Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for inspection, under a microscope, of end connectors of fiber optic cables are provided. In one aspect, a light ring including a circular array of light sources provides darkfield illumination to an end connector being inspected under a microscope. Each of the light sources may be lit in series and the resulting shadows may be used to identify dirt on the end connector, as well as to determine whether any dirt identified on the end connector can be cleaned off. In another aspect, a light ring combined with a redirection ring (e.g., a reflector and/or refractor ring) may provide darkfield illumination. In yet another aspect, a series of images may be captured and analyzed to automatically identify dirt on the end connector, as well as to determine whether any identified dirt can be cleaned off.

Abstract: A method for compensating springback of a part includes running a finite element analysis (FEA) simulation of forming a panel using a model of forming die such that a panel with springback is simulated, determining at least two zero springback locations on the panel where hanging apertures are simulated, running an FEA simulation of the panel hanging from the hanging apertures, and comparing a geometry of the hanging panel to a geometry of a reference panel such that a difference between the geometry of the hanging panel and the geometry of the reference panel due to the springback is determined and compensated.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a UV curable coating composition including (A) a component A, comprising Aa) one or more resins, each of these resins having a hydroxyl number in a range of from 0 to 25 mg KOH/g; Ab) one or more UV reactive monomers including one or two (meth)acrylic groups; (B) a component B, including Ba) one or more isocyanate species; (C) a component C, including Ca) one or more aprotic organic solvents which do not react with any ingredient of the coating composition; and (D) a component D, including Da) one or more photoinitiators; at least one of Db) and/or Dc), Db) being one or more light stabilizers; and Dc) being one or more UV absorbers; wherein the total molar ratio of hydroxyl groups to free isocyanate groups in the UV curable coating composition is in a range from 0 to 1:5.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for treating non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) patients and inhibiting the progression of structural damage in these patients, using IL-17 antagonists, e.g., secukinumab. Also disclosed herein are uses of IL-17 antagonists, e.g., IL-17 antibodies, such as secukinumab, for treating nr-axSpA patients and inhibiting the progression of structural damage in these patients, as well as medicaments, dosing regimens, pharmaceutical formulations, dosage forms, and kits for use in the disclosed uses and methods.

Abstract: System and methods for cleaning and inspecting a pipe are disclosed. The system may include a flexible shaft having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, a sheath comprising a flexible tube body that extends over at least part of the flexible shaft and includes a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the flexible tube body includes a bore within which the flexible shaft extends, at least one electrical conductor contained within the flexible tube body of the sheath, the at least one electrical conductor extending at least partially along a length of the flexible tube body, and a camera operatively connected to the at least one electrical conductor.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a disc having a plurality of radially projecting slots, each slot configured to receive and hold a musical instrument pick. The disc may also comprise a protrusion configured to be pushed by a finger of a user of the apparatus to retrieve a pick from each of the slots in the disc.

Abstract: A system for determining a physical characteristic or measuring a physical activity of a subject using back-illumination of an eye of a subject includes at least one light source configured for illuminating an eye of a subject using light from within the head of the subject. The system further includes at least one light sensor positionable outside of the head of the subject for sensing light from the at least one light source exiting the subject through the eye of the subject. The system further includes a controller coupled to the at least one light source and to the at least one light sensor for recording an indication of the light while controlling the illuminating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal insulation board (IB) comprising at least two insulating layers (A) bonded together. At least one of the at least two insulating layers (A) comprises at least one aerogel composite material, wherein the aerogel composite material comprises at least one silica aerogel (a1), at least one polymer foam (a2) and at least one flame retardant (a3). The present invention also relates to a thermal insulation system (IS) comprising the thermal insulation board (IB). Further, it relates to a process for the production of the thermal insulation board (IB) and to the use of the thermal insulation board (IB) and of the thermal insulation system (IS) for the thermal insulation of buildings, parts and/or elements of buildings.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a disc having a plurality of radially projecting slots, each slot configured to receive and hold a musical instrument pick. The disc may also comprise a protrusion configured to be pushed by a finger of a user of the apparatus to retrieve a pick from each of the slots in the disc.

Abstract: Methods and systems that provide quantitative assessments of in vivo thermal treatments, such as ablations, during image-guided surgeries using a high-resolution pre-operative MRI image segmented with a shape constrained and deformable mesh representations of brain structures and generating 3-D visualizations of thermally treated volumes during the thermal treatment that can provide near real time visual and quantitative feedback to a clinician.

Abstract: A stamping tool includes a lower pad, upper pad, forming steel, and sub-pad. The lower pad includes a lower forming surface recessed in a first direction between a first lower pad surface and the second lower pad surface. The upper pad is movable along a second direction. In an extended position, the upper pad holds a workpiece against the first lower pad surface. The forming steel includes a first forming surface and is movable along the first direction. In an extended position, the forming steel is received in the recess. The sub-pad is coupled to the forming steel such that the forming steel moves the sub-pad in the first direction as the forming steel moves from the retracted position to an intermediate position in which the sub-pad holds the workpiece against the second lower pad surface while the forming steel continues to move to the extended position.

Abstract: Surgical planning systems that automatically identify one or a plurality of different candidate trajectories to a defined intrabody treatment region. The systems can rank the identified candidate trajectories in an order of hierarchy based on defined parameters such as distance from a critical no-go location and whether a single or multiple different candidate trajectories are needed to provide coverage of the defined intrabody treatment region. The surgical planning systems are also configured to provide a User Interface that defines a workflow for an image-guided surgical procedure and allows a user to select one or more of the identified candidate trajectories steps in the workflow.

Abstract: A method of forming a vehicle panel includes deforming a sheet metal workpiece between stamping tools to form a first and second edges that converge at a corner of the workpiece's main surface. The first edge is defined by a junction of the main surface and a first flange. The second edge is defined the main surface and a second flange. Forming the first and second edges includes deforming the workpiece so that the second flange has a first region bent to a first angle relative to the main surface and an unwinding region bent to an angle that unwinds from the first region as the second flange approaches the corner. The method includes deforming the workpiece between a second set of stamping tools that deform the first flange and the unwinding region of the second flange until the first and second flanges are bent greater than 90°.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing, organizing and displaying picks for a stringed musical instrument includes a disc having a top, bottom, center and a circumference, and a plurality of slots extending radially between the center and circumference. Each slot is configured to receive and securely hold a musical instrument pick through the top of the disc, and a protrusion at the center of the top of the disc is configured to be pushed by a finger of a user of the apparatus to retrieve a pick from each of the plurality of slots.

Abstract: A guitar effects pedalboard comprises a first attachment region and a second attachment region, the first attachment region comprising a plurality of holes having a first diameter, and the second attachment region comprising a plurality of holes having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter.

Abstract: A method for compensating springback of a part includes running a finite element analysis (FEA) simulation of forming a panel using a model of forming die such that a panel with springback is simulated, determining at least two zero springback locations on the panel where hanging apertures are simulated, running an FEA simulation of the panel hanging from the hanging apertures, and comparing a geometry of the hanging panel to a geometry of a reference panel such that a difference between the geometry of the hanging panel and the geometry of the reference panel due to the springback is determined and compensated.

Abstract: A forming die includes a first die component with a male bead and a second die component with a female bead. The male bead and the female bead form a bead with a reverse bead geometry with the male bead having a groove and the female bead having a protrusion complimentary with the groove such that the protrusion is aligned with the groove when the male bead extends into the female bead. Also, the protrusion is adjustable in real-time within the female bead. A stamping machine with the first die component and the second die component has a control unit configured to adjust the protrusion in real-time as a function of mechanical property testing data, width testing data, thickness testing data, lubrication testing data and/or image sensor module data on one or more blanks to be stamped and/or one or more blanks that have been stamped.

Abstract: Methods and systems that provide quantitative assessments of in vivo thermal treatments, such as ablations, during image-guided surgeries using a high-resolution pre-operative MRI image segmented with a shape constrained and deformable mesh representations of brain structures and generating 3-D visualizations of thermally treated volumes during the thermal treatment that can provide near real time visual and quantitative feedback to a clinician.