Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle system includes determining a vehicle reference speed using an off-board-based input speed and an onboard-based input speed. The off-board-based input speed is representative of a moving speed of the vehicle system and is determined from data received from an off-board device. The onboard-based input speed is representative of the moving speed of the vehicle system and is determined from data obtained from an onboard device. The method includes using the vehicle reference speed to at least one of measure wheel creep for one or more wheels of the vehicle system or control at least one of torques applied by or rotational speeds of one or more motors of the vehicle system.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle system includes obtaining an off-board-based input speed of a vehicle system traveling along a curved segment of a first route. The off-board-based input speed is obtained from data provided by an off-board device disposed off the vehicle system. The method also includes determining a heading of the vehicle system from the data provided by the off-board device and calculating a curvature of the curved segment of the first route using the off-board-based input speed and the heading of the vehicle system while the vehicle system travels along the curved segment of the first route.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to detecting fluid in medical tubing. In certain aspects, a method is performed by a data processing apparatus. The method includes controlling repetitive activation of the ultrasonic transmitter. The method also includes receiving a signal from the ultrasonic receiver during an activation of the ultrasonic transmitter. The method also includes determining that fluid is absent or present in a portion of the medical fluid tube based on a comparison between the signal and a threshold value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that converts a telephone number based on the location of a telephone is described. The device receives the telephone number, where telephone number is to be used to place a telephone call on the device. The device further determines if the telephone number is suitable to place the telephone call based on a content of the telephone number and a location of the device. If the telephone number is not suitable to place the telephone call, the device converts the telephone number to a telephone number suitable to be used to place the telephone call.

Abstract: An apparatus may control the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, and may comprise a controllably conductive device. The apparatus may also comprise a controller that may be operatively coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device. The apparatus may also include a first wireless communication circuit operable to communicate via a first protocol and to join a first wireless communication network operable to communicate via the first protocol. The first wireless communication circuit may be in communication with the controller. The controller may be operative to determine a first condition for communicating via the first protocol. The controller may also be operable to control the first wireless communication circuit to join the first wireless communication network upon the first condition being satisfied.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle having a plurality of axles and a lift mechanism configured to dynamically transfer weight from one axle to another. In one example, the method comprises, responding to an operating condition by adjusting the lift mechanism to provide a determined amount of lift, and in response to vehicle braking, a vehicle stall risk, poor infrastructure conditions, and/or a high vehicle penalty, reducing the determined amount of lift.

Abstract: Methods for treating a subject for a parasympathetic bias mediated condition are provided. Aspects of the methods include modulating at least a portion of the subject's autonomic nervous system to increase the sympathetic/parasympathetic activity ratio in a manner effective to treat the subject for the parasympathetic bias mediated condition. In some instances, the subject is known to have parasympathetic bias. Also provided are devices that find use in practicing various embodiments of the methods.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for identifying an area of interest comprising a desired object in imagery (e.g., so an image comprising the desired object may be altered in some manner). A determination can be made as to whether a capture event occurs within a proximity mask, where an object is not likely to be out of range if an image of the object is captured from within the proximity mask. For an image captured within the proximity mask, a determination can be made as to whether capture event imagery metadata for the image overlaps a footprint mask for the desired object. If so, the image may be regarded as comprising a discernible view of at least some of the desired object and is thus identified as an area of interest (e.g., that may be modified to accommodate privacy concerns, for example).

Abstract: Vehicle suspension systems including a truck and a spring system for an axle are provided. In one example, a truck includes an unpowered axle spring system that is configured to generate an overall unpowered axle separation force between a truck frame and an unpowered axle carrier. The overall unpowered axle separation force has a rate of decrease that increases past a first separation distance between the truck frame and the unpowered axle carrier. A powered axle spring system is configured to generate a powered axle separation force between the truck frame and a powered axle carrier. The powered axle separation force has a rate of decrease that decreases past a second separation distance between the truck frame and the powered axle carrier.

Abstract: In one aspect, combustion apparatus are described herein which, in some embodiments, can provide advantageous NOx loads while mitigating the formation of SCR catalyst deactivation species in the flue gas stream. In some embodiments, a combustion apparatus described herein comprises a furnace providing a flue gas stream, the furnace comprising a primary combustion zone having an air to fuel stoichiometric ratio ranging from 0.89 to 1.05 and air staging apparatus associated with the furnace.

Abstract: A method of joining a wing to an aircraft fuselage by forming a series of pinned lug joints between a fuselage side and a wing side of a wing box structure. The joint forming process includes providing a single row of lugs on one side of the joint to be formed, and providing a respective double row of lugs on the other side of the joint to be formed. A gap between opposing lugs of the double row varies along the row. The wing side and the fuselage side of the wing box structure are brought together such that the lugs of the single row are located within the respective gaps between opposing lugs of the double row, and the lugs are pinned to form the series of pinned lug joints. Also, a joint formed by the method.

Abstract: An undercutting system for preparing a region between an ilium and a sacrum for sacroiliac fusion. The undercutting system includes a probe assembly and a cutting assembly. The probe assembly is operably mounted to the insertion apparatus. The probe assembly is moveable with respect to the insertion apparatus between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. In the extended configuration at least a portion of the probe assembly extends laterally from the insertion apparatus. The cutting assembly is operably mounted with respect to the probe assembly and the insertion apparatus. The cutting assembly is movable with respect to the insertion apparatus between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. In the extended configuration at least a portion of the cutting assembly extends laterally from the insertion apparatus.

Abstract: An undercutting system for preparing a region between ilium and sacrum for sacroiliac fusion. The undercutting system includes an insertion apparatus and a cutting assembly. The cutting assembly is operably attached to the insertion apparatus. The cutting assembly is movable with respect to the insertion apparatus between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration.

Abstract: A bone screw including a main body portion having a proximal end and a distal end. An external threaded surface and an internal threaded surface are formed on the main body portion. The external threaded surface intersects the internal threaded surface proximate a lower surface of the external threaded surface and a lower surface of the internal threaded surface. A plurality of bone growth apertures is defined on the surface of the main body portion where the external threaded surface and the internal threaded surface are not located. The bone growth apertures comprise between about 10 percent and about 60 percent of the surface of the main body portion.

Abstract: The present invention, in some embodiments, provides catalyst modules and/or catalytic reactors having increased effective catalyst cross-sectional areas. In some embodiments, a catalyst module comprises a fluid stream inlet side comprising a plurality of first catalyst bodies and a plurality of first ducts and a fluid stream outlet side comprising a plurality of second catalyst bodies and a plurality of second ducts, wherein the first ducts are a fluid stream inlet to the second catalyst bodies and the second ducts are a fluid stream outlet for the first catalyst bodies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that converts a telephone number based on the location of a telephone is described. The device receives the telephone number, where telephone number is to be used to place a telephone call on the device. The device further determines if the telephone number is suitable to place the telephone call based on a content of the telephone number and a location of the device. If the telephone number is not suitable to place the telephone call, the device converts the telephone number to a telephone number suitable to be used to place the telephone call.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to medical tubing installation detection. In certain aspects, a method is performed by a data processing apparatus. The method includes detecting that a tube is incorrectly installed on a drug delivery device by providing an instruction for a motor of the drug delivery device to pump a drug and receiving, after a period of time has passed since providing the instruction for the motor of the drug delivery device to pump the drug, a signal from a fluid detector connected to the tube, the signal indicating an absence of fluid in the tube.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to detecting fluid in medical tubing. In certain aspects, a method is performed by a data processing apparatus. The method includes controlling repetitive activation of the ultrasonic transmitter. The method also includes receiving a signal from the ultrasonic receiver during an activation of the ultrasonic transmitter. The method also includes determining that fluid is absent or present in a portion of the medical fluid tube based on a comparison between the signal and a threshold value.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle having a plurality of axles and a lift mechanism configured to dynamically transfer weight from one axle to another. In one example, the method comprises, responding to an operating condition by adjusting the lift mechanism to provide a determined amount of lift, and in response to vehicle braking, a vehicle stall risk, poor infrastructure conditions, and/or a high vehicle penalty, reducing the determined amount of lift.