Abstract: A friction bearing for rotatably connecting a first component to a second component, including a spacer arranged to be non-rotatably connected to the first component, a first friction cone non-rotatably connected to the spacer, a housing arranged to engage the first friction cone and be non-rotatably connected to the second component, and a disc spring arranged to provide an axial force on the friction bearing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for electroplating which employ seed layer detection. Such methods may operate by selecting a wafer, illuminating one or more points within an interior region of the wafer surface, measuring a first set of one or more in-process color signals from the one or more points within the interior region, illuminating one or more points within an edge region of the wafer surface, measuring a second set of one or more in-process color signals from the one or more points within the edge region, each color signal having one or more color components, calculating a metric indicative of a difference between the color signals in the first and second sets of in-process color signals, determining whether an acceptable seed layer is present on the wafer based on whether the metric is within a predetermined range, and repeating the foregoing for one or more additional wafers.

Abstract: Process for forming a multi-layer electrochromic structure, the process comprising depositing a film of a liquid mixture onto a surface of a substrate, and treating the deposited film to form an anodic electrochromic layer, the liquid mixture comprising a continuous phase and a dispersed phase, the dispersed phase comprising metal oxide particles, metal hydroxide particles, metal alkoxide particles, metal alkoxide oligomers, gels or particles, or a combination thereof having a number average size of at least 5 nm.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and an apparatus for capping blood sample tubes after they are processed in an automated blood sample analysis processing system are provided. One aspect describes an automated blood sample tube capping assembly configured to automatically cap a plurality of sample tubes after they are processed in an automated blood sample analysis processing system.

Abstract: A transmission (1) for a feed and foodstuff roller mill (2) with a plurality of rotatably drivable rollers which comprises a bearing housing (3) in which an input shaft (4), a first output shaft (5) and a second output shaft (6) are accommodated. The input shaft (4) and the first output shaft (5) are arranged perpendicular to one another and the first output shaft (5) and the second output shaft (6) are arranged parallel to one another. The input shaft (4) and the first output shaft (5) are operatively connected to one another via a bevel gearwheel pair (7, 7?), and the first output shaft (5) and the second output shaft (6) are operatively connected to one another via a torque transmitting arrangement.

Abstract: A gaming machine provides a base game, from which a hold and spin feature game is triggered when a determined number of configurable symbols are displayed in a base game outcome. When the feature game is triggered, the configurable symbols are held in place on the display and the player is provided one or more spins during the feature game in which to collect additional configurable symbols. Any additional configurable symbols are retained on the display during subsequent spins until the feature game is completed. At the end of the feature game, the player is awarded a prize based on the values carried by the configurable symbols. An ante bet entitles to player to additional game instances in the hold and spin feature game. The additional game instances duplicate the configurable symbols that trigger the feature game, but are played independently from one another during the hold and spin feature.

Abstract: A system provides medical device data to a system user. The medical device data is provided as an icon indicating compliance or non-compliance by the medical device user in connection with a predetermined set of usage criteria. Compliance is calculated based on usage data that is provided by the medical device. The system user may select one of the icons so as to have the system generate a compliance report. The compliance report may then be transmitted to a reimbursing entity.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for several applications such as a vehicle is described herein. The heat exchanger includes an inlet header tank configured to receive a fluid, an outlet header tank configured to output the fluid, and an intermediate tank between the inlet header tank and the outlet header tank. A first heat exchanger is between the inlet header tank and the intermediate tank, and a second heat exchanger is between the intermediate tank and the outlet header tank. The intermediate tank has an interior region having a plurality of protuberances disposed therein. The protuberances are configured to facilitate mixing of the fluid within the intermediate tank. The mixing of the fluid with the protuberances provides a more uniform heat distribution within the intermediate tank before entering the second heat exchanger.

Abstract: A gaming machine provides a base game from which a feature game is triggered when a determined number of configurable symbols are displayed in a base game outcome. When the feature game is triggered, the configurable symbols are held in place on the display and the player is provided with more spins during the feature game in which to collect additional configurable symbols. The feature game includes an initial quantity of spins. Upon completion of the initial quantity of spins, the player is presented with a plurality of picks that each correspond to an additional quantity of spins. The selected pick is then revealed by the gaming machine and the additional quantity of spins corresponding to the player's pick is provided. At the end of the feature game, the player may be awarded a feature award based, at least in part, on a value of each of the configurable symbols displayed at the end of the feature game.

Abstract: A gaming machine provides a base game from which a feature game is triggered when a determined number of configurable symbols are displayed in a base game outcome. When the feature game is triggered, the configurable symbols are held in place on the display and the player is provided with more spins during the feature game in which to collect additional configurable symbols. Any additional configurable symbols are retained on the display during subsequent spins until the feature game is completed. The configurable symbols include mystery symbols whose value is not determined until the mystery symbol is displayed. A first valuation game, such as a wheel spin, is used to determine the value for the mystery symbols. At the end of the feature game, the player is awarded a prize based on the values carried by the configurable symbols. A second valuation game, such as a wheel spin, is used to provide an enhanced award if the player collects a determined number of configurable symbols during the feature game.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing distribution items having unique identifiers affixed thereon. The unique identifiers can include computer readable codes and written alphanumeric strings generated by a user. A system receives the unique identifier and requests payment information from a user, and stores an association between the unique identifier and the payment information, and processes the item according to the payment information.

Abstract: A gaming machine provides a base game, from which a spin and hold feature game is triggered when a determined number of configurable symbols are displayed in a base game outcome. When the feature game is triggered, the configurable symbols are held in place on the display and the player is provided more spins during the feature game in which to collect additional configurable symbols. Any additional configurable symbols are retained on the display during subsequent spins until the feature game is completed. At the end of the feature game, the player is awarded a prize based on the values carried by the configurable symbols. During play of the feature game, the configurable symbols include repeater symbols whose value is determined by summing the values of the configurable symbols that triggered the feature game.

Abstract: A gaming machine provides a spinning reel game having a base game, from which a hold and spin feature game is triggered when a determined number of configurable symbols are displayed in a base game outcome. When the feature game is triggered, the configurable symbols are held in place on the display and the player is provided one or more spins during the feature game in which to collect additional configurable symbols. Any additional configurable symbols are retained on the display during subsequent spins until the feature game is completed. Each reel on the game display includes a respective multiplier meter that is adjusted when a multiplier symbol is displayed on the reel in a base game outcome. The multiplier symbols include dynamic multiplier symbols that increment the multiplier meters by a defined amount and static multiplier symbols that lock a meter at a defined multiplier value.

Abstract: A gaming machine provides a base game, from which a hold and spin feature game is triggered when a determined number of configurable symbols are displayed in a base game outcome. When the feature game is triggered, the configurable symbols are held in place on the display one or more spins are provided during the feature game in which to collect additional configurable symbols. Any additional configurable symbols are retained on the display during subsequent spins until the feature game is completed. The player is awarded a prize based on the values carried by the configurable symbols. The gaming machine includes one or more progressive play meters that are incremented when spin award symbols are displayed in base game outcomes. When the feature game is triggered, the number of spins provided in the feature game is determined based on the value carried by one of the progressive play meters.

Abstract: Enhancements to network security are provided by identifying malicious actions taken against servers in a network environment, without having to access log data from individual servers. Seed data are collected by an administrator of the network environment, from honeypots and servers whose logs are shared with the administrator, to identify patterns of malicious actions to access the network environment. These patterns of use include ratios of TCP flags in communication sessions, entropy in the use of TCP flags over the life of a communication session, and packet size metrics, which are used to develop a model of characteristic communications for an attack. These attack models are shared with servers in the network environment to detect attacks without having to examine the traffic logs of those servers.

Abstract: Contact engines, probe head assemblies, probe systems, and associated methods for on-wafer testing of the wireless operation of a device under test (DUT). A contact engine includes a flexible dielectric membrane having a first surface and a second surface and a plurality of probes supported by the flexible dielectric membrane. The plurality of probes are oriented to contact a plurality of contact locations on the DUT. Each probe in the plurality of probes includes a corresponding probe tip that projects from the second surface of the flexible dielectric membrane and is configured to electrically and physically contact a corresponding contact location of the plurality of contact locations. The contact engine further includes at least one membrane antenna supported by the flexible dielectric membrane. A probe head assembly includes the contact engine. A probe system includes the probe head assembly. Associated methods include methods of utilizing the contact engine.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to chimeric engulfment receptor molecules, host cells modified to include the phagocytic engulfment molecules, and methods of making and using such receptor molecules and modified cells.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and apparatus for detecting sample defects in blood samples processed in automated processing systems are described herein. One aspect describes an automated blood sample processing apparatus having a pre-analytic specimen integrity monitoring device. Another aspect describes devices, systems, and methods for identifying blood components and properties in blood samples. Further aspects relate to systems and methods for setting reference ranges for sample defects and interference in blood samples. Additionally, devices, systems, and methods for identifying defective samples are described.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine enables implementation of a base game, from which a bonus game may be triggered. Outcomes achieved during a play of the bonus game may be retained for use during subsequent triggering of the bonus game. For example, during play of the bonus game a player may achieve one or more game conditions, such as held special symbols, sticky WILD symbols, or award multipliers. These game conditions may be retained at the end of the bonus game and used if the player subsequently triggers another bonus game while playing the base game.

Abstract: A home automation (HA) system may include addressable HA devices each having a respective HA device signature associated therewith, and an HA security controller. The HA security controller may be configured to communicate with the addressable HA devices via respective ones of a plurality of communications ports, with a given communications port not currently being used. When a given one of the plurality of addressable HA devices communicates via the given communications port not currently being used, the HA security controller may be configured to determine whether the given addressable HA device is operating abnormally based upon the respective HA device signature, communicate to the cloud for verification of whether the given addressable HA device is operating abnormally, and terminate communications with the given addressable HA device and generate a notification when the given addressable HA device is verified to be operating abnormally.