Abstract: Surgical assemblies, instruments, and related methods are disclosed that control tissue gripping force. A method for controlling grip force in a robotic surgical instrument includes actuating an input link of a spring assembly. An actuation force is transferred from the input link to an output link of the spring assembly. Relative movement is inhibited between the input link and the output link when the transferred actuation force is below a predetermined level with a preloaded spring of the spring assembly. The input link is moved relative to the output link by deforming the preloaded spring when the transferred actuation force increases above the predetermined level. A grip mechanism is actuated via the output link.

Abstract: In a method for printing a three dimensional structure, a continuous length of fiber that includes, interior to a surface of the fiber, a plurality of different materials arranged as an in-fiber functional domain, with at least two electrical conductors disposed in the functional domain in electrical contact with at least one functional domain material, is dispensed through a single heated nozzle. After sections of the length of fiber are dispensed from the heated nozzle, the sections are fused together in an arrangement of a three dimensional structure. The structure can thereby include a continuous length of fiber of least three different materials arranged as an in-fiber functional device, with the continuous length of fiber disposed as a plurality of fiber sections that are each in a state of material fusion with another fiber section in a spatial arrangement of the structure.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a solar cell including metallization techniques and resulting solar cells, are described. In an example, a semiconductor region can be formed in or above a substrate. A first metal layer can be formed over the semiconductor region. A laser can be applied over a first region of the metal layer to form a first metal weld between the metal layer and the semiconductor region, where applying a laser over the first region comprises applying the laser at a first scanning speed. Subsequent to applying the laser over the first region, the laser can be applied over a second region of the metal layer where applying the laser over the second region includes applying a laser at a second scanning speed. Subsequent to applying the laser over the second region, the laser can be applied over a third region of the metal layer to form a second metal weld, where applying the laser over the third region comprises applying the laser at a third scanning speed.

Abstract: Provided herein are 19-nor C3,3-disubstituted steroids of Formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein , R1, R2, R3a, R3b, R4a, and R4b are as defined herein, and A is a carbon bound substituted or unsubstituted 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl ring as defined herein. Such compounds are contemplated useful for the prevention and treatment of a variety of CNS-related conditions, for example, treatment of sleep disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, convulsive disorders, disorders of memory and/or cognition, movement disorders, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorders, pain, traumatic brain injury, vascular diseases, substance abuse disorders and/or withdrawal syndromes, and tinnitus.

Abstract: A porous material including polymerized units containing pores is provided, which can be employed for desalination applications. Each of the units includes at least one aromatic amino group and at least one hydroxyl group. The aromatic amino groups and the hydroxyl groups are arranged on surfaces of the pores in geometries configured to capture sodium chloride from an aqueous environment. The porous material can be provided as particles or a sponge. The porous material can be manufactured from a solution including monomers, a porogen, and an initiator by a polymerization process. The porous material can be reused after a desalination process by treatment with deionized water. A steam generation apparatus can be employed to facilitate removal of sodium chloride from the porous material in which sodium chloride is captured.

Abstract: An efficient email display is provided. Elements in the email that are determined to be useful or relevant to a particular recipient are displayed and elements that are determined not to be useful or relevant to the recipient are removed from view. A received email is parsed for identifying elements that can be collapsed or expanded when displayed to the recipient. A predetermined value is applied to each element based on the content type. The weight of one or more of the elements is adjusted by applying a weight based on one or more weight factors. A collapsed or expanded display state is assigned to each content element based on the adjusted value. Further, the email message is rendered in the email client application interface to the recipient, where elements having the expanded display state are displayed and elements having the collapsed display state are hidden.

Abstract: The self-supporting synthetic polymer waterproofing membrane with self-repairing properties relates to a self-repairing synthetic waterproof membrane, applicable in the construction sector. This membrane can be monolayer or multilayer. The composition of these membranes comprises thermoplastic polymers, smectite-type clays and super water-absorbent polymers.

Abstract: A system and methods for quantitative optical phase imaging of a sample. First second replica field of an image field are generated, characterized by a respective optical phase, cross-polarized and shifted in a shift direction transverse to a normal to the surface of the sample. The replica fields are Fourier transformed, the second replica field is retarded by four successive phase shifts, and, after inverse Fourier transforming, the first and second replica fields pass through an analyzer polarizer and superposing the first and second replica fields on a detector array to create four successive detector signals. The four successive detector signals are solved to derive a gradient of the optical phase of the image field, which may be integrated to obtain a quantitative phase image.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for an active implantable medical device (AIMD). The AIMD includes a processor, a first magnetic field sensor communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to detect magnetic fields generated by a handheld magnet, and at least one second magnetic field sensor communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to detect magnetic fields generated by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The processor is configured to sample the first magnetic field sensor and the at least one second magnetic field sensor to detect the presence of the MRI scanner, and automatically initiate an MRI mode for the AIMD based on the detection.

Abstract: The invention refers to a process for rapid manufacturing that uses a focused ultrasound beam according to the invention. The process is based on the local ultrasound welding of the material (2) grains that is under a powder form, welding that takes place solely in the focal spot of the focused ultrasound beam, the focal spot being scanned across the X-Y-Z directions within the powder (2) bed so as to 3D build the entire object (7) that is desired. The processes taking place in the focal spot region are local melting, local melting due to friction followed by filling of the gaps existing between grains, removal of the grain asperities, local inter-diffusion between neighboring grains as well as other phenomena that take place at the interfaces between materials when these are subjected to an ultrasound field.

Abstract: A method of forming a material includes presenting a formable material to a space between opposing forming surfaces of opposed forming tools from when said material is carried as said opposing forming surfaces advance in a machine direction. The method includes pressurizing, as said opposing forming surfaces advance, said material between said opposing forming surfaces in a reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces defining at least in part a pressure forming zone, said reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces being maintained constant until a form of at least one of said opposing forming surfaces is profiled into said material and is retainable thereon. The method also includes releasing the profiled material from between the said opposing forming surfaces, as the space of the pressure forming zone increases between said opposing forming surfaces as the opposing forming surfaces advance.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan for delivering air into a bypass duct as bypass flow, into a core housing as core flow, with the core housing containing an upstream compressor rotor and a downstream compressor rotor. An overall pressure ratio is defined across the upstream and downstream compressor rotors. A bypass ratio is defined as a volume of air delivered as bypass flow compared to a volume of air delivered into the core housing. The overall pressure ratio is greater than or equal to about 45.0, and the bypass ratio is greater than or equal to about 11.0.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with a bleed airflow to provide a conditioned airflow. A bearing compartment is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, and a first passageway communicates the conditioned airflow to the bearing compartment. The conditioned airflow is communicated radially between a bearing housing of the bearing compartment and a diffuser case and a nozzle assembly in fluid communication with the bearing compartment. A second passageway communicates the conditioned airflow from the bearing compartment and then through a plurality of openings of the nozzle assembly.

Abstract: A system accepts event criteria for at least one ticket and at least one event; accepts price criteria for the ticket(s) and the event(s); displays an interactive graphics-based event venue map illustrating a location of all sections at a venue with at least one ticket meeting the event and price criteria; accepts section selection criteria, at least one section being selected from the interactive graphics-based event venue map; displays ticket information to allow a user to drill down to a specific ticket, cause a location of the specific ticket to be displayed in the interactive venue map; and enable a capability to utilize the interactive venue map to choose a section of interest, causing corresponding ticket information to be displayed in the web browsing language.

Abstract: Object localization with an radio-frequency identification (RFID) infrastructure is described. A plurality of transmission power levels established by an RFID reader can be searched to determine a measurement power level corresponding to a target. A region that includes the target can then be determined using information about a physical relationship between the RFID reader and a reference location via correlating the measurement power level to a reference power level corresponding to the reference location.

Abstract: An aspect of some embodiments of the present invention relate to an application programming interface (API) software integrated with a software of an electronic game, the API software being configured being stored in non-volatile memory module of a computing device and for being run by a processor of the computing device, the API being configured for causing the computing device to connect to a server configured for hosting a competition and creating a completion on the server. The competition comprises at least one of: a gaming session between two players, a gaming session between more than two players, and a tournament.

Abstract: A mobile device is provided that includes a display module that detachably couples to a wrap module. The interconnection between the wrap module and the display module provides data and/or power conductivity there between. In this manner, the wrap module can provide supplemental functionality, such as serving as an input device (touch), a power source, or a solar charger, among other features.

Abstract: A hermetic power terminal feed-through for use in high-pressure applications is disclosed as including a fused pin subassembly includes a tubular reinforcing member and a current-conducting pin. The pin passes through the tubular reinforcing member and is fixed thereto by a fusible sealing material to create a hermetic seal. The fused pin subassembly is then joined and hermetically sealed to a terminal body. A method for manufacturing the high-pressure hermetic power terminal feed-through is also disclosed.

Abstract: Some aspects include a virtual reality device configured to present to a user a virtual environment. The virtual reality device comprises a tracking device including at least one camera to acquire image data, the tracking device, when worn by the user, configured to determine a position associated with the user and a stereoscopic display device configured to display at least a portion of a representation of the virtual environment, wherein the representation of the virtual environment is based, at least in part, on the determined position associated with the user, wherein the display device and the tracking device are configured to be worn by the user.

Abstract: A system, an apparatus or a process may be configured to implement an application that applies artificial intelligence and/or machine-learning techniques to predict an optimal course of action (or a subset of courses of action) for an autonomous vehicle system (e.g., one or more of a planner of an autonomous vehicle, a simulator, or a teleoperator) to undertake based on suboptimal autonomous vehicle performance and/or changes in detected sensor data (e.g., new buildings, landmarks, potholes, etc.). The application may determine a subset of trajectories based on a number of decisions and interactions when resolving an anomaly due to an event or condition. The application may use aggregated sensor data from multiple autonomous vehicles to assist in identifying events or conditions that might affect travel (e.g., using semantic scene classification). An optimal subset of trajectories may be formed based on recommendations responsive to semantic changes (e.g., road construction).