Abstract: The method and system provides a variable platform for Virtual Reality Orthodontics (VRO), which can be provided virtually to a patient without the patient having to be examined, in-person, by a dentist or orthodontist. Treatment can be rendered that includes clear aligner therapy, wire therapy or a hybrid/combo treatment involving both to treat patients' malocclusions in a virtual setting as opposed to the patients being treated in traditional and conventional orthodontic care facilities, requiring less in-office visits by the patients. The method and system utilizes and embraces dental professionals for patient care to assist licensed dental professionals to provide treatment while under the scrutiny of orthodontists. Patient care and progress can be monitored with the assistance of artificial intelligence and by review of dental professionals.

Abstract: A supplemental fuel system includes a supplemental fuel tank, an electronic lock off valve, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The supplemental fuel tank is configured to store a supplemental fuel. The supplemental fuel is configured to supplement a primary fuel used by an engine. The electronic lock off valve is configured to be positioned between the supplemental fuel tank and an air supply system for the engine. The temperature sensor is configured to acquire temperature data regarding a temperature of exhaust gas output by the engine. The controller is configured to control the electronic lock off valve such that the electronic lock off valve is (i) closed in response to the temperature being greater than a temperature threshold and (ii) open or openable in response to the temperature being less than the temperature threshold.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an article comprising a reinforced glass mat. In some embodiments, the reinforced glass mat includes a glass mat and a reinforcement material. In some embodiments, the glass mat includes a web of glass fibers. In some embodiments, the reinforcement material is embedded into the web of glass fibers of the glass mat. In some embodiments, the reinforced glass mat includes a sufficient amount of the reinforcement material, so as to result in a nail shank shear resistance of 13 lbs to 17 lbs, when the article is tested according to ASTM 1761 at 140° F. Methods of making the article, specific embodiments of the reinforcement material in the form of a polymeric binder, and methods of forming a roofing shingle from the article are also disclosed.

Abstract: A building facade system which comprises a frame to support a building facade panel, a unified vertical shear blade anchor, a vertical mullion and an angled anchor member. The unified vertical shear blade anchor has a body portion and a flange extending horizontally therefrom. The flange has top and bottom surfaces with the bottom surface having serrations. The vertical mullion is secured by a shear connection to the vertical shear blade anchor. The shear connection between the vertical mullion and the vertical shear blade anchor is formed by a fastener which extends through side portions of the body portion and vertical mullion. The angle member has first and second flanges each having proximal ends joined together and opposing terminal ends. The second flange has a top surface with upwardly projecting serrations. The upwardly projecting serrations are configured for engagement with the downwardly projecting serrations of the vertical shear blade anchor.

Abstract: A split volute for a centrifugal pump is disclosed that provides a manufacturing advantage by improving the yield of high-chrome iron casting, providing for full surface coating capability using line-of-sight spray coating systems. Performance improvements include improved pump efficiency, abrasion resistance, and volute lifetime. Additional operational cost savings are enabled through reduced time required for common volute maintenance procedures and an increased replacement interval for the volute. Taken together, these advantages reduce the total cost of ownership of the split volute pump system.

Abstract: A compact ADC circuit can include one or more comparators, and a serial DAC (Digital-to-Analog) circuit that provides a signal to the comparator (or comparators). In addition, the ADC circuit can include a serial DAC redistribution sequencer that can provide a plurality of signals as input to the serial DAC circuit and is subject to a redistribution cycle and which receives as input a signal from a data multiplexer whose input connects electronically to an output of the comparator. The circuit can further include an ADC code register that provides an ADC output that connects electronically to the output of the comparator and the input to the data multiplexer. Shared logic circuitry for sharing common logic between pixels can be included, wherein the shared logic circuitry connects electronically to the data multiplexer and the ADC code register, wherein the shared logic circuitry promotes area and power savings for the pixel detector circuit.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for heating, cooling or heating and cooling multiple chambers of a food preparation device utilizing heated and/or cooled nebulized water particles and heated and/or cooled compressed air. The steps of heating include heating water contained in reservoir located outside of the cooking chambers, heating compressed air, conveying the heated water and the heated compressed air to at least one nebulizer, nebulizing the heated water into heated water particles and introducing the heated water particles into the cooking chamber via the heated compressed air. The steps of cooling include cooling water contained in an additional reservoir located outside of the cooking chambers, cooling compressed air, conveying the cooled water and the cooled compressed air to at least one nebulizer, nebulizing the cooled water into cooled water particles and introducing the cooled water particles into the cooking chamber via the cooled compressed air.

Abstract: A method includes: depositing whole blood into at least one separator tube; subjecting the at least one separator tube to a first centrifugal force to cause a combination of the first centrifugal force and separator gel within each separator tube of the at least one separator tube to separate plasma of the whole blood from red and white blood cells of the whole blood within the at least one separator tube, wherein the plasma includes ?2M molecules; transferring one or more portions of the plasma from within the at least one separator tube and into at least one isolator; and subjecting the at least one isolator to a second centrifugal force to cause a combination of the second centrifugal force and a filter within each isolator of the at least one isolator to isolate the ?2M molecules from other components of the plasma within the at least one isolator.

Abstract: A method using media arbitration includes, while a first assistant-enabled device is performing a first long-standing operation, determining the first assistant-enabled device satisfies a co-presence condition with a second assistant-enabled device, and determining that the second assistant-enabled device is performing a second long-standing operation that conflicts with the first long-standing operation performed by the first assistant-enabled device. Based on determining that the first long-standing operation and the second long-standing operation conflict, the method also includes executing an operation arbitration routine to identify one or more compromise operations for at least one of the first assistant-enabled device or the second assistant-enabled device to perform, and instructing the first assistant-enabled device or the second assistant-enabled device to perform a selected compromise operation among the identified compromise operations.

Abstract: An exercise machine that includes an elongated frame having a head end and a foot end, and a moveable carriage slidably coupled to the frame and moveable between the head end and the foot end, the moveable carriage having a spring bracket coupled to an underside of the moveable carriage. The exercise machine also includes a spring support rod slideably coupled with the frame and disposed adjacent the foot end, and selectively positionable with reference to the foot end by a handle that extends from an interior area of the frame to an exterior area of the frame. The exercise machine also includes at least one resistive member coupled at a first end with the spring support rod and at a second end with the spring bracket, and configured to bias the moveable carriage towards the foot end of the frame.

Abstract: A system and method for the automatic placement of superconducting devices determines an arrangement of a series of Josephson junctions between a start point and an end point of an inductive wiring run on a superconducting circuit layout having a plurality of discrete Josephson junction placement sites by determining costs of placing each Josephson junction of the series of Josephson junctions at the plurality of discrete Josephson junction placement sites between the start point and the end point of the inductive wiring run based at least on a comparison of a target inductance value to inductances of wires connecting to the Josephson junction and selecting sites from the plurality of discrete Josephson junction placement sites to place each Josephson junction corresponding to the arrangement of the series of Josephson junctions with the least determined cost for the inductive wiring run.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device having a vertical metal line interconnect (via) fully aligned to a first direction of a first interconnect layer and a second direction of a second interconnect layer in a selective recess region by forming a plurality of metal lines in a first dielectric layer; and recessing in a recess region first portions of the plurality of metal lines such that top surfaces of the first portions of the plurality of metal lines are below a top surface of the first dielectric layer; wherein a non-recess region includes second portions of the plurality of metal lines that are outside the recess region.

Abstract: When composing an electronic message having at least one intended recipient, a contact manager provides contact information for one or more related recipients. The contact manager may receive an identifier associated with the intended recipient(s), which may be used to lookup and identify contact information for related recipient(s). The contact manager may access a contact database, and, using the identifier and relationship information, determine a contact for the related recipient. The contact manager may then populate the contact information for the contact in a recipient field or other compose surface.

Abstract: A size adjustable LED light system has a first and second light retainer that are configured as mirror images to retain a front LED light strip of variable heights and lengths. Also, each of the first and second light retainer form a side LED light receiver channel configured to receive a side LED light. The front extensions of each of the light retainers create a barrier between the front LED light strip and the side LED light, to enable different colors of light to be projected from the front and the two sides. The first and second light retainers have front panel channel for retaining a front panel of the front LED light strip and side panel channels for retaining a side panel over the respective side LED light or side LED light panel.

Abstract: An example eye-tracking optical assembly includes a light source for illuminating an eye, a first diffraction type polarizing beam splitter (DT-PBS), and a second DT-PBS, wherein the first DT-PBS is configured to direct, based on polarization, a first portion of light from the second DT-PBS towards an eye-tracking detector.

Abstract: Controlling a mirror in a MEMS based projector. A method includes iteratively performing various acts. The method includes inputting a time domain target wave array, with target elements, to a system for a MEMS coupled to the mirror of the projector. The time domain target wave array includes a set of n target elements. The method further includes driving the driver to move the mirror using elements in a drive array comprising a set of drive elements. The method further includes sampling a time domain output wave for the movement of the mirror to construct an output wave array with output elements corresponding to the target elements. The method further includes identifying errors between the target elements and the output elements. The method further includes modifying the drive elements in the drive array to attempt to minimize the errors when driving the MEMS on subsequent drive cycles.

Abstract: A method of performing a fund transfer at an ATM includes receiving an active authentication transaction key at an ATM from a mobile financial transaction instrument via a wireless communication protocol, generating a PIN at the ATM, and storing the PIN in a machine readable storage medium. An authorization request message is transmitted to a financial institution identified by the active authentication transaction key. The authorization request message includes the PIN and at least a portion of the active authentication transaction key. The PIN is received from a user of the mobile financial transaction instrument, and the funds are dispensed in response to receiving the PIN.

Abstract: A fully automated supply chain, in combination with tracking technology and the unified commerce engine (UCE) enables the exact location of every item (or each) to be tracked from the manufacturer's facility to a customer's bag. Eaches are tracked using the UCE as they move within and between one or more regional distribution centers and a market distribution center.

Abstract: A design for the electrical infrastructure of a data center enables two different configurations to be utilized, including a distributed, redundant configuration that provides higher reliability and a non-redundant configuration that provides higher capacity. In the distributed, redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from at least two different power supply systems. This enables load shifting when a power supply system becomes unavailable, which can have the effect of increasing server reliability. In the non-redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from only one power supply system. Load shifting is not utilized in the non-redundant configuration, which eliminates the need to maintain reserve capacity and thereby increases capacity. Advantageously, it is possible to switch between these two configurations without making any internal changes to the data center other than modifying connections between sets of server racks and power buses.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for identifying a plurality of past videos posted via a first group of channels, determining, for each channel of a second group, an average number of access requests that a future video to be posted via a respective channel is predicted to receive within a first time interval after posting, determining, for each channel of the second group, a plurality of adjusted average numbers of access requests that the future video to be posted via the respective channel of the second group is predicted to receive within the first time interval, wherein each of the plurality of adjusted average numbers of access requests is determined using an adjustment factor reflecting a number of access requests received by a past video posted via a respective channel of the first group, and determining whether the second group of channels satisfies a predetermined access criterion.