Abstract: An attachment device (10) adapted for use with at least two retainers (14), the device (10) including at least two mountings (44), each for engagement with a retainer (14), wherein when a first one (14a) of the retainers is engaged with the device (10) it cannot be detached from the device until another retainer (14b) has been engaged with the device (10).

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein related to a fraud detection system that receives data from multiple sources and normalizes the data to create transaction data using overlapping data from the multiple sources. Fraud analysis is performed using a probabilistic approach to alert generation, wherein alerts are only sent to customers when the probability of fraud exceeds a threshold. As a result, false positives are avoided.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to sacrificial materials and methods of using the same. Various embodiments provide objects having the sacrificial material at least partially removed therefrom, and methods of making the same. Various embodiments provide sacrificial adhesives, sacrificial mechanical connectors, and methods of using the same. The sacrificial material can include a polymer including a repeating unit including a substituted or unsubstituted (C2-C20)hydrocarbylene and at least one of carboxylate, carbonate, carbamate, thiocarbonate, and thiocarbamate. The method can include exposing the sacrificial material to at least one of heat and acid, such that at least some of the sacrificial material degrades. The method can include removing at least some of the degraded sacrificial material.

Abstract: A hearing aid system includes: a first hearing aid comprising a first set of microphones, a first beamformer, a first processing module, and a first receiver; and a second hearing aid comprising a second set of microphones, a second beamformer, a second processing module, and a second receiver; wherein the first beamformer in a first operating mode is configured to provide a first audio signal in accordance with a first primary spatial characteristic, wherein the second beamformer in the first operating mode is configured to provide a second audio signal in accordance with a second primary spatial characteristic, the first primary spatial characteristic having a first main lobe with a first direction, and the second primary spatial characteristic having a second main lobe with a second direction, wherein the second direction is different from the first direction.

Abstract: A new hearing aid system is provided, comprising a location detector, e.g. a GPS receiver, for determination of the geographical position of the user of the hearing aid system, and an environment detector configured for determination of the type of sound environment surrounding the user of the hearing aid system based on sound as received by the hearing aid system and the geographical position of the hearing aid system as determined by the location detector.

Abstract: A binaural hearing aid system includes: a first hearing aid having a first microphone, a first processing unit, a first receiver, and a first communication unit; and a second hearing aid having a second microphone, a second processing unit, a second receiver, and a second communication unit; wherein the first communication unit of the first hearing aid is configured to transmit a filtered signal for reception by the second communication unit of the second hearing aid in response to a signal associated with a phone.

Abstract: A new hearing aid system is provided that includes geographical position and user feedback in determining the category of the sound environment for automatic adjustment of signal processing parameters.

Abstract: A new hearing aid system is provided, comprising a location detector, e.g. a GPS receiver, for determination of the geographical position of the user of the hearing aid system, and an environment detector configured for determination of the type of sound environment surrounding the user of the hearing aid system based on sound as received by the hearing aid system and the geographical position of the hearing aid system as determined by the location detector.

Abstract: A method of binaural signal enhancement in a binaural hearing aid system, includes providing at least one microphone audio signal in response to sound, providing an estimate of one of a target signal and a noise signal based on the at least one microphone audio signal, phase shifting the estimate of one of the target signal and the noise signal, providing a phase shifted signal in which the phase shifted estimate of one of the target signal and the noise signal substantially substitutes the respective one of the target signal and the noise signal, transmitting a first signal representing the phase shifted signal towards a first eardrum of a user of the binaural hearing aid system, and transmitting a second signal representing the at least one microphone audio signal towards a second eardrum of the user. A system for performing the method is also described.

Abstract: A labelling system includes a dispensing apparatus to present respective cut and opened sleeves of shrink-wrap label stock material for insertion of claws of crustaceans, and a heating apparatus to apply heat to the sleeves to shrink the sleeves around the claws. A related method includes inserting a claw of a crustacean into a sleeve of shrink-wrap label stock material, and applying heat to the sleeve to shrink the sleeve around the claw. Another method involves providing a dispensing apparatus to present respective cut and opened sleeves of shrink-wrap label stock material to receive claws of crustaceans, and providing a heating apparatus to apply heat to the sleeves to shrink the sleeves around the claws. A seafood product may include a crustacean having a claw, the claw carrying a shrink-wrap label.

Abstract: A sample tube holder (10) having a generally flat elongate flexible body (12) and one or more of sets of non circular apertures (16) each having a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to the length dimension, in the body, each set having two or more apertures (16) arranged in a line such that each set of apertures defines at least one inner portion (30) between adjacent apertures (16) of the set and at least one outer portion (32) adjacent each aperture at the end of the line extending away from the respective inner portion.

Abstract: A device (1410) for collecting a blood sample from an animal has a holder for holding a sampling media (1456), one or more spikes (1418) that first pass through the sampling media (1456) and penetrate into the flesh of the animal to create a puncture site to allow blood emerging from the site to be collected by the sampling media (1456) during and/or after penetration of the flesh. The device has a retainer (1427) for temporarily retaining the device (1410) on the animal whilst blood is collected and for allowing the device (1410) to be removed from the animal substantially intact for subsequent removal of the sampling media (1456) from the device.

Abstract: Mollusc processing apparatus and related methods are disclosed. Molluscs are held in holders by one of their shells, illustratively the bottom shells, and are moved between a series of processing stations. At a shell cut station, an opening is cut into one or both of the shells of each mollusc. The next processing station includes a cutting blade to cut the adductor muscle and viscera of each mollusc away from its non-held shell, illustratively the top shell, and a shell detach mechanism to detach the non-held shell from the held shell. One or multiple air blasts are directed toward the viscera to loosen it from the held shell, and at a vacuum station the loosened viscera is pulled from the held shell. A second muscle cut station includes another cutting blade to cut the adductor muscle from the held shell.

Abstract: A cannula (10) for use in removing samples of fluid from a container sealed with a pierceable membrane, the cannula including a hollow needle like portion (12) having a pointed forward end (20) shaped to allow forcible penetration through the membrane, the rear end (14) having a first bore (26) and an insert (40) located within the first bore (40) that reduces the effective size of the first bore (26) without blocking the first bore (26).

Abstract: An attachment device (10) adapted for use with at least two retainers (14), the device (10) including at least two mountings (44), each for engagement with a retainer (14), wherein when a first one (14a) of the retainers is engaged with the device (10) it cannot be detached from the device until another retainer (14b) has been engaged with the device (10).

Abstract: A method of binaural signal enhancement in a binaural hearing aid system, includes providing at least one microphone audio signal in response to sound, providing an estimate of one of a target signal and a noise signal based on the at least one microphone audio signal, phase shifting the estimate of one of the target signal and the noise signal, providing a phase shifted signal in which the phase shifted estimate of one of the target signal and the noise signal substantially substitutes the respective one of the target signal and the noise signal, transmitting a first signal representing the phase shifted signal towards a first eardrum of a user of the binaural hearing aid system, and transmitting a second signal representing the at least one microphone audio signal towards a second eardrum of the user. A system for performing the method is also described.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus by which solar energy may be collected to provide electricity, heat, or a combination of electricity and heat are disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method of automatic switching between omnidirectional (OMNI) and directional (DIR) microphone modes in a binaural hearing aid comprising a first microphone system for the provision of a first input signal, a second microphone system for the provision of a second input signal, where the first microphone system is adapted to be placed in or at a first ear of a user, the second microphone system is adapted to be placed in or at a second ear of said user, the method comprising a measurement step, where the spectral and temporal modulations of the first and second input signal are monitored, an evaluation step, where the spectral and temporal modulations of the first and second input signal are evaluated by the calculation of an evaluation index of speech intelligibility for each of said signals, and an operational step, where the microphone mode of the first and the second microphone systems of the binaural hearing aid are selected in dependence of the calculated evaluation ind

Abstract: Mollusc processing apparatus and related methods are disclosed. Molluscs are held in holders by one of their shells, illustratively the bottom shells, and are moved between a series of processing stations. At a shell cut station, an opening is cut into one or both of the shells of each mollusc. The next processing station includes a cutting blade to cut the adductor muscle and viscera of each mollusc away from its non-held shell, illustratively the top shell, and a shell detach mechanism to detach the non-held shell from the held shell. One or multiple air blasts are directed toward the viscera to loosen it from the held shell, and at a vacuum station the loosened viscera is pulled from the held shell. A second muscle cut station includes another cutting blade to cut the adductor muscle from the held shell.

Abstract: A cannula (10) for use in removing samples of fluid from a container sealed with a pierceable membrane, the cannula including a hollow needle like portion (12) having a pointed forward end (20) shaped to allow forcible penetration through the membrane, the rear end (14) having a first bore (26) and an insert (40) located within the first bore (40) that reduces the effective size of the first bore (26) without blocking the first bore (26).