Abstract: A coupling configured to connect a first pipe to a plurality of pipes comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is tapered and comprises a plurality of lateral ribs and a plurality of longitudinal ribs, wherein each of the plurality of longitudinal ribs comprises a pliable and wedge-like shape, and each of the plurality of longitudinal ribs tapers toward the second end.

Abstract: A power control system for use with an electric lock mechanism including an actuator having a coil with a particular coil impedance. The power control system comprises a power supply configured to provide an output voltage having a drive current to the actuator, a credential device powered by the power supply and configured to signal the power supply to provide the output voltage upon receiving an authorized access code, an actuator driver including a multiple-gain current-sensing circuit, and a microcontroller configured to monitor and control the power supply, credential device, actuator driver, and actuator, and determine the impedance of the coil. The microcontroller is populated by a look-up table having performance data for a plurality of coils such that the microcontroller selects a duty ratio to establish the optimum magnitude of drive current to the coil based only on the determined impedance of the coil.

Abstract: A force-measuring device (FMD) assembly for a portable electronic apparatus includes a mid-frame including a base portion, a sidewall portion, and a transition region between the base portion and the sidewall portion, and force-measuring devices coupled to the inner surface of the sidewall portion. The sidewall portion and the transition region are elongate along a longitudinal axis. FMDs are coupled to the inner surface at respective contact regions of the sidewall portion and are separated from each other along the longitudinal axis. Each of the FMDs includes strain-sensing element(s). Each of the FMDs corresponds to a respective sense region of the sidewall portion. The transition region includes a respective elongate slit or trough for each of the sense regions. The respective elongate slit or trough is elongate along the longitudinal axis. Adjacent elongate slits or troughs are separated by a respective rib.

Abstract: A sensor and method for the rapid detection of fluoride containing gaseous species specifically the chemical warfare agents Sarin and Soman nerve gas, in which a chemically sensitive composition containing dye indicator molecules complexed with a heavy metal salt is exposed to an environment under surveillance for toxic gasses. In one embodiment the sensing composition is introduced into a polymer-based substrate. The detection composition reacts with hydrogen fluoride which is a decomposition by-product of Sarin and Soman gas so as to change the color of the dye indicator, in one embodiment being pentamethoxy red, that is to change the color of the polymer-based substrate from colorless to a dark purple color. The complex of pentamethoxy red with the exemplary heavy metal salt, zirconyl chloride, is specific for Sarin and Soman nerve gas; it does not react to certain other toxic gases.

Abstract: A method to protect kidneys of a patient undergoing cardiac surgery patient including: administrating a diuretic to the patient to increase urine output of the patient during cardiac surgery, wherein the diuretic is administered during the cardiac surgery; anesthetizing the patient with a general anesthetic during the cardiac surgery; infusing an intravenous liquid into the patient during the cardiac surgery; monitoring a rate or amount of urine output of the patient during the cardiac surgery, and automatically adjusting a rate or amount of the intravenous liquid infused into the patient to achieve or exceed a target urine output during the cardiac surgery.

Abstract: Guidewire-management devices and systems thereof are disclosed herein. A guidewire-management device can include a guidewire, a first sleeve, and a second sleeve. The first sleeve can be configured for distally feeding the guidewire out of the guidewire-management device. The first sleeve can also be configured for proximally feeding the guidewire into the guidewire-management device. The second sleeve can be proximal of the first sleeve in the guidewire-management device. The second sleeve can be configured for feeding the guidewire in concert with the first sleeve. At least a length of the guidewire extending between the first sleeve and the second sleeve can be disposed within a sterile barrier configured to maintain sterility of the guidewire.

Abstract: A bracket presenter for an ultrasonic welder includes a one-piece first bracket portion and a one-piece second bracket portion mounted relative to one another. First and second tapered features are respectively provided by the first and second bracket portions and are nested relative to one another. The first and second tapered features engage in an extended position and are spaced from one another in a compressed position to provide a clearance enabling the first and second bracket portions to float lateral relative to one another. A spring biases the first and second bracket portions apart.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flow cell carrier. The flow cell carrier may include a flow cell and a frame. The frame may include a pocket and a handle. The pocket may have at least one spring feature and at least one banking feature. The frame may be configured to retain the flow cell within the pocket such that a maximal surface area of the flow cell is exposed to an optical lens. Related methods and kits are also disclosed.

Abstract: Presented systems and methods enable efficient and effective radiation treatment planning and treatment, including accurate and convenient transmission of the radiation towards a tissue target. In one embodiment, a radiation system includes a particle source, a bremsstrahlung target, and a pinhole collimator. The particle source is configured to produce a particle beam (e.g., an electron beam, etc.). The bremsstrahlung target is configured to receive the particle beam and generate a photon radiation beam. The received particle beam and generated photon radiation beam can correspond to an inflected image. The inflected image can be associated with a tumor/tissue target. The pinhole collimator is configured to receive the photon radiation beam in a pattern that corresponds to the inflected image, invert the photon radiation beam pattern, and forward the results towards a tissue target.

Abstract: Stormwater management systems, methods, and apparatuses for containing and filtering runoff may be provided. In one implementation, a flared end ramp for managing flow of material into a stormwater chamber may be provided. The flared end ramp may include an inlet end configured for connection with a pipe, a side wall of the flared end ramp having a rounded profile at the inlet end; an outlet end configured for placement within the stormwater chamber; and an inclined surface extending between the inlet end and the outlet end of the flared end ramp and configured to deliver material from the pipe into the stormwater chamber. The outlet end of the flared end ramp may have a larger width than the inlet end of the flared end ramp such that the inclined surface is angled laterally outward from the inlet end toward the outlet end.

Abstract: A modular plug system including a plug housing including a top surface, bottom surface and two opposing side surfaces, a front end and an opening opposite the front end, and a cavity extending from the front end to the opening in the back end, a load bar sized to engage the cavity in the modular plug, the load bar including two extensions on an upper surface of the load bar, the extensions sized to engage two openings in the top surface of the plug housing when the load bar is inserted into the cavity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating steerable sheath (SS). The methods comprise: causing an inner shaft (IS) to move in a first direction (FD) relative to an outer shaft (OS) having a first lumen (FL) in which IS is disposed; applying tension to a first pull wire (FPW) as IS moves in FD (FPW being partially disposed in a wall of IS and in FL of OS, FPW's first end being connected to IS and FPW's second end being connected to OS); allowing a deflectable region of IS's wall to transition from a straight state to a deflected state as tension is applied to FPW; causing IS to move in a second direction relative to OS; removing the tension being applied to FPW as IS moves in the second direction; and allowing the deflectable region of IS's wall to return to the straight state as tension is being removed from FPW.

Abstract: An antenna structure with wide radiation bandwidth in a reduced physical space includes a housing, a first feed portion, and a second feed portion. The housing includes a metallic side frame, a metallic middle frame, and a metallic back board. The metallic side frame defines first and second gaps, and the metallic back board defines a slot. The slot, the first gap, and the second gap divide the metallic side frame to give a first radiation portion. The first and second feed portions are both electrically connected to the first radiation portion. When the first feed portion supplies a current, the current flows through the first radiation portion, toward the second gap to excite a first working mode. When the second feed portion supplies a current, the current flows through the first radiation portion, toward the first gap to excite a second working mode.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a sensor system for determining a flow rate of a fluid flow within a fluid channel comprising an elastic segment arranged next to a rigid segment, wherein a first pair of electrodes is provided at the rigid segment and a second pair of electrodes is provided at the elastic segment of the fluid channel. The system further comprises a sensor unit for detecting a capacitance of the first and second electrode pairs, and a processing unit for calculating and monitoring a distance between the electrodes of the second electrode pair based on the detected capacitance of the first electrode pair and the second electrode pair, wherein the first electrode pair is in contact with the rigid segment and the second electrode pair is in contact with the elastic segment. Moreover, a respective method for determining a flow rate of a fluid flow within a fluid channel is provided by the present disclosure, as well as a use of the sensor system.

Abstract: Electrochromic devices having buffer layer(s) that promote electron transfer between the second transparent electrode and second electrochromic layer while concurrently reducing or inhibiting deleterious chemical interaction between the second electrochromic layer and the second electrode and/or maintaining the conductive state of the second electrode and while the device changes the from a low transparency state of approximately 10-20% transmittance in the visible region to a high transparency state of approximately 75% to 95% transmittance in the visible region with at least a 70% difference in transmittance between the low and high transmittance states. In certain aspects, the electrochromic devices change from a low transparency state having a gray color to a high transparency state that is substantially colorless within 20 seconds of applying the selective electrical potential to the electrochromic device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes: receiving, by a first computing device, text composed using a composition window of a second computing device; entering, by the first computing device, the composed text into a text input of an application executing on the first computing device; determining, by the first computing device, one or more attributes of a cursor of the text input, the one or more attributes of the cursor including at least a position of the cursor; and sending, by the first computing device, the one or more attributes of the cursor to the second computing device, the second computing device configured to display the application and to position the composition window relative to the displayed application based on the position of the cursor determined by the first computing device.

Abstract: Various embodiments include cementitious compositions with low levels of embodied greenhouse gas emissions, in particular carbon dioxide, as a result of its production and/or use compared to conventional cementitious materials, such as portland cement. Various embodiments include any cementitious material or materials with low embodied carbon, as well as any material produced using this cement.

Abstract: A system is provided for inserting a pre-encoded media asset in a media feed of a first channel based on an input on a notification associated with a media item and a defined selection parameter. Based on the pre-encoded media asset inserted in different channels and the defined selection parameter, a plurality of new channels is created. Based on a re-use of the pre-encoded media asset for one of the plurality of new channels, the plurality of new channels is created independent of an encoding operation prior to a distribution of program streams of the plurality of new channels to a plurality of consumer devices. The plurality of new channels is delivered over a distribution network without being required to be re-encoded.

Abstract: An improved information management system is described herein in which the information management system can evaluate the deduplication performance of secondary copy operations and dynamically adjust the manner in which secondary copy data is created to minimize the negative effects of performing deduplication. Furthermore, the improved information management system can improve deduplication performance by applying different storage policies to different types of applications running on a client computing device. Moreover, the improved information management system can automatically detect the region of a client computing device and apply an appropriate information management policy to the client computing device to avoid inconsistencies or other errors resulting from administrator control.