Abstract: A method of fabricating of an object includes causing a first heat source to heat a feed material to form a melt pool of the feed material on a surface. The method further includes causing a second heat source to heat the melt pool on the surface to regulate grain formation of the feed material in the melt pool as the melt pool cools and solidifies on the surface to form at least a portion of the object. The method also includes causing the first heat source and the second heat source to move relative to the surface as the melt pool is formed and cooled.

Abstract: Methods and means for improving open enrollment and new hire enrollment and registration in insurance products are provided, and more specifically, methods and means for improved, more efficient methods for communicating updates regarding enrollment details and their registration in insurance products are provided.

Abstract: A system for adjusting the damper force on the suspension system of a bicycle is provided. Sensors are placed on the front shock and rear shock to measure the amplitude of displacement or acceleration in the time domain and generate a zenith position, velocity, force, and work based on the measured values. The system calculates a curve fit approximation curve for the relationships of zenith position versus velocity and uses the approximation curves to generate and display recommended damper settings for the front shock and rear shock. Using the data ensures that the bicycle suspension data is balanced, such that the front shock and rear shock respond similarly to the same event.

Abstract: A release device for a vaporizable and/or sublimateable pesticide is provided. The release device is suitable for use against subterranean pests (e.g. fire ants). The release device may be driven into and/or placed in a cavity within the soil or other substrate where the pests reside. The release device comprises a vapor injector which releases the pesticidal composition through apertures into the pest habitat, where it is distributed in vapor form.

Abstract: A method for providing localized jamming effects includes using a processor onboard a vehicle to perform the steps of: receiving a jamming command to simulate a jamming effect on a particular sensor onboard the vehicle; and generating a jamming effect in a model of the particular sensor in response to the jamming command. The jamming effect in the model of the particular sensor simulates the jamming effect on the particular sensor being generated by an entity other than the vehicle.

Abstract: A reusable shipper container has a container body with a payload chamber for holding goods and a lid operable to access the payload chamber. The reusable shipper container also has one or more sensors in the payload chamber to senses a humidity or temperature of the payload chamber or the goods. The reusable shipper container also has a tablet display screen detachably coupled to the container body that wirelessly communicates with the sensors in the payload chamber and that displays one or more of an electronic shipping label, packing instructions, return instructions and maintenance status.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a content distribution system enables user devices to access digital content through a variety of access elements, such as QR codes, URLs, App Clips, Data Matrix codes, and NFC tags, allowing flexible distribution of digital media without requiring a dedicated content access device. The system includes a content distribution server configured to receive check-out requests from user devices, provide metadata, and process open content commands containing identifiers of the digital content and the user. The server verifies user authorization and provides a license response to authorized devices, enabling content consumption based on licensing terms. The system can integrate with library systems to facilitate user registration and library membership applications remotely, and provides analytics for tracking user engagement and content utilization.

Abstract: A hydraulic regenerative braking system is provided for using hydraulic fluid to capture energy from a vehicle during a braking event. The system captures kinetic energy from a shaft of the vehicle and stores the kinetic energy as hydraulic potential energy. That is, the system captures rotational energy as hydraulic potential energy in an accumulator. The hydraulic regenerative braking system also discharges the hydraulic potential energy as kinetic energy. During braking, kinetic energy is transferred from the vehicle shaft to a gearbox, and from the gearbox to a hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump uses the kinetic energy to pump hydraulic fluid to an accumulator, increasing the hydraulic potential energy stored in the accumulator. During driving, the hydraulic fluid is released from the accumulator to the hydraulic pump, generating kinetic energy that is transferred to the vehicle shaft via the gearbox.

Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for non-invasive monitoring and measuring of intraocular pressure (IOP) of a subject. Embodiments include a lens that is adapted to fit on the subject's eye, a microstructure disposed in or on the lens, the microstructure having at least one feature that exhibits a change in shape and/or geometry and/or position on the lens in response to a change in curvature of the lens. When the curvature of the lens changes in response to a change in IOP, a corresponding change in shape and/or geometry and/or position of the feature may be used to determine the change in IOP. The change in the feature is detectable in digital images of the lens taken with a mobile electronic device such as a smartphone.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first acoustic sensing resonator formed from a silicon substrate and has a first microelectromechanical system. The apparatus also includes a second acoustic sensing resonator formed from the silicon substrate and has a second microelectromechanical system. The second acoustic sensing resonator is arranged on the silicon substrate at a ninety degree (90°) angle with respect to the first acoustic sensing resonator and together the first acoustic sensing resonator and second acoustic sensing resonator form a torque sensor. A high temperature bonding surface is connected to the torque sensor for directly connecting the torque sensor to a metal object.

Abstract: Dynamic in-route reconfiguration in a satellite network includes receiving at least one of transmit power capability and demand requirements from one or more active satellite terminals of the satellite network, determining a resulting in-route configuration during operation of the satellite network based on the received at least one of transmit power capability and demand requirements, comparing the determined resulting in-route configuration to a current in-route configuration. When the determined resulting in-route configuration is different from the current in-route configuration, establishing the determined resulting in-route configuration as the current in-route configuration and storing the established current in-route configuration in a dynamic in-route reconfiguration manager, and transmitting the established current in-route configuration to the one or more active satellite terminals.

Abstract: A loading apparatus for a round baler for loading a roll of binding material on the round baler is disclosed comprising a binding material support displaceable about a first end between a storage position and a transfer position, in which when in the storage position a first end of the binding material support is raised relative to a second end of the binding material support and when in the transfer position the first end of the binding material support is lowered relative to the second end of the binding material support.

Abstract: A fan assembly includes a fan body, a motor-driven impeller contained within the fan body and arranged to generate an air flow, a nozzle including a nozzle body having an air inlet arranged to receive the air flow from the fan body, and one or more air outlets arranged to emit the airflow from the fan assembly. The fan assembly further includes a nozzle retaining mechanism for releasably retaining the nozzle on the fan body, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the nozzle body relative to the fan body. The nozzle rotation mechanism includes a rotation motor arranged to drive a drive member and a driven member that is arranged to be driven by the drive member to rotate around a rotation axis.

Abstract: An electrical energy storage device for use in an electrical distribution grid where storage may be located across various voltage transitions throughout the network, enabling energy to bypass stepdown transformers, monitoring on both sides of a transformer, and power conditioning to optimize transformer and grid performance.

Abstract: Limit size lipid nanoparticles, methods for using the lipid nanoparticles, and methods and systems for making limit size lipid nanoparticles.

Abstract: A system for accessing a remote third-party server is provided that includes an electronic device having a memory to store executable instructions and one or more processors. When implementing the executable instructions the one or more processors are configured to communicate with a remote authentication server, obtain a two-factor authentication that is communicated to the remote authentication server, and access a remote third-party server based on the two-factor authentication communicated to the remote authentication server.