Abstract: A battery pack terminal retention system includes a clasp configured to hold tab terminals as the tab terminals are electrically connected together. A battery pack terminal retention method includes holding terminals together using a clasp; and electrically connecting together the plurality of terminals during the holding. The terminals can be tab terminals that are electrically connected together using welds.

Abstract: A traction battery pack venting assembly includes an enclosure, at least one cell stack within the enclosure, a cross-member assembly within the enclosure, and a valve assembly that opens to provide a vent path from the at least one cell stack to a passageway of the cross-member assembly. A method of establishing a vent path within a traction battery pack includes, within a battery pack enclosure, using a valve assembly to block an opening to a passageway provided by a cross-member assembly; and in response to at least one battery cell within the battery pack enclosure venting, opening the valve assembly to permit flow through the opening to the passageway.

Abstract: Multifunctional cross-member beams are provided for use within traction battery packs. An exemplary cross-member beam may include features for interfacing with and supporting various subcomponents (e.g., battery cells, cell tab terminals, bus bars, thermal barriers, etc.) of a cell stack of the traction battery pack. The cross-member beam may further incorporate features for facilitating the venting of battery cell vent byproducts during battery thermal events.

Abstract: Methods and systems of operating a gas turbine engine in a low-power condition are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes supplying fuel to the combustor by supplying fuel to the first fuel manifold via a first flow divider valve and supplying fuel to the second fuel manifold via a second flow divider valve. While supplying fuel to the combustor by supplying fuel to the first fuel manifold, the method includes stopping supplying fuel to the second fuel manifold and supplying pressurized gas to the second fuel manifold via the second flow divider valve to flush fuel in the second fuel manifold into the combustor and hinder coking in the second fuel manifold and associated nozzles.

Abstract: A battery pack venting assembly includes a first beam establishing a first side of a passageway and a second beam establishing an opposite, second side of the passageway. The passageway is configured to communicate battery cell vent byproducts. A method of establishing a vent path within a traction battery pack includes, within an enclosure assembly of a battery pack, providing a cross-member assembly having a first beam and a second beam; and communicating battery cell vent byproducts through at least one opening in the first beam into a passageway having a perimeter that is at least partially provided by the first beam and the second beam.

Abstract: Provided are therapeutic compositions containing microbial populations for prevention, treatment and reduction of symptoms associated with a dysbiosis of a mammalian subject such as a human.

Abstract: A lubric gel composition for personal defense includes a fatty acid at a concentration ranging from 5 wt % to 10 wt % of the composition, a thickening agent at a concentration ranging from 1.75 wt % to 8.75 wt % of the composition, a detergent at a concentration ranging from 1.03 wt % to 4.07 wt % of the composition, a surfactant at a concentration ranging from 2 wt % to 15 wt % of the composition, and water at a concentration ranging from 66 wt % to 90.21 wt % of the composition.

Abstract: A lubric gel composition for personal defense includes a fatty acid at a concentration ranging from 5 wt % to 10 wt % of the composition, a thickening agent at a concentration ranging from 1.75 wt % to 8.75 wt % of the composition, a detergent at a concentration ranging from 1.03 wt % to 4.07 wt % of the composition, a surfactant at a concentration ranging from 2 wt % to 15 wt % of the composition, and water at a concentration ranging from 66 wt % to 90.21 wt % of the composition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for authenticating access to multiple data stores substantially in real-time are disclosed. The system may include a server coupled to a network, a client device in communication with the server via the network and a plurality of data stores. The server may authenticate access to the data stores and forward information from those stores to the client device. An exemplary authentication method may include receipt of a request for access to data. Information concerning access to that data is stored and associated with an identifier assigned to a client device. If the identifier is found to correspond to the stored information during a future request for access to the store, access to that store is granted.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and displaying groupings of content recommendations using personas are provided. The system determines content for each of the plurality of personas. The determined content for each of the plurality of personas comprises content that shares a common genre or theme for each persona. The system populates each of the plurality of personas using the determined content for each of the plurality of personas. The system then causes display of at least some of the plurality of personas on a viewing device of a user. The at least some of the plurality of personas is selected for the user based on device data corresponding to the user, whereby the device data indicates user preferences and interactions with previous content.

Abstract: A coherent optical injection locking (COIL) apparatus generates multiple optical source outputs from a single optical source generated by a parent laser. The COIL apparatus includes a plurality of optical source generators each having a child laser, of lesser performance than the parent laser, that is injection locked to the single optical source. The optical source generators may have one or both of a shared configuration and a cascaded configuration that replicates the single optical source, or a single wavelength of the single optical source when it is a comb source.

Abstract: A sample preparation cartridge module comprises an input and output; and interconnected volumes arranged in series between the input and output, the volumes comprising a fluidic isolation chamber and an output channel connected to the fluidic isolation chamber downstream of the fluidic isolation chamber and leading to the output.

Abstract: A method operable by a communication network gateway for providing communication services includes (a) supporting respective communication links with a plurality of communication service providers, (b) supporting a plurality of virtual local area networks (VLANs), (c) associating each virtual local area network (VLAN) with a respective communication service provider of the plurality of communication service providers, and (d) routing data between each VLAN and the respective communication link of the respective communication service provider associated with the VLAN.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data through a multi-media communication network includes converting transmission entities into data symbols at a first communication device, transmitting the data symbols from the first communication device to a second communication device through at least two different types of communication media using only lower PHY layers of the at least two different types of communication media, and converting the data symbols into transmission entities at the second communication device.

Abstract: A method of securing data transmission from a plurality of spatially distributed transmitters to a receiving device includes steps of: determining first and second receiving device propagation delays for first and second transmission paths, respectively; portioning a contiguous stream of data into first and second data portions; transmitting the first data portion by the first transmission path utilizing a coordinating system and first propagation delay, and the second data portion such that first and second data portions arrive at the receiving device during a first and second time period, respectively, wherein, when seen from the receiving device, the first data portion and second data portion are seen as transmitted as contiguous data from the same transmitter, and wherein that transmitted data is received as a contiguous stream of transmitted data at a location of the receiving device.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data through a multi-media communication network includes converting transmission entities into data symbols at a first communication device, transmitting the data symbols from the first communication device to a second communication device through at least two different types of communication media using only lower PHY layers of the at least two different types of communication media, and converting the data symbols into transmission entities at the second communication device.

Abstract: Guidewires and methods for transmitting electrical stimuli to a heart and for guiding and supporting the delivery of elongate treatment devices within the heart are disclosed. A guidewire can comprise an elongate body, including first and second elongate conductors, and at least first and second electrodes. A distal end portion of the elongate body can include a preformed bias shape, such as a pigtail-shaped region, on which the first and second electrodes can be located. The preformed bias shape can optionally be non-coplanar relative to an intermediate portion of the elongate body. The first and second elongate conductors can be formed of a single structure or two or more electrically connected structures. The conductors can extend from proximal end portions to distal end portions that electrically connect to the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: An antenna assembly including flexible antenna elements connected to a non-flexible antenna element which connects to a counterpoise where the non-flexible antenna element is between the counterpoise and the flexible antenna elements. The flexible antenna elements are a plurality of peripheral flexible antenna elements and a central flexible antenna element. The plurality of peripheral flexible antenna elements are separated from and surrounding the central flexible antenna element. The non-flexible antenna element is a biconical antenna, formed from two tapered shapes connected at a central feed point such that a constant electrical impedance as the currents radiate outward from the central feed point. A total length of the flexible antenna elements connected to the non-flexible antenna element is ?43.0 cm, and the flexible antenna elements connected to the non-flexible antenna element has a realized gain of at least 2 dB over at least a frequency range of 200-7000 MHz.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for sensing an environment electric field. In one exemplary implementation, a method includes disposing a sensor in the environment, wherein the sensor comprising a crystalline lattice and at least one optically-active defect in the crystalline lattice; pre-exciting the crystalline lattice to prepare at least one defect in a first charge state using a first optical beam at a first optical wavelength; converting at least one defect from the first charge state to a second charge state using a second optical beam at a second optical wavelength; monitoring a characteristics of photoluminescence emitted from the defect during or after the conversion of the at least one defect from the first charge state to the second charge state; and determining a characteristics of the electric field in the environment according to the monitored characteristics of the photoluminescence.

Abstract: A valve orifice insert has a stepped-shaped wall including a first tubular section and a second tubular section having a smaller outer dimension than the first tubular section, and a lip structure protruding axially and including a planar valve seat surface. The first tubular section and the second tubular section being are joined by a step structure. At least one circumferential protrusion extends radially outward a predetermined distance from an outer surface of the first tubular section or an outer surface of the second tubular section to form an interference fit with the step-shaped opening when the valve orifice insert is fitted into the step-shaped opening.