Abstract: A bone fusion implant is provided for treating conditions of Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP), Distal interphalangeal (DIP), and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) foot joints. The bone fusion implant may be a cortical bone allograft sized to fuse the foot joint to be treated. A proximal portion of the implant may be pressed into a hole drilled in a proximal bone portion of the foot joint, and a distal portion of the implant may be pressed into a hole drilled in a distal bone portion of the foot joint. Ramps on the proximal and distal portions facilitate press-fitting the implant into the holes in the bone portions. Side ramps ensure that the bone fusion implant remains substantially aligned with the foot joint while the distal portion is pressed into the hole into the distal bone portion. Grooves on the ramps alleviate pressure and ease inserting the implant into the holes in the bone portions.

Abstract: A grossing station comprising a table and an overhead hood connected to the table. The grossing station further comprising a plurality of interchangeable plates arranged in a trough of the table and a lift system connected to the table. The grossing station also comprises a touch screen controller arranged on a surface of the station, wherein the touch screen controller is in communication with at least one manual toggle switch for overriding an electronic control and monitoring system if a system failure occurs within the grossing station.

Abstract: Systems and methods evaluating and predicting fuel station usage are provided herein. An example method includes establishing geo-fencing parameters around one or more fueling stations; determining when vehicles encounter geo-fences of the fueling stations based on the geo-fencing parameters, such that encounters relative to the geo-fences are associated with entry timestamps; determining an aggregate number of the vehicles encountering each of the geo-fences over a period of time based on the entry timestamps; determining waiting times for the vehicles at each of the fueling stations; and transmitting a message to a portion of the vehicles that indicate which of the fueling stations are busy or have short wait times based on the aggregate number of the vehicles encountering each of the geo-fences and the waiting times.

Abstract: Alkaline electrochemical cells are provided, containing cathodes with a nickel compound active material, wherein active material particles are coated with at least one of a number of materials so as to improve the shelf life of the electrochemical cell. Methods of preparing such cathodes and electrochemical cells are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus of video decoding can include circuitry configured to receive a lossless mode flag associated with a current block indicating whether a lossless coding mode is applied to the current block, determine that a lossy coding mode is not applied to the current block when the lossless mode flag indicates that the lossless coding mode is applied to the current block, and reconstruct the current block with the lossy coding mode disabled.

Abstract: A connector (10) is provided. The connector (10) is for connecting to a downhole longitudinal member (12). The connector (10) comprises a gripping sleeve (14) defining an internal bore (16) for receiving the longitudinal member (12) therewithin, wherein the gripping sleeve (14) is configured to grip or to increase grip on the longitudinal member (12) by lengthening the gripping sleeve (14). Also provided area system in which the connector (10) is used, and a method of connecting a connector (10) to a downhole longitudinal member (12).

Abstract: A first pixel with a first pixel sidewall is disclosed. A second pixel with a second pixel sidewall facing the first pixel sidewall is also disclosed. A first dynamic optical isolation material between the first pixel sidewall and the second pixel sidewall and configured to change an optical state based on a state trigger such that a light behavior at the first pixel sidewall for a light emitted by one of the first pixel and the second pixel is determined by the optical state, is also disclosed.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a method of earphone manufacturing with an ear canal microphone, ambient sound microphone and a speaker.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to remove a keel strip that is centrally attached to a poultry butterfly. The butterfly has first and second poultry breasts on opposite sides of the keel strip. An elongated, longitudinally-oriented spine defines a butterfly travel path and is disposed above a longitudinally-driven conveyor. A scoring blade is disposed above, and spaced a predetermined distance from, the spine. First and second severing blades are disposed along the butterfly travel path downstream of the scoring blade with the first and second severing blades disposed on opposing first and second lateral sides of the spine. A second longitudinally-driven conveyor is disposed above the spine and ex tends from a first position downstream of the scoring blade to at least a second position between the first and second severing blades.

Abstract: Various examples are described for detecting heart rate and respiratory rate by using measurements of light applied to skin through an article. For example, a sensor application obtains a set of measurements of light. The application compensates for a contribution of the article based on one or more known optical properties of the article. The sensor application further determines, from the set of measurements of light, a periodic change in amplitude. The sensor application identifies the periodic change in amplitude as a heart rate having an identical periodicity. The sensor application identifies a respiratory rate as equal to the rate of change of the heart rate.

Abstract: A footwear warming system and device includes a boot and a footwear warming device. The footwear warming device may include a cap and be generally shaped to fill a void inside the boot. Hot water, or other liquid, may be poured into the footwear warming device to warm a boot.

Abstract: Approaches to selection of motion vector (“MV”) precision during video encoding are presented. These approaches can facilitate compression that is effective in terms of rate-distortion performance and/or computational efficiency. For example, a video encoder determines an MV precision for a unit of video from among multiple MV precisions, which include one or more fractional-sample MV precisions and integer-sample MV precision. The video encoder can identify a set of MV values having a fractional-sample MV precision, then select the MV precision for the unit based at least in part on prevalence of MV values (within the set) having a fractional part of zero. Or, the video encoder can perform rate-distortion analysis, where the rate-distortion analysis is biased towards the integer-sample MV precision. Or, the video encoder can collect information about the video and select the MV precision for the unit based at least in part on the collected information.

Abstract: An apparatus for video decoding includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry decodes prediction information of a current block from a coded video bitstream. The prediction information is indicative of an intra block copy mode. The current block is one of a plurality of coding blocks in a coding tree block (CTB) with a right to left coding order being allowed within the CTB. Further, the processing circuitry determines a block vector that points to a reference block in a same picture as the current block and checks that two corner samples of the reference block of the reference block have been reconstructed. In addition, the processing circuitry checks that an additional sample of the reference block has been reconstructed. Then, the processing circuitry reconstructs at least a sample of the current block based on reconstructed samples of the reference block that are retrieved from the reference sample memory.

Abstract: A thermal management system for an on-vehicle battery includes a battery, a first thermal element, a second thermal element, a battery mounting bracket, and a vehicle body structural element. The battery mounting bracket includes a first portion attached to the vehicle body structural element, and a second portion attached to the first thermal element. The first thermal element is attached to the first end portion of the battery, and the second thermal element is attached to at least one of the second end portion, the first and second side portions, the top portion or the bottom portion of the battery. The first thermal element is composed from a first phase-change material having a first phase-change temperature and the second thermal element is composed from a second phase-change material having a second phase-change temperature, wherein the first phase-change temperature is greater than the second phase-change temperature.

Abstract: A tattoo ink mixing apparatus has a housing having a cavity, a plunger movable between a first position and a second position, and a dynamic member disposed in the cavity and adapted to engage with the plunger distal end. The dynamic member moves in response to movement of the plunger and alternatively creates a suction force and an expulsion force in the opening of the distal end of the housing as the plunger moves between its first and second positions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for assisted deceleration based trailer braking. The apparatus includes a trailer brake controller for applying a trailer brake in response to a brake control signal, a wheel speed sensor, an accelerometer for determining an acceleration, and a trailer controller for generating the brake control signal in response to a change in the acceleration indicating a negative value, the trailer controller further operative to couple the brake control signal to the trailer brake controller.

Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.

Abstract: In one aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed to a multi-pole rotor of a variable-flux memory motor (VFMM) that includes: a rotor core; and a plurality of poles. Each of the poles includes: one or more soft rotor magnets; a first ferrous wedge; and a second ferrous wedge. The one or more soft rotor magnets are disposed between the first and second ferrous wedges in a circumferential direction of the rotor.

Abstract: A plate includes a planar portion and a circular bead, or circular bead seal, that is offset from the planar portion. An axis is substantially perpendicular to the planar portion, and the circular bead arcs about the axis. The axis may be defined by a hole through the planar portion that is substantially surrounded by the circular bead. One or more displacement absorption tunnels is offset from the planar portion and extends radially relative to the axis. Each of the displacement absorption tunnels intersects the circular bead. In some configurations the displacement absorption tunnels may have an arcuate shape, and in some configurations the displacement absorption tunnels may have a trapezoidal shape. A plurality of plates having similar, though not identical, features may be stacked together.

Abstract: A mobile indoor controlled apiary system includes a mobile foundation, a plurality of insulated panels configured for modular assembly to form a structural envelope on top of the mobile foundation, and a removable shell configured for covering the structural envelope. The system further includes a data collection system for gathering environmental data within the structural envelope, and a climate control system configured for regulating environmental conditions within the structural envelope.