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: 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: 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: Exemplary embodiments provide systems, devices and methods for the fabrication of three-dimensional polymeric fibers having micron, submicron and nanometer dimensions, as well as methods of use of the polymeric fibers.

Abstract: In some examples, an array sensor temperature control system is provided. The system may include an array sensor for generating a two-dimensional image, the two-dimensional image including a plurality of pixels or cells indicative of a temperature of a monitored component; a controller for controlling a heating or cooling device to adjust the temperature of the monitored component; and an array sensor controller activated by a power source and being in communication with the array sensor and controller.

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.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator when receiving a stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator. A controller is configured to send the stator current through the stator at a current angle measured from the closest one of a pole of the rotor, determine a desired operational output of the electric machine, and determine a desired rotor motion corresponding to the desired operational output of the electric machine. The controller is further configured to calculate a vector control modulation applied to the stator that elicits the desired rotor motion, and adjust the current angle of the stator current based on the vector control modulation to cause the rotor to perform the desired rotor motion and achieve the desired operational output of the electric machine.

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: Methods and systems for controlling an asset tracking device and, in particular, determining when an asset tracking device attached to a trailer is in close proximity to a truck. The device may enter a sleep mode when the trailer has been coupled to a truck with an electronic logging device (ELD). Thereafter, the device ceases obtaining a GPS location and transmitting the location to a central server. While the trailer and truck remain coupled, the device leverages the ELD by using it to send its GPS location to the central server and therefore, prolong its battery life.

Abstract: A layered assembly for use in a controlled atmosphere chamber includes a plurality of substrates and an electrically functioning layer embedded between two adjacent substrates of the plurality of substrates, the electrically functioning layer being a material configured to secure the two adjacent substrates together using a solid-state bonding process. An electrical termination area is integral with the electrically functioning layer, and a peripheral sealing band is embedded between and extends around a periphery of internal faces of the two adjacent substrates, the peripheral sealing band being a material configured to secure and seal the two adjacent substrates together using the solid-state bonding process. Dielectric regions are present between the two adjacent substrates and between edge boundaries of the electrically functioning layer, the dielectric regions being sealed between the two adjacent substrates by the peripheral sealing band.

Abstract: Described are passenger seat bottom assemblies that include a layered seat bottom assembly formed of a first face sheet, a lightweight core layer, and a second face sheet bonded together, preferably in a flat or substantially flat arrangement. The core layer can be a honeycomb structure, e.g. a metal or aluminum honeycomb, or a foam, that confers a high strength and stiffness to the seat bottom assembly with minimal forming and minimal weight.

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

Abstract: A method includes: determining a mass of a golf shaft having a length; determining a center of mass of the golf shaft; determining one or more characteristics of an insert based on: the mass of the golf shaft; and a target mass for golf shafts having the length; determining a location of the insert between a first end of the golf shaft where a golf grip is to be attached and a second end of the golf shaft where a golf club head is to be attached based on: the center of mass of the golf shaft; and a target center of mass for golf shafts having the length; and inserting an insert having the determined one or more characteristics within an interior of the golf shaft at the determined location, thereby creating an interference fit between the insert and the interior of the golf shaft.