Abstract: Operating parameters are selected for inspecting a structure. Selecting the operating parameters includes exciting broadband ultrasonic guided waves in a multilayered structure, acquiring data corresponding to the sensed broadband ultrasonic guided waves in the multilayered structure, selecting one or more narrow frequency bands based on the acquired data, and inspecting the multilayered structure using ultrasonic guided waves in the one or more narrow frequency bands. In some examples, the data is acquired by an inspection tool capable of sensing the broadband ultrasonic guided waves in the multilayered structure.

Abstract: A packaged bundle using a special designed packaging channel for dunnage is disclosed. The packaging channel dunnage has a channel with hemmed edges and swedged ends exhibiting a two-curved profile to provide a more secure bundle and improved safety during transport and handling.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a gripping apparatus, for use in connecting to a pipe wherein the pipe defines an inside radius, the apparatus having at least one discrete gripping device mounted on a body, wherein the body is a wedge cone; an outer surface on each of the at least one discrete gripping device, wherein the outer surface has a transition surface defined by a means for reducing any sharp transition point; a coating on the outer surface; a collective actuation-retraction mechanism connected to the wedge cone and to each of the at least one discrete gripping device; and a collective extension-retractable mechanism connected to each of at least one discrete gripping device. The disclosure further relates to an alternative exemplary embodiment wherein the gripping apparatus further includes a spring, wherein the spring pre-biases each of the at least one discrete gripping device beyond the inside radius of the pipe to instantly grip the inside radius.

Abstract: A polarization rotator structure includes: a first core structure formed at a first layer, extending from the first end to a second end, and a second core structure formed at a second layer that is at a different depth than the first layer and formed in proximity to the first core structure. The first core structure and the second core structure provide mode hybridization between at least two orthogonally polarized waveguide modes of the PRS. An optical splitter structure is optically coupled at a first end to the second end of the PRS, and optically coupled at a second end to at least two optical waveguides, and includes: a first core structure that is contiguous with at least one of the first or second core structures of the PRS, and a second core structure that is separate from both of the first and second core structures of the PRS.

Abstract: A soybean cultivar designated 92420140 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 92420140, to the plants of soybean cultivar 92420140, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 92420140, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 92420140. 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 92420140. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 92420140, 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 92420140 with another soybean cultivar.

Abstract: A variety of improvements to portable electronic devices are disclosed, particularly electronic devices designed for use in and around water. The improvements include a more secure interface jack, improved waterproofing techniques, improved battery stability, and improved device functionality. One or more of the disclosed improvements may be incorporated into a variety of portable electronic devices.

Abstract: A machine reading comprehension system (MRCS) can analyze a larger-sized document that includes multiple pages to predict an answer to a query. For example, the document can have two, five, tens, or hundreds of pages. The MRCS divides the document into multiple sections with each section including a portion of the document. Each section is processed separately by one or more processing circuitries to determine a score for that section. The score indicates how related the section is to the query and/or a probability that the section provides a possible answer to the query. Once all of the sections have been analyzed, the sections are ranked by their scores and a subset of the ranked sections are processed again to determine a predicted answer to the query.

Abstract: Bonnet and valve trim assembly and related methods are described. An example bonnet and valve trim assembly includes a bonnet structured to couple to a valve body via a valve body mounting flange, the bonnet including a cage mounting interface. A cage defining a body has a bonnet mounting interface to couple to the cage mounting interface of the bonnet. A retainer retains the cage mounting interface and the bonnet mounting interface to couple the cage and the bonnet. The retainer to enable axial movement between the cage and the bonnet when the retainer is coupled to the cage and the bonnet.

Abstract: A tile spacing device and accompanying system and method are disclosed for spacing multiple tiles. In one embodiment, a central body has four arms extending therefrom with a releasably frangible connection. Each of the four arms has a cellular sheet structure defined by multiple cells, including at least one hexagonal cell. The central body and the four arms provide a four-tile engagement configuration. By selectively breaking and removing an arm, a three-tile engagement configuration may also be provided.

Abstract: A method of using a conveyor system comprising capturing, with a first camera of the conveyor system, a first image of a server tray and a plurality of hard disks received along a first conveyor belt of the conveyor system, checking, with one or more processors of the conveyor system, a first serial number associated with the server tray and a second set of serial numbers associated with the plurality of hard disks against a reference list of serial numbers, capturing, with a second camera of the conveyor system, a second image of the server tray and the plurality of hard disks, and verifying an integrity status of the server tray and plurality of hard disks based on the second image.

Abstract: Probiotic compositions containing a consortium of beneficial lactic acid fermenting microbes, bacteria belonging to the Bacilli family, and yeast are disclosed, and methods of using same as human probiotic for ingestion or as an animal feed additive are disclosed.

Abstract: A privacy label system includes a single sheet of label material configured to be removably attached to a container of a product in an unfolded single layer configuration. The label material includes a top surface area configured to receive personal information of a recipient of the product and an opposing bottom surface area configured to receive advertising information associated with the product. An attachment system of the privacy label system is operable to removably attach the label material to the container in an unfolded single layer configuration such that the bottom surface area is positioned between the top surface area and the container, once the label material is attached to the container. The label material is operable to be removed from the container by the recipient by hand, in order to remove the personal information from the container and to reveal the advertising information to the recipient.

Abstract: An ultrasonic welding method for joining a first thermoplastic part and a second thermoplastic part without causing visible read-through on an exposed surface of the second part. The method includes arranging the first part on an inner surface of the second part. The inner surface is opposite the exposed surface. The first part has an interface portion contacting the inner surface. The method includes causing a horn of an ultrasonic welding stack to be pressed against the first part by applying ultrasonic energy oscillating at a frequency in a range of 45-70 kHz through the horn, to thereby join the first part and the second part together. The horn has at least one protruding distal portion configured to penetrate through the first part as the ultrasonic energy is imparted through the horn. The distal portion has a length longer than a thickness of the first part.

Abstract: A sensor calibration target configured for sensor calibration relative to a common frame of reference is disclosed. The sensor calibration target comprises a first surface at a first predefined depth bearing a first set of indicia at respective first heights and having respective first predefined shifts, each of the first indicia encoding a corresponding first height. The sensor calibration target further comprises a second surface at a second predefined depth bearing a second set of indicia at respective second heights and having respective second predefined shifts, each of the second indicia encoding a corresponding second height.

Abstract: An electromagnetic wave shielding wallpaper is described. The wallpaper includes a conductive layer having a base material and a conductive material, and an adhesive layer. The wallpaper may include a protective layer disposed on a first side of the conductive layer, a fire retardant layer disposed on a second side of the conductive layer, and the adhesive layer disposed on the fire retardant layer.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer-readable storage mediums described herein are configured to dynamically configure a baseboard management controller to monitor a state of a server. For example, a configuration schema may be provided to the baseboard management controller. The configuration schema specifies each of the devices of the server that is to be monitored by the baseboard management controller. The configuration schema also specifies additional configuration details with respect to each of the devices. Based on the configuration information included in the configuration schema, the baseboard management controller performs a discovery sequence with respect to each of the devices to verify that such devices are communicatively coupled to the baseboard management controller. If the discovery sequence is successful, the baseboard management controller begins monitoring the devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for performing instance segmentation that can provide improved estimation of object boundaries. Implementations can include a machine-learned segmentation model trained to estimate an initial object boundary based on a truncated signed distance function (TSDF) generated by the model. The model can also generate outputs for optimizing the TSDF over a series of iterations to produce a final TSDF that can be used to determine the segmentation mask.

Abstract: Building materials such as structural panels, beams, roof decking, and flooring panels, are packaged within a protective layer including a sublayer of a polymeric material that can be applied at the factory. The protective layer protects the underlying building materials from exposure to weather and potential damage due to handling during shipping, at a job site, and which can be left in place during construction, thus eliminating the need for temporary protective measures covering the building materials. The protective layer may have additional properties such as breathability, fire resistance, and sound absorption. The protective layer also may provide an underlayment such as for flooring and roofing.

Abstract: A resonant rotor, for use in an inductive position sensor, includes a rotor core, a first rotor coil, and a rotor capacitor. The first rotor coil includes a first twisted rotor loop drawn about the rotor core and the rotor capacitor is connected in series with the first rotor coil. For a second embodiment, the first rotor coil includes a second twisted rotor loop. The first rotor coil has a first symmetry and the inductive position sensor includes a stator. An excitation coil is drawn on the stator and has a second symmetry. The first symmetry substantially corresponds to the second symmetry. A method for determining a position of an object using an inductive position sensor includes generating three electromagnetic fields using respective excitation coils, inducing voltages, respectively, in three receive coils, and determining based on voltages a position of an object coupled to a resonant rotor.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a laser, a transceiver, and one or more optics. The laser source is configured to generate a beam. The transceiver is configured to transmit the beam as a transmit signal through a transmission waveguide and to receive a return signal reflected by an object through a receiving waveguide. The one or more optics are external to the transceiver and configured to optically change a distance between the transmit signal and the return signal by displacing one of the transmit signal or the return signal.