Abstract: The present disclosure provides ammunition magazines and followers for use in a firearm, such as an AR15 or M16 firearm, that prevent contact between the bullet portion of a cartridge and interior surfaces of the firearm's receiver portion during transfer of the cartridge from the magazine to the firearm's chamber.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a transaction of a controlled substance. The method may include providing a computer-implemented data repository, providing a governing body to approve distributors to form a network of distributors, communicating governing body data, communicating controlled substance distributor data, and communicating distributor administrator data, distributor employee data, and controlled substance recipient data all to the computer-implemented data repository.

Abstract: A magnetic stimulation system has at least two magnetic coils, each coil to generate an induced electric field of a magnitude having a desired effect on a brain, at least two frequency controllers, wherein each coil is electrically connected to a corresponding frequency controller, the frequency controllers to adjust a frequency of power supplied to the corresponding coils according to a desired interference pattern, and at least one power source to provide power to the frequency controllers corresponding to each coil. A method of operating a magnetic stimulation system includes generating two or more signals to apply to two or more coils, each signal corresponding to one of the at least two coils, wherein at least two coils receive different signals and the different signals differ at least in frequency according to a desired temporal interference pattern.

Abstract: A railroad brake stick can include: a head having a planar shape with a recesses and/or protrusions on one or more side surfaces of the planar shape, the planar shape having a head interlocking groove on a hilt region; a cross-support having a planar shape with a support interlocking groove interlocked with the head interlocking groove such that the planar shape of the head crosses with the planar shape of the cross-support to form an interlocking region; and a handle coupled to the head and cross-support such that the interlocking region is within an end of the handle. In some aspects, a cover is over the handle. n some aspects, the head is a composite material and the cross-support is a composite material and the handle is a composite material.

Abstract: A railroad brake stick head has a head body formed of a lightweight durable material. A railroad brake stick head includes a head body having two opposing planar surfaces spaced apart by at least one sidewall that includes at least one concave sidewall region, wherein the head body is formed of a first material having a first hardness. At least one brace implant is at least partially embedded in at least one concave sidewall region, wherein each brace implant is formed of a second material having a second hardness that is harder than the first hardness. The head body includes at least one implant recess formed into the at least one concave sidewall region, and the at least one brace implant is in the at least one implant recess. Each brace implant can be coupled with the head body, such as by friction fit, adhesive, fastener, or combination thereof.

Abstract: A magnetic stimulation system includes a magnetic coil to generate an electric field of a magnitude having a desired effect on a brain, a voltage to current source to generate a current waveform having an amplitude and frequency to produce the electric field, and a controller to control the voltage to current source and to apply the current to the magnetic coil to provide perturbation of brain tissue using one or more periods of either continuously induced electric field with constant amplitude and frequency, or periods of electric field with at least one of amplitude and frequency modulation.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a transaction of a controlled substance. The method may include providing a computer-implemented data repository, providing a governing body to approve distributors to form a network of distributors, communicating governing body data, communicating controlled substance distributor data, and communicating distributor administrator data, distributor employee data, and controlled substance recipient data all to the computer-implemented data repository.

Abstract: A railroad brake stick can include: a head having a planar shape with a recesses and/or protrusions on one or more side surfaces of the planar shape, the planar shape having a head interlocking groove on a hilt region; a cross-support having a planar shape with a support interlocking groove interlocked with the head interlocking groove such that the planar shape of the head crosses with the planar shape of the cross-support to form an interlocking region; and a handle coupled to the head and cross-support such that the interlocking region is within an end of the handle. In some aspects, a cover is over the handle. n some aspects, the head is a composite material and the cross-support is a composite material and the handle is a composite material.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising interconnects located in a layer on a semiconductor substrate. The circuit also comprises dummy-fill-structures located between the interconnects in the layer. The dummy-fill-structures form a plurality of fiducials, each of the fiducials being located in a different region of the layer. Each fiducial comprises a pre-defined recognition pattern that is different from every other fiducial in adjacent regions of the layer.

Abstract: An assembly for ensuring a correct lateral positioning of an elongated material conveyed along a feeder system and prior to a forming operation. The elongated material is fed from such as an unreeling coil and includes first and second lateral edges. First and second bodies are located along the feeder system and in communication with at least one of the lateral edges associated with the elongated material. Each of the bodies includes a fixed component secured to a rail extending laterally above the feeder system. A laterally displaceable component is biasingly secured to the fixed component and includes a roller in communication with a selected lateral edge of the elongated material. The bodies are laterally displaced, upon misalignment of the elongated material relative to the biasingly engaged roller. A sensor associated with each of the bodies causes an alarm signal to be issued to a processor, indicating the misalignment condition.

Abstract: An element handling system utilizes an element retrieval device and a decoder. The element retrieval device is configured to retrieve and transport a movable element in response to control data. The decoder is coupled to the element retrieval device. The decoder is configured to filter a combined power and control signal to recover an encoded control signal. The decoder is further configured to decode the control signal to recover the control data.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a Schottky diode 22 having a semiconductor substrate 3, a first metal 24, a barrier layer 26, and second metal 28. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing a Schottky diode 22 that includes providing a semiconductor substrate 3, forming a barrier layer 26 over the semiconductor substrate 3, forming a first metal layer 23 over the semiconductor substrate 3, annealing the semiconductor substrate 3 to form areas 24 of reacted first metal and areas 23 of un-reacted first metal, and removing selected areas 23 of the un-reacted first metal.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a Schottky diode 22 having a semiconductor substrate 3, a first metal 24, a barrier layer 26, and second metal 28. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing a Schottky diode 22 that includes providing a semiconductor substrate 3, forming a barrier layer 26 over the semiconductor substrate 3, forming a first metal layer 23 over the semiconductor substrate 3, annealing the semiconductor substrate 3 to form areas 24 of reacted first metal and areas 23 of un-reacted first metal, and removing selected areas 23 of the un-reacted first metal. The method further includes forming a second metal layer 30 over the semiconductor substrate 3 and annealing the semiconductor substrate 3 to form areas 28 of reacted second metal and areas 30 of un-reacted second metal.

Abstract: A method for preparing a sample includes separating a portion of substrate from a sample, performing focused ion beam milling, and removing additional sample material using an etchant.

Abstract: An element handling system utilizes an element retrieval device and a decoder. The element retrieval device is configured to retrieve and transport a movable element in response to control data. The decoder is coupled to the element retrieval device. The decoder is configured to filter a combined power and control signal to recover an encoded control signal. The decoder is further configured to decode the control signal to recover the control data.

Abstract: Data cartridge detection systems and methods. An embodiment of a method comprises detecting a signal reflected from a data cartridge in a picker assembly. Moving the picker assembly after a loading operation only if the detected signal indicates the data cartridge is engaged in the picker assembly. The method may further comprise moving the picker assembly after an unloading operation only if the detected signal indicates the data cartridge is disengaged from the picker assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting a data cartridge in a cartridge engaging assembly. A signal emitter may be positioned adjacent the cartridge engaging assembly to emit a signal. A signal detector mounted to the cartridge engaging assembly may detect the signal. The signal detector generates output to indicate whether the data cartridge is present in the cartridge engaging assembly based on the detected signal.