Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system including an image processor configured to receive input data for capturing ultrasound images of a region of interest. The ultrasound images are taken along a first plane; and the input data further includes an indication that a needle will be inserted into the region of interest. The system can capture a plurality of ultrasound images of the region of interest along the first plane. The system can determine one or more high-confidence areas of the region of interest where the needle will intersect the first plane. Each high-confidence area is based on a probability that the needle will intersect the first plane at any portion of the high-confidence area; and display one or more on-screen markers corresponding to the one or more high-confidence areas in conjunction with the plurality of ultrasound images on the display.

Abstract: A system includes a vertical molten sulfur pump assembly that includes a top portion adjacent to a first end of the vertical molten sulfur pump assembly and a bottom portion adjacent to a second end of the vertical molten sulfur pump assembly. A pump motor is disposed in the top portion, an impeller is disposed in the bottom portion within an impeller casing, and a shaft is disposed within a central column and connecting the pump motor with the impeller. A pump inlet is disposed at the second end below the impeller casing. The pump inlet and the impeller casing are configured to be immersed in molten sulfur. The vertical molten sulfur pump assembly is configured to pump the molten sulfur into the inlet and upwards through a discharge passageway by rotation of the impeller. A vibration sensor and a temperature sensor are disposed on an external surface of the bottom portion, on or proximate to the impeller casing and the pump inlet.

Abstract: A system for visualization and quantification of ultrasound imaging data may include a display unit, and a processor communicatively coupled to the display unit and to an ultrasound imaging apparatus for generating an image from ultrasound data representative of a bodily structure and fluid flowing within the bodily structure. The processor may be configured to generate vector field data corresponding to the fluid flow, wherein the vector field data comprises axial and lateral velocity components of the fluid, extract spatiotemporal information from the vector field data at one or more user-selected points within the image, and cause the display unit to concurrently display the spatiotemporal information at the one or more user-selected points with the image including a graphical representation of the vector field data overlaid on the image, wherein the spatiotemporal information includes at least one of a magnitude and an angle of the fluid flow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rod handling apparatus for a drill rig including a drill rig mast and a hoisting winch. The rod handling apparatus including: a base assembly; a frame assembly coupled to the base assembly, the frame assembly including a pair of rails along which a conveyor assembly is adapted to travel along; and, the conveyor assembly adapted to be coupled to the hoisting winch for conveying a drill rod up and/or down the drill rig mast such that the drill rod is attachable to and/or detachable from a drill string.

Abstract: An edge seal for sealing an outer surface of a lower electrode assembly configured to support a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber, the lower electrode assembly including an annular groove defined between a lower member and an upper member of the lower electrode assembly. The edge seal includes an elastomeric band configured to be arranged within the groove, the elastomeric band having an annular upper surface, an annular lower surface, an inner surface, and an outer surface. When the elastomeric band is in an uncompressed state, the outer surface of the elastomeric band is concave. When the upper and lower surfaces are axially compressed at least 1% such that the elastomeric band is in a compressed state, an outward bulging of the outer surface is not greater than a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance corresponds to a maximum outer diameter of the elastomeric band in the uncompressed state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for extracting an air sample from a sealed package for subsequent analysis for a range of compounds of interest or concern within the package. The system includes a sampling head with an actuator and a needle. The needle has retracted and extended positions relative to the actuator. A vacuum ring and switch are included at the end of the actuator. The switch determines when the sampling head is in physical contact with a top surface of the sealed package. After contact has been made, the vacuum ring draws a vacuum to secure the sampling head in place upon the package. The needle can then be extended to puncture the package and withdraw a sample of air for testing. Testing can subsequently be undertaken via a range of chemical detection methodologies.

Abstract: A sensor includes a radio frequency interrogator, a responsive patch, a radio frequency resonance detector, and a transmission line. The radio frequency interrogator is configured to produce an electromagnetic interrogation pulse having a first frequency. The responsive patch includes a substrate and a resonant layer disposed on a surface of the substrate. The substrate includes a polymer. The resonant layer includes an electrically conductive nanomaterial. The resonant layer is configured to resonate at the first frequency in response to receiving the electromagnetic interrogation pulse. The radio frequency resonance detector is configured to detect a resonating response of the responsive patch. The transmission line couples the responsive patch to the radio frequency resonance detector. The transmission line is configured to transmit the resonating response of the responsive patch to the radio frequency resonance detector.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system including an image processor configured to receive input data for capturing ultrasound images of a region of interest. The ultrasound images are taken along a first plane; and the input data further includes an indication that a needle will be inserted into the region of interest. The system can capture a plurality of ultrasound images of the region of interest along the first plane. The system can determine one or more high-confidence areas of the region of interest where the needle will intersect the first plane. Each high-confidence area is based on a probability that the needle will intersect the first plane at any portion of the high-confidence area; and display one or more on-screen markers corresponding to the one or more high-confidence areas in conjunction with the plurality of ultrasound images on the display.

Abstract: An example operation may include a method, comprising one or more of: receiving a stop request from a VNFM, retrieving a last peer operational state from a heartbeat history datastore, staying in active state when the last peer operational state is not standby, sending a remaining check points message to a peer VNFCI when the last peer operational state is standby, sending a first heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI with an operational state of active and a desired operational state of shutdown, receiving, at the peer VNFCI, the first heartbeat message; sending a second heartbeat message to the VNFCI, determining an operational state of the VNFCI when the second heartbeat message is received from the peer VNFCI, staying in active state when the operational state in the second heartbeat message is activating, transitioning the VNFCI to a deactivating state, stopping accepting service traffic at the VNFCI, and transitioning to shutdown state at the VNFCI.

Abstract: The present disclosure explains a system and method for determining a spatial orientation of a weapon in an augmented reality training environment. Fiducial markers are mounted on the weapon and two cameras are mounted on a user's head to capture spatial coordinates of the plurality of fiducial markers. The spatial coordinates of fiducial markers are processed to determine the spatial orientation of the weapon and a simulated discharging of the weapon. Augmented reality imagery is generated based on the spatial orientation and the detected movement. The augmented reality imagery corresponding to the spatial orientation and discharging of the weapon is rendered for the user with the head-mounted display.

Abstract: A bin volume predictor can receive data characterizing measurements of a temperature at a plurality of temperature sensors of a temperature sensor cable that is positioned to extend along a height of the storage bin in an interior of the storage bin and data characterizing measurements of an ambient temperature of an exterior of the storage bin. The bin volume predictor identifies, based on the measured temperature for temperature sensors in the interior of the storage bin, a topmost covered temperature sensor of the temperature sensor cable. Moreover, the bin volume predictor determines, based on the identified topmost covered temperature sensor, an amount of material stored in the storage bin.

Abstract: A system for visualization and quantification of ultrasound imaging data may include a display unit, and a processor communicatively coupled to the display unit and to an ultrasound imaging apparatus for generating an image from ultrasound data representative of a bodily structure and fluid flowing within the bodily structure. The processor may be configured to generate vector field data corresponding to the fluid flow, wherein the vector field data comprises axial and lateral velocity components of the fluid, extract spatiotemporal information from the vector field data at one or more user-selected points within the image, and cause the display unit to concurrently display the spatiotemporal information at the one or more user-selected points with the image including a graphical representation of the vector field data overlaid on the image, wherein the spatiotemporal information includes at least one of a magnitude and an angle of the fluid flow.

Abstract: Electrical circuitry is produced on the surface of an organic polymer. The electrical circuitry is produced on a support, and a polymerizable composition is brought into contact with the support and the circuitry. The polymerizable composition is polymerized while in contact with support and the circuitry to produce a solid, organic polymer. The electrical circuitry becomes adhered to and partially embedded in a surface of the solid organic polymer. The support may be removed subsequent to the polymerization step to expose the circuitry at the surface of the solid organic polymer.

Abstract: An example operation may include a method comprising one or more of receiving a VNFC module LCM request where the LCM request specifies a VNFC instance (VNFCI), a target VNFC module, and an LCM operation to be performed, comprising retrieving a VNFCI data entry, determining a target OS installation of the VNFCI, establishing a secure connection to a target OS on a VNFCI hosting VM/container, determining a default command for the LCM operation, adapting the default command to the target OS, executing the adapted command, normalizing a response code, and sending a response to the VNFC module LCM request.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program embodiments for an improved spiking neural network (SNN) configured to learn and perform unsupervised, semi-supervised, and supervised extraction of features from an input dataset. An embodiment operates by receiving a modification request to modify a base neural network, having N layers and a plurality of spiking neurons, trained using a primary training dataset. The base neural network is modified to include supplementary spiking neurons in the Nth or N + 1th layer of the base neural network. The embodiment includes receiving a secondary training dataset and determining membrane potential values of one or more supplementary spiking neurons in the Nth or Nth + 1 layer which learn features based on secondary training data set to select a supplementary/winning spiking neuron. The embodiment performs a learning function for the modified neural network based on the winning spiking neuron.

Abstract: The instant solution includes at least one element or action described or depicted herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed herein for a thermally conductive layer for transducer face temperature reduction in an ultrasound transducer assembly. In one embodiment, the ultrasound transducer assembly comprises: a transducer layer configured to emit ultrasound energy; one or more matching layers overlaying the transducer layer; a thermally conductive layer overlaying the one or more matching layers; and a lens overlaying the thermally conductive layer.

Abstract: A medical waste disposal and container washing system includes loading and unloading stations, the loading station configured for placing a medical waste container on a conveyor system. An inversion station is located downstream along the conveyor system, operable to reorient the container from a first orientation in which medical waste is retained to a second orientation in which the medical waste is discharged from the medical waste container by gravity as the medical waste container is moved within the inversion station. A first wash station along the conveyor system washes an interior of the container that has been reoriented. A second wash station is located downstream along the conveyor system.

Abstract: A system for visualization and quantification of ultrasound imaging data according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include a display unit, and a processor communicatively coupled to the display unit and to an ultrasound imaging apparatus for generating an image from ultrasound data representative of a bodily structure and fluid flowing within the bodily structure. The processor may be configured to estimate axial and lateral velocity components of the fluid flowing within the bodily structure, determine a plurality of flow directions within the image based on the axial and lateral velocity components, differentially encode the flow directions based on flow direction angle to generate a flow direction map, and cause the display unit to concurrently display the image including the bodily structure overlaid with the flow direction map.

Abstract: In an approach to predictive maintenance explanations based on a user profile, one or more computer processors receive a failure prediction associated with a physical asset of an organization. One or more computer processors receive a work order associated with the failure prediction and an assignment of a first user to the work order. One or more computer processors retrieve a profile associated with the first user. One or more computer processors determine a best match between a taxonomy node of a taxonomy of user expertise associated with the work order and the retrieved profile associated with the first user. Based on the determined best match, one or more computer processors generate an explanation of the failure prediction. One or more computer processors display the explanation to the first user.