Abstract: An apparatus and method for an inspection apparatus for inspecting a component. The inspection apparatus including a robotic arm. A micro-XRF instrument having an instrument head coupled to the robotic arm. A seat supporting the component within a scanning area during inspection; and a computer in communication with the robotic arm and the micro-XRF instrument.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a wearable article for holding a medical device, such as a ventricular assist device, and methods of using and making the same. The wearable article comprises a rear pocket that is upside-down and can further be padded. Other padded pockets can also be provided.

Abstract: A method for fabricating surface tethered chiroptical switches that constitute polymer chains bearing chromophoric functional groups with the ability to undergo geometrical re-alignment upon irradiation with polarized light to yield a measurable chiral anisotropy, by formation of a layer on a substrate by deposition of a compound containing at least one functional group and attachment of chiro-optical molecule to said functional group.

Abstract: The invention features a method of creating a polymer brush bearing covalently bound polymeric side chains, comprising the steps of: (a) deposition, onto a substrate, of a halogen containing initiator film or a precursor which is derivatized into a halogen containing initiator film; (b) surface ATRP growth, from the halogen containing initiator film formed in step (a), of a polymeric brush backbone incorporating side groups; (c) growth, from the polymeric brush backbone formed in step (b), of polymeric side chains on the polymeric brush backbone, to form a polymer brush in which the polymeric side chains constitute the bristles of the brush.

Abstract: A method of photopatterning rewritable reactive groups onto surfaces using typically a plasmachemical deposition of functionalized materials, followed by molecular printing of inks. Subsequent treatment of the reactive groups allows for surface rewriting and also the method allows for the creation of either positive or negative image multifunctional rewritable patterned surfaces.

Abstract: A delivery system for an active substance, comprising a substrate on which the substance is loaded for subsequent release, wherein: (i) the substrate has been at least partially coated with a polymer using plasma deposition (preferably pulsed plasma deposition); (ii) the active substance is present as a guest molecule within a cyclodextrin inclusion complex; and (iii) the inclusion complex is bound to the polymer through a chemical linkage formed between a hydroxyl group on the cyclodextrin and a functional group on the polymer. The system may be used to control the release of an active substance such as a perfume. Also provided are methods for preparing (a) the delivery system and (b) a functionalised substrate for use as part of the system, in which the polymer is suitably reacted with a cyclodextrin using an S N 2 nucleophilic substitution reaction, in particular a Williamson ether synthesis reaction.

Abstract: A system to compare and merge a plurality of documents is described. The system includes a data format module configured to determine format of documents and data structures in the documents. The system also includes an abstract description module configured to receive determined data structures and configured to generate a merge case. Further, the system includes a merge module configured to receive determined data structures and configured to generate a merged data structure. And, the system includes a pack module configured to receive the merged data structure and to generate a merged document based on at least said merged data structure.

Abstract: A method is provided for applying a reactive thiol containing coating to a substrate. The method includes subjecting the substrate to a plasma discharge in the presence of a compound of formula (I) or formula (Ia): where X is an optionally substituted straight or branched alkylene chain(s) or aryl group(s); R1, R2 or R3 are optionally substituted hydrocarbyl or heterocyclic groups, and m is an integer greater than 0; Rn is a number of optionally substituted hydrocarbyl or heterocyclic groups, where n is 0-5.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a controller circuit that is configured to display selectable indicia on a touch sensitive display device. The controller defines a default size and location of a plurality of selection zones on the display device that are each associated with different ones of the displayed selectable indicia. The controller responds to a touch signal from the display device that identifies a first touch location of a user object by increasing the size of a first one of the selection zones that includes the first touch location. The controller responds to the touch signal identifying that the user object has ceased touching the display device at a second touch location, which is within the enlarged first selection zone but outside the default sized first selection zone, by outputting a first one of the selectable indicia that is associated with the first selection zone.

Abstract: A method is provided for applying a reactive aldehyde containing coating to a substrate. The method includes subjecting a substrate to a plasma discharge in the presence of a compound of formula (I): Where X is an optionally substituted straight or branched alkylene chain(s) or aryl group(s); R1, R2 or R3 are optionally substituted hydrocarbyl or heterocyclic groups, and m is an integer greater than 0.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a controller circuit that is configured to display selectable indicia on a touch sensitive display device. The controller defines a default size and location of a plurality of selection zones on the display device that are each associated with different ones of the displayed selectable indicia. The controller responds to a touch signal from the display device that identifies a first touch location of a user object by increasing the size of a first one of the selection zones that includes the first touch location. The controller responds to the touch signal identifying that the user object has ceased touching the display device at a second touch location, which is within the enlarged first selection zone but outside the default sized first selection zone, by outputting a first one of the selectable indicia that is associated with the first selection zone.

Abstract: A device may include a sensor configured to detect when a user is wearing or holding the device. The device may also include a display and a communication interface. The communication interface may be configured to forward an indication to a media playing device when the user is wearing or holding the device and receive content from the media playing device, where the content is received in response to the indication that the user is wearing or holding the device. The communication interface may also output the content to the display.

Abstract: The user interface for a mobile communication device may be provided based on the current context of a voice session, as recognized by an automated audio recognition engine. In one implementation, the mobile device may transcribe, by an audio recognition engine in the mobile device, audio from a voice session conducted through the mobile device; detect, by the mobile device and based at least on the transcribed audio, changes in context during the voice session that relate to a change in functionality of the user interface of the mobile device; and update, by the mobile device, the user interface in response to the detected change in context.

Abstract: A device includes a flexible display, and multiple tactile components provided adjacent to a bottom of the flexible display. The device also includes a movement device configured to move at least one of the multiple tactile components to engage a portion of the bottom of the flexible display to produce a tactile area on the flexible display.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a tool for starting, installing, and removing rod-type steps includes a handle (B), head (C), and a loading slot (A) also includes a custom magnet (15) seated in bottom. The magnet (15) ensures engagement of rod-type steps before operation.

Abstract: A method is provided for applying a coating containing reactive nitrogen functionality contained within an aromatic heterocyclic structure to a substrate. The method includes subjecting said substrate to a plasma discharge of a monomer possessing said heterocyclic nitrogen functionality.

Abstract: Methods, systems, data structures and articles of manufacture are provided for monitoring access to a database. In one embodiment, a data access trigger, or read trigger, is adapted to monitor accesses to a database. In general, a data access trigger is invoked when predefined events occur. Specifically, a data access trigger is executed to take some action due to any attempt to access a database. When a specified access attempt is determined, the trigger can instruct the system to take any number of actions, such as modify the data being requested. In one embodiment, a log is provided in which accesses to the database are recorded. The log may subsequently reviewed to ascertain whether a particular record was accessed and by whom. In addition, the particular information accessed and/or modified can be contained in the log.

Abstract: Methods, systems, data structures and articles of manufacture are provided for monitoring access to a database. In one embodiment, a data access trigger, or read trigger, is adapted to monitor accesses to a database. In general, a data access trigger is invoked when predefined events occur. Specifically, a data access trigger is executed to take some action due to any attempt to access a database. When a specified access attempt is determined, the trigger can instruct the system to take any number of actions, such as modify the data being requested.

Abstract: A method and computer program product are provided for implementing highly concurrent record insertion in an ordinal number dependent database. Serialized processing is provided with one concurrent task of multiple concurrent tasks allowed to execute, for allocation of ordinal numbers for record insertion. Concurrent validation processing operations of multiple concurrent tasks are enabled for record insertion in the ordinal number dependent database. A set of counter variables are maintained with the database to enable removal of serialization from the validation phase processing operations for record insertion in the ordinal number dependent database.