Abstract: In some embodiments, a method to excite a shock wave in a target assembly includes: splitting a pulsed laser beam into a plurality of pulsed laser beams; spatially shaping the plurality of pulsed laser beams into a plurality of concentric pulsed laser rings of different diameters; and adjusting temporal and/or spatial intervals between the concentric pulsed laser rings to substantially match propagation times of a ring-shaped laser-driven shock wave from one ring to the next in a shock propagation layer of the target assembly.

Abstract: A switch assembly including a vacuum interrupter having a fixed contact and a movable contact, an actuator operable to move the movable contact, and a drive rod assembly coupled to the movable contact and the actuator. The drive rod assembly includes a male part and a female part where the male part is inserted into and coupled to the female part. One of the male part or the female part includes a conductor that provides an electrical connection between the male and female parts and one of the male part or the female part includes a locking ring that snap fits into a groove in the other male or female part.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for fleet vehicle management. According to various embodiments, a status is determined for each fleet vehicle of a plurality of fleet vehicles. Based on the status, a service task is determined for at least a subset of the plurality of fleet vehicles. A location is determined for each service task. A service task list is generated based on the service tasks and the locations of the service tasks. A user to perform the service task list is determined based on the service tasks and the service task locations. The service task is communicated to the user and progress of the service task list is monitored.

Abstract: A method for presenting pre-approved and pre-underwritten offers to a customer may include: receiving targeting criteria based on at least one of current accounts with the financial institution, assets, creditworthiness, and credit risk for an offer for a financial product; identifying a target population of customers for the offer by applying the targeting criteria to a population of customers; reviewing each customer in the target population for underwriting for the financial product based on inferred income for each customer and accounts that each customer has with the financial institution, wherein the underwriting is performed before the financial product is offered; determining a channel to present the offer to one of the customers that passed underwriting; communicating the offer to the customer over the selected channel; and providing an accepted offer to a fulfilment engine, wherein the fulfilment engine initiates an account opening for the financial product.

Abstract: A wireless communication system serves user functions to a wireless user device. The wireless communication system serves selects the user functions for the wireless user device. The wireless communication system selects User Plane Functions (UPFs) to serve the selected user functions. The wireless communication system selects data routes between the selected UPFs. At least one of the selected UPFs receives user data for the wireless user device. At least some of the selected UPFs route the user data among the selected UPFs based on the selected data routes. The selected UPFs serve the selected user functions to the user data for the wireless user device. At least one of the selected UPFs transfers at least some of user data to one or more external data systems. The user functions may comprise deep packet inspection, network border security, low-latency data transfer, high-throughput data transfer, data cryptography, and/or another data service.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of olefin by alcohol dehydration, for making polymer, fuel or fuel additive and use of olefin obtainable by said process for making polymer, fuel or fuel additive. Preferred olefin is C5 olefin obtained from dehydration of an alcohol or alcohol mixture, preferably from fusel oil.

Abstract: A non-rigid anatomy reference system can include reference markers that are rigidly attachable to separate bodies of rigid tissue connected through flexible tissue in a region of a patient forming a marker array. A tracking system can acquire movement data of the reference markers as a function of time and position. A processor can be configured to: receive the movement data, where an individual reference marker has a first number of degrees of freedom less than 6 and a second reference marker having a second number of degrees of freedom; track the marker array as a whole with a total number of degrees of freedom greater than the first and the second number; and produce an updated image of the region of the patient to maintain registration to a prior image of the region and the tracked movement of the reference markers via the function.

Abstract: Novel and advantageous masks and helmets to protect an athlete's head and face from impacts and injuries. In particular, the present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous masks and helmets to help protect a baseball or softball catcher's face and head from concussive forces of an incoming ball strike. A mask of the present disclosure may be coupled to a helmet, or may be configured for use without a helmet in some embodiments. The mask may provide a generally cone-shaped structure in front of a wearer's face, so as to provide an angled surface for contact with an incoming ball. Additionally, a shock absorbing material may be provided at an interface between the helmet and mask to reduce and distribute force transfer between the mask and the helmet.

Abstract: Method for the preparation of a composition enriched in 2-methyl-but-2-ene and use for making a polymer.

Abstract: An adhesive composition made from an elastomer and a tackifying resin. The tackifying resin includes a farnesene polymer or copolymer having the following properties: i) less than 10 weight percent of volatile organic compounds; ii) Mn between 300 Da and 1000 Da; iii) Mw between 400 Da and 3000 Da; iv) Mw/Mn between 1.00 and 3.00; v) Tg between ?50° C. and 20° C.; and vi) viscosity between 400,000 cP and 1,000,000 cP at 25° C. A method of making the farnesene-based polymer or copolymer includes combining a farnesene monomer and a solvent and optionally adding one or more co-monomers selected from dienes, branched mono-olefins, and vinyl aromatics, to provide a monomer feed, and polymerizing the monomer feed by combining it with a Friedel-Crafts initiator in a vessel. The farnesene-based polymer or copolymer tackifier may be combined with one or more elastomers and one or more other tackifiers to form an adhesive composition.

Abstract: Polymer composition obtained from polymerization of C5 olefin composition, use for making an adhesive, and article or composite containing it.

Abstract: Polymer composition obtained from polymerization of C5 olefin composition, use for making an adhesive, and article or composite containing it.

Abstract: An adhesive composition made from an elastomer and a tackifying resin. The tackifying resin includes a farnesene polymer or copolymer having the following properties: i) less than 10 weight percent of volatile organic compounds; ii) Mn between 300 Da and 1000 Da; iii) Mw between 400 Da and 3000 Da; iv) Mw/Mn between 1.00 and 3.00; v) Tg between ?50° C. and 20° C.; and vi) viscosity between 400,000 cP and 1,000,000 cP at 25° C. A method of making the farnesene-based polymer or copolymer includes combining a farnesene monomer and a solvent and optionally adding one or more co-monomers selected from dienes, branched mono-olefins, and vinyl aromatics, to provide a monomer feed, and polymerizing the monomer feed by combining it with a Friedel-Crafts initiator in a vessel. The farnesene-based polymer or copolymer tackifier may be combined with one or more elastomers and one or more other tackifiers to form an adhesive composition.

Abstract: Novel and advantageous masks and helmets to protect an athlete's head and face from impacts and injuries. In particular, the present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous masks and helmets to help protect a baseball or softball catcher's face and head from concussive forces of an incoming ball strike. A mask of the present disclosure may be coupled to a helmet, or may be configured for use without a helmet in some embodiments. The mask may provide a generally cone-shaped structure in front of a wearer's face, so as to provide an angled surface for contact with an incoming ball. Additionally, a shock absorbing material may be provided at an interface between the helmet and mask to reduce and distribute force transfer between the mask and the helmet.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method to excite a shock wave in a target assembly includes: splitting a pulsed laser beam into a plurality of pulsed laser beams; spatially shaping the plurality of pulsed laser beams into a plurality of concentric pulsed laser rings of different diameters; and adjusting temporal and/or spatial intervals between the concentric pulsed laser rings to substantially match propagation times of a ring-shaped laser-driven shock wave from one ring to the next in a shock propagation layer of the target assembly.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of olefin by alcohol dehydration, for making polymer, fuel or fuel additive and use of olefin obtainable by said process for making polymer, fuel or fuel additive. Preferred olefin is C5 olefin obtained from dehydration of an alcohol or alcohol mixture, preferably from fusel oil.

Abstract: Novel and advantageous masks and helmets to protect an athlete's head and face from impacts and injuries. In particular, the present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous masks and helmets to help protect a baseball or softball catcher's face and head from concussive forces of an incoming ball strike. A mask of the present disclosure may be coupled to a helmet, or may be configured for use without a helmet in some embodiments. The mask may provide a generally cone-shaped structure in front of a wearer's face, so as to provide an angled surface for contact with an incoming ball. Additionally, a shock absorbing material may be provided at an interface between the helmet and mask to reduce and distribute force transfer between the mask and the helmet.

Abstract: A fiber optic adapter is disclosed. The fiber optic adapter includes a main body configured to receive a first fiber optic connector through a first end and a second fiber optic connector through a second end for mating with the first fiber optic connector. The adapter includes a ferrule alignment structure located within an axial cavity of the main body, the ferrule alignment structure including a sleeve mount and a ferrule sleeve, the sleeve mount including an axial bore and at least one latching hook extending from a center portion of the sleeve mount toward the first end of the main body and at least one latching hook extending from the center portion toward the second end of the main body, the latching hooks configured to flex for releasably latching the first and second fiber optic connectors to the fiber optic adapter.