Abstract: A device includes an energy unit coupled to an energy device and adapted to couple a pair of split DC rails. A controller senses the voltage on the DC rails and regulates its output current response by means of an autonomous current response that creates the aggregate effect of controlling the rail voltage in cooperation with other units coupled to the DC rails. A system includes multiple such devices coupled to split DC rails.

Abstract: A gastric tube for use in a bariatric surgical procedure includes an elongate tube and a movable component supported on an outer surface of the elongate tube. The elongate tube has a non-circular cross section along at least a portion of a length of the elongate tube. The movable component is movable between an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration. In the unexpanded configuration, the movable component is disposed in abutting engagement with the outer surface of the elongate tube. In the expanded configuration, the movable component bows outwardly from the outer surface of the elongate tube.

Abstract: A radiation detection device (10) comprising a data processor (14) arranged to be communicatively coupled to a position sensor (16) mounted on an unmanned vehicle and a solid state radiation sensor (18) mounted on the unmanned vehicle. The data processor is configured to receive position data from the position sensor, receive radiation data from the solid state radiation sensor and periodically associate the position data with radiation data to form combined data.

Abstract: A clip-in access door for covering an opening in a construction surface has a frame for mounting in the opening, a door mounted on the frame, and a plurality of clips mounted on the frame for securing the frame in the opening of the construction surface. The clips along at least one edge of the frame are rotatable between an insert position and a lock position. Methods of using the clip-in access door are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a comestible product comprising xylitol said method comprising: (a) subjecting a composition comprising xylitol in an amount ranging from about 60% to about 100% by weight to extrusion treatment inside an extrusion apparatus under conditions sufficient to form and maintain the xylitol in a slurry and (b) then shaping the extruded slurry and cooling the product to form a solid. The present invention additionally is directed to a product produced therefrom.

Abstract: There is provided a system for use with a patient in a healthcare environment, the system comprising a medical device configured to monitor or treat a patient, the medical device being for use in a room in which the patient is located and comprising an alarm unit configured to issue an audible alarm; a detection unit configured to detect whether a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; a remote alarm unit configured to issue an alarm to alert a healthcare staff member located outside the room in which the patient is located; and a control unit that is connected to the medical device, the remote detection unit and the alarm unit, the control unit being configured to: (i) control the alarm unit in the medical device to issue an audible alarm in the event that the medical device detects an alarm condition for the patient or the medical device and the detection unit detects that a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; and (ii) control the remote a

Abstract: A power plant includes a solar receiver heating solid particles, a standpipe receiving solid particles from the solar receiver, a pressurized heat exchanger heating working fluid by heat transfer through direct contact with heated solid particles flowing out of the bottom of the standpipe, and a flow path for solid particles from the bottom of the standpipe into the pressurized heat exchanger that is sealed by a pressure P produced at the bottom of the standpipe by a column of heated solid particles of height H. The flow path may include a silo or surge tank comprising a pressure vessel connected to the bottom of the standpipe, and a non-mechanical valve. The power plant may further include a turbine driven by heated working fluid discharged from the pressurized heat exchanger, and a compressor driven by the turbine.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for biologically producing isoprene using methanotrophic bacteria that utilize carbon feedstock, such as methane or natural gas.

Abstract: A stacked display has the different colour layers (20r), (20g), (20b) ordered with respect to the wavelength-dependency of the lens focus so that there is better focus of the colours on the display layers that modulate those colours. The optical system (30), (32) can be designed to have a wavelength-dependent focus that matches the position of each of the light modulating layers.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a distance related speed control system, wherein if the motor vehicle is following a vehicle driving in front, a target distance from the vehicle driving in front chosen by the driver is generally set, and wherein for a distance-shortening turn signal effect time when a turn signal is set, a shortened target distance is set. The motor vehicle further has a lane departure warning system, wherein a warning that is generally activated if there is a risk of an unintentional lane departure is suppressed for a specified warning-suppressing turn signal effect time after the setting of the turn signal. The warning-suppressing turn signal effect time begins simultaneously with the distance-shortening turn signal effect time, wherein these two turn signal effect times are specified to have the same length.

Abstract: A chat-based communication capability is presented. In at least some embodiments, a chat-based communication capability may utilize a chat-based communication paradigm to support one or more communication interaction types not typically supported by chat-based communication paradigms. In at least some embodiments, a chat-based communication capability may support chat-based communication between a human entity and a non-human entity or between multiple non-human entities. In at least some embodiments, a chat-based communication capability may support extended operations which may be provided within the context of a chat-based system. In at least some embodiments, a chat-based communication capability or other communication or interaction environment may support one or more of relationship identification and notification capabilities, question and answer management functions, message attribution management functions, software developer functions, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to equipment for the generative manufacture and/or repair of components, in particular of gas turbines, having a solidifying means (3) for the layer-by-layer, local, particularly optical, thermal, and/or chemical solidification of particularly powdered, granular, and/or fluid material, and an electrodeposition means (1.1, 7-10) for the electrostatic deposition of particles (6) and/or gas from a region between a layer (2.1) of material, which is to be solidified or is solidified, and the solidifying means (3), as well as a method for the generative manufacture and/or repair of components, in particular of gas turbines, by means of such equipment.

Abstract: A ball bearing assembly including a plurality of ball bearings and one or more ball separators. Each of the ball separators comprises two pockets, each pocket including a contact surface formed having a shape complementary to the shape of the ball bearings, with one or more lubrication channels formed therein. The pockets also include a secondary surface formed to maintain a gap between one of the ball bearings and the secondary surface when arranged in the circular groove. The presence of the lubrication channels enhances lubrication and reduces the contact area between the ball separators and the ball bearings.

Abstract: An electronic, optoelectronic or electric arrangement contains a circuit carrier having a metallic heat conductor, and a component, which is embedded, inserted or formed in the circuit carrier. The component has at least one electric, electronic or optoelectronic construction element and a rewiring layer, which contains a metallic heat conducting path. A metallic-thermal connection of the rewiring layer and the metallic heat conducting layer of the circuit carrier is provided by the heat conducting path.

Abstract: A method of forming a guide vane is disclosed. The method includes forming a vane blank with sufficient material to fabricate the guide vane in accordance with any one of a plurality of different vane classes. The vane blank is inspected for material inconsistencies, and material is removed from the vane blank to form a desired guide vane in accordance with one of the plurality of vane classes. The inspection process includes disregarding at least one material inconsistency in a region of the vane blank that is re- moved to form the guide vane.

Abstract: Granules of graphene oxide may be produced from a dispersion of nanoscale graphene oxide sheets by a spray drying method. Such granules have a three-dimensional corrugated morphology. The complexity of the corrugations, and the s size distribution of the granules can be varied through selection of the spray-drying equipment used, and variation of the composition of the dispersion and the spray-drying parameters. Structural modifiers may be included in the graphene oxide dispersion to control the ultimate morphology of the granules. The granules of graphene oxide may be thermally reduced at a moderate temperature of 220° C. to increase the granules' electrical conductivity. The reduced granules may be used to fabricate electrodes for supercapacitors. The power and energy density of such an electrode material is comparable to those of conventional/commercial activated carbon-based electrodes.

Abstract: A social networking system analyzes a user's interactions with objects linked to bookmarks associated with the user to generate a score for each bookmark. The score represents or is based on the probability that the user will access the bookmark or the linked object. For example, the score is a predicted click-through rate for the bookmark. Based on the scores, a subset of the bookmarks is selected for presentation to the user. Additionally, the scores may be used to order the selected subset of the bookmarks. Hence, the bookmarks that the user is most likely to access are presented while the bookmarks the user is less likely to access may be hidden.

Abstract: A multilayer optical adhesive including a first viscoelastic or elastomeric adhesive layer and a second viscoelastic or elastomeric adhesive layer. A crosslinked or soluble resin layer may be disposed between the first viscoelastic or elastomeric adhesive layer and the second viscoelastic or elastomeric adhesive layer or the first viscoelastic or elastomeric adhesive layer may be immediately adjacent to the second viscoelastic or elastomeric adhesive layer. An interface between immediately adjacent layers is structured and there is a difference in refractive indices across the interface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a smoking article wrapping material comprising a base wrapping material to which has been applied, at least in discrete zones, a composition comprising a mechanically fragmented, chemically crosslinked polysaccharide having a particle size (weighted average) in the range from 1 to 1000 ?m for the dry product; a process for production thereof; and a smoking article comprising the smoking article wrapping material described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel way to replenish the disc using retooled disc compositions to repair degenerative discs. There is no better source of proteoglycans than the actual disc material (6) itself. To this end, there has been developed a technique to remove the nucleus pulposus and retool the morphology of the nucleus pulposus to create a powder material (10) that is dry and can be stored at room temperature for long periods of time. This powder (10) can then be reconstituted with a variety of fluids, the most suitable being normal saline or lactated ringers to form a flowable mixture (20).