Abstract: A method for measuring a neural response to a stimulus. Measurement circuitry is settled prior to a stimulus, by connecting a sense electrode to the measurement circuitry to allow the measurement circuitry to settle towards a bio-electrically defined steady state. Charge is recovered on stimulus electrodes by short circuiting the stimulus electrodes to each other. An electrical stimulus is then applied from the stimulus electrodes to neural tissue, while keeping the sense electrode disconnected from the measurement circuitry. After the stimulus, a delay is imposed during which the stimulus electrodes are open circuited and the sense electrode is disconnected from the measurement circuitry and from the stimulus electrodes. After the delay, a neural response signal present at the sense electrode is measured by connecting the sense electrode to the measurement circuitry.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing checks with machine-readable optical labels are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for processing checks with machine-readable optical labels may include (1) receiving, by a presenting bank computer program executed by an electronic device, a check comprising a machine-readable optical label printed thereon, wherein the machine-readable optical label comprises a payor bank routing number that is encrypted with a private key for a payor bank; (2) reading, by the presenting bank computer program, the machine-readable optical label; (3) decrypting, by the presenting bank computer program, the machine-readable optical label using a public key corresponding to the private key; (4) identifying, by the presenting bank computer program, the payor bank routing number from the machine-readable optical label; and (5) routing, by the presenting bank computer program, the check to the payor bank associated with the payor bank routing number.

Abstract: A system for securing a passenger seat to a track can include a fitting coupled with or forming a portion of the passenger seat; a shear plunger coupled with the fitting including a shear plunger body defining a shear plunger locking surface; a guide pin assembly that may include a guide pin movable along a lift axis between a retracted state and an extended state and a locking member extending laterally from the guide pin that may travel in response to a movement of the guide pin from the retracted state to the extended state and may engage the shear plunger locking surface in response to a rotation of the guide pin in the extended state; and a quick install tool operable to raise and twist the guide pin assembly such that the locking member is held in tension against the shear plunger locking surface.

Abstract: Techniques for improving a graphical user interface are described. In an example, a computer system receives an activity identifier of an activity in a video game and correlated locations. It builds a map of the locations from completion data indicating completion of the activity, and location data indicating where the activity was completed in the video game by other players. The identifier can be predefined in program code of the video game. Data is processed to determine where the likely location is for completing the activity in the video game. This likely location is shown as a graphical user interface element in a map.

Abstract: Described is a passenger seat assembly that may include a seat back including a rearward surface, a seat shroud positioned proximate to the rearward surface of the seat back and fixedly coupled to a seat frame, wherein the seat shroud remains stationary as the seat back moves between a stowed position and a deployed position, and at least one moveable shroud member coupled to the seat shroud at an attachment point and positioned proximate a rearward surface of the seat shroud, wherein a location of the attachment point is adjustable.

Abstract: There is provided a valve assembly suitable for use in a high temperature well, such as a geothermal well. The valve assembly comprises a tubular housing having ports to allow fluid communication between a fluid passageway in the valve assembly and the outside of the valve assembly, an outer sleeve longitudinally slidable in the tubular housing, and an inner sleeve longitudinally slidable in the outer sleeve. The outer and inner sleeves are slidable to various positions to prevent, allow or restrict flow through the ports. The valve assembly may include sealing assemblies that can withstand high temperatures, frangible plugs in the ports that can be sheared to open the ports, and/or a coupling member for coupling the inner and outer sleeve while the ports are being opened. The valve assembly may have ports configured in a manner that allows for sequential opening of the ports.

Abstract: A hybrid shaft assembly for use in controlled atmosphere chambers, such as by way of example heated pedestals for semiconductor manufacturing, includes a substrate, a hub having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being secured to the substrate with an upper joining layer, and a shaft secured to the lower portion of the hub with a lower joining layer. The shaft comprises a material having a thermal conductivity lower than a material of the hub and a material of the substrate.

Abstract: A thermal detection assembly includes a housing extending between a first end and a second end. The first end of the housing being operably coupled with a surface of a power system and the housing extending through a passage of the surface. The housing includes interior surfaces defining a cavity that has an opening proximate the second end of the housing. An indicator device is disposed within the cavity and is engaged with a thermal spring system. Characteristics of the thermal spring system change responsive to being exposed to a temperature exceeding a designated threshold. The thermal spring system controls movement of the indicator device to move the indicator device from a first position to a second position responsive to the characteristics changing. A portion of the indicator device moves out of the cavity responsive to the thermal spring system moving the indicator device to the second position.

Abstract: Described is an adjustable friction slider assembly having a rail member and a carriage assembly moveably coupled to the rail member, the carriage assembly having a bracket member and a plurality of roller elements moveably coupled to the rail member and coupled to the bracket member using a plurality of attachment members, the plurality of roller elements comprising at least one adjustable roller element coupled to the bracket member using a moveable attachment member, wherein moving the moveable attachment member adjusts a friction between the plurality of roller elements and the rail member.

Abstract: A method for joining ceramic pieces includes placing a layer of titanium on each of a first ceramic piece and a second ceramic piece; placing a layer of nickel on each of the layers of titanium; assembling the first ceramic piece and the second ceramic piece with the layers of nickel and the layers of titanium between the ceramic pieces; pressing the first ceramic piece and the second ceramic piece with the layers of nickel and the layers of titanium together; heating the first ceramic piece, the second ceramic piece, the layers of nickel, and the layers of titanium to a joining temperature in a vacuum; and cooling the first ceramic piece, the second ceramic piece, the layers of nickel, and the layers of titanium to create a hermetic seal between the first ceramic piece and the second ceramic piece.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for analysing signal windows captured subsequent to delivered neural stimuli and for providing a quality score for each signal window. The quality score is indicative of how closely the captured signal window resembles, or how likely that the captured signal window contains, an ECAP. The quality score may be provided to a process supervising a feedback loop of the closed-loop neural stimulation device delivering the stimuli and capturing the signal windows to ensure the delivered stimuli are appropriate. For example, if the score falls below a predetermined threshold, the supervisor may take a mitigation action to prevent inappropriate adjustment to the intensity of the delivered stimuli by the feedback loop, such as suspending operation of the feedback loop.

Abstract: Methods of making a composite material may include the steps of depositing a plurality of fullerenes on a first graphene sheet forming a bottom plate, placing a second graphene sheet forming a top plate on a top of the plurality of fullerenes, and fusing the plurality of fullerenes to the first graphene sheet forming the bottom plate and the second graphene sheet forming the top plate, wherein the plurality of fullerenes are converted to fullerene-derived carbon columns, and wherein the composite material comprises a tensile strength in an x-axis parallel to the plane of the graphene sheets of at least 20 GPa.

Abstract: Surgical kits for implanting a femoral fastener in a femoral bone may include the femoral fastener and at least one of: a targeting guide assembly, an anti-rotation assembly, and a plurality of tap tools. The targeting guide assembly may include a targeting guide base having a locating slot and a removal slot that are formed therethrough. The removal slot may extend from an inferior end of the targeting guide base into the locating slot. A guide pin may be placed through the locating slot and into the neck and head of the femoral bone to guide placement of the femoral fastener therein. The targeting guide base may be movable in a superior direction to release the guide pin inferiorly through the removal slot that extends from the locating slot to the inferior end of the targeting guide base.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a substrate, a semiconductor device disposed over the substrate, the semiconductor device having a surface electrode structure, and a saccharide coating formed over the surface electrode structure. The saccharide coating can be removed prior to use. The semiconductor device can further include a well and optionally a bead disposed in the well.

Abstract: An imitation learning system may learn how to play a video game based on user interactions by a tester or other user of the video game. The imitation learning system may develop an imitation learning model based, at least in part, on the tester's interaction with the video game and the corresponding state of the video game to determine or predict actions that may be performed when interacting with the video game. The imitation learning system may use the imitation learning model to control automated agents that can play additional instances of the video game. Further, as the user continues to interact with the video game during testing, the imitation learning model may continue to be updated. Thus, the interactions by the automated agents with the video game may, over time, almost mimic the interaction by the user enabling multiple tests of the video game to be performed simultaneously.

Abstract: Provided are pharmaceutical compositions and methods for preparing pharmaceutical compositions comprising coated API. Excess coating material that is not bound to coated API may be removed by a sieving process. Coating and dosing ratios can also be optimized to minimize the amount of excess unbound coating material. Additionally, the compositions can be formulated to preserve the functional coating of coated API and to minimize aeration of API when mixed into suspension.

Abstract: Systems for providing a virtual machine and authentication of a user using the virtual machine may perform operations including providing an application programming interface (API) to an electronic device; booting a virtual machine configured to emulate a type of electronic device based on a workstation to which the electronic device is connected; receiving input, using the API, from the electronic device; and providing output to the workstation using the virtual machine. In another example, the operations may include connecting, via at least one network and through an API, to a remote server; providing to the remote server, via the at least one network and the API, the captured biometric indicator; receiving, from a virtual machine executed on the remote server, at least one packet in a defined format based on the biometric indicator; and forwarding the received at least one packet to a workstation communicably connected to the electronic device.

Abstract: 3D metrology techniques are disclosed for determining a changing topography of a substrate processed in an additive manufacturing system. Techniques include fringe scanning, simultaneous fringe projections, interferometry, and x-ray imaging. The techniques can be applied to 3D printing systems to enable rapid topographical measurements of a 3D printer powder bed, or other rapidly moving, nearly continuous surface to be tested. The techniques act in parallel to the system being measured to provide information about system operation and the topography of the product being processed. A tool is provided for achieving higher precision, increasing throughput, and reducing the cost of operation through early detection and diagnosis of operating problems and printing defects. These techniques work well with any powder bed 3D printing system, providing real-time metrology of the powder bed, the most recently printed layer, or both without reducing throughput.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for forming welded and soldered connections to flexible interconnect circuits and assemblies comprising such connections. An assembly can include a weldable transition unit having a transition pad and a solderable pad. The transition pad may comprise aluminum and can be welded to the aluminum conductive trace of a flexible interconnect circuit. The solderable pad can be soldered to the electrical contact of a device (e.g., a resistor, capacitor). In some examples, the weldable transition unit may comprise a stiffener mechanically connected to the transition pad to provide mechanical support of the transition pad and devices soldered to the transition pad. In some examples, the device soldered to the weldable transition unit may include one or more individual electronic components. In some examples, the device soldered to the weldable transition unit may be a printed circuit board (PCB) having solderable traces.