Abstract: A feedthrough includes a first printed circuit board, a first flexible conductive element coupled to and extending from an edge of the first printed circuit board, a second printed circuit board, and a second flexible conductive element coupled to and extending from an edge of the second printed circuit board.

Abstract: A method and a system for configuring a strand guiding system (8, 8a, 8b) of a continuous casting machine (2) and such a strand guiding system (8, 8a, 8b). A strand guiding segment (10g-r) guides a metal strand in the strand guiding system (8, 8a, 8b). The strand guiding system (8, 8a, 8b) has a plurality of strand guiding segments (10g-r) and respective control units (22g-r), wherein each control unit (22g-r) identifies its strand guiding segment (10g-r), and each control unit (22g-r) automatically depends on the strand guiding segments (10g-r) identified by the control unit (22g-r). The strand guiding system (8, 8a, 8b) and the strand guiding segment (10g-r) are prepared for the performance of the method herein disclosed.

Abstract: A wand and hose assembly for a vacuum cleaner includes a suction wand fluidly connected to the end of a suction hose by a duct and the duct incorporates an articulating joint for allowing articulated movement of the suction wand relative to the end of the suction hose. The wand and the duct are arranged for telescopic sliding movement relative to one another, and the articulating joint is moveable into a position in which the wand can slide telescopically through the duct for retraction into the suction hose.

Abstract: Methods for identifying fungal species by analysis of fungal membrane lipids, such as glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids and sterols, using mass spectrometry ionization patterns are disclosed.

Abstract: A fixture includes a shelf upon which items may be placed. In one implementation, the shelf is supported by four load cells that provide load cell data that may be used to calculate weight data for the load on the shelf. The load cells are mounted underneath a frame, with an upper portion of a load mount extending upward through the frame and engaged to the shelf. The shelf and the frame include stiffeners to increase rigidity, improving the quality of the load cell data. Electronics and a wiring harness are located underneath the frame. In this configuration, assembly of the fixture may be accomplished completely from the underside, simplifying assembly.

Abstract: A method includes receiving data corresponding to a voltage level over time and a current level over time. The method also includes determining a first ratio corresponding to a voltage ramp percent or a voltage falling edge percent with respect to a peak in the voltage level and determining a second ratio corresponding to a current ramp ratio or a current falling edge ratio with respect to a peak in the current level. The method further includes determining, based on a comparison between the first ratio and the second ratio, whether to increment, decrement, or maintain an inductance compensation estimation value corresponding to an estimated inductance present in one or more secondary components associated with the welding operation.

Abstract: Processes and reaction mixtures including non-aqueous solvent mixtures are presented. Non-aqueous solvent mixtures including fluoride salt and non-aqueous solvent combinations are provided that possess high fluoride ion concentrations useful for a range of applications, including organic synthesis. Further non-aqueous solvent mixtures are provided including a salt possessing a non-fluoride anion and a non-aqueous solvent that, when contacted with aqueous fluoride-containing reagents, extract fluoride ions to form non-aqueous fluoride-ion solutions possessing high fluoride-ion concentrations. The salts include an organic cation that does not possess a carbon in the ?-position or does not possess a carbon in the ?-position having a bound hydrogen. This salt structure facilitates its ability to be made anhydrous without decomposition. Example anhydrous fluoride salts include (2,2-dimethylpropyl)trimethylammonium fluoride and bis(2,2-dimethylpropyl)dimethylammonium fluoride.

Abstract: A sensor to monitor health of surge arresters such as metal oxide arresters is disclosed. The sensor includes a housing; a sensor assembly contained in the housing, the sensor assembly including an electronics board to receive, transmit, process, and store signals; and a voltage measurement strap extending around a periphery of the housing, the voltage measurement strap being electrically connected to the electronics board and configured to measure voltage using electric field.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a self-expanding wire frame body, a valve disposed in the body, a leaflet clip coupled to the body, and a control element operably coupled to the leaflet clip. The body has a proximal end and a distal end. The leaflet clip is configured to be transitioned between a first configuration in which the prosthetic valve can be inserted into a heart, and a second configuration in which the leaflet clip is disposed to capture a native valve leaflet between the leaflet clip and the wire frame body when the body is disposed in a native annulus of an atrioventricular valve of a heart. The control element extends from the leaflet clip through a ventricle of the heart and out a wall of the ventricle to allow a user to transition the leaflet clip from its first configuration to its second configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to transmission and use of Discovery Reference Signal (DRS) signals are disclosed in herein. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a Transmission Point (TP) in a cellular communications network comprises transmitting, from the TP, a same one or more DRS signals using at least two different transmit beams in at least two different time resources. Each transmit beam is characterized by a direction in which it is transmitted. In this manner, the TP is enabled to reuse DRS resources, which in turn enables transmission of DRS signals on a larger number of transmit beams and, correspondingly, adaptation of measurement procedures at wireless devices to obtain measurements on those transmit beams.

Abstract: Gas-tight seal assemblies for use during minimally invasive surgery include various aspects. A wiper seal includes a sealing portion and a surrounding flex portion. Upper and lower faces of the sealing portions are angled with reference to an inserted instrument, the upper face's angle being more acute with reference to the instrument's shaft than the lower face's angle. The flex portion is corrugated, support ribs are in one or more corrugation grooves, and the support ribs allow the groove to easily collapse but resist the groove widening. The support ribs also prevent the sealing portion from inverting. An instrument insertion guide is positioned over the sealing portion and moves laterally with the sealing portion. A latch piece removably secures the seal assembly to a cannula. An anti-inversion piece prevents the wiper seal from inverting when an instrument is withdrawn.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a housing, a flow controller, and a piston. The housing defines an inlet port, an outlet port, a flow path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a pilot chamber configured to be in fluid communication with a pilot. The flow controller is positioned along the flow path. The piston is positioned to separate the pilot chamber from the flow path. The piston includes a first end in fluid communication with the pilot chamber and an opposing second end positioned to engage the flow controller with a pilot force that varies based on a pressure at the pilot.

Abstract: An energy collection system uses one or more airborne energy collection vehicles having a lighter-than-air balloon structure. The balloon structure has an outer gas envelope formed of a substantially inelastic material and an inner gas envelope at least partially separate from the outer gas envelope, contained within the outer gas envelope and separated from the outer gas envelope by a flexible diaphragm. The space between the outer and inner gas envelopes is filled with air. An air chamber pressurization mechanism maintains the outer gas envelope gas pressure at a target value. An energy storage facility receives energy from a photovoltaic collector array and converts the received energy to stored energy. Storage of the received energy can be accomplished by conversion of a precursor to a high energy fuel as the stored energy, by use of storage batteries or by storage in an inertial mass.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for providing a secure data channel between a user and associates. The method may receive pushed information from an associate, including, e.g., an update to the user profile information, related information, or personalized content for the user. The method can convey to the user, personal information including a selectable union of the user profile information, the related information, and/or the personalized content. The method can further share access to the personal information to a family, where the family can include another user, users, or multiple related users. The pushed information can include textual, digitized audio, digitized video, graphical image, or other data, and can include prescription, automobile service, or purchased product information, or voicemail messages.

Abstract: An access control apparatus includes a selectively-lockable access portal for a facility, an order number entry terminal, and a control circuit operably coupled to the foregoing components and configured to control a lock state of the selectively-lockable access portal as a function of an order number entered via the order number entry terminal. By one approach the order number entry terminal includes a keypad and is disposed proximal to a corresponding selectively-lockable access portal. By one approach the aforementioned order number comprises an advanced shipping notice (ASN) number.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a radio node for a Radio Access Network. The radio node is adapted for communicating in the Radio Access Network based on a scheduled slot aggregation comprising a plurality of slots, wherein a slot format of at least one slot of the slot aggregation is adapted based on a structure of the slot aggregation. The disclosure also pertains to related methods and devices.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for collecting and stabilizing biological samples, and more particularly, for collecting and stabilizing blood or other bodily fluids from a user's fingertip, earlobe, heel or other locations. The present invention also relates to sample collection devices that simplify the process for mixing the biological samples with an additive or additives, provide for efficient storage and safe transport of the samples, and provide for easy access to the samples for subsequent processing.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides boron-containing diacylhydrazines having Formula I: and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are defined as set forth in the specification. The present disclosure also provides the use of boron-containing diacylhydrazines is ecdysone receptor-based inducible gene expression systems. Thus, the present disclosure is useful for applications such as gene therapy, treatment of disease, large scale production of proteins and antibodies, cell-based screening assays, functional genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and regulation of traits in transgenic organisms, where control of gene expression levels is desirable.