Abstract: Articles including a multi-layer electrical contact and methods for applying the contact to a substrate are described herein. The article may include a substrate on which the multi-layer electrical contact is formed. In some embodiments, the electrical contact includes multiple metallic layers.

Abstract: A method of preparing a metatarsophalangeal joint for fusion may involve surgically accessing the metatarsophalangeal joint and separating the metatarsal from the opposed proximal phalanx at the joint. The technique may involve preparing an end of the metatarsal and preparing an end of the opposed proximal phalanx for fusion. With or without the aid of a bone positioner, the metatarsal may be moved in one or more planes, such as the frontal and transverse planes. The proximal phalanx may also be moved in one or more planes, for example relative to the moved metatarsal. Subsequently, a bone fixation device can be applied across or through the metatarsophalangeal joint separating the metatarsal from the opposed proximal phalanx.

Abstract: A nasal irrigation device communicates an irrigant to a device user and comprises a mechanics module and a reservoir assembly wherein a source of saline comprising a cartridge is disposed within the mechanics module adjacent a lid assembly for piercing the cartridge upon closing of a lid for releasing the cartridge contents into the reservoir assembly. A faux collapsible cartridge for testing operability of a nasal irrigation device comprises a housing including a shaft, a spring biased rod extending from the housing shaft, and a flange depending from a housing wall whereby the rod and flange are disposed to actuate a trigger assembly of the nasal irrigation device.

Abstract: In an example, an audio system, which may comprise an integrated circuit, comprises an amplifier and a combiner. The amplifier is configured to output a first amplified audio signal to a speaker. The combiner is configured to: receive the first amplified audio signal from the amplifier, receive a second audio signal, combine the first amplified audio signal and second audio signal into a combined signal, and output the combined signal.

Abstract: A volume interrogation system can use an accelerated beam of charged particles to interrogate objects using charged-particle attenuation and scattering tomography to screen items such as portable electronic devices, packages, baggage, industrial products, or food products for the presence of materials of interest inside. The exemplary systems and methods in this patent document can be employed in checkpoint applications to scan items. Such checkpoint applications can include border crossings, mass transit terminals (subways, buses, railways, ferries, etc.), and government and private-sector facilities.

Abstract: A predictive controller for a building energy system obtains a function that defines an amount of energy consumed by both waterside equipment and airside equipment during a time period as a summation of multiple equipment-specific energy components including a waterside energy component indicating an amount of energy consumed by the waterside equipment during the time period and an airside energy component indicating an amount of energy consumed by the airside equipment during the time period. The predictive controller performs a predictive control process using the function to determine values of the equipment-specific energy components during the time period. The predictive control process includes predicting the amount of energy consumed by both the waterside equipment and the airside equipment during the time period based on the values of the equipment-specific energy components.

Abstract: A process for forming a semiconductor package is disclosed. The process includes providing a first substrate including a first dielectric layer. The process includes overlaying a first surface of the first dielectric layer with a first bonding layer that includes aluminum. The process includes providing a second substrate including a second dielectric layer. The process includes overlaying a second surface of the second dielectric layer with a second bonding layer that includes alkoxy-siloxide. The process includes forming a third bonding layer by combining the first bonding layer and the second bonding layer so as to bond the first substrate to the second substrate.

Abstract: A system and/or method for coating a substrate. The method may include placing a substrate on a chuck with a first side of the substrate facing upward and a second side of the substrate facing downward. A coating material may be dispensed onto the first side of the substrate. A first gas may flow through a peripheral chamber of a shield member, the first gas exiting the peripheral chamber through an outlet and flowing towards the first side of the substrate. The substrate may be rotated about a rotational axis to form a film of the coating material on the first side of the substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for assessing a mental state of a subject in a single session or over multiple different sessions, using for example an automated module to present and/or formulate at least one query based in part on one or more target mental states to be assessed. The query may be configured to elicit at least one response from the subject. The query may be transmitted in an audio, visual, and/or textual format to the subject to elicit the response. Data comprising the response from the subject can be received. The data can be processed using one or more individual, joint, or fused models. One or more assessments of the mental state associated with the subject can be generated for the single session, for each of the multiple different sessions, or upon completion of one or more sessions of the multiple different sessions.

Abstract: A hydraulic drive pump system incorporates: 1) a concentric, multi-lobed cam that produces multiple strokes per revolution; 2) a piston profile that maximizes the number of large-diameter pistons arranged radially around the centerline axis; 3) a flexible piston base 50 with internal oil flow; 4) hydraulically connected cylinders which counter displacement issues raised in item 2 above; 5) variable stroke capability leading to infinitely variable output the ability to disengage unneeded cylinders from the cam; 6) integral reservoir and accumulator capacity; 7) compact, external pressure and return manifolds; 8) axially-oriented pressure and return manifolds 60, 70, and 9) a hydraulic reservoir and pressure tank integrated into the body of the pump.

Abstract: In some examples, a method for preparing one or more bones involves inserting a spacer into a space defined between a first bone and a second bone, such as a joint space between a first metatarsal and medial cuneiform. A bone preparation guide can be aligned with opposed ends of the first bone and the second bone using the spacer as an alignment reference. For example, the bone preparation guide may include an opening such that the guide can be installed across the joint space with the spacer received in the opening. A clinician may use the bone preparation guide to guide a tissue removing instrument to cut or otherwise prepare the ends of the first bone portion and second bone portion.

Abstract: A load control device for an electrical load is configured to operate in a normal mode and a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device comprises a control circuit that operates in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load between a maximum rated current and a minimum rated current. During the normal mode, the control circuit controls the operating period of a load regulation circuit between a high-end operating period and a low-end operating period. The control circuit operates in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit adjusts the low-end operating period to be less than or equal to a minimum on time of the load regulation circuit.

Abstract: A method for controlling HVAC equipment includes using a dynamic thermal model that describes heat transfer characteristics of a building to predict a temperature of the building as a function of control inputs to HVAC equipment that operate to affect the temperature of the building. The method includes obtaining time-varying utility prices and a predicted heating or cooling load for the building and performing a predictive control process using the dynamic thermal model, the time-varying utility prices, and the predicted heating or cooling load to generate the control inputs to the HVAC equipment subject to constraints on the temperature of the building.

Abstract: A technique for correcting a bone deformity, such as a bunion, may be performed using an instrument that defines a spacer body connected to a fulcrum. The spacer body portion of the instrument can be inserted into a joint space between opposed bone ends. The fulcrum body can be inserted between adjacent metatarsals. An angle set between the spacer body and fulcrum body can help properly position both features within different joint spaces for ensuring that subsequent steps of the surgical procedure are properly performed and instrumentation is appropriately aligned.

Abstract: A pump and heater assembly can include an electric motor, a pump, one or more resistive heater elements, a control module with switching electronics usable to control operation of the electric motor, and a flowpath through which a coolant fluid is flowable fluidically passing to a first manifold downstream of the pump, to both first and second flowpath segments branching from the first manifold, and to a second manifold downstream of both the first and second flowpath segments. The first flowpath segment passes proximate to the heater elements to enable heating of a portion of the coolant fluid present in the first flowpath segment. The second flowpath segment passes through the control module proximate to the switching electronics to enable cooling of the switching electronics by a portion of the coolant fluid present in the second flowpath segment. The first and second flowpath segments can be arranged fluidically in parallel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring, detecting, measuring, altering, optimizing, and/or modifying electrical power delivered to a power consuming device. The power consuming device can be a light, speakers, fans, motors, any household electronic appliance, or other power consuming device. Also disclosed are light assemblies including a first plurality of strings of red LED lights, a second plurality of strings of green LED lights, and a third plurality of strings of blue LED lights (e.g., SMD LEDs). The light assembly also includes a driver configured to intermittently supply power from a power source to the red LED lights, green LED lights, and blue LED lights. The light assembly also includes a housing to house the light assembly, the driver, the power source, and a controller.

Abstract: The quick connect vehicle attachment as disclosed herein generally includes a bayonet lug having a series of threads that engage a tow hook boss on one end and a locking pin protruding out opposite sides of an interface shoulder on another end for select slide-in reception into a bayonet housing and along a cam slot for locking engagement therewith in a pair of slotted receptacles under a spring-biased preload.

Abstract: A system that can capture a user's voice sample and, based on a comparison with other voice samples stored in a database, determine the existence of one or more musculoskeletal conditions within the user's body. The analysis of the voice sample include determining various voice characteristics of the sample against those that are in the database-stored samples to determine matches with conditions and their associated severities. The results are presented via an application that can present location and severity on a 3D avatar model.

Abstract: A method of forming a ferroelectric device includes forming a first electrode material layer over a substrate; forming a ferroelectric material layer over the first electrode material layer; forming a first non-ferroelectric material layer over the ferroelectric material layer; and forming a second electrode material layer over the first non-ferroelectric material layer, the second electrode material layer including tungsten, the ferroelectric device being formed by a stack including the first electrode material layer, the ferroelectric material layer, the first non-ferroelectric material layer, and the second electrode material layer.