A method for cultivating algae can include providing a body of water in a substantially enclosed system. The enclosed system can have a length of channel and a cover. The method can optionally include circulating the body of water through the enclosed system under positive pressure conditions. The positive pressure should prevent ingress of any external atmosphere or material. Further, the method can include cultivating the algae in the body of water at conditions which promote growth. Likewise, a system for cultivating algae can include a channel with a cover, water in the channel, and a pump to introduce positive pressure into the system.

The invention provides a nontoxic photoluminescent adjuvant delivered to targeted crops, plants and seeds to assist spray operations in low light or dark light operations. These crops and plants include: not for human consumption crops, turf grass, ornamental flowers, seeds, shrubs and bushes. Spray operations are delivered to the foliar, crown and soil parts and seeds of a crop or plant.

A plant cultivation apparatus including: a guide rail disposed above a cultivation bed and extending along the length direction of the cultivation bed; a movable unit configured to move along the guide rail; an arm unit having a first end that is coupled to the movable unit, and a second end that is telescopically extendable from the movable unit toward the cultivation bed; and a UV radiation unit coupled to the second end of the arm unit and configured to irradiate the cultivation bed with a set amount of UV light.

A plant cultivation device and feed-water control method, in which a detected moisture amount to start watering and a water amount to be used per watering are easily determined, includes a plant cultivation container for pooling plant cultivation water; a water-absorbing plant cultivation bed material; a feed-water device for supplying the plant cultivation water to the plant cultivation container; a first moisture sensor for detecting moisture around an immersed part of the plant cultivation bed material; a second moisture sensor for detecting moisture around a growth part of the plant cultivation bed material where a root of a plant is received; and a controller for supplying water when values detected by both of the first and second moisture sensors are below respective reference values, and for stopping water supply when a value detected by either the first or second moisture sensor is above the corresponding reference value.

The invention provides a non-toxic photoluminescent adjuvant delivered to targeted crops, plants and seeds to assist spray operations in low light or dark light operations. These crops and plants include: not for human consumption crops, turf grass, ornamental flowers, seeds, shrubs and bushes. Spray operations are delivered to the foliar, crown and soil parts and seeds of a crop or plant.

A rover includes a base having wheels and a propulsion system coupled to the wheels to propel the rover around a field. A tower is coupled to the base and extends over the base. Sensors are set on the tower and the base and are configured to sense environmental conditions around the rover at different elevations. A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to receive measured data from the sensors and determine an amount and manner of water to be dispensed on plant life in the field.

A valve body has a piston that slides within the body through four successive positions. The piston has a head, and an upper and lower skirt, with a port in the upper skirt. In the first position, a bias force urges the piston to the first of four positions, in which the piston port is closed. In a second position, the piston port aligns with a low pressure port in the valve body, when a low pressure supply of water is connected. In a third position, greater pressure again closes the piston port. In a fourth position, at a still greater pressure, the piston port aligns with a high pressure port in the valve body. The bias force or a location of the piston port can be varied for valves along a supply line, whereby varying supply pressure opens different valves, thereby enabling addressing of valves according to supply pressure.

A rover includes a base having wheels and a propulsion system coupled to the wheels to propel the rover around a field. A tower is coupled to the base and extends over the base. Sensors are set on the tower and the base and are configured to sense environmental conditions around the rover at different elevations. A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to receive measured data from the sensors and determine an amount and manner of water to be dispensed on plant life in the field.

Device for evaporating volatile substances including a container for a liquid that contains volatile substances and means for evaporating the volatile substances, where the means for evaporating the volatile substances include two semipermeable membranes, such that the device allows the optimisation of the evaporation of the volatile substances present in the liquid, doubling the evaporation surface thereof compared to conventional devices, and increases the user's perception of the amount of liquid evaporated.

A valve is used to meter a fluid. The valve can be fashioned in particular as a fuel injection valve for internal combustion engines. The valve has a housing part that is surrounded on its outer side by an extrusion coating. On the outer side of the housing part there is fashioned at least one recess into which the extrusion coating is at least partly introduced.

The current invention provides for a fog generator. More specifically, it provides for a housing comprising a fog generating liquid and a valve that, in a closed position, prevents the fog generating liquid from flowing out of the housing, in which the said valve is kept in a closed position by means of a fuse wire (6).

An oil filter removal tool and system for the removal and drainage of an oil filter comprising: an oil drain connector, where said connector connects to an oil filter cap of the oil filter; a turn bolt at a distal end of the tool, where said bolt is used to turn the removal tool; a second turn bolt, where the second turn bolt turns counter clockwise to secure the connector to the filter cap; a drain tube provided at the distal end of the tool that inserts onto a drain plug; a body portion, where the body portion secures around the oil filter and surrounds the oil drain connector; and notches, where said notches are provided around a perimeter edge of the body portion of the removal tool.

A hand held variable tool for use in casino operations that has optional functions of, at least, (i) a small tip writing instrument such as a pencil or pen, (ii) a large tip writing instrument such as a marker, and (iii) a cutting or scoring tool, such as a sharp-tipped needle or nail to aid in “scoring” and opening the cellophane around a new deck of playing cards. The tool can be clipped to the badge of a user for ease of transport while not in use.

An exemplary aspect comprises an apparatus comprising: a brush component comprising a handle on a first end of a shaft and a brush on a second end of the shaft; and a shovel component removably connected to the brush component; wherein the brush is at least partially enclosed within the shovel component when the shovel component is connected to the brush component, and wherein the brush is exposed when the shovel component is disconnected from the brush component.

The invention concerns barrier films comprising: (i) a substrate comprising at least first and second coatings on the substrate; (ii) the first coating comprising an inorganic oxide, metal oxide or metallic coating; and (iii) the second coating capable of adhering to the substrates, wherein the second coating is polymeric; wherein the degradation of oxygen transmission rate is reduced when compared to a barrier film without the second coating when the barrier film is subjected to Gelbo-type flexing as described in ASTM F392.

Provided is a high-strength cold-rolled steel sheet having excellent ductility and stretch-flangeability as well as weldability in a range in which a tensile strength is 980 MPa or higher and a 0.2% yield strength is less than 700 MPa (preferably 500 MPa or higher). In the high-strength cold-rolled steel sheet of the present invention, the chemical composition is adjusted as appropriate, and the area ratio of below-mentioned metal structures at a position of ¼ sheet thickness in the steel sheet satisfies following requirements: tempered martensite: 10 area % to less than 30 area %, bainite: more than 70 area %, total of tempered martensite and bainite: 90 area % or more, ferrite: 0 area % to 5 area %, and retained austenite: 0 area % to 4 area %. The high-strength cold-rolled steel sheet has excellent ductility, stretch-flangeability, and weldability, and has a tensile strength of 980 MPa or higher and a 0.2% yield strength of less than 700 MPa.

Air permeable core material is vacuum sealed in enveloping member. Further, core material is formed of at least two layers of heat insulating core materials having different heat conductivities. Further, at least two of the at least two layers of heat insulating core materials which form core material are formed of materials having change gradients in the heat conductivity changed in accordance with temperature, and the change gradients in the heat conductivity of the heat insulating core materials intersect with each other. Since two layers of heat insulating core materials having different heat conductivities are provided in a vacuum state, a heat insulating property becomes higher compared to a conventional configuration in which a single layer of the heat insulating core material formed of fiber material such as glass wool or rock wool is vacuum sealed and the high heat insulating property is shown in a wide temperature range.

A heat exchanger may include at least one fluid passageway adjacent a heat transfer plate and a plurality of heat transfer elements positioned in the at least one fluid passageway and joined with the heat transfer plate. The heat transfer elements may be positioned with first spacings therebetween at an inlet end of the at least one fluid passageway. The heat transfer elements may be positioned with second spacings therebetween at an outlet end of the at least one fluid passageway. The first spacings may be smaller than the second spacings.

A vehicle heating, ventilation, and air cooling (HVAC) system that includes a module, an evaporator, and a heater core; the module defines a defrost outlet, a side window outlet, a front face outlet, and a front foot outlet. The evaporator and heater core are both housed within the module. The defrost outlet being open and closed by a defrost door, the side window outlets being open and closed by a plurality of demist doors. The defrost door and demist doors share a common shaft, a torsion spring around the shaft allows the defrost door to remain offset from the demist doors.

An air conditioning system of a motor vehicle with a refrigerant circuit for operation in a refrigerator mode and a heat pump mode. The refrigerant circuit includes a primary circuit with a compressor, a heat exchanger for heat transfer between the refrigerant and the surroundings, an expansion element and a heat exchanger for heat transfer from the intake air being conditioned for the passenger compartment to the refrigerant, and a first flow path. The flow path extends from a branching point between the compressor and the heat exchanger to an opening and includes a heat exchanger for heat transfer from the refrigerant to the intake air being conditioned for the passenger compartment. The heat exchanger is situated in a flow direction of intake air of the passenger compartment after the heat exchanger.

Modifying a digital data stream that includes immediately consecutive code words of different length by segmenting, based on a certain block grid, the digital data stream. Each block of the block grid includes a fixed number of bits. It is determined whether all bits of the last block associated with the digital data stream are occupied by data of the digital data stream. If not all bits of the last block are occupied, the unoccupied bits of the last block are padded with bits of an end-of-record (EOR) indicator. If all bits of the last block are occupied, attaching an EOR indicator to the digital data stream is skipped.

A circuit and a method for converting an analog signal to a digital value representation is disclosed. In one aspect, the circuit includes an incremental sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The circuit further includes a first input line for providing a primary analog signal representing a sensor measurement to the incremental sigma-delta ADC. The circuit further includes a second input line for providing a secondary analog signal to the incremental sigma-delta ADC. The incremental sigma-delta ADC receives the primary and secondary analog signals during a first period (TADC1) and a second period (TADC2), respectively. The circuit further includes a filter configured to weight the digital values in a sequence of digital values output by the incremental sigma-delta ADC, and to output a single digital value representing the sensor measurement.

A production saltwater disposal facility comprising a separator configured to receive production saltwater from a pipeline or a vehicle and separate hydrocarbons from the production saltwater, wherein the production saltwater received from the pipeline or vehicle is substantially the same composition as when the production saltwater was located in a subterranean formation, a hydrocarbon storage tank configured to receive hydrocarbons from the separator, a settling pit configured to receive the production saltwater from the separator and separate metals and/or other solids from the saltwater, an evaporator in fluid communication with the settling pit and comprising a nozzle configured to emit a stream of the saltwater along a path in air such that water in the saltwater evaporates, and a collection pit positioned under the path and configured to collect the salt from the saltwater after the water has evaporated.

Catalyst activator, in particular, a catalyst activator for heat conditioning a catalyst. The activator includes a vessel for containing a catalyst charge having an internal diameter of at least 1.2 meters and/or an internal volume of at least 5 m3; a fluidisation grid plate disposed in the vessel, the fluidisation grid plate having an upper major surface and a lower major surface; an array of generally conical depressions in the upper major surface that overlap by less than 17%; and an array of holes perforating the fluidisation grid plate, the holes extending from at least some of the generally conical depressions through the lower surface.

Conversely, greater infection rate suggests much lower fatality rate. A recent Stanford University study of COVID-19 infection in Santa Clara County suggests that the disease is vastly more widespread in the Bay Area than official data shows. Because the test was performed on volunteers rather than a randomized population, it is likely to have over-reported the rate of infection among its subjects.…

The present invention relates to a visor cap. It is an aim of the present invention to provide a visor cap which can widen a sun blocking area through variable visors and which enables a wearer to adjust the sun-blocking area while improving wearing comfort. To accomplish the aim, provided is a visor cap including a main body, a fixed visor, and a pair of variable visors hinged to both sides of an upper surface or a lower surface of the fixed visor, so as to vary the sun-blocking area, wherein each of the pair of variable visors includes: a first variable visor portion which is made of a textile material and one side of which is fixed at an edge of the fixed visor; and a second variable visor portion which is made of a synthetic resin material and which is coupled to the other side of the first variable visor portion. The visor cap of the present invention is advantageous in that it enables a wearer to adjust the sun-blocking area if needed, and is prevented from contacting the skin of the wearer, thus improving is wearing comfort while expanding the sun-blocking area.

A suspended ceiling system for a building structure includes a plurality of parallel struts for supporting a plurality of parallel vanes suspended from the struts in perpendicular relationship thereto. The vanes can be suspended in downwardly spaced relationship to the struts or in contiguous relationship therewith and occur in different forms including illuminated vanes, adjustable vanes and the like.

A system and method are presented that electrically stimulates the phrenic nerve whereby said stimulation results in muscle activation of the diaphragm as observed by a measurement of work or power of breathing associated with the inspiratory portion of a stimulated breath.

An example method for detecting respiratory disturbances experienced by a subject can include receiving an airflow signal and at least one of an acoustic or vibration signal, where the airflow, acoustic, and/or vibration signals are associated with the subjects breathing. At least one feature can be extracted from the airflow signal and at least one feature can be extracted from at least one of the acoustic or vibration signal. Based on the extracted features, at least one respiratory disturbance can be detected. The respiratory disturbance can be flow limited breath or inspiratory flow limitation (“IFL”).

Certain embodiments are directed to a specimen retrieval device having a high friction inner lining for reducing specimen deformation during removal. Certain embodiments are directed to a device that facilitates isolation and removal of specimens during minimally invasive surgery. In certain aspects the device is configured to disperse pulling tension over a larger area reducing the likelihood of specimen tearing during removal. The device enables quicker removal through a smaller hole or opening in the body wall.

Provided are systems, methods, and electronic vapor devices configured to provide spirometer functionality and respiratory medication dispensing which can couple and function symbiotically with a portable electronic communication device.

Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for humidifying a breathing gas that reduces and/or eliminates the dangers and discomforts experienced by a patient. In one aspect, a system for humidifying gases includes a body, extending along a first axis from a first face to a second face, a first lumen at the first face, through which fluid enters the body, a second lumen at the first face through which fluid exits the body and a nonporous membrane located inside the body and extending from the first face to the second face wherein gas moving through the nonporous membrane is humidified by the fluid.

A magnetically enhanced low temperature high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (LT-HDP-CVD) source has a hollow cathode target and an anode, which form a gap. A cathode target magnet assembly forms magnetic field lines substantially perpendicular to the cathode surface. A gap magnet assembly forms a magnetic field in the gap that is coupled with the cathode target magnetic field. The magnetic field lines cross the pole piece electrode positioned in the gap. The pole piece is isolated from ground and can be connected to a voltage power supply. The pole piece can have negative, positive, floating, or RF electrical potentials. By controlling the duration, value, and sign of the electric potential on the pole piece, plasma ionization can be controlled. Feed gas flows through the gap between the hollow cathode and anode. The cathode can be connected to a pulse power or RF power supply, or cathode can be connected to both power supplies. The cathode target and substrate can be inductively grounded.

A magnetically enhanced HDP-CVD plasma source includes a hollow cathode target and an anode. The anode and cathode form a gap. A cathode target magnet assembly forms magnetic field lines that are substantially perpendicular to a cathode target surface. The gap magnet assembly forms a cusp magnetic field in the gap that is coupled with the cathode target magnetic field. The magnetic field lines cross a pole piece electrode positioned in the gap. This pole piece is isolated from ground and can be connected with a voltage power supply. The pole piece can have a negative, positive, or floating electric potential. The plasma source can be configured to generate volume discharge. The gap size prohibits generation of plasma discharge in the gap. By controlling the duration, value and a sign of the electric potential on the pole piece, the plasma ionization can be controlled. The magnetically enhanced HDP-CVD source can also be used for chemically enhanced ionized physical vapor deposition (CE-IPVD). Gas flows through the gap between hollow cathode and anode. The cathode target is inductively grounded, and the substrate is periodically inductively grounded.

An electrically and magnetically enhanced ionized physical vapor deposition (I-PVD) magnetron apparatus and method is provided for sputtering material from a cathode target on a substrate, and in particular, for sputtering ceramic and diamond-like coatings. The electrically and magnetically enhanced magnetron sputtering source has unbalanced magnetic fields that couple the cathode target and additional electrode together. The additional electrode is electrically isolated from ground and connected to a power supply that can generate positive, negative, or bipolar high frequency voltages, and is preferably a radio frequency (RF) power supply. RF discharge near the additional electrode increases plasma density and a degree of ionization of sputtered material atoms.

A potentiostat/galvanostat employs a controller for providing digital control signals to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that generates an analog output signal in response to digital control signals. A high current driver produces a high current output in response to the analog output signal from the DAC. A high current monitor monitors the output from the high current driver to produce a feedback signal for the high current driver to control the current produced by the high current driver and to produce an output dependent on the current supplied from the high current driver for monitoring by the controller. A counter electrode contact for a counter electrode is connected with the output of the high current monitor. A working electrode contact for a working electrode is electrically connected with a fixed stable voltage potential to enable electrochemical analysis of material between the counter electrode and the working electrode. A low current driver produces a low current range output in response to an analog output signal from the DAC. A low current monitor monitors the working electrode contact to detect current at the working electrode contact to supply an output dependent on the current detected for monitoring by the controller and for providing a feedback signal to the low current driver in order to control the output of the low current driver to control current between the counter electrode contact and the working electrode contact.

Valves, valved fluid transfer devices and ambulatory infusion devices including the same.

Valves, valved fluid transfer devices and ambulatory infusion devices including the same.

Provided is a method for simply evaluating defects caused in interface states in oxide semiconductor thin films and protective films in TFTs having protective films formed on the surface of oxide semiconductor thin films without actually measuring the characteristics of the same. This evaluation method evaluates defects caused in the interface states by measuring electron states in the oxide semiconductor thin film by a contact method or noncontact method. The defects caused in the interface states are any of the following (1)-(3). (1) Threshold value voltage (Vth,) when a positive bias is applied to the thin-film transistor(2) Difference in threshold value voltage (ΔVth) before and after applying the positive bias to the thin-film transistor(3) Threshold value during the first measurement when a plurality of measurements is made of the threshold value voltage when a positive bias is applied to the thin-film transistor.

The present disclosure relates to internal combustion engines in general. Some embodiments of the teaching may include valve units for use in a fuel tank system of an internal combustion engine having a fuel tank and a storage element for temporary storage of hydrocarbons, wherein the fuel tank and the storage element are connected together such that the hydrocarbons which gasify out of a fuel in the fuel tank are stored in the storage element. They may include a purge air pump connected to the storage element and conveying fresh air to the storage element, thereby releasing the stored hydrocarbons and supplying them to a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine and a movable adjustment element with at least two positions. The first position may connect a pressure side of the purge air pump to a first line and a suction side of the purge air pump to a second line. The second position may connect the pressure side to the second line and the suction side to the first line.

A vacuum-assisted in-needle capillary adsorption trap (VA-INCAT) device for sampling and delivering materials to an analytical device is disclosed. A sorbent is multiwall carbon nanotube/polyaniline (PANI/MWCNT) nanocomposite and is coated within an interior space of the needle between the second end and the side aperture to entrap an analyte within a sample. The VA-INCAT device also includes a vacuum device configured to vacuum the vacuum flask to improve the extraction of the analytes vapors from the sample matrix to the sorbent bed.

Superconducting nanowire avalanche photodetectors (SNAPs) have using meandering nanowires to detect incident photons. When a superconducting nanowire absorbs a photon, it switches from a superconducting state to a resistive state, producing a change in voltage that can be measured across the nanowire. A SNAP may include multiple nanowires in order to increase the fill factor of the SNAP's active area and the SNAP's detection efficiency. But using multiple meandering nanowires to achieve high fill-factor in SNAPs can lead to current crowding at bends in the nanowires. This current crowding degrades SNAP performance by decreasing the switching current, which the current at which the nanowire transitions from a superconducting state to a resistive state. Fortunately, staggering the bends in the nanowires reduces current crowding, increasing the nanowire switching current, which in turn increases the SNAP dynamic range.

The present invention is directed to systems, apparatus and methods for creating derivatives of at least one form of HDL without substantially affecting LDL. These derivatives of HDL are particles with reduced lipid content, particularly reduced cholesterol content. These particles have the capacity to bind cholesterol and are administered to a patient to enhance cellular cholesterol efflux and reduce cholesterol levels in cells, tissues, organs, and blood vessels. The present method is useful for treating atherogenic vascular disease and may be combined with other therapies such as statins, inhibitors of cholesterol absorption, niacin, anti-inflammatories, exercise and dietary restriction.

A separation apparatus that includes a weir tank having a plurality of cells and fluid removal apparatus for each cell to remove the fluid from each cell. The fluid removal apparatus includes an actuator and an extension arm whose movement is caused by the actuator. In addition to the actuator and the extension arm, the fluid removal apparatus includes a plunger attached to the extension arm for selectively engaging a first opening in each cell. Furthermore, a method of removing fluid from the separation apparatus via the fluid removal apparatus.

If you could get through the long line, the Oakland Autumn Lights Festival dazzled with both large- and small-scale light installations woven into the greenery at the Gardens at Lake Merritt.

Jay Stone looked at home as he took the stage in a burgundy bathrobe last Thursday at The Night Light, a bar near Jack London Square.…

Despite some growing pains, the fest successfully expanded into a ten-day concert series that highlighted outstanding local talent. Jay Stone looked at home as he took the stage in a burgundy bathrobe last Thursday at The Night Light, a bar near Jack London Square. He was headlining the seventh night of Oakland Music Festival, which dominated the local concert calendar from September 30 to October 9 with shows taking place at different venues every night.…

Kamaiyah, Ice Cube, How to Dress Well, and Sigur Rós played in the rain despite the many delays, cancelations, and technical difficulties. Treasure Island promised one of its best lineups yet for its tenth anniversary, but severe weather literally rained on everyone's parade. Many performances were delayed or canceled, often with little communication to the public on Saturday.…

The organization sets up at 27th Street and Northgate Avenue and at 6th and Castro streets. Blair Hippolyte and Jannie Rutledge, two Oakland residents who are homeless, sat on the sidewalk of 27th Street.…

With its thriving businesses and large immigrant population, Fruitvale is uniquely Oakland: diverse, welcoming, family-oriented, community-minded — and too-often overlooked. On a Saturday morning in November, an estimated 100,000 people flocked to Oakland's Fruitvale district along International Boulevard and a section of East 12th Street.…