Abstract: A method for controlling access to wireless communications includes generating an overlay to a portion of an existing wireless network by controlling radio frequency (RF) equipment to establish a defined geographical volume as the overlay; receiving an indication of wireless devices within the volume, the indication including three-dimensional positions of the wireless devices within the boundary; establishing identities for the wireless devices, the identities selected from the group consisting of allowed, unknown, and restricted; generating a private network encompassing at least a portion of the volume; locking and maintaining locked unknown and restricted wireless devices to the processor; and directing allowed wireless devices to access the private network for wireless communications within the volume.

Abstract: An air interface plane (AIP) of a radio frequency (RF) aperture includes: a circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; and a matrix of tapered elements arranged on the first side of the circuit board and secured to the circuit board, the matrix of tapered elements cooperating to at least one of receive or transmit an over-the-air RF signal. Suitably, each tapered element of the matrix has: a central hub extending along a longitudinal axis from a hub base which is proximate to the first side of the circuit board to an apex of the tapered element which is distal from the first side of the first circuit board; and a plurality of arms extending from the central hub at the apex of the tapered element, each of the plurality of arms including a first portion that projects the arm radially away from the longitudinal axis and a second portion that projects the arm longitudinally toward the first side of the circuit board.

Abstract: Provided herein are cyclic polypeptide compounds that can, e.g., bind specifically to human proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and optionally also inhibit interaction between human PCSK9 and human low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), and pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more of these compounds. Also provided are methods of reducing LDL cholesterol level in a subject in need thereof that include administering to the subject one or more of the cyclic polypeptide compounds or a pharmaceutical composition provided herein.

Abstract: In an aspect a computer system is configured to: receive accelerated transfer definition data defining one or more conditions for accelerating a transfer; obtain a due date for completing the transfer; initiate the transfer in response to the earlier of: determining that at least one of the conditions for accelerating the transfer have occurred; and determining that a current date is within a defined proximity of the due date for completing the transfer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are catheters having multiple coil layers, and associated systems and methods. In some embodiments, a catheter includes an inner liner, a plurality of wires over the inner liner, and an outer sheath over the wires. The wires are coiled about a longitudinal axis of the catheter in a first direction to form a first coil layer over the inner liner, and the wires are coiled about the longitudinal axis in a second direction, opposite the first direction, over the first coil layer to form a second coil layer over the first coil layer. The wires each include a continuous/self-terminating end portion wherein the wire switches from the first direction to the second direction and transitions from the inner coil layer to the outer coil layer.

Abstract: A method of printing a multi-material part in a layer-wise manner with an extrusion-based 3D printer includes providing a sliced digital model of a multi-material part and determining a number of materials in each of the slices of the digital mode. The method includes utilizing a digital model of a purge tower having N subdivisions having a closed geometry, wherein N is the number of print heads needed to print the part that is greater than or equal to three, each adjacent subdivision contact one another along an interface and assigning each print head to one subdivision and to tool paths forming the one subdivision in each layer. The method includes reassigning the assigned subdivision within the purge tower of an inactive print head in a layer to a print head that is active in the layer of the multi-material part.

Abstract: Compositions for foamed treatment fluids are disclosed. The foamed treatment fluid may comprise a cement, a viscosifying agent, a thixotropic additive, a foaming surfactant, a gas, and water. The foaming surfactant may comprise a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether (C5-C10), sulfate ammonium salt.

Abstract: A method of playing a feature game on a gaming machine. A display displays a first game and a second game. A game controller determines if a merging condition occurs, and if a merging condition occurs, animates a merging of the first game and the second game into a merged game at the display. The merged game has a plurality of display positions from the first game, the second game, and a set of additional display positions.

Abstract: An insertion shaft for an electrically actuated scope includes at least two wires. Each wire has a proximal end anchored to a respective proximal anchoring point and a distal end anchored to a respective distal anchoring point. The wires are disposed around a central axis and extend along the insertion shaft. Each of the wires comprises two-way memory material configured to contract when heated to or above a first predetermined temperature and return to a predetermined original length thereof upon cooling to or below a second predetermined temperature below the first predetermined temperature. The length of each wire is larger than a length along the insertion shaft between the proximal anchoring point and the distal anchoring point to which the wire is anchored, such that each of the wires is incorporated in the insertion shaft with a predetermined slack.

Abstract: In one aspect, a movable barrier operator system is provided that includes a motor configured to turn a drum to pay out a cable from the drum and permit a door connected to the cable to move from an open position toward a closed position. The system includes a memory configured to store an expected variable of the door, and a sensor configured to detect movement of the door. The system further includes a processor circuit operatively coupled to the motor, the memory, and the sensor. The processor circuit is configured to: use the sensor to estimate an actual variable of the door; determine whether the actual variable is acceptable based at least in part on the expected variable and the processor circuit causing the motor to turn the drum; and change operation of the movable barrier upon the actual variable of the movable barrier being unacceptable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a foamed mixture of paints on a structural surface. A continuous stream of high velocity gas moves through a nozzle and is directed toward the structural surface, and two or more paints may be intermittently moved into the gas stream of the nozzle and aerated and mixed with each other and moved with the gas stream to form a foam that is applied to the structural surface. The components of the foamed mixture may include single component or plural component materials such as polyurethane foam, adhesive, and polyurea formulations, and may be moved through a volumetric metering device consisting of material heaters, a heated hose, and an applicator gun. The nitrogen gas stream fluidizes the mixture as it passes through and out of the nozzle and forms the mixture into a foam that is applied to the structural surface.

Abstract: A manufacturing system includes a tape advancing through the manufacturing system and a station of the manufacturing system. The tape includes a first portion having grains of an inorganic material bound by an organic binder. The station of the manufacturing system receives the first portion of the tape and prepares the tape for sintering by chemically changing the organic binder and/or removing the organic binder from the first portion of the tape, leaving the grains of the inorganic material, to form a second portion of the tape and, at least in part, prepare the tape for sintering.

Abstract: A compact and smart wearable device is configured to automatically inject medicines into the wearer. Because hypodermic needles are only deployed when triggered, infection risks are eliminated. Necessary medicines are automatically deployed based on physiological or other data without human intervention to save lives.

Abstract: A 3D printer includes a gantry configured to move in a plane substantially parallel to a x-y build plane and a print head configured to extrude molten material to print a 3D part in a layer-by-layer process. The 3D printer includes a platen configured to support the part being printed in the layer by layer process and positionable with a primary Z positioner along a z-axis substantially normal to the x-y build plane. The 3D printer includes a local Z positioner moved by the gantry, the local Z positioner comprising a linear motor configured to move the print head in the z-direction and having an operable range of motion extending from a nominal build position at which a nozzle of the print head is positioned in the x-y build plane to a raised position above the x-y build plane.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide smart alerts to users, e.g., alerts to users about diabetic states that are only provided when it makes sense to do so, e.g., when the system can predict or estimate that the user is not already cognitively aware of their current condition, e.g., particularly where the current condition is a diabetic state warranting attention. In this way, the alert or alarm is personalized and made particularly effective for that user. Such systems and methods still alert the user when action is necessary, e.g., a bolus or temporary basal rate change, or provide a response to a missed bolus or a need for correction, but do not alert when action is unnecessary, e.g., if the user is already estimated or predicted to be cognitively aware of the diabetic state warranting attention, or if corrective action was already taken.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing processes, apparatuses, software, and systems for the production of at least one desired 3D object. The 3D printer system (e.g., comprising a processing chamber, build module, or an unpacking station) described herein may retain a desired (e.g., inert) atmosphere around the material bed and/or 3D object at multiple 3D printing stages. The 3D printer described herein comprises one or more build modules that may have a controller separate from the controller of the processing chamber. The 3D printer described herein comprises a platform that may be automatically constructed. The invention(s) described herein may allow the 3D printing process to occur for a long time without operator intervention and/or down time.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for accelerated ergonomic collection of capillary blood. An apparatus and system include a blood collection module with a proximal portion including a vacuum generation chamber, a distal portion including a blood collection chamber, a concave mid portion including a pressure equalization channel configured to equalize reduced air pressure. The apparatus further includes a sealing surface to stably seal the blood collection module to the skin around a collection site and a slide latch actuated by a lengthwise sliding motion. Also included is a lancet carrier with linearly-arranged lancet strips to puncture rows of blood extraction slits in the collection site. The apparatus also includes an angled transfer port with a low-resistance non-microfluidic blood flow channel to a transfer module, then to a plasma separation module with a multilayer laminate and plasma separation membrane. Methods for accelerated ergonomic collection of capillary blood are disclosed.

Abstract: An auto-retract scraper is described herein. The auto-retract scrape comprises a housing, a slider, a blade, a rotating hard stop, and a torsion spring. The rotating hard stop is rotated clockwise forcing the blade forward and out of the housing when the slider is engaged.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a wireless communication device may identify a first set of bits associated with a first set of modulation layers. The wireless communication device may interleave a second set of bits associated with a second set of modulation layers to obtain an interleaved second set of bits. The wireless communication device may generate a combined set of bits based at least in part on combining the second set of bits and at least a portion of the first set of bits. The wireless communication device may perform a transmission based at least in part on the combined set of bits and the second set of bits. Numerous other aspects are described.