Abstract: A fluidic optical element includes a fluid bilayer having a first fluid layer and a second fluid layer defining a fluid interface therebetween, and an electrode disposed over a surface of the fluid bilayer. The geometry of the fluid interface and hence the optical response of the fluid bilayer to incident light may be manipulated using the principle of dielectrophoresis.

Abstract: A rotary tool for operation within an underground wellbore or within tubing in a wellbore has at least one force-sensitive element attached to the tool body and positioned to contact the conduit wall, wherein the force-sensitive element comprises an outer portion to contact the wellbore or tubing wall, at least one connecting portion which is more compliant than the outer portion and through which the outer portion is connected to the tool body, and at least one sensor responsive to force on the outer portion transmitted through the force-sensitive element to the tool body. The sensors may resolve forces into measurable forces on three axes. Possible rotary tools include drill bit, reamer, mill, stabilizer and rotary steerable system for a drill bit.

Abstract: A filter element may include a primary layer of filter media defining a chamber having an open end and a closed end distally opposite the open end, and at least one secondary layer of filter media adjacently fixed to the primary layer of filter media. The at least one secondary layer of filter media may be located at the closed end of the primary layer of filter media for increasing a pressure drop at the closed end, such that fluid flow is homogeneously distributed through the chamber in response to the pressure drop. The primary layer of filter media is formed of a non-compressible material and may be tapered to further controlling pressure drops through the chamber. A pocket filter assembly may include one or more filter elements disposed within a housing.

Abstract: A surgical system for use in correcting hammer toe or otherwise straightening toes or fusing other bones to one another includes a male drill bit and a female drill bit, as well as an absorbable pin. The male and female drill bits are configured to define complementary features from opposed, or facing, ends of bones that are to be fused to one another. The male and female drill bits may also be configured to define channels through the lengths of the bones that are to be fused to one another, with the channels being configured to align and define a continuous channel through the bones when they are assembled. The absorbable pin, which may be absorbed by a subject's body over time, is configured to be positioned in the continuous channel, and may hold the bones in an assembled relationship before and while they fuse to one another.

Abstract: Described herein are compounds of Formula I and methods of using said compounds for treating, ameliorating, and/or preventing cancer. The compounds are cyanine dyes, and have increased effects in hypoglycemic environments.

Abstract: Vaporizers and systems for vaporizing liquid precursor for forming glass optical fiber preforms are provided. The vaporizer includes an expansion chamber at least partially enclosed by a side wall, the expansion chamber comprising an upper end and a lower end with the side wall disposed between the upper end and the lower end. The vaporizer further includes a closed-loop liquid delivery conduit positioned in the expansion chamber proximate to the upper end of the expansion chamber, wherein the closed-loop liquid delivery conduit comprises a plurality of nozzles oriented to direct a spray of liquid precursor onto an inner surface of the side wall. Further, the vaporizer includes at least one supply conduit positioned proximate the upper end of the expansion chamber and coupled to the closed-loop liquid delivery conduit, and a vapor delivery outlet coupled to the expansion chamber and configured to direct vaporized liquid precursor from the expansion chamber.

Abstract: A mechanically and piezoelectrically anisotropic polymer thin film may be formed by gel casting a solution that includes a crystallizable polymer and a liquid solvent. The solvent may be configured to interact with the polymer to facilitate chain alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the cast thin film. The thin film may also include up to approximately 90 wt. % of an additive and may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution of a crystallizable polymer where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. In some examples, the polymer(s) and the additive(s) may be independently selected from vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropene, vinyl fluoride, etc. The anisotropic polymer thin film may be characterized by an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least 0.1.

Abstract: An optical transformer includes a plurality of light emitters, a plurality of photovoltaic cells positioned to receive light from at least a first subset of the plurality of light emitters, the plurality of photovoltaic cells including at least a first photovoltaic cell and a second photovoltaic cell, and one or more optically triggered switches positioned to receive light from at least a second subset of the plurality of light emitters, the one or more optically triggered switches including at least a first optically triggered switch electrically coupled to the first photovoltaic cell and the second photovoltaic cell. A method of operating the optical transformer is also described.

Abstract: One example method of operation may include identifying a call to a mobile device, determining whether the call includes call content data intended for the mobile device, initiating an active session and a time to live (TTL) associated with the call content data, forwarding the call content data to the mobile device when the call includes call content data associated with the caller, and receiving a content confirmation from the mobile device that the call content data was received.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for resolving biometric mismatches in connection with biometric interactions performed based on the biometric mismatches. One example computer-implemented method includes receiving a biometric mismatch alert from a first party for a biometric interaction, where the biometric mismatch alert includes a credential and a reason code, and identifying a biometric provider based on a requestor ID for the biometric interaction. The method also includes transmitting the biometric mismatch alert to the identified biometric provider and determining, based on a response to the biometric mismatch alert and at least one rule, whether to impose an offset on the biometric provider for the biometric interaction. The method then includes compiling and transmitting a reply to the biometric mismatch alert to the first party, wherein the reply indicates the offset being imposed, whereby the first party initiates an offset interaction to recoup an amount of the biometric interaction.

Abstract: A transducer is described that includes a substrate configured to be deposited on a solid object, and a transparent medium coupled to the substrate and configured to oscillate at a pre-selected frequency upon receipt of an electrical excitation or a mechanical excitation and to provide a first acoustic wave. The transducer also includes an actuator configured to receive an electrical power, and to provide the electrical excitation or the mechanical excitation to the transparent medium, wherein at least a portion of the solid object is viewable through the transparent medium, and the first acoustic wave is at least partially transmitted through an interface of the transparent medium. A system and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions to cause the system to perform a method to use the transducer for generating acoustic waves in a transparent medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: A stabilizer can include an outer collar, an inner sleeve, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is changeable between a first mode in which the outer collar is rotationally fixed to the inner sleeve and a second mode in which the outer collar is rotationally isolated relative to the inner sleeve. The stabilizer may include an active or passive system for changing modes. An example passive device may include a magnetic clutch where the detected force overcomes magnetic forces to change mode. The stabilizer can be used to mitigate whirl on a rotating device by switching the rotating device between a rotating mode and a non-rotating mode. In the rotating mode, outer collar may rotate with the inner sleeve. In the non-rotating mode, the outer collar may be rotationally isolated from the inner sleeve.

Abstract: A tubular connection includes a first joint of casing having an integral box end with an internal female wedge threaded zone having wedge threads disposed on a portion of the integral box end, and a second joint of casing having an integral pin end with an external male wedge threaded zone having wedge threads disposed on a portion of the integral pin end. The external male wedge threads engage with the internal female wedge threads. The second joint of casing has an internal diameter D1, and also includes an internal annular recess with an internal diameter D2. D2 is greater than D1, and the annular recess is disposed longitudinally along an inner surface of the second joint of casing. The annular recess is positioned radially adjacent to a portion of the external male threads disposed on a lower portion of the pin end.

Abstract: Methods and systems for establishing a chain of relationships are disclosed. An identity verification platform receives a first request for registration comprising an identification of a first user, identification of an entity, and a relationship between the first user and the entity; verifies the identity of the first user and the relationship between the first user and the entity; and verifies that the entity is legitimate. Once a relationship between a first individual, invited by the first user, and the entity is confirmed, the platform creates a custom badge representing the relationship between the first individual and the entity for display on the entity's website. The platform receives an identification of a selection by an end user of the custom badge and, responsive to receiving the identification of the selection, renders, on a domain controlled by the identity verification platform, a verification that the relationship between the first individual and the entity is valid.

Abstract: An accessory door handle can be clamped onto an existing door handle currently installed in the door. The accessory door handle can be dedicated for use when an individual is wearing gloves, so that the existing door handle may be reserved for use when not wearing a glove. This decreases the chances of contamination and makes the handles easier to clean. The accessory door handle is suitable for use in laboratory and clean room conditions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method, devices and systems for determining a location associated with a gemstone. That method includes training a data model to detect a characteristic associated with a feature of interest pertaining to a gemstones surface. The training including the steps of providing a plurality of training images of gemstones, each training image associated with a label for a feature of interest pertaining to a given region of a gemstone type and an output indicating the specific gemstone type for the label.

Abstract: Eyeglass devices may include a frame shaped and sized to be worn by a user at least partially in front of the user's eyes, a varifocal optical element mounted to the frame, and an eye-tracking element mounted to the frame. The varifocal optical element may include a substantially transparent actuator positioned at least partially within an optical aperture of the varifocal optical element and configured to alter a shape of the varifocal optical element upon actuation. The eye-tracking element may be configured to track at least a gaze direction of the user's eyes, and the varifocal optical element may be configured to change, based on information from the eye-tracking element, in at least one optical property including a focal distance. Various other devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Angular sensors that may be used in eye-tracking systems are disclosed. An eye-tracking system may include a plurality of light sources to emit illumination light and a plurality of angular light sensors to receive returning light that is the illumination light reflecting from an eyebox region. The angular light sensors may output angular signals representing an angle of incidence of the returning light.

Abstract: A multi-region game server fleet may span a plurality of computing regions including a home computing region and one or more remote computing regions. A fleet management service operating in the home computing region may receive a request to perform a modification to the multi-region game server fleet, such as adding an additional remote computing region, removing an existing remote computing region, or making a configuration change. The modification may be performed, at least in part, by one or more region specific worker processes hosted in the home region. The fleet management service operating in the home computing region may also receive a request to perform an interaction with a specific remote region game server. An instruction corresponding to the interaction may be transmitted, by a region-specific computing function hosted in the home region, to the specific remote region game server.

Abstract: A multi-region game server fleet may span a plurality of computing regions including a home computing region and one or more remote computing regions. A fleet management service operating in the home computing region may receive a request to perform a modification to the multi-region game server fleet, such as adding an additional remote computing region, removing an existing remote computing region, or making a configuration change. The modification may be performed, at least in part, by one or more region specific worker processes hosted in the home region. The fleet management service operating in the home computing region may also receive a request to perform an interaction with a specific remote region game server. An instruction corresponding to the interaction may be transmitted, by a region-specific computing function hosted in the home region, to the specific remote region game server.