Abstract: A robotic system has a flexible portion adapted for insertion into the gastrointestinal tract and includes a suturing system with a needle holder. An actuator is coupled to the needle holder and is adapted to act on the needle holder arm and needle such that the needle can be repeatedly moved through a path. The actuator is driven by a drive mechanism from the robotic system.

Abstract: A system and method for reinforcing a masonry wall. An anchor plate is provided that is biased against the masonry wall using a tensioning element. The tensioning element extends through the wall and is anchored inside of the building. The anchor plate and the tensioning element are interconnected by a jointed connection that enables the anchor plate to incline independently from the tensioning element while the tensioning element biases the anchor plate against the masonry wall. This enables the anchor plate to remain flush against a masonry wall that is buckled or otherwise inclined. The jointed connection also enables the anchor plate to remain in flush contact with the masonry wall should the wall move due to damage, time, temperature and/or weather.

Abstract: Mounting systems configured to operably couple a tool module with respect to a component of a medical instrument. In some aspects, the component to which the tool module is operably coupled is an elongate member that is suitable for passage through a natural orifice of the patient. The tool module may include a replaceable end cap having a needle holder adapted to pass a needle through tissue, and an actuator adapted to control movement of the needle holder arm. A suture needle with suture may be removably coupled to the needle holder. The instrument may be operably associated with a robotic system for robotic control of the component of the instrument with which the tool module is operably coupled, and/or the tool module.

Abstract: Flexible robotic systems are provided for guidance and to facilitate reliable suturing within the gastrointestinal tract. Such robotic systems provide assistance, assurance, and/or validation to compensate for the level of skill and experience of the operator, and to expedite completion of bariatric procedures approached from within the stomach.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for determining the recipe for manufacturing a semiconductor with the use of machine learning (ML) to accelerate the definition of recipes. One general aspect includes a method that includes an operation for performing experiments for processing a component, each experiment controlled by a recipe, from a set of recipes, that identifies parameters for manufacturing equipment. The method further includes an operation for performing virtual simulations for processing the component, each simulation controlled by one recipe from the set of recipes. An ML model is obtained by training an ML algorithm using experiment results and virtual results from the virtual simulations. The method further includes operations for receiving specifications for a desired processing of the component, and creating, by the ML model, a new recipe for processing the component based on the specifications.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for determining the recipe for manufacturing a semiconductor with the use of machine learning (ML) to accelerate the definition of recipes. One general aspect includes a method that includes an operation for performing experiments for processing a component, each experiment controlled by a recipe, from a set of recipes, that identifies parameters for manufacturing equipment. The method further includes an operation for performing virtual simulations for processing the component, each simulation controlled by one recipe from the set of recipes. An ML model is obtained by training an ML algorithm using experiment results and virtual results from the virtual simulations. The method further includes operations for receiving specifications for a desired processing of the component, and creating, by the ML model, a new recipe for processing the component based on the specifications.

Abstract: A system and method of retroactively reinforcing a wall of a building. An anchoring assembly is mounted into the void space between a first joist and a second joist inside the building. The anchoring assembly has two brackets that mount to the first joist and a second element on the opposite side of the same void space. A beam is attached to both the first bracket and the second bracket within the confines of the void space. An anchor plate is placed against the wall that needs reinforcement. A tensioning tether is provided that can be affixed to the anchor plate. The tensioning tether extends through both the wall and the beam. The tensioning tether can be selectively tightened to pull the anchoring plate against the wall and toward the beam. The tensioning tether inhibits the wall from moving away from the joists, therein stabilizing the wall.

Abstract: A securement insert for securing a thermometer in a nipple of a tube comprises a holding element for securing the thermometer to the securement insert, and a stop that is embodied to prevent rotary movement relative to the tube. An arrangement having a thermometer and a securement insert is also disclosed. At least one component of the securement insert is embodied and/or arranged in such a manner that the securement insert is movable in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the nipple.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for determining the recipe for manufacturing a semiconductor with the use of machine learning (ML) to accelerate the definition of recipes. One general aspect includes a method that includes an operation for performing experiments for processing a component, each experiment controlled by a recipe, from a set of recipes, that identifies parameters for manufacturing equipment. The method further includes an operation for performing virtual simulations for processing the component, each simulation controlled by one recipe from the set of recipes. An ML model is obtained by training an ML algorithm using experiment results and virtual results from the virtual simulations. The method further includes operations for receiving specifications for a desired processing of the component, and creating, by the ML model, a new recipe for processing the component based on the specifications.

Abstract: A system and method of retroactively reinforcing an exterior wall. A first anchor plate is provided having a central connection point and peripheral connection points. The center connection point is connected to an anchor tether. An opening is drilled through the exterior wall and at least some joists. The anchor tether is advanced through the drilled opening. Within the drilled opening, the anchor tether anchors to at least some of the joists. The first anchor plate is attached to the anchor tether and the anchor tether is tensioned. Secondary anchor plates can be also be attached to the exterior wall at different points. Lateral tethers are provided that interconnect the first anchor plate to the secondary anchor plates. The lateral tethers extend along the surface of the exterior wall at a perpendicular to the anchor tethers.

Abstract: A route examining system includes first and second detection units and an identification unit. The first and second detection units are configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system traveling along a route having plural conductive tracks. The first and second detection units are disposed at spaced apart locations along a length of the vehicle system. The first and second detection units are configured to monitor one or more electrical characteristics of the conductive tracks in response to an examination signal being electrically injected into at least one of the conductive tracks. The identification unit includes one or more processors configured to determine that a section of the route includes an electrical short responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics monitored by the first and second detection units indicating that the examination signal is received by only one of the first and second detection units.

Abstract: A system and method of retroactively reinforcing an exterior wall of a building. An anchoring assembly is mounted into the void space between a first joist and a second joist inside the building. The anchoring assembly has a first element that mounts to the first joist and a second element that mounts to the second joist. The anchoring assembly has an adjustable length. In this manner, the anchoring assembly can be adjusted to properly fit the void space between the first joist and the second joist. An anchor plate is provided outside the building in the area of the wall that needs to be reinforced. A tensioning tether is provided that extends through the exterior wall and mechanically joins the anchoring assembly to the anchor plate. The tensioning tether can be selectively tightened, therein biasing the anchor plate outside the building toward the anchoring assembly inside the building.

Abstract: A system and method of retroactively reinforcing an exterior wall. A first anchor plate is provided having a central connection point and peripheral connection points. The center connection point is connected to an anchor tether. An opening is drilled through the exterior wall and at least some joists. The anchor tether is advanced through the drilled opening. Within the drilled opening, the anchor tether anchors to at least some of the joists. The first anchor plate is attached to the anchor tether and the anchor tether is tensioned. Secondary anchor plates can be also be attached to the exterior wall at different points. Lateral tethers are provided that interconnect the first anchor plate to the secondary anchor plates. The lateral tethers extend along the surface of the exterior wall at a perpendicular to the anchor tethers.

Abstract: Systems for examining a route inject one or more electrical examination signals into a conductive route from onboard a vehicle system traveling along the route, detect one or more electrical characteristics of the route based on the one or more electrical examination signals, and detect a break in conductivity of the route responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics decreasing by more than a designated drop threshold for a time period within a designated drop time period. Feature vectors may be determined for the electrical characteristics and compared to one or more patterns in order to distinguish between breaks in the conductivity of the route and other causes for changes in the electrical characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method for supporting a buckled wall. The system positions a support structure adjacent the buckling wall in order to stop or diminish additional buckling. The support structure consists of a base beam that runs along the ground parallel to the wall. At least one lateral leg extends from the base beam to make a stable base. A vertical beam extends upwardly from the base. One or more jacks are used to tilt the base and the vertical beam toward the buckling wall. Contact braces are supported by the vertical beam. Each of the contact braces has a faceplate that can be individually adjusted into contact with the buckling wall. The faceplates can articulate and match the angle of the wall where contacted.

Abstract: A method of detecting hotspots in a cloud infrastructure via aggregate geolocation information of user devices is described. The method includes receiving a request to launch a virtual machine executing on behalf of a first user device and retrieving a first set of identifiers of recovery data from a first data center and a second set of identifiers of recovery data from a second data center. The recovery data may be associated with a plurality of virtual machines previously executed on behalf of a plurality of user devices. The method further includes generating a first distribution of geolocations based on the first set of identifiers and a second distribution of geolocations based on the second set of identifiers. The method includes selecting the first data center and replicating, at the first data center, recovery data associated with the virtual machine executing on behalf of the first user device.

Abstract: Systems for examining a route inject one or more electrical examination signals into a conductive route from onboard a vehicle system traveling along the route, detect one or more electrical characteristics of the route based on the one or more electrical examination signals, and detect a break in conductivity of the route responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics decreasing by more than a designated drop threshold for a time period within a designated drop time period. Feature vectors may be determined for the electrical characteristics and compared to one or more patterns in order to distinguish between breaks in the conductivity of the route and other causes for changes in the electrical characteristics.

Abstract: Systems for examining a route inject one or more electrical examination signals into a conductive route from onboard a vehicle system traveling along the route, detect one or more electrical characteristics of the route based on the one or more electrical examination signals, and detect a break in conductivity of the route responsive to the one or more electrical characteristics decreasing by more than a designated drop threshold for a time period within a designated drop time period. Feature vectors may be determined for the electrical characteristics and compared to one or more patterns in order to distinguish between breaks in the conductivity of the route and other causes for changes in the electrical characteristics.

Abstract: A method of detecting hotspots in a cloud infrastructure via aggregate geolocation information of user devices is described. The method includes receiving a request to launch a virtual machine executing on behalf of a first user device and retrieving a first set of identifiers of recovery data from a first data center and a second set of identifiers of recovery data from a second data center. The recovery data may be associated with a plurality of virtual machines previously executed on behalf of a plurality of user devices. The method further includes generating a first distribution of geolocations based on the first set of identifiers and a second distribution of geolocations based on the second set of identifiers. The method includes selecting the first data center and replicating, at the first data center, recovery data associated with the virtual machine executing on behalf of the first user device.

Abstract: Particular embodiments may provide a device capable of autonomous locomotion comprising means for autonomous locomotion, a device controller for navigation of the device by controlling the means for autonomous locomotion, and a host machine running a hypervisor, one or more user virtual machines (UVMs) and a virtual machine controller, wherein the host machine is communicably coupled to the device controller, and wherein at least one of the UVMs provides navigation instructions to the device controller.