Abstract: Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) apparatus and methods for manufacturing CMP apparatus are provided herein. CMP apparatus may include polishing pads, polishing head retaining rings, and polishing head membranes, among others, and the CMP apparatus may be manufactured via additive manufacturing processes, such as three dimensional (3D) printing processes. The CMP apparatus may include wireless communication apparatus components integrated therein. Methods of manufacturing CMP apparatus include 3D printing wireless communication apparatus into a polishing pad and printing a polishing pad with a recess configured to receive a preformed wireless communication apparatus.

Abstract: A composition comprising an aqueous suspension comprising an incretin mimetic and an organic acid is described. The organic acid is one that (i) has a water solubility at room temperature of between about 0.01 and 10 g/L, (ii) has a molar mass of less than about 500 grams per mole, and/or (iii) maintains a pH of the suspension in its environment of use of between 3.0-6.0 for a period of at least about 30 days, and stabilizes the incretin mimetic to provide a composition that is suitable for delivering the compound in a biologically active or potent form for a sustained period of time. Devices comprising the compositions and methods of treatment are also described.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed including a capacitor, located in a universal serial bus schematic. The methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture include a controller, include a controller including a state machine and a control signal generator, wherein the controller is configured to be coupled to a connector and to a power supply, the state machine is configured to determine a state of the connector, and the control signal generator is configured to, in response to an indication of a device not connected to the connector, generate a signal to indicate to the power supply to charge a capacitor to a threshold voltage, and wherein the control signal generator is further configured to generate the signal until a second state.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed including a capacitor, located in a universal serial bus schematic. The methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture include a controller, include a controller including a state machine and a control signal generator, wherein the controller is configured to be coupled to a connector and to a power supply, the state machine is configured to determine a state of the connector, and the control signal generator is configured to, in response to an indication of a device not connected to the connector, generate a signal to indicate to the power supply to charge a capacitor to a threshold voltage, and wherein the control signal generator is further configured to generate the signal until a second state.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a formulation of an opioid antagonist and an organic acid are described. The opioid antagonist is a base and has a water solubility at room temperature of less than about 1.0 g/L. The organic acid is combined with the opioid antagonist in a mole ratio less than or equal to 1:1 (acid:drug), has a water solubility at room temperature of between 0.1 and 10 g/L, and/or has a molar mass of less than 400 grams per mole. The organic acid enhances the solubility of the opioid antagonist, and thus facilitates the release of the opioid antagonist into a buffered environment of use for prolonged periods of, for example, six months to one year. Diffusion-based drug delivery devices comprising the compositions and methods of treatment are also described.

Abstract: A composition comprising a small molecule therapeutic agent and a polyprotic acid compound or a mixture of two monoprotic acid compounds is described. The polyprotic acid is present in an amount that (i) is equal to or less than the molar amount of the therapeutic agent and (ii) provides a total number of acid hydrogens that exceeds the stoichiometric equivalent for the molar amount of therapeutic agent. The two or more monoprotic acids are present such that each monoprotic acid is in an amount that is equal to or less than the molar amount of the therapeutic agent and together the two or more monoprotic acids provide a total number of acid hydrogens that exceeds the stoichiometric equivalent for the molar amount of therapeutic agent. The polyprotic acid or mixture of monoprotic acids provide a composition that delivers the therapeutic agent for a sustained period of time.

Abstract: A composition comprising a small molecule therapeutic agent and an organic acid compound is described. The small molecule therapeutic agent (i) has a water solubility at room temperature of less than about 1.0 g/L and (ii) is a base. The organic acid is one that (i) has a water solubility at room temperature of between 0.1 and 10 or of less than about 20 g/L, (ii) has a molar mass of less than 500 grams per mole, and/or (iii) maintains a pH of the composition when hydrated in its environment of use of between 3.0-6.5 for a period of at least about 30 days. The organic acid, particularly when it is present in the composition in stoichiometric excess, improves solubility of the small molecule therapeutic agent to provide a composition that delivers the therapeutic agent for a sustained period of time.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed including a capacitor, located in a universal serial bus schematic. The methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture include a controller, include a controller including a state machine and a control signal generator, wherein the controller is configured to be coupled to a connector and to a power supply, the state machine is configured to determine a state of the connector, and the control signal generator is configured to, in response to an indication of a device not connected to the connector, generate a signal to indicate to the power supply to charge a capacitor to a threshold voltage, and wherein the control signal generator is further configured to generate the signal until a second state.

Abstract: A composition comprising an aqueous suspension comprising an incretin mimetic and an organic acid is described. The organic acid is one that (i) has a water solubility at room temperature of between about 0.01 and 10 g/L, (ii) has a molar mass of less than about 500 grams per mole, and/or (iii) maintains a pH of the suspension in its environment of use of between 3.0-6.0 for a period of at least about 30 days, and stabilizes the incretin mimetic to provide a composition that is suitable for delivering the compound in a biologically active or potent form for a sustained period of time. Devices comprising the compositions and methods of treatment are also described.

Abstract: A composition comprising an aqueous suspension comprising a small molecule therapeutic agent and an organic acid is described. The small molecule therapeutic agent is a base and has a water solubility at room temperature of less than about 1.0 g/L. The organic acid has a water solubility at room temperature of between 0.1 and 10, has a molar mass of less than 500 grams per mole, and/or maintains a pH of the suspension in its environment of use of between 3.0-6.5. The organic acid enhances the solubility of the small molecule therapeutic agent and when present in stoichiometric excess, the organic acid drives release of the small molecule therapeutic agent into a buffered environment of use for prolonged periods of, for example, six months to one year. Devices comprising the compositions and methods of treatment are also described.

Abstract: A water-jacket core and slab core for a V-block of an internal combustion engine are assembled into a jacket and slab sub-assembly and are placed on an apparatus for the automatic insertion of staples in the jacket and slab sub-assembly to thereby retain the water-jacket core and slab core together in the jacket and slab sub-assembly. The apparatus automatically positions four automatically operable staple guns so that each of the staples is inserted with one tine of each staple in the water-jacket core and the other tine of each staple in the slab core with the crown of each inserted staple lying across the interface between the assembled water-jacket core and slab core and retaining the water-jacket core and slab core together. As few as two staples per sub-assembly can be used to retain the water-jacket and slab core in their sub-assembly.

Abstract: Core sand elements are rapidly and reliably retained in an assembly by driving one or more smooth surface fasteners, such as staples, nails or brads, into the core elements. Such an assembly method comprises positioning at least two core elements in a core assembly, positioning a smooth surface fastener for entry into the at least two core elements, and driving the smooth surface fastener into the two core elements to fasten them in the core assembly. In such a preferred method, the smooth surface fastener comprises a staple with two smooth surface tines connected by a crown and the staple is positioned for entry of one tine into each of two core elements with the crown of the staple spanning the interface between the two core elements.

Abstract: Core sand elements are rapidly and reliably retained by driving one or more smooth surface fasteners, such as staples, nails or brads, into the core elements. In production, after the core sand elements are assembled, the core assemblies are placed on a moving belt conveyor, movement of core assemblies on the moving belt conveyor is intercepted and momentarily stopped at a fastening station and the momentarily stopped core assemblies are lifted from the moving belt conveyor to a fastening position at which a plurality of smooth surface fastener guns are moved into position against the core assembly and located to simultaneously drive a plurality of smooth surface fasteners into the core elements of the core assembly.