Abstract: One example method for video conference acceleration includes connecting, by an accelerator device, to a local area network (“LAN”), the LAN in communication with a wide area network (“WAN”); transmitting, via the LAN and the WAN, registration information to a video conference provider, the registration information identifying network configuration information; receiving, from the video conference provider via the WAN and the LAN, an identifier corresponding to the accelerator device; after receiving the identifier, receiving, from a first client device, a request to access a meeting; determining whether the meeting is available at the accelerator device; and in response to determining that the meeting is available at the accelerator device, transmitting access information to the first client device.

Abstract: An articulating driver having a ball-in-socket joint. The driver may include a driver tip having a spherical head, a retention cap having a domed surface to mate with the spherical head, an input shaft, a spring disposed in an end of the input shaft and in a recess of the retention cap opposite that of the domed surface, and a housing that receives the input shaft, the spring, the retention cap and the spherical head. The housing may have a tapered end to positionally retain the spherical head therein. In another aspect, the driver may include a driver tip coupled to the input shaft that includes an interface to engage a screw. A bushing may engage the driver tip at one end and receive the screw at the other end to retain the screw within the driver.

Abstract: According to one aspect, mechanisms already in vehicles may be substantially repurposed or reconfigured to facilitate autonomous driving. Cruise control controls, e.g, a cruise control stem or stick, in a vehicle may be configured for use to activate and to deactivate an autonomous mode in the vehicle. By repurposing cruise control controls to activate and to deactivate an autonomous mode, drivers may efficiently activate and deactivate the autonomous mode while a vehicle operates, a vehicle includes an autonomy system, an activator mechanism, and a cruise control system. The autonomy system is configured to enable the vehicle to operate in an autonomous mode when the autonomy system is in an active state. The activator mechanism including a toggle having a first toggle state and a second toggle state.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition and method for improving the selectivity of nitride etching versus oxide etching and can be used with conventional phosphoric acid wet etch compositions. The invention describes additives that serve to inhibit silicon, oxides, and related compounds regrowth (i.e., redeposition) on the silicon oxide surface. In certain embodiments, the invention provides certain amino-substituted aryl compounds which are bound to a tri-alkoxy silane.

Abstract: A forest fire retardant composition contains a retardant compound that includes a phosphate salt. The phosphate salt may include diammonium phosphate, diammonium orthophosphate, monoammonium phosphate, monoammonium orthophosphate, monosodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, disodium phosphate hydrate, sodium ammonium phosphate, sodium ammonium phosphate hydrate, sodium tripolyphosphate, trisodium phosphate, or dipotassium phosphate, and combinations thereof. The forest fire retardant composition may include an ammonium source. The composition may be in the form of a dry concentrate, a liquid concentrate, or a final diluted product. The final diluted product is effective in suppressing, retarding, and controlling forest fires while exhibiting corrosion resistance and low toxicity.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a spinal implant. The spinal implant may be used for lateral insertion into an intervertebral disc space. For example, the spinal implant may include a spacer body to which a plate is fixed. The intervertebral spacer body may include a pair of opposite sides having a pyramid-shaped teeth to fuse to bone. The plate defines at least one upper and lower borehole that each receives a screw. Each screw attaches the plate to a vertebral body between which the intervertebral spacer body is inserted. The boreholes may include locking threads that are adapted to lock the screws into place by engaging complementary locking threads of head of the screw.

Abstract: A pumping system utilizes a linear actuator to move a shaft attached to two pistons within cylinders to pump a working fluid. A housing is designed with coolant passageways and one-way valves such that movement of the shaft also pumps coolant past cooling fins and over a motor. The shaft is formed of several sections joined by couplers which slide within a bore of the housing. The couplers have a non-round shape and the bore has a complimentary non-round cross section such that rotation of the shaft is prevented.

Abstract: An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition and method for improving the selectivity of nitride etching versus oxide etching and can be used with conventional phosphoric acid wet etch compositions. The invention describes additives that serve to inhibit silicon, oxides, and related compounds regrowth (i.e., redeposition) on the silicon oxide surface. In certain embodiments, the invention provides certain amino-substituted aryl compounds which are bound to a tri-alkoxy silane.

Abstract: A forest fire retardant composition contains a retardant compound that includes a phosphate salt. The phosphate salt may include diammonium phosphate, diammonium orthophosphate, monoammonium phosphate, monoammonium orthophosphate, monosodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, disodium phosphate hydrate, sodium ammonium phosphate, sodium ammonium phosphate hydrate, sodium tripolyphosphate, trisodium phosphate, or dipotassium phosphate, and combinations thereof. The forest fire retardant composition may include an ammonium source. The composition may be in the form of a dry concentrate, a liquid concentrate, or a final diluted product. The final diluted product is effective in suppressing, retarding, and controlling forest fires while exhibiting corrosion resistance and low toxicity.

Abstract: A digital media system is configured to provide modified concurrent video streams to a client device. A plurality of concurrent video streams is accessed. The plurality of concurrent video streams includes a first concurrent video stream. It is detected that the first concurrent video stream is selected for display in a primary window among a set of windows to be displayed on a display screen. A second concurrent video stream is generated based on the first concurrent video stream. The plurality of concurrent video streams is modified by adding the generated second concurrent video stream to the plurality of concurrent video streams. The modified plurality of concurrent video streams is provided to a device configured to display the modified plurality of concurrent video streams concurrently together in corresponding different windows among the set of windows.

Abstract: An articulating driver having a ball-in-socket joint. The driver may include a driver tip having a spherical head, a retention cap having a domed surface to mate with the spherical head, an input shaft, a spring disposed in an end of the input shaft and in a recess of the retention cap opposite that of the domed surface, and a housing that receives the input shaft, the spring, the retention cap and the spherical head. The housing may have a tapered end to positionally retain the spherical head therein. In another aspect, the driver may include a driver tip coupled to the input shaft that includes an interface to engage a screw. A bushing may engage the driver tip at one end and receive the screw at the other end to retain the screw within the driver.

Abstract: A point-of-care system with a diagnostic tool and a base station with a display and in communication with the diagnostic tool is described. Used in diagnosing health conditions for a tissue under analysis, the diagnostic tool includes a handle and a head portion. The head portion includes a speculum and optical spectroscopy (OS) data acquisition components positioned within the head portion. The OS data acquisition components are configure to (i) emit light toward the tissue under analysis, (ii) receive light reflected at least in part from the tissue under analysis based on the emitted light, and (iii) determine reflectance spectra associated with the received light. Either the diagnostic tool or a base station includes analytic components configured to (i) generate diagnostic metrics including characteristics of the reflectance spectra and (ii) compare these characteristics to data associated with characteristics of known reflectance spectra associated healthy and/or unhealthy tissue of patients.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method comprising includes identifying a remote control as attempting to pair with a first vehicle, and determining whether the remote control is authorized to pair with the first vehicle, wherein determining whether the remote control is authorized to pair with the first vehicle includes determining whether credentials associated with the remote control indicate that the remote control is authorized to pair with the first vehicle. The method also includes causing the remote control to pair with the first vehicle when it is determined that the remote control is authorized to pair with the first vehicle, wherein causing the remote control to pair with the first vehicle enables the remote control to remotely control the first vehicle.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method includes obtaining, at a first unit, a first signal, and storing an indication of an arrival time of the first signal in a register of the first unit. The method also includes obtaining a digital signal to be provided to a controller area network (CAN) circuit system, the CAN circuit system being included in the first unit, adding the indication to the digital signal, wherein adding the indication to the digital signal creates an updated digital signal, and providing the updated digital signal to the CAN circuit system.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method includes detecting at a vehicle which includes an ultra-wideband (UWB) communications system, a presence of a first device, and pairing the vehicle and the first device, wherein pairing the vehicle and the first device causes the vehicle and the first device to communicate using UWB communications. The method also includes exchanging information between the vehicle and the first device using the UWB communications after the vehicle and the first device are paired, and performing an action using the vehicle, wherein the action is based on the information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides cube-shaped satellite primary structures, each comprised of six identical, or nearly identical, rectangular truss panels and internal struts. The struts, all adjustable in length, connect, and are directed between all cube opposite corners and all cube opposite panel centers. All struts meet at the cube center where they attach rigidly to either a block called the “nucleus fitting” or to a hollow sphere. Each strut attaches to either a ball-socket corner fitting located at the interior corner of the cube, or to a ball-socket panel center fitting located at the panel center interior to the cube.

Abstract: A device for leveling a surface; the device includes a shaft, a handle-means and a head-assembly. The shaft is selectively retractable, and the head-assembly is foldable to enable compact storage. The device is for personal use by a user in leveling a surface; for example, a sand bunker/sand trap on a golf course. In some versions, the device further includes an attachment-means for attaching the device to a bag.

Abstract: A valve, including: a valve seat including a seating surface with an outer edge furthest, an inner edge, and a first portion; and a valve body including a sealing surface with an outer edge, an inner edge, and a first portion. In a closed position, the first portion of the sealing surface is in contact with the first portion of the seating surface to block flow through the valve. The sealing surface tapers from the first portion of the sealing surface to the inner edge of the sealing surface or the outer edge of the sealing surface, or the seating surface tapers from the first portion of the seating surface to the inner edge of the seating surface or the outer edge of the seating surface. In the open position, the first portion of the sealing surface is free of contact with the first portion of the seating surface.

Abstract: A retractor includes a first arm, a second arm, and a translating member. The first arm comprises a proximal portion configured to retain a first retractor member and a distal portion configured to rotate relative to the proximal portion about a first axis. The second arm is configured to retain a second retractor member, such that rotation of the distal portion about the first axis causes the first retractor member to pivot toward or away from the second retractor member when the first retractor member and the second retractor member are coupled to the first arm and the second arm, respectively. The translating member is coupled between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and is configured to receive a drive force that causes the translating member to bias the distal portion to pivot relative to the proximal portion about the first axis.