Abstract: The invention comprises a method for fixating bones in the foot by aligning the bones in their desired position, inserting a screw in the aligned bones, inserting at least one transverse element near the head or tip of the screw, and tightening the screw to compress the bones. The screw comprises a shaft having first and second ends with spirally wound screw threads beginning near the first end and extending along the shaft. Advantageously, the screw is cannulated and screw threads are formed on an interior surface of the cannulation. Illustratively, the transverse elements may be staples, open-ended washers, or open-ended nuts. Reduction instruments and drill guides used in the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A microsensor and method of manufacture for a microsensor, comprising an array of filaments, wherein each filament of the array of filaments comprises a substrate and a conductive layer coupled to the substrate and configured to facilitate analyte detection. Each filament of the array of filaments can further comprise an insulating layer configured to isolate regions defined by the conductive layer for analyte detection, a sensing layer coupled to the conductive layer, configured to enable transduction of an ionic concentration to an electronic voltage, and a selective coating coupled to the sensing layer, configured to facilitate detection of specific target analytes/ions. The microsensor facilitates detection of at least one analyte present in a body fluid of a user interfacing with the microsensor.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system may comprise an evaporator core including an upstream inlet face in which humid air is received, a downstream outlet face from which dehumidified air is discharged, and a plurality of air-contacting surfaces extending between the inlet and outlet faces. In one form, an antimicrobial coating may be formed on the air-contacting surfaces of the evaporator core. The antimicrobial coating may comprise an ionic material having immobilized ionic groups of one type of charge and mobile counterions of another type of charge. The mobile counterions may be ionically associated with the immobilized ionic groups. In another form, an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) may be used to direct UV light onto the air-contacting surfaces of the evaporator core.

Abstract: Coating compositions for coating an oilfield operational component, and related methods, may include in some aspects a coating composition having a trifunctional silane, a silanol, and a filler. The coating composition may be applied to a surface of the oilfield operational component that is configured to be exposed to a fluid. The coating composition may be applied to at least partially cover or coat the surface. The coating composition may be configured to chemically bond with a cured primer composition that includes an epoxy.

Abstract: A variable air volume diffuser and method of operation are disclosed. The system includes an energy harvesting device, a ring-shaped damper and a frame adapted to interface with the ring-shaped damper, wherein the ring-shaped damper is driven by energy harvested from the energy harvesting device.

Abstract: Configurations for providing a data feed of contact information updates, deletes, and additions to one or more clients are disclosed. A contact information server can maintain a log including respective log entries of different updates (e.g., in a log structure data store) performed on the contact information. The contact information server orders the log entries using associated timestamps in order to be consistent with the actual order of updates performed on the contact information. For synchronizing contact information, a client will submit a query and supply a timestamp to the contact information server to request the log of updates based on the timestamp (e.g., log entries corresponding to a set of updates since the included timestamp). The server will respond with one or more modifications to the contact information represented as the set of updates in respective log entries.

Abstract: A battery electric vehicle includes a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel longitudinal members and a floor pan coupled to and above at least a portion of the longitudinal members. A battery pack bay is defined below the floor pan, longitudinally between predefined front and rear limits, and laterally between the longitudinal members. A battery pack may be upwardly disposed within the battery pack bay, the battery pack including a pair of laterally spaced apart sides whereat the first battery pack is removably attached to the respective longitudinal members. The battery pack may be dimensioned longitudinally to occupy less than the entire longitudinal space of the battery pack bay. A closeout structure may be removably attached to the respective longitudinal members and one longitudinal end of the first battery pack.

Abstract: This application is directed to a method of managing processing capability of a server system having one or more processing cores that further include multiple processing slices. Upon receiving requests to initiate online gaming sessions, the server system allocates each processing slice of the processing cores to a subset of the online gaming sessions to be executed thereon. A first processing slice is allocated to a first subset of the online gaming sessions including a first gaming session and a second gaming session. At the first processing slice, a time-sharing processing schedule is determined for the first subset of the online gaming sessions. In accordance with the time-sharing processing schedule, the first and second gaming sessions share a duty cycle of the first processing slice, and are executed dynamically and in parallel according to real-time data processing need of the first and second gaming sessions.

Abstract: Example on-demand driver (ODD) systems and methods are described herein. An example method includes generating, with an ODD system, a softkey for a vehicle associated with an agreement between a driver-in-need (DIN) and an ODD, monitoring, with the ODD system, a location of an ODD device carried by the ODD, and transmitting, with the ODD system, the softkey to the ODD device when the ODD device is detected as being within a proximity of the vehicle. In the example method, the softkey is used to unlock the vehicle.

Abstract: A door assembly includes a first door skin, a second door skin spaced apart from the first door skin and a door operator disposed between the first door skin and the second door skin. An arm extends from the door operator. The door operator includes a motor moving the arm to move the door between a closed position and an open position and between the open position and the closed position. A current sensor generates a current signal corresponding to the current to the motor. A position sensor in communication with the door arm generates a position signal corresponding to the position of the door relative to the frame. A controller communicates with the sensor and the motor. The controller controls a motor current to the motor in response to the current signal and the position signal.

Abstract: A lens includes a substrate with optically anisotropic molecules arranged in helical configurations between first and second surfaces. A first portion of the substrate includes a first helical structure having a first phase and a second helical structure adjacent to the first helical structure having a second phase. A difference between the first and second phases corresponds to a first phase difference. A second portion includes a third helical structure having a third phase and a fourth helical structure adjacent to the third helical structure having a fourth phase. A difference between the third and fourth phases corresponds to a second phase difference. A third portion includes a fifth helical structure having a fifth phase and a sixth helical structure adjacent to the fifth helical structure having a sixth phase. A difference between the fifth and sixth phases corresponds to a third phase difference.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus can identify groundwater as a drilling machine drills a drill hole. Presence or not of groundwater can be continuously monitored as the drilling machine drills the drill hole using one or more groundwater or moisture sensors to detect moisture or water content of cuttings from the drill hole. Such data from the sensor(s) can be processed to determine the presence or not of groundwater and associate the determination with the corresponding location within the drill hole. A mapping or logging of the drill hole can be generated with the location or locations where the presence of groundwater is identified.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for use in producing a simulated flame/fire effect using steam or theatrical smoke. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an first chamber for receiving steam or theatrical smoke, an annular second chamber that surrounds the first chamber and defines an annular closed-loop slot through which a closed-loop sheet of steam or theatrical smoke exits, a passageway for conveying smoke from the first chamber to the annular second chamber, a lighting structure for projecting light onto the steam or theatrical smoke exiting the annular slot, and an air modulator for modulating the position of the steam or theatrical smoke exiting the slot.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing time-delimited action suggestions are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes receiving, by one or more computing devices from a user device, data indicative of a user-requested time-bound activity. The time-bound activity is associated with a time period. The method includes identifying, by the one or more computing devices, one or more parameters associated with a user that requested the time-bound activity. The method includes determining, by the one or more computing devices, a suggested action based at least in part on the one or more parameters associated with the user and the time period associated with the time-bound activity. The method includes providing, by the one or more computing devices, an output indicative of the suggested action to the user device.

Abstract: A 4.3/10 coaxial connector configured to receive a mating 4.3/10 connector includes: an inner contact; a dielectric spacer: and an outer contact, the dielectric spacer separating the inner contact and the outer contact. The outer contact includes an outer wall and a plurality of spring fingers, the spring fingers configured to deflect radially inwardly when the mating 4.3/10 connector is mated. The connector further comprises blocking structure that prevents mating of a Mini-Din connector.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for detecting plugging of an agricultural implement may include a disc rotatably coupled to a frame member, with the disc configured to rotate relative to soil within a field as the implement is moved across the field. The system may also include a disc scraper coupled to the frame member, with the disc scraper configured to remove the soil from the disc as the disc rotates relative to the soil. Furthermore, the system may include a sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of an acceleration of the disc scraper relative to frame member. Additionally, a controller of the system may be configured to monitor the acceleration of the disc scraper relative to the frame member based on data received from the sensor moreover. The controller may be further configured to determine when the disc is plugged based on the monitored acceleration.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to assisting patients with treatment and recovery to remain in an upright position. More specifically, the present disclosure is a device that may be used to support patients in an upright position that may be used with any surface. Further, the device may allow the users to vary the angle of support and may be controlled through a simple interface, such as a button, remote control, or controls on an electronic interface device.

Abstract: The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 18R410B3XF. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 18R410B3XF. Also provided by the invention are methods of using cotton variety 18R410B3XF and products derived therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 18R410B3XF with itself or another cotton variety and plants and seeds produced by such methods.

Abstract: Embodiments of an outdoor cooking station having heating elements extending to define a griddle portion and a range portion of the cooking station. The griddle portion may include a griddle covered with a hood pivotably mounted to the griddle. The range portion may include a grate with heating elements sized to heat, for example, fluids in a receptacle on the cooking station. Further, the grate of the range portion may be sized and configured to removably secure a cage for safely holding and maintaining the receptacle over the grate.

Abstract: A string instrument pick holder assembly including a pouch operable to store one or more instrument picks. The pouch having an inner surface configured to contain the one or more picks, and an outer surface located opposite the inner surface. The string instrument pick holder assembly further including a saddle having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface is located opposite the first surface, and a strap coupled with the saddle, wherein the strap is operable connect the saddle with a string instrument. A first portion of a fastener is connected with the outer surface of the pouch, and a second portion of the fastener is coupled with the first surface of the saddle. The second portion of the fastener is operable to detachably connect with the first portion of the fastener.