Abstract: Distractor and retractor systems and methods of using the same. A pedicle-based distractor assembly may include a base supporting a distraction rack, a pair of moveable arms coupled to the distraction rack, a connector at the end of each arm, each connector having a through-opening, and a pair of distractor elements each configured to attach to a pedicle screw. Each distractor element may be positioned through the through-opening in the respective connector. The distractor elements are modular such that different types of distractor elements, such as headless posts, pre-assembled posts, or minimally invasive towers, are interchangeable with the connectors. The assembly may also include a retractor assembly with a medial retractor blade for retracting soft tissue.

Abstract: An inlet cover mechanism for an air launched vehicle includes a quick release pin, a chassis, a collar, and a piston pin. The inlet cover mechanism facilitates attachment and deployment of an inlet cover with the air launched vehicle. The quick release pin is connected to the inlet cover. The chassis is connected to the air launched vehicle. The collar is connected to the chassis and is releasably engageable with the quick release pin. The piston pin is slidably engaged within the chassis and is configured to contact the quick release pin.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a device connectivity services system. A method for using the device connectivity services includes receiving a request to connect with a device to perform one or more tasks at the device, processing the request with respect to connectivity factors related to the request and the device, scheduling the request based on the connectivity factors, instantiating a controller to execute the one or more tasks at the device, sending commands to the device over a connection to perform the one or more tasks, and receiving responses from the device over the connection after completing the one or more tasks.

Abstract: A flow cytometer of a blood analyzer including a transverse-electric (TE) laser diode, a flow cell, a quarter wave plate (QWP), a plurality of lenses, and a side scatter detector. The TE laser diode is configured to output a laser beam along an optical axis and has a fast axis full width at half maximum (FWHM) divergence of from about 16 degrees to about 25 degrees. The QWP is disposed along the optical axis between the TE laser diode and the flow cell and configured to circularly polarize the laser beam. The plurality of lenses is disposed between the TE laser diode and the flow cell and configured to focus the laser beam at the flow cell.

Abstract: A substrate for use in an aqueous slurry has a polymeric coating to provide a compliant and sticky surface. The polymer coating has a chemical to render the surface hydrophobic so as to attract hydrophobic or hydrophobized mineral particles in the slurry. The substrate can take the form of a conveyor belt, a bead, a mesh, an impeller, a filter or a flat surface. The substrate can also be an open-cell foam. The polymeric coating can be modified with tackifiers; plasticizers; crosslinking agents; chain transfer agents; chain extenders; adhesion promoters; aryl or alky copolymers; fluorinated copolymers and/or additives; hydrophobicizing agents such as hexamethyldisilazane; inorganic particles such as silica, hydrophobic silica, and/or fumed hydrophobic silica; MQ resin; and/or other additives to control and modify the properties of the polymer.

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: This disclosure describes methods, processes and devices that remove or release organics from ores, such as phosphate ores or secondary sources such as mine tailings or waste. The method comprises: preparing an ore to a pre-set size; mixing the ore with a reagent having an initial pH value in a slurry comprising the ore and the reagent; and while mixing the slurry, maintaining a pH level in the slurry to a pH range. While mixing the slurry, the slurry may produce a supernatant containing organic material removed from the ore and sediment containing refined ore. The method may also screen the slurry to create a first stream of materials that does not pass through the screen and a second stream of materials and refined ore that pass through the screen.

Abstract: An apparatus can include a plate that can couple with a non-conductive header of a battery pack. The plate can form a conductive path between the header and the battery pack.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to vaporization systems and interchangeable elements forming such systems. In particular, a plurality of control devices may be interchangeably combined with one or more cartridges to provide an overall vaporization system that provide customizable vaporization characteristics for a consumer. The vaporization system further can include at least one external connection device for charging and/or data communication.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing edge computing assisted vehicle alerts. A multi-access edge computing (MEC) server may be configured to obtain a plurality of messages from one or more vehicles, determine formation of a traffic queue based on the plurality of messages, determine a plurality of zone-based speed limits, determine when a vehicle approaching the traffic queue may be traveling faster than desired based on its location relative to an applicable zone-based speed limit, and generate one or more alerts.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to an enclosure for a battery pack. The enclosure may include one or more casted portions, such as a casted front member and a casted rear member. The casted portions may provide benefits including reducing a number of seal paths on the enclosure, facilitating serviceability of various electrical components from a bottom of the battery pack, reducing a number of parts of the enclosure, facilitating efficient battery pack assembly, facilitating connector placement for ergonomics and/or damage protection, facilitating placement of vents, providing casted in lid, lung, and/or skid plate attachments, and/or improving strike reinforcement features.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device. The aerosol delivery device comprises one or more rechargeable batteries, charging circuitry including an electrical connector configured to interconnect the one or more rechargeable batteries with a power supply, and a sensor configured to detect an action of using the aerosol delivery device by a user and output a signal. The aerosol delivery device also comprises a microprocessor coupled to the charging circuitry and the sensor, the microprocessor, in response to receiving the signal from the sensor, is configured to control the aerosol delivery device to allow vaping or puffing by a user while the aerosol delivery device is connected to a charger.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing roadside assistance services are described herein. The system may include network computing devices and computing devices associated with user vehicles and service vehicles. The system may predict incoming requests for roadside services, and may allocate service providers among various geographical regions and/or time slots to handle the incoming requests. The system may receive a request for a roadside service from a user. The system may select an appropriate service provider to assist the user, and may assign the service request to the selected service provider.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device comprising a control device that is connectable with a cartridge and that can include one or more additional elements for improving one or both of visible indications of use to a user and resistance to infiltration of liquid into the control device. More particularly, the control device may include a light guide configured for transmitting to a window from a light source that is off-set from the window and a controller configured to direct a varying level of light from the light source. The control device may include one or more elements that are configured to limit infiltration of liquids into the control device and thus may be consider to be water-resistant or water-proof.

Abstract: A biocomposite formulation comprising a polyamide, an engineering polyester and biocarbon. The biocomposite can be reinforced with various additives, including reactive compatibilizers, bio-sourced carbons, nanofillers and recycled carbon fibers.

Abstract: A system includes: a golf range; targets on the golf range; a building including golf bays including golf ball dispensers, each including a receptacle, a passageway, a gateway, and a display device embedded in the golf ball dispenser; at least one golf ball sensor; one or more computers communicatively coupled with the at least one golf ball sensor and the golf ball dispensers, the one or more computers being configured to track a golf ball in flight on the golf range, identify where the golf ball lands on the golf range, identify the golf bay from which the golf ball was hit, and present information, regarding the golf ball hit from the golf bay, on the display device of the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay, the information being in accordance with where the golf ball lands on the golf range.

Abstract: In an approach to X-ray inspection image display systems, a colorized X-ray inspection image is received comprising a monochrome X-ray inspection image that is colorized in accordance with an X-ray inspection system false colorization scheme. The colorized X-ray inspection image is filtered by performing pixel shading on the colorized X-ray inspection image to generate a custom colorized X-ray inspection image having a custom false colorization scheme that is different from the X-ray inspection system false colorization scheme.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus for receiving golf balls include an apparatus including: a body having an ingress and an egress for golf balls passing through the body, wherein each of the golf balls includes a radio frequency identification tag; at least one antenna of a radio frequency identification reader, the at least one antenna arranged with respect to the body to receive information from the golf balls for identification of the golf balls; and multiple protrusions located within the body, the multiple protrusions being positioned with respect to each other in a Galton configuration that both (i) impedes the golf balls from passing through the body without being read by the radio frequency identification reader, and (ii) allows the golf balls to pass through the body without jamming therein.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device. The aerosol delivery device comprises one or more rechargeable batteries, charging circuitry including an electrical connector configured to interconnect the one or more rechargeable batteries with a power supply, and a sensor configured to detect an action of using the aerosol delivery device by a user and output a signal. The aerosol delivery device also comprises a microprocessor coupled to the charging circuitry and the sensor, the microprocessor, in response to receiving the signal from the sensor, is configured to control the aerosol delivery device to allow vaping or puffing by a user while the aerosol delivery device is connected to a charger.

Abstract: A clock data recovery circuit includes a deglitch filter circuit and a timer circuit. The deglitch filter circuit is configured to remove pulses of less than a particular duration from a data signal to produce a deglitched data signal. The timer circuit is coupled to the deglitch filter, and is configured to compare a duration of a pulse of the deglitched data signal to a threshold duration, and identify the pulse as representing a logic one based on the duration of the pulse exceeding the threshold duration.