Abstract: New dual temperature electrochemical methods and systems for the production of sodium metal from sodium polysulfides have been discovered. The technology provides high conductivity for sodium ions and extended service life for the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A transmitter block, comprising an optical source, a modulator, a transmission circuit and a control circuit. The optical source has a laser providing an optical signal. The modulator is configured to encode data into the optical signal using an m-quadrature amplitude modulation format. The transmission circuit has circuitry to receive data to be encoded into the optical signal. The transmission circuit has at least one drive circuit supplying driver signals to the modulator to cause the modulator to encode data into the optical signal using the m-quadrature amplitude modulation format. The control circuit supplies control signals to the transmission circuit to cause the transmission circuit to change the m-quadrature amplitude modulation format from a first m-quadrature amplitude modulation format to a second m-quadrature amplitude modulation format based upon predicted degradation of a link to receive modulated data from the modulator.

Abstract: A packed error correction code (ECC) technique opportunistically embeds ECC check-bits with compressed data. When compressed, the data is encoded in fewer bits and is therefore fragmented when stored or transmitted compared with the uncompressed data. The ECC check-bits may be packed with compressed data at “source” points. The check-bits are transmitted along with the compressed data and, at any “intermediate” point between the source and a “destination” the check-bits may be used to detect and correct errors in the compressed data. In contrast with conventional systems, packed ECC enables end-to-end coverage for sufficiently-compressed data within the processor and also externally. While storage circuitry typically is protected by structure-specific ECC, protection is also beneficial for data as it is transmitted between processing and/or storage units.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a flexible fixation member having a body with a longitudinal extent and a width, the body defining a plurality of openings through the body, each of the plurality of openings formed substantially cross wise through the width of the body, and a suture having two terminal ends, the suture being interwoven through each of the plurality of openings in the body of the fixation member such that multiple portions of the fixation member are slidably coupled to the suture and configurable to form a cluster within a surgical site.

Abstract: An improved network architecture for minimizing latency of preparing and sending data to a network over a physical medium. A system for communicating messages over a network may create and store ready-to-send data packets in a data buffer next to or as close as possible, either physically and/or logically, to a MAC component. The MAC component may then receive the data packet directly from the data buffer and encapsulate the data packet into a frame suitable for transmission to the network. The data packet is modifiable while being stored in the data buffer prior to transmission to the network.

Abstract: A gateway (300) for communicating with end devices (302) and a remote server (316), and method thereof. The gateway (300) comprises a first server (306) comprising a first management layer (308). The first server (306) is configured to communicate with a first end device (302a), communicate with the remote server (316) comprising a second management layer (320), and be selectively N operable in either a first state wherein the first management layer (308) controls the first server (306), or a second state wherein the second management layer (320) controls the first server (306).

Abstract: Techniques for dynamic routing based on application load are described herein. The techniques may include receiving load information associated with resources of an application orchestration system that are allocated to host an application, the resources associated with different geographical regions. Based at least in part on the load information, a network controller may determine that first resources of the application orchestration system are less constrained than second resources of the application orchestration system, the first resources associated with a first geographical region and the second resources associated with a second geographical region. Based at least in part on the first resources being less constrained than the second resources, application traffic may be routed through the network to the application hosted by the first resources in the first geographical region.

Abstract: A system for providing a bone cerclage according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a suture passer including a shaft. The shaft includes a passageway and a slot leading to the passageway. The slot has a variable width along a length of the passageway. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical pick and place machine that includes a self-calibrating optical controller for error feedback based optical placement of optical components using active alignment is described. The optical controller can include a loopback mode to generate a baseline value of light generated by a light source and measured by a photodetector within the optical controller. The optical controller can further include an active alignment mode in which the light is coupled from the pick and place machine to the optical device on which the component is placed. The optical coupling of the placed component can be evaluated against the baseline value to ensure that the optical coupling is within specification (e.g., within a prespecified range).

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a control circuit providing a variable control signal, and a transmitter. The transmitter operable to provide a modulated optical signal including a plurality of optical subcarriers. One of the plurality of optical subcarriers carries a sequence of modulation symbols. The sequence of modulation symbols includes modulation symbols that are output with a variable transmission frequency in accordance with a transmission probability distribution that is variable based on the control signal.

Abstract: A drug delivery system is disclosed that includes a drug delivery device having a reservoir, a delivery cannula having a proximal end in fluid communication with the reservoir and a distal end to be received within a patient, and one or more controllable elements. The drug delivery system may further include one or more sensors coupled to the drug delivery device, and a controller coupled to the one or more sensors and the one or more controllable elements. The controller may be configured to use the one or more sensors to determine a condition or an operational state of the drug delivery device. Furthermore, the controller may be configured to control the controllable element based on the condition or the operational state of the drug delivery device and/or identity information stored in a memory onboard the device. A method for use with a drug delivery device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of A channels in a heat exchanger matrix running in a first direction wherein each A channel is formed along its length as a waveform with an identical wavelength, channel width, wave angle, and wall thickness. Adjacent A channels running in an orthogonal direction are 180 degrees out of phase. The plurality of A channels form the plurality of B channels running in a cross-flow direction with the outer walls of the A channels. The B channels exist as the negative space between adjacent 180 degree out of phase A channels.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a flexible fixation member having a body with a longitudinal extent and a width, the body defining a plurality of openings through the body, each of the plurality of openings formed substantially cross wise through the width of the body, and a suture having two terminal ends, the suture being interwoven through each of the plurality of openings in the body of the fixation member such that multiple portions of the fixation member are slidably coupled to the suture and configurable to form a cluster within a surgical site.

Abstract: A hybrid automated testing equipment (ATE) system can simultaneously test electrical and optical components of a device under test, such as an optical transceiver. The device under test can be a multilane optical transceiver that transmits different channels of data on different lanes. The hybrid ATE system can include one or more light sources and optical switches in an optical test lane selector to selectively test and calibrate each optical and electrical components of each lane of the device under test.

Abstract: Embodiments of wireless client transaction systems are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A shelter and storage pod system is provided comprising a pod comprising a top wall, a bottom wall and four sidewalls, where the pod is structurally divided into a top portion and a bottom portion. A first hinge couples the top portion to the bottom portion. One or more ventilation ports are structurally integrated into the top wall, bottom wall, four sidewalls or any combination thereof. A reinforcing frame member is coupled to the bottom wall and comprises a yoke arm and a plurality of wheels coupled thereto. A bedding substrate is disposed adjacent and orthogonal to the four sidewalls, where the bedding substrate is coupled to one sidewall via a second hinge. One or more vertical frame walls define a plurality of storage compartments disposed under the bedding substrate, where the one or more vertical frame walls structurally support the bedding substrate. An adjustable coupling sleeve operatively couples to the reinforcing frame member via the yoke arm.

Abstract: Provided in some aspects are methods for light-controlled in situ surface patterning of a substrate. Compositions such as nucleic acid arrays produced by the methods are also disclosed. In some embodiments, a method disclosed herein comprises using photoresist for photocontrollable hybridization and/or ligation of nucleic acid molecules, wherein photoresist removal allows hybridization and/or ligation of nucleic acid molecules at the exposed area. A large diversity of barcodes can be created in molecules on the substrate via sequential rounds of light exposure, hybridization, and ligation.

Abstract: An improved network architecture for minimizing latency of preparing and sending data to a network over a physical medium. A system for communicating messages over a network may create and store ready-to-send data packets in a data buffer next to or as close as possible, either physically and/or logically, to a MAC component. The MAC component may then receive the data packet directly from the data buffer and encapsulate the data packet into a frame suitable for transmission to the network. The data packet is modifiable while being stored in the data buffer prior to transmission to the network.

Abstract: A control circuit, comprising a processor, and a computer readable medium is described. The computer readable medium stores logic that causes the processor to analyze performance data of a link carrying data encoded in a first modulation format with a degradation prediction algorithm to determine a predicted level of degradation of the link. The processor provides first control signals to a transmitter block, and second control signals to a receiver block based upon the predicted level of degradation of the link over time. The first control signals cause the transmitter block to encode data to be transmitted over the link in a second modulation format. The second control signals cause the receiver block to decode data received from the link using the second modulation format. The first and second modulation formats conform to requirements of a same m-quadrature amplitude modulation protocol.

Abstract: A data capture device includes: a display, a primary image sensor having a primary field of view centered on a primary optical axis; an auxiliary image sensor having an auxiliary field of view centered on an auxiliary optical axis, wherein the auxiliary field of view is larger than the primary field of view; a memory storing offset data defining an offset between the primary field of view and the auxiliary field of view; a data capture controller connected to the primary image sensor, the auxiliary image sensor and the memory; wherein the data capture controller is configured to: responsive to activation of an aiming mode, control the auxiliary image sensor to capture a video stream; select, according to the offset data, a portion of the video stream corresponding to the primary field of view; and present the selected portion of the video stream on the display.