Abstract: The invention features the use of a defined microbial consortia for the replacement of a gut microbiome associated with disease. In particular, the invention provides for the treatment of hyperammonemia, Clostridium difficile colitis, hepatic encephalopathy associated with cirrhosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Abstract: A drug delivery system for injecting a medicament is provided. The system includes a container configured to receive a medicament; a drive assembly which, upon actuation, is configured to expel the medicament from the container; a needle for injecting the medicament to a patient; a fluid path assembly comprising a tube in fluid communication with the container and the needle for conducting fluid from the container to the needle; and a tube crimping arrangement configured to engage the tube to block fluid flow through the tube. The drive assembly causes the tube crimping arrangement to engage the tube after a dose of the medicament has been delivered to the patient through the needle.

Abstract: A dynamic belt-tensioning apparatus for a treadmill includes a base having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end. A foot-striking platform is movably supported by the base so as to allow vertical movement of the platform during operation of the treadmill. A drive belt has a fixed circumference and is positioned above a top portion of the platform. A drive roller is pivotally mounted adjacent to the first end of the base and engages the drive belt. A tensioning roller is pivotally mounted to the base and is capable of a range of movement to provide substantially constant tension to the drive belt in response vertical movement of the platform.

Abstract: A treadmill has a base with a vertically displaceable platform. A mechanism is provided that resists the downward movement of the platform in response to a load applied to the platform. The mechanism also rebounds the platform upwardly with a force applied to the platform in response to a decrease of a load on the platform. A support structure enables stable vertical positioning of the platform with respect to the base.

Abstract: An upholstered sofa comprises a sofa frame covered with fitted upholstery. The fitted upholstery provided by a form fit upholstery cover or covers formed of upholstery material and comprising stitched upholstery panels and pieces, the cover having upholstery edge portions with attachment means for securement of the edge portion without staples to the sofa frame. The attachment means may be a resilient polymer channel sewn to the upholstery material. The attachment means may be a plurality of elastic cords with connectors on distal ends of the cords. The elastic cords may be stretched and attached to features on the sofa frame or to features on the upholstery cover thereby keeping the upholstery cover assembly taught on the sofa frame.

Abstract: A dynamic belt-tensioning apparatus for a treadmill includes a base having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end. A foot-striking platform is movably supported by the base so as to allow vertical movement of the platform during operation of the treadmill. A drive belt has a fixed circumference and is positioned above a top portion of the platform. A drive roller is pivotally mounted adjacent to the first end of the base and engages the drive belt. A tensioning roller is pivotally mounted to the base and is capable of a range of movement to provide substantially constant tension to the drive belt in response vertical movement of the platform.

Abstract: The invention features the use of a defined microbial consortia for the replacement of a gut microbiome associated with disease. In particular, the invention provides for the treatment of hyperammonemia, Clostridium difficile colitis, hepatic encephalopathy associated with cirrhosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Abstract: A drug delivery system for injecting a medicament includes a housing, a container configured to receive a medicament including a stopper configured to move within the container and a closure, a needle in fluid communication with the container, a spacer configured to be engaged with the stopper, a first plunger, a first spring configured to bias the first plunger in an axial direction, second plunger disposed about the first plunger, a second spring configured to bias the second plunger in an axial direction. The first plunger is configured to move the spacer and the container relative to the housing via the first spring to establish fluid communication between the container and the patient needle, and the second plunger is configured to move the spacer and the stopper relative to the container via the second spring.

Abstract: A medical device is disclosed that includes a service component for use in detecting patient data, at least one processor coupled with the service component, a care protocol module executable by the at least one processor to provide healthcare to a patient at least in part by generating a request for processing by the service component, and a resource module executable by the at least one processor to manage access to the service component by identifying a level of service associated with the care protocol module and responding to the request by managing the service component to meet the level of service. The care protocol module implements a patient care protocol that includes a sequence of actions directed to the patient. The level of service indicates a level of performance that the patient care protocol requires of the resource module. Selective offloading of modular functions is also enabled.

Abstract: A sprinkler assembly guard includes a base, a plurality of protective members, and at least one clip member. The base has a plurality of base members centered about a central axis. Each of the protective members having a first portion radially spaced from the central axis and a second portion affixed to one of the base members and extending radially toward the central axis, the first portions of the plurality of protective members being angularly spaced about the central axis to define a cage volume for housing a sprinkler assembly. The at least one clip member is engaged with the protective members to draw the base members radially inward. The second portion of at least one of the protective members includes a securement member extending from the second portion and axially spaced from the base to define a space therebetween for securely housing a portion of a sprinkler frame.

Abstract: A needle actuator assembly for a drug delivery system includes a housing, a needle having retracted and extended positions, a needle actuator body received within the housing and configured to move from a pre-use position where the needle is in the retracted position to a use position where the needle is in the extended position and to a post-use position where the needle is in the retracted position, with the needle actuator having a button contact surface, and an actuator button received by the housing.

Abstract: A drug delivery system for injecting a medicament includes a housing, a container configured to receive a medicament including a stopper configured to move within the container and a closure, a needle in fluid communication with the container, a spacer configured to be engaged with the stopper, a first plunger, a first spring configured to bias the first plunger in an axial direction, second plunger disposed about the first plunger, a second spring configured to bias the second plunger in an axial direction. The first plunger is configured to move the spacer and the container relative to the housing via the first spring to establish fluid communication between the container and the patient needle, and the second plunger is configured to move the spacer and the stopper relative to the container via the second spring.

Abstract: A method for the substantially complete conversion of hydrogenous matter to higher value product, the method comprising: (i) subjecting the hydrogenous matter to a substantially complete deconstruction process in which an aqueous phase containing a multiplicity of deconstructed compounds is produced; and (ii) contacting the aqueous phase with an anode of a microbial electrolysis cell, the anode containing a community of microbes thereon which oxidatively degrade one or more of the oxygenated organic compounds in the aqueous phase to produce protons and free electrons at the anode, wherein the protons and free electrons are transported to the cathode to produce hydrogen gas or a valuable reduced organic compound at the cathode upon application of a suitable cell potential across the anode and cathode. The invention is also directed to an apparatus for practicing the method described above.

Abstract: A needle actuator assembly for a drug delivery system includes a housing, a needle having retracted and extended positions, a needle actuator body received within the housing and configured to move from a pre-use position where the needle is in the retracted position to a use position where the needle is in the extended position and to a post-use position where the needle is in the retracted position, with the needle actuator having a button contact surface, and an actuator button received by the housing.

Abstract: Heat resistant and/or nonstick polymer materials and composites, and cookware including a food support surface comprising an integrated or attached cooking surface formed of the materials and composites. The cookware includes a laminate material with structural rigidity, wherein the laminate material includes a flexible substrate impregnated with the heat resistant polymer material and/or coated with a nonstick coating, and pressed or molded in a shaped cookware or other nonstick items or component. Various cooking devices can be pressed from the material, as well as oven or vehicle components.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed in which the apparatus may include a plurality of cores, including a first core, a second core and a third core, and circuitry coupled to the first core. The first core may be configured to process a plurality of instructions. The circuitry may be may be configured to detect that the first core stopped committing a subset of the plurality of instructions, and to send an indication to the second core that the first core stopped committing the subset. The second core may be configured to disable the first core from further processing instructions of the subset responsive to receiving the indication, and to copy data from the first core to a third core responsive to disabling the first core. The third core may be configured to resume processing the subset dependent upon the data.

Abstract: A drug delivery device includes a piston rod which extends along a longitudinal axis of the drug delivery device, wherein the piston rod is adapted to apply an axial load in the distal direction to a cartridge bung in order to dispense a medicament contained in the cartridge. In order to improve the convenience of the injection process and to mitigate the risk of underdosing due to a blocked needle a cartridge bung load indicator is provided, located at the distal end of the piston rod and adapted to abut against the cartridge bung, wherein the cartridge bung load indicator comprises an indicator element that audibly, tangibly and/or visually indicates a load state of the piston rod to the user.

Abstract: A Positron Emission Tomography (“PET”) insert for use with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (“MRI”) scanning device, the PET insert including a plurality of photodetector modules provided adjacent each other in an array, the plurality of photodetector modules configured for placement adjacent a body of a patient and sized to be received in a magnetic bore of the MRI scanning device with the patient, the photodetector modules providing detection of gamma annihilation photons, and a Radio Frequency (“RF”) coil provided between the patient and the plurality of photodetector modules. Each of the plurality of photodetector modules includes a pixelated scintillator array provided for alignment adjacent the patient's body, and a shielding block including silicon photomultiplier pads and passive electronic circuitry only.

Abstract: A flexible composite conveyor belt, such as for use as a belt wrapper in overlying combination with a metal belt in cooking or heating operations. The belt includes a protrusion attached to a flexible substrate. The protrusion includes an engagement surface adapted to secure the protrusion to a portion of the underlying metal belt to drive the belt at a same speed as the conveyor belt. Protrusions on opposing ends of the belt negate the need for conventional lacing in securing the ends of the belt together.

Abstract: Hierarchical design levels describe semiconductor designs and define architecture, behavior, structure, function, etc. for the designs. A virtual cell model based on cells populating a design is constructed and used for purposes including design simulation, analysis, verification, validation, and so on. A cell and multiple instances of the cell are identified across a design. An empty cell model comparable to the identified cell is created. A compressed representation of unsolved geometric data based on the identified cell data and a virtual hierarchical layer (VHL) are generated as model data, and the model data is placed into the empty cell model. As a result of the placement of the model data, a virtual cell model is created.