Abstract: An accountability control system may be configured to provide one or more accountability controls to a payload platform. A payload platform may comprise a device configured to deploy a payload. The accountability controls may comprise one or more of an authentication control, an authorization control, a custody control, or a security analysis control. The accountability controls may restrict or disable access and operations of the payload platform. The accountability controls may also create a chain of custody of operations and events taking place in the accountability control system and the payload platform.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that include a prosthetic valve. The prosthetic valve may include a jacket configured to cover at least one of gaps, spaces, or interfaces in a frame or between one or more leaflets attached to the frame.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to methods for enhancing chemical conversions. One or more embodiments relate to a method for enhancing a multi-step chemical conversion reaction. The method includes providing a reactant mixture comprising one or more reacting specie(s); and providing a catalyst or sorbent comprising one or more support materials and one or more deposited catalytically active materials. The method further includes applying an electromagnetic field with a prescribed power, frequency, and pulsing strategy specific to interactions of reactant species and an electromagnetic field with at least one of the support materials, sorbent, and catalytically active materials in a particular chemical reaction.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that comprises a surgical end effector, a handle that is connected to the surgical end effector and has a controller, and an interchangeable part removably connected to the surgical end effector and having an encryption device in electrical communication with the controller. The encryption device is programmed to authenticate the interchangeable part when the interchangeable part is at the surgical end effector.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing and/or processing a blockchain to maintain data security for confidential and/or personal data are provided. According to certain aspects, the disclosed data security techniques may enable access sharing functionality utilizing the blockchain. For example, access sharing may be utilized to file documents, share policy information, and/or comply with an audit. The data security techniques disclosed herein also enable the use of smart contracts to transfer funds associated with payment obligations and/or other forms of blockchain based payments, comply with anti-money laundering requirements, report industry data, validate interest payments and/or maintain agent sales data. Data security may be achieved through the use of public key/private key encryption techniques.

Abstract: Embodiments of a flow control apparatus of the present invention generally include a vessel equipped with a pre-filter assembly, a substantially vertical, bottom-feeding liquid inlet line, a vapor space pressure equalization line, and a liquid outlet, wherein the vessel contains a pair of connected, horizontally oriented, O-ring and/or piston ring equipped sealing plates that are designed to rise and fall as a pair in response to gravity provided liquid pressure in the sump of the vessel, whereby an elevation of the sealing plates provides the liquid in fluid communication with the liquid outlet via internal orifices fluidly connected to one or more fluid conduits. Embodiments of a method of using embodiments of an apparatus of the present invention to control liquid flow are also provided.

Abstract: Systems are provided for a gearset for a vehicle transmission. In one example, a system includes a shaft comprising one or more lubricant holes oriented radially within the shaft, and one or more gears positioned radially around a central axis of the shaft. The system further includes a ring positioned circumferentially around the shaft. The ring is shaped with a radially extending portion and an axially extending portion, wherein the radially extending portion may direct lubricant flow from the radially oriented lubricant holes toward the axially extending portion, and the axially extending portion directs lubricant flow from the lubricant holes in an axial direction towards the one or more gears. The axially extending portion and radially extending portion form a cut in the ring.

Abstract: A brushless direct-current motor is provided includes an inner stator and an outer rotor. The rotor includes a rotor core disposed around the stator, an inner annular member mounted on a rotor shaft, and a plurality of radial blades extending angularly from the rotor core to the inner annular member forming a fan. A first end cap is provided including a radial back plate proximate the fan and a center opening in the radial back plate through which the rotor shaft extends. A second end cap is provided including a main body disposed adjacent the stator opposite the fan. The radial back plate of the first end cap includes at least one sloped surface forming at least one air gap such that the airflow generated by the fan is centrifugally guided within the first end cap by the sloped surface and caused to exit through the air gap.

Abstract: Table top sanitizer dispenser bottle bases are disclosed herein. An exemplary table top sanitizer dispenser bottle base includes a movable upper housing, the upper moveable housing has a floor with an aperture located therein and a peripheral wall. The top sanitizer dispenser bottle includes a lower stationary housing. The upper movable housing is connected to the lower stationary housing and is configured to move linearly upward and downward with respect to lower stationary. One or more biasing members bias the upper movable housing upward. A switch is included and the upper movable housing has an engagement member or surface for actuating the switch upon downward movement of the upper movable housing. At least one of a visual indicator and an audible indicator are also included. Control circuitry is provided for activating the one or more of a visual indicator and audible indicator when the engagement member actuates the switch.

Abstract: Multiband radar fusion is provided. The method comprises collecting first radar data from a first radar having a first frequency and collecting second radar data from a second radar having a second frequency different from the first frequency. A hybrid, dual-domain complex value convolutional neural network (CV-CNN), fuses the first and second radar data. The CV-CNN alternates between operating in the wavenumber-domain and the spatial-domain of the first and second radar data. A synthetic aperture radar image is reconstructed from the fused first and second radar data according to Fourier-based algorithm.

Abstract: A night vision system along with an image intensifier tube having a microchannel plate and method of forming the microchannel plate are provided. The microchannel plate comprises a plurality of spaced channels extending through the microchannel plate, wherein each channel sidewall surface near the input face of the microchannel plate comprises a series of layers formed thereon. The input face of the microchannel plate, as well as the sidewall surfaces of each channel near the input surfaces, are configured with an electron backscatter layer arranged between a contact metal layer and a secondary electron booster layer. When formed partially into the channel openings near the input face, the electron backscatter layer and overlying secondary electron booster layer are configured circumferentially around the sidewall surfaces and extend radially inward toward a central axis of each channel.

Abstract: Rationally-designed LAGLIDADG meganucleases and methods of making such meganucleases are provided. In addition, methods are provided for using the meganucleases to generate recombinant cells and organisms having a desired DNA sequence inserted into a limited number of loci within the genome, as well as methods of gene therapy, for treatment of pathogenic infections, and for in vitro applications in diagnostics and research.

Abstract: Systems and methods for blocking spoofed traffic within communications networks include obtaining, at a computing system, routing information for an autonomous system of a communications network, the routing information identifying Internet Protocol (IP) addresses associated with the autonomous system. In response to receiving the routing information, the computing system generates a prefix list based on the routing information, the prefix list including one or more prefixes encompassing the IP addresses identified by the routing information. The computing system then transmits instructions to a network device of the communications network configured to cause the network device to update a filter function of the network device based on the prefix list such that the network device permits network traffic that originates from IP addresses within the prefixes of the prefix list.

Abstract: A lightweight, collapsible, and portable wheeled seat, e.g., a wheeled office chair or stool, for travel, storage, and mobility, is disclosed.

Abstract: In one general aspect, various embodiments of the present invention can include a motorized surgical cutting and fastening instrument having a drive shaft, a motor selectively engageable with the drive shaft, and a manual return mechanism configured to operably disengage the motor from the drive shaft and retract the drive shaft. In at least one embodiment, a surgeon, or other operator of the surgical instrument, can utilize the manual return mechanism to retract the drive shaft after it has been advanced, especially when the motor, or a power source supplying the motor, has failed or is otherwise unable to provide a force sufficient to retract the drive shaft.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a hollow flexible shaft having a central longitudinal axis and an imaging window therein. An optical fiber extends within the hollow flexible shaft substantially along the central axis. A distal tip of the optical fiber is attached to the hollow flexible shaft and aligned with the imaging window so as to transfer an optical coherence tomography signal through the imaging window. A handle is attached to the hollow flexible shaft configured rotate the hollow flexible shaft at speeds of greater than 1,000 rpm.

Abstract: A cutter head includes a first member, a cutting bit, and a second member. The first member includes a first end and a second end and includes a first mass. The cutting bit is coupled to the first member proximate the second end. The cutting bit includes a cutting edge rotatable about the axis. The second member is rotatable about the axis and includes a second mass eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis. Rotation of the second mass causes the first member and the cutting bit to oscillate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for network-based ultrasound imaging are provided, which can include a number of features. In some embodiments, an ultrasound imaging system images an object with three-dimensional unfocused pings and obtains digital sample sets from a plurality of receiver elements. A sub-set of the digital sample sets can be electronically transferred to a remote server, where the sub-set can be beamformed to produce a series of two-dimensional image frames. A video stream made up of the series of two-dimensional images frames can then be transferred from the remote server to a display device.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products, and the like, for providing multiple egress points from a telecommunications network for a client of the network. In particular, the process and system allows for multiple provider edges of the network to utilize a route reflector server to provide a border gateway protocol (BGP) route to other provider edges in the network. Further, the multiple provider edges may each announce similar interior gateway protocol (IGP) routes through the network such that a provider edge receiving a packet intended for the customer network may select from the multiple IGP routes to provide the intended packet to the customer network. In this manner, the receiving provider edge may load balance among the various connections of the customer network to the telecommunications network.

Abstract: A primary subsystem captures original information and supplemental information to form a revision. A primary subsystem enables revisions to be made at the location of the incident prior to leaving the location. Systems for collecting and managing information about incidents include primary and secondary subsystems. A category is a descriptor or label that identifies a common aspect among members assigned to the category. Categories may determine how information is stored, communicated, and/or accessed on primary and/or secondary subsystems.