Abstract: In a 3D-printing system, a deposition head comprising a band assembly having a body and a band for compacting a filament onto the surface of an object being manufactured. One or more actuators are mounted on the assembly body and are used to shape the band to a desired contour. The band is connected to the one or more actuators, and is capable of being driven along its length by one or more drive wheels. For example, the band can be in the form of a loop, arranged such that the front of the loop is in contact with a front wheel, the back of the loop is in contact a rear wheel, and the bottom of the loop faces toward the surface of the object. The band assembly further comprises a compaction support supporting the band and comprising a roller that permits the band to move along its length.

Abstract: A method including: obtaining a resist process dose sensitivity value for a patterning process; applying the resist process dose sensitivity value to a stochastic model providing values of a stochastic variable as a function of resist process dose sensitivity to obtain a value of the stochastic variable; and designing or modifying a parameter of the patterning process based on the stochastic variable value.

Abstract: A mobile tower for transportation to and rapid deployment at remote sites where the mobile tower can be engaged with the ground, the mobile tower including an extendable and retractable tower secured to a mobile support structure including a frame having a plurality of rapidly deployable outriggers, wherein the tower includes three series of pivotally interconnected tower sections or segments, sections or segments of which engage with segments of each of the other series when the tower is assembled; the mobile tower including a rigging apparatus that generally encircles the tower and a plurality of guy wires secured between the tower and the respective outriggers to stabilize the tower after the tower is assembled. The guy wires are preferably secured to the rigging apparatus at first and second connecting positions that are displaced from one another about an outer perimeter of the rigging apparatus. Methods of deploying the mobile tower are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for sanitizing a tray table may include a sanitation assembly operatively coupled to the tray table. The sanitation assembly includes an ultraviolet (UV) light source configured to emit UV light, and a sanitation control unit operatively coupled to the UV light source. The sanitation control unit operates the UV light source to emit the UV light onto the tray table when the tray table is secured in an upright position, and prevents the UV light source from emitting the UV light when the tray table is not secured in the upright position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are articles that include water-soluble films, where the water-soluble films include a polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) polymer and a combination of at least three plasticizers. The combination of plasticizers includes dipropylene glycol as a first plasticizer, a sugar alcohol such as sorbitol as a second plasticizer, and a polyol such as glycerin as a third plasticizer. When the PVOH polymer and plasticizers are blended in particular proportions and/or selected with regard to various criteria related to physical and chemical film properties, the resulting water-soluble film formed from the PVOH resin blend exhibits beneficial combinations of aged tensile strength, aged melting transition delta elevation, aged adhesion value, and/or resistance to seal peeling, which provide strong film seals that retain their water-solubility characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are articles that include water-soluble films, where the water-soluble films include a polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) polymer and a combination of at least three plasticizers. The combination of plasticizers includes dipropylene glycol as a first plasticizer, a sugar alcohol such as sorbitol as a second plasticizer, and a polyol such as glycerin as a third plasticizer. When the PVOH polymer and plasticizers are blended in particular proportions and/or selected with regard to various criteria related to physical and chemical film properties, the resulting water-soluble film formed from the PVOH resin blend exhibits beneficial combinations of aged tensile strength, aged melting transition delta elevation, aged adhesion value, and/or resistance to seal peeling, which provide strong film seals that retain their water-solubility characteristics.

Abstract: Liquid detergent composition that includes encapsulated enzymes. Related uses and methods.

Abstract: A process for reblending a first liquid detergent composition into a second liquid detergent composition.

Abstract: A system includes a PTO device that selectively couples to a driveline of a vehicle, a motor/generator electrically coupled to an electrical power storage system, and a shared load selectively powered by one of the driveline or the motor/generator. The PTO device further includes a coupling actuator that couples the shared load to the motor/generator at a first selected ratio in a first position, and couples the shared load to the driveline at a second selected ratio in a second position.

Abstract: A system for sanitizing a tray table may include a sanitation assembly operatively coupled to the tray table. The sanitation assembly includes an ultraviolet (UV) light source configured to emit UV light, and a sanitation control unit operatively coupled to the UV light source. The sanitation control unit operates the UV light source to emit the UV light onto the tray table when the tray table is secured in an upright position, and prevents the UV light source from emitting the UV light when the tray table is not secured in the upright position.

Abstract: Detergent compositions that include a lipase variant of a parent lipase which has lipase activity and includes one or more substitutions corresponding to G23S, D27N, A40, F51I,L, E56R, D57N, V60E,K, K98I, N101D, R118, G163S, T231R, N233R, Y220F, T244E, and P256T using SEQ ID NO: 2 for numbering. Water-soluble unit dose articles including water-soluble film and a detergent composition including lipase variants. Methods of cleaning and/or treatment of surfaces using such compositions.

Abstract: Articles that include water-soluble films and household care composition, where the films include a polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) resin blend and optionally one or more additional components such as plasticizers, fillers, surfactants, and other additives. The PVOH resin blend includes a PVOH copolymer including one or more types of anionic monomer units such as a PVOH terpolymer and a PVOH polymer such as another PVOH anionic copolymer or a partially or completely hydrolyzed PVOH homopolymer. When the PVOH copolymer and PVOH polymer are blended in particular proportions and/or selected with regard to various criteria related to physical and chemical film properties, the resulting water-soluble film formed from the PVOH resin blend exhibits substantially improved aqueous dissolution properties, tensile strength properties, and/or tensile modulus properties.

Abstract: A connector can include a housing and a conductive shield and a pair of latching members. The latching members have free ends with engagement teeth formed on them which are separated by an intervening notch. The sidewalls of this notch can be flat and can define a hard stop surface for engagement with an opposing board connector. The free ends further include ramped surfaces leading to the engagement notch to form cam surfaces that depress the latching members when the cable connector is mated to a board connector. The latching members may include locating tabs that are captured in vertical movement by the housing.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable column which is formed from at least three linked sections or chains. The linked sections include a plurality of individual segments linked end to end. As the linked segments are extended, each of the individual segments of the linked chains engage individual segments of adjacent linked sections to form a column. As the linked sections are retracted, each of the individual segments of the linked sections disengage from the individual segment of the adjacent linked sections and the individual linked sections may be rolled up into a multi-sided form for compact storage.

Abstract: An optical element that features high transmission and low reflectivity at infrared wavelengths is described. The optical element includes a substrate, an adhesion layer on the substrate, and an anti-reflection coating. Substrates include chalcogenide glasses, InAs, and GaAs. Adhesion layers include Se, ZnSe, Ga2Se3, Bi2Se3, In2Se3, ZnS, Ga2S3 and In2S3. Anti-reflection coatings include one or more layers of DLC (diamond-like carbon), ZnS, ZnSe, Ge, Si, HfO2, Bi2O3, GdF3, YbF3, In2Se3, and YF3. The optical elements show high durability and good adhesion when subjected to thermal shocks, temperature cycling, abrasion, and humidity.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable column which is formed from at least three linked sections or chains. The linked sections include a plurality of individual segments linked end to end. As the linked segments are extended, each of the individual segments of the linked chains engage individual segments of adjacent linked sections to form a column. As the linked sections are retracted, each of the individual segments of the linked sections disengage from the individual segment of the adjacent linked sections and the individual linked sections may be rolled up into a multi-sided form for compact storage.

Abstract: An axle suspension system and a method of manufacture. The axle suspension system may have an axle, an axle wrap, and a weld seam. The axle wrap may receive the axle and may have a first end portion and a second end portion that overlaps the first end portion. A weld seam may couple the first end portion to the second end portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for processing electronic transaction request messages from financial institutions, each transaction request message instructing payment of funds from one financial account in a first financial institution to another financial account in a second financial institution, the device comprising: a plurality of switches located at a location, each switch being operable to receive a transaction request message from a financial institution; and a clustered database connected to the plurality of switches, the clustered database comprising a plurality of synchronised databases, wherein the clustered database is con figured to generate a transaction summary record on the basis of the received transaction request message that allows settlement of the funds between the financial accounts defined by the received transaction request message.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computer-implemented method for improving a lithographic process for imaging a portion of a design layout onto a substrate using a lithographic projection apparatus, the method comprising defining a multi-variable cost function, the multi-variable cost function being a function of a stochastic effect of the lithographic process.

Abstract: A connector can include a housing and a conductive shield and a pair of latching members. The latching members have free ends with engagement teeth formed on them which are separated by an intervening notch. The sidewalls of this notch can be flat and can define a hard stop surface for engagement with an opposing board connector. The free ends further include ramped surfaces leading to the engagement notch to form cam surfaces that depress the latching members when the cable connector is mated to a board connector. The latching members may include locating tabs that are captured in vertical movement by the housing.