Abstract: Techniques are described with respect to a system, method, and computer product for generating relevance alerts. An associated method includes analyzing a multi-party discussion based on a generated profile associated with a user and assigning at least one relevance value associated with the user to the multi-party discussion based on the analysis and an amount of multi-party discussion participation associated with the user. The method further includes generating an alert for the user to participate in the multi-party discussion in response to determining the relevance value exceeding a relevance threshold associated with the multi-party discussion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a wallpapering aid comprising a base having a ground engaging portion, and a support. The support is configured to extend from the base and, in use, bear against a sheet of wallpaper hanging from a height above the support to cause a lower region of the sheet of wallpaper to hang offset horizontally from an upper region of the sheet of wallpaper. The wallpapering aid may be used to facilitate the preparation and fixing of the sheet of wallpaper to a wall.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has an outer housing, an inner housing disposed in the outer housing and forming a gap between an exterior surface of the inner housing and an interior surface of the outer housing, one or more thermal devices disposed in the gap, and an electrical port disposed in or on the outer housing and electrically connected to the one or more thermal devices.

Abstract: One or more exemplary embodiments comprise a system having: a primary ballast tank; an auxiliary ballast tank; and a Venturi valve having a fluid input channel, a first fluid output channel, and a second fluid output channel that outputs fluid at a pressure that is higher than that of the first fluid output channel, wherein the first fluid output channel of the Venturi valve is coupled to the primary ballast tank for filling the primary ballast tank with fluid, and the second fluid output channel of the Venturi valve is coupled to the auxiliary ballast tank for filling the auxiliary ballast tank with fluid.

Abstract: One or more exemplary embodiments comprise a system having: a primary ballast tank; an auxiliary ballast tank; and a Venturi valve having a fluid input channel, a first fluid output channel, and a second fluid output channel that outputs fluid at a pressure that is higher than that of the first fluid output channel, wherein the first fluid output channel of the Venturi valve is coupled to the primary ballast tank for filling the primary ballast tank with fluid, and the second fluid output channel of the Venturi valve is coupled to the auxiliary ballast tank for filling the auxiliary ballast tank with fluid.

Abstract: A method of electrical fault determination using the phase angle information of all the currents entering and leaving a protection zone, to determine whether a fault, if any, is internal or external to the protection zone.

Abstract: Thermoacoustic devices are disclosed wherein, for some embodiments, a combustion zone provides heat to a regenerator using a mean flow of compressible fluid. In other embodiments, burning of a combustible mixture within the combustion zone is pulsed in phase with the acoustic pressure oscillations to increase acoustic power output. In an example embodiment, the combustion zone and the regenerator are thermally insulated from other components within the thermoacoustic device.

Abstract: Thermoacoustic devices are disclosed wherein, for some embodiments, a combustion zone provides heat to a regenerator using a mean flow of compressible fluid. In other embodiments, burning of a combustible mixture within the combustion zone is pulsed in phase with the acoustic pressure oscillations to increase acoustic power output. In an example embodiment, the combustion zone and the regenerator are thermally insulated from other components within the thermoacoustic device.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring and controlling the operation of an electrical power transformer includes a processor with input transducers for providing to the processor inputs indicative of electrical current in a winding of the transformer and ambient temperature outside the transformer. The processor is arranged using an algorithm based upon heat transfer to repeatedly calculate a first prediction, based upon the present values of electrical current and ambient temperature, of a time period before the hot spot temperature exceeds a pre-set allowable maximum and a second prediction, based upon the current value of power, of a time period before the accumulated loss of life exceeds a pre-set allowable maximum. If the shorter time period of the two calculations is less than a pre-set value, for example one half hour, the processor generates an alarm signal and a display counting down the time remaining in the period, together with a second alarm signal at a shorter second time of for example one quarter hour.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring and controlling the operation of an electrical power transformer includes a processor with input transducers for providing to the processor inputs indicative of electrical current in a winding of the transformer and ambient temperature outside the transformer. The processor is arranged using an algorithm based upon heat transfer to repeatedly calculate a first prediction, based upon the present values of electrical current and ambient temperature, of a time period before the hot spot temperature exceeds a pre-set allowable maximum and a second prediction, based upon the current value of power, of a time period before the accumulated loss of life exceeds a pre-set allowable maximum. If the shorter time period of the two calculations is less than a pre-set value, for example one half hour, the processor generates an alarm signal and a display counting down the time remaining in the period, together with a second alarm signal at a shorter second time of for example one quarter hour.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring and controlling the operation of an electrical power transformer includes a processor with input transducers for providing to the processor inputs indicative of electrical current in a winding of the transformer and ambient temperature outside the transformer. The processor is arranged using an algorithm based upon heat transfer to repeatedly calculate a first prediction, based upon the present values of electrical current and ambient temperature, of a time period before the hot spot temperature exceeds a pre-set allowable maximum and a second prediction, based upon the current value of power, of a time period before the accumulated loss of life exceeds a pre-set allowable maximum. If the shorter time period of the two calculations is less than a pre-set value, for example one half hour, the processor generates an alarm signal and a display counting down the time remaining in the period, together with a second alarm signal at a shorter second time of for example one quarter hour.

Abstract: An implantable medication infusion device (10) includes a pump (34) that provides medication at below atmospheric pressure from a reservoir (32) to a catheter (12) in response to a controller (44). The infusion device (10) includes a septum fitting (14) having a septum (66) and a poppet (84) that is located in a cavity (80) that is in communication with reservoir (32). A fill needle (126) of a passive filling device opens poppet (84) and a vent needle (144) of the filling device is also opened to establish passive flow of medication from a vial (95) into the reservoir (32).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing gas bubbles from the fluid handling system of a medication infusion system is disclosed. Specifically, the invention discloses a method for removing fluid and/or gas bubbles from fluid reservoir and pumping chamber. The present invention utilizes a fluid pump of a single valve positive displacement design with the pump chamber in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: An optical system for measuring relative lateral displacement or velocity relative to a surface above which the system is independently supported has a grating consisting of different bands that are adapted to impart to incident light received from the surface two different optically selective characteristics such as different polarizations or different wavelengths. Light transmitted by or reflected from the bands is focussed through filtering means onto photodetectors which produce signals proportional to the light received thereby. The filtering means (polarization selective or wavelength selective, as the case may be) associated with the respective photodetectors respectively separate light coming from bands having one of said characteristics from light from the bands having the other of said characteristics.