Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention can be a method of protecting confidentiality in a real-time survey, the method including receiving from each of a plurality of organization respondents a real-time response to a survey topic; receiving an indication of an organizational change affecting a first member of the organization, the organizational change comprising the first member departing or joining a first department, the first department comprising a plurality of first department respondents, the plurality of first department respondents being a first subset of the plurality of organization respondents; defining a first safe group comprising a first subset of the plurality of first department respondents, the first safe group having first safe group responses to the survey topic; and providing a response report for at least the first department, the response report excluding the first safe group responses.

Abstract: A pedestal for loading a sample into a microfluidic device is provided. The pedestal comprising, a surface for receiving the sample and positioning it above a port; and a side support configured to provide a liquid barrier by the action of surface tension.

Abstract: A fluid flow controller for introducing fluids into a microfluidic device is provided. The fluid flow controller comprising, at least one high resistance fluid pathway provided between an inlet port and a connection port; at least one low resistance fluid pathway between the inlet and connection port; and at least one valve configured to enable fluid flow through the high resistance fluid pathway, the low resistance fluid pathway or both.

Abstract: A single-layer valve is provided. The valve comprises a microfluidic pathway at least partially defined by a flexible membrane which is configured to deform when subjected to an actuation torque, and a discontinuity bounded by a first surface. The length of the discontinuity is constant across the full width of the first surface. The valve is configured such that the actuation torque on the membrane is larger in a first direction than a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A fluidic system is provided. The system comprises: a rigid housing (12), a plurality of flexible reagent containers (14) contained within the housing (12); wherein each reagent container (14) has a connection port (16) through which a reagent can flow, in use, on the application of pressure. The system further comprises a single pressure source (18) configured to apply pressure to the interior of the rigid housing (12); a microfluidic device configured to analyse one or more fluids provided from the plurality of reagent containers; and a plurality of channels (20) configured to transfer fluid from the plurality of reagent containers (14) to the microfluidic device. The ratio of resistances provided by a combination of the connection ports and the plurality of channels dictates the ratio of flow rates of the reagents. The claimed system allows for an accurate control of the various reagent flow rates while minimizing fluctuations in the relative flow rates.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention can be a method including receiving a first list of agenda items for a meeting, the first list of agenda items organized in a first order; transmitting the first list of agenda items to user interfaces of meeting participants; providing, to each user interface, access to predetermined item rating options; receiving, from the meeting participants in real-time, item ratings for at least one of the agenda items of the first list; and transmitting, to each user interface, a second list of agenda items for the meeting, the second list comprising a second list of agenda items organized in a second order; wherein the second order of the second list of agenda items is based on the item ratings.

Abstract: An agitation device for agitating products held in wells of sample vessels or a laboratory microplate is disclosed. The device is arranged to retain a microplate and to agitate an agitation member comprising an array of agitation projections which enter the wells of the microplate. The agitating motion can be horizontal and damping means can be provided between an actuator and parts of the device to reduce overall vibrations. A related method of agitation of microplate or sample vessel contents is described. A novel arrangement for receiving a replaceable agitation member for the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dynamically balanced, tracked robot, which can switch between dynamically balanced (wheeled) operation and tracked operation, can include a body and at least one wheel rotatably mounted to the body. At least one strut can also be mounted to the body so that it extends therefrom, and an idler wheel can be fixed to the distal end of the strut. A track can be slipped over the wheel and that idler wheel, so that the track frictionally engages both the wheel and the idler wheel. The robot can have a defined vertical reference vector and a processor. The processor can have non-transitory written instructions that, when accomplished, cause the vertical reference vector to be parallel with a vector defined by the robot axis and the revised post-installation center of gravity, to continue to allow for dynamic balancing of the newly-tracked robot.

Abstract: A shower nozzle assembly includes a shower nozzle, a nozzle attachment, and a bayonet connector. The shower nozzle has a water inlet opening and a water outlet part spaced from the water inlet opening, with the water outlet opening being configured to direct a flow of water out of the shower nozzle. The nozzle attachment has a through bore configured to receive the water outlet part therein. The bayonet connection is operative to secure the nozzle attachment to the shower nozzle, and includes a radial projection and a female bayonet receptor part configured to receive the radial projection therein to secure the shower nozzle to the nozzle attachment.

Abstract: An agitation device for agitating products held in wells of sample vessels or a laboratory microplate is disclosed. The device is arranged to retain a microplate and to agitate an agitation member comprising an array of agitation projections which enter the wells of the microplate. The agitating motion can be horizontal and damping means can be provided between an actuator and parts of the device to reduce overall vibrations. A related method of agitation of microplate or sample vessel contents is described. A novel arrangement for receiving a replaceable agitation member for the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A droplet dispensing apparatus has a piston rod driven by a solenoid, the rod for connection to a piston of a droplet dispensing syringe, in which the output member from the solenoid is directly connected to the rod through the entire impulse produced by the solenoid.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention can be a method including receiving a first list of agenda items for a meeting, the first list of agenda items organized in a first order; transmitting the first list of agenda items to user interfaces of meeting participants; providing, to each user interface, access to predetermined item rating options; receiving, from the meeting participants in real-time, item ratings for at least one of the agenda items of the first list; and transmitting, to each user interface, a second list of agenda items for the meeting, the second list comprising a second list of agenda items organized in a second order; wherein the second order of the second list of agenda items is based on the item ratings.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention can be a method for manager-to-employee communication, the method including receiving comment data from employee devices of employees of an organization, the comment data indicating employee comments to a survey topic; receiving contact-me data from a manager device indicating contact-me requests, the contact-me requests indicating that the manager desires the employees to contact the manager directly regarding the employee comments to the survey topic; receiving contact-me response data from the employee devices indicating whether the employees will contact the manager directly; and generating a manager rating based on the saved contact-me response data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention can be a method of protecting confidentiality in a real-time survey, the method including receiving from each of a plurality of organization respondents a real-time response to a survey topic; receiving an indication of an organizational change affecting a first member of the organization, the organizational change comprising the first member departing or joining a first department, the first department comprising a plurality of first department respondents, the plurality of first department respondents being a first subset of the plurality of organization respondents; defining a first safe group comprising a first subset of the plurality of first department respondents, the first safe group having first safe group responses to the survey topic; and providing a response report for at least the first department, the response report excluding the first safe group responses.

Abstract: Enrollment into a customer loyalty program may be performed on the spot by using a mobile computing device and a software application that receives a person's information and generates a membership account. The information may be extracted from, for example, a driver's license and the software application may associate the information with the member and may issue a membership card to the person without the person having to leave their present location.

Abstract: The present invention relates to engineered cellulosic products which comprise plant material from plants of the genus Cymbopogon. Methods of making the engineered cellulosic products are also described. The engineered cellulosic products include particle boards and fibre boards.

Abstract: In various example embodiments, systems and methods for estimating the mean of a dataset having a fat tail. Data sets may be partitioned into components, a “torso” component and a “tail” component. For the “tail” component of the data set a more efficient estimator can be obtained (versus the traditionally calculated mean) by using the tail data to estimate parameters for a specific distribution and then deriving the mean from the estimated parameters. The estimated mean from the torso and the estimated mean from the tail may then be combined to obtain the estimated mean for the full data. This can be applied to gross merchandise bought (GMB) by various samples of visitors and apply the experience that was provided to the sample with the highest GMB to all visitors to increase gross revenue.

Abstract: A droplet dispensing apparatus has a piston rod driven by a solenoid, the rod for connection to a piston of a droplet dispensing syringe, in which the output member from the solenoid is directly connected to the rod through the entire impulse produced by the solenoid.