Abstract: A high performance, yet low cost, modular barrier system enables demountable outdoor rinks—typically for ice hockey, or ice skating, or street hockey—that are robust and convenient to install. A rink includes multiple panels, each having a factory-attached link. These panels are linearly disposed, adjacent to one another, to form a piecewise continuous boundary wall enclosing a desired area. Attaching one link to the next, typically via insertion of a thumbscrew, connects the panels into a robust assembly. Both straight and curved panels are provided, thereby enabling a rink with round corners. Each panel includes a shell molded from plastic resin, and has a hollow interior which can be filled with water (or other ballast).

Abstract: The present invention provides a single step process for the synthesis of furfuryl ethyl ether comprises refluxing the reaction mixture of furfuryl alcohol, ethanol and catalyst at temperature in the range of 80 to 120° C. for the period in the range of 3 to 7 hrs to afford furfuryl ethyl ether. The catalyst used in present invention is Zr incorporated SBA-15. Further, the conversion of furfuryl alcohol is in the range of 60 to 90%. The selectivity of reaction towards furfuryl ethyl ether is in the range of 85 to 95%.

Abstract: A computer system for facilitating care of a patient with a rare, complex, or chronic medical condition is provided. The system may include a server and a patient data module programmed to receive patient medical records pertaining to a patient, process the patient medical records to extract patient medical data pertaining to the patient, create a patient webpage specific to the patient which includes the patient medical data, and store the patient webpage. The system may also include a patient identification card provided to the patient which has an internet URL corresponding to the patient webpage encoded within a machine readable code. The patient data module may be programmed to receive, from a computer, a request to view the internet URL and transmit the patient webpage to the computer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a first intraocular lens (120) embodiment having a retainer plate (124) with an annular region surrounding a central opening and an optical lens (122) removably attached to the retainer plate within the central opening. Also disclosed is a second intraocular lens embodiment having a retainer plate with a porous or perforated annular region surrounding a central opening. An optical lens (122) is integral with the retainer plate (124) within the central opening. Methods of implanting these intraocular lens (120) embodiments into a patient's eye are disclosed. Also described here are methods of replacing the first intraocular lens embodiment after it has been implanted in a patient's eye.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for positioning and orientating a load includes a support structure movable in a first direction a tendon system having at least six winches mounted on the structure and at least six tendons connected to the winches, and a lifting mechanism mounted on the structure. The lifting mechanism includes another tendon and is movable in a second direction perpendicular to the first. The apparatus includes a component suspending the load from above and is connected to a second end of each of the tendons and to a free end of the additional tendon. The apparatus further includes a control module for translating synchronously and independently an instruction regarding the load in an actuation over the winches, over the lifting mechanism and the support structure, such that at least 51% of the load is sustained by the lifting mechanism and the load is suspended from the further tendon.

Abstract: This technology relates in part to optical methods for analyzing particles, including nanoparticles, thereby determining their presence, identity, origin, size and/or number in a sample of interest.

Abstract: Autonomous driving includes evaluating information about an environment surrounding a vehicle, generating, based on the evaluation of the information about the environment surrounding the vehicle, a driving plan for performing a driving maneuver, and operating vehicle systems in the vehicle to perform the driving maneuver according to the driving plan. The autonomous driving further includes receiving a traffic behavior model that describes a predominating driving behavior of a like population of reference vehicles. Under the driving plan, a driving behavior of the vehicle matches the predominating driving behavior of the like population of reference vehicles.

Abstract: Provided are apparatus and systems for performing a swing adsorption process. This swing adsorption process may involve performing a startup mode process prior to beginning a normal operation mode process to remove contaminants from a gaseous feed stream. The startup mode process may be utilized for swing adsorption processes, such as TSA and/or PSA, which are utilized to remove one or more contaminants from a gaseous feed stream.

Abstract: An operation method of a controller in a transport network supporting communications between an access network and a core network may comprise transmitting a request message for requesting a channel state report to at least one transport node among a plurality of transport nodes included in the transport network; receiving, in response to the request message, a response message including channel state information from the at least one transport node; determining at least one protocol layer to be used in the at least one transport node based on the channel state information; and transmitting a control message including information on the determined at least one protocol layer to the at least one transport node.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acids encoding a p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase and to inhibitory nucleic acids adapted to inhibit the expression and/or translation of a p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase RNA. Inhibition of p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase in plants improves the incorporation of monolignol ferulates into the lignin of plants, giving rise to plant biomass that is more easily processed into useful products such as paper and biofuels.

Abstract: A peptide comprising the rhinovirus immunogen peptide of the rhinovirus structural protein 1 (VP1) of rhinovirus C and related vaccines and therapeutic compositions is disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining body weight predictions and human conditions are disclosed. A body weight may be predicted by capturing at least one image of a human, and determining, from the image, a body weight prediction of the human by processing the at least one image with a data processor. The body weight prediction may further be based on an age-based weight factor. A model such as a neural network model may be used to predict body weight.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a carbon-silicon composite structure including a carbon particle layer having silicon nanoparticles dispersed therein, a method of preparing the carbon-silicon composite structure, a secondary battery anode material including the carbon-silicon composite structure, and a secondary battery including the secondary battery anode material.

Abstract: A system of autonomous vehicles for forming a team of autonomous vehicles to perform a designated set of tasks. Each vehicle stores data representing its own capabilities that match the tasks, data representing needed capabilities for the team to perform the tasks, and data representing the capabilities of all current team members. Each of the vehicles is equipped with a communications system operable to send and receive join request messages and join response messages. All join request message contain the capabilities of the sending vehicle. All join response messages contain current team capabilities data. Upon receipt of a join request message, a vehicle compares needed capabilities data to the received capabilities data, and if there are matched capabilities, it updates the team capabilities data and transmits a join response message. Upon receipt of a join response message, if the message indicates the sending vehicle has joined the team, the receiving vehicle updates the team capabilities list.

Abstract: A plasma processing chamber and methods for operating the chamber are provided. An exemplary chamber includes an electrostatic chuck for receiving a substrate and a dielectric window connected to a top portion of the chamber. An inner side of dielectric window faces a plasma processing region that is above the electrostatic chuck and an outer side of the dielectric window is exterior to the plasma processing region. Inner and outer coils are disposed above the outer side of the dielectric window, and the inner and outer coils are connected to a first RF power source. A powered grid is disposed between the outer side of dielectric window and the inner and outer coils. The powered grid is connected to a second RF power source that is independent from the first RF power source.

Abstract: An adaptive method for controlling a vehicle speed and an adaptive device for using the same is disclosed. The method controls a vehicle speed of a host vehicle that is driving. A front vehicle drives in front of the host vehicle. There is a vehicle distance between the host vehicle and the front vehicle. Firstly, first accelerations of the host vehicle are retrieved and the vehicle speeds corresponding to the first accelerations and the vehicle distances corresponded thereof are retrieved. When all the first accelerations are not zero, the extreme values of the first accelerations are deleted. Finally, the vehicle speed of the host vehicle is controlled according to all the retrieved accelerations, their corresponding vehicle distances, and the vehicle speeds corresponded thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for stabilizing a spine of an animal subject involving a transverse rod installation instrument assembly for inserting a transverse rod on the spine of a subject percutaneously comprising: a first rod clamp extender mounted on a ipsilateral rod clamp and a second rod clamp extender mounted on a contralateral rod clamp wherein the ipsilateral rod clamp and the contralateral rod clamp are secured to a vertebra at the ipsilateral and contralateral pedicle; and a pivoting installation instrument pivotably mounted to the first rod clamp extender and the second rod clamp extender to pass a transverse rod percutaneously through a head portion of the ipsilateral side rod clamp and to the head portion of the contralateral rod clamp after passing through a spinous process of the vertebra through pivot axis “A” such that the transverse rod is secured at the head portion of the ipsilateral rod clamp and the head portion of the contralateral rod clamp.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing three-dimensional (3D) printing. The method includes receiving a video of a product being output from a 3D printer, acquiring first output information by comparing a first frame of the video and a second frame subsequent to the first frame, acquiring second output information by extracting output layer-specific trace information from a G-code of the product being output acquired from the 3D printer, and acquiring quality information of the product being output on the basis of the first output information and the second output information.

Abstract: Shielded semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating shielded semiconductor devices are provided. An exemplary magnetically shielded semiconductor device includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface. An electromagnetic-field-susceptible semiconductor component is located on and/or in the substrate. The magnetically shielded semiconductor device includes a top magnetic shield located over the top surface of the substrate. Further, the magnetically shielded semiconductor device includes a bottom magnetic shield located under the bottom surface of the substrate. Also, the magnetically shielded semiconductor device includes a sidewall magnetic shield located between the top magnetic shield and the bottom magnetic shield.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a composition comprising at least one of iridium diboride and iridium monoboride, and methods of making such. The present disclosure also relates to a composition comprising iridium monoboride and at least one of (a) rows of single iridium atoms and/or (b) one or more clusters of iridium atoms, and methods of making such.