Abstract: A piece of playground equipment is disclosed and includes a system for tensioning one or more cables. The system includes a cable retaining device having a cylindrical shaped body with threads disposed around an outer circumferential surface, the outer circumferential surface being interrupted in at least one location by one or more cable receiving channel. The system also includes a tightening sleeve into which the cable retaining device is configured to be threaded such that the cable retaining device moves as the tightening sleeve is rotated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating optimization of documents based on prior interactions according to one or more example embodiments are shown. Such systems and methods make use of analyzing information obtained from financial institution computing system as well as other third party networks. Such systems and methods also make use of analyzing information stored from previous interactions with documents (e.g., financial disclosures). In some embodiments, this analysis of data allows for documents, such as disclosure documents, to emphasize features or sections that are of particular interest to the individual receiving the document. Information associated with one or more sections of a disclosure document may be pushed to account holders based on a disclosure associated event.

Abstract: A vascular introducer hub has a body that includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen defined therethrough. The hub includes first and second seals disposed within the body. The first seal includes a first polymeric material and the second seal includes a second polymeric material. The hub is characterized by the first and second polymeric materials having different durometers.

Abstract: A control valve for a multi-stage hydraulic actuator includes a valve body defining a translation axis, a spool disposed within the valve body and movable along the translation axis, and a flange. The flange is fixed relative to the spool and has an aperture disposed externally of the valve body to removably fix the spool to a spool of a redundant control valve independently connected to the multi-stage hydraulic actuator for mitigating force fights between actuators coupled to the control valve.

Abstract: A system for managing prescriptions via a blockchain is provided. The system records in the blockchain a prescription transaction that identifies a prescription that has been written for a patient. The system then records in the blockchain a submission selection transaction with code for controlling selection of a pharmacy to dispense the prescription. For pharmacies that provide a submission for dispensing the prescription, the system records in the blockchain a submission transaction with submission information relating to dispensing of the prescription by the pharmacy. When a pharmacy is selected to dispense the prescription, the system records in the blockchain a selected submission transaction indicating the pharmacy selected to dispense the prescription. When the prescription is dispensed, the system records in the blockchain a dispense transaction indicating that the selected pharmacy has dispensed the prescription.

Abstract: The inventive method provides for a method of p-type doping of Ga2O3 without adding impurity elements. Embodiments allow for significant simplification relative to extrinsic impurity element doping, and thus offers a reduced fabrication cost while being more temperature resistant since the defect dopants require higher temperatures to alter their impact. Certain methods disclosed provide for p-type gallium oxide formation via intrinsic defect doping, without requiring the addition of impurity elements which provide significant simplification relative to the existing state of the art approaches providing more temperature and radiation resistance, while offering a reduced fabrication cost.

Abstract: Electronic devices are often equipped with a camera for capturing video content and/or a display for displaying video content. However, amateur users often capture video content without regard to composition, framing, or camera movement, resulting in video content that can be jarring or confusing to viewers. There is a need to automate the processing and presentation of video content in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The embodiments described herein provide a method of automatically cropping video content for presentation on a display.

Abstract: Improved ultrasound imaging devices and methods of operating the devices that minimize grating lobe artifacts in an ultrasound image are provided. For example, an ultrasound imaging system analyzes the ultrasound data at different frequency bands and generates a grating-lobe-minimized image based on minimum signals identified for each pixel among the plurality of frequency ranges. In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound transducer array configured to obtain ultrasound data, and a processor in communication with the ultrasound transducer array. The processor is configured to receive the ultrasound data, generate an ultrasound image based on a first frequency range of the ultrasound data, generate a grating-lobe-minimized ultrasound image based on a plurality of second frequency ranges of the ultrasound data, combine the ultrasound image and the grating-lobe-minimized ultrasound image to generate a combined ultrasound image, and output the combined ultrasound image to a display.

Abstract: Described herein is a magnetically levitated linear transportation stage which utilizes a permanent magnet bias flux to generate a passive magnetic/suspension force/torque in a first set of directions orthogonal to a direction of transportation stage travel, a motor flux which forms a traveling wave along a direction of transportation stage travel and a suspension control force orthogonal to the direction of transportation stage travel. Such a magnetically levitated linear transportation stage is suitable for use in in-vacuum transportation tasks such as in conjunction with photo lithography systems (e.g. extreme ultra violet (EUV) machines).

Abstract: A vacuum blending system may be used to blend solids, powders, and/or liquids (foodstuff) in an evacuated blender jar and/or evacuated enclosure to reduce or eliminate the air included in the resulting mixture. The vacuum blending system may be embodied as a vacuum lid adaptable for use with any of a wide variety of blending systems. In other embodiments, the vacuum blending system may be embodied as a blender with an integrated vacuum system. In still other embodiments, the vacuum blending system may be embodied as a vacuum pump, and optional vacuum tank, for use with a plurality off blender enclosures. Any of these vacuum blending systems may be used to produce blended foodstuff that has superior texture, offer increased nutritional benefit, and/or remain homogeneous for longer than the same foodstuff remains well-mixed when blended in a non-vacuum.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically identifying and displaying unmet technical needs and/or technical problems, such as identifying and displaying serious technical issues in specific areas of technology. In some exemplary embodiments, the text of technical documents is automatically analyzed to determine whether the text of any document identifies or potentially identifies a technical problem. In exemplary embodiments, portions of a documents called “problem kernels” and their associated features are automatically identified, automatically scored, and automatically ranked, and a subset of the problem kernels and/or features of problem kernels are displayed to a user on a computer display.

Abstract: A wastewater management system includes a series of holding tanks in combination with a membrane bioreactor treatment subsystem connected to one or more autoclaves and/or sonolysis units and thermal evaporators to treat liquid discharge from the system. A condenser connected to the thermal evaporator(s) condenses water vapor created by the thermal evaporator(s) into its liquid state for delivery to, and assimilation by, plants in a dedicated greenhouse or hydroponic system or for reuse in a building. CO2 and water vapor produced by combustion of a thermal evaporator fuel source is sent through the condenser to add to the liquid water recovery. The CO2 is flowed into the greenhouse(s) for carbon fixation by plants. A CO2 monitoring system ensures the concentration of CO2 in the greenhouse is maintained at an acceptable level for humans. Ozonation, UV and/or chloride treatments may be used as optional water purification treatments in the system.

Abstract: An automated adaptive muscle stimulation system and method are disclosed. The stimulation system includes at least one electrode assembly adapted to deliver a muscle stimulation signal to the tissue of a user, a sensor system adapted to detect a muscle response, and an electrical stimulation device operably coupled to the at least on electrode assembly and the sensor system, the electrical stimulation device including a control system operable to automatically diagnose at least one characteristic of a muscle from the detected muscle response and adjust at least one parameter of the muscle stimulation signal in response thereto to deliver an adjusted muscle stimulation signal. A dual mode muscle stimulation system adapted to accept first and second data sets and provide first and second levels of treatment data is also disclosed.

Abstract: An in-line planer board assembly incorporates hydrofoil designs at various key locations in order to maximize fluid movement efficiencies. Optionally, the planer board assembly further includes a spring-loaded fishing line release, also exemplified in a universal embodiment for use with other planer boards. Another option is a snap-in forward line release bracket useful when an angler wishes to fish from the opposite side of the boat, or for creating a smaller storage space requirement while storing the planer boards away between angling trips.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for effectively allowing consumers to request promotions from a merchant are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for a networked device, apparatus, or server configured to: in response to determining that a merchant device is not associated with at least one available promotion, determine, via a processor, a promotion request threshold value indicating a required number of promotion requests for generating a promotion associated with the merchant device; receive a plurality of promotion requests from a plurality of consumer devices via the network; calculate, via the processor, a promotion request count associated with the plurality of promotion requests; and in response to determining that the promotion request count satisfies the promotion request threshold value, generate a promotion offer request indicating a request to generate the promotion.

Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a conductive structure, an annular structure extending through the conductive structure, and an active-material-structure lining an interior periphery of the annular structure. The annular structure includes dielectric material. The active-material-structure includes two-dimensional-material. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed generating candidate trajectories and selecting one of them to be implemented. In particular, a computing system can obtain an initial travel path for an autonomous vehicle. The computing system can obtain sensor data describing objects within an environment of the autonomous vehicle. The computing system can generate a plurality of trajectories for the autonomous vehicle based on the sensor data and the initial travel path. The computing system can determine whether the initial travel path, an offset profile, and a velocity profile meet flatness criteria. In response to determining that the initial travel path, the offset profile, and the velocity profile meet the flatness criteria, the computing system can combine the initial travel path, the offset profile, and the velocity profile into the respective trajectory. The computing system can determine a trajectory from the plurality of trajectories.

Abstract: A method for remediating contaminated soil and groundwater includes selecting a treatment material and creating a smolderable mixture of a contaminant, the treatment material, and soil.