Abstract: A communication device with an activated ring controller provided in both first and second subnetworks for data transmission in a redundantly operable communications network, which includes at least one first and one second subnetwork, which each include communication devices interconnected within a ring topology, wherein the subnetworks are interconnected via coupling line sections to which coupling communication devices are connected, where the coupling line section to which a selected coupling communication device is connected is operated as an inactive reserve coupling line section until a disruption occurs, whilst another coupling line section is operated as an active main coupling line section, where coupling communication devices connected to the main coupling line section transmit status datagrams to the selected coupling communication device which additionally include configuration information about whether the particular coupling communication device connected to the main coupling line section is an

Abstract: The invention is a device and method for detecting an analyte in a medium. An exciting light source produces an exciting light wave, which propagates to the medium and heats the latter. The device comprises a transducer for detecting the heating of the medium. According to one embodiment, the transducer is a thermal transducer, configured to detect a variation in the temperature of the medium. According to another embodiment, the transducer is an acoustic transducer, configured to detect a photoacoustic wave propagating from the medium. Whatever the embodiment, the transducer employs a membrane, on which a waveguide is placed. The waveguide comprises a resonant optical cavity. Transduction is achieved by analyzing a variation in a resonant wavelength of the optical cavity.

Abstract: Measurements of biometric information of a user are obtained over time, such as blood glucose measurements. These biometric measurements are typically obtained by a wearable biometric information monitoring device being worn by the user. These biometric measurements are used by various different systems, such as a computing device of the user or a biometric information monitoring platform that receives biometric measurements from multiple different users. The biometric measurements are used for various security aspects, such as one or more of part of multi-factor authentication of the user, generating security keys (e.g., connection keys, encryption keys), identifying biometric measurements associated with different user identifiers but the same use, and protecting biometric measurements so as to be retrievable only by a recipient associated with an additional computing device, and so forth.

Abstract: A controllable stiffness endoscope overtube includes an overtube shaft including an inner sheath defining an access lumen and an outer sheath surrounding the inner sheath from proximal to distal end of inner sheath to define an annulus therebetween having a proximal portion with a vacuum connection. The sheath distal ends are longitudinally fixed to one another and sized to receive an endoscope. The outer sheath has a constant outer diameter over at least a distal portion of the annulus proximate to the distal ends of the sheaths. A vacuum device is fluidically connected to the vacuum connection and applies vacuum to the annulus. Responsive thereto, annulus pressure is lowered, the sheaths are drawn together, and the overtube shaft is stiffened over at least the distal portion to stiffen and maintain a current shape of the overtube shaft over at least the distal portion of the annulus.

Abstract: Provided is a method for forming a silicon oxycarbonitride film (SiOCN) with varying proportions of each element, using a disilane precursor under vapor deposition conditions, wherein the percent carbon incorporation into the SiOCN film may be varied between about 5 to about 60%, by utilizing co-reactants chosen from oxygen, ammonia, and nitrous oxide gas. The carbon-enriched SiOCN films thus formed may be converted to pure silicon dioxide films after an etch stop protocol by treatment with O2 plasma.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor region having charge carriers of a first conductivity type; a transistor cell in the semiconductor region; a semiconductor channel region in the transistor cell and having a first doping concentration of charge carriers of a second conductivity type, wherein a transition between the semiconductor channel region and the semiconductor region forms a first pn-junction; a semiconductor auxiliary region in the semiconductor region and having a second doping concentration of charge carriers of the second conductivity type. A transition between the semiconductor auxiliary region and semiconductor region forms a second pn-junction positioned deeper in the semiconductor region as compared to the first pn-junction.

Abstract: A brake system for a vehicle is disclosed herein, which is constructed for selective pressurisation and pressure relief of at least two pressure connections for brake actuators. The brake system comprises an electrofluidic pressure generation unit, a main cylinder unit and an electrofluidic pressure increase unit, which is fluidly coupled at the input side to the electrofluidic pressure generation unit and/or the main cylinder unit in such a manner that exclusively a volume flow of pressure fluid which is pressurised by the electrofluidic pressure generation unit and/or the main cylinder unit can be acted on with a supplementary pressure by the pressure increase unit. At the output side, the pressure increase unit is connected in fluid terms to one of the pressure connections. In addition, a method for operating such a brake system is set out.

Abstract: A drive system for a drug delivery system includes a pressure chamber, a primary container, and a pressurized fluid. The pressure chamber has an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an interior volume. The primary container also has an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an interior volume to store a medicament to be administered to a user. The primary container is at least partially disposed within the interior volume of the pressure chamber. The pressurized fluid is disposed in the interior volume of the pressure chamber and is pressurized to exert a pressure on at least a portion of the outer surface of the primary container.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a system within a wireless network comprises a set of battery-powered device (BPD) nodes within the wireless network, and a joining BPD node that identifies, in a subset of BPD nodes, a set of potential parent nodes, filters the set of BPD nodes based on network optimization criteria to identify a target parent node, and transmits a request message to establish a communications link with the target parent node as a child node, where the target parent node in the set of BPD nodes executes instructions to receive the request message from the joining BPD node, evaluate data associated with the joining BPD node with acceptance criteria, and upon determining that the joining BPD node meets the acceptance criteria, establish the communications link with the joining BPD node, where, upon the communications link being established, the joining BPD node is a child to the target parent node.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of various aspects include using tin and/or antimony as an additive to an electrolyte and/or electrode in an electrochemical system, such as a battery, having an iron-based anode. In some aspects, the addition of tin and/or antimony may improve cycling of the iron-based anode. Systems, methods, and devices of various aspects include using high hydroxide concentration electrolyte in an electrochemical system, such as a battery. In some aspects, a high hydroxide concentration electrolyte may increase the stored amount of charge stored in the cell (i.e., the capacity of the battery material) and/or decrease the overpotential (i.e., increase the voltage) of the battery.

Abstract: A storage system has a first pouch for receiving an electronic device, and a second pouch for receiving the first pouch. The first pouch is at least partially surrounded by the second pouch when the first pouch is received in the second pouch. The first pouch has a first fabric layer. Furthermore, the first pouch has an insulating layer which is adjacent to the first fabric layer and is designed to absorb material arising in the event of combustion. The second pouch is closable in such a manner that, in the closed state of the second pouch, an opening for dissipating heat energy remains.

Abstract: Lifting apparatus for lifting, conveying and/or positioning blocks or slabs, such as blocks or slabs made of concrete, masonry, stone, brick, or similar materials, and methods of lifting, conveying and/or positioning such materials. The lifting apparatus may include two spaced block supporters that are positioned or positionable to respectively mechanically engage a block or slab to support the same mechanically. Upon biasing the two spaced block supporters, the block is engaged and its weight supported, and the block may be lifted, conveyed and/or positioned at a desired location. Unbiasing the block supporters releases the block. A plurality of lifting apparatuses may be used together, including in modular form.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for purifying a monoterpene or sesquiterpene having a purity greater than about 98.5% (w/w). The process comprises the steps of derivatizing the monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) to produce a monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) derivative, separating the monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) derivative, and releasing the monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) from the derivative. Also encompassed by the scope of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) having a purity greater than about 98.5% (w/w). The purified monoterpene can be used to treat a disease such as cancer. The present monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) may be administered alone, or may be co-administered with radiation or other therapeutic agents, such as chemotherapeutic agents.

Abstract: A hydrogen refueling station including a first and a second dispensing module having first and second dispensing pressure detection means, where supply lines are fluidly connecting a storage module to an inlet compressor line and a compressor outlet line is fluidly connecting an outlet of the compressor to a dispensing line and thereby to the first and/or second dispensing module via output compressor valves, cascade lines are fluidly connecting the hydrogen storage module and the dispenser modules thereby configured for bypassing the compressor, where a controller is configured for controlling valves and thereby a fluid path from the hydrogen storage module to the dispensing modules, the controller is configured for controlling a bypass valve based on feedback from pressure detection means, from a first dispensing pressure detection means or from a second dispensing pressure detection means to establish a required pressure in the compressor outlet line.

Abstract: After loss of communications between a cash handling device and a financial institution, transactions may continue to be processed. In one configuration, the transactions may be processed up to a predefined transaction limit. Transaction limits may be defined by a number of transactions, a dollar amount transacted or to be transacted, an amount of time and/or combinations thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the transaction limit may be specific to one or more types of transactions. Transaction data may be stored in memory until communication has been re-established, at which time the data may be transmitted to the financial institution for processing.

Abstract: A drain assembly for installation in a shower floor, the drain assembly including a drain body including an upper surface defining a top side, and a lower surface opposite the upper surface defining a bottom side. The drain assembly also defines an aperture extending along an axis through the drain body between the upper surface and the lower surface and includes an outlet having a flange and an elongated body. When assembled, the elongated body is configured to extend below the lower surface of the drain body when the flange rests on the upper surface. The drain assembly also includes one or more fasteners configured to couple the outlet to the drain body to form a water-tight seal therebetween, where each of the one or more fasteners are accessible from the top side.

Abstract: A fabric composite for a gypsum underlayment sound control mat includes a first layer including a spunbond polyolefin layer, a second layer including a nonwoven polyolefin layer, and a hot-melt adhesive layer between and bonding the first layer and the second layer. A gypsum underlayment sound control mat may include the fabric composite bonded to an entangled mesh layer. A flooring system may include a gypsum or gypsum-concrete underlayment over the fabric composite or the mat. The fabric composite may be free of halogenated agents.

Abstract: A transport unit for transporting printed circuit boards along a direction of transport within at least one zone of a soldering system, in particular a reflow soldering system, characterized in that a base part is provided with an output shaft that can be driven, and with at least two output wheels which are rotatably coupled to the output shaft, in that at least two drive parts which can be releasably fastened on and removed from the base part are each provided with a drive wheel in such a manner that the drive parts have drive rollers which are rotatably coupled to the drive wheel, and which act on the printed circuit board to transport the printed circuit board through the zone, and in that, when the drive parts are fastened to the base part, each of the output wheels is in engagement with the associated drive wheel.

Abstract: Examples of systems and methods for rendering an avatar in a mixed reality environment are disclosed. The systems and methods may be configured to automatically scale an avatar or to render an avatar based on a determined intention of a user, an interesting impulse, environmental stimuli, or user saccade points. The disclosed systems and methods may apply discomfort curves when rendering an avatar. The disclosed systems and methods may provide a more realistic interaction between a human user and an avatar.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include a natural language processing model by which topics of interest within a text are identified, such as by a predictive model that infers (e.g., based on scores associated with a text) a topic of interest associated with the text. The computer system may train or configure the prediction model, such as a machine learning model, to facilitate identification of topics of interest based on inputs, like one or more chunks of text, such as by keywords or phrases or combinations of keywords and associated metrics for nearness or frequency. The computer system may determine a measure of predicted impactfulness of the content item in relation to a topic of interest identified for the content item and determine whether to generate a notification transmitted to client devices of users having indicated the topic as of interest.