Abstract: Compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, useful as inhibitors of sodium channels are provided. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts and methods of using the compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and pharmaceutical compositions in the treatment of various disorders, including pain.

Abstract: Techniques for load balancing communication sessions in a networked computing environment are described herein. The techniques may include establishing a first communication session between a client device and a first computing resource of a networked computing environment. Additionally, the techniques may include storing, in a data store, data indicating that the first communication session is associated with the first computing resource. The techniques may further include receiving, at a second computing resource of the networked computing environment, traffic associated with a second communication session that was sent by the client device, and based at least in part on accessing the data stored in the data store, establishing a traffic redirect such that the traffic and additional traffic associated with the second communication session is sent from the second computing resource to the first computing resource.

Abstract: A training device (10) for training a user in the operation of an auto-injector that dispenses a medicament is described. The training device (10) comprises a housing (13), an actuation assembly (22) located within the housing (13), the actuation assembly (22) comprising a plunger (24) and a guide member (26), the plunger and the guide member defining, and connected by, a complementary first male profile and a first female profile. The plunger (24) is movable with respect to the guide member (26) along a first path defined by at least a portion of the first male or the first female profiles, the plunger (24) moving linearly between a start position and a finish position. The first path extends in a direction non-parallel to the linear movement of the plunger (24).

Abstract: A button for a drug delivery device with a reduced operating loudness includes a plate-like button body forming a touch surface, wherein the plate-like button body is coupled by an axial supporting member to a noise-generating interface of the drug delivery device and movable into a longitudinal direction of the drug delivery device, wherein the plate-like button body includes a material composite with at least one first component consisting of a first material and at least one second component consisting of a second material different from the first material, wherein the at least one first component and the at least one second component are coupled via at least one coupling plane that is at least section wise slanted or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Further, the disclosure describes a button assembly for a drug delivery device which is shock resistant.

Abstract: A drive train for a wind-up injection device is described. The drive train includes a torsional energy storage adapted to be loaded or unloaded by a rotatable element, a rotatable user handle, a rotationally driveable expelling mechanism adapted to expel the liquid drug, and a clutch element coupled with the torsional energy storage via the rotatable element and including a ratchet for maintaining the rotatable element at one of a number of discrete angular positions against the torque of the torsional energy storage. The clutch element is adapted to transmit the torque from the user handle to the torsional energy storage, or alternatively from the torsional energy storage to the expelling mechanism. The ratchet is switchable from one position to an adjacent position by a torque transmitted from the user handle to the torsional energy storage. The drive train is adapted to dampen torque peaks visco-elastically and/or visco-frictionally.

Abstract: A fish tape case is configured to house a fish tape. The fish tape includes a shell having an upper base wall, a lower base wall, an inner side wall extending between inner perimeters of the base walls and forming a central aperture through the shell, an outer side wall extending between outer perimeters of the base walls and defining an outer diameter of the shell, the walls defining a cavity therein, the upper base wall having a first opening therethrough in communication with the cavity through which the fish tape can exit, and the outer side wall having a second opening therethrough in communication with the cavity through which the fish tape can exit. A storage reel is mounted in the cavity for holding the fish tape.

Abstract: The systems and methods described here can reduce the storage space required (memory and/or disk) to store certain types of data, provide efficient (fast) creation, modification and retrieval of such data, and support such data within the framework of a multi-version database. In some embodiments, the systems and methods can store each field of a set of records as a vector of values, e.g., a data vector. A set of records can be represented using a vector id vector, or “vid” vector, wherein each element of the vid vector contains a reference to the memory location of a data vector. A header table can store associations between labels and “vid” vectors that pertain to those labels. Identical data vectors can be re-used between different record sets or vid vectors needing that vector, thus saving space.

Abstract: Asphalt binders and related methods and uses are provided. In some embodiments, the asphalt binder is produced by: providing a high-asphaltene content petroleum feedstock; performing solvent deasphalting on the feedstock to produce a partially deasphalted oil and an asphaltene-rich residue; and collecting the partially deasphalted oil (DAO). The high-asphaltene content petroleum feedstock may comprise residue from vacuum distillation or flash separation of extra heavy oil or bitumen, or recycled asphalt. The DAO may itself be used as the asphalt binder or may be a component of a blend with the original feedstock. Asphalt binders may also be produced by blending residue and heavy distillate produced from vacuum distillation or flash separation, with DAO or the asphaltene-rich residue of the solvent deasphalting process. The disclosed methods allow for production of asphalt binders of a wide variety of performance grades.

Abstract: A button for a drug delivery device with a reduced operating loudness includes a plate-like button body forming a touch surface, wherein the plate-like button body is coupled by an axial supporting member to a noise-generating interface of the drug delivery device and movable into a longitudinal direction of the drug delivery device, wherein the plate-like button body includes a material composite with at least one first component consisting of a first material and at least one second component consisting of a second material different from the first material, wherein the at least one first component and the at least one second component are coupled via at least one coupling plane that is at least sectionwise slanted or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Further, the disclosure describes a button assembly for a drug delivery device which is shock resistant.

Abstract: An apparatus for optically analyzing a sample may include an imaging subsystem that images the sample, one or more analyzing subsystems that analyze the sample including a confocal imaging subsystem, a temperature control subsystem that controls a temperature of the atmosphere within the apparatus, a gas control subsystem that controls a composition of the atmosphere within the apparatus, and a control module that controls the various subsystems of the apparatus.

Abstract: A stimulation system stimulates anatomical targets in a patient for treatment of dry eye. The system may include a controller and a microstimulator. The controller may be implemented externally to or internally within the microstimulator. The components of the controller and microstimulator may be implemented in a single unit or in separate devices. When implemented separately, the controller and microstimulator may communicate wirelessly or via a wired connection. The microstimulator may generate pulses from a controller signal and apply the signal via one or more electrodes to an anatomical target. The microstimulator may not have any intelligence or logic to shape or modify a signal. The microstimulator may be a passive device configured to generate a pulse based on a signal received from the controller. The microstimulator may shape or modify a signal. Waveforms having different frequency, amplitude and period characteristics may stimulate different anatomical targets in a patient.

Abstract: A stimulation system stimulates anatomical targets in a patient for treatment of dry eye. The system may include a controller and a microstimulator. The controller may be implemented externally to or internally within the microstimulator. The components of the controller and microstimulator may be implemented in a single unit or in separate devices. When implemented separately, the controller and microstimulator may communicate wirelessly or via a wired connection. The microstimulator may generate pulses from a controller signal and apply the signal via one or more electrodes to an anatomical target. The microstimulator may not have any intelligence or logic to shape or modify a signal. The microstimulator may be a passive device configured to generate a pulse based on a signal received from the controller. The microstimulator may shape or modify a signal. Waveforms having different frequency, amplitude and period characteristics may stimulate different anatomical targets in a patient.

Abstract: A cable puller in accordance with some example embodiments is configured to pull rope or cable through a conduit. The cable puller includes a puller frame, a capstan rotatably mounted thereon, a boom mounted to the puller frame, and a handle extending from the boom. The handle can be pivoted to a variety of positions relative to the boom. A lock locks the handle into a desired position relative to the boom. In some embodiments, the boom is mounted to a wheel assembly, and in some embodiments, the handle is part of the wheel assembly.

Abstract: A medical device according to certain embodiments generally includes a first wall, a second wall, and a first deformable reinforcing member. The first wall and the second wall are joined to one another such that a cavity is formed between the first wall and the second wall. The cavity has an outlet opening formed at a proximal end of the medical device. The first deformable reinforcing member is attached to the first wall, and is deformable by manual application of pressure to lateral edges of the first deformable reinforcing member so as to radially distend the outlet opening. The first deformable reinforcing member includes at least one first notch formed in at least one lateral edge thereof. Each notch is configured to receive a portion of a user's digit to facilitate manual application of pressure to said lateral edges.

Abstract: An aircrew automation system that provides a pilot with high-fidelity knowledge of the aircraft's physical state, and notifies that pilot of any deviations in expected state based on predictive models. The aircrew automation may be provided as a non-invasive ride-along aircrew automation system that perceives the state of the aircraft through visual techniques, derives the aircraft state vector and other aircraft information, and communicates any deviations from expected aircraft state to the pilot.

Abstract: A cable puller in accordance with some example embodiments is configured to pull rope or cable through a conduit. The cable puller includes a puller frame, a capstan rotatably mounted thereon, a boom mounted to the puller frame, and a handle extending from the boom. The handle can be pivoted to a variety of positions relative to the boom. A lock locks the handle into a desired position relative to the boom. In some embodiments, the boom is mounted to a wheel assembly, and in some embodiments, the handle is part of the wheel assembly.

Abstract: In one or more arrangements, a tag system for monitoring of livestock is presented. The system includes at least one tag and a control system communicatively connected to the tag. In one or more arrangements, the tag includes a housing and a connector configured to operably connect with the housing to facilitate attachment of the tag to an animal. The tag also includes a set of sensors. In one or more arrangements, the set of sensors includes a first temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the animal (animal reference temperature), a second temperature sensor configured to monitor an ambient temperature (ambient reference temperature) of the environment where the animal is located, a gyroscopic sensor, and/or an accelerometer sensor. In one or more arrangements, the tag includes an electronic circuit positioned within the housing and configured to communicate data from the set of sensors to the control system.

Abstract: A heating mat system is presented for use with livestock. The heating mat system includes a heating layer positioned between an upper support pad and a lower support pad. The heating layer includes a conductive microfilm that has a generally planar shape extending between a front edge, a rear edge, and opposing side edges. In one or more arrangements, the conductive microfilm includes a layer of graphene. In one or more arrangements, the heating mat system has a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact that are connected to the conductive microfilm. When a voltage difference is applied between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, current flows through the conductive microfilm, thereby generating heat to the heating mat system and heating livestock positioned on the system.

Abstract: In one or more arrangements, a heating system is provided having one or more heating panels positioned in a housing. The housing has a hollow interior with an open lower end. A first panel is positioned in the open lower end of the housing. The first heating panel includes a heating layer. The heating layer includes a conductive microfilm. A first electrical contact is connected to the conductive microfilm. A second electrical contact is connected to the conductive microfilm. In one or more arrangements, the conductive microfilm includes at least one layer of graphene or nanofiber carbon material. Application of a voltage difference between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact causes current to flow through the conductive microfilm, thereby generating heat. In one or more arrangements, current which flows through the conductive microfilm causes the conductive microfilm to emit infrared radiation.

Abstract: Methods and system for privacy preserving information exchange in a network of electronic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is implemented in an electronic device to serve as a local party for information exchange between the local party and another electronic device to serve as an aggregator. The method includes storing a plurality of values in a 2D vector, where a first dimension of the 2D vector is based on the number of values, and where each position in the first dimension has one unique value. The method further includes transmitting the 2D vector to the aggregator with masking for the aggregator to prevent the aggregator from decoding the 2D vector, where aggregating the masked 2D vector with masked 2D vectors from other local parties allows decoding of the aggregated 2D vector.