Abstract: An example system includes a first lead configured to be positioned in or beside a left internal jugular vein (IJV) of a patient to deliver a first stimulation signal to a first vagus nerve, the first lead including one or more first segmented electrodes positioned on a distal portion of the first lead and a first anchoring mechanism; a second lead configured to be positioned in or beside a right IJV of the patient to deliver a second stimulation signal to a second vagus nerve, the second lead including one or more second segmented electrodes positioned on a distal portion of the second lead and a second anchoring mechanism; and circuitry configured to deliver electrical energy to the first lead to deliver the first stimulation signal and the second lead to deliver the second stimulation signal to provide bilateral stimulation to the first vagus nerve and the second vagus nerve.

Abstract: A hospitality property management tool and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, set-top boxes are located in respective rooms at a hospitality establishment. The set-top boxes are joined in network communication with environmental amenities, such as lights and a thermostat that respectively control lighting and temperature. The set-top boxes utilize an unoccupied room profile and occupied room profile to set the environmental conditions, such as lighting and temperature, in the rooms. A guest preference profile may be activated within a room to provide guest-specific environmental conditions in the room associated with the guest.

Abstract: A set-top box with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The set-top box is associated with a room and includes a housing that secures a television input, a television output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein in an interconnected bus architecture. The set-top box generates a default interactive portal as well as a guest-specific interactive portal, which is generated from a guest configuration profile having information including guest identification, a guest channel preference presentation, and a guest service preference presentation with guest account information. The guest configuration profile may also enable the creation of a local area wireless network with substantially the same behavior as the guest's home wireless network.

Abstract: A micro-valve includes an orifice plate having a first surface, a second surface and an orifice extending from the first surface to the second surface. An actuating beam is disposed in spaced relation to the orifice plate. The actuating beam includes a base portion and a cantilevered portion. The base portion is separated from the orifice plate by a predetermined distance. The cantilevered portion extends from the base portion such that an overlapping portion thereof overlaps the orifice. The actuating beam is movable between a closed position and an open position. The micro-valve also includes a sealing structure including a sealing member disposed at the overlapping portion of the cantilevered portion. When the actuating beam is in the closed position, the cantilevered portion is positioned such that the sealing structure seals the orifice so as to close the micro-valve.

Abstract: A set-top box with self-monitoring and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, a housing secures a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein, which are communicatively interconnected by a busing architecture. The memory is accessible to the processor, and the memory includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to detect when the television is not being utilized. Responsive thereto, the instructions cause the processor to scan channels received from the television input and generate a composite TV screen image data that may be resolved to a single TV screen image made from an assemblage of TV screen image captures corresponding to the scanned channels.

Abstract: A system and method for providing awareness in a hospitality environment are presented. In one embodiment, a vertical and horizontal array of thermostats is provided and each thermostat includes an identification corresponding to a room in which the thermostat is placed. Each thermostat includes a wireless transceiver that periodically transmits an identification beacon signal that is received by a proximate wireless-enabled programmable interactive device. The proximate wireless-enabled programmable interactive device, in turn, broadcasts data packets including an indication of the strength of thermostat identification signals received. The broadcasts are received by a server via an array of wireless routers. A location of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable interactive device is determined based on the signal strength information in the data packets.

Abstract: A system for transferring heat from an ethanol and water vapor stream is disclosed as having a first heat exchanger, a valve system coupled to first heat exchanger and a first tank, a second tank coupled to the valve system, a second heat exchanger coupled to first tank and second tank, and a pipe line connecting the second tank to the first heat exchanger. A method for transferring heat is provided and involves intermittently cooling a first media, transferring heat from the first media to a second media, and directing the second media to a valve system. The valve system directs a flow of the second media to the first tank when a temperature of second media is above a temperature set point and directs the flow of the second media to the second tank when the temperature of second media is below the temperature set point.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include obtaining a mathematical expression(s) from a configuration file associated with a wagering game. The mathematical expression(s) include elements that represent game-related parameters of the one or more wagering games. In some embodiments, the operations further comprise converting the mathematical expression(s) to a programming code expression(s) equivalent to the mathematical expression(s) in response to detection of user-input to configure the wagering game for use via a wagering game machine. In some embodiments, the operations further comprise evaluating the programming code expression(s) using values for the one or more game-related parameters, and configuring the one or more wagering games based on evaluation of the programming code expression(s) using the values for the one or more game-related parameters.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include obtaining a mathematical expression(s) from a configuration file associated with a wagering game. The mathematical expression(s) include elements that represent game-related parameters of the one or more wagering games. In some embodiments, the operations further comprise converting the mathematical expression(s) to a programming code expression(s) equivalent to the mathematical expression(s) in response to detection of user-input to configure the wagering game for use via a wagering game machine. In some embodiments, the operations further comprise evaluating the programming code expression(s) using values for the one or more game-related parameters, and configuring the one or more wagering games based on evaluation of the programming code expression(s) using the values for the one or more game-related parameters.

Abstract: An automobile trunk compartmentalizer which provides for variable connection of shafts and shaft housings by use of lockable pins whereby great variety of compartment sizes and shapes is possible at the user's option. Creation of more than one row of compartments in the automobile trunk may provide shallow compartments which are desirable for an aging population.

Abstract: A livestock and material inventory system having a database storing inventory data, at least one data explorer operable to access predetermined portions of data in the database, and a graphical user interface operable to display data accessed by the at least one data explorer to a user is provided. The graphical user interface includes a first window operable to display a hierarchical tree structure representation of the inventory data, and a second window operable to display a data summary associated with a selected node in the hierarchical tree structure.

Abstract: An automobile trunk compartmentalizer which provides for variable connection of shafts and shaft housings by use of lockable pins whereby great variety of compartment sizes and shapes is possible at the user's option. Creation of more than one row of compartments in the automobile trunk may provide shallow compartments which are desirable for an aging population.

Abstract: A process for drawing, with plug assist, thin walled, closed-ended, tubular articles of thermoplastic elastomer is disclosed as well as a thermoplastic elastomer and apparatus therefor. According to the process, a plug, extensible into the mold cavity, is employed concurrently with a varying air pressure differential across the faces of the preform to bias the flow of the drawn article axially along the length of the tubular mold and away from the mold walls. At a point where the article is drawn substantially the length of the tubular mold, the mold is evacuated and the article finally formed against the mold walls. Such articles are usefully employed as condoms or finger cots.

Abstract: An expansible core shaft assembly adapted to retain a set of web spool cores in axially fixed positions while permitting rotational slippage of the web spool cores. The assembly may comprise a shaft defining at least one channel. An expansible bladder is retained in the channel and a set of first lugs and a set of second lugs are retained in the channel radially outwardly of the expansible bladder with first and second lugs mutually interspersed. Each lug has a bladder facing surface defining an indentation. The first lugs define a first indentation in a first position and the second lugs define a second indentation that is sufficiently distinct from said first position to reduce the effect that the radial position of each core stop has on the radial positions of its neighbors.

Abstract: A process for drawing, with plug assist, thin walled, closed-ended, tubular articles of thermoplastic elastomer is disclosed as well as a thermoplastic elastomer and apparatus therefor. According to the process, a plug, extensible into the mold cavity, is employed concurrently with a varying air pressure differential across the faces of the preform to bias the flow of the drawn article axially along the length of the tubular mold and away from the mold walls. At a point where the article is drawn substantially the length of the tubular mold, the mold is evacuated and the article finally formed against the mold walls. Such articles are usefully employed as condoms or finger cots.

Abstract: A process for drawing, with plug assist, thin walled, closed-ended, tubular articles of thermoplastic elastomer is disclosed as well as a thermoplastic elastomer and apparatus therefor. According to the process, a plug, extensible into the mold cavity, is employed concurrently with a varying air pressure differential across the faces of the preform to bias the flow of the drawn article axially along the length of the tubular mold and away from the mold walls. At a point where the article is drawn substantially the length of the tubular mold, the mold is evacuated and the article finally formed against the mold walls. Such articles are usefully employed as condoms or finger cots.

Abstract: A computer cooling system provides a more efficient means of cooling, resulting in lower average temperatures and better reliability for the system. It comprises of a rotating baffle or set of baffles, and a formed enclosure. The enclosure accepts cooling fluid in a direction that is parallel to one of its walls. The enclosure is such that a recirculating airflow pattern is set up in its cavity. As the baffle rotates the direction of fluid flow reverses itself in the cavity of the enclosure. The turbulence created by such a system greatly enhances the rate of heat transfer on the components within the enclosure. The exact dimensions of the baffle, and frequency with which it oscillates will depend on the specific system.

Abstract: A hermetic electronic assembly incorporating cryogenically-cooled and air-cooled elements in an integrated assembly. A hermetic cryogenically-cooled enclosure is disposed in close physical proximity to one or more air-cooled circuit cards to minimize physical separation, thereby optimizing signal bandwidth and noise immunity. The air-cooled circuit cards, which generate substantial heat but do not require low operating temperatures, are thermally decoupled from the cryogenically-cooled elements to optimize cryo-cooler efficiency by reserving cooling capacity for the temperature-sensitive processor elements mounted within an evacuated hermetic enclosure. Thus, thermal isolation and physical/electrical proximity are preserved in the same package.

Abstract: An injection site platform for use in adding a needle-injected medication to a parenteral fluid being provided to a patient includes a base which has an outlet port of a size and shape to receive a needle-piercible resealable diaphragm. The platform consists of the base member and a port member and when these two elements are assembled together they apply a compressive holding force on the needle-piercible resealable diaphragm. The platform includes one or more sockets which are of a size and shape to hold a hypodermic needle sheath. The sockets each include a plurality of arms which are flexible so that the socket may hold difference size and shape needle sheaths.