a retracted position relative to the frame plate. A spur gear is mounted on the frame plate. The spur gear engages the rack to move the sled between the retracted position and the extended position when the spur gear is rotated. The electrical contact creates an electrical connection with the power bus bar when the sled is in the extended position but not in the retracted position. Safety interlocks and indicia can be provided for the connector assembly.

Abstract: An electronic audio device for use with at least one earpiece or a pair of earpieces, or a pair of earpieces in a headphone, each earpiece having a microphone and a speaker located therein, including circuitry operatively coupled to the microphone and speaker, and a processor operatively coupled to evaluate a seal quality of the earpiece to a user's ear based on seal quality measurements made while driving or exciting a signal into the speaker located in the earpiece and where the processor is configure to generate a visual or audio message identifying whether at least one earpiece is properly sealed based on the seal quality measurements.

Abstract: A micro-fluidic device includes a plurality of heating elements on a substrate for heating the substrate. They define a plurality of temperature regions having distinct temperatures on the substrate. A flow feature layer is formed above the substrate to define a channel extending across the substrate through each temperature region. As fluid is repeatedly pumped within the channel, it flows from one temperature region to a next temperature region to undergo thermal cycling. Fluid wells reside in the flow feature layer under a cover and connect to the channel whereby fluid can dwell for diagnostic applications.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described for treating maladies such as atrial fibrillation. The devices and methods, in some implementations, include implant comprising a ribbon or other structure formed into a desired helical or other shape. The ribbon can provide mechanical pressure against an adjacent tissue, e.g., the tissue of a vessel, so as to help at least partially inhibit the propagation of electrical signals along the vessel.

Abstract: A method of deploying a modular gas compression plant is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method comprises constructing a building of four substructures including a first lower housing, a first upper housing, a second lower housing, and a second upper housing. The method further includes assembling a turbomachinery equipment into the first lower housing. The method further includes assembling an air inlet duct and an exhaust duct to the first upper housing. The method further includes disassembling the building into the four substructures.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a balloon configured to contact a surface of a human conduit and one or more a biometric sensors operatively coupled to or on or in or within the balloon for detecting a biometric signal. The electronic device in some examples is a biometric sensor or measuring device. In other examples, the electronic device is an integrated device such as an earpiece having biometric sensors. In yet other examples, the electronic device can be operatively coupled to other device and other biometric sensors. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of encoding and decoding for video data for encoding or decoding motion vector difference components for inter-coded video are described. The sign of one of the components is hidden within the parity of the sum of the magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical difference components. The sign of the other of the components is explicitly signaled in the bitstream. The hidden sign may be assigned to the larger in magnitude of the two components. In other cases, the hidden sign may always be assigned to the horizontal or vertical component. In another case, the hidden sign may always be assigned to one component, unless that component is zero, in which case the hidden sign is assigned to the other component. In another case, both components may have their signs hidden, in which case the sign hiding is based on their respective parity, rather than the parity of their sum.

Abstract: A method and system of traversing a device through an accommodating conduit to reach a target area within the accommodating conduit can include varying an amount of elasticity of the device or an amount of torsion moment of the device applied to the accommodating conduit or varying both to minimize bending forces as the device traverses the accommodating conduit. The method or system upon reaching the target area within the accommodating conduit, can further include varying the elasticity or the torsion moment of the device or varying both to cause the device to stiffen. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Included are segmented polyurethane elastic fibers or spandex fibers, capable of bonding to polymer fiber such as nylon or polyamide fibers, in addition to bonding to itself, for apparel textile applications. More particularly the invention relates to bicomponent spandex fibers, with a heat resistant core and a heat sensitive sheath, spun from polymer solutions. The nylon fabrics containing such spandex fibers have enhanced stretch performance and improved surface appearance after heat treatment to activate the fusing and bonding between nylon fibers and spandex fibers.

Abstract: An electronic audio device for use with at least one earpiece or a pair of earpieces, or a pair of earpieces in a headphone, each earpiece having a microphone and a speaker located therein, including circuitry operatively coupled to the microphone and speaker, and a processor operatively coupled to evaluate a seal quality of the earpiece to a user's ear based on seal quality measurements made while driving or exciting a signal into the speaker located in the earpiece and then to adjust the circuitry coupled to the microphone and speaker according to the evaluated seal quality.