Abstract: A method for forming a thermoplastic body having regions with varied material composition and/or porosity. Powder blends comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a sacrificial porogen and an inorganic reinforcement or filler are molded to form complementary parts with closely toleranced mating surfaces. The parts are formed discretely, assembled and compression molded to provide a unitary article that is free from discernible boundaries between the assembled parts. Each part in the assembly has differences in composition and/or porosity, and the assembly has accurate physical features throughout the sections of the formed article, without distortion and nonuniformities caused by variable compaction and densification rates in methods that involve compression molding powder blends in a single step.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a choke system includes connecting to the positioner an electronic controller which is programmed to output a control signal representing the desired position of the plug, connecting to the electronic controller a flowmeter which is configured to provide a flow signal representing the rate of flow of fluid from the pump to the inlet and a pressure sensor which is configured to provide a pressure signal representing the fluid pressure at the inlet, connecting the inlet to a reservoir of fluid via a pump which is operable to pump fluid from the reservoir into the inlet at varying flow rates, and using gain scheduling to determine optimum values of proportional gain and integral gain required for control of the choke using a proportional differential and integral controller at a plurality of different rates of flow of fluid along the central flow passage.

Abstract: Glass compositions suitable for fiber forming having rare earth oxides (RE2O3) and glass fibers having a high modulus are disclosed. The glass composition may include SiO2 from about 44.5 to about 64 weight percent, Al2O3 from about 12 to about 32 weight percent, CaO from about 0.1 to about 15.5 weight percent, MgO from about 5 to about 22 weight percent, Fe2O3 less than 1 weight percent, TiO2 less than 2 weight percent, Na2O less than 3 weight percent, Y2O3 up to 12 weight percent, CeO2 up to 6 weight percent, ZnO up to 4 weight percent, and B2O3 less than 4.5 weight percent. The glass compositions can be used to form glass fibers and incorporated into various composites.

Abstract: A multi-threat security apparatus system for critical infrastructure protection is disclosed having an above-ground concrete base, a vertical post system adapted to be attached to the above-ground concrete base and to receive a plurality of louvers. The plurality of louvers provides the necessary ballistic protection for and air flow through to the critical infrastructure. The louvers may include a composite of aluminum foam, a resin impregnated ballistic material and an aluminum foam. The composite structure may be used on doors, panels or building walls.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing a regimen for improving an ability of a subject to manage a psychiatric or mental condition are provided. A method includes presenting a first digital reality scene with interactive digital chart and bin. The bin includes a plurality of nodes. Each node corresponds to a respective category in a plurality of categories and a plurality of proposed experiences associated with the respective category. Each proposed experience is associated with a unique digital reality scene, different than the first digital reality scene, that manifests a challenge represented by the respective category and/or the respective proposed experience. Each node is also associated with at least one respective gate criterion. A method also includes detecting a selection of a node and placing the node on the chart, thus providing access to the corresponding plurality of proposed experiences associated with the respective category.

Abstract: A dispensing device includes a container, wherein a bottom surface of the container includes a container opening to the interior storage; first and second tracks located below the bottom surface of the container on opposing sides of the container opening; first and second sliding members that engage with the first and second tracks, respectively; a bowl support connected to the first and second sliding members, and wherein the bowl support is configured to move between a filling position and a serving position; and a lever including a lever body including a first lever end and a second lever end. When the first lever end is in a first position, the bowl support is in the filling position. When the first lever end is in a second position, the bowl support is in the serving position.

Abstract: A manifold having a first side, a second side, a first channel extending from the first side to the second side, and a second channel extending from the first side to the second side is disclosed. The first channel and the second channel each define a linear longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the first channel longitudinal axis and the second channel longitudinal axis are oblique to the first side and the second side of the manifold. The manifold of the present disclosure provides channels that can be easily cleaned and allow for an increased flow performance.

Abstract: A case for a mobile device includes a frame and an elastomeric shell. The elastomeric shell is received in the frame and has an outer surface, an inner surface opposite the outer surface and configured for receiving the mobile device, and a rim extending between the outer surface and the inner surface. The inner surface forms inner projections each having an inner extremity extending toward an inside of the elastomeric shell and each being configured for contact with the mobile device when arranged in the inner surface. The outer surface forms outer projections defining respective outer projection extremities and forms outer troughs extending between the outer projections and defining outer trough extremities. The outer projections extend toward a frame inner perimeter of the frame such that each of the outer trough extremities is spaced further from the frame than adjacent ones of the outer projection extremities.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a body defining a first perimeter. The body may include a closed first body end, an open second body end opposite the first body end, and a first wall therebetween, the first wall at least partially surrounding the first perimeter thereby forming an interior of the body. An inlet may extend through the first wall, the inlet configured to receive a nozzle of a commercial gas canister. The apparatus may include an exhaust defining a second perimeter smaller than the first perimeter, the exhaust fixedly coupled to the second body end. The exhaust may include an open first exhaust end, an open second exhaust end opposite the first exhaust end, and a second wall therebetween, the second wall at least partially surrounding the second perimeter. The first exhaust end may be configured to fluidly couple to the second body end.

Abstract: This document relates to architectures and training procedures for multi-task machine learning models, such as neural networks. One example method involves providing a multi-task machine learning model having one or more shared layers and two or more task-specific layers. The method can also involve performing a pretraining stage on the one or more shared layers using one or more unsupervised prediction tasks. The method can also involve performing a tuning stage on the one or more shared layers and the two or more task-specific layers using respective task-specific objectives.

Abstract: Methods of operating a haptic actuator to apply physical and/or thermal sensations to a user to provide subjective symptom relief to a user are described. In some embodiments, a haptic actuator may be automatically activated when one or more detected user states are compared to one or more predetermined activation parameters to determine the user is experiencing an episode related to a condition of the user. In another embodiment, one or more operating parameters of a haptic actuator may be updated if the haptic actuator did not provided a desired amount of subjective symptom relief to a user during use. In yet another embodiment, a haptic actuator may create an event log based on activation events when the haptic actuator is used to provide symptom relief for a condition of the user.

Abstract: An air to ground (ATG) communication system testing platform may be configured to operably couple a base station to an aircraft base radio in a lab environment. The testing platform may include a position simulator and a channel simulator. The position simulator may be configured to generate simulated aircraft position information and communicate the simulated aircraft position information to an aircraft base radio and a base band unit of the base station. The channel simulator may operably couple a remote radio head of the base station to the aircraft base radio, and may be configured to emulate channel conditions with respect to transmission of signaling generated by the remote radio head for communication to the aircraft base radio based on the emulated channel conditions.

Abstract: Methods, media, and systems are provided for optimizing coverage and power usage in a network deploying an unlicensed band. A first transmission power associated with a primary carrier and a second transmission power associated with a secondary carrier are determined. Location data and channel state information from a user device utilizing the primary carrier and the secondary carrier are received. An interference level may be determined using the channel state information. Based on the location data and the interference level, the second transmission power associated with the secondary carrier is reduced and the first transmission power of the primary carrier is increased. In some aspects, a beamforming technique is applied for downlink transmissions via a 5G New Radio unlicensed band. In some aspects, upon detection of an increase of 3 dBi antenna gain, the second transmission power is reduced by 1 dBm.

Abstract: A case loader is fed containers by a container conveyor. The containers then rest on a hinged ledge. When the number of containers required to fill the case is present in the loader, a first sensor is activated. The cases are conveyed to the loader below and beside the position of the containers. The cases are tipped up and, when in place, they activate the second sensor. When both sensors are activated, the containers drop and fall into a chute (directing the containers from the loading station and into the cases. When the containers have dropped, the ledge is reset to receive the next group of containers. The force of the containers tips the case back onto the conveyor and it is carried away. An optional device may assist in case tipping. An optional device may move case facing edge of each chute.

Abstract: A battery characterization system includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s) operably coupled to the DSC and the memory. Based on a reference signal, the DSC generates a charge signal, which includes an AC (alternating current) component, and provides the charge signal to a terminal of a battery via a single line and simultaneously to senses the charge signal via the single line to detect an electrical characteristic of the battery based on a response of the battery. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the electrical characteristic of the battery. The processing module(s), based on the operational instructions, generate the reference signal to include a frequency sweep of the AC component of the charge signal (e.g.