Abstract: Disclosed is a composition of matter comprising a biologically active substance bound to a graphene-coated dielectric-core particle, and methods for making and using the same.

Abstract: A storage system and method of operating the storage system is described where the metadata used to access the data stored in a storage device is distributed amongst a plurality of controllers in communication with a user, with each other and with the storage device. Each controller stores at least the metadata needed to access the data relevant to the user at the time, and metadata is updated to respond to internal system activities such as device failures, snapshots, backup operations or the like. To preserve coherence of the metadata, each metadata update is communicated to the other controllers and the storage device. The update is either transmitted to the other controllers and to the storage device and each metadata location is updated, or the update is transmitted to the storage device and each of the controllers is instructed to request an update from the storage device.

Abstract: Various systems may benefit from the appropriate interworking of subsystems. For example, various avionics systems and method may benefit from the integration of terrain and/or weather avoidance, for example with other detection and avoidance subsystems. A method can include determining, by an avionics system, a hazard condition with respect to an ownship aircraft. The method can also include generating, by the avionics system, a maneuver inhibition based on the determined hazard condition. The method can further include providing the maneuver inhibition to a traffic avoidance or alerting system.

Abstract: A system is described that includes a computer programmed: for each of a plurality of terminals, to receive inroute data via one of a plurality of respective inroute channels; using the plurality of respective inroute channels, to determine a first super inroute group (SIG) and a second SIG based on symbol rates of respective inroute channels; to determine a channel quality value of a first inroute channel, of a first terminal, wherein the first inroute channel is one of the plurality of respective inroute channels; to determine a backlog volume of one of the first SIG or the second SIG; and based on determining the channel quality value of the first terminal and the backlog volume of the first or second SIGs, to transmit, to the first terminal, outroute data comprising an instruction to change to a different inroute channel of the first or second SIG.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for channel bonding in an adaptive coding and modulation mode. In some implementations, a system receives packets of a data stream for transmission in a satellite communications system. The system determines a modulation and coding arrangement for the received packets. The system generates code blocks that include data from the packets of the data stream. The system assigns the generated code blocks for transmission on different carriers. One or more of the different carriers is operated in an adaptive coding and modulation mode to support multiple modulation and coding arrangements within a single carrier. The system transmits the code blocks on the different carriers using the determined one or more modulation and coding arrangements.

Abstract: A method to receive telemetry messages over an RF channel, the method implemented by a system on a chip, in which a signal is received from the output of an input RF module, the received signal is offset in time and frequency wherein the signal, at first, is offset in time so that the offset magnitudes uniformly fill the length of one data bit, then, the signal is offset in frequency so that the offset magnitudes uniformly fill the space between the Fourier transform subcarriers, with the frequency offsets being independent of the time offsets; each signal processed at the preceding step is subjected to sequential Fourier transforms, with the first time element of each next transform immediately following the last element of the preceding transform; all messages are demodulated independently. The technical result consists in that messages can be received over multiple channels at multiple rates.

Abstract: An interconnection system, apparatus and method is described for arranging elements in a network, which may be a data memory system, computing system or communications system where the data paths are arranged and operated so as to control the power consumption and data skew properties of the system. A configurable switching element may be used to form the interconnections at nodes, where a control signal and other information is used to manage the power status of other aspects of the configurable switching element. Time delay skew of data being transmitted between nodes of the network may be altered by exchanging the logical and physical line assignments of the data at one or more nodes of the network. A method of laying out an interconnecting motherboard is disclosed which reduces the complexity of the trace routing.

Abstract: This disclosure is focused upon electrostatic discharge (ESD) control programs and more particularly an ESD testing device that performs electrostatic discharge (ESD) device efficacy verification in real time as it is being used. The results in some embodiments can be recorded for an ESD auditing program. The real time verification of the calibration of the unit includes circuitry for verification of the accuracy of the ESD device. The unit also includes a conically shaped guide to assist a user in plugging their wrist strap band connector into the device and also prevents a user from bypassing the testing unit by inserting digits into the ESD testing device rather than the wrist strap band connector.

Abstract: Lighting control systems are disclosed that have a lighting fixture, a microprocessor, and a single dimmer control that enables a user to adjust a total current to the lighting fixture. The lighting fixture includes a first LED channel that emits a first spectrum comprising white light and a second LED channel that emits a second spectrum comprising biologically-tailored light. The microprocessor is configured to take measurements of current, store a plurality of average values of total current, set a setpoint that defines a maximum current for a dimming profile of the lighting fixture, and control a biological light ratio according to the dimming profile. The ratio may be an M/P ratio of melanopic lux to photopic lux or an OPN5/OPN4 ratio of OPN5 lux to melanopic lux. The dimming profile correlates the ratio to a percentage of the maximum current.

Abstract: Disclosed methods include transmitting an OFDM signal including a succession of frames spaced apart by a set of training symbols that are symmetric in time and each formed by a plurality of even-frequency sub-carriers, spaced by odd frequency zeros. The OFDM signal is received and sampled and timing metrics are determined. Local maximums, or peaks of the timing metrics are detected, and from the peaks a coarse time offset is determined. A correlation metric, at sample indexes within a region determined by the coarse time offset, is applied and, based on a peak, an estimated time offset is generated. A correlation metric of the estimated time offset is determined and, based on the correlation metric, an estimated frequency offset is generated.

Abstract: A wall block, wall block system, method of constructing a wall or other structure and a method of manufacturing a block wherein the wall block has a front, a rear, and two side surfaces, as least one of the surfaces consisting of multiple vertically planar surfaces of differing shapes and sizes and multiple faceted surfaces of differing shapes, sizes and contours.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical dosage form which comprises a lactide, glycolide or lactide-glycolide polymer, a block polymer of polyglycolide, trimethylene carbonate, poly-caprolactone, and polyethylene oxide that is combined with a peptide or protein therapeutic agent in the form of microparticles which are compressed using a pressure of 50,000 to 350,000 psi.

Abstract: Packaging apparatuses for loading and sealing products into a web of interconnected bags, and methods of using them, are provided. In one aspect, the packaging apparatus includes an intermittently advancing web conveyor that also indexes vertically to facilitate stacked loading of products into the bags. In another aspect, the packaging apparatus includes a dividing seal station that applies a center seal dividing the bag into separate sealed subcompartments, some of the bag contents being distributed to each compartment, such as one of two trays to each subcompartment. To facilitate distribution of contents and even sealing, the dividing seal station may include a dividing sealer lower support that oscillates vertically to promote settling of contents and gases in the bag before applying a dividing seal.

Abstract: Data being stored in a block of flash memory system may be characterized as being frequently modified or infrequently modified (hot/cold) based on a heuristic. When performing garbage collection, if the data from hot blocks is consolidated and data from cold blocks is separately consolidated by writing the data to different free blocks, the number of write operations to perform the garbage collection may be reduced. The lower “write amplification” contributes to increasing the lifetime of the memory circuit. When the number of blocks in a pool of previously erased blocks is reduced to a threshold value, a block having data previously stored therein may be selected for garbage collection based on a second heuristic.

Abstract: A fluid sensor system capable of sensing a fluid level or a volume of fluid held by a reservoir, such as a container or a tank. In one embodiment, the system may include a magnetic element in a flotation device that suspends the magnetic element in the fluid held by the reservoir, so that the magnetic element randomly floats in proximity to a top of the fluid surface. Two or more magnetic field sensors or magnetometers are associated with the reservoir in at least two different locations, spaced apart from one another. The system further includes a processor coupled to the sensors. The magnetic field sensors may sense the strength of the magnetic field around the magnetic element to generate signals that are sent to the processor. The processor may then determine the location of the magnetic element within the reservoir based on the signals. The determined location can be correlated to a volume of fluid within the tank which is output to another device and/or a user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for passively aligning optical fibers (4), a first waveguide array (62), and a second waveguide array (42) using chip-to-chip vertical evanescent optical waveguides (44) and (64), that can be used with fully automated die bonding equipment. The assembled system (2, 30, 60) can achieve high optical coupling and high process throughput for needs of high volume manufacturing of photonics, silicon photonics, and other applications that would benefit from aligning optical fibers to lasers efficiently.

Abstract: A fan with a housing defining an interior and a flow path therein and a valve assembly including a valve element disposed in the flow path and configured to rotate between an opened position and a closed position, wherein the valve element closes the flow path and a linkage assembly and a method of operating.

Abstract: A system and method for accurately and efficiently testing a HEPA filter in a sterile environment, such as a clean room, by creating a closed-loop system. The system includes a multi-port interface including at least a challenge port and a verification port, each port being in communication with an area upstream from the HEPA filter. Through the challenge port, test substances are introduced to a supply air duct that is in communication with a HEPA filter. Through the verification port, a concentration of the test substances can be measured for comparison with a concentration that passed through the HEPA filter, i.e. downstream from the HEPA filter. As such, test substances can be dispersed throughout the air conditioning system before interacting with the HEPA filter, and accurately measured. The closed loop between the ports provides an accurate measurement of the concentration of test substances to test the HEPA filter.

Abstract: A carrier includes first and second opposed side walls (16, 20), a bottom wall (12, 24) and a top wall (18). The carrier has an article retention device (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6) for retaining a portion of an article (C) within the carrier. The article retention device is formed in part from the bottom wall and in part from the first side wall. The article retention device includes an anchor tab (52) for engaging with an article and at least one protection flap (56, 58) for protecting the article. The anchor tab and the protection flap define an opening in the carrier through which a portion of the article protrudes.