Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device for delivering the agents. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade to release the drug into the bloodstream to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be operably coupled to delivery means having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes alternating stacks of insulating strips and electrically conductive strips located over a substrate, generally extending along a first horizontal direction, and laterally spaced apart from each other along a second horizontal direction by width-modulated line trenches, memory films located on a respective sidewall of the alternating stacks, generally extending along the first horizontal direction, and laterally undulating along the second horizontal direction, and a plurality of discrete vertical semiconductor channels located on a sidewall of a respective one of the memory films.

Abstract: An apparatus for power monitoring and voltage suppression comprising a reference node, a first transformer, a second transformer, a third transformer, a resistive element, a ground fault indicator, a current detector, a power quality meter, and a meter power supply is provided. The transformers have first sides and secondary sides, with the secondary sides connected in series. The resistive element and the ground fault indicator are connected in parallel to the secondary sides of the transformers. The circuit connecting the secondary sides, the resistive element, and the ground fault indicator is not electrically connected to ground.

Abstract: A method of vending a product (n) in an automated vending machine (28) includes displaying an initial stock (S) of several products (n) on a display shelf (34), and identifying any product (13) removed therefrom by a customer (48) not by detecting the removed product (13) itself, but by comparing images (50,52) of the displayed stock (S) before and after product removal to determine any product (13) missing in the post-image (52) of remaining stock (S-(S-P)), and then charging payment for the missing product (13) to the customer (48).

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for mobility management among multiple network slices. One apparatus includes a transceiver and a processor that establishes a first connection with a primary network slice and establishes a second connection with a secondary network slice of the same network while maintaining the first connection. In response to the processor detecting a mobility management (“MM”) event for the remote unit, the transceiver transmits a single MM request to the primary network slice via the first connection and receives a MM response via the first connection. In various embodiments, each network slice in the mobile communication network supports at least one of a plurality of service types, and wherein the MM response includes an update result for a service type provided by the primary network slice and a service type provided by the secondary network slice.

Abstract: An apparatus, methods, and systems for data collection in a production environment are described. The system may include a data collector communicatively coupled to a plurality of input channels, wherein a first subset of the plurality of input channels are connected to a first set of sensors measuring operational parameters from a production component, a data storage structured to store a plurality of collector routes and collected data, a data acquisition circuit structured to interpret a plurality of detection values from the collected data of the production component, and a data analysis circuit structured to analyze the collected data and evaluate a first collection routine of the data collector based on the analyzed collected data, wherein based on the analyzed collected data the data collector makes a collection routine change.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for performing nonlinear elasticity measurements using the dynamic acousto-elasticity technique (DAET) at simulated subsurface conditions in the laboratory, are described. The current state-of-the-art for measuring nonlinear elasticity parameters using DAET is limited to ambient pressure conditions on the bench-top. The present invention permits nonlinear parameter measurements at controlled sample internal fluid pore pressures (52) and external confining stress (44), (50) conditions.

Abstract: A missile flow line is assembled in a frac manifold to manifold the discharge from a plurality of pumps. The missile comprises at least two junction fittings joined by a flange union to at least one spooled pipe to form a conduit. The junction fittings comprise a fitting body having a primary bore and at least two feed bores. The primary bore extends axially through the body between primary union faces adapted for connection to a flowline component by a flange union. The feed bores extend radially through the body from a feed union face to an intersection with the primary bore. The feed union faces are adapted for connection to pump discharge lines by a flange union. The intersections of the feed bores with the primary bore are offset axially from each other along the primary bore.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the heading of a mining machine while the mining machine performs a cutting operation. One system includes a cutting system and a set of left and right tracks of the mining machine. The system also includes a lidar sensor mounted to the mining machine. The system also includes an electronic processor configured to receive the data from the lidar sensor. The electronic processor is also configured to determine a current heading of the mining machine based on the data received from the lidar sensor and compare the current heading to a target heading of the mining machine. In response to the current heading not being different from the target heading of the mining machine by a predetermined amount, the electronic processor is configured to control the mining machine to adjust the current heading of the mining machine.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for delivering manifestless streaming media content are provided.

Abstract: An agricultural baler including a flywheel and a drivetrain for coupling the flywheel to a connector that is arranged to be connected to a power take-off (PTO) of a tractor. The drivetrain includes a decoupling mechanism for decoupling the flywheel from the connector in case of an overload. The decoupling mechanism includes a controllable member that is movable between an engaged state in which the flywheel is coupled to the connector and a disengaged state in which the flywheel is decoupled from the connector. The decoupling mechanism further includes a detector configured for detecting the overload. The detector is configured for providing an overload signal to the controllable member triggering the controllable member into the disengaged state.

Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods related to moving object content that is enhanced with textual content presented using rapid serial visual presentation (“RSVP”). In one embodiment, video content is enhanced with RSVP content. Related embodiments provide systems and methods for displaying, creating, and editing such content. A particular embodiment provides for RSVP enhanced video previews. In another embodiment, augmented reality content is enhanced with RSVP content. In some embodiments, RSVP enhanced moving object content is provided on various end user electronic devices including smart phones, smart watches, and head mounted displays. These and other embodiments are disclosed further herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for automatically identifying and verifying vehicle license plate data. Specifically, the inventive system utilizes multiple automated data points to correlate a more accurate read of a license plate taken on roadways than systems that rely solely on Optical Character Recognition. The inventive system utilizes machine learning to automatically determine the make and model of the vehicle, which is then matched against motor vehicle records to provide for automation in the 80-90% range. The inventive system also utilizes analytics to determine if there are issues with the cameras and provides for near real time alerts to maintenance personnel.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for bitrate adaptation of a video asset to be streamed to a client device for playback. The method includes selecting a representation from a manifest which expresses a set of representations available for each chunk of the video asset and generating a dynamic manifest for the video asset in which the representation selected for the at least one chunk is recommended for streaming to the client device. The selection of the representation recommended for the chunk may be based on at least one of historic viewing behavior of previous viewers of the chunk, content analysis information for the chunk, a level of available network bandwidth, a level of available network storage, and data rate utilization information of network resources including current, average, peak, and minimum data rate of network resources.

Abstract: The invention pertains to implants that facilitate tissue expansion while not substantially inhibiting normal anatomical movement. The implants may be made of different materials or made in different configurations such that such that a measured property at a first location on said implant is different than said same measured property at a second location on said implant. In one particular embodiment the implants may be a cosmetic penile implant.

Abstract: A workpiece stack-up that includes at least a steel workpiece and an aluminum-based workpiece can be resistance spot welded by employing a multi-stage spot welding method in which the passage of electrical current is controlled to perform multiple stages of weld joint development.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatuses, systems, and methods for controlling the operating status of a power converter during, a standby mode, a powered mode, and a transition from the standby mode to the powered mode is described. For at least one embodiment, a power converter includes a primary controller and a secondary controller wherein the primary controller includes a first circuit configured to initiate a transition from standby mode to powered mode upon receipt of a wake-up signal and wherein the first circuit is powered during standby mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering vector data in conjunction with a three-dimensional model are provided. In particular, a smooth transparent draping layer can be generated and rendered overlaying the three-dimensional model. The vector data can be texture mapped to the smooth transparent draping layer such that the vector data appears to be located along a surface in the three-dimensional model. The three-dimensional model can be a model of a geographic area and can include terrain geometry that models the terrain of the geographic area and building geometry that models buildings, bridges, and other objects in the geographic area. The smooth transparent draping layer can conform to the surfaces defined by the terrain geometry. The vector data can be texture mapped to the smooth transparent draping layer such that the vector data appears to be located along the surface of the terrain geometry but can be occluded by the building geometry.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle based on sensor data having variable sensor parameter settings includes receiving sensor data generated by a vehicle sensor while the sensor is configured with a first sensor parameter setting. The method also includes receiving an indicator specifying the first sensor parameter setting, and selecting, based on the received indicator, one of a plurality of neural networks of a perception component, each neural network having been trained using training data corresponding to a different sensor parameter setting. The method also includes generating signals descriptive of a current state of the environment using the selected neural network and based on the received sensor data. The method further includes generating driving decisions based on the signals descriptive of the current state of the environment, and causing one or more operational subsystems of the vehicle to maneuver the vehicle in accordance with the generated driving decisions.

Abstract: There are disclosed implantable medical devices and apparatus for treating implantable medical devices during production, so as to cause the implantable medical devices to have abluminal surfaces and luminal surfaces with different functional characteristics and in particular surface energies. The luminal surfaces of the medical device are preferably coated with carbon, so as to have a low surface energy, which reduces the risk of thrombi forming when implanted into a patient's vessels. The abluminal surfaces are treated so as to have a high surface energy, such that a therapeutic, preferably bioactive, material, such as a drug, can adhere to the abluminal surfaces and preferably without any need for a containment layer such as polymer or other matrix material. Once the therapeutic material has been delivered into the tissue wall, the stent can remain within the patient's vessel without leaving any delivery artefacts, as occurs with some prior art drug eluting medical devices.