Abstract: A molten chloride fast reactor (MCFR) includes a plurality of reflectors defining a central core having a core geometric center. A flow channel fluidically connected to the central core. The flow channel includes an outlet flow channel downstream of the central core and an inlet flow channel upstream from the central core. A primary heat exchanger (PHX) disposed outside the central core and between the outlet flow channel and the inlet flow channel. The MCFR also includes a decay heat heat exchanger (DHHX). At least a portion of the DHHX is disposed above the core geometric center, and a fuel salt is configured to circulate at least partially through the outlet flow channel, the DHHX, the PHX, the inlet flow channel, and the central core.

Abstract: The invention includes a location tracking device in an RFID environment, a system and method for tracking tag objects. Preferred embodiments include location tracking for livestock and a system and method for categorizing animal health. The location tracking device is an active or passive RFID device having a low power, long range transceiver for tracking the location and movement of the tag animal. The RFID device further includes a temperature reader circuit that induces an activation voltage on an inductive coupled temperature sensor having an LC circuit. The activation voltage is selectively cycled on and off to measure the decay of the LC circuit by its resonant frequency. Changes in capacitance of the LC circuit are converted to temperature readings thereby providing temperature monitoring of the animal. The system and method includes logic in the form of predetermined movement categories which indicate whether an animal may be potentially sick or healthy.

Abstract: A device comprises a tubular member with a longitudinal axis having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one partial cut located at, along or near the distal end of the tubular member, the at least one partial cut comprising an orientation that is angled relative to both the longitudinal axis and an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, a pusher member positioned within an interior of the tubular member and configured to selectively advance the distal end of the tubular member longitudinally, wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to at least partially rotate when the pusher member is advanced relative to the tubular member so at to facilitate placement of the distal end in a particular branch of a subject's intraluminal network, wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to longitudinally elongate along or near an area of the at least one partial cut.

Abstract: This invention provides a floating platform with canted columns, and a new method of mooring line makeup and installation method that can be used for the canted columns. In one embodiment, the platform includes 3 columns having upper ends projecting above water surface. The columns are canted or inclined inward from the corner of hull toward the top of column. The 3 columns converge at the top of column such that each column will lean against the other 2 columns. Each column connects to the other 2 columns. Horizontally disposed pontoons interconnect adjacent columns at the lower ends. The columns and pontoons form a closed structure hull to support a foundation structure directly above the top of column.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and techniques for producing complex components using a reinforced thermoplastic material. The complex components can include contoured or curved outer surfaces, and in some cases define a cavity. In certain examples, one or more thermoplastic materials are arranged to form a wheel component, such as that adapted to define a rim of the bicycle. Thermal bonding can be used to join multiple reinforced thermoplastic materials to one another in order to form a cavity of the wheel component or other complex shape. In certain examples, a portion of a tooling assembly can be pressurized to maintain a shape of the cavity during thermal bonding and cooling. This can remove the need for a sacrificial bladder or other structure that would maintain the shape of the cavity, allowing for a seamless final component, optionally absent indicia of bladder exit or other seams.

Abstract: A method and system of determining or estimating a descent profile includes receiving a final approach fix for a target destination, repeatedly back-calculating a set of subsequent models, determining a descent profile based on the repeated back-calculating the set of subsequent models, and operating the aircraft in accordance with the descent profile.

Abstract: Systems for data collection and self-organizing storage including enhanced resolution are disclosed. An example system includes an industrial system with a plurality of components, a subset of which is operatively coupled to a plurality of sensors which provide sensor values. An example system may further include self-organizing storage for at least a portion of the plurality of sensor values and a means for enhancing resolution of the sensor values in response to an enhanced data request value or an alert value. Enhanced resolution may include an enhanced spatial resolution, an enhanced time domain resolution, a greater number of the plurality of sensor values than a standard resolution of the plurality of sensor values, or a greater precision of at least one of the plurality of sensor values than the standard resolution of the plurality of sensor values.

Abstract: A stool and desk support system. The system includes a stool base and a desk support surface. A support member may connect the desk support surface to the stool base and support the desk support surface above a floor surface. The stool base may include a stool seat surface and a rocking mechanism opposite the stool seat surface. The desk support surface may be connected to a desk support base by a neck extending from the desk support base. The stool base may include an upper stool base frame and a lower stool base frame. The upper stool base frame may be height adjustable with respect to the lower stool base frame. The desk support base may connect to the upper stool base frame, permitting coinciding height adjustment of the desk support surface and the upper stool base frame.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, powertrain unit having output shaft, and a drive sprocket coupled to the output shaft for rotation therewith. A swing arm has a first end pivotably coupled to the frame and a second end supporting a drive wheel of the vehicle. A wheel sprocket is coupled to the drive wheel for rotation therewith, and a flexible final drive member is wrapped around the drive sprocket and the wheel sprocket to establish a driving relationship therebetween, the flexible final drive member forming a loop. An idler bracket is fixed with respect to the frame and supporting both an upper idler and a backside idler. The upper idler is positioned within the loop such that the flexible member engages an upper side of the upper idler. The backside idler is positioned outside the loop such that the flexible member engages an upper side of the backside idler.

Abstract: An adhesive tape dispensing device having a narrow top portion with an opening, across which opening the tape is tensioned, and a blade that cuts the tape by first puncturing it and then proceeding to cut across the remainder of the tape.

Abstract: A fluidic logic-gate device may include inlet ports, input ports, an output port, fluid channels each configured to route fluid from one of the inlet ports to the output port, and pistons that each include (1) a restricting gate transmission element configured to block, when the piston is in a first blocking position and unblock, when the piston is in a second blocking position, one of fluid channels, (2) a first controlling gate transmission element configured to interface with a first control pressure that, when applied to the first controlling gate transmission element, forces the piston towards the first blocking position, and (3) a second controlling gate transmission element configured to interface with a second control pressure that, when applied to the second controlling gate transmission element, forces the piston towards the second blocking position. Various other related devices and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method directed to inspecting a high density polyethylene pipe. The system includes a pipe inspection tool that is positioned about a fused polyethylene pipe joint. The inspection tool may include search units, a pipe carriage, a pulser and a phased array testing instrument programmed to adjust an amplitude response signal from the search units based on a vertically established time corrected gain curve. The inspection tool is rotated around the high density polyethylene pipe joint while propagating acoustical waves at various patterns and angles through the polyethylene pipe joint. Prior to the joint inspection, the inspection tool is calibrated using a calibration tool which includes a block having an array of equal sized bores positioned along different axis' through the block's depth. The block is constructed of the same material type and grade as the pipes that were fused together to form-the polyethylene pipe joint.

Abstract: An extensibility model is used to provide active and interactive functionality in communication items, but the embodiments are not so limited. A computer system of an embodiment includes components configured to identify one or more activation triggers that operate to activate gadget code using an isolated code execution environment as part of injecting content into an email communication. A method of one embodiment provides an extensibility framework for using defined gadget triggers and associated gadget functionality as part of automatically injecting content inline with a mail message.

Abstract: A method for establishing secured connection on an apparatus, comprising: connecting to a network; retrieving a last known block header hash corresponding to a last known block in a last known blockchain; connecting to a plurality of trusted peers via the network; in response to each trusted peer being successfully connected, downloading a latest block header of the trusted peers; based on the last known block header hash, determining whether the latest block header of each trusted peers is referenced to the last known block; and in response to a first number exceeding a threshold number, verifying the latest block header to form a latest version blockchain, wherein the first number is a number of peers in the plurality of trusted peers being successfully connected, and the peers have the latest block header being referenced to the last known block.

Abstract: A method for an in-memory distributed cache includes receiving a write request from a client device to write a block of client data in random access memory (RAM) of a memory host and determining whether to allow the write request by determining whether the client device has permission to write the block of client data at the memory host, determining whether the block of client data is currently saved at the memory host, and determining whether a free block of RAM is available. When the client device has permission to write the block of client data at the memory host, the block of client data is not currently saved at the memory host, and a free block of RAM is available, the write request is allowed and the client is allowed to write the block of client data to the free block of RAM.

Abstract: Method for measuring thickness of coatings includes illuminating an automobile sample comprising a substrate and at least one coating with light waves of varying wavelengths from a light source. It further includes receiving the light waves reflected by a top surface and a bottom surface of the coating on the sample at the light collector. It also includes diffracting the light waves into a plurality of component wavelengths with a grating, detecting light intensities of the plurality of component wavelengths at a detector array, generating a combined reflected interference pattern spectral curve using the detected light intensities for each of the received light waves for each of the plurality of component wavelengths, and calculating a thickness of the at least one coating from a frequency of the combined reflected interference pattern spectral curve of the component wavelengths.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods, and computer-readable storage media to estimate scatter in an image are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a network generator to generate and train an inception neural network using first and second input to deploy an inception neural network model to process image data when first and second outputs of the inception neural network converge, the first input based on a raw sinogram of a first image and the second input based on an attenuation-corrected sinogram of the first image, the inception neural network including a first filter of a first size and a second filter of a second size in a layer to process the first input and/or the second input to generate an estimate of scatter in the first image. The example apparatus also includes an image processor to apply the estimate of scatter to a second image to generate a processed image.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a system that includes a plurality of stations equipped for free-space optical communications (FSOC) in a network and a central control system. At least one station in the plurality of stations includes a wavelength selectable switch, an OEO module, and one or more first processors. The one or more first processors are configured to control the wavelength selectable switch, process an electrical signal that is extracted using the OEO module, and communicate with the central control system. The central control system includes one or more second processors that are configured to receive data regarding FSOC communication conditions at the plurality of stations, determine a path between stations through the network based on the received data, and transmit instructions to the plurality of stations.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a casing configured to fit behind an ear of a user's head and against a side of the user's head. The hearing aid further includes a first proximity sensor associated with the casing and configured to generate a first signal that is proportional to a proximity of the casing to the ear and includes a processor coupled to the first proximity sensor and configured to select an operating mode from a plurality of operating modes in response to the first signal.

Abstract: A computer is programmed to determine a trajectory of a first vehicle. The computer is programmed to determine whether a second vehicle blocks the trajectory. Upon such determination, the computer sends an instruction to the second vehicle to adjust the second vehicle speed. The computer is programmed to determine the instruction based on the determined trajectory of the first vehicle, a second vehicle location, and a second vehicle speed.