Abstract: Acoustic inspection systems and methods are described herein useful to determining microstructural characteristics, such as microtexture regions (MTRs), of a material sample. In some embodiments, a method of determining a material characteristic of a material sample includes transmitting acoustic waves from transducer having a concave face that includes one or more piezoelectric elements through a coupling medium and to a surface of a material sample to produce surface acoustic waves along a portion of a surface of the material sample. The one or more piezoelectric elements of the concave face may operate as at least one of an acoustic transmitter or an acoustic receiver. The method also includes receiving the surface acoustic waves reflected from the surface of the material sample at the concave face. The method then includes determining at least one material characteristic of the material sample based on a property of the surface acoustic waves.

Abstract: An optical physiological sensor configured to perform high speed spectral sweep analysis of sample tissue being measured to non-invasively predict an analyte level of a patient. An emitter of the optical physiological sensor can be regulated to operate at different temperatures to emit radiation at different wavelengths. Variation in emitter drive current, duty cycle, and forward voltage can also be used to cause the emitter to emit a range of wavelengths. Informative spectral data can be obtained during the sweeping of specific wavelength regions of sample tissue.

Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein pertain to indicator compounds used to detect the presence of and/or an amount of an analyte. In some embodiments, the indicator compounds are fusion proteins. In some embodiments, when the analyte binds to the indicator compound, the indicator compound undergoes a conformational change. In some embodiments, the conformational change results in a luminescent signal that allows quantification of the amount of analyte present.

Abstract: There is provided a method for enhancing quality of calls in a wireless communication system. The method includes: receiving a new radio (NR) measurement setup from a network while connecting an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS)-based voice call with an external terminal; based on the network not supporting voice over new radio (VoNR) and supporting a standalone (SA) mode and a non-standalone (NSA) mode, determining whether a frequency set by the NR measurement setup is usable and determining a network type of the set frequency; and, based on determining that the set frequency is used for the SA mode, blocking measurement on the set frequency.

Abstract: A method for enhancing communication interruption using supplementary uplink (SUL) in a wireless communication system includes: registering a user terminal at a cell using a normal uplink (NUL) carrier; receiving configuration information of a SUL carrier from the cell; identifying whether uplink configuration information on the NUL carrier is not received for a specified period of time; based on the uplink configuration information on the NUL carrier not being received for the specified period of time, setting the SUL carrier to be used as an uplink carrier; and performing a random access channel (RACH) procedure using the SUL carrier.

Abstract: A system which provides closed loop insulin administration is disclosed. The system includes redundant glucose sensors which may be interleaved in order to provide monitoring when one of the glucose sensors is in a settling period. The system may include a disease management unit which includes both a glucose sensor and an insulin pump. A closed loop disease management system which bases insulin administration on accurate glucose measurements may improve a patient's quality of life.

Abstract: A thermal storage battery is described. The thermal storage battery includes a battery core including a battery core shell made of stainless steel and a thermal storage material mixture included in the battery core shell, the thermal storage material mixture including a mixture of sand and graphite; a plurality of heating elements placed in the battery core, in which each heating element is surrounded by a respective protective tube; a plurality of wall thermal insulation layers, a lid thermal insulation layer, and a bottom thermal insulation layer that enclose the battery core; and at least one heat extraction pipe configured to collect heat from the battery core. The battery core, the plurality of heating elements, the plurality of wall thermal insulation layers, the lid thermal insulation layer, the bottom thermal insulation layer, and the at least one heating collection pipe are encased in a steel outer frame.

Abstract: A minimal action, invasive blood constituent device can streamline the process for the self-monitoring of blood-related tests by holding and facilitating the use of some or all of the tools for obtaining and testing a blood sample. The device can include a slider, that when pumped, causes the device to spring-load a lancet and eject a testing strip. The device can include a trigger that, when pressed, activates the lancet by unloading the spring. A strip-lancet apparatus can combine the roles of two disposable products—a testing strip and a lancing needle—into an apparatus that can be configured for piercing the testing site as well as receiving the blood sample. A testing strip apparatus can facilitate the use and/or disposal of testing strips. A lancet apparatus can facilitate the use and/or disposal of lancets.

Abstract: A window treatment system may include one or more lift rings (e.g., cord guides) for guiding flexible members (e.g., cords and/or ribbons) when wrapping around a roller tube of the window treatment system. Each of the lift rings may comprise a body that is ring-shaped and defines a central opening configured to receive the roller tube. The body may extend from a first end to a second end, where the first end is spaced apart from the second end by a gap. The body may be configured to be deformed by the first and second ends of the body being pulled in opposite directions to increase the size of the gap, such that the roller tube may be received through the gap. The body may be configured to reform when released, such that the roller tube is received in the central opening of the body.

Abstract: Provided is a Face-aware Offset Calculation (FOC) module and method for facial frame interpolation and enhancement and a face video deblurring system and method using the same. The system comprises: a facial frame enhancement device, including a FOC module, for enhancing a target frame; a facial frame interpolation device, including the FOC module, for interpolating the target frame; and a combination device for combining the enhanced target frame with the interpolated target frame.

Abstract: A dehydrogenative coupling process to convert alkanes to longer chain olefins in a single process step is described. The approach described combats the thermodynamics of traditional dehydrogenation by consuming the products as they form. This dehydrogenative coupling reaction may be performed in a single reactor which could enable increased per-pass yield of desirable C8+ olefins compared to a traditional two reactors in a series.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a captured carbon dioxide input. The captured carbon dioxide input is coupled to receive captured carbon dioxide from a direct air capture system. The apparatus uses the captured carbon dioxide as a low global warming refrigerant to provide cooling functionality in automotive, commercial, and industrial applications, or other operations involving low global warming refrigerants. In various embodiments, the apparatus is a refrigeration apparatus or a heat pump apparatus. Low global warming carbon dioxide refrigerant is natural, non-toxic, non-flammable, and abundant when obtained from a direct air capture system. Moreover, carbon dioxide refrigerant has a high heat transfer coefficient and has a global warming potential (GWP) of one. Carbon dioxide refrigerant is a more sustainable and efficient coolant option than common refrigerants, such as R22, R152, R404a, and R1234yf refrigerants.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and medical devices for harmonizing data from a plurality of non-invasive sensors are described. A physiological parameter can be determined by harmonizing data between two or more different types of non-invasive physiological sensors interrogating the same or proximate measurement sites. Data from one or more first non-invasive sensors can be utilized to identify one or more variables that are useful in one or more calculations associated with data from one or more second non-invasive sensors. Data from one or more first non-invasive sensors can be utilized to calibrate one or more second non-invasive sensors. Non-invasive sensors can include, but are not limited to, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) sensor, a bio-impedance sensor, a tissue dielectric constant sensor, a plethysmograph sensor, or a Raman spectrometer.

Abstract: A device may include a base configured to at least partially couple to skin of a patient. A device may include at least one module configured to removably couple to the base, the at least one module can include a first module. The first module can include a medication bladder, a medication pump configured to cause medication to flow from the medication bladder through a cannula configured to be inserted into a tissue site of the patient; and a cannula insertion device configured to insert the cannula into the tissue site of the patient by actuation of a spring released by a triggering component.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for enabling a plurality of non-invasive, physiological sensors to obtain physiological measurements from the same tissue site. Each of a plurality of sensors can be integrated with or attached to a multi-sensor apparatus. The multi-sensor apparatus can orient the plurality of non-invasive, physiological sensors such that each of the plurality of non-invasive, physiological sensors obtains physiological data from the same or a similar location.

Abstract: A blood pressure measurement system is provided that includes an inflatable cuff, a valve assembly and chamber assembly. The chamber assembly can house a gas canister for providing gas to the inflatable cuff. The valve assembly can include a valve having a high pressure cavity, a low pressure cavity, and a channel providing a gas pathway between the high pressure cavity and the low pressure cavity. The valve assembly can further include a channel cover and spring in the high pressure cavity. The spring can exert a force on the channel cover to create a seal between the high pressure cavity and the channel. The valve assembly can further include a rod extending through the channel and exerting a force on the channel cover to create a gas pathway between the high pressure cavity and the channel.

Abstract: A noninvasive physiological sensor can include a first body portion and a second body portion coupled to each other and configured to at least partially enclose a user's finger. The sensor can further include a first probe coupled to one or more emitters and a second probe coupled to a detector. The first probe can direct light emitted from the one or more emitters toward tissue of the user's finger and the second probe can direct light attenuated through the tissue to the detector. The first and second probes can be coupled to the first and second body portions such that when the first and second body portions are rotated with respect to one another, ends of the first and second probes can be moved in a direction towards one another to compress the tissue of the user's finger.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for enabling non-invasive, physiological sensors to obtain physiological measurements from a region of tissue of a patient are disclosed. Anchoring components can attach to patient tissue sites and sensor heads such that the tissue sites do not move during sensing. Interlocking mechanisms maintain tissue sites within a limited range of horizontal movement and vertical distance from the sensor head.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein relate to a disease management device which includes at least one or more medication bladders, configured to store fluid and a medication delivery pump, configured to deliver a fluid from one or more medication bladders to a patient. Each medication bladder has at least a rigid portion and a flexible portion, the flexible portion coupled to the rigid portion to create an at least partially sealed enclosure. The rigid portion includes structures, such as channels, configured to facilitate emptying the medication bladder through an output port. On application of pressure from the pump, the flexible portion is configured to generate a pressure against the structures rigid portion, which facilitates emptying of fluid from the medication bladder through the output port.

Abstract: A server obtains a natural language query from a first user device. The server matches an intent to the natural language query using an intent matching engine. The intent represents predicted data associated with the natural language query. The server transmits the natural language query and the intent to a second user device. The server receives, from the second user device, a response indicating whether the natural language query is properly matched to the intent. The server trains the intent matching engine based on a machine learning technique and the response.