Abstract: The disclosure provides a plurality of particles. Each particle may include a material comprising 0.95 to 1.30 mole fraction Li, at least 0.60 and less than 1.00 mole fraction Co, up to 10,000 ppm Al, 1.90 to 2.10 mole fraction O, and up to 0.30 mole fraction M, where M is at least one element selected from B, Na, Mg, P, Ti, Ca, V, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Sc, Y, Ga, Zr, Ru, Mo, La, Si, Nb, Ge, In, Sn, Sb, Te, and Ce. Each particle may also include a surface composition comprising a mixture of LiF and a metal fluoride. An amount of fluorine (F) is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 5000 ppm. The metal fluoride comprises a material selected from the group consisting of AlF3, CaF2, MgF2, and LaF2. The surface composition may also include a metal oxide comprising a material selected from the group consisting of TiO2, MgO, La2O3, CaO, and Al2O3. An amount of the metal oxide is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 20000 ppm.

Abstract: Among other things, there are disclosed embodiments of belts or bands that can be used in treatments for tricuspid valve regurgitation. In some embodiments, such belts may be heat-set in a particular configuration to effectively decrease tricuspid annulus when deployed around the atrioventricular groove. Embodiments include one or more tensioning sutures for applying cinching or tightening to belts when deployed, and structure for effectively distributing force during such tightening. Embodiments of tensioning members, protective members, and devices and methods for open-surgical placement (e.g. around a heart for annuloplasty) are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods mediate permissions for applications on user devices using predictive models. Data communications are monitored on a user device for permission requests and responses. A predictive model is trained with these permission requests and responses until a threshold is met. Then, a default permission response is provided on behalf of the user device in response to a permission request.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure may include a method and/or a system for identifying an ion chain having a plurality of trapped ions, selecting at least two non-consecutive trapped ions in the ion chain for implementing a qubit, applying at least a first Raman beam to shuttle at least one neighbor ion of the at least two non-consecutive trapped ions from a ground state to a metastable state, and applying at least a second Raman beam to one or more of the at least two non-consecutive trapped ions, after shuttling the at least one neighbor ion to the metastable state, to transition from a first manifold to a second manifold.

Abstract: An apparatus is for supporting a marine drive on a marine vessel. The apparatus has a transom bracket comprising a swivel cylinder and a steering bracket configured to couple the marine drive to the transom bracket, the steering bracket comprising a steering arm and a swivel tube seated in the swivel cylinder, wherein steering of the steering arm relative to the transom bracket rotates the swivel tube in the swivel cylinder and thereby steers the marine drive. A copilot device is configured to frictionally restrain rotation of the swivel tube in the swivel cylinder by applying diametrically opposing pushing and pulling forces on the swivel tube.

Abstract: A perforating gun used in oil and gas completions operations, the perforating gun including a ballistic interrupter actuable from a disarmed state or configuration, in which ballistic communication between a detonator and a detonation cord is impeded, to an armed state or configuration, in which ballistic communication between the detonator and the detonating cord is permitted. A gun string includes the perforating gun and one or more additional perforating guns substantially identical to the perforating gun.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems are presented. The method computer program products, and systems can include, for instance: determining that a user has selected an article for acquisition; in response to the determining that the user has selected the article for acquisition, identifying a functional space of the user associated to the article; in response to the identifying the functional space of the user associated to the article, assessing fitting of the article in the functional space of the user; and interacting with the user in dependence on the assessing fitting of the article in the functional space of the user, wherein the interacting with the user includes adaptively generating user interface prompting data in dependence on the assessing fitting of the article in the functional space of the user, and presenting the adaptively generated user interface prompting data to the user.

Abstract: Methods for designing and fabricating palatal expanders by modeling expansion of the palatal region based on material properties for one or more regions of a maxillary jaw determined from a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan of the maxillary jaw and/or internal topological information for the maxillary jaw determined from the CBCT scan. Also described herein are series of palatal expanders having a sequence and configured to be sequentially worn by a patient to expand the patient's palate in which the left maxillary portion and the right maxillary portion are progressively separated relative to each other, and the thickness of the palatal region changes.

Abstract: An energy storage system and energy storage module for providing electrical energy to a generator start energy system or other electrically driven system. One or more ultracapacitors are included within the energy storage module for storing and providing electrical charge via a two-post electrical connection of the energy storage module. A mountable housing of the energy storage module provides a variety of mounting orientations within a compartment of the generator start energy system or other electrically driven system.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for direct air capture of carbon dioxide or other gases through a calcium sorbent in a manner that allows for wide scale, relatively low cost implementation. In particular, a calcium sorbent may be provided as a substantially thin coating on one or more substrates and utilized for direct air capture of carbon dioxide through chemisorption. The carbonated sorbent may be disposed of for sequestration of the carbon dioxide or regenerated with capture of carbon dioxide released from the carbonated sorbent during the regeneration process.

Abstract: A biasing circuit for biasing an output transistor in a radio frequency (RF) amplifier includes a first field-effect transistor (FET) monolithically integrated with the output transistor, the first FET being connected to the output transistor in a current mirror configuration, such that a gate-to-source voltage of the first FET is the same as a gate-to-source voltage of the output transistor, and a drain current in the first FET is matched to a drain current in the output transistor and scaled proportionally according to a size of the first FET relative to a size of the output transistor. The biasing circuit further includes a voltage divider integrated with the first FET and connected to a current source, the voltage divider being configured to generate a voltage that is substantially independent of process, voltage and/or temperature variations for controlling the drain current in the first FET.

Abstract: Methods and materials are provided herein that can be used to separate healthy organs and/or tissues from organs and/or tissues to be subjected to, for example, heat or cold (e.g., during ablation procedures). Methods and materials also are provided herein that can be used to embolize blood vessels.

Abstract: A terminal includes a terminal body extending between a mating end and a terminating end. The mating end has a mating interface. The terminating end has an insulation displacement contact. The insulation displacement contact includes a first contact element having a first blade and a second contact element having a second blade. The first blade faces the second blade across a cable slot configured to receive a cable. The terminal includes a contact support extending along the insulation displacement contact. The contact support holds the first contact element relative to the second contact element.

Abstract: A charging box has a housing with first and second ends, charging bays, a cover, and a lock assembly. The charging bays are between the first end and the second end. Each of the charging bays removably receives a battery pack in an insertion direction. The cover pivots on the housing nearer to the second end than to the first end. The cover moves between an open position and a closed position. The lock assembly includes a staple, a slot in the cover, a protrusion coupled to the housing adjacent the staple, and a tether coupled to the housing. The staple is nearer to the first end than to the second end. The staple receives a padlock. The slot receives the staple therethrough. The tether has a distal end with a loop. The loop is receivable about the protrusion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying features(s) of crops are provided. One example computer-implemented method includes accessing image data specific to a cotton plant. The image data includes images of the cotton plant and, for each image, depth data indicative of a range between surfaces of the cotton plant and a camera(s) that captured the image. The image data further includes tracking data for a device including the camera(s). The method also includes stitching together point clouds, which are defined by the images of the cotton plant, and identifying brighter white segments and darker white segments in the stitched point clouds. The brighter white segments and darker white segments define segment pairs. The method then also includes appending a line between the brighter white segment and the darker white segment of each of the pairs and determining a feature of the cotton plant based on the appended lines and/or pairs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing image data for crops are provided. One example computer-implemented method includes accessing image data specific to a corn plant, where the image data includes an image of the corn plant and depth data indicative of a range between the corn plant and a camera, which captures said image, and identifying, by a computing device, using a trained model, a feature of the corn plant, the feature including an ear of the corn plant and/or a node from which the ear emerges. The method also includes transforming, by the computing device, coordinates specific to the feature into a height of the feature of the corn plant and storing, by the computing device, the height of the feature of the corn plant in a memory.

Abstract: A system and method of determining/checking the number of times an inmate in a correctional facility traverses the food line includes the inmate wearing a body-worn device. In some embodiments, the body-worn device includes location detection so that a location of the inmate is constantly monitored and when the inmate traverses the food line more than an allotted number of times (e.g., one time), an alert is generated. In other embodiments, the body-worn device includes an identification device (e.g., an RFID or a low-power transmitter), such that the body-worn device is detectable by detection devices positioned in the food line of the correctional facility and when the inmate traverses the food line more than once (or more than an allowed number of times) an alert is generated.