Abstract: A two-stage machine learning model is used to for categorization of a dataset, such as transactions. A plurality of complementary base machine learning models are used to generate initial inference results and associated measures of inference confidence from the dataset, which are collected as a meta dataset. Each of the complementary models is associated with a different part of the dataset in which it has a higher accuracy in that part than the other models. The meta dataset is provided as input to a meta machine learning model, which is trained to produce a final inference result, and a confidence score model, which is trained to produce a confidence score associated with the final inference result.

Abstract: A fastening device includes at least one base portion and at least one fastener portion. The base portion is connected to a first object and the fastener portion is slidably assembled to the base portion. The fastener portion cooperates with the base portion to provide a locking and an unlocking function for connecting or disconnecting a second object to or from the base portion. With these arrangements, two objects can be repeatedly and quickly connected to or disconnected from each other.

Abstract: A positioning device includes a body. The body is adapted to be disposed on a first object. The first positioning member is movably connected to the body or a second positioning member. The second positioning member is movably connected to the body or the first positioning member, and the first positioning member is located between the second positioning member and the first object. The present disclosure further provides a method of use of a positioning device.

Abstract: A fastening device includes at least one base portion and at least one fastener portion. The base portion is connected to a first object and the fastener portion is slidably assembled to the base portion. The fastener portion cooperates with the base portion to provide a locking and an unlocking function for connecting or disconnecting a second object to or from the base portion. With these arrangements, two objects can be repeatedly and quickly connected to or disconnected from each other.

Abstract: A system, method and software product for simulating fracture propagation in brittle materials is disclosed. Using the fracture energy release rates and the critical separations of the three fundamental fracture modes obtained independently from experiments, and a user defined normalized curve representing the traction-separation law, the present invention simulates the fracture propagation in a non-linear dynamic analysis. By using either dimensional or dimensionless effective separation approach, the actual tractions are calculated at each solution cycle based on user's choice. In addition, loading, unloading and reloading conditions are also continuously traced to ensure the proper constitutive equations are used. Three fracture modes are seamlessly mixed and integrated.

Abstract: A system, method and software product to simulate guided cable contacts is disclosed. The guided cable contact includes a slave node and an associated beam. A normal vector is established between the slave node's projection point and the slave node. Each of the slave node and two end nodes of the beam has three translational degrees-of-freedom. A spring is placed between the slave node's projection point and the slave node. The spring constant is assigned such that the spring is substantially stiffer than that of the beam. The guided cable contact stiffness matrix is then calculated using the spring constant, the normal vector, the length of the beam, and the distance between the first end node of the beam and the projection point. According to one aspect, the guided cable contact may be used for modeling human spinal column.