Abstract: An inline variable sonic valve is provided that includes a housing defining an inlet and an outlet positioned inline along a gas flow axis. A contoured metering plug is fixed within the housing and a diverging sleeve is movably positioned within the housing downstream of the contoured metering plug. An actuator is positioned offline from the gas flow axis and is configured to move the diverging sleeve within the housing relative to the contoured metering plug fixed therein to vary a gas metering area defined between the contoured metering plug and the diverging sleeve. The actuator may be hydraulic, fueldraulic, pneumatic, or electric, and may drive the diverging sleeve discretely to an open or a closed position, or to a variable position between the open and closed position when a position senor is included to meter the flow therethrough.

Abstract: A machine learning model can be developed and deployed to detect a water-based vessel, such as a maritime vessel, using acoustic data collected from sensors structured to detect sound traveling in water caused by operation of the water-based vessel. Information received from satellite tracking of vessels (either transponder based signals or imagery of a body of water having the vessels) can be used as a label to train the machine learning model to discern acoustic signatures related to the labelled vessel. The acoustic data is collected from a water-based platform, such as a buoy, which includes one or more acoustic sensors. Other sensor types can also be used to train the data-based model on other aspects of the vessel, such as radar, infrared, electro-optical, and/or lidar. The buoys can be mounted to the seafloor or permitted to be free floating of the type that can either maneuver itself or be required to be repositioned from time to time. More than one buoy can be used to collect data.

Abstract: A light emitting display can be formed from tiles mounted within a certain distance range with respect to each other and with an established blending region positioned towards the edges of the tiles. A tile can be a matrix of light emitting elements, such as LEDs, OLEDs, quantum dots, or other element that emits light. The tolerance of spacing between tiles can allow for less precision in alignment during installation in a theatre, thereby reducing display assembly cost but still maintaining a display for displaying an image at a high quality with reduced or eliminated appearance of visual artifacts between tiles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and reporting the status of paper ballots for mail-in voting are provided. The paper ballots are monitored during their transit to and/or from the voters. Reports regarding the status of such paper ballots may be provided to the voters and/or the elections division. Such reports may facilitate increased transparency into the mail-in voting process.

Abstract: A method for processing of a cryptographically auditable transaction includes: receiving payment data, wherein the payment data includes at least a primary account number; transmitting the primary account number to a computing system; receiving a confirmation associated with the primary account number from the computing system; transmitting a payment request to the computing system, wherein the payment request includes at least a reference value associated with a payment transaction; receiving an acceptance request from the computing system, wherein the acceptance request includes at least the reference value, an acceptance address, one or more fee values, and a first digital signature generated by a third party; generating a second digital signature using at least the acceptance address; and transmitting at least the second digital signature to the computing system.

Abstract: For localizing gingival inflammation within a user's mouth the following steps are carried out using an oral care device (10): (i) sequentially emitting (520) light by a plurality of light sources (48) in a first sequential pattern, wherein at least some of the plurality of light sources are configured to emit light of different wavelengths; (ii) sequentially emitting (530) light in a second sequential pattern which is the reverse of the first sequential pattern; (iii) obtaining (540), by a light detector (40), reflectance measurements to generate first reflectance data from light emitted in the first sequential pattern, and to generate second reflectance data from light emitted in the second sequential pattern; (iv) averaging (550), by a controller (30), first reflectance data and second reflectance data for each wavelength to generate averaged reflectance data; and (v) determining (570), using the averaged reflectance data, whether gingiva at the location is inflamed.

Abstract: A Multi-Phase Simulation Environment (“MPSE”) is provided. In one embodiment, a simulation environment controller is configured to select a waveform from a waveform playlist and initiate a trigger signal to one or more waveform generators of a plurality of waveform generators to generate the waveform. The plurality of waveform generators are configured to generate the waveform under a phase lock.

Abstract: An insertable catheter device includes a shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, an expandable balloon, and an actuator configured to expand and retract the expandable balloon. The actuator includes a fluid conduit that extends through the shaft and is coupled with the expandable balloon to enable inflation and retraction of the expandable balloon via injection or withdrawal of a fluid to or from the expandable balloon via the fluid conduit. The expandable balloon is displaceably retractable into the shaft and extendable from the shaft. A fluid pump is coupled with the fluid conduit to pump the fluid through the fluid conduit. A patch is positioned to be displaced by the expandable balloon when the expandable balloon is inflated, and the expandable balloon is displaceably retractable into the shaft and displaceably extendable from the shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds of Formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof. Such compounds are MEK inhibitors and are useful in the treatment of proliferative diseases, such as cancer. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds as well as methods of using the compounds and compositions of the invention in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: A method (300) for detecting one or more caries using an imaging device (10), the method including the steps of: (i) directing (320) light from a first light source (12) toward a tooth (40); (ii) measuring (340), with an optical sensor (16), transmission of light from the first light source through the tooth; (iii) directing (330) light from a second light source (14) toward the tooth, wherein the second light source directs light at the tooth at a different angle relative to the first light source; (iv) measuring (350), with the optical sensor, reflectance from the tooth of light from the second light source; (v) comparing (360) the measured transmission to the measured reflectance; and (vi) determining (370), based at least in part on said comparison, whether a caries is present in the tooth.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermal interface material detection includes a heat dissipating device stack up that includes a heat dissipating device, a thermal interface material, a heat generating component, and a printed circuit board. The heat dissipating device is disposed on the thermal interface material, the thermal interface material is disposed on the heat generating component, and the heat generating component is disposed on the printed circuit board. A channel in a body of the heat dissipating device includes an embedded conductive probe, where a first end of the embedded conductive probe leads to a lower surface of the body of the heat dissipating device and a second end of the embedded conductive probe leads to an upper surface of the body of the heat dissipating device.

Abstract: A method for localizing gingival inflammation using an oral care device, comprising: (i) simultaneously emitting (520) light by a plurality of light sources (48) of the oral care device, wherein at least some of the plurality of light sources emit light of different wavelengths to result in a plurality of emitted light wavelengths, wherein each of the different wavelengths is modulated with a distinct code; (ii) obtaining (530), by a light detector (40) of the oral care device, reflectance measurements from a location within the user's mouth to generate reflectance data for the location; (iii) demodulating (540), by a controller (30) of the oral care device, the obtained reflectance data; and (iv) determining (560), by the controller using the demodulated reflectance data, whether gingiva at the location is inflamed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a test article for additive manufacture and related methods. A test article formed may include a body having a forward face and a rearward face horizontally opposite the forward face. A first surface extending between the forward face and the rearward face of the body may include a plurality of protrusions for removable coupling of the body to a build plate. A second surface on the body may extend between the forward face and the rearward face of the body, and may include a plurality of angled flat surface portions. Each of the plurality of angled flat surface portions may have a distinct angle with respect to a horizontal plane of the body. An angular difference between each adjacent angled flat surface portion in the plurality of angled flat surface portions is substantially uniform.

Abstract: A method for confirmation of an electronic transaction using a blockchain includes: receiving transaction data, the transaction data including a transaction amount and currency code; generating a transaction message formatted based on one or more standards including a first data element configured to store the transaction amount, a second data element configured to store the currency code, and a third data element configured to store an invoice identifier; transmitting the transaction message to a financial institution via a payment network; receiving a return message from the financial institution via the payment network formatted based on the one or more standards and including a data element configured to store the transaction amount, currency code, and invoice identifier; and generating a hash value based on application of hashing algorithms to the transaction amount, currency code, and invoice identifier stored in the data element included in the received return message.

Abstract: An aerosol medicament delivery adapter comprises a first conduit, second conduit and a diverter element. The first conduit encloses a flow path chamber and extends between an upstream first end and a downstream second end. The second conduit comprises an aerosol medicament delivery conduit that includes an upstream first end adapted to be fluidly coupled to a particle generator, and a downstream second end luidly coupled to the first conduit at a Y-junction proximate the upstream first end of the first conduit. The diverter element comprises a flow diverter chamber disposed within the first conduit or the second conduit. The cylindrical flow diverter chamber includes a transitional flow cross-section and a principal axis, extending between a first end and a second end thereof. The diverter element creates flow eddies for enhancing an entrainment of aerosol particles, delivered via the second conduit, within a pressurized gas flow along the flow path within the first conduit.

Abstract: A method for localizing gingival inflammation using an oral care device, comprising: emitting (520) light by one or more light emitters (42) of the oral care device; obtaining (530), at a first rate by one or more light detectors (40), reflectance measurements for a plurality of locations to generate first reflectance data; determining (540), by a controller (30) of the oral care device using the first reflectance data, whether the location comprises gingiva; obtaining (550), at a second rate by the one or more light detectors, reflectance measurements for each location determined to comprise gingiva to generate gingiva reflectance data, wherein the second rate is faster than the first rate; and determining (560), by the controller using the gingiva reflectance data, whether gingiva at that location is inflamed.

Abstract: A Multi-Phase Simulation Environment (“MPSE”) is provided which simulates the conductor current and voltage or electric field of multiple phases of an electrical power distribution network to one or more sensing or measuring devices and includes independent control of wireless network connectivity for each sensing or measuring device, independent control of GPS RF to each device, and interface to a back-end analytics and management system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for protecting a secure computing system. Aspects include connecting a pluggable security card to a motherboard of the secure computing system. Aspects also include activating a detection circuit to monitor a physical connection between the pluggable security card and the motherboard. Based on detecting that the physical connection between the pluggable security card and the motherboard has been interrupted, aspects include setting a tamper event flag, wherein the secure computing system is prevented from being operated when the tamper event flag is set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems for use for radio frequency ablation. The systems can include one or more of an ablation tool, power source for use with the ablation tool and a backstop for use in conjunction with the ablation tool during surgical procedures. Preferred ablation tools comprise a series of three or more blade-shaped electrodes disposed in a linear, curved, curvilinear or circular array. The backstops are useful for reducing direct physical and thermal heat transfer injuries to the patient or surgeon during procedures using radiofrequency (RF) ablation devices.

Abstract: A system for wireless power transfer to a mobile robot is presented. The system includes one or more mobile robots including a permanent magnet and at least one pair of receiving coils. The system further includes a magnetic track including a plurality of transmitting coils configured to receive power from a power supply. The system further includes a control system configured to control the power transmitted from the power supply to the plurality of transmitting coils. The control system is further configured to selectively control the plurality of transmitting coils to: simultaneously provide propulsion to a mobile robot of the one or more mobile robots moving along the magnetic track and wirelessly transfer power to the mobile robot, or switch from providing propulsion to a mobile robot of the one or more mobile robots moving along the magnetic track to wirelessly transferring power to the mobile robot.