Abstract: A magazine for loading projectiles into a launch assembly by gravity feed. The magazine has a plurality blades radially extending from a central axis and defining a like plurality of compartments in an axially rotatable ring. The ring rests upon a stationary deck plate having a hole for gravity feed of the projectile into the launch assembly below. Projectiles having different fight characteristics are deposited into the compartments at a safe location, supported by the deck plate and the launch assembly with an associated device are transported to a hostile environment. A first projectile is launched by the launch assembly in a longitudinal direction. The launch assembly is retracted, automatically indexing the rotatable ring and dropping the next projectile through the hole and into the launch assembly for subsequent launch.

Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy apparatus can include a housing, a negative pressure source supported by the housing and configured to aspirate fluid from a wound covered by a wound dressing, a switch positioned on an exterior surface of the housing, and a controller configured to operate the negative pressure source. The controller can be configured to, responsive to receiving a first user input via the switch, operate the negative pressure source to aspirate fluid from the wound at a first fluid flow rate. The controller can be configured to, responsive to receiving a second user input via the switch subsequent to receiving the first user input, operate the negative pressure source to aspirate fluid from the wound at a second fluid flow rate greater than the first fluid flow rate.

Abstract: A semicrystalline polyarylethersulfone (PAES) useful for additive manufacturing may be made by a method comprising: dissolving an amorphous polyarylethersulfone in a polar aprotic halogenated hydrocarbon solvent at a temperature adequate to effectively form a solution, and subsequently and spontaneously bring about reprecipitation of a semicrystalline polyarylethersulfone from the solution. The semicrystalline polyarylethersulfone may have a crystallinity of at least 30% by weight. The semicrystalline PAES, upon being heated, melting and uniting together in layers during additive manufacturing cools without substantially recrystallizing, allows for deformation-free articles to be formed having low residual stress.

Abstract: Polymer powders useful for additive manufacturing may be made by contacting carbon dioxide and a crystallizable polymer having at least one carbonyl, sulfur oxide or sulfone group; permeating the carbon dioxide into the polymer for a crystallizing time sufficient to induce crystallization forming an induced crystalized polymer; removing the carbon dioxide; and forming induced crystalized polymer particles having a D90 particle size of at most 300 micrometers and average particle size of 1 micrometer to 100 micrometers equivalent spherical diameter. The carbon dioxide is desirably supercritical carbon dioxide for at least a portion of the crystallizing time. The polymer powders upon heating during additive manufacturing may result in a polymer having less crystallinity or become amorphous.

Abstract: Polymer powders useful for additive manufacturing may be made by contacting carbon dioxide and a crystallizable polymer having at least one carbonyl, sulfur oxide or sulfone group; permeating the carbon dioxide into the polymer for a crystallizing time sufficient to induce crystallization forming an induced crystalized polymer; removing the carbon dioxide; and forming induced crystalized polymer particles having a D90 particle size of at most 300 micrometers and average particle size of 1 micrometer to 100 micrometers equivalent spherical diameter. The carbon dioxide is desirably supercritical carbon dioxide for at least a portion of the crystallizing time. The polymer powders upon heating during additive manufacturing may result in a polymer having less crystallinity or become amorphous.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing a polycaprolactone powder possessing properties making it well-suited to powder bed fusion 3D printing processes. The polycaprolactone powder disclosed herein has an enthalpy of fusion between 80 J/g and 140 J/g. The polycaprolactone powder described herein has a D90 between 20 microns and 150 microns. The polycaprolactone powder described herein contains a detectable amount of a biocompatible solvent, a bioresorbable solvent, and/or ethyl lactate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing a polycaprolactone powder possessing properties making it well-suited to powder bed fusion 3D printing processes. The polycaprolactone powder disclosed herein has an enthalpy of fusion between 80 J/g and 140 J/g. The polycaprolactone powder described herein has a D90 between 20 microns and 150 microns. The polycaprolactone powder described herein contains a detectable amount of a biocompatible solvent, a bioresorbable solvent, and/or ethyl lactate.

Abstract: A semicrystalline polyarylethersulfone (PAES) useful for additive manufacturing may be made by a method comprising: dissolving an amorphous polyarylethersulfone in a polar aprotic halogenated hydrocarbon solvent at a temperature adequate to effectively form a solution, and subsequently and spontaneously bring about reprecipitation of a semicrystalline polyarylethersulfone from the solution. The semicrystalline polyarylethersulfone may have a crystallinity of at least 30% by weight. The semicrystalline PAES, upon being heated, melting and uniting together in layers during additive manufacturing cools without substantially recrystallizing, allows for deformation-free articles to be formed having low residual stress.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for automatically creating videos from text. A video creation system automatically creates videos from text. The text to be converted is received. Images are located that corresponds to the subject matter in the text. Music for the video is selected. A spoken version of the text is created using text-to-speech conversion, or through an uploaded recording. A video is created using the images, music, and voice. The video is made available for playback, downloading, and/or submission to other systems. A blog/web site plug-in is disclosed that automatically creates a video from an article on the site. An automated video creation system is disclosed that includes a video creation module that receives text, images, music, video, and/or narration from a user. The video creation module creates the video from the user input along with programmatically selected inputs that include text, images, music, video, and/or narration.

Abstract: An employee compensation system handles employees located world-wide using a single instance of global employee data. Compliance with various differing laws and regulations in separate countries is handled by separating and calculating unique requirements such as gross-to-net pay on a country specific basis. All other compensation tasks are processed on a global basis resulting in significant improvement and advantages over current art. Stock options and other benefits are likewise provided for using the single instance data.

Abstract: A conductive object detector having an eddy current killed oscillator, wherein the oscillator output is stabilized by means of a proportional plus integral controller. The controller proportional gain is set low and the integral time long, hence a conductive object near the oscillator will "kill" it, whereas the controller will minimize the effect of temperature or aging on the oscillator output.