Abstract: The high-voltage and/or high-frequency pulse dielectric breakdown strength (DBS) of an implantable medical device is increased by strategically positioning insulation materials on or adjacent to the external surfaces of a filter capacitor. Dielectric breakdown strength is further increased by adding polymeric or ceramic nanoscale metal oxide insulative powders to the insulation materials.

Abstract: A self-centering washer is positioned between the feedthrough and filter capacitor of a filtered feedthrough. The washer has openings through which first and second terminal pins extend. A first opening has an inner arcuate portion contacting the first terminal pin and an outer perimeter portion exposing the braze sealing the terminal pin to the insulator. A second opening has an inner arcuate portion contacting the second terminal pin and an outer perimeter portion exposing the braze sealing the terminal pin to the insulator. In an imaginary configuration with the first and second washer openings superimposed one on top of the other, the cumulative arcuate distance of the inner arcuate portions about one of the terminal pins, subtracting overlap, results in a gap between the superimposed washer openings that is less than a diameter of the first and second terminal pins so that the washer is prevented from lateral movement.

Abstract: An integrated roof step to enable an individual to access the roof of a vehicle. The integrated roof step includes a support member configured to support an object; a socket configured to be disposed in a door frame of a vehicle body, wherein the socket is configured to at least partially receive the support member such that a door of the vehicle is closable without the support member interfering with the vehicle door; and a mount configured to movably secure a portion of the support member to the socket.

Abstract: A respirator system for delivering filtered atmospheric air to a user for inhalation, the respirator system comprising: a respirator through which a user can inhale filtered air; first and second air filter systems, each air filter system being configured to filter and draw air from the atmosphere into the respirator system and to deliver filtered drawn air to the respirator via an airflow path; first and second conduits for directing filtered air from the respective first and second air filter systems to the respirator; and a support for supporting the respirator system on the user's head, wherein the respirator is arranged at a front of the support to engage the front of a user's head when in use, and the first and second air filter systems are arranged at the rear of the support to sit at the rear of a user's head when in use, wherein the support comprises an adjusting means for adjusting a spacing between the two air filter systems to secure the support to the user's head.

Abstract: An animation system is provided for generating an animation control rig for character development, configured to manipulate a skeleton of an animated character. Hierarchical representation of puppets includes groups of functions related in a hierarchy according to character specialization for creating the animated rig are derived using base functions of a core component node. The hierarchical nodes may include an archetype node, at least one appendage node, and at least one feature node. In some implementations, portions of a hierarchical node, including the functions from the core component node, may be shared to generate different animation rigs for a variety of characters. In some implementations, portions of a hierarchical node, including the component node functions, may be reused to build similar appendages of a same animation rig.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, vehicles, and methods for providing an integrated roof step to enable an individual to access the roof of a vehicle. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a support member configured to support an object; a socket configured to be disposed in a door frame of a vehicle body, wherein the socket is configured to at least partially receive the support member such that a door of the vehicle is closable without the support member interfering with the vehicle door; and a mount configured to movably secure a portion of the support member to the socket.

Abstract: An animation system is provided for generating an animation control rig for character development, configured to manipulate a skeleton of an animated character. Hierarchical representation of puppets includes groups of functions related in a hierarchy according to character specialization for creating the animated rig are derived using base functions of a core component node. The hierarchical nodes may include an archetype node, at least one appendage node, and at least one feature node. In some implementations, portions of a hierarchical node, including the functions from the core component node, may be shared to generate different animation rigs for a variety of characters. In some implementations, portions of a hierarchical node, including the component node functions, may be reused to build similar appendages of a same animation rig.

Abstract: An animation system is provided for generating an animation control rig for character development, configured to manipulate a skeleton of an animated character. Hierarchical representation of puppets includes groups of functions related in a hierarchy according to character specialization for creating the animated rig are derived using base functions of a core component node. The hierarchical nodes may include an archetype node, at least one appendage node, and at least one feature node. In some implementations, portions of a hierarchical node, including the functions from the core component node, may be shared to generate different animation rigs for a variety of characters. In some implementations, portions of a hierarchical node, including the component node functions, may be reused to build similar appendages of a same animation rig.

Abstract: An animation system is provided for generating an animation control rig configured to manipulate a skeleton of an animated object. A partition separation process enables software changes to be inserted into uncompiled computer code associated with the animation control rig. Analysis of the uncompiled computer code is implemented relative to a performance metric. Based on the analysis in view of the performance matric, one or more partitions are determined in the uncompiled computer code to partition the code into separate code blocks. The uncompiled code is separated at the partition and updated with the software change. The updated code is compiled to generate the animation control rig.

Abstract: A method includes acquiring first aggregate event data for a first sub-publisher. The first aggregate event data indicates aggregate user activity across a plurality of applications associated with the first sub-publisher. The method further includes acquiring second aggregate event data for a plurality of additional sub-publishers. The method further includes determining a plurality of anomaly metric values for the first sub-publisher based on the first aggregate event data and the second aggregate event data. The method further includes determining an anomaly function value for the first sub-publisher based on the anomaly metric values for the first sub-publisher. The anomaly function value indicates a likelihood that the first sub-publisher is associated with fraudulent user activity.

Abstract: An animation system is provided for generating an animation control rig for character development, configured to manipulate a skeleton of an animated character. Hierarchical representation of puppets includes groups of functions related in a hierarchy according to character specialization for creating the animated rig are derived using base functions of a core component node. The hierarchical nodes may include an archetype node, at least one appendage node, and at least one feature node. In some implementations, portions of a hierarchical node, including the functions from the core component node, may be shared to generate different animation rigs for a variety of characters. In some implementations, portions of a hierarchical node, including the component node functions, may be reused to build similar appendages of a same animation rig.

Abstract: An animation system is provided for generating an animation control rig configured to manipulate a skeleton of an animated object. A partition separation process enables software changes to be inserted into uncompiled computer code associated with the animation control rig. Analysis of the uncompiled computer code is implemented relative to a performance metric. Based on the analysis in view of the performance matric, one or more partitions are determined in the uncompiled computer code to partition the code into separate code blocks. The uncompiled code is separated at the partition and updated with the software change. The updated code is compiled to generate the animation control rig.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an animator is provided with an indication when a model's component such as a joint or limb is being moved or twisted in a way that would be unnatural and cause unusual stress on the model component. For example, as a shoulder joint is stressed by moving an arm in an extreme position a yellow bar or coloring of the shoulder, arm or other component can grow increasingly bright and shift to red just before a breaking point is reached. An animator can choose to go past the breaking point and the breaking can be modeled and incorporated into the animation.

Abstract: An aspect provides a computer-implemented method for generating an animation control rig configured to manipulate a skeleton of an animated character. The method comprises associating 502 a plurality of animation control points to an animated skeleton; traversing (504, 512) a node graph representing the plurality of animation control points of the animated skeleton; analyzing 506 the hierarchical node graph to determine which nodes of the hierarchical node graph are inversely solvable; analyzing 508 the hierarchical node graph to determine which other nodes of the hierarchical node graph are solvable with at least one solution that violates a constraint of the animated skeleton; and modifying 510 an operation of at least one node of the other nodes that violates a constraint to approximate the constraint within a tolerance level.

Abstract: An animation system is provided for generating an animation control rig configured to manipulate a skeleton of an animated object. A partition separation process enables software changes to be inserted into uncompiled computer code associated with the animation control rig. Analysis of the uncompiled computer code is implemented relative to a performance metric. Based on the analysis in view of the performance matric, one or more partitions are determined in the uncompiled computer code to partition the code into separate code blocks. The uncompiled code is separated at the partition and updated with the software change. The updated code is compiled to generate the animation control rig.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an animator is provided with an indication when a model's component such as a joint or limb is being moved or twisted in a way that would be unnatural and cause unusual stress on the model component. For example, as a shoulder joint is stressed by moving an arm in an extreme position a yellow bar or coloring of the shoulder, arm or other component can grow increasingly bright and shift to red just before a breaking point is reached. An animator can choose to go past the breaking point and the breaking can be modeled and incorporated into the animation.

Abstract: Thermosetting powdered coating compositions comprising (a) a high Acid Value carboxylic acid functional polyester resin having an Acid Value of at least 100 mg KOH/g and a functionality of at least 4.5, (b) a low Acid Value carboxylic acid functional polyester resin having an Acid Value of 20 to 50 mg KOH/g and a functionality of about 2.5 or less, and (c) a cross-linking agent. The high Acid Value polyester resin is the reaction product of a polycarboxylic acid or its anhydride reacted with a polyester polyol obtained from reacting 0 mol % to 100 mol % of isophthalic acid and/or 0 to 100 mol % terephthalic acid, or a mixture thereof, with a polyol mixture comprising at least one diol and at least one polyol having at least three hydroxyl groups.

Abstract: A method for forming a ceramic object from a ceramic powder is provided. The ceramic powder is placed in a press. Pressure is applied to the ceramic powder with a pressure to cause consolidation of the ceramic powder. Ultrasonic energy is applied to the ceramic powder for at least a period of time during the applying pressure to the ceramic powder, forming the ceramic powder into a ceramic object. The applying pressure to the ceramic powder is ended.

Abstract: Thermosetting powdered coating compositions comprising (a) a high Acid Value carboxylic acid functional polyester resin having an Acid Value of at least 100 mg KOH/g and a functionality of at least 4.5, (b) a low Acid Value carboxylic acid functional polyester resin having an Acid Value of 20 to 50 mg KOH/g and a functionality of about 2.5 or less, and (c) a cross-linking agent. The high Acid Value polyester resin is the reaction product of a polycarboxylic acid or its anhydride reacted with a polyester polyol obtained from reacting 0 mol % to 100 mol % of isophthalic acid and/or 0 to 100 mol % terephthalic acid, or a mixture thereof, with a polyol mixture comprising at least one diol and at least one polyol having at least three hydroxyl groups.