Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes a central tube having a first inner and a first outer surface. The first inner surface defines a bore along a longitudinal axis of the cable. Optical fibers are disposed within the bore of the central tube. A cable jacket is disposed around the central tube. The cable jacket has a second inner and a second outer surface defining a first thickness. A skin layer is disposed around the cable jacket. The skin layer has a third inner and a third outer surface defining a second thickness that is 100 ?m or less. The cable jacket material is different from the skin layer material, and the third outer surface defines the outermost surface of the optical fiber cable. Access sections made of the second material extend from the skin layer into the first thickness of the cable jacket.

Abstract: A periprosthetic fracture repair solution that provides a variety of fracture fixation options should a fracture occur after total hip, knee, or especially a total shoulder arthroplasty, and provides associated methods and apparatus for application of provided fixation. The ability to pre-engineer fracture fixation contingent solutions into humeral components provides for a distinct clinical advantage in the planning and execution for periprosthetic fracture fixation. Said methods and apparatus include targeting devices which allow for intimate association of fixed angle locking screws in pre-drilled holes in an existing prosthetic or other components including additional fixation components. Such apparatus and methods further include the use of alignment devices and other components to allow for ease of repair of periprosthetic fractures utilizing the pre-engineered solutions.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a number of sequences involved in the transport of alkaloids from the root to the leaf in tobacco, methods of using such sequences, tobacco plants carrying modifications to such sequences, and tobacco products made from such plants.

Abstract: Embodiments of a bundled optical fiber cable are provided. Included therein is a central cable unit spanning a first length from a first end to a second end. The central cable unit has a first plurality of optical fibers disposed within a cable jacket. The bundled optical fiber cable also includes at least one optical fiber drop cable wound around the cable jacket of the central cable unit. Each optical fiber drop cable spans a second length from a first end to a second end. Further, each optical fiber drop cable includes one or more optical fibers disposed within a buffer tube. The first end of each optical fiber drop cable is substantially coterminal with the first end of the central cable unit, and the first length spanned by the central cable unit is longer than the second length spanned by each of the optical fiber drop cables.

Abstract: Provided are solar collection energy storage and energy conversion or chemical conversion systems. Also provided are tubing components, such as for solar receivers, including Mo and having a MoSiB coating on an external surface. The systems can include a solar receiver containing a heat transfer material or chemically reacting material and can operate at temperatures of 700° C. or higher. The solar receiver can include tubing components selected from a Mo tubing component, a MAX phase material tubing component, a MoSiB composite tubing component, or a combination thereof. The Mo component, when present, can include a coating on surfaces of the Mo component that operate above 700° C.

Abstract: A cable includes a first copper conductor and a second copper conductor, and an insulation layer. The insulation layer is formed from a first polymer material, and is a single layer surrounding the first copper conductor and the second copper conductor. A discontinuity formed from a second polymer material is located within the insulation layer, between the first copper conductor and the second copper conductor. The discontinuity provides a weakness within the insulation layer. A jacket surrounds the insulation layer and is made of a third polymer material. A fiber optic ribbon may be located in the cable.

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco system include one or more silicone smokeless tobacco products configured to generally retain their shape during processing, shipping, and consumer handling. Each silicone smokeless tobacco product can comprise a moist smokeless tobacco in combination with a silicone binder such that the final product has tobacco exposed along an exterior surface and is configured to have material properties providing improved handling, an improved mouth feel, and a satisfying flavor profile.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a bundled drop assembly. The bundled drop assembly includes a central member. The bundled drop assembly also includes an inner layer of subunits laid in a winding direction around the central member. The inner layer of subunits includes at least one subunit containing one or more optical fibers. Further, the bundled drop assembly includes at least one further layer of subunits laid around the inner layer of subunits in a same winding direction as the inner layer of subunits. The at least one further layer of subunits includes at least one subunit containing one or more optical fibers. The at least one further layer of subunits includes an outer layer of subunits that is the outermost layer of the bundled drop assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reducing communications between servers and a mobile device and providing enhanced security and privacy to wireless beacon services. This can involve a broadcast device transmitting a beacon transmission using a short range wireless radio, such a Bluetooth or WiFi, and including a MAC address, a first unique identifier, and a beacon service identifier. The mobile device then selects one or more unique identifiers from received beacon transmissions, by filtering (that is, selecting) those beacon transmissions which include the beacon service identifier. The wireless device then takes further action, if the first unique identifier is present among the selected one or more unique identifiers, using stored information from the server. The stored information may be delivered to the wireless device in response to the wireless device sending the first unique identifier to a server, or the stored information may have been previously downloaded.

Abstract: Systems and methods for GNSS spoofing detection using C/No based monitoring are provided. In certain embodiments, a system including at least one GNSS receiver that provides C/No for GNSS signals received from GNSS satellites. The system also includes a processor coupled to the at least one GNSS receiver. The processor executes instructions that cause the processor to calculate new C/No comparison values based on the C/No measurements and previous C/No comparison values. Further, the instructions cause the processor to compare the C/No measurements against the previous C/No comparison values. Moreover, the instructions cause the processor to determine whether one or more of the GNSS signals are spoofed based on the comparison of the C/No measurements against the previous C/No comparison values. Additionally, the instructions cause the processor to set the new C/No comparison values as the previous C/No comparison values.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a method of preparing a bundled cable. In the method, a plurality of subunits is wound around a central member in one or more layers of subunits to form the bundled cable. For a section of the central member, each layer of subunits has a pitch over which a subunit of the layer of subunits makes one revolution around the section of the central member and a length of the subunit required to make the one revolution. The subunits are configured to have a nominal helical length equal to the ratio of a nominal length to a nominal pitch. Further, in the method, a measurement of the bundled cable is monitored, and a winding rate of the plurality of subunits is adjusted based on the measurement in order to account for deviations from the nominal helical length.

Abstract: A method by one or more computing devices to detect anomalous accesses to a system. The method includes generating a technical maturity profile of a system user based on analyzing historical commands submitted by the system user to the system and determining whether an access by the system user to the system is anomalous based on determining technical maturity attributes of a command submitted by the system user to perform the access and comparing the technical maturity attributes of the command to the technical maturity profile of the system user.

Abstract: Methods for confirming charged-particle generation in an instrument are provided. A method to confirm charged-particle generation in an instrument includes providing electrical connections to a charged-particle optics system of the instrument while the charged-particle optics system is in a chamber. The method includes coupling an electrical component having an impedance to charged-particle current generated in the chamber. Moreover, the method includes measuring an electrical response by the electrical component to the charged-particle current. Related instruments are also provided.

Abstract: Described is a composition that includes: (i) a drug against tuberculosis, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and (ii) a compound of Formula II, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The composition is useful in the treatment of tuberculosis.

Abstract: An oral tobacco product includes a body that is wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a mouth-stable polymer matrix and tobacco fibers embedded in the mouth-stable polymer matrix. The oral tobacco product can be formed by extruding a mixture of mouth-stable polymer and tobacco fibers.

Abstract: Devices and methods for blast/fire containment are disclosed herein. Devices include containers designed to contain and/or mitigate high energy events such as blasts from explosions or thermal runaways. The containers include a body that is built to define an interior chamber shaped to receive an explosive device or a device susceptible to thermal runaway. The container comprises a plurality of substructures that are arranged in a layered sequence to provide the desired effect. The substructures act in concert to decouple the shock load to the main containment structure using shock decoupling with energy dissipation and attenuation technology, having a highly deformable polymer structure, and managed venting. In thermally dominated events, such as a runaway LI battery fire, a crushable medium present in one or more layers of the container presents a significant thermal barrier and contains the fire.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for stimulating neural activity in a pudendal nerve of a subject, the apparatus comprising of: at least one primary electrode configured to apply a first electrical signal to said nerve; and a controller coupled to said primary electrode (s) and controlling the first electrical signal to be applied thereby, wherein said controller is configured to cause said at least one primary electrode to apply said first electrical signal that stimulates neural activity in the pudendal nerve to improve bladder function, and wherein the first electrical signal is applied in a burst pattern.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reducing communications between servers and a mobile device and providing enhanced security and privacy to wireless beacon services. This can involve a broadcast device transmitting a beacon transmission using a short range wireless radio, such a Bluetooth or WiFi, and including a MAC address, a first unique identifier, and a beacon service identifier. The mobile device then selects one or more unique identifiers from received beacon transmissions, by filtering (that is, selecting) those beacon transmissions which include the beacon service identifier. The wireless device then takes further action, if the first unique identifier is present among the selected one or more unique identifiers, using stored information from the server. The stored information may be delivered to the wireless device in response to the wireless device sending the first unique identifier to a server, or the stored information may have been previously downloaded.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting GNSS spoofing using inertial mixing data are disclosed. One or more navigation parameters are determined by at least one GNSS receiver and a plurality of IRS from at least two periods of time. The navigation parameters from the GNSS receiver(s) and the IRS are compared at each time period, and the difference(s) between the compared navigation parameters are further compared to generate at least one differential value. A system can detect GNSS spoofing by comparing the at least one differential value to a suitable threshold. In one aspect each IRS navigation parameter is compared with a corresponding GNSS navigation parameter, wherein the plurality of differential values is mixed before threshold comparison. In another aspect, each IRS navigation parameter is mixed before comparison with a GNSS navigation parameter, and the resulting differential value is then compared against a threshold.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a smokeless tobacco system include one or more silicone smokeless tobacco products configured to generally retain their shape during processing, shipping, and consumer handling. In particular embodiments, each silicone smokeless tobacco product can comprise a moist smokeless tobacco in combination with a silicone binder such that the final product has tobacco exposed along an exterior surface and is configured to have material properties providing improved handling, an improved mouth feel, and a satisfying flavor profile.