Abstract: Crankshaft and connecting rod assemblies for hydraulic fracturing pumps and related methods may enhance the flow of fracturing fluid into a wellhead during a high-pressure fracturing operation. The assemblies and methods may include a crankshaft having a crankpin between first and second journals. The crankpin may include first and second longitudinally spaced ridges at least partially extending circumferentially around the crankpin. The assemblies and methods further may include first and second connecting rods connected to the crankpin. The first connecting rod may include first and second crankpin connectors connected to the crankpin and at least partially defining therebetween a connecting rod clearance between and positioned to at least partially receive therein an end of a second connecting rod. The assemblies and methods also may include first and second rod clamps connected to the first crankpin connector, thereby to rotatably connect the first and second connecting rods to the crankpin.

Abstract: Within many applications impulse radio based ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) transmission offers significant benefits for very short range high data rate communications when compared with existing standards and protocols. In many of these applications the main design goals are very low power consumption and very low complexity design for easy integration and cost reduction. Digitally programmable IR-UWB transmitters using an on-off keying modulation scheme on a 0.13 microns CMOS process operating on 1.2V supply and yielding power consumption as low as 0.9 mW at a 10 Mbps data rate with dynamic power control are enabled. The IR-UWB transmitters support new frequency hopping techniques providing more efficient spectrum usage and dynamic allocation of the spectrum when transmitting in highly congested frequency bands. Biphasic scrambling is also introduced for spectral line reduction.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent electronic footwear with controller automated features, methods for making/using such footwear, and control systems for executing automated features of intelligent electronic footwear. An intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes an upper that attaches to a user's foot, and a sole structure that is attached to the upper and supports thereon the user's foot. An alert system, which is mounted to the sole structure and/or upper, generates predetermined outputs in response to electronic command signals. The IES system also includes a wireless communications device that wirelessly communicates with a remote computing node, and a footwear controller that communicates with the wireless communications device and alert system.

Abstract: An optical film includes a structured film and a light control film formed on the structured film. The structured film includes a substrate and a plurality of polymeric microstructures formed on a major surface of the substrate. Each microstructure includes an optical facet and a sidewall meeting the optical facet at a ridge of the microstructure. The light control film includes an optically transparent material disposed on and covering the plurality of polymeric microstructures, and a plurality of optically absorptive louvers formed in the optically transparent material opposite the structured film. The louvers extend along a longitudinal direction and are spaced apart along an orthogonal transverse direction. The louvers have an average depth D into the optically transparent material and have an average width W in the transverse direction. D/W can be greater than 2. The optical film is integrally formed.

Abstract: An LED light module comprises an emitting portion; at least one LED package; a back cover; and an end cap. The emitting portion defines a first curved surface. The first curved surface extends a first length along a cylindrical axis defined by the LED light module. The back cover defines a second curved surface extending the first length along the cylindrical axis. The first curved surface and the second curved surface define a perimeter of the LED light module. In a cross-section of the LED light module taken in a plane substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical axis, the perimeter is substantially ovular, elliptical and/or tear-drop shaped. The end cap is substantially ovular, elliptical and/or tear-drop shaped, and comprises a coupling element configured to electrically and/or mechanically couple the LED light module to a subsequent LED light module or to a fixture.

Abstract: Delivery of antioxidants (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, riboflavin, and beta-carotene) directly to the large intestine were seen to decrease the population of Fusobacterium in the gut microbiome. An increased population of these bacteria is associated with Fusobacterium bacteremia as a co-morbidity with any one of: malignancy, dementia, chronic obstructive lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, alcoholism, disease(s) requiring dialysis, and stroke; colorectal cancer; digestive diseases including Ulcerative colitis; Crohn's disease; and/or Pediatric or adult inflammatory bowel disease; colorectal and other cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, adverse pregnancy-related conditions, and HIV.

Abstract: The direct delivery of antioxidant compounds (Vitamin B2, Vitamin C, beta-carotene, and Vitamin E) to the large intestine results in an increase in the population of Blautia spp. in the gut. People with lower amounts of Blautia spp. often experience obesity, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, major depressive disorder as well as other conditions which can be helped by increasing their population of Blautia. An increase in the population of Blautia also increases the amount of beneficial short chain fatty acids in the intestine as well.

Abstract: Multilayer films comprising polyolefins and products comprising the multilayer films are disclosed. These multilayer films have fewer defects, especially optical defects.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating optical character recognition (OCR) models configured to identify characters from a variety of different documents. The OCR models are based on a base model. One or more outside models can be tested to determine their effectiveness in supplementing the base model. When an outside model is effective it is incorporated into the base model. Generations of base models can be created that provide for additional functionality that is not present in the preceding model. A family of the generations of base models is maintained.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods that automate the process of analyzing interactive content data using artificial intelligence and natural language processing technology to generate subject matter identifiers and sentiment identifiers that characterize the interaction represented by the content data. The automated processing classifies, reduces, segments, and filters content data to accurately, automatically, and efficiently characterize the content data. The results of the analysis in turn allow for identification of system and service problems and the implementation of system enhancements.

Abstract: A variety of improvements to docking systems for portable computing devices are disclosed. For example, improved techniques for maintaining a data connection between a base portion of the docking system and a case portion of the docking system are disclosed. As an example, the docking system can include improved magnetics that help maintain the data connection between the base portion and the case portion, even during rotational movements of the case portion relative to the base portion. Further still, examples are described where the detection of a docking action between the case portion and the base portion can trigger any of a number of responsive actions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to a semiconductor processing chamber. In one embodiment, semiconductor processing chamber is disclosed and includes a chamber body having a bottom and a sidewall defining an interior volume, the sidewall having a substrate transfer port formed therein, and one or more absorber bodies positioned in the interior volume in a position opposite of the substrate transfer port.

Abstract: A first controller for a power converter, the first controller comprising a driver, supply terminal, branch switch and branch control. The driver configured to provide a drive signal to turn ON and turn OFF a power switch. The power switch includes a first switch and a second switch coupled in a cascode configuration. The supply terminal coupled to a bypass capacitor that provides operating power to the first controller, wherein the bypass capacitor has a bypass voltage. The branch switch coupled to a node between the first switch and the second switch. The branch control configured to receive a regulation signal representative of a comparison of the bypass voltage to a bypass reference and is configured to turn ON the branch switch if the bypass voltage is below the bypass reference to redirect at least a portion of a drain current of the power switch to the bypass capacitor.

Abstract: A multi-gateway multi-beam satellite communication system. The system has a satellite a plurality of gateways for providing broadband services to users and being in bilateral communication with the satellite by a like plurality of feeder links and a second plurality of clusters of coverage areas in bilateral communication with the satellite by a like plurality of service links. The system has a precoder for allocating power to either or both of the feeder links and service links. Precoding can be based on signal to noise plus interference ratio or interference temperature. Precoding can be based on discrete-time dynamical feedback system frameworks with real-time feedback signaling comprised of signal-to-noise plus interference ratio, signal-to-leakage-plus-noise ratio, interference temperatures and/or tracking errors.

Abstract: A method of modulating an optical camera communication (OCC) signal by an OCC transmission node in an OCC system includes acquiring a binary data signal, grouping the binary data signal for every k bits to convert the binary data signal into a global phase shift signal having an integer value from 0 to M?1 (=2k?1), generating a data signal group by mapping the global phase shift signal to first to Mth mapping sequences in the form of an n*M/2-bit sequence based on a preset symbol group mapping table, generating a pulse wave signal by modulating the data signal group, and blinking each of a plurality of light sources included in the OCC transmission node according to the pulse wave signal. Accordingly, performance of the communication system may be improved.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method for early data transmission performed by a wireless device comprises: obtaining, from a non-access stratum (NAS) communication layer, an initial NAS protocol data unit (PDU) for early data transmission; determining, by a radio resource control (RRC) communication layer, to initiate early data transmission based at least in part on a size of the initial NAS PDU; and transmitting an early data transmission including the initial NAS PDU.

Abstract: A heart valve leaflet replacement system for a diseased heart valve including a replacement valve that is configured to be selectively guided and implanted in a native annulus of the diseased heart valve. The replacement valve can include: a frame with a rigid portion to house and maintain the integrity of the replacement leaflets and a flexible portion enabling it to conform to the native vessel geometry, at least one prosthetic leaflet coupled to an inner surface of the stent, and a plurality of prong structures operatively coupled to and extending between portions of the at least one prosthetic leaflet and the inner surface of the bottom ventricular portion of the stent to selectively constrain the movement of the at least one prosthetic valve relative to the bottom ventricular portion of the stent.

Abstract: A method of making a material for capturing carbon dioxide from the earth's atmosphere, comprises producing an acid and a base with an electrochemical acid-base generator; dissolving a mineral in the acid to produce a mineral rich solution, separating silica from the mineral rich solution to form a silica depleted solution; adding a first portion of the base to the silica depleted solution to remove impurities by precipitation, adding a second portion of the base until ferrous hydroxide (Fe(OH)2) precipitates, then pausing base addition and removing the ferrous hydroxide precipitate from the solution. Then adding a third portion of the base to the iron-depleted solution to precipitate magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) and/or calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2).

Abstract: This invention provides methods and systems for enhancement of protein production from mammalian cell lines in a drug inducible manner. The methods described herein can be used to generate a protein production cell line wherein the gene coding the protein product of interest is inserted into specific safe harbor loci (SHL) within the cell's genome and the gene copy number is induced to amplify by the use of an antibiotic inducer. The method enables for the conditional activation of the drug inducible transposase. The drug inducible gene amplification method described herein effectively functions as a molecular dial: combining drug-inducible homologous recombination and conditional gene activation to fine-tune gene amplification in mammalian systems.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent electronic footwear with controller automated features, methods for making/using such footwear, and control systems for executing automated features of intelligent electronic footwear. An intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes an upper that attaches to a user's foot, and a sole structure that is attached to the upper and supports thereon the user's foot. An alert system, which is mounted to the sole structure and/or upper, generates predetermined outputs in response to electronic command signals. The IES system also includes a wireless communications device that wirelessly communicates with a remote computing node, and a footwear controller that communicates with the wireless communications device and alert system.