Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a plurality of first electrical contacts and a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts. The surgical instrument further includes a staple cartridge releasably attachable to the elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge has a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples deployable from the staple cavities into the tissue, and a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein the attachment of the staple cartridge to the elongate channel moves the electrical connectors causing the second electrical contacts to bridge the gap and become electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts.

Abstract: Drop lines are supported and routed from a an ADSS trunk cable to designated users. Each of a number of non-metallic elongated support members has a main passage, and a first slit for enabling the cable to be urged into the passage from outside. Each member also has a number of aligned outer passages, and associated second slits for enabling a drop line to be urged into a given outer passage from outside. A band may be applied about each support member to prevent the cable and the drop lines from escaping the member through the slits. One end of each drop line is connected to the cable fibers inside a closure fixed at one end of a cable span. A drop line exiting an outer passage in a given support member is routed either through an outer passage in a successive member, or away from the cable to a designated user.

Abstract: Scalable biomaterial-based bioreactors are described. In one embodiment, the bioreactor may comprise perforated plates stacked such that the assembled bioreactor has the necessary manifolds and chambers to transport gas and liquids to a biomaterial contained within the bioreactor, and to remove the reaction products. In another embodiment, single use bioreactors are described. Methods of operating the bioreactors are also described.

Abstract: Still frame detection for single pass video data, including: determining that an average quantization parameter of a frame of video data falls below a quantization parameter threshold; determining whether an amount of skipped macroblocks in the frame meets a skipped macroblock threshold; and responsive to the amount of skipped macroblocks exceeding the skipped macroblock threshold, identifying the frame as a still frame.

Abstract: A technique for operating a processing device is disclosed. The method includes configuring at least one switch to interconnect one or more selected IP to the processing device, receiving an activation signal associated with the at least one switch based on the one or more selected IP, in response to the activation signal, causing the at least one switch to disable connection to the one or more selected IP, and verifying access to the one or more selected IP is disabled.

Abstract: A technique for operating a memory system is disclosed. The technique includes performing a first request, by a first memory client, to access data at a first memory address, wherein the first memory address refers to data in a first memory section that is coupled to the first memory client via a direct memory connection; servicing the first request via the direct memory connection; performing a second request, by the first client, to access data at a second memory address, wherein the second memory address refers to data in a second memory section that is coupled to the first client via a cross connection; and servicing the second request via the cross connection.

Abstract: A technique for performing convolution operations is disclosed. The technique includes performing a first convolution operation based on a first convolutional layer input image to generate at least a portion of a first convolutional layer output image; while performing the first convolution operation, performing a second convolution operation based on a second convolutional layer input image to generate at least a portion of a second convolutional layer output image, wherein the second convolutional layer input image is based on the first convolutional layer output image; storing the portion of the first convolutional layer output image in a first memory dedicated to storing image data for convolution operations; and storing the portion of the second convolutional layer output image in a second memory dedicated to storing image data for convolution operations.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for emulating, in a platform, the performance of a target platform. Techniques disclosed include receiving, by the platform, values of system features, associated with a target performance of the target platform; and setting, by the platform, one or more configuration knobs, based on the received values of system features, to match a performance of the platform to the target performance of the target platform.

Abstract: A technique for operating a processing device is disclosed. The method includes irreversibly activating a testing mode switch of the processing device; in response to the activating, entering a testing mode in which normal operation of the processing device is disabled; receiving software for the processing device in the testing mode; based on whether the software is verified as testing mode-signed software, executing or not executing the software.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable may include a cable jacket, a rigid tensile reinforcement member centered within the cable jacket, and a plurality of partially bonded optical fiber ribbons around the rigid tensile reinforcement member. The optical fiber cable does not include any buffer tubes but may include a cushioning layer adjacent the ribbons.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite sandwich panel that includes a first face portion with fully consolidated comingled first fibers and a first thermoplastic matrix. The composite sandwich panel also includes a second face portion with fully consolidated comingled second fibers and a second thermoplastic matrix. Additionally, the composite sandwich panel includes at least one core portion with partially consolidated comingled third fibers and a third thermoplastic matrix. The at least one core portion is interposed between the first and second face portions. The first thermoplastic matrix is melded with the third thermoplastic matrix and the second thermoplastic matrix is melded with the third thermoplastic. A density of the fibers across a thickness of the composite panel is non-uniform.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for depolymerizing the polymer component of fiber reinforced polymers to facilitate the recovery of free fibers.

Abstract: Still frame detection for single pass video data, including: determining that an average quantization parameter of a frame of video data falls below a quantization parameter threshold; determining whether an amount of skipped macroblocks in the frame meets a skipped macroblock threshold; and responsive to the amount of skipped macroblocks exceeding the skipped macroblock threshold, identifying the frame as a still frame.

Abstract: A reactor containing a heat exchanger is disclosed, which can be operated with co-current or counter-current flow. Also disclosed is a system that includes a reactor having a reformer and a vaporizer, a fuel supply, and a water supply. The reactor includes a source of combustion gas, a reformer operative to receive reformate, and a vaporizer operative to receive water. The reformer and vaporizer each include a stack assembly formed by a combination of separator shims and channel shims. The separator shims and channel shims are stacked in a regular pattern to form two sets of channels within the stack assembly. One set of channels will have vertical passageways at either end and a horizontal flowpath between them, while the other set of channels has only a horizontal flowpath.

Abstract: A system for installing an optical fiber cable in a building hallway or living unit includes an elongated cylinder for containing an adhesive, and a continuous length of an optical fiber cable embedded in the adhesive in a configuration that avoids kinks or knots in the cable. An elongated nozzle is fixed at a first end of the cylinder for depositing the adhesive and the cable from an open tip of the nozzle, along a desired routing path in the hallway or living unit. An applicator assembly is constructed and arranged for receiving the cylinder, and for applying a dispensing force at a second end of the cylinder opposite the first end so as to urge the adhesive and the cable out of the open tip of the nozzle.

Abstract: For one or more stages of execution of a software application at a first processor, a remap vector of a second processor is reconfigured to represent a dynamic mapping of virtual address groups to physical address groups for that stage. Each bit position of the remap vector is configured to store a value indicating whether a corresponding virtual address group is actively mapped to a corresponding physical address group. Address translation operations issued during a stage of execution of the software application are selectively processed based on the configuration of the remap vector for that stage, with the particular value at the bit position of the remap vector associated with the corresponding virtual address group controlling whether processing of the address translation operation is continued to obtain a virtual-to-physical address translation sought by the address translation operation or processing of the address translation operation is ceased and a fault is issued.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable may include a cable jacket, a rigid tensile reinforcement member centered within the cable jacket, and a plurality of partially bonded optical fiber ribbons around the rigid tensile reinforcement member. The optical fiber cable does not include any buffer tubes but may include a cushioning layer adjacent the ribbons.

Abstract: Scalable biomaterial-based bioreactors are described. In one embodiment, the bioreactor may comprise perforated plates stacked such that the assembled bioreactor has the necessary manifolds and chambers to transport gas and liquids to a biomaterial contained within the bioreactor, and to remove the reaction products. In another embodiment, single use bioreactors are described. Methods of operating the bioreactors are also described.

Abstract: A fuel processing system and method for a sulfur bearing fuel include a hydrodesulfurization reactor followed by an adsorbent bed for removing sulfur or sulfur containing species from the fuel. In certain embodiments, the adsorbent bed is a ZnO bed. In another embodiment, a fuel processing system and method for a sulfur bearing fuel include a steam reformer, a hydrodesulfurization reactor, and an adsorbent bed.