Abstract: Light controlled switching modules are provide. In embodiments, a light controlled switching module includes: a housing; a light controlled semiconductor switch mounted to the housing, the light controlled semiconductor switch including a semiconductor body; at least one light source mounted to the housing in a spaced relationship from the light controlled semiconductor switch and positioned to direct light emitted from the at least one light source toward the semiconductor body; and first and second electrodes mounted to the housing and connected to the light controlled semiconductor switch, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to have variable resistance between the first and the second electrode.

Abstract: A storage and display assembly with a base defining a cavity configured to receive a product. A lid is mounted to the base covering the cavity. A hang tag is mounted to the base. The hang tag has a first position with a first end of the hang tag engaging an inner surface of the lid securing the lid to the base and a second position with the first end of the hang tag is disengaged from the inner surface of the lid.

Abstract: A surgical system uses a single entry port in a wide variety of surgeries. To insert multiple surgical instruments into a patient through a single entry port requires that the shaft of at least one of the surgical instruments be bent between the base of the surgical instrument and the point where the shaft contacts a channel in an entry guide. Each surgical instrument is positioned by an instrument manipulator positioning system so that when the shaft is inserted in a channel of the entry guide, any bending of the shaft does not damage the surgical instrument and does not inhibit proper operation of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A disposable stethoscope cover system includes a clamp which is configured to be mechanically attachable to stethoscope tubing; and a disposable cover which is configured to be mechanically attachable to the clamp. According to an embodiment, a clip and clamp mechanism is configured to releasably attach a stethoscope cover to a stethoscope and includes a clamp mechanism configured to be press fit to the stethoscope tubing to connect the clamp and clamp mechanism to the stethoscope; and a clip mechanism which is configured to releasably grasp a portion of the stethoscope cover.

Abstract: This document relates to materials and methods involved in treating cancer. For example, materials and methods for using one or more oncolytic viruses (e.g., one or more oncolytic viruses) to treat cancer in a mammal (e.g., a human) identified as having a cancer likely to respond to oncolytic virotherapy are provided.

Abstract: A system includes a first sensor positioned to sense presence of a contrail in a first volume, wherein the first volume at least partially overlaps an expected volume of a contrail proximate an aircraft. A second sensor is positioned to sense a background reference in a second volume, where the second volume does not overlap the expected volume of a contrail proximate an aircraft. A controller is operatively connected to the first and second sensors. The controller includes machine readable instructions configured to cause the controller to utilize data input from both the first and second volumes to determine if a contrail is present from the aircraft. A system includes machine readable instructions configured to cause the controller to predict persistence of contrails on an intended route through the volume of airspace and to determine an improved route and/or propulsion operation to reduce contrail formation and persistence relative to the intended route.

Abstract: A universal joint (U-joint) assembly transmits torque from a drive component to a driven component across an articulating joint. The U-joint assembly includes male and female U-joint members, a central ball joint, and a retaining device configured to secure the assembly in an assembled configuration. The female U-joint member includes a cavity extending into a receptacle end thereof. The cavity terminates in a circular receptacle and includes a plurality of rectangular channels extending radially outward from the cavity at equal intervals, each channel defined by three planar drive surfaces. The male U-joint member has a drive end with a plurality of corresponding rectangular extensions protruding from an outer periphery of the drive end, each extension including a plurality of axial angular surfaces. When assembled, each of the angular surfaces of the drive end opposes a corresponding one of the drive surfaces of the cavity. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for locking assemblies of a pair of bridge plates placed between adjacent railcars. In one example, a bridge plate assembly may include a locking assembly with a guide tube shifted to a side from a center of a bridge plate and a pivot pin coupled to the guide tube protruding out of a left side or a right side of the bridge plate.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a method of detecting a fault in a plurality of optical detectors includes receiving a first return beam from a first optical detector interrogation beam to generate a first optical signal indicative of an atmospheric condition from a first location on board the aircraft and receiving a second return beam from a second optical detector interrogation beam to generate a second optical signal indicative of the atmospheric condition from a second location on board the aircraft. The method includes, comparing each of the first and second optical signals with a baseline value to determine whether there is a fault in at least one optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors.

Abstract: An optical film includes a structured film and a light control film formed on the structured film. The structured film includes a substrate and a plurality of polymeric microstructures formed on a major surface of the substrate. Each microstructure includes an optical facet and a sidewall meeting the optical facet at a ridge of the microstructure. The light control film includes an optically transparent material disposed on and covering the plurality of polymeric microstructures, and a plurality of optically absorptive louvers formed in the optically transparent material opposite the structured film. The louvers extend along a longitudinal direction and are spaced apart along an orthogonal transverse direction. The louvers have an average depth D into the optically transparent material and have an average width W in the transverse direction. D/W can be greater than 2. The optical film is integrally formed.

Abstract: Techniques herein facilitate dynamic configuration of a wireless local area network (WLAN) for large public venue (LPV) environments. In one example, a method may include providing an initial configuration for access points APs of a WLAN for an event at an LPV based on a profile for the event, a location of each AP for the venue, and anticipated demand at the APs; determining, for a particular time for the event, a distribution of wireless devices and channel support capabilities of the wireless devices different locations for the LPV; and providing an updated configuration for one or more APs at the one or more locations for the venue based on the distribution of the wireless devices and the channel support capabilities of the wireless devices determined for the particular time for the event at the LPV.

Abstract: Disclosed is a structure with ultralow-K (ULK) dielectric-gap wrapped contact(s). The structure includes an opening, which extends through a dielectric layer and is aligned above a device. A contact is within the opening and electrically connected to the device. Instead of the contact completely filling the opening, a ULK dielectric-gap (e.g., an air or gas-filled gap or a void) at least partially separates the contact from the sidewall(s) of the contact opening and further wraps laterally around the contact. Also disclosed is a method for forming the structure and, particularly, for forming a ULK dielectric-gap by etching back an exposed top end of an adhesive layer initially lining a contact opening to form a gap between the sidewall(s) of the opening and the contact and then capping the gap with an additional dielectric layer such that the gap is filled with air or gas or is under vacuum.

Abstract: A stationary bike capable of leaning of tilting side to side during use is described. The stationary bike has a fixed frame portion and moving frame portion which is pivotally mounted on the fixed frame portion, at two spaced apart pivot locations, to allow the moving frame to pivot about a pivot axis defined by the two spaced apart pivot locations. The pivotal action of the bike may be resisted, such as by a damper. The tilt-enabled bike is equipped with a tilt disabling mechanism, e.g., a locking mechanism configured to selectively and operatively engage the moving and the fixed frame to disable the relative movement (i.e. the pivoting) of the moving frame.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) having at least one sensor configured to generate a stream of usage data; and an analytical stream processing component comprising: a communication component that receives the stream of usage data; a memory configured to store at least a portion of the stream of usage data and at least one model for detecting a safety event signature, wherein the at least one model is trained based as least in part on a set of usage data generated by one or more other articles of PPE of a same type as the article of PPE; and one or more computer processors configured to: detect the safety event signature in the stream of usage data based on processing the stream of usage data with the model, and generate an output in response to detecting the safety event signature.

Abstract: An optical film has a major surface including a plurality of microstructures. Each microstructure includes an optical facet and a sidewall meeting the optical facet at a ridge of the microstructure. The optical facet and the sidewall define an oblique angle therebetween. For each microstructure in at least a majority of the microstructures, an optically absorptive layer is disposed on the sidewall. The optical film can include a polymeric layer having a microstructured surface at least partially coated with an inorganic optically transparent layer. The optically absorptive layer can an average thickness t where 100 nm<t<1 micrometer. A first layer can be disposed between the sidewall and the optically absorptive layer where the first layer has a lower extinction coefficient than the optically absorptive layer.

Abstract: Drug delivery reservoir cassette for a pump is provided. The cassette includes a cassette housing having a front surface, a back surface and lateral sidewalls, the cassette housing defining a transverse axis extending between the lateral sidewalls and a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the transverse axis. The cassette housing includes a cassette body region defining a fluid reservoir chamber therein, and a cassette base region having a boundary configured to be received by the pump, the boundary including a pair of opposing rails disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis. The cassette base region can also include an engagement surface, alignment key, and/or support rib to align the cassette in a receiving region of the pump. A device for delivering a beneficial agent including a pump and cassette is also provided.

Abstract: Robotic systems and methods for tank seal inspection. A tank inspection robot includes a housing containing a drive assembly, and wheels disposed outside of the housing and operably coupled to the drive assembly. The tank inspection robot also includes at least one sensor coupled to, or disposed in or on a portion of the robot, for collecting data sufficient to evaluate a health, mechanical integrity or effectiveness of one or more circumferential seals between a floating roof, and an interior wall, of a storage tank. The disclosed robot and associated method enable safer and more efficient seal inspection routines as compared to conventional techniques.

Abstract: A method for adaptive presence-based radio configuration of access points in a venue includes defining a number of regions in the venue in which access points are deployed, each region having a center point, and assigning a first access point to a first region, positioned at the center of the first region. The method also includes affecting a first energy level in the first region, which corresponds to a power of a transmit signal emitted by the first access point, and assigning to the first region a configurable capacity value that determines an acceptable overlap constraint between the first energy level of the first region and an energy level of a neighboring region. The method further includes generating data describing a tessellation graph in which a possible map of the access points is formed using an iterative descent process based on the first energy level and the overlap constraint.

Abstract: An implantable medical lead may include an electrode at a distal portion of the lead that is configured to monitor or provide therapy to a target site. The lead may include a visible indicator that is visible to the naked eye of a clinician at a medial portion of the lead that is configured to indicate when the electrodes of the lead are longitudinally and radially aligned properly to monitor or treat the target site. A clinician may insert the lead into the patient using an introducer sheath inserted to a predetermined depth into the patient and subsequently aligning the distal portion of the lead by orienting the indicator at an entry port of the introducer sheath.

Abstract: A hierarchical modular arbitration architecture for a mobile platform guidance system is disclosed. In embodiments, the architecture comprises a hierarchy of arbitration layers, each arbitration layer narrower in scope than the layer above (e.g., mission objective arbitrators, route arbitrators, path arbitrators). Each arbitration layer includes one or more objective-based arbitrators in communication with one or more applications or modes. Each arbitrator receives control input (e.g., from the pilot, from aircraft sensors) and control signals from the level above, selecting a mode to make active based on decision agents within the arbitrator layer which control mode priorities and sequencing (e.g., some flight objectives may involve multiple arbitrators and their subject applications coordinating in sequence).