Abstract: A “vascular-safe” pedicle screw and extension-ready spinal support system. The pedicle screw includes a self-tapping flute that recessed into a threaded shaft to define terminations of the threads at a face of said self-tapping flute. The terminations are curved to define a convex profile that extends from a root to a crest of the threads at said face of said self-tapping flute. The curved terminations tend to push soft tissue aside as opposed to slicing or tearing through the soft tissue, so that the self-tapping flute is less likely to slice into vascular vessels. The distal portion of the pedicle screw may also include depressions that reduce the circumferential contact area of the pedicle screw in the direction of rotation, which increases the applied pressure to the soft tissue for a given applied rotational force. The increased pressure augments penetration of the pedicle screw through tissue without resort to sharp cutting edges.

Abstract: Methods are described for forming a mounting surface on a slider body. In one method, an adhesion layer can be deposited on a top surface of a slider body. A first photolithography cycle deposits a first metal layer having a first thickness of at least 8 ?m. A second photolithography cycle deposits a second metal layer having a second thickness of at least 8 ?m over the first metal layer. The first and second layer form a mounting support on the top surface. In another method, the top surface is etched to form a mounting support.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for emitting a sound from an in-ear speaker worn by a subject includes generating, by an audio source of the in-ear speaker, a source audio signal. One or more speakers of the in-ear speaker may emit a sound based on the audio signal and an audio-transport tube of the in-ear speaker may receive the sound. The one or more speakers may be comprised of a singular speaker or a speaker array coupled to a crossover network. The audio-transport tube has an input end coupled to the one or more speakers to receive the sound. An audio reflector of the in-ear speaker may reflect the sound. The audio reflector is coupled to an output end of the audio-transport tube.

Abstract: A luminaire includes a light source positioned at a first level within a luminaire housing. The luminaire also includes a trim component positioned at a second level of the luminaire housing different from the first level. The trim component extends into a room from a ceiling surface and includes an aperture antenna that receives wireless signals and transmits wireless signals. Further, the luminaire includes a communication module that communicates wirelessly with one or more devices remote from the luminaire by controlling excitation of the aperture antenna.

Abstract: Vertebral probes for fusionless spinal surgeries and related surgical methods. In some embodiments, the probe may comprise a shaft having one or more tapering portions. Some embodiments may further comprise one or more non-tapering portions. The probe may further comprise a distal tip extending from a shelf or ledge that may allow for penetration of the tip therethrough with a first force and be configured to inhibit further advancement of the probe by requiring a second force substantially greater than the first force to achieve further advancement.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives a request for an instance of content and determines content metadata for the instance of content. A metric for concurrent playback sessions based on the content metadata is determined. The concurrent playback sessions are actively streaming content. The method evaluates the request to block or allow the request based on comparing the metric for concurrent playback sessions to a threshold for the concurrent playback sessions.

Abstract: Techniques are described for automatically extracting items from a user's browse history on one or more e-commerce websites, and automatically searching other e-commerce websites and sources for offers (including coupons, deals, and/or promotions) for those items and/or related items and/or stores. Such automated techniques allow users to gain the benefit of online offers from various sources, without having to go through the effort of manually searching for such offers. Instead, the system and method automatically locate such offers based on the user's browse history, without requiring any action to be taken on the part of the user.

Abstract: A method for communicating location information to a device includes receiving, at a computer system that implements a social networking service, location information that represents a geographic location of a device associated with a first user; associating, by the computer system, the received location information with a profile associated with the first user; and sending, from the computer system to a device associated with a second user, a message that is generated based at least in part on the location information.

Abstract: A system and method is provided that displays cursors for street level images, where the cursor changes appearance based on the objects in the image, such as the geographic distance between the objects and the camera position and the surface of the objects. For example, the cursor may appear to lie flat against the objects in the image change size based on the distance between the camera and object's surface.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for receiving a reference to an object located in an environment of a robot, accessing mapping data that indicates, for each of a plurality of object instances, respective probabilities of the object instance being located at one or more locations in the environment, wherein the respective probabilities are based at least on an amount of time that has passed since a prior observation of the object instance was made, identifying one or more particular object instances that correspond to the referenced object, determining, based at least on the mapping data, the respective probabilities of the one or more particular object instances being located at the one or more locations in the environment, selecting, based at least on the respective probabilities, a particular location in the environment where the referenced object is most likely located, and directing the robot to navigate to the particular location.

Abstract: A cooking system includes a housing defining a hollow chamber configured to receive food, a controller configured to operate the cooking system in a plurality of modes including a conductive cooking mode and a convective cooking mode, a first temperature sensor operable by the controller to detect temperature in the hollow chamber during the conductive cooking mode, and a second temperature sensor operable by the controller to detect temperature in the hollow chamber during the convective cooking mode. The controller is configured to receive an initial user input that initiates at least one of the conductive cooking mode and the convective cooking mode and switch between operation of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor following the initial user input and without further user input.

Abstract: Sound-generating toys are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a sound-generating toy includes a squeezable body defining an internal chamber. A sound-generating module is positioned within the chamber. The module can include a housing containing (i) an airflow sensor configured to detect a pressure change in the chamber, (ii) a speaker configured to generate an audio output, and (iii) programmable circuitry operably coupled to the airflow sensor and the speaker. In operation, the airflow sensor can detect a pressure change in the chamber caused by a user squeezing the body of the toy, and can output a signal to the programmable circuitry indicating the pressure change. After receiving the signal indicating the pressure change, the programmable circuitry can drive the speaker to generate the audio output.

Abstract: A soybean cultivar designated 04120446 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 04120446, to the plants of soybean cultivar 04120446, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 04120446, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 04120446. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 04120446. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 04120446, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 04120446 with another soybean cultivar.

Abstract: A method may include obtaining a document and using a first prediction model to generate text block scores for text blocks in the document, where a first text block of the text blocks is associated with a first text block score of the plurality of text block scores. The method also includes updating, in response to the first text block score for the first text block failing to satisfy a criterion, a modified version of the document with an indicator to set the first text block as a hidden text block in a presentation of the modified version. The method also includes generating a summarization of the first text block based on the words in the first text block and updating the modified version of the document to include the summarization. The method also includes providing the modified version of the document to a user device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for real-time visualization of a material during ultrasonic non-destructive testing. The system includes a graphical user interface (GUI) capable of showing a three-dimensional (3-D) image of a composite laminate constructed of a series of two-dimensional (2-D) cross sections. The GUI is capable of displaying the 3-D image as each additional 2-D cross section is scanned by an ultrasonic testing apparatus in real time or near real time, including probable defect regions that contain a flaw such as a hole, crack, wrinkle, or foreign object within the composite. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the system includes an artificial intelligence capable of highlighting defect areas within the 3-D image in real time or near real time and providing data regarding each defect area, such as the depth, size, and/or type of each defect.

Abstract: A locking device for a standard toggle light switch is disclosed. The locking device has a partial rectangular cuboid member, a planar torque arm member, a planar locking member, and a locking tab with a notch. The planar locking member inserts into an interstice at the base of the rotary hub of a standard toggle light switch. The locking tab fits into another interstice along the side of the rotary hub and engages with the toggle housing, locking itself in place.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein is directed to stable L-cysteine compositions for injection, comprising: L-cysteine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and/or hydrate thereof in an amount from about 10 mg/mL to about 100 mg/mL; Aluminum in an amount from about 1.0 parts per billion (ppb) to about 250 ppb; cystine in an amount from about 0.01 wt % to about 2 wt % relative to L-cysteine; pyruvic acid in an amount from about 0.01 wt % to about 2 wt % relative to L-cysteine; a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, comprising water; headspace O2 that is less than 1.0%; dissolved oxygen present in the carrier in an amount from about 0.01 parts per million (ppm) to about 1 ppm, wherein the composition is enclosed in a single-use container having a volume of from 10 mL to 100 mL. Also described are compositions for a total parenteral nutrition regimen and methods for their use.

Abstract: An automated rack imaging system is provided, including an automated guided vehicle having a housing and a propulsion system configured to move the housing. The automated rack imaging system may include an imaging system coupled to the housing. The imaging system may include a plurality of cameras. The cameras each may be configured to have a respective field of view. The fields of view may be at least partially non-overlapping with one another. The automated rack imaging system may also include an image processor configured to combine a plurality of images taken by the cameras into a single mosaic image. A method of imaging a datacenter rack with the automated guided vehicle is also provided. The method may include moving the automated guided vehicle to a first target location aligned with the datacenter rack, taking the plurality of images, and combining the plurality of images into the single mosaic image.

Abstract: A unimodal ethylene-co-1-hexene copolymer that, when in melted form at 190 degrees Celsius, is characterized by a unique melt property space defined by combination of melt elasticity and complex viscosity ratio (shear thinning)properties. A blown film consisting essentially of the unimodal ethylene-co-1-hexene copolymer. A method of synthesizing the unimodal ethylene-co-1-hexene copolymer. A method of making the blown film. A manufactured article comprising the unimodal ethylene-co-1-hexene copolymer.

Abstract: A self-propelled roadway maintenance machine has an operator's station located on a front portion of the machine's chassis and including a forward-facing operator's seat. A driven implement, such as a crack routing cutter drum for routing cracks in a roadway surface, is mounted on the front portion of the chassis in a location that can be monitored by a forward-facing operator while controlling machine steering and propulsion. The implement may be removably mounted on the chassis by a quick-connect coupling. If the implement comprises a crack routing cutter drum, a plurality of peripherally spaced cutter wheel assemblies may be mounted between disks of the cutter drum, each cutter wheel assembly including a pin and first and second bushings that support the pin on the disks and that are removably inserted into respective bores in the disks. Machine steering and propulsion and implement operation may all be effected hydraulically.