Abstract: Photonic coupling mechanisms are described. In one example, an evanescent coupler includes a substrate, first and second optical waveguides formed on the substrate, and a photonic wirebond having first and second end regions coupled to the first and second optical waveguides, respectively and a loopback portion extending between the first and second end regions, the photonic wirebond extending away from the first optical waveguide by an extension length.

Abstract: Photonic coupling mechanisms are described. In one example, a reference cavity system includes a housing, a photonic integrated circuit disposed within the housing, the photonic integrated circuit including an optical waveguide network, the optical waveguide network including at least a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide, and a crystalline microresonator disposed within the housing. Examples of the reference cavity system further include a photonic wirebond having first and second end regions coupled to the first and second optical waveguides, respectively, and a loopback portion extending between the first and second end regions, the photonic wirebond extending away from the photonic integrated circuit toward the crystalline microresonator and configured to couple light between the optical waveguide network and the crystalline microresonator via evanescent coupling.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp assembly. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the blade. The clamp assembly includes a clamp arm pivotable toward and away from the blade about a pivot axis, to clamp tissue between the clamp arm and the blade. A rotation feature may provide rotation of the blade relative to the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Alternatively, the rotation feature may provide rotation of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the longitudinal axis. The rotation feature may be driven based on pivotal positioning of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the pivot axis. The rotation feature may selectively lock and unlock the angular position of either the blade or the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis at any of a number of predetermined angular positions.

Abstract: A pipeline inspection device, including a rotatable drum housing a cable, where the cable is extendable into a pipe, a camera positioned on an end of the cable, and a hub housing electrical components of the pipeline inspection device and including a battery housing. A stand includes a mounting assembly having a first portion rotatably supporting the drum and a second portion supporting the hub within an interior of the drum, the second portion including a core, where the hub is removably coupled to the mounting assembly via the core. The hub is removably coupled to the mounting assembly by a first engagement member on the hub and a second engagement member on the core.

Abstract: Described herein are new compositions comprising a combination of metal(loid)-based antimicrobials (MBAs) that are effective against bacterial biofilms. In embodiments the composition comprises a combination of metal(loid) selected from: a) at least two metals; and b) at least one metal and at least one metalloid. Examples of metal(s) and metalloid(s) useful in the combination include, silver nitrate, potassium tellurite, hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (III), nickel sulfate, copper (II) sulfate, aluminium sulfate, gallium nitrate, sodium selenite, and zinc sulfate. Some combinations are broad-spectrum while others are especially effective against bacterial biofilms resulting from the growth of Gram-negative bacteria or the growth of Gram-positive bacteria. The compositions may be used in methods for disruption and/or of removal of biofilm present on a surface, or for coating purposes thereby providing anti-biofilm activity to a surface.

Abstract: A heavies removal heat exchanger cools at least a portion of a feed gas stream. A scrubbing section receives the cooled main feed gas stream. A stripping section receives a fluid stream from the scrubbing section. A stripping gas feed expansion device receives a portion of the feed gas stream and is in fluid communication with the stripping section. A side draw vapor line receives a vapor stream from the vapor outlet of the stripping section and is in fluid communication with a reflux stream cooling passage of the heavies removal heat exchanger. A reflux separation device receives fluid from the heavies removal heat exchanger and has a liquid outlet and a vapor outlet. The liquid outlet is in fluid communication with the scrubbing section. A return vapor expansion device receives a vapor stream from the scrubbing section and directs a cooled vapor stream to a return vapor stream warming passage of the heavies removal heat exchanger.

Abstract: A switch equipped with a self-managing reduction engine is provided. During operation, the reduction engine can use a timeout mechanism to manage itself in different latency-induced or error scenarios. As a result, the network can facilitate an efficient and scalable environment for high performance computing.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp assembly. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the blade. The clamp assembly includes a clamp arm pivotable toward and away from the blade about a pivot axis, to clamp tissue between the clamp arm and the blade. A rotation feature may provide rotation of the blade relative to the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Alternatively, the rotation feature may provide rotation of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the longitudinal axis. The rotation feature may be driven based on pivotal positioning of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the pivot axis. The rotation feature may selectively lock and unlock the angular position of either the blade or the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis at any of a number of predetermined angular positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning building construction layout lines to provide orthogonal corners and a level horizontal plane above a supporting ground surface. The apparatus includes a cross-member coupled with a first T-post using a first bracket and a second T-post using a second bracket, the cross-member intermediately coupled between the first T-post and the second T-post. The apparatus further includes an adjustable string support movable along the cross-member. The apparatus also includes a V-shaped bracket having a support platform. The apparatus further has a laser leveling combination which includes a laser projector and a laser receiver, the laser projector supported by the platform and the laser receiver supported by the cross-member.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides improved systems and methods for exothermic welding. An ignition strip can include a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB can include a first contact, a second contact, and a dielectric layer with an aperture. A first conductive layer can define a first trace between the first contact and the aperture along a first side of the dielectric layer. A second conductive layer can define a second trace between the second contact and the aperture along a second side of the dielectric layer. The aperture can define an insulating gap between the first trace and the second trace to cause a spark for ignition of welding material upon application of a breakdown voltage across the first and second contacts.

Abstract: A pipeline inspection device, including a rotatable drum housing a cable, where the cable is extendable into a pipe, a camera positioned on an end of the cable, and a hub housing electrical components of the pipeline inspection device and including a battery housing. A stand includes a mounting assembly having a first portion rotatably supporting the drum and a second portion supporting the hub within an interior of the drum, the second portion including a core, where the hub is removably coupled to the mounting assembly via the core. The hub is removably coupled to the mounting assembly by a first engagement member on the hub and a second engagement member on the core.

Abstract: A calibrator bottle and method of calibration. The calibrator bottle includes a plastic material that is doped or compounded with a fluorescent material system that fluoresces in a target range and may be used to calibrate a blood culture instrument that measures sample fluorescence to determine bottle positivity or negativity. Also described herein is a system and method to control the temperature of samples in a blood culture apparatus using a resistance temperature device (RTD) device that measures the temperature of the sample. The sample measurements are correlated with the ambient temperature to determine an ambient temperature that will provide a target bottle content temperature.

Abstract: A pipeline inspection system may include a cable that may be configured to be directed into a conduit. The pipeline inspection system may further include a camera disposed on a distal end of the cable and operable to capture an image. The pipeline inspection system may further include a monitor including a display configured to display an image. The pipeline inspection system may further include an electronic processor that may be configured to receive a user input indicating a characteristic of the conduit. The electronic processor may be further configured to determine an image setting of the display based on the characteristic of the conduit. The electronic processor may be further configured to control the monitor to display the image on the display according to the image setting.

Abstract: An example composite building material includes one or more layers of polymeric and/or glass fibers, binding agent, and optional fillers. At least one surface layer of resin-impregnated paper or a fiberglass film can be disposed above and/or below the one or more layers. The one or more layers can include a core layer (e.g., with longer polymeric fibers) and a top layer (e.g., with shorter polymeric fibers). An example method of manufacturing the composite building material includes forming the one or more layers, applying the at least one surface layer above and/or below the one or more layers, and heating and pressing the combined layers.

Abstract: An apparatus (206), including: a support (206) having: a strut (204) with a sleeve (214) disposed at a lower end (212); and a base (200) configured to be secured to the strut via a pivot joint (210) therebetween. The base has a fin (202) configured to fit within and cooperate with the sleeve to enable the strut to pivot about an axis of rotation (220) of the pivot joint while maintaining a cant angle (222) that is less than 90° relative to the axis of rotation. The fin includes a first fin section (230) that extends circumferentially about the axis of rotation and a second fin section (232) that extends circumferentially about the axis of rotation. The second fin section is disposed axially offset from the first fin section and radially outward from the first fin section relative to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, methods, systems and/or kits for detection of bacteria expressing enzymes that confer resistance to antimicrobial agents. Certain embodiments of the compositions, methods, systems and/or kits of the present disclosure are related to detection of carbapenemase-producing gram negative bacteria. Certain embodiments of the compositions, methods, systems and/or kits of the present disclosure are related to detection of Ambler Class A, B and/or D carbapenemase-producing enteric and non-fermenting gram negative rod bacteria.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for delivering psychophysiological self-regulation training in a virtual, augmented, and/or mixed reality environment that simulates a social situation, such as one involving conflict. A user (e.g., a trainee) may interface with a training computing system directly or via an avatar that may interact with other characters in the simulation who may be programmed at one or more levels of threat to or cooperation with the trainee. The system may provide feedback to the trainee regarding their cognitive and emotional states. The feedback may be designed to encourage them to develop the ability to respond in future real environments with appropriately effective states, where the feedback may take the form of the behavior of the characters, with the trainee's interaction based on their effective states being rewarded by desirable character behavior and the trainee's ineffective states being penalized by undesirable character behavior.

Abstract: An equipment panel includes one or more trays disposed within a chassis. Each tray has a two-layer termination region. Certain trays have a two-layer splice region. The splice region can be used to optically couple preterminated fibers within the tray to a trunk cable. Alternatively or in addition, the splice region can be used to fix broken fiber connections. A cable anchor and fanout arrangement mounts to the chassis as a unit.

Abstract: An apparatus, including: a main body (302) including at least one passage (320A, 320B) configured to pass a first cord section and an adjacent second cord section therethrough; and at least one cord lock (322A, 322B). When neither the first cord section nor the second cord section is disposed in the at least one cord lock, the main body is free to move along the first cord section and the second cord section which are disposed in the at least one passage. When the first cord section and the second cord section are disposed in the at least one cord lock the main body is not free to move along the first cord section and the second cord section. The first cord section and the second cord section can be selective moved into an out of the at least one cord lock.

Abstract: A shaft assembly having: a first shaft with an inner facing surface having: an inner facing spline extending between spline ends; an inner facing projection, adjacent to one of the spline ends, extending to an inner facing projection surface; and an inner facing projection seat, adjacent to another of the spline ends; and a second shaft having an outer facing surface having: an outer facing spline extending between spline ends; an outer facing projection, adjacent to one of the spline ends of the outer facing spline, extending to an outer projection surface; and an outer facing projection seat, adjacent to another of the ends of the outer facing spline; the first shaft at least partially surrounds the second shaft; the inner facing projection surface is disposed against the outer facing projection seat; and the outer facing projection surface disposed against the inner facing projection seat.