Abstract: A method for detecting refractive errors in the eye that are attributable to a suboptimal surface shape of the front surface and/or rear surface of the cornea. An OCT volume scan and/or one or more OCT line scans of the front eye section are carried out; using the measured values, the front and rear surface of the cornea are detected by an edge detection process; the topography of the front and rear surface of the cornea are determined; and refractive errors are determined from said topographies.

Abstract: Turbine nozzles are provided for gas turbine engines. The turbine nozzle includes an arcuate inner band; an arcuate outer band; and a nozzle vane disposed between the arcuate inner band and the arcuate outer band. The radially inner end of the nozzle vane is attached to the arcuate inner band through an interlocking transition zone including a plurality of projections alternately extending from the radially inner end of the nozzle vane and the arcuate inner band, respectively, to undetachably couple the nozzle vane and the arcuate inner band. Optionally, the radially outer end of each nozzle vane is also attached to the arcuate outer band through an interlocking transition zone.

Abstract: A bladed disk for a gas turbine engine is provided. The bladed disk includes a rotor disk, a plurality of rotor blades, and an interlocking transition zone. The rotor disk includes a plurality of fused layers of a first material formed via additive manufacturing and defines an outer rim. The plurality of rotor blades includes a plurality of fused layers of a second material formed via additive manufacturing. The interlocking transition zone includes a plurality of projections alternately extending from the outer rim of the rotor disk and the plurality of rotor blades, respectively, to undetachably couple the rotor disk and the plurality of rotor blades.

Abstract: A method, including obtaining data relating to electric hearing, obtaining data relating to acoustic hearing and preparing a prescription for a multimodal hearing prosthesis for an individual based on the obtained data relating to the electric hearing and the acoustic hearing. In an exemplary embodiment, the method entails comparing the data relating to electric hearing to the data relating to acoustic hearing and preparing the prescription based on the results of the comparison.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for casting thin strip including assembling a pair of counter-rotating casting rolls forming a gap between the casting surfaces of the rolls at a nip between the rolls through which metal strip can be cast; assembling side dams adjacent end portions of the rolls to permit a casting pool of molten metal to be formed on the casting surfaces; counter-rotating the rolls such that the casting surfaces each travel inwardly toward the nip to form metal shells on the surfaces of the rolls and deliver a cast strip downwardly from the gap between the rolls with a mushy internal portion; and providing a drive mechanism to oscillate the gap amplitude between the casting rolls between ±5 and ±50 microns at a frequency between 1 and 7 hertz to vary thickness of the mushy internal portion in the cast strip and reduce chatter during casting.

Abstract: Compliant bellow seal may be axially disposed between first and second cooling plates bounding first and second cooling passages between cooling plates and first and second stage disks in turbine. Bellow seal includes two or more convolutions with oppositely facing forward and aft sealing surfaces, which may be flat, on forward and aft annular sealing walls and cylindrical annular outer and inner contact and sealing surfaces on and facing radially outwardly or inwardly from one of the convolutions. A snake bellow seal embodiment may have at least two of the convolutions being full convolutions of unequal width and a forwardmost partial convolution including the sealing wall. Bellow seal may allow turbine cooling flow from an inter-stage radial face spline to flow through inner openings of second cooling passage and block first stage disk cooling air from flowing through inner openings of first cooling passage.

Abstract: Analysis and graphical rendering of subscriber data is provided. A data analysis component is provided that obtains a set of subscriber data, correlates various subsets of the subscriber data to determine a plurality of data relationships, and graphical renders the subscriber data as a heat map, a fractal map, a tree map, a three dimensional plot, a three dimensional map, a graph, a chart, etc. based on a scale associated with the data relationships. In addition, the data analysis component can obtain a set of line number portability data that can be correlated with the various subsets of the subscriber data to determine the data relationships.

Abstract: A system for restoring muscle function to the lumbar spine to treat low back pain is provided. The system may include electrodes coupled to an implantable pulse generator (IPG), a handheld activator configured to transfer a stimulation command to the IPG, and an external programmer configured to transfer programming data to the IPG. The stimulation command directs the programmable controller to stimulate the tissue in accordance with the programming data. The system may include a software-based programming system run on a computer such that the treating physician may program and adjust stimulation parameters.

Abstract: In implementations of creating a communication group, a mobile device can receive a selection to enable communication of location information between devices that correspond to entities from a group of entities associated with a user of the mobile device. The mobile device can receive location information that describes a physical location or proximity of the devices that correspond to the entities, and present in a user interface on a display device, a visual representation that indicates at least one of the entities is at a location within a pre-set distance of the mobile device. A communication group can be created that includes the entities selected from the group of entities associated with the user of the mobile device. The mobile device can also communicate the location information of the mobile device to all of the devices that correspond to the entities as a group communication based on the communication group.

Abstract: A method and system for file transfer over a messaging infrastructure are provided. The method includes dividing a file into multiple portions. The method includes generating for a current portion of a file, except for the first portion in a file, a first hash summarizing the state of the file up to, but not including, the current portion and a second hash summarizing the state of the file up to and including the current portion. The method includes sending the first and second hashes with the file portion. The second hash may be used at a target for comparing to a first hash of a subsequent file portion, for example, by recreating the second hash from the current state of the received file on the target.

Abstract: A device receives an analog voltage signal over a single physical electrical connection. The analog voltage signal can be converted into a digital value which can then be correlated to (i) an indication of a connection state of the primary device, and (ii) information about another device (or set of devices) which is connected to the device.

Abstract: An example system, for analyzing biometric data, is disclosed. The system includes a sensor unit to measure biometric data of a user. The system also includes a controller unit coupled to the sensor to perform an analysis of the biometric data based on at least one predetermined criteria and determine at least one setting adjustment for a device based on the analysis. Further, the system includes a communication unit to deliver an instruction from the controller to the device. The instruction includes the at least one setting adjustment associated with the device.

Abstract: Provided herein are antibacterial compounds, wherein the compounds in some embodiments have broad spectrum bioactivity. In various embodiments, the compounds act by inhibition of bacterial type 1 signal peptidase (SpsB), an essential protein in bacteria. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treatment using the compounds described herein are also provided.

Abstract: A method for producing an active ingredient-containing medium from cultured plant cells, selected from the Hoodia genus, is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (i) incubating a mixture of cultured plant cells of the genus Hoodia and a liquid media in light; (ii) separating the incubated mixture into a first portion and a second portion; (iii) passing the first portion through a tangential flow filter to produce a filtrate containing only media and a retentate containing cultured plant cells; (iv) passing the filtrate through a nano-filter to obtain a nano-retentate having a high concentration of steroidal glycosides; (v) reintroducing some of the nano-retentate into the second portion; and (vi) repeating steps (i) to (v) using the second portion. The medium may be either plant cells or a plant extract.

Abstract: An active implantable medical device comprising a therapeutic device, a controller and at least one rechargeable battery, wherein a single hermetically sealed housing encapsulates a therapeutic device, controller and rechargeable battery. A hermetically sealed housing additionally encapsulates a wireless interface and a commutator.

Abstract: A clamp device (100) for mounting equipment to a support structure (200) including a base (105) and a slider (110). The base (105) includes a first trough (155) formed in the front side (140) of the base (105) and a second trough (160) formed in the back side (145) of the base (105) and a first coupling element located on the first lateral side (130) and a second coupling element located on the second lateral side (135) of the base (105). Each of the first and second coupling elements extend from near the top end (120) of the base (105) towards the bottom end (125) of the base (105) at an angle relative to the first trough (155). The slider (110) includes a channel (185) on a back side (145) of the slider (110) and corresponding coupling elements within the channel (185) configured to slidingly engage the first and second coupling elements upon association of the slider (110) with the base (105).

Abstract: An LED assembly comprises a string of LEDs. An electrical connector electrically connects the plurality of LEDs and provides the physical support between the LEDs. Lamps incorporating the LED assembly are provided. Methods of making the LED assembly are also provided.

Abstract: An additively manufactured fastener and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The fastener includes a shank defining an internal passageway and a head defining a distribution plenum in fluid communication with the internal passageway. The head further defines a cooling face defining a plurality of cooling holes for receiving a flow of cooling air from the internal passageway and the distribution plenum. In addition, an impingement baffle is positioned in the distribution plenum and defines impingement holes for directing the flow of cooling air onto the cooling face.

Abstract: Analysis and graphical rendering of subscriber data is provided. A data analysis component is provided that obtains a set of subscriber data, correlates various subsets of the subscriber data to determine a plurality of data relationships, and graphical renders the subscriber data as a heat map, a fractal map, a tree map, a three dimensional plot, a three dimensional map, a graph, a chart, etc. based on a scale associated with the data relationships. In addition, the data analysis component can obtain a set of line number portability data that can be correlated with the various subsets of the subscriber data to determine the data relationships.