Abstract: An apparatus for charge-assisted release of a ski binding includes an explosive material, a battery, an electrical circuit, and a processor. The explosive material is mounted on or in a ski, a ski boot, and/or a ski binding. The apparatus also includes The electrical circuit extends from the explosive material to the battery, the electrical circuit including a switch having a connected state in which the battery and the explosive material are electrically connected through the switch and a disconnected state in which the battery and the explosive material are electrically disconnected. The processor is electrically coupled to the switch and configured to generate an output signal that transitions the switch from the disconnected state to the connected state in response to an input signal from one or more sensors.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device and a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device. In various implementations, the aerosol delivery device comprises a control device that includes an outer housing defining a cartridge receiving chamber, and further includes a power source and a control component, and a cartridge that includes a mouthpiece, a tank, a heating assembly, and a bottom cap. The mouthpiece defines an exit portal in an end thereof, and the tank is configured to contain a liquid composition therein. The cartridge is configured to be removably coupled with the receiving chamber of the control device, and the heating assembly defines a vaporization chamber and is configured to heat the liquid composition to generate an aerosol. The heating assembly comprises a substantially planar heating member and a liquid transport element, wherein the heating member is installed in a bowed orientation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to the aligning of a melting beam source in an additive manufacturing (AM) system. Methods of the disclosure may include forming a first test article and a second test article of different shapes on a build plate. The method further includes measuring a vertical scale, vertical alignment, horizontal scale, and an alignment of the melting beam source using the first and second test articles. The method includes determining whether one of the vertical scale, the vertical alignment, the horizontal scale, or the horizontal alignment of the melting beam source is not within a corresponding tolerance of a target specification. If at least one of the vertical scale, the vertical alignment, the horizontal scale, or the horizontal alignment is within the corresponding tolerance, the method includes adjusting the melting beam source of the AM system to align the melting beam source to yield the target specification.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices and cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridge comprises a mouthpiece having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the mouthpiece having an exit portal defined therethrough, a tank defining a proximal end and a closed distal end, the tank being configured to contain a liquid composition that includes a distinctive characteristic, and a heater configured to heat the liquid composition. The distal end of the mouthpiece is configured to engage the proximal end of the tank, and when the cartridge is coupled with the aerosol delivery device at least one feature of the cartridge, or at least one feature of the control device, or at least one feature of both the cartridge and the control device, provides a visual indication of a color associated with the distinctive characteristic.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to charging accessory device for the aerosol delivery device and related systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for providing interactive services for aerosol delivery devices. For example, a method may include a computing device establishing communication with a charging accessory device for an aerosol delivery device; receiving usage data for the aerosol delivery device provided by the charging accessory device; generating social data based on the usage data; and sending the social data to a social networking service including a community of aerosol delivery device users.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a secondary airfoil apparatus, system and method for improving lift, takeoff, landing and aerodynamic performance of a floatplane. The secondary airfoil can be integrated into the floatplane during manufacture, or retrofitted to an existing floatplane after manufacture. The secondary airfoil is itself of sufficient structural rigidity to withstand any and all forces added by the airfoil during floatplane operation. The secondary airfoil is fixedly attached between the floats of the floatplane, and are purposefully not attached to spreader bars that can exist typically between the floats. The secondary airfoil can be arranged at an optimal angle of incidence and vertical lift position relative to the primary airfoil, or wing of the aircraft, and relative to the floats center of gravity and drag for optimal maneuverability of the floatplane.

Abstract: Array microphone systems and methods that can automatically focus and/or place beamformed lobes in response to detected sound activity are provided. The automatic focus and/or placement of the beamformed lobes can be inhibited based on a remote far end audio signal. The quality of the coverage of audio sources in an environment may be improved by ensuring that beamformed lobes are optimally picking up the audio sources even if they have moved and changed locations.

Abstract: Bridge systems and methods for constructing bridges having overhang surfaces employing generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels. One method includes delivering a plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels to an installation site, and delivering one or more support beams to the installation site, each support beam having a support and a base. The concrete panels are positioned on the supports of the one or more support beams with an overhang panel section and a traffic panel section. The concrete panels are then connected to the support beams by positioning steel reinforcement in block outs or voids, pouring unsolidified concrete into the voids, and curing the unsolidified concrete to form an overhang traffic surface. Bridges constructed employing the precast, prestressed concrete panels and methods. Other bridge systems employ prestressed concrete L-walls and double-T members, where weight-bearing L-walls have pockets for webs of the double-T members.

Abstract: A new method is disclosed for extracting plasma from whole blood and metering the amount of plasma to an exact volume for dispensing into a diagnostic test, in a fully automatic and self-contained device. The device can be used in resource limited settings by unskilled users to facilitate sophisticated medical diagnostic testing outside of a hospital, clinic or laboratory.

Abstract: A database management engine provides a user interface that allows users to access and modify employee information in a database. The database includes entries for employees, and each database entry includes identifying information about the associated employee. A user can request to modify data within database entries, for instance in order to update information associated with an employee. Responsive to the request, the database management engine identifies liabilities associated with the database modification stemming from associated tax laws. Based on the identified tax liabilities, the engine computes the aggregate tax liability owed by the employer and/or employee. Before modifying a database entry, the engine modifies the user interface to include interface elements detailing the computed aggregate tax liability. The user explicitly can be required to confirm the database modification in view of the aggregate tax liability.

Abstract: The disclosure provides processes for synthesizing compounds for use as CFTR modulators.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices comprising a power unit and a cartridge that is configured for engagement with the power unit. In particular, the cartridge can be configured for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof so as to be insertable into a chamber of the power unit in a plurality of different orientations. Further, the aerosol delivery device can include processing circuitry that can be configured for detection of the cartridge orientation and execution of a control function assigned to the respective orientation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically adjusting a reference gain of an audio mixer having a reference channel for receiving a far end audio signal from a remote location as a reference signal and a plurality of audio input channels for receiving audio signals captured by a plurality of microphone element. An exemplary method includes determining an echo level in an input audio signal received at a given audio input channel, and automatically determining a gain amount for the reference channel based on the echo level. An exemplary system includes a reference gain adjuster configured to automatically determine a gain amount for the reference channel based on an echo level detected in an input audio signal received at a given audio input channel.

Abstract: Audio beamforming systems and methods that enable more precise control of lobes and nulls of an array microphone are provided. Optimized beamformer coefficients can be generated to result in beamformed signals associated with one or more lobes steered towards one or more desired sound locations and one or more nulls steered towards one or more undesired sound location. The performance of acoustic echo cancellation can be improved and enhanced.

Abstract: An apparatus for charge-assisted release of a ski binding includes an explosive material, a battery, an electrical circuit, and a processor. The explosive material is mounted on or in a ski, a ski boot, and/or a ski binding. The electrical circuit extends from the explosive material to the battery, the electrical circuit including a switch having a connected state in which the battery and the explosive material are electrically connected through the switch and a disconnected state in which the battery and the explosive material are electrically disconnected. The processor is electrically coupled to the switch and configured to generate an output signal that transitions the switch from the disconnected state to the connected state in response to an input signal from one or more sensors.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a power source, a heating element, a switch coupled to and between the power source and the heating element, and processing circuitry coupled to the switch. The processing circuitry outputs a PWM signal during a heating time period to cause the switch to switchably connect and disconnect the output voltage to the heating element to power the heating element. The processing circuitry outputs a pulse of known current to the heating element, and measure voltage across the heating element, between adjacent pulses of the PWM signal. And the processing circuitry calculates the resistance of the heating element based on the known current and the voltage, calculates the temperature of the heating element based on the resistance, and adjusts a duty cycle of the PWM signal when the temperature deviates from a predetermined target.

Abstract: An apparatus for hanging an instrument includes a wall plate, an axial arm, and a yoke. The wall plate is configured to secure the apparatus to a wall or other suitable surface. The axial arm extends axially between the wall plate and the yoke. The yoke is configured to receive at least a portion of an instrument. The apparatus also includes a humidistat disposed on a surface of the wall plate opposite the wall or other suitable surface. The humidistat is configured to display a relative humidity value corresponding to an amount of water vapor in the atmosphere proximate the instrument.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing voice and noise activity detection with audio automixers that can reject errant non-voice or non-human noises while maximizing signal-to-noise ratio and minimizing audio latency.

Abstract: The subject technology provides for determining that a machine learning model in a first format includes sufficient data to conform to a particular model specification in a second format, the second format corresponding to an object oriented programming language), wherein the machine learning model includes a model parameter of the machine learning model. The subject technology transforms the machine learning model into a transformed machine learning model that is compatible with the particular model specification. The subject technology generates a code interface and code for the transformed machine learning model, the code interface including code statements in the object oriented programming language, the code statements corresponding to an object representing the transformed machine learning model and the object includes an interface to update the model parameter.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices and cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridge comprises a mouthpiece having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the mouthpiece having an exit portal defined therethrough, a tank defining a proximal end and a closed distal end, the tank being configured to contain a liquid composition that includes a distinctive characteristic, and a heater configured to heat the liquid composition. The distal end of the mouthpiece is configured to engage the proximal end of the tank, and when the cartridge is coupled with the aerosol delivery device at least one feature of the cartridge, or at least one feature of the control device, or at least one feature of both the cartridge and the control device, provides a visual indication of a color associated with the distinctive characteristic.