Abstract: A bottle closure and opener device for use on a wine bottle including a sleeve having a top side, a bottom side, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the top side having a first opening, the bottom side having a second opening, and the inner surface including inner threads, wherein the internal threads are configured to mate with external threads on a top portion of the wine bottle. A cork having an upper portion positioned within the first opening of the sleeve and extending above the bottle top and a lower portion of the cork positioned within the wine bottle's neck opening to seal a liquid within the wine bottle and to seal oxygen from entering the bottle. During operation, the cork and sleeve combination are configured to be removed from the wine bottle's opening via unscrewing the sleeve from the top portion of the wine bottle.

Abstract: An agricultural product may comprise an aqueous carrier phase, a neutral surfactant or a reaction product thereof, and a reaction product of a saccharide polymer and a fatty acid. The reaction product of the saccharide polymer may be obtained in the presence of water and a hydroxide base (optionally in the presence of the neutral surfactant). The saccharide polymer comprises a dextran, a dextrin compound, or any combination thereof. The reaction product of the saccharide polymer and the fatty acid may be present at a concentration effective to lower surface tension of the neutral surfactant and may be highly biodegradable as evaluated by OECD 301B. Compositions comprising the reaction product of the saccharide polymer and the fatty acid may be applied to an untreated soil to form a treated soil that absorbs water faster or to a greater extent than does the untreated soil.

Abstract: The present design is directed to a series of interconnected compute servers including a supervisory hardware node and a plurality of knowledge hardware nodes, wherein the series of interconnected compute servers are configured to categorize and scale performance of multiple disjoint algorithms across a seemingly infinite actor population, wherein the series of interconnected compute servers are configured to normalize data using a common taxonomy, distribute normalized data relatively evenly across the plurality of knowledge hardware nodes, supervise algorithm execution across knowledge hardware nodes, and collate and present results of analysis of the seemingly infinite actor population.

Abstract: A fluid sensor for sensing a concentration or composition of a fluid, the sensor comprising a first temperature sensing element located on or within a first dielectric membrane and a second temperature sensing element located on or within a second dielectric membrane. An output circuit is configured to measure a differential signal between the first temperature sensing element and the second temperature sensing element. The fluid sensor comprises a first region configured to be exposed to the fluid, and a second region configured to be isolated from the fluid, where the first dielectric membrane is located in the first region, such that in use, the first dielectric membrane is exposed to the fluid, and wherein the second dielectric membrane is located in the second region such that in use, the second dielectric membrane is isolated from the fluid.

Abstract: A bottle closure and opener device for use on a wine bottle including a sleeve having a top side, a bottom side, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the top side having a first opening, the bottom side having a second opening, and the inner surface including inner threads, wherein the internal threads are configured to mate with external threads on a top portion of the wine bottle. A cork having an upper portion positioned within the first opening of the sleeve and extending above the bottle top and a lower portion of the cork positioned within the wine bottle's neck opening to seal a liquid within the wine bottle and to seal oxygen from entering the bottle. During operation, the cork and sleeve combination are configured to be removed from the wine bottle's opening via unscrewing the sleeve from the top portion of the wine bottle.

Abstract: A temporary stair tread for use in a pan stir comprises a stair tread body, a first biasing member and a second biasing member. The stair tread body has an upper portion, a lower portion, and first and second longitudinal edges. The first biasing member extends outwardly from the first longitudinal edge and is resiliently deformable. The second biasing member extends outwardly from the second longitudinal edge and is resiliently deformable. The temporary stair tread is installable in a pan stair tread recess with the first biasing member resiliently deformed by contact with a first side of the pan stair tread recess and the second biasing member resiliently deformed by contact with a second side of the pan stair recess to generate a retention force securing the temporary stair tread in place.

Abstract: The disclosed filter and/or debris disposal system is configured to easily dispose of filter elements, filter media, and/or debris with minimal resources, and/or effort. In some examples, a flexible container is employed to enclose a used filter element prior to removal of the filter from the extractor.

Abstract: An extraction system is designed for metal working and other applications. The system employs a pneumatic filter cleaning device with a pneumatically driven extension guide arranged within a chamber. The guide is coupled to a first end of an extension member, which has a nozzle secured to a second end. Pressurized air provided to the nozzle through the extension member increases until a pressure at the nozzle reaches a threshold pressure level. Once the threshold pressure level is achieved, the nozzle releases a pulse or burst of air directed to a filter medium. The force from the pulsed air dislodges airborne components from the filter media, resulting in a cleaned filter.

Abstract: Photoluminous markers can include a photoluminescent outer surface and an inner surface configured to affix to a surface of a building element, and an overlay having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface being removably coupled to a surface area of the photoluminescent outer surface of the photoluminous marker, wherein the overlay permits light emitted from the photoluminescent outer surface to be visible.

Abstract: Photoluminous markers can include a photoluminescent outer surface and an inner surface configured to affix to a surface of a building element, and an overlay having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface being removably coupled to a surface area of the photoluminescent outer surface of the photoluminous marker, wherein the overlay permits light emitted from the photoluminescent outer surface to be visible.

Abstract: A cover can comprise a photoluminescent outer surface, an inner surface configured to be affixed to an indicator sign, and one or more void areas passing through the inner and outer surfaces arranged in a pattern, wherein the pattern defines a negative image in contrast to the photoluminescent outer surface, wherein the negative image corresponds to a graphic on the indicator sign such that the first graphic is visible through the void areas when the cover is affixed to the indicator sign.

Abstract: An exemplary stair nosing assembly comprises an elongated base, a plate adhered to the base, and a cover temporarily covering the base and the plate. The base has at least one anchor portion extending downwardly from the upper portion for attaching to a lip of a tread pan and/or embedding in a concrete tread. The plate can have various features to enhance traction and visibility. The cover has front and rear lips that engage with front and rear edges of the base, and a weakened region adjacent the rear lip. When the assembly is embedded in a concrete tread, the cover is configured to fracture at the weakened region when the front lip of the cover is lifted upward from the base, leaving the rear lip remaining embedded in the concrete and allowing the rest of the cover to be removed to expose upper surfaces of the base and plate.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns embodiments of a stair tread which can be installed on a staircase. The stair tread has a metal core at least partially covered with high-strength concrete. In an exemplary embodiment, the core portion has first and second horizontally extending metal plates that are spaced apart vertically from each other, and a grid of vertically extending metal support walls positioned between the first and second metal plates. The core portion can also include retention elements extending upwardly from and distributed across the top of the upper plate for securing the concrete covering to the core.

Abstract: An exemplary stair nosing assembly comprises an elongated base, a plate adhered to the base, and a cover temporarily covering the base and the plate. The base has at least one anchor portion extending downwardly from the upper portion for attaching to a lip of a tread pan and/or embedding in a concrete tread. The plate can have various features to enhance traction and visibility. The cover has front and rear lips that engage with front and rear edges of the base, and a weakened region adjacent the rear lip. When the assembly is embedded in a concrete tread, the cover is configured to fracture at the weakened region when the front lip of the cover is lifted upward from the base, leaving the rear lip remaining embedded in the concrete and allowing the rest of the cover to be removed to expose upper surfaces of the base and plate.

Abstract: An exemplary stair nosing assembly comprises an elongated base, a plate adhered to the base, and a cover temporarily covering the base and the plate. The base has at least one anchor portion extending downwardly from the upper portion for attaching to a lip of a tread pan and/or embedding in a concrete tread. The plate can have various features to enhance traction and visibility. The cover has front and rear lips that engage with front and rear edges of the base, and a weakened region adjacent the rear lip. When the assembly is embedded in a concrete tread, the cover is configured to fracture at the weakened region when the front lip of the cover is lifted upward from the base, leaving the rear lip remaining embedded in the concrete and allowing the rest of the cover to be removed to expose upper surfaces of the base and plate.

Abstract: A micro-hotplate is provided in the form of a device comprising a sensor and one or more resistive heaters within the micro-hotplate arranged to heat the sensor. Furthermore a controller is provided for applying a bidirectional drive current to at least one of the heaters to reduce electromigration. The controller also serves to drive the heater at a substantially constant temperature.

Abstract: An exemplary stair nosing assembly comprises an elongated base, a plate adhered to the base, and a cover temporarily covering the base and the plate. The base has at least one anchor portion extending downwardly from the upper portion for attaching to a lip of a tread pan and/or embedding in a concrete tread. The plate can have various features to enhance traction and visibility. The cover has front and rear lips that engage with front and rear edges of the base, and a weakened region adjacent the rear lip. When the assembly is embedded in a concrete tread, the cover is configured to fracture at the weakened region when the front lip of the cover is lifted upward from the base, leaving the rear lip remaining embedded in the concrete and allowing the rest of the cover to be removed to expose upper surfaces of the base and plate.

Abstract: A micro-hotplate is provided in the form of a device comprising a sensor and one or more resistive heaters within the micro-hotplate arranged to heat the sensor. Furthermore a controller is provided for applying a bidirectional drive current to at least one of the heaters to reduce electromigration. The controller also serves to drive the heater at a substantially constant temperature. Such an arrangement is advantageous over an arrangement in which a unidirectional DC drive current is applied to the heater. This is because the unidirectional drive current causes electromigration which results in an increase in resistance over time. This is undesirable because it can lead to failure of the micro-hotplate. In contrast, the application of the bidirectional current reduces electromigration and as a result there is insignificant change in the resistance of the heater over time and under high temperature.