Abstract: Disclosed are compositions for solubilizing and/or removing a hair styling aid composition from hair. The compositions comprise at least one active solvent, wherein the active solvent is a glycol or an ester; and a carrier composition comprising a liquid vehicle. Also disclosed are methods for solubilizing and/or removing hair styling aids from hair.

Abstract: An insulation box of an insulating barrier in a liquefied gas carrier includes a box structure that includes a bottom panel, a top panel, external pillars, and optionally at least one internal partition that define at least one void. The at least one void includes at least one multilayer insulation board. Each of the at least one multilayer insulation board includes at least one facer layer, at least one first polyurethane layer having a first density from 100 kg/m3 to 2000 kg/m3 according to ASTM D 1622, and at least one second polyurethane layer having a second density of less than 100 kg/m3 according to ASTM D 1622.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient optical signal amplification with system monitoring features are provided. For example, an optical repeater may include two different 4-port thin-film gain flattening filters (TF-GFFs), which may be connected to provide a high-loss loop-back (HLLB) path in the optical repeater for system monitoring. The 4-port TF-GFF may have four different ports and may integrate the functionalities of a conventional GFF and a coupler into a single component, thereby increasing power efficiency of the optical repeater.

Abstract: An isolation circuit that isolates a driver circuit that is biased at a first common mode voltage from a detection circuit that is biased at a second common mode voltage using isolation capacitors. The detection circuit includes a transimpedance amplifier having improved susceptibility to transient common-mode input signals and improved insensitivity to parasitic capacitance on the isolation capacitor terminals. Included within the transimpedance amplifier are circuits for mirroring current to convert the input current from the isolation capacitors into a voltage value and to amplify that voltage value. The transimpedance amplifier outputs a differential voltage value that is held by a latch circuit so that a comparator in the detection circuit can process the differential voltage value and output a differential signal with fully restored logic levels.

Abstract: A robotic system includes a communication system coupled to communicate with one or more external devices that include first user preferences. The robotic system also includes memory storing a database including second user preferences. A controller is coupled to the user interface, the communication system, and the memory, and the controller includes logic that when executed by the controller causes the robotic system to perform operations. Operations may include retrieving the first user preferences using the communication system; retrieving the second user preferences from the database; resolving conflicts between the first user preferences and the second user preferences to create a final set of user preferences; and configuring the robotic system with the revised set of user preferences.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system and accessory having a robotic base or hand piece having a plurality of motors and a mechanical actuator each for operating a mechanical positioning arm in a different degrees of freedom. The robotic base is reusable and provides the platform for the system. The drive system has a port that interfaces with the robotic base and allows for insertion of surgical instruments into the base.

Abstract: Sample cells, light scattering detectors utilizing the sample cells, and methods for using the same are provided. The sample cell may include a body defining a flowpath extending axially therethrough. The flowpath may include a cylindrical inner section interposed between a first outer section and a second outer section. The first outer section may be frustoconical. A first end portion of the first outer section may be in direct fluid communication with the inner section and may have a cross-sectional area relatively smaller than a cross-sectional area at a second end portion thereof. The body may further define an inlet in direct fluid communication with the inner section. The inlet may be configured to direct a sample to the inner section of the flowpath.

Abstract: Amino acid formulations for pancreatic vitality. The formulations comprise a mixture of a plurality of amino acids, wherein the mixture comprises at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of serine, glutamic acid, and/or carnitine. Methods of enhancing pancreatic vitality, stabilizing blood glucose levels, and improving A1C levels in subjects in need thereof are also described.

Abstract: A faceplate remote control device may be attached to a wall-mounted mechanical light switch that has a toggle actuator. The faceplate remote control device may include a toggle indicator that detects operation of the toggle actuator of the mechanical switch. The toggle indicator may cause the generation of an indication of detected operation of the toggle actuator. The toggle indicator may comprise a sliding member that is configured to move with the toggle actuator. The toggle indicator may comprise an obstruction detection device that includes an infrared (IR) transmitter and an IR receiver. The faceplate remote control device may include a control circuit and a wireless communication circuit. The control circuit may be configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit one or more messages in response to detecting operation of the toggle actuator of the mechanical switch.

Abstract: An end-cap assembly is configured to be attached to a distal end of a barrel of a ball bat. In some embodiments, the end-cap assembly includes a sprung-mass portion, a base portion, and one or more flexible members connecting the sprung-mass portion to the base portion. The sprung-mass portion is movable relative to the base portion along one or more directions, such as one or more directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ball bat. A ball bat may include a handle, a barrel attached to the handle, and an end-cap assembly attached to the barrel. The end-cap assembly may include a sprung-mass portion, a base portion, and one or more flexible members connecting the sprung-mass portion to the base portion to allow the sprung-mass portion to move relative to the distal end of the ball bat.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing and/or operating a deployment system that includes a vehicle frame of a deployment vehicle, a drive sub-system, which includes wheels secured to the vehicle frame, a swage machine, and a fluid power sub-system. The swage machine includes a grab plate, which interlocks with a grab notch on a pipe fitting to be secured to a pipe segment, which includes tubing that defines a pipe bore and a fluid conduit implemented in an annulus of the tubing, a die plate including a die, and a fluid actuator that actuates the grab plate toward the die plate to facilitate conformally deforming a fitting jacket of the pipe fitting around the tubing of the pipe segment. The fluid power sub-system selectively powers the drive sub-system or the swage machine based on a target operation to be performed by the deployment vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a distributed optical transmitter with local domain splitting are disclosed and may include, in an optical modulator integrated in a silicon photonics chip: receiving electrical signals, communicating the electrical signals to domain splitters along a length of waveguides of the optical modulator via one or more delay lines, and generating electrical signals in voltage domains utilizing the domain splitters for modulating the optical signals in the waveguides of the optical modulator by driving diodes with the electrical signals generated in the voltage domains. The delay lines may comprise one delay element per domain splitter, or may comprise a delay element per domain splitter for a first subset of the domain splitters and more than one delay element per domain splitter for a second subset of the domain splitters.

Abstract: Some variations provide a multiphase polymer composition comprising a first polymer material and a second polymer material that are chemically distinct, wherein the first polymer material and the second polymer material are microphase-separated on a microphase-separation length scale from about 0.1 microns to about 500 microns, wherein the multiphase polymer composition comprises first solid functional particles selectively dispersed within the first polymer material, and wherein the first solid functional particles are chemically distinct from the first polymer material and the second polymer material. Some embodiments provide an anti-corrosion composition comprising first corrosion-inhibitor particles or precursors selectively dispersed within the first polymer material, wherein the multiphase polymer composition optionally further comprises second corrosion-inhibitor particles or precursors selectively dispersed within the second polymer material.

Abstract: In a high-security sliding-door apparatus for closing and opening a corridor, the door having (a) a door frame having a track and a bi-directional effector, (b) a carriage having track-engaging rollers, (c) a slide plate slidably secured to the carriage and driven by the effector, and (d) a controller controlling slide-plate movement and enabling the door to be continuously closed but not locked, the improvement comprising centering apparatus for relative positioning of the slide plate and carriage, the centering apparatus including (1) a yoke attached to the slide plate at a yoke pivot and having a yoke cam surface thereabove, (2) a carriage-attached yoke-cam follower, and (3) springs having proximal ends attached to the yoke spaced above the yoke pivot and distal ends each attached to the carriage at points offset from the yoke pivot in opposite lateral directions, centering the door with the slide plate when unlocked.

Abstract: The present teachings are directed to compositions, methods, and kits for amplifying target nucleic acids while reducing non-specific fluorescence and undesired amplification products, sometimes referred to as secondary amplification products or spurious side-products. The enzyme inhibitors disclosed herein comprise a nucleotide sequence and at least one quencher. Complexes comprising an enzyme inhibitor associated with an enzyme, wherein at least one enzymatic activity of the enzyme is inhibited, are also provided. Methods for amplifying a target nucleic acid while reducing undesired amplification products are disclosed, as are methods for reducing non-specific fluorescence. Kits for expediting the performance of certain disclosed methods are also provided.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system for an engine includes a first conduit, a second conduit, and a mixer. The first conduit is configured to direct a first portion of exhaust gas away from a first exhaust manifold. The second conduit is configured to direct a second portion of exhaust gas away from a second exhaust manifold. The mixer is configured to direct the first and second portions of the exhaust gas from the first and second conduits, respectively, into an engine air intake system. The mixer is arranged to segregate the first and second portions of the exhaust gas while the first and second portions of the exhaust gas are within the mixer. The mixer forms a ring about a perforated tube. The mixer is configured to direct the first and second portions of the exhaust gas into the air intake system via the perforated tube.

Abstract: Power and/or current regulation in non-volatile memory systems is disclosed. Peak power/current usage may be reduced by staggering concurrent program operations in the different semiconductor dies. Each set of one or more semiconductor dies has an earliest permitted start time for its program operation, as well as a number of permitted backup start times. The permitted start times are unique for each set of one or more semiconductor dies. There may be a uniform gap or delay between each permitted start time. If a semiconductor die is busy with another memory operation at or after its earliest permitted start time, then the program operation is initiated or resumed at one of the permitted backup times. By having permitted backup times, the memory system need not poll each semiconductor die to determine whether the semiconductor die is ready/busy in order to determine when a die should start a program operation.

Abstract: A cyber-threat detection system that maintains consistency in local configurations of one or more computing nodes forming a cluster for cyber-threat detection is described. The system features a distributed data store for storage of at least a reference configuration and a management engine deployed within each computing node, including the first computing node and configured to obtain data associated with the reference configuration from the distributed data store, From such data, the management engine is configured to detect when the shared local configuration is non-compliant with the reference configuration, and upload information associated with the non-compliant shared local configuration into the distributed data store. Upon notification, the security administrator may initiate administrative controls to allow the non-compliant shared local configuration or modify the shared local configuration to be compliant with the reference configuration.

Abstract: Mechanisms for efficient inter-system or inter-RAT handover for the case when large numbers of devices need to perform a handover within a short time interval or even simultaneously are described. These mechanisms can include an aggregated Handover Procedure. An Aggregated Handover procedure can be enabled by a UE and can be indicated to the network entities by “Aggregated Handover Indication”. The detection of target (H)eNB or WLAN can be triggered by user, GPS location, boarding time, or a travel or eTicket application etc. The UEs requesting Aggregated Handover within a time interval, i.e. Handover Window, can be processed with aggregated messages by the core network entities.

Abstract: A location-based analytics system provides tracking and visualization of individuals within a controlled-environment facility. A plurality of sensors, such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) sensors, are located within the controlled-environment facility and detect individuals located within a first proximity to the sensors. An analytics system determines the identity of individuals detected by the sensors and reports the locations of the identified individuals. A user interface provides the ability to select the display of the location and movement of selected individuals of the identified individuals on a three-dimensional model of the controlled-environment facility. The user interface also provides the ability to select a three-dimensional representation for the selected individuals and various other aspects of the controlled-environment facility.