Abstract: A medical appliance is configured with material that creates a fluid barrier with interior walls of a stoma on a patient. These configurations may include an annular disc with a stem on one side that inserts into the stoma. The material may reside on the stem, for example, in the form of a replaceable hollow tube that covers at least part of the stem. On the other side, a rotatable spigot inserts into a recess. The rotatable spigot has a first position that forms a flow path through the stem and the annular disc to allow waste to drain from the stoma. In one implementation, the rotatable spigot can couple with a collection device that receives the waste. The patient can return the rotatable spigot to a second position to prevent flow of waste.

Abstract: A Bayesian learning approach for stability boundary and optimal parameter identification in milling without the knowledge of the underlying tool dynamics or material cutting force coefficients. Different axial depth and spindle speed combinations are characterized by a probability of stability which is updated based upon whether the result is stable or unstable. A likelihood function incorporates knowledge of stability behavior. Numerical results show convergence to an analytical stability lobe diagram. An adaptive experimental strategy identifies optimal operating parameters that maximize material removal rate. An efficient and robust learning method to identify the stability lobe diagram and optimal operating parameters with a limited number of tests/data points.

Abstract: A system and method for charging battery packs is provided. The system may include a charging pad comprising a power supply, a charging pad surface, and a microcontroller unit. The power supply may provide charging power. The charging pad surface may include a first charging region and a second charging region. The microcontroller unit may control delivery of charging power to the first charging region and the second charging region such that a device placed in contact with the first charging region is given a higher charging priority than a device placed in contact with the second charging region.

Abstract: Systems, assemblies, and methods are provided herein for fastening of one bone to another bone using one or more sutures. The features herein enable such fastening with a more accurate strength, and which can be more easily fastened in-situ.

Abstract: Wearable sensors and uses thereof are disclosed. Preferred sensors include surface EMG electrodes for measuring electrical muscle activity, by which muscle contraction is measured. Such muscle contraction can be used to determine a person's posture, especially when the contraction being measured is that of core muscles. An alert preferably is provided to a person in real time when an incorrect posture is detected. By providing such biofeedback, a person is trained in maintaining a good posture. Such posture training is believed to heal alleviate or even present lower back pain. Wearable sensors of the invention also can be used to measure contraction in muscles during exercise, including running and strength training, to gain information for use in improving such activities.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure exposure to streaming media are disclosed. An example apparatus includes for measurement of exposure to streaming media includes at least one memory, instructions in the apparatus, and processor circuitry to execute the instructions to: access metadata identifying media presented to a user, and cookie data, the metadata and the cookie data provided by a client device; determine whether the cookie data identifies the user to a database proprietor; in response to a determination that the cookie data does not identify the user to the database proprietor, send a redirect message instructing the client device to retransmit the metadata to a next-hop location; and in response to a determination that the cookie data does identify the user to the database proprietor, provide the metadata and a user identifier to a central facility.

Abstract: An article carrier for packaging one or more articles and a blank for forming the carrier are disclosed. The carrier (90) comprises an engaging panel (12) having at least one article-engaging structure (RT1, RT2). The carrier (90) comprises a bundling structure having first and second segments. The first segment includes a first panel (14) hinged to the engaging panel (12) and abridging portion (22A, 26A) hinged to the first panel (14). The second segment includes a second panel (18A) hinged to the engaging panel (12), a third panel (18B) hinged to the second panel (18A) in overlapping position therewith and a bridge-engaging feature engaging the bridging portion (22A, 26A). The bridge-engaging feature is provided at least by the second and third panels (18A, 18B) such that art of the bridging portion (22A, 26A) is disposed between the second and third panels (18A, 18B).

Abstract: A device includes a plurality of support elements pivotably attached to a base. The support elements are pivotably attached to support arms. The support arms support a platform configured to hold a vehicle. The device is capable of moving between stacked and unstacked configurations, where the platform is elevated above a ground-level parking space when the device is in a stacked configuration and the platform is positioned behind or beside a ground-level parking space when the device is in an unstacked configuration. When changing between a stacked configuration and an unstacked configuration, the support elements and the support arms pivot such that the platform does not contact any vehicle parked underneath the platform.

Abstract: A modular cooking apparatus is disclosed. The modular cooking apparatus includes a housing having a first interchangeable cooking module, a second interchangeable cooking module, and a single power connection for receiving electrical power from a wall outlet. The first interchangeable cooking module contains a first oven, and the second interchangeable cooking module contains a second oven. The second oven is a different oven type from the first oven. The modular cooking apparatus also includes a controller within the housing for controlling the first and second ovens. The controller includes a memory for storing a list of food items to be cooked within the modular cooking apparatus and a corresponding oven type for each of the food items. The modular cooking apparatus further includes a control panel on the housing for displaying only the food items for which the first oven or the second oven is a corresponding oven type.

Abstract: A rail mounting kit includes a base, a sliding member, multiple positioning pins, and an elastic member. The base having two upper hooks, two limiting members, and a lower connecting portion. Each upper hook has an upper groove. The sliding member has an upper connecting portion located above the lower connecting portion, upper inclined edges, and lower grooves located lower than the upper grooves. The positioning pins are mounted through the sliding member to allow the sliding member to slide relative to the positioning pins. Two ends of the elastic member are respectively connected to the lower connecting portion and the upper connecting portion. Because the sliding member is able to slide upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper hooks to clamp on a rail, installation or uninstallation of the rail mounting kit is easy and convenient.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some implementations an apparatus to produce SAF from dry natural gas includes a natural gas reforming area that receives the dry natural gas and that produces synthetic gas from the dry natural gas, a Fischer-Tropsch conversion area that is operably coupled to the natural gas reforming area and that receives the synthetic gas and produces a hydrocarbon chain from the synthetic gas and a product upgrading area that is operably coupled to the Fischer-Tropsch conversion area that receives the hydrocarbon chain and that produces the SAF from the hydrocarbon chain.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses are described for monitoring events in a plurality of different services. A system may monitor manifest files for one or more content items. Manifest files may contain manifest file tags indicating events. Events may be detected, and a switch from one content item to another content item, based on customized user priority preferences, may be caused.

Abstract: A digital forensics tool and associated method are disclosed for extracting digital data from a user computing device, transforming and analyzing the digital data, and generating an interactive user interface that facilitates the identification of important digital data, such as for a criminal investigation.

Abstract: A control rod for a nuclear fuel assembly is described herein that includes a neutron absorbing material having a melting point greater than 1500° C. that does not form a eutectic with a melting point less than 1500° C., and may further include a cladding material having a melting point greater than 1500° C. The cladding material is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, zirconium, a zirconium alloy, tungsten, and molybdenum. The absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of Gd2O3, Ir, B4C, Re, and Hf. The metal cladding or the absorbing material may be coated with an anti-oxidation coating of Cr with or without a Nb intermediate layer.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is operated along a route according to a nominal driving solution that takes into account one or more first constraints including a first predicted trajectory for an agent vehicle. An alternate scenario is determined based on one or more second external constraints that include a second predicted trajectory for the agent vehicle different from the first predicted trajectory. A risk factor on the nominal driving solution is determined for the alternative scenario, and a secondary driving solution is determined based on the risk factor and the one or more second external constraints. A candidate switching point is identified where the secondary driving solution diverges from the nominal driving solution, and the nominal driving solution is revised up to the candidate switching point based on the secondary driving solution. The autonomous vehicle is then operated based on the revised nominal driving solution.

Abstract: A system and method of establishing a communication session is disclosed herein. A computing system receives, from a client device, a content item comprising text-based content. The computing system generates a mark-up version of the content item by identifying one or more characters in the text-based content and a relative location of the one or more characters in the content item. The computing system receives, from the client device, an interrogatory related to the content item. The computing system analyzes the mark-up version of the content item to identify an answer to the interrogatory. The computing system generates a response message comprising the identified answer to the interrogatory. The computing system transmits the response message to the client device.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a cathode of an X-ray imaging system. A method for fabricating the cathode comprises machining a plurality of focusing features on a focusing element and welding the focusing element to a base assembly.

Abstract: Multi-purpose interface bumps on semiconductor chips may be used to optimize chip-to-chip data connectivity, including for example high speed chip-to-chip interfaces using fine-pitched bumps adaptable to interfaces with standard bumps without loss of total data rate. A chip with fine-pitch pads for ?-bumps may be connected to an organic package substrate with every other pad populated with a bump and connected to the organic package substrate, while adjacent pads are not populated with bumps and are deactivated. Total number of active bumps to 1/N for each data interface block, and the total bandwidth may be maintained by increasing the active bump data rate by N-times.

Abstract: A system and method for assembling framing assemblies for use as ceiling or floor structures of modular building units using automation are disclosed. The framing assemblies include trusses that are attached at the lateral edges thereof by a joist including at least one layer of dimensional lumber to form a substantially rigid framework. Cover panels are positioned over and attached to an inner surface of the framing assembly.

Abstract: An exemplary security apparatus generally includes a tether, a head, and a body. The head is secured to the tether, and generally includes a plug including a latch and an actuator at least selectively operable to move the latch from a latching position to an unlatching position. The body is secured to the tether, and includes a port operable to receive the plug. With the plug received in the port, the latch prevents separation of the head and the body when the latch is in the latching position, and does not prevent separation of the head and the body when the latch is in the unlatching position.