Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for optimizing three-dimensional models. One of the methods includes determining, for a three-dimensional model of an object to be optimized, a plurality of points on the object that each have at least a threshold likelihood of being a focal point, the object having two or more regions each of which include one or more textures, one or more meshes, or both; identifying, from the two or more regions, one or more non-focal regions that i) each do not include any of the plurality of points, and ii) are a proper subset of the two or more regions; generating, using the one or more non-focal regions, an optimized three-dimensional model for the object with a smaller size less than a larger size of the three-dimensional model; and storing the optimized three-dimensional model in a non-volatile memory.

Abstract: Matrix (30) for a heat exchanger to exchange heat between a first fluid and a second fluid, the first fluid being for instance air and the second fluid being for instance oil. The matrix (30) comprises: a channel for the first fluid. an array of passages for the second fluid, the passages extending in the channel. The array supports at least two cooling fins. The matrix is made by a process of additive manufacturing. The fins are inclined with respect to each other along the direction of the flow of the first fluid.

Abstract: A system and method for managing pedagogical content are provided. A system and method may capture a screenshot of a presentation of educational or pedagogical content and convert the captured screenshot to an image. A system and method may receive comments from a student and include the comments and image in a pedagogical element, which may be stored in the student's account and may be submitted to a teacher for review, evaluation or assessment. A system and method may receive an assessment from a teacher and may include the assessment in the pedagogical element to produce a revised pedagogical element, which may be presented to the student. A system and method may provide a snapshot tool as a Flash library included in a source code of educational content.

Abstract: System for maintaining a turbine engine comprising said turbine engine of an aircraft comprising: an oil reservoir, a sensor able to measure an oil level in the oil reservoir, a transmission device, such as electrical wires, wireless transmitter circuit, etc., for transmitting a signal coupled to said sensor in order to transmit information relating to an oil level measured by said sensor, communication means, such as a display or a near field communications circuit coupled to said transmission devices, for communicating to the outside of the aircraft information representing an oil level measured by said sensor. The maintenance system further comprises a mobile apparatus able to communicate with said communication means and comprising a display for displaying said information representing an oil level to an operator situated on the ground outside the aircraft.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating an object are disclosed herein. The locator system includes a plurality of reference units and a processor in communication with the reference units. The reference units are positioned about a region in which a mobile unit is located, and each reference unit includes a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a transaction-based location signal to and from the mobile unit. The processor is configured for estimating time offsets between the mobile unit and reference units and aligning the transaction-based location signals from the reference units by removing the time offsets. The processor is further configured for collectively processing data representative of the aligned location signals based on a plurality of potential locations to identify at least one of the potential locations as a likely mobile unit location.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate for transglutaminase comprising a peptide having from 3 to 15 amino acids and comprising the amino acid sequence X?4X?3X?2X?1QX+1X+2X+3X+4, bound to a first molecule.

Abstract: Presented are a system and method for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) based modular platform having educational content. The method includes providing an interactive GUI on a computing device accessible by a user, receiving a first indication of a language being studied, displaying a GUI layer presenting a selection of level, unit, activity, and/or lesson, receiving a lesson selection, and computing a rating or score of the user's performance for the lesson. The system includes a control module, a language parser accessing content within repositories and providing language specific content, a syntax rule base providing language specific rules to the language parser, a lesson format base providing a lesson style to the control module, and a speech recognition system evaluating a user's utterance for pronunciation and sentence structure accuracy.

Abstract: Presented are a system and method for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) based modular platform having educational content. The method includes providing an interactive GUI on a computing device accessible by a user, receiving a first indication of a language being studied, displaying a GUI layer presenting a selection of level, unit, activity, and/or lesson, receiving a lesson selection, and computing a rating or score of the user's performance for the lesson. The system includes a control module, a language parser accessing content within repositories and providing language specific content, a syntax rule base providing language specific rules to the language parser, a lesson format base providing a lesson style to the control module, and a speech recognition system evaluating a user's utterance for pronunciation and sentence structure accuracy.

Abstract: An animated duck decoy including a decoy base, and a shell removably connected to the base. The shell defining a chamber. An upper bracket attached to an upper surface of the chamber, a tail member connected to an end of a horizontal rod that outwardly extends from a rear of the shell, and an opposite end of the rod connected to a torsion spring, the torsion spring also connected to the upper bracket, the rod further defining an open end. A lower bracket attached to a top surface of the base. The lower bracket having a motor attached thereto, the motor having a drive shaft extending vertically upward from the lower bracket, and the drive shaft having a hub fixed at the top end thereof. The hub having a horizontal arm including a first elastomeric bumper affixed at one end.

Abstract: An animated duck decoy including a decoy base, and a shell removably connected to the base. The shell defining a chamber. An upper bracket attached to an upper surface of the chamber, a tail member connected to an end of a horizontal rod that outwardly extends from a rear of the shell, and an opposite end of the rod connected to a torsion spring, the torsion spring also connected to the upper bracket, the rod further defining an open end. A lower bracket attached to a top surface of the base. The lower bracket having a motor attached thereto, the motor having a drive shaft extending vertically upward from the lower bracket, and the drive shaft having a hub fixed at the top end thereof. The hub having a horizontal arm including a first elastomeric bumper affixed at one end.

Abstract: A Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) process allows isolation of data usage between corporate and personal endpoints. This process promotes BYOD usage in a corporate environment because of the ability to segregate data (i.e., corporate or personal). This enables BYOD users to bear the financial responsibility of data transmitted as part of such users' personal data plan and not data transmitted for corporate use. The process enhances productivity of corporate employees by removing cost barriers created by accessing corporate data on personal data plans.

Abstract: Processes are engineered to electronically identify different types of mobile data so as to facilitate an insurer to pay wireless data transmission costs for customers who transmit specific types of information to the insurer.

Abstract: A system and method for managing pedagogical content are provided. A system and method may capture a screenshot of a presentation of educational or pedagogical content and convert the captured screenshot to an image. A system and method may receive comments from a student and include the comments and image in a pedagogical element, which may be stored in the student's account and may be submitted to a teacher for review, evaluation or assessment A system and method may receive an assessment from a teacher and may include the assessment in the pedagogical element to produce a revised pedagogical element, which may be presented to the student. A system and method may provide a snapshot tool as a Flash library included in a source code of educational content.

Abstract: Photochromic materials that are useful for a variety of applications, including for making various unit functions of fluidic devices, particularly microfluidic devices, such as microchannels, valves and gates, using spiropyran materials, such as a polymeric composition comprising a spiropyran. In certain disclosed embodiments the spiropyran is admixed with a polymeric material. For example, the spiropyran may be intercalated into a polyalkylene or polyalkylene phthalate. The spiropyran also may be polymerized with at least one additional monomer to form a heteropolymer, such as by polymerization with styrene, styrene derivatives, acrylate and acrylate derivatives. The spiropyran compositions can be used to make, for example, a photoactuatable valve, a fluidic channel, etc. The valve may be associated with a microchannel, including photochromic microchannel. In certain disclosed embodiments, the valve, at least one microchannel, or both, are re-patternable by light exposure.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus, system, and method for chemical synthesis and/or analysis are disclosed. One embodiment of a disclosed apparatus comprises a laminated, microfluidic structure defining a reactor and a separator. Such apparatuses, or portions thereof, generally have dimensions ranging from about 1 micrometer to about 100 micrometers. To implement synthetic processes, disclosed embodiments of the apparatus generally include at least one unit operation, such as a mixer, a valve, a separator, a detector, and combinations thereof. Individual apparatuses may be coupled both in series and in parallel to form a system for making chemical compounds. An individual apparatus or a system also can be used in combination with known devices and processes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating an object are disclosed herein. The locator system includes a plurality of reference units and a processor in communication with the reference units. The reference units are positioned about a region in which a mobile unit is located, and each reference unit includes a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a transaction-based location signal to and from the mobile unit. The processor is configured for estimating time offsets between the mobile unit and reference units and aligning the transaction-based location signals from the reference units by removing the time offsets. The processor is further configured for collectively processing data representative of the aligned location signals based on a plurality of potential locations to identify at least one of the potential locations as a likely mobile unit location.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes devices useful for microscale fluid purification, separation, and synthesis. Such devices generally comprise a fluid membrane that separates two or more fluids flowing through plural microchannels operatively associated with the membrane. Often, the membrane is a semipermeable membrane, such as might be used with a filtration device, such as a dialyzer. Devices of the present invention can be combined with other microscale devices to make systems. For example, the devices may be coupled with one or more microchemical microfactories, one or more micromixers, one or more microheaters, etc. Examples of devices made according to the present invention included an oxygenator, a dialyzer, microheat exchangers, etc.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes devices useful for microscale fluid purification, separation, and synthesis. Such devices generally comprise a fluid membrane that separates two or more fluids flowing through plural microchannels operatively associated with the membrane. Often, the membrane is a semipermeable membrane, such as might be used with a filtration device, such as a dialyzer. Devices of the present invention can be combined with other microscale devices to make systems. For example, the devices may be coupled with one or more microchemical microfactories, one or more micromixers, one or more microheaters, etc. Examples of devices made according to the present invention included an oxygenator, a dialyzer, microheat exchangers, etc.

Abstract: A method for determining an estimation of a topological support of a tubular based structure comprising an inner wall and a plurality of distinct regions, the method comprising (a) obtaining image data representative of the tubular based structure; (b) placing an initial seed in an initial region selected from one of the distinct regions; (c) performing an initial region growing until an initial resulting area comprises at least a portion of the inner wall and at least a portion of a neighboring region corresponding to one of the distinct regions; (d) starting a tree comprising an initial tree node corresponding to the initial region; (e) for each neighboring region: placing a subsequent seed in the neighboring region; performing a corresponding subsequent region growing until a subsequent resulting area comprises at least a portion of the inner wall and at least a portion of an additional neighboring region; and adding a tree node corresponding to the neighboring region in the tree; (f) performing processing

Abstract: The present disclosure describes devices useful for microscale fluid purification, separation, and synthesis. Such devices generally comprise a fluid membrane that separates two or more fluids flowing through plural microchannels operatively associated with the membrane. Often, the membrane is a semipermeable membrane, such as might be used with a filtration device, such as a dialyzer. Devices of the present invention can be combined with other microscale devices to make systems. For example, the devices may be coupled with one or more microchemical microfactories, one or more micromixers, one or more microheaters, etc. Examples of devices made according to the present invention included an oxygenator, a dialyzer, microheat exchangers, etc.