Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems and methods of actuating a downhole tool, having the steps of providing a conductor having a first end positioned at a surface location and a second end positioned at a downhole location, cycling the wellbore through varying pressures of well fluids, moving a balance piston with the various pressures of well fluids to build pressure within a hydraulic boost assembly, transmitting an electrical signal through from above the wellbore, through the conductor, and arriving at the downhole location, receiving the signal at the downhole location, and utilizing the pressure within the hydraulic boost assembly to transition the downhole tool from a first configuration to a second configuration in response to the signal. In some embodiments, a hydraulic boost assembly may build pressure from a cycling of well fluid pressures for later use by the system.

Abstract: Systems/methods are disclosed wherein, responsive to instructions received from a destination device, wireless transmissions to the destination device are enabled comprising first, second, third and/or fourth non-overlapping intervals of time; respective first, second, third and/or fourth pluralities of subcarriers; respective first, second, third and/or fourth sets of frequencies; and respective first, second, third and/or fourth air interfaces that differ from one another in a physical layer aspect thereof. Analogous systems/methods of wirelessly receiving from the destination device are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide a method of actuating a downhole tool, comprising the steps of providing a conductor having a first end positioned at a surface location and a second end positioned at a first downhole location within a wellbore, receiving an electrical signal from the conductor at the first downhole location, transmitting an acoustic signal through the wellbore, starting at the first downhole location and arriving at the second downhole location, receiving the acoustic signal at the second downhole location, moving a spring-forced piston in response to the acoustic signal, and actuating the downhole tool from a first configuration to a second configuration by moving the piston.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronic device automatically updates the orientation of a virtual object in a three-dimensional environment based on a viewpoint of a user in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, an electronic device automatically updates the orientation of a virtual object in a three-dimensional environment based on viewpoints of a plurality of users in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, the electronic device modifies an appearance of a real object that is between a virtual object and the viewpoint of a user in a three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, the electronic device automatically selects a location for a user in a three-dimensional environment that includes one or more virtual objects and/or other users.

Abstract: A method performed a local device that is communicatively coupled with several remote devices, the method includes: receiving, from each remote device with which the local device is engaged in a communication session, an input audio stream; receiving, for each remote device, a set parameters; determining, for each input audio stream, whether the input audio stream is to be 1) rendered individually or 2) rendered as a mix of input audio streams based on the set of parameters; for each input audio stream that is determined to be rendered individually, spatially rendering the input audio stream as an individual virtual sound source that contains only that input audio stream; and for input audio streams that are determined to be rendered as the mix of input audio streams, spatially rendering the mix of input audio streams as a single virtual sound source that contains the mix of input audio streams.

Abstract: A launcher for launching a flying vehicle, such as a projectile or missile, includes a cutter for cutting a line, such as an umbilical line, that is coupled to the vehicle prior to launch. An example of a line is a tube for providing cooling for onboard components of the vehicle, such as a seeker of the vehicle. The cutter may be part of a mount of the launcher for mounting the line and other components, such as a compressor. The cutter may be configured so that as the vehicle translates relative to the launcher during the initiation of launch, the line moves against the cutter, severing the line. The cutter may retract after severing the line, for example being pulled away from the vehicle (and into the mount) by a spring mechanism.

Abstract: A funds-transfer system enables a buyer to transfer funds to a seller via a mobile telephone. The system receives a payment request transmitted from a mobile telephone of the buyer. The payment request is for a transfer of funds from a financial account held by the buyer to a financial account held by the seller, and the payment request is transmitted from a payment application stored in the buyer's mobile telephone. The payment request identifies a purchase amount to be transferred, and information identifying the financial account held by the buyer. The system charges the purchase amount to the financial account held by the buyer and transfers the purchase amount to a financial account held by the seller.

Abstract: In some examples, an account is provisioned onto an electronic device. In some examples, the device receives a value to fund the account provisioned on the electronic device. In some examples, the electronic device transacts with a contactless transaction terminal using the provisioned account and displays an indication of the transaction. In some examples, the electronic device transmits information corresponding to the provisioned account without checking for authentication. In some examples, the device receives user input initiating a process for moving the account from a first device to a second device. In some examples, the device receives account payment credentials from a second device when a set of payment criteria are met.

Abstract: A computer system, while displaying a representation of a physical environment and a first user interface object, detects a portion of a user at a first location within the physical environment, and in response, ceases to display a first portion of the first user interface object while maintaining display of a second portion of the first user interface object. A representation of the portion of the user is visible where the first portion of the first user interface object was previously displayed. In response to detecting movement of the user from the first location to a second location, the computer system restores display of the first portion of the first user interface object, ceases to display the second portion of the first user interface object, and displays the representation of the portion of the user where the second portion of the first user interface object was previously displayed.

Abstract: A pH-modulating poly(glycerol sebacate) composition includes poly(glycerol sebacate) and at least one pH-modulating agent associated with the poly(glycerol sebacate). A process of making a pH-modulating poly(glycerol sebacate) composition includes forming a poly(glycerol sebacate) by a water-mediated reaction from glycerol and sebacic acid and associating at least one pH-modulating agent with the poly(glycerol sebacate). A process of modulating a pH of a buffered aqueous solution includes placing a pH-modulating poly(glycerol sebacate) composition in a buffered aqueous solution. The pH-modulating agent is released into the buffered aqueous solution during degradation of the poly(glycerol sebacate) to reduce a decrease in pH of the buffered aqueous solution caused by degradation of the poly(glycerol sebacate).

Abstract: Provided are a kiosk and method for anonymously relaying content from a public kiosk to a portable electronic device. The method includes receiving user input corresponding to content requested by a user, and accessing information stored by a non-transitory computer-readable medium. With at least one computer processor, an output comprising a computer-readable code encoding the content requested by the user is generated, and displayed using a computer display device operatively connected to the at least one computer processor. The computer-readable code, as a result of being captured by an optical imaging device provided to the portable electronic device, is interpreted to cause the portable electronic device to execute computer-executable instructions stored by the portable electronic device to perform an operation corresponding to the computer-readable code.

Abstract: While displaying a three-dimensional scene including physical elements and virtual elements, a computer system detects a sequence of user inputs for increasing a level of immersion of the three-dimensional scene. In response, the computer system increases the quantity of virtual elements displayed in the scene, including displaying an animated transition to replace a portion of a first region occupied by a first set of physical elements with virtual elements in response to a first input, and displaying another animated transition that replaces a portion of a second region occupied by a subset of the remaining physical elements with virtual elements in response to a second input following the first input, wherein virtual elements occupy increasing portions of the scene after each of the first input and the second input.

Abstract: A probing system includes a device-under-test, a probe device, and a die bonder. The device-under-test includes test patterns. The probe device includes tilt angle sensors. The tilt angle sensors include spikes that protrude from the probe device. The die bonder is operational to mount the device-under-test, mount the probe device facing the device-under-test, compress the probe device and the device-under-test together to causes a subset of the spikes to contact the test patterns, measure a number of connections formed between the tilt angle sensors and the test patterns, determine a first offset angle and a second offset angle between the device-under-test and the probe device based on the number of connections, adjust the spherical positioner in one or more rotational axes in response to the first offset angle and the second offset angle to change a parallelism between the device-under-test and the probe device.

Abstract: A method of slicing wafers from a monocrystalline semiconductor ingot includes attaching a circumferential edge of the ingot to a bond beam and positioning sacrificial disks adjacent longitudinal end faces of the ingot. One sacrificial disk is positioned adjacent each of the longitudinal end faces. The method also includes connecting the bond beam to a wire saw that includes a wire web and performing a slicing operation on the ingot by operating the wire saw to drive the wire web and move the bond beam and the ingot in a movement direction towards the wire web to slice the wafers from the ingot.

Abstract: A system for slicing wafers from a monocrystalline semiconductor ingot includes a wire saw, a bond beam, the monocrystalline semiconductor ingot, and two sacrificial disks. The wire saw includes a wire web and wire guides operable to drive the wire web during a slicing operation. The bond beam is connected to the wire saw. The wire saw is operable to move the bond beam in a movement direction towards the wire web during the slicing operation to slice the wafers from the ingot. The ingot includes longitudinal end faces and a circumferential edge extending between the longitudinal end faces. The ingot is attached to the bond beam along the circumferential edge. One sacrificial disk is positioned adjacent each of the longitudinal end faces of the ingot to inhibit uncontrolled breakage of the wafers during the slicing operation.

Abstract: A method including establishing a packet-switched connection between a first device and a second device is provided. The method includes transmitting a first plurality of packets that include first real-time voice information over the packet-switched connection using an allocated frequency resource. The method includes maintaining allocation of the frequency resource to the packet-switched connection during an interval of time that is devoid of voice activity detected by either the first device or the second device. The method includes transmitting a second plurality of packets that include real-time voice information over the packet-switched connection using the frequency resource.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for treatment of pain, such as joint pain, using capsaicin in a procedure that attenuates transient burning sensation experienced by patients due to capsaicin administration. The methods desirably provide relief from joint pain, such as osteoarthritic knee joint pain, for an extended duration, such as at least about 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, or 1 year. To attenuate the adverse side effect of a transient burning sensation caused by capsaicin-induced neuronal excitation, the methods utilize a cooling article, such as a material wrap cooled via a circulating fluid, to reduce the temperature of tissue to be exposed to capsaicin to within a certain range for certain durations of time, optionally in combination with administering a local anesthetic agent, resulting in the substantial reduction or even elimination of transient burning sensation caused by capsaicin.

Abstract: A superconducting input and/or output system employs at least one microwave superconducting resonator. The microwave superconducting resonator(s) may be communicatively coupled to a microwave transmission line. Each microwave superconducting resonator may include a first and a second DC SQUID, in series with one another and with an inductance (e.g., inductor), and a capacitance in parallel with the first and second DC SQUIDs and inductance. Respective inductive interfaces are operable to apply flux bias to control the DC SQUIDs. The second DC SQUID may be coupled to a Quantum Flux Parametron (QFP), for example as a final element in a shift register. A superconducting parallel plate capacitor structure and method of fabricating such are also taught.

Abstract: A computer system displays a first view of a three-dimensional environment including a first representation of a first portion of a physical environment. While displaying the first view, the computer system detects movement of a first user from a first location to a second location of the physical environment, and in response: if the second location corresponds to a first type of exercise, the computer system replaces at least a portion of a second representation of a second portion of the physical environment that includes the second location with virtual content corresponding to the first type of exercise; and if the second location corresponds to a second type of exercise, the computer system replaces at least a portion of a third representation of a third portion of the physical environment that includes the second location with virtual content corresponding to the second type of exercise.

Abstract: A hybrid quantum-classical (HQC) computer takes advantage of the available quantum coherence to maximally enhance the power of sampling on noisy quantum devices, reducing measurement number and runtime compared to VQE. The HQC computer derives inspiration from quantum metrology, phase estimation, and the more recent “alpha-VQE” proposal, arriving at a general formulation that is robust to error and does not require ancilla qubits. The HQC computer uses the “engineered likelihood function” (ELF) to carry out Bayesian inference. The ELF formalism enhances the quantum advantage in sampling as the physical hardware transitions from the regime of noisy intermediate-scale quantum computers into that of quantum error corrected ones. This technique speeds up a central component of many quantum algorithms, with applications including chemistry, materials, finance, and beyond.