Abstract: Devices, assemblies and methods are described for launching a projectile. A launching device includes a support extending along a first plane and having an outward surface and an inward surface spaced from the outward surface, the inward surface defining a space. The launching device further includes first and second elastic members extending between opposing first and second elastic member ends, respectively. The first and second elastic member ends are coupled to the support with the first elastic member ends spaced from each other and the second elastic member ends spaced from each other. The launching device further includes a handle grip coupled to the support and extending along a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing tracking or storing of equipment configuration data using immutable ledger functionality of blockchains. In various embodiments, in response to receiving a first request for first configuration data that is output by first equipment, a computing system might determine whether a communicatively coupled data repository contains the first configuration data. If so, the computing system might retrieve and send (to the requesting device) the first configuration data. If not, the computing system might send, to a blockchain system, a second request for identifying a blockchain containing a block containing the first configuration data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for changing a sensed parameter group include a data collector communicatively coupled to a plurality of input sensors, each of the plurality of input sensors operatively coupled to a one of a mixer or an agitator, wherein the one of the mixer or the agitator comprises a component of an industrial environment; a controller, comprising: a data acquisition circuit structured to interpret a plurality of detection values corresponding to a sensed parameter group, wherein the sensed parameter group comprises at least a portion of the plurality of input sensors; a pattern recognition circuit structured to determine a recognized pattern value in response to the plurality of detection values; and a sensor learning circuit structured to update the sensed parameter group in response to the recognized pattern value.

Abstract: A method, a non-transitory computer readable medium, and a computer system is provided for encoding or decoding video data. The method may include: receiving an entropy coded bitstream comprising compressed video data including point cloud occupancy codes; generating one or more dequantized dimensions of a boundary box of a point cloud; based on determining that the node or node depth has attribute information, using the attribute information for the node or node depth; and based on determining that the node or node depth does not have attribute information, obtaining attribute information for the node or node depth by inheriting attribute information from a node or node depth that is at least one depth level in an octree of the point cloud above a depth level of the node or node depth in the octree.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for energy-consumption detection of vehicles in an off state. An example vehicle includes a controller area network (CAN) including CAN buses, a gateway module, and electronic control units (ECUs) that are each connected to one of the CAN buses. Upon activating while the vehicle is in an off state, a first of the ECUs sends a message via a corresponding one of the CAN buses to activate the gateway module. The message includes activation data and the gateway module stores the activation data.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle having a user interface and a computing system that is in communication with the user interface. The computing system may have at least one processor and at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions. When executed by the at least one processor, the instructions may cause the at least one processor to output information through the user interface to inform the passenger of an action that the passenger needs to enact prior to the autonomous vehicle beginning to move and determine, based upon an occurrence of the action that the passenger needs to enact, whether the autonomous vehicle is permitted to begin moving.

Abstract: According to at least some example embodiments, a dome collector separation stage includes an inner side wall that defines an inner channel; and an outer side wall that, together with the inner side wall, defines an outer channel, the inner channel being configured to receive a two-phase flow stream (FS) of water and steam, and pass the two-phase FS to the outer channel via inlets included in the inner side wall, the outer channel being configured to separate at least some water from the two-phase FS, and pass moisture-reduced steam out of the steam separator stage via outlets included in the outer side wall.

Abstract: A nanovoided polymer-based material may include a bulk polymer material defining a plurality of nanovoids and an interfacial film disposed at an interface between each of the plurality of nanovoids and the bulk polymer material. The interfacial film may include one or more layers of material. A method of forming a nanovoided polymer-based material may include (1) forming a bulk polymer material defining a plurality of nanovoids and (2) forming an interfacial film at an interface between each of the plurality of nanovoids and the bulk polymer material. Various other methods, systems, and materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: An aviation-related communication network includes a plurality of base stations configured to communicate with in-flight aircraft, a plurality of aviation-related communication network radios disposed on selected aircraft where the aviation-related communication network radios are configured to communicate with base stations of the aviation-related communication network via aviation-related communication network communication links using a first communication standard, and a first wireless access point on each of the selected aircraft to define a first wireless local area network on each of the selected aircraft. At least some of the selected aircraft include a second wireless local area network that defines a priority access network. Devices of the priority access network may be provided with priority access to bandwidth supplied by the aviation-related communication network relative to devices of the first wireless local area network.

Abstract: A system for preparing an interior surface of a tire for an adhesive includes a turntable configured to remove a layer of material from the tire, and a manipulator operable to move and rotate the tire. The turntable includes a platform rotatable about a first axis. An ablation module is disposed within the platform and includes one or more lasers each configured to emit a laser beam for removing the layer of material from the tire. A plurality of guide rollers extend from the platform and are operable between a retracted position and an extended position to selectively secure the tire to the platform. An exhaust system is disposed adjacent to the one or more lasers.

Abstract: A card having an antenna, one or processors, and memory having stored thereon a first application and a second application configured to receive an input of the card and determine a request associated with the input. The card is further configured to activate, responsive to determining that the request is consistent with a contactless EuroPay-MasterCard-Visa (EMV) data standard, the first application. The first application is configured to communicate, via near field communication (NFC), data to the communicating device via the antenna based on the EMV data standard for payment purposes. The card is further configured to activate, responsive to determining that the request is consistent with a near field communication data exchange format (NDEF) standard, the second application. The second application is configured to communicate, via NFC, data to the communicating device via the antenna based on the NDEF standard for verification/identification purposes.

Abstract: Methods are provided for modifying a porous surface of an implantable medical device by subjecting the porous surface to a modified micro-arc oxidation process to improve the ability of the medical device to resist microbial growth, to improve the ability of the medical device to adsorb a bioactive agent or a therapeutic agent, and to improve tissue in-growth and tissue on-growth of the implantable medical device.

Abstract: Provided herein is an electrochemical cell designed for high current discharge, which includes a cathode strip, an anode strip, and at least two separator strips, being longitudinally stacked to form an electrodes set that is folded into at least four segments and designed to exhibit a ratio of its nominal capacity per its active area lower than 12 mAh/cm2, such that the cell is characterized by a discharge efficiency at room temperature of at least 30% to a cut-off voltage of ? of its original voltage at a discharge current of 1,250 mA. Also provided are process of manufacturing, and uses of the cell, which is particularly useful in high drain-rate applications as charging a cellular phone.

Abstract: Examples provide a system for managing access-restricted partial cryptographic keys for encrypting and decrypting data. In some examples, a slot server generates and stores a first partial key. The first partial key is access-restricted based on access control data. A slot value mapped to the storage location is returned to the client by the slot server. The client generates a second partial key which is stored at the client device with the slot value. To obtain the first partial key, the client sends a request to the slot server, including the slot value. The requesting client is validated using access control data. If the request comes from a validated client, the slot server provides the first partial key to the client. The first partial key and the second partial key are combinable to generate a composite key for encrypting and decrypting data.

Abstract: A baler ejection system, that may be used with an agricultural harvester, such as a round baler, waste baler, combine, or cotton harvester, uses the motion of a pair of parallel arms that extend transversely from the sidewalls of a bale chamber a set of distinct pivot points. When activated the parallel arms raise to expose an outlet through which the bale may be ejected. A formed bale may become ejected by one or more conveyer belts that exert a rearward force on the bale within the bale chamber.

Abstract: A forest fire retardant composition contains a retardant compound that includes a halide salt, a non-halide salt, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, a sulfate salt, or combinations thereof. The forest fire retardant composition may include at least one anhydrous salt and at least one hydrate salt. The sulfate salt may be magnesium sulfate. The magnesium sulfate hydrate has a formula MgSO4(H2O)x, where x is about 1 to about 11. For example, x may be equal to at least one of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 or 11. The composition may be in the form of a dry concentrate, a liquid concentrate, or a final diluted product. The final diluted product is effective in suppressing, retarding, and controlling forest fires while exhibiting corrosion resistance and low toxicity.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for secure transmission of computer server event notifications, including receiving a topic subscription request from a partner, registering the partner topic subscription request, obtaining a new computer server event to report, determining a subscribed partner subscribed to computer server events of a same type as the new computer server event, transmitting an event notification to the subscribed partner, and registering the event notification.

Abstract: A surgical blade having an attachment base positioned at a proximal end and a wedge-shaped blade. The wedge-shaped blade includes a cutting tip having a first plurality of cutting teeth, which define a cutting edge along the distal end for starting an osteotomy. The wedge-shaped blade includes a second plurality of teeth positioned along rows. Each row is positioned at offset planes from adjacent rows along the wedge-shaped blade.

Abstract: Molded polymer foam articles are described as having a novel foam structure. The polymer foam articles include a continuous polymer matrix defining a plurality of pneumatoceles therein which is present throughout the entirety of the article. The surface region is further characterized as having compressed pneumatoceles. The novel foam structure is achieved even when molding polymer foam articles comprising a shape and volume wherein a sphere having a diameter between 2 cm and 1000 cm would fit within the article in at least one location without protruding from a surface of the article, and the article further has a total volume of more than 1000 cm3. Methods of making a stabilized molten polymer foam, and of making a molded polymer foam article using the stabilized molten polymer foam are also described.

Abstract: Energy-efficient separation of particulates from fluids is based on determining particulate mass removal as a function of applied energy. Energy-efficient ultrasonic field powers and exposure durations are applied to a particulate containing fluid, and particles removed. In some cases, ultrasonic exposures are selected that provide the maximum particulate removal per applied energy.