Abstract: A PV array (10) comprising multiple PV modules (11, 12) that each have a first and second pairs of spaced apart terminals (28, 40), with the first pair of spaced apart terminals (28) being in electrical connection with the PV cells of the PV modules (11, 12). A by-pass conductor (30) connects the second pair of spaced apart terminals (40) and enables current to pass through the PV modules (11, 12) between the second pair of spaced apart terminals (40). The second pair of terminals (40) of a first PV module (11) are each connected electrically to a terminal (28) of the first pair of terminals (28) of two adjacent PV modules to which the first PV module is connected. The by-pass conductor (30) of the first PV module facilitates travel of electrical current from the first PV module to a second PV module, by connection of the first terminals (28) of the first PV module (11) to the second terminals (40) of the second PV module (12).

Abstract: A humidification system can include a heater base, a humidification chamber, and a breathing circuit. A cartridge can be removably coupled to the heater base. The cartridge can include various sensors, probes, sensor wire connectors, heater wire connectors, and/or other features. The cartridge can include features configured to mate with corresponding features on the humidification chamber and the heater base. The cartridge includes a memory, such as an EEPROM, or other suitable storage device. When the cartridge is installed on the heater base, the memory is electrically connected to a processor and/or memory of the heater base. Various models of cartridges can be produced for use with different humidification chambers, breathing circuits, and/or therapies. A connector can be configured to couple an inspiratory conduit to an outlet port of the humidification chamber. The connector can provide a pneumatic connection to the outlet port and an electrical connection to the cartridge.

Abstract: A circuit connector for a humidification system, the system comprising a base unit configured to be engaged by a humidification chamber. The circuit connector comprises an inlet to fluidly connect to an outlet of the humidification chamber to receive humidified gases therefrom, an outlet to sealably connect to or integral with a conduit for directing the humidified gases to a user, and an electrical terminal for electrically coupling the circuit connector to an electrical terminal associated with the base unit. The circuit connector may be releasably and lockably connectable to the outlet of the humidification chamber and/or orientation features may control orientation of component parts of the system as they are assembled.

Abstract: This disclosure proposes systems and methods for processing natural language inputs using data associated with multiple language recognition contexts (LRC). A system using multiple LRCs can receive input data from a device, identify a first identifier associated with the device, and further identify second identifiers associated with the first identifier and representing candidate users of the device. The system can access language processing data used for natural language processing for the LRCs corresponding to each of the first and second identifiers, and process the input data using the language processing data at one or more stages of automatic speech recognition, natural language understanding, entity resolution, and/or command execution. User recognition can reduce the number of candidate users, and thus the amount of data used to process the input data. Dynamic arbitration can select from between competing hypotheses representing the first identifier and a second identifier, respectively.

Abstract: This disclosure proposes systems and methods for processing natural language inputs using data associated with multiple language recognition contexts (LRC). A system using multiple LRCs can receive input data from a device, identify a first identifier associated with the device, and further identify second identifiers associated with the first identifier and representing candidate users of the device. The system can access language processing data used for natural language processing for the LRCs corresponding to each of the first and second identifiers, and process the input data using the language processing data at one or more stages of automatic speech recognition, natural language understanding, entity resolution, and/or command execution. User recognition can reduce the number of candidate users, and thus the amount of data used to process the input data. Dynamic arbitration can select from between competing hypotheses representing the first identifier and a second identifier, respectively.

Abstract: An alginate oligomer for use in the anticoagulation therapy of a human or non-human vertebrate subject at risk of blood clots which have an abnormally dense microstructure. In certain embodiments, the incidence of blood clots which have an abnormally dense microstructure in the subject is reduced and/or the occurrence of blood clots which have an abnormally dense microstructure in the subject is inhibited and/or the abnormal microstructure of the subject's clots is normalized. Corresponding methods of anticoagulation therapy and products of use therein are further provided.

Abstract: This disclosure proposes systems and methods for processing natural language inputs using data associated with multiple language recognition contexts (LRC). A system using multiple LRCs can receive input data from a device, identify a first identifier associated with the device, and further identify second identifiers associated with the first identifier and representing candidate users of the device. The system can access language processing data used for natural language processing for the LRCs corresponding to each of the first and second identifiers, and process the input data using the language processing data at one or more stages of automatic speech recognition, natural language understanding, entity resolution, and/or command execution. User recognition can reduce the number of candidate users, and thus the amount of data used to process the input data. Dynamic arbitration can select from between competing hypotheses representing the first identifier and a second identifier, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method and apparatus for determining the instant at which coagulating blood forms a clot—the primary function of a clot being to act as a hemostatic plug at the site of a lesion in the circulatory system. The method comprises applying a harmonically time-varying stress and strain of controlled amplitude and frequency to the blood using a rheometer and through the use of the Chambon-Winter Gel Equation, the method is capable of determining the gel point which precedes the clotting time indicated by a thromboelastograph.

Abstract: A communications system (100) includes a packet switching network (130) configured to transfer a stream of information packets from a source (110) to a destination (120). The communications system (100) also includes at least one loss concealment processor (140) configured to perform packet loss concealment on the stream of information packets as the stream passes through an intermediate point within the packet switching network (130).

Abstract: A communications system (100) includes a packet switching network (130) configured to transfer a stream of information packets from a source (110) to a destination (120). The communications system (100) also includes at least one loss concealment processor (140) configured to perform packet loss concealment on the stream of information packets as the stream passes through an intermediate point within the packet switching network (130).

Abstract: A communications system (100) includes a packet switching network (130) configured to transfer a stream of information packets from a source (110) to a destination (120). The communications system (100) also includes at least one loss concealment processor (140) configured to perform packet loss concealment on the stream of information packets as the stream passes through an intermediate point within the packet switching network (130).

Abstract: Meta-packets are used to more efficiently reassemble packets and to more efficiently conduct other packet processing operations. The meta-packets are special types of packets which are interpreted by hardware in a queuing system. Instead of directly containing data, the meta-packet packets contain instructions for building a desired packet from various identifiable storage locations in the packet processor system. Because the reassembled packet replaces the meta-packet, packet ordering is preserved.

Abstract: Described are methods, systems, and devices that include obtaining a first measured perceptual quality by measuring, at a first location associated with a communications network, a perceptual quality of a first communication transmitted from the first location to a second location associated with the communications network, obtaining a second measured perceptual quality by measuring perceptual quality of the first communication at the second location; and, based on the first measured perceptual quality and the second measured perceptual quality, generating a first value representative of degradation in the quality of the first communication.

Abstract: An oscillating rheometer adapted for use in measuring rheological properties of blood or the propensity of blood to clot, the rheometer including at lease two surfaces between which a blood sample is introduced, said surfaces being provided as: A first surface, providing a sample receiving member defining a surface for receipt of a blood sample; A second surface, providing a sample contact surface in movable relationship to said first surface. Wherein in use, said first and second surfaces move towards each other so as to sandwich said blood sample between the first and second surfaces, with the blood sample being subjected to a controlled environment provided by way of one or more of the surfaces in contact with the blood to allow for measurement of the rheological properties of the blood or the propensity of the blood to clot.

Abstract: A server may receive publication information from a client and may create a unique key for the client. The server may generate one or more web pages that include the unique key, the publication information, and instructions for web crawlers not to index or crawl the publication information. In addition, the server may publish the web pages.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method and apparatus for determining the instant at which coagulating blood forms a clot—the primary function of a clot being to act as a hemostatic plug at the site of a lesion in the circulatory system. The method comprises applying a harmonically time-varying stress and strain of controlled amplitude and frequency to the blood using a rheometer and through the use of the Chambon-Winter Gel Equation, the method is capable of determining the gel point which precedes the clotting time indicated by a thromboelastograph.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the performance of decoders of forward error correcting codes use the information contained in late packet arrivals to update (or recompute) the state of the decoder. These systems and methods are generally applicable to decoders that maintain state information in decoding successive bits or information frames so as to improve the performance (i.e., the bit error rate) of the decoder since the recomputed state is exactly the state that the decoder would have had if the information contained in the late packet had originally arrived on time and been decoded in a usual manner. In effect, the updating of the decoder state following a late packet arrival terminates the propagation in time of the effect of the late packet erasure on the state of the decoder.

Abstract: A server may receive publication information from a client and may create a unique key for the client. The server may generate one or more web pages that include the unique key, the publication information, and instructions for web crawlers not to index or crawl the publication information. In addition, the server may publish the web pages.

Abstract: Meta-packets are used to more efficiently reassemble packets and to more efficiently conduct other packet processing operations. The meta-packets are special types of packets which are interpreted by hardware in a queuing system. Instead of directly containing data, the meta-packet packets contain instructions for building a desired packet from various identifiable storage locations in the packet processor system. Because the reassembled packet replaces the meta-packet, packet ordering is preserved. For example, assuming the meta-packet was in the proper place in a packet sequence, the packet (or packets) replacing the meta-packet will also be maintained in the same packet sequence order. Both meta-packets and conventional packets can be processed using the same queues and queuing system, and can be freely inter-mixed allowing co-existence of reassembled and full packets.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a portion of a packetized data stream is copied from a data network without interfering with the flow of the data in the network. A known test signal is then substituted for the information contained in each copied packet to prepare a pseudo-media packet stream. The known test signal is encoded and packetized using the same methods used for the copied data stream. The pseudo-media signal is then recovered from the pseudo-media stream using the same depacketizing and decoding methods to be used on the copied packetized data stream. The recovered signal is an accurate representation of the state of the media stream since it has gone through the same packetization/depacketization and encoding/decoding procedures and includes all of the same faults of the copied data stream. The subjective quality of the recovered signal is then measured providing an accurate measure of the subjective quality of the copied media stream.