Abstract: The present invention relates to a pipe puller having a face plate that can be positioned to avoid a sewer pipe when being used to remove pipe made of lead or other material. The pipe pulling apparatus can be used with a machine such as a mini excavator. The pipe pulling apparatus has a mount that attaches it to the machine. The apparatus further has a frame with a top and a bottom. The top is rotatably and lockably connected to the mount with a pin lock. Two legs can be independently secured to the bottom of the frame. The face plate can be oriented for use with left/right/both legs by rotating and flipping the face plate. Face plate bears against the pit wall. The selected orientation of the plate allows for clearance of the sanitary sewer pipe when the water pipe is being pulled.

Abstract: An aperture for detecting a laser beam misalignment, the aperture comprising: a body including a first opening and defining a first axis; a beam dump; an optical element including a second opening wherein the first opening and the second opening are coaxial with the first axis, the optical element being configured to redirect a misaligned laser beam to a detector or to split a misaligned laser beam into at least two sub-beams; a laser beam detection system configured to detect laser light, wherein the optical element is configured to direct a first sub-beam to the beam dump, and to direct a second sub-beam to the laser beam detection system. Also described is an aperture including an enclosure, a method of detecting misalignment of a laser beam, a radiation source comprising such an aperture, a lithographic apparatus comprising such a radiation source or aperture, and the use of the same in a lithographic apparatus or method.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging system includes an X-ray detector; a plurality of X-ray sources configured to illuminate the X-ray detector from different perspectives; a shutter in a transmission plane between each X-ray source controlling transmission of X-rays from each X-ray source to the X-ray detector; and a processor configured to receive and process X-ray data from the X-ray detector. The shutter may be configured to illuminate the X-ray detector alternately with each X-ray source. The processor may determine 3D information about an object from the processed X-ray data. Also provided are methods for processing X-ray data and different embodiments of shutters to alternately illuminate X-ray detectors.

Abstract: A cemented carbide material includes WC, Co and Re, in the amounts of between around 3 to around 10 wt. % Co and between around 0.5 to around 15 wt. % Re. The equivalent total carbon (ETC) content of the cemented carbide material with respect to WC is between around 6.3 wt. % to around 6.9 wt. % and the cemented carbide material is substantially free of eta-phase and free carbon. There is also disclosed a polycrystalline diamond construction having a substrate formed of such cemented carbide material bonded to a body of polycrystalline diamond material along an interface, the body of polycrystalline diamond material having a region adjacent the interface with the substrate which includes a plurality of diamond grains at least partially coated in rhenium carbide.

Abstract: A cutting element (30) includes a substrate (40); and a body of superhard polycrystalline material (34) bonded to the substrate (40) along an interface, the body of superhard polycrystalline material having a peripheral side edge (42). The body of superhard polycrystalline material has a cutting surface (34); a plurality of spaced apart cutting edges (36) extending to the cutting surface (34) through respective chamfer portions (38), the cutting edges being spaced around the peripheral side edge; a plurality of recesses/regions (48) extending from the cutting surface (34) towards the substrate, adjacent cutting edges (36) being spaced apart by a respective one of said recesses/regions (48); and a protrusion or recessed region extending from the cutting surface about a central longitudinal axis of the cutting element. A method of making such a cutting element is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments provide an NDEF interface on a co-badged user card (e.g., a payment card storing multiple payment applications or accounts) to modify the payment application selection status on the co-badged card using a mobile application provided on a user device with NDEF support. The NDEF interface on the co-badged card allows communication with the mobile application stored on the user device operating a variety of operating systems (e.g., iOS and Android).

Abstract: A germ alert system sends a public alert to a plurality of user computer devices, and transmits an activation signal to activate a plurality of disinfection devices in response to the detection of a potential epidemic. The system performs the steps of receiving a triggering alert of the potential epidemic, transmitting the public alert via a computer network to the plurality of user computer devices, and transmitting the activation signal to the plurality of disinfection devices.

Abstract: Various methods and edge computing systems are disclosed that implement a versatile elastic edge compute (vEEC) system that includes a computing mesh including two or more edge computing nodes (ECNs). The ECNs may be configured to identify ECNs in the vEEC and their capabilities, determine resource requirements for one or more software applications or tasks within the vEEC system, dynamically scale network resources based on the determined requirements, resolve network congestion by redistributing tasks among ECNs based on network traffic analysis, implement failover to cloud resources for ECNs that face resource limitations, offload computational tasks from edge devices, monitor network performance and resource utilization for adjustments, and refine resource allocation models and system configurations based on feedback and performance metrics.

Abstract: Various methods and edge computing systems are disclosed that implement a versatile elastic edge compute/architecture (vEEC) that includes a computing mesh including two or more edge computing nodes (ECNs). The ECNs may be configured to manage application offloading in the vEEC system by monitoring ECN performance against set key performance indicators (KPIs), identifying service issues in ECNs not meeting KPIs, and determining alternative ECNs for running affected applications. The operations may further include checking for suitable ECNs within a local group and extending the search to external groups if necessary. Upon finding a suitable ECN, the system facilitates the transfer of the application from the original ECN to the alternative ECN.

Abstract: Various methods and edge computing systems are disclosed that implement a versatile elastic edge compute/architecture (vEEC) that includes a computing mesh including two or more edge computing nodes (ECNs).

Abstract: Bone and joint stabilization devices or systems are described that include multiple-layer bodies. The approach offers dramatically improved fatigue life as compared to one-piece spring members that are otherwise similar or comparable. Coordinated improved-strength anchor embodiments, anchor loading tools and methods of use are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a dosing system for an inhalation device, comprising a filling chamber (10); a reservoir chamber (31) which supplies liquid (3) to an aerosol generator (301); and a plunger (20) which includes an overflow chamber (25) and which is pivotable about a hinge (50). The filling chamber has an inner wall (12) which is higher on the side adjacent to the hinge than on the opposite side. When the filling chamber is filled with liquid and the plunger is pivoted into the filling chamber, part of the liquid is displaced over the lower side (17) of the inner wall into the reservoir chamber and some or all of the remaining liquid is displaced into the overflow chamber. The invention also provides an inhalation device comprising the dosing system and a method for dosing liquid to the inhalation device.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to genetically modified microorganisms of the genus Paenibacillus, for the improvement of phenotypes of plants, for example nitrogen availability for non-leguminous plants. Included are novel strains of the microorganisms, microbial consortia, and agricultural compositions comprising the same. Furthermore, the disclosure teaches methods of utilizing the described microorganisms, microbial consortia, and agricultural compositions comprising the same, in methods for imparting beneficial properties to target plant species. In particular aspects, the disclosure provides methods of increasing desirable plant traits in agronomically important species, for example nitrogen fixation, utilization, regulation, uptake, acquisition, tolerance, and/or processing in plants.

Abstract: A medication vial lock comprising a first arm having a body, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a slot located on one side of the first arm, a second arm pivotally engaged with the first arm, the second arm having a body, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a slot located on one side of the second arm, wherein the slot located on the first arm and the slot located on the second arm are designed to encircle a medicine vial, a first aperture on the first arm extending through the body from the upper surface to the lower surface, a first lock aperture on the first arm extending through the body from the upper surface to the lower surface, and a second lock aperture on the second arm extending through the body from the upper surface to the lower surface.

Abstract: A method comprises accessing historical signal and other information received from a tracking device configured to scan for signals transmitted by local devices and record other data as the tracking device moves within the geographic area during each of a plurality time intervals. A training dataset is generated based on the historical signal and other information and used to train a machine learning model configured to predict tracking device movement patterns. The machine learning model is applied to current signal and other information to detect a variance from one or more predefined routines associated with the tracking device. A notification is sent to a monitoring device associated with the tracking device in response to detecting the variance from the one or more predefined routines associated with the tracking device.

Abstract: A method comprises accessing historical signal and other information received from a tracking device configured to scan for signals transmitted by local devices and record other data as the tracking device moves within the geographic area during each of a plurality time intervals. A training dataset is generated based on the historical signal and other information and used to train a machine learning model configured to predict tracking device movement patterns. The machine learning model is applied to current signal and other information to detect a variance from one or more predefined routines associated with the tracking device. A notification is sent to a monitoring device associated with the tracking device in response to detecting the variance from the one or more predefined routines associated with the tracking device.

Abstract: A method monitors radiation incidence onto an object being prepared for and/or undergoing radiation delivery. The monitoring method includes: emitting a light field onto a surface of an object being prepared for and/or undergoing radiation delivery, the light field at least substantially corresponding to radiation incidence of the radiation delivery; monitoring the light field being reflected from the surface of the object; and processing the monitored light field to determine the radiation incidence of the radiation delivery relative to the object at least partially based on the monitored light field.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a monitoring system for use with a medical apparatus to monitor the position of a patient. The monitoring system can include at least one visual sensor providing visual data, at least one processing unit configured to generate, based on the visual data, one or more views; and at least one display for displaying the one or more generated views.