Abstract: Systems and methods for use in patient fall risk assessment are provided. In the fall risk assessment system, a Protocol including one or more motion-based tests is performed by a patient. The patient's performance is recorded using one or more sensors and the patient's data is compared to normative data to assess risk within the multifactorial problem of fall risk assessment and management.

Abstract: Systems and methods for task-associated motion analysis are provided. In the task-associated motion analysis system, a protocol including one or more motion-based tasks is performed by a patient. The patient's performance is recorded using one or more sensors and the patient's data is compared to normative data to assess musculoskeletal performance for the purposes of diagnosis and administration of therapy or training recommendations.

Abstract: A compliant grommet-based suspension system is disclosed for use in mounting an electronic touch screen or touch surface. The grommets may be designed to provide more or less movement in any direction, i.e., along the x-axis, the y-axis, and/or the z-axis, depending on the suspension application in which they are implemented.

Abstract: A method of flexibly allocating capacity in a satellite coverage area, comprising establishing a frequency reuse pattern of at least two interleaved sets of cells, assigning a polarization to each set of cells, such that adjacent sets of cells alternate in orthogonal polarization, flexibly assigning satellite transmit power to at least one cell, flexibly assigning frequency and bandwidth to at least one cell, and moving frequencies, bandwidths, and satellite transmit power among the cells within each set, independently of the other sets, ensuring that at all times no two adjacent cells within a given set share a common frequency.

Abstract: A method of flexibly allocating capacity in a satellite coverage area, comprising establishing a frequency reuse pattern of at least two interleaved sets of cells, assigning a polarization to each set of cells, such that adjacent sets of cells alternate in orthogonal polarization, flexibly assigning satellite transmit power to at least one cell, flexibly assigning frequency and bandwidth to at least one cell, and moving frequencies, bandwidths, and satellite transmit power among the cells within each set, independently of the other sets, ensuring that at all times no two adjacent cells within a given set share a common frequency.

Abstract: A handrail assembly 1 for a staircase or the like comprises a base rail R and a handrail 2 each preferably having at least one substantially flat surface (2a, FIG. 18), at least one upright post 3 and a bracket 4 to connect one rail 2 to the upright post 3, the post-to-rail bracket 4 having a base 40 for engagement with the substantially flat surface (2a, FIG. 18) of the rail 2 and a deformable portion 45 to accommodate different inclinations of the rail 2 relative to the post 3. An assembly 1 may further comprise a connector 5 to interconnect the handrail 2 with a rail 6, the connector 5 preferably having a first hollow portion with an internal cross-sectional shape to match the cross-section of the handrail 2, the handrail 2 extending at least partially into the first hollow portion.

Abstract: A method of introducing an oil field or gas field production chemical into a hydrocarbon-bearing porous subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore comprising: injecting a gelling composition comprising an aqueous liquid, an oil field or gas field production chemical, and a gellable polymer through the wellbore into the porous subterranean formation wherein the gellable polymer forms a gel within the pores of the subterranean formation thereby encapsulating the production chemical in the gel; and controllably releasing the production chemical from the gel into a formation fluid.

Abstract: The process includes heating of steel alloy parts in the presence of hydrogen prior to introduction of, for example, carburizing gas, preferably acetylene, in the presence of a diluent carrier gas. The process uses a continuous cycle involving only one carburizing (boost) step and one diffusion step, and high velocity gas quenching. The process is advantageously carried out in a unique, versatile vacuum furnace (also having high internal pressure capability) that provides very high velocity, continuous flow gas quenching, and a furnace design, including a long, low profile work zone configuration and quench gas recirculation equipment and flow pattern that facilitates high velocity gas flow. The entire process is accomplished in a single self-contained chamber of the furnace.

Abstract: A method of processing objects using a bilateral architecture. The method comprises the steps of: arranging a plurality of instruments around a bi-directional conveyance device, the instruments spaced at fixed pitch intervals along the conveyance device; assigning dedicated movers to each of the instruments, the dedicated movers for loading and unloading of the objects to and from the instruments and the conveyance device; and controlling the operation of the conveyance device to have an interrupted motion, the interrupted motion for coordinating the loading and unloading of the objects; wherein the dedicated movers are positioned such that adjacent movers operate independently of one another. The method can be operated on an automated robotic system having a modular architecture.

Abstract: A method of introducing an oil field or gas field production chemical into a hydrocarbon-bearing porous subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore comprising: injecting a gelling composition comprising an aqueous liquid, an oil field or gas field production chemical, and a gellable polymer through the wellbore into the porous subterranean formation wherein the gellable polymer forms a gel within the pores of the subterranean formation thereby encapsulating the production chemical in the gel; and controllably releasing the production chemical from the gel into a formation fluid.

Abstract: A duct (10) for transporting a two phase mixture has a length portion of circular cross-section (12) leading, via a transition zone (14) in which the duct cross-section changes from circular to lobed, to a zone in which its cross-section exhibits at lcast one lobe (16) extending helically around and along the duct. The duct has across-sectional area which is substantially constant, or which progressively increases, over the transition zone. The transition from circular to lobed cross-section is alternatively smooth and continuous, and the transition zone occupies a duct length in which the or each lobe becomes relocated by at least one position.

Abstract: A method of processing objects using a bilateral architecture. The method comprises the steps of: arranging a plurality of instruments around a bi-directional conveyance device, the instruments spaced at fixed pitch intervals along the conveyor device; assigning dedicated movers to each of the instruments, the dedicated movers for loading and unloading of the objects to and from the instruments and the conveyance device; and controlling the operation of the conveyance device to have an interrupted motion, the interrupted motion for co-ordinating the loading and unloading of the objects; wherein the dedicated movers are positioned such that adjacent movers operate independently of one another. The method can be operated on an automated robotic system having a modular architecture.

Abstract: A handrail assembly 1 for a staircase or the like comprises a base rail R and a handrail 2 each preferably having at least one substantially flat surface (2a, FIG. 18), at least one upright post 3 and a bracket 4 to connect one rail 2 to the upright post 3, the post-to-rail bracket 4 having a base 40 for engagement with the substantially flat surface (2a, FIG. 18) of the rail 2 and a deformable portion 45 to accommodate different inclinations of the rail 2 relative to the post 3. An assembly 1 may further comprise a connector 5 to interconnect the handrail 2 with a rail 6, the connector 5 preferably having a first hollow portion with an internal cross-sectional shape to match the cross-section of the handrail 2, the handrail 2 extending at least partially into the first hollow portion.

Abstract: A method of reducing scaling in an alkaline treatment liquor circuit in a metal ore treatment process, in which metal ore is digested in an alkaline medium in a digestion stage to form a suspension of ore residue solids in an aqueous liquor containing metal values, separating the solids from the liquor in a separation stage and then transferring the aqueous liquor containing metal values to a metal values recovery circuit from which the metal values are precipitated and separated from the alkaline liquor, wherein scaling of the surfaces is reduced by introducing into the alkaline liquor an effective amount of polymeric scale suppressant, characterised in that the polymeric suppressant comprises an ammonium or alkali metal salt of a polymer having an average molecular weight below 50,000 and which is a copolymer comprising 30 to 99 weight % ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid moieties and 1 to 70 weight % isobutyl (meth) acrylate moieties.