Abstract: A linear fireplace system, assemblies, modular units, and related methods that can be installed in a modular fashion at a selected installation location so as to avoid drawbacks experienced in the prior art. The system can include modular linear units, corner units, and/or end units interconnectable to form a modular linear fireplace assembly. The system can include an alignment track system with a track member that receives alignment rails on the bottom of the modular units to axially align the interconnected units. The system can include a combustion air flow passage within the fireplace that maintains a relatively low exterior temperature of the assembly and that allows combustible and non-combustible building materials to be installed against or immediately adjacent to the top and base portions of the modular units of the assembly.

Abstract: A Mersenne reflector system using parabolic troughs as primary and secondary reflectors, in Cassegrainian and Gregorian configurations, and a Mersenne-like reflector system using truncated parabolic troughs as primary and secondary reflectors in the Cassegrainian configuration, using a variety of combinations of reflector shapes: elliptical primary and circular secondary, rectangular primary and square secondary, elliptical primary and square secondary, and rectangular primary and circular secondary. A method for constructing truncated Cassegrainian systems using truncated troughs.

Abstract: An optical distributor (10) is formed as a reflector with one or more sloping surfaces. The sloping surfaces have varying angles of inclination from a bottom edge (20) to a top edge of the reflector. The sloping surfaces may form a substantially pyramidal or conical frustum-shaped surface. The sloping surfaces may additionally or alternatively form a band of adjacent or contiguous faceted surfaces. The reflector is configured to receive light rays through an opening (32) in a first plane (30) and reflect light rays radially outward and upward at varying angles of reflection (8B) to a bottom surface of the first plane (30) in a manner that illuminates both the bottom surface of the first plane (30) and an area (40) below the first plane (30). The reflected light may illuminate the first plane (30) and the area (40) below in a substantially uniform manner.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes an elongated shaft extending distally from a housing and an actuating mechanism operably coupled to a proximal portion of the elongated shaft and configured to move the elongated shaft. First and second jaw members are coupled to a distal portion of the elongated shaft. The first jaw member is pivotable relative to the second jaw member between open and closed positions. An electrically conductive tissue sealing surface is disposed on each of the jaw members and is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. A tissue-dissecting electrode is disposed on a distal end of at least one of the jaw members in spaced relation to the tissue sealing surface and is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. An insulator couples the tissue-dissecting electrode to the jaw member and electrically insulates the tissue-dissecting electrode from the jaw member.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards network address based flood attack mitigation methods. A PTMD disposed between one or more computers may monitor several network flows and generate metrics associated with malicious network activity, such as, flood attacks. If flood attacks are determined to be occurring, the PTMD may determine the network addresses targeted by the flood attack. Further, the PTMD may activate flood attack mitigation procedures for the targeted network addresses such that other network addresses associated with the monitored network flows are excluded from the flood attack mitigation procedure. The PTMD may monitor the network traffic subsequently communicated to the targeted network addresses. Accordingly, the PTMD may determine if the flood attack has ceased based on characteristics of the monitored network traffic. If the flood attack has ceased, the flood attack mitigation procedures for the targeted network addresses may be deactivated.

Abstract: Embodiments include luminescent materials and associated production methods. The material includes a crystal borate having a first substitutable element, neodymium substituted for the first substitutable element at a first substitution percentage of at least about 20 percent, and ytterbium substituted for the first substitutable element at a second substitution percentage. The material also may include chromium substituted for a second substitutable element. The material also may include a medium within which particles of the borate are incorporated. The medium, with the luminescent material particles, may form a security feature of an article. Embodiments of methods for identifying whether such a luminescent material is incorporated with an article include exposing a portion of the article to excitation in a chromium absorption band, and determining whether a detected emission produced by the article as a result of the excitation indicates an ytterbium emission after termination of the exposing step.

Abstract: Luminescent borates, luminescent materials, and articles incorporating such borates are provided herein. An embodiment of a luminescent borate includes a host borate that has a B9O16-comprising crystal lattice. Neodymium and/or ytterbium are present within the host borate, and one or more substitutable elements are optionally present along with the neodymium and/or ytterbium within the host borate. The one or more substitutable elements are different from neodymium and ytterbium.

Abstract: Cold-worked metal articles, methods of forming cold-worked metal articles, and methods of authenticating cold-worked metal articles are provided. In an embodiment, a cold-worked metal article includes a cold-worked metal-containing surface that defines pores. The cold-worked metal-containing surface includes luminescent phosphor particles disposed within the pores. The luminescent phosphor particles include a host crystal lattice material and at least one active ion that includes an absorbing ion and an emitting ion that is different from the absorbing ion. The luminescent phosphor particles are harder than the cold-worked metal-containing surface.

Abstract: Embodiments include luminescent materials and associated production methods. The material includes a crystal borate having a first substitutable element and a second substitutable element, one or more rare earth ions substituted for the first substitutable element, and chromium substituted for the second substitutable element. The one or more rare earth ions are selected from a group consisting of neodymium and ytterbium. The material also may include a medium within which particles of the borate are incorporated. The medium, with the luminescent material particles, may form a security feature of an article. Embodiments of methods for identifying whether such a luminescent material is incorporated with an article include exposing a portion of the article to excitation in a chromium absorption band, and determining whether a detected emission produced by the article as a result of the excitation indicates an ytterbium emission after termination of the exposing step.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying, tracking, and/or authenticating objects that is simple to apply and to use by an intended user, but is extremely difficult to counterfeit or compromise by an unintended user. Also disclosed is a multi-color, co-planar indicium made of a combination of printed patterns of multiple inks. The printed patterns may be modified by software-generated masks to ensure that the patterns are co-planar. The indicium is undecipherable unless irradiated with specified wavelengths of light radiation, filtered through specified spectral filters, and read and decoded by an electronic image reader. The indicium may be visible or covert. The indicium encodes unique true information about the object and may encode nonsensical or intentionally incorrect information as a further deterrent to unauthorized use. The method permits the indicia to be applied to objects at high processing speeds possible with inkjet printing.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods and apparatus for identifying a thermographic phosphor (e.g., Er:YIG) incorporated on or within an article. The method and apparatus embodiments include an excitation energy generator selectively exposing the article to excitation energy in an absorption band of the thermographic phosphor. An emitted radiation detector detects first emission characteristics of first emitted radiation from the article within an emission band of the thermographic phosphor when the article has a first temperature, and detects second emission characteristics of second emitted radiation from the article within the emission band when the article has a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. A temperature adjustment element is configured to adjust the temperature of the article. Embodiments further include a processing system determining whether the first emission characteristics are sufficiently different from the second emission characteristics.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying, tracking, and/or authenticating objects that is simple to apply and to use by an intended user, but is extremely difficult to counterfeit or compromise by an unintended user. Also disclosed is a multi-color, co-planar indicium made of a combination of printed patterns of multiple inks. The printed patterns may be modified by software-generated masks to ensure that the patterns are co-planar. The indicium is undecipherable unless irradiated with specified wavelengths of light radiation, filtered through specified spectral filters, and read and decoded by an electronic image reader. The indicium may be visible or covert. The indicium encodes unique true information about the object and may encode nonsensical or intentionally incorrect information as a further deterrent to unauthorized use. The method permits the indicia to be applied to objects at high processing speeds possible with inkjet printing.

Abstract: An oral appliance assembly is described. The assembly includes an oral appliance component having an upper teeth tray and a lower teeth tray. The assembly further includes a module releasably connected to the oral appliance. The module includes at least one sensor that is positioned outside of the mouth and underneath the nares of a subject's nose when the oral appliance component is positioned in the subject's mouth. A method of measuring user compliance of an oral appliance is also described. The method includes positioning an oral appliance in the mouth of a subject, measuring at least one parameter of airflow from the subject's nose or mouth, and determining compliance based on the at least one measured parameter. A method of measuring effectiveness of an oral appliance is also described.

Abstract: A combined solar daylighting system and photovoltaic electric generation system operates when daylighting both is and is not required. A photovoltaic (PV) array is mounted on the back side of a secondary reflector of the daylighting system with the secondary reflector hinged in such a way that, when sunlight is not needed, the PV array can be positioned to collect the concentrated solar radiation from the primary reflector and convert it into electrical energy. When sunlight is needed for daylighting, the PV array on the back of the secondary reflector receives unconcentrated solar radiation, thereby converting it to electrical energy, though not in as large a quantity as when receiving concentrated solar radiation from the primary concentrating reflector in solar-only mode.

Abstract: A device for delivering an apparatus or object to a targeted location within a human subject is disclosed. The device includes a body, a handle mounted to and movable relative to the body, a tube, a cable, and retention unit. The tube has a first end fixed to the body and a second end fixed to the retention unit. The cable has a first end fixed to the handle and a second end remote from the body. The cable extends substantially through the tube. The retention unit applies a retention force sufficient to retain the capsule during endoscopic delivery to the targeted release location. Manipulation of the handle in a direction relative to the retention unit generates a force on the apparatus greater than the retention force. A method of use is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a barrier for at least partially surrounding a planted area for repelling gastropods such as slugs. The barrier has a wall arrangement and a ledge extending away from the wall arrangement. The ledge has a plurality of downwardly extending elements. The barrier is disposed over ground around a planted area to be protected from gastropods. The wall arrangement and the downwardly extending elements of the ledge are operative to repel gastropods and thereby reduce the likelihood of their reaching the planted area.

Abstract: A value document authentication system comprising a value document substrate having a luminescent compound disposed on or in at least a portion of the value document substrate, wherein the luminescent compound (i) comprises a host lattice having at least one metallic ion with magnetic properties and is doped with at least one rare earth ion capable of emitting infrared radiation with at least one distinct infrared wavelength when excited with an exciting light source having sufficient energy to excite emission from the luminescent compound and (ii) has a pre-determined ratio of metallic ions to rare earth ions such that the ratio corresponds to a parameter of a pre-selected decision criteria, both of which properties are measured at the same location on the value document and used to authenticate the value document.

Abstract: Articles, methods of validating the articles, and validating systems are provided herein. In an embodiment, an article includes a substrate and a security feature on the substrate. The security feature includes a first region that has a first ink composition and a second region that has a second ink composition. The first ink composition includes a first luminescent phosphor and the second ink composition includes a second luminescent phosphor that is different from the first luminescent phosphor. The first luminescent phosphor and the second luminescent phosphor have indistinguishable excitation energy wavelengths, indistinguishable emission wavelengths, and distinguishable temporal decay properties.

Abstract: Luminescent borates, luminescent materials, and articles incorporating such borates are provided herein. An embodiment of a luminescent borate includes a host borate that has a B9O16-comprising crystal lattice. Neodymium and/or ytterbium are present within the host borate, and one or more substitutable elements are optionally present along with the neodymium and/or ytterbium within the host borate. The one or more substitutable elements are different from neodymium and ytterbium.

Abstract: Value documents or other articles having authentication features, authentication apparatuses, and methods of authentication are provided that relate to the use of taggants that absorb radiation from an illumination source and emit radiation in a manner that has a maximum intensity occurring a duration of time after the illumination source has been switched off. The taggants include a crystalline composition comprising a host crystal lattice doped with a first rare earth active ion, and in some examples a second rare earth active ion.