Abstract: A controllable stiffness catheter includes a shaft comprising inner and outer sheaths, the sheaths each having proximal and distal ends. The outer surrounds the inner from the proximal to the distal end of the inner sheath, defining an annulus therebetween including a proximal portion having a vacuum connection to which vacuum is applied. The distal ends of the sheaths are longitudinally fixed to one another and sized for neurological vascular procedures. The outer has a substantially constant outer diameter over a distal portion of the annulus proximate to the distal ends. A vacuum device fluidically connects to the vacuum connection and is configured to apply vacuum thereto. Responsive to vacuum, annulus pressure lowers to draw the sheaths toward one another and stiffen the shaft over at least the distal portion to substantially and passively stiffen and maintain a current shape of the shaft over at least the distal portion.

Abstract: In some examples, asymmetric quorum protocol based distributed transaction database consistency control may include determining, by a set of primary participants of a cluster, whether a cluster-wide quorum has been reached to commit a transaction associated with a distributed transactional database. Further, based on the determination by the set of primary participants that the cluster-wide quorum has been reached to commit the transaction, instructions to a set of secondary participants of the cluster may be sent to commit the transaction. The set of secondary participants may be configured to comply with a determination by the set of primary participants to commit or to not-commit the transaction.

Abstract: An electrical plug connector terminates a twisted pair electrical cable. The electrical plug connector includes a base and a plug housing holding electrical contacts therebetween. The base includes a divider structure including separation walls. At least one of the separation walls defines an abutment surface against which a forward end of the electrical cable abuts when terminated by the electrical plug connector. The plug housing defines slots so that the electrical contacts are accessible. The electrical plug connector axially secures an outer jacket of the electrical cable against rearward movement relative to base. The at least one separation wall inhibits forward axial movement of the outer jacket of the electrical cable relative to the base.

Abstract: A filter housing comprising an inlet and an outlet, an impeller positioned inside the filter housing magnetically coupled to a rotating magnetic field created by the magnetic disc when rotated by the motor, wherein rotation of the magnetic disc rotates the impeller which draws the solution through the inlet of the filter housing and push the solution out a first filter and out the outlet of the filter housing.

Abstract: A system for an anatomical joint includes a first fastener, a second fastener, a prosthetic ligament member, and a biasing member associated with at least one of the first and second fasteners. The first fastener is operable to be connected to a first bone portion. The second fastener is operable to be connected to a second bone portion. The prosthetic ligament member is flexible and is directly coupled to both the first and second fasteners to support the first bone portion and the second bone portion for relative movement. A portion of the prosthetic ligament member extends from the first fastener to the second fastener and has an adjustable length. The biasing member is operable to bias the prosthetic ligament member to thereby maintain tension in the prosthetic ligament member.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure enable user-level activity recordation using population level activity data by receiving operator data including a record of activities performed by users on an operator system. Each entry in the record of activities is parsed to form structured activity entries representing each activity executed on the operator system. Each entry in the record of activities is matched to an individual account in an account database based on an individual identifier of each entry and an account individual identifier identifying the individual account. A statistical metric representing the activity history of the individual account is produced based on each entry matched to the individual account, and an activity history dashboard is displayed on an operator computing device to depicts the statistical metric for the individual account.

Abstract: A jamming radio signal is selectively outputted based on an access signal. The jamming radio signal is configured to prevent an interrogation signal of a vehicle to complete an authentication of a vehicle key of the vehicle.

Abstract: A hitch pin for quick and easy release of a hitch assembly. The hitch pin has a shaft with added hole for connection to a removable lock cap by a coupler pin. The quick releasing hitch pin device may be used to secure a hitch and hitch receiver. In addition, the combination of a removable lock cap allows the hitch pin to gravity release thereby freeing the operator to operate the vehicle with hitch in order to release a bound-up hitch pin from the hitch receiver on the draft implement. This method makes for a less cumbersome and safer release of a hitch pin in varied situations, such as when an implement is on fire risking life, limb and property.

Abstract: A method for managing a mailbox based on user activity comprises receiving output signals from each of a plurality of mailbox workloads. The output signals may be indicative of user activity for each workload. A last user action time may be determined based on the received output signals using pre-determined, workload specific criteria. A pre-determined action may be performed on the mailbox responsive to a lapsed duration from the last user action time increasing above a threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computing system can obtain data indicative of a service assignment associated with an autonomous vehicle. The service assignment is indicative of a destination location to which to transport a user. The computing system can obtain data indicative of an item associated with the user that is to be transported to the destination location. The computing system can determine a first drop-off location for the user and a second drop-off location for the item based at least in part on the destination location. The first drop-off location for the user is different than the second drop-off location for the item. The computing system can cause the autonomous vehicle to initiate motion control to travel to the first drop-off location for the user and to travel to the second drop-off location for the item.

Abstract: Many people who suffer from anal rectal discomfort and disorders need fibrous sheet materials which are pre-moistened with a solution for improved cleansing without excessive skin irritation. The invention particularly concerns wet wipes, such as anal-rectal wipes, which comprises a solution comprising hamamelis water or witch hazel, to effectively treat anal-rectal disorders.

Abstract: Storage devices, loading devices, delivery systems, kits, and associated methods for implantable medical devices are described. An example embodiment of a storage device includes a storage member, a first cap, and a second cap. The storage member has a first end, a second end, and a main body that defines a first opening, a second opening, a passageway, a separating wall, and a plurality of holes. The passageway has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends from the first end of the storage member to the separating wall and the second portion extends from the second end of the storage member to the separating wall. Each hole of the plurality of holes extends through the separating wall and provides access between the first portion and the second portion. Each of the first and second caps is releasably attached to the storage member.

Abstract: The technology disclosed herein provides a blockchain transactions forwarding mechanism that allows for tracking and notification from the originating blockchain through to a last blockchain and back again. An implementation of the system disclosed herein also provides a whitelist mechanism to provide a list of acceptable blockchains or nodes that may receive transactions. Yet another implementation provides a predetermined hop count that may be used as the maximum allowable hop counts that provides the number of times a transaction is allowed to be forwarded.

Abstract: A removable real time clock battery (“RRTCB”) assembly is disclosed herein. The RRTCB assembly has an outer housing removably mounted in a port of a downhole tool. The outer housing is adapted to receive at least a portion of an inner housing. The inner housing has a cavity therein and is mounted in the port of the downhole tool. The inner housing is removably disposed within the outer housing. A real time clock battery is removably disposed in the cavity of the inner housing. The real time clock battery electrically connects to a clock disposed within the downhole tool. The RRTCB assembly can be readily removed from the downhole tool or bottomhole assembly (while at the earth's surface) without otherwise disassembling the downhole tool. The real time clock battery can then be removed and replaced or installed if not present.

Abstract: A non-woven fiber mat for lead-acid batteries is provided. The non-woven fiber mat includes glass fibers coated with a sizing composition, a binder composition, and organic active compounds, wherein the organic active compounds are effective in reducing or preventing sulphation in lead-acid batteries.

Abstract: In a 6G network, microservices can be utilized in the absence of a core network. For example, after a mobile device has authenticated, when the mobile device moves away from mobile edge computing (MEC) coverage, the information from the MEC can be ported to a new MEC along the way of the mobile device's path. The initial MEC can send service related application package data to one or more neighboring MECs. When a neighboring MEC of the neighboring MECs receives the service related application package data and the neighboring MEC serves the area which the mobile device is transitioning to, then the neighboring MEC can send an acknowledgment back to the initial MEC. Once the acknowledgment is received by the initial MEC, the initial MEC can complete the handover of the application data needed to reduce or mitigate any disruption in service for the mobile device.

Abstract: A battery selector system, which has at least one battery selector having a knob, a core assembly, and a housing. The core assembly has a chassis core cover, a chassis core, a chassis core contact plate, a main printed circuit board, and a secondary printed circuit board. The core assembly further has a wireless microcontroller, which connects to a wireless network. The housing has electrical terminal studs. The knob, the core assembly, and the housing are assembled creating a sealed unit. Each of the electrical terminal studs is connected to a battery, loads, or ground. The at least one battery selector connects through a wireless network, whereby the battery selector coordinates management functions via the wireless network. The at least one battery selector is a physical power controller for distributing loads to a cluster of batteries.

Abstract: Viruses and other bioagents are of high medical and biodefense concern and their detection at concentrations well below the threshold necessary to cause health hazards continues to be a challenge with respect to sensitivity, specificity, and selectivity. Ideally, assays for accurate and real time detection of viral agents and other bioagents would not necessitate any pre-processing of the analyte, which would make them applicable for example to bodily fluids (blood, sputum) and man-made as well as naturally occurring bodies of water (pools, rivers). We describe herein a robust biosensor that combines the sensitivity of surface acoustic waves (SAW) generated at a frequency of 325 MHz with the specificity provided by antibodies and other ligands for the detection of viral agents.

Abstract: Female quick couplings are disclosed that have a housing defining an axial bore having a first shoulder and a first slot transverse to the axial bore, a removable insert defining a restriction orifice seated against the first shoulder within the axial bore, and a locking member slidingly received in the first receptacle. The removable insert defines a restriction orifice having an upstream conical frustum and a downstream conical frustum mated at their respective smaller diameter. The upstream conical frustum has a largest diameter substantially similar to an internal diameter of the first sealing member and the downstream conical frustum has a largest diameter substantially similar to an internal diameter of the axial bore extending downstream of the first shoulder. The largest dimeter of the upstream conical frustum is larger than the largest diameter of the downstream conical frustum. Engine systems incorporating the female quick coupling are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method performed by a computing system includes generating a to-do list user interface comprising a user actuatable list element corresponding to a particular entry on a to-do list associated with a user, and a user input mechanism actuatable to perform a to-do list management function comprising at least one of adding a new entry on the to-do list, deleting an existing entry on the to-do list, and modifying an existing entry on the to-do list. The method includes generating an agenda associated with the user, the agenda comprising an agenda item having an associated time period, and detecting a flick gesture on the user actuatable list element on the to-do list user interface, and adding, based on the detected flick gesture, an agenda item to the agenda associated with the user, the added agenda item corresponding to the particular entry on the to-do list.