Abstract: A method for in-place machining of a collector ring attached to a turbine shaft of a hydroelectric generator includes: attaching a support member to stationary portions of the hydroelectric generator, the support member being configured to support a machine tool at an angle parallel to an inclination angle of an axis of rotation of the turbine shaft; attaching an adjustable positioning device to the support member; attaching the machine tool to the adjustable positioning device, the machine tool being configured to perform a machining operation on the collector ring; controlling a rotational speed of the turbine shaft to a specified rotational speed by controlling a flow of water through the turbine; adjusting the adjustable positioning device to adjust a position of the machine tool with respect to the collector ring; and performing the machining operation on the collector ring at the specified rotational speed of the turbine shaft.

Abstract: The invention is method comprising the use of an external photic stimulator treat and/or prevent pain in a subject, such as migraine headache, dental pain, and/or other sources of cranial pain. The presently disclosed method includes treating the pain externally through the cheek, over the zygomatic arch and area of the trigeminal ganglion. The external photic stimulation is believed to inhibit excessive firing of trigeminal ganglion circuits, preventing the excessive expression of calcitonin gene-related peptides and/or other inflammatory manifestations of the pain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus with provider information access authorization are provided. The method includes receiving a single sign-on (SSO) token from a provider apparatus for a validated login request by a client device for a user account, wherein the SSO token is indicative of the provider apparatus having authorized secure protocol access with the provider apparatus to access information at the provider apparatus associated with the user account, retrieving customer information from the provider apparatus using the SSO token, receiving information from the client device, confirming whether, based on the information and the customer information that a user of the user account is eligible to complete a data exchange, and in response to a result of the confirming being that the user of the user account is confirmed eligible to compete the data exchange, cause the provider apparatus to process the data exchange corresponding to the information.

Abstract: Textiles are re-cycled by grinding and scatter-laying onto a needle-punched web optionally containing low-melting material, followed by laying a second needle-punched web over the scattered layer and re-needling the three layers before applying heat or heat and pressure to activate the low-melting ground material present within the layers. Additional low-melt ground material is optionally blended into the ground textile if low melt components are absent or insufficient to bond the composite. The ground material is driven and dispersed into the surrounding web layers with at least part of the material being adjacent the two outer surfaces. The physical properties of the composite can be adjusted by selecting suitable combinations including but not limited to needling stroke depth, needling density, needle gage, low-melt content, heat finishing conditions, and relative layer weights.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for cutting openings in a wellbore tubular by a slot cutting assembly having an anchoring system and a slot cutting tool. The anchoring assembly anchors the slot cutting assembly within the wellbore. The slot cutting tool has an extendable cutting blade that is pushed into the wellbore tubular to cut an opening through the tubular. The slot cutting tool may have an extendable stabilizing arm to stabilize and assist with cutting by the blade. The slot cutting assembly may have azimuth and depth sensors to assist with positioning the tool at a desired position downhole. A surface system may be used to control the position of the slot cutting assembly downhole.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for cutting in a borehole or casing. A cutting device can include a first arm having a cutting blade, wherein the cutting blade has side cutting teeth and an axis of rotation that is substantially at a right angle with respect to an axis of the tool body. The cutting device can also include a second arm with a bumper. The first and second arms articulate away from the elongate body in different directions to reduce vibrations while cutting. A control device can automate the cut based on hydraulic pressure measurements. Additionally, the cutting device can also be extended or rotated on a rotary index. The cutting device can rotate around a J slot, in an example.

Abstract: Various tray inserts, methods and algorithm for certifying candidate trays for use in an X-ray scanner system are discussed. The tray insert includes at least a body having multiple parts positioned for generation of image quality metrics for tray impact evaluation in; a first cover and a second cover disposed at opposite ends to fix and secure the body. The method including running an algorithm to control an X-ray system to collect baseline image data from certified trays, collecting candidate tray image data, extracting image quality metrics for both the baseline image data and the candidate tray image data, and performing statistical analysis using and comparing image quality metrics from the baseline image data and the candidate tray image data to certify the candidate tray based on the statistical and comparison results.

Abstract: An expandable intervertebral implant having an upper body portion, a lower body portion opposite the upper body portion, a wedge member connecting the upper body portion to the lower body portion, a nose member having a tapered distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, and an actuator disposed between the nose member and the wedge member, for translation of the wedge member along a longitudinal axis of the implant. A pin connects to the actuator for positioning the nose member relative to the actuator. Translation of the wedge member along the longitudinal axis of the implant displaces the upper body portion and the lower body portion away from each other, thereby expanding the intervertebral implant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus with provider information access authorization are provided. The method includes receiving a single sign-on (SSO) token from a provider apparatus for a validated login request by a client device for a user account, wherein the SSO token is indicative of the provider apparatus having authorized secure protocol access with the provider apparatus to access information at the provider apparatus associated with the user account, retrieving customer information from the provider apparatus using the SSO token, receiving information from the client device, confirming whether, based on the information and the customer information that a user of the user account is eligible to complete a data exchange, and in response to a result of the confirming being that the user of the user account is confirmed eligible to compete the data exchange, cause the provider apparatus to process the data exchange corresponding to the information.

Abstract: A component for diffusing light emitted by a laser source in a lidar system of an autonomous vehicle. The component comprises a component body. The component body comprises an aspheric lens shaped to direct laser illumination from a laser source in the lidar system to produce a particular illumination profile by directing a portion of the laser illumination to a part of a field of view of the lidar system. The component body further comprises an attachment structure configured for securing the component body to a printed circuit board of the lidar system. The attachment structure is further configured to space a central axis of the aspheric lens a distance from a central axis of the laser source in the lidar system.

Abstract: A method for repairing a discharge ring of a hydraulic turbine with a turbine runner in place includes: mounting adjustable fixtures to runner blades that are approximately evenly spaced around the turbine runner, where each adjustable fixture is mounted to a different runner blade at a different predetermined vertical position with respect to a surface of the discharge ring; attaching cutting equipment configured to remove material from the discharge ring to each adjustable fixture installed on the runner blades; installing a drive unit configured to rotate the turbine runner; controlling the drive unit to rotate the runner at a specified speed; and controlling the cutting equipment attached to each adjustable fixture to concurrently remove material from the discharge ring as the turbine runner rotates.

Abstract: A laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing system for producing a part by creating a power map that is an intelligent feed forward model to control the laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing for producing the part and using the power map to control the laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing for producing the part. This includes an apparatus for producing a part including a powder bed, a laser that produces a laser beam, a proportional integral derivative controller that creates a power map that describes laser power requirements as the laser moves along a path, wherein the laser power requirements prevent defects in the part.

Abstract: Various tray inserts, methods and algorithm for certifying candidate trays for use in an X-ray scanner system are discussed. The tray insert includes at least a body having multiple parts positioned for generation of image quality metrics for tray impact evaluation in; a first cover and a second cover disposed at opposite ends to fix and secure the body. The method including running an algorithm to control an X-ray system to collect baseline image data from certified trays, collecting candidate tray image data, extracting image quality metrics for both the baseline image data and the candidate tray image data, and performing statistical analysis using and comparing image quality metrics from the baseline image data and the candidate tray image data to certify the candidate tray based on the statistical and comparison results.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an air intake system. In one example, an air intake system is provided. The air intake system includes a first air inlet duct providing intake air to an engine intake conduit, the first air inlet duct including an opening positioned external to an engine compartment. The air intake system also includes a second air inlet duct positioned upstream of the engine intake conduit and external to the engine compartment, the second air inlet duct including a funnel shaped to flow air to only a portion of an air filter.

Abstract: Described herein are spin polarized light emitting diodes (LEDs) and methods of making the same. Spin polarization is achieved via chiral induced spin selectivity where, for example, a stereochemically active cation is included in a perovskite to form the conductive layer of an LED device. Advantageously, the devices and methods described herein allow for spin polarization at room temperature and without application of a magnetic field or ferromagnetic contacts, in contrast to other described spin selective LEDs.

Abstract: An expandable screw for orthopedic insertion and expansion between a collapsed state and an expanded state. The screw has an upper externally-threaded body segment, a lower externally-threaded body segment opposite the upper external thread segments, and an expansion member extending along a longitudinal axis thereof. The expansion member connecting the upper externally-threaded body segment to the lower externally-threaded body segment, and configured during the expansion between the collapsed state and the expanded state to separate the upper externally-threaded body segment from the lower externally-threaded body segment.

Abstract: A method may include determining an action associated with field development planning or asset management of an oilfield based on a policy or value function and a state, simulating a reward of the action using information identifying the action and the state as inputs, generating an experience record based on executing the simulation, wherein the experience record identifies the simulated reward associated with the action and a current state or resulting state, storing the experience record in an experience buffer, wherein the experience buffer stores a plurality of previously generated experience records, updating the policy or value function based on the information stored in the experience buffer, selecting an action related to the field development planning based on the updated policy, and displaying information representing the action.

Abstract: Stabilizing a textile sheet structure was achieved by forming a plurality of discrete fiber tufts extending from a first face of a fibrous layer of the textile sheet structure, through the fibrous layer and beyond a second face opposite the first face. Each discrete fiber tuft included a plurality discrete fibers. Each discrete fiber tuft was anchored to the first face and the second face of the fibrous layer by joining together the plurality of each discrete fiber tuft at the first face and the second face and bonding the joined plurality of discrete fiber tuft to the first face and the second face.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving information of a negotiable instrument, transmitting the information to a distributed ledger system, the distributed ledger system maintaining a blockchain that records transactions associated with a plurality of negotiable instruments, receiving validation information from the distributed ledger system, the validation information indicating that negotiable instrument has not already been accepted, and accepting the first negotiable in response to the validation information.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for modifying a curvature of a thin plate optic using controlled heat and densification of portions of the optic. In one embodiment the system has a support structure for supporting the optic about a perimeter thereof, a laser configured to generate a beam having a predetermined energy, and the beam being directed at one surface of the optic. The beam heats and densifies portions of the optic to create a force on the optic. The force induces a stress produces a controlled deformation of the optic. The controlled deformation at least one of modifies a curvature of, or corrects a defect in, the optic.