Abstract: The invention provides an energy storage apparatus comprising: a sensible heat storage body having a heat exchanger channel and a heating element channel adapted to receive a removable heating element; and a heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet, wherein at least a portion of the heat exchanger is disposed along the channel. Also provided are methods or reversibly storing and/or extracting energy, a heating element and an energy storage array comprising a plurality of energy storage apparatus as described herein.

Abstract: A breath actuated metered dose inhaler may comprise a canister fire system configured to fire a medicament containing canister in response to patient inhalation. The canister fire system may comprise a pneumatic force holding unit and having a rest configuration in which a metering valve of the canister is in a refill configuration; a prepared configuration in which a canister actuation force is retained by the pneumatic force holding unit and the canister fire system is actuatable by patient inhalation induced airflow; and a fire configuration in which the metering valve is in a dose delivery position. When in the prepared configuration, the force retained by the pneumatic force holding unit may be reduced by less than about 6% over a period of 5 minutes, preferably less than about 3% over a period of 5 minutes.

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: An inhaler housing (14) for an inhaler (10) for inhaling inhalable substances, the inhaler having: a body (14) and a dose counter (24) with a return spring (28), wherein a distinct guide surface (162) is provided for guiding the end of the return spring into a recess (152), the distinct guide surface being wider than an entrance mouth (160) of the recess, a dose counter chamber (22) being provided which is separated from a tubular interior space (182) of the inhaler by a barrier (180), the barrier including a stepped upper wall area (184) including at least three steps (186, 188, 190, 192) at different levels, the inhaler having a valve stem block (62) having an inner bore and a valve stem block having a seal (224) in the inner bore with a second diameter which is smaller than a first diameter of the inner bore, the inhaler having a canister (150) being adapted to move during operation between 1 and 4 mm, a drive being arranged to apply a firing force of between 15N and 60N of force to the canister at a posit

Abstract: A method for generating a prediction of a latency of a transaction processing system includes: sampling a first plurality of messages from a database that stores data indicative of messages previously processed by the transaction processing system including a characteristic and a processing time of each previously processed message; generating latency tables based upon the characteristics and the processing times of the sampled first plurality of messages; determining a characteristic of each of a second plurality of messages being processed by the transaction processing system; selecting, for each of the second plurality of messages, a latency table from the plurality of latency tables based upon the respective determined characteristic; simulating a processing time for each of the second plurality of messages based upon the respective selected latency table; and generating a latency prediction for the transaction processing system based upon the simulated processing times for the second plurality of message

Abstract: The invention provides analyzers that improve tests for detecting specific cellular, viral, and molecular targets in clinical, industrial, or environmental samples. The invention permits efficient and specific selection and sensitive imaging detection of individual microscopic targets at low magnification. Automated embodiments allow efficient walk-away, on-demand, random-access high-throughput testing. The analyzers perform tests without requiring wash steps thus streamlining engineering and lowering costs. Thus, the invention provides analyzers that can deliver rapid, accurate, and quantitative, easy-to-use, and cost-effective tests for analytes.

Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes a cargo bed having a first and a second sidewall. A rail assembly is disposed on the first sidewall. The rail assembly is movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the first sidewall. An actuator system raises and lowers the rail assembly to move the rail assembly between the extended position and the retracted position.

Abstract: A sense unit for inductive sensing or capacitive sensing is described. The sense unit may include a first terminal coupled to a first node, a first electrode coupled to the first node, and a second terminal. The sense unit may include a second electrode coupled to the second terminal. In a first mode, a first signal is received at the first terminal and a second signal is output on the second terminal, where the second signal may be representative of a capacitance of the sense unit. The sense unit may include an inductive coil. The sense unit may include a first capacitor. The inductive coil and the first capacitor are coupled in parallel between the first node and ground. In a second mode, a third signal is received at the first terminal and a fourth signal is output on the second terminal.

Abstract: One inductive sensor is configured to maintain a fixed frequency in a resonant circuit. One apparatus includes an inductance-to-digital converter (LDC). The LDC includes a digital filter to measure an inductance change of a sensor and convert the inductance change to a digital value. The LDC further includes a digital control loop to maintain a fixed frequency in the sensor. The sensor forms an oscillator in the digital control loop. An output of the digital control loop is representative of the inductance change of the sensor.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of capacitance-to-digital code conversion are described. One capacitance-to-digital converter (CDC) includes front-end circuitry, including a comparator. The CDC further includes a first capacitive digital-to-analog converter (CDAC) coupled to a first input of the comparator and, in a first phase, to a sensor cell. The CDC further includes a second CDAC coupled to a second input of the comparator and, in a second phase, to the sensor cell. The front-end circuitry provides a digital output. The digital output is proportional to a sensor capacitance of the sensor cell.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method of curing a coated product comprising a substrate and a UV-curable coating composition applied onto a surface of said substrate, the method comprising the steps of transporting said coated product, by means of a web path, into a curing unit comprising a rotating unit, preferably a cylindrical body, and a treatment area formed between said rotating unit and said web path, said rotating unit and said web path having an even surface, wherein said coated product when being transported through said treatment area contacts the rotating unit and the web path so that no free areas between the coated product and the cylindrical body and the web path are present in said treatment area, and UV-curing said coated product present in said treatment area.

Abstract: In some implementations, a collaborative knowledge system may receive a first set and a second set of privatized embeddings. The first set of privatized embeddings may be generated by a local model based on a first set of private documents associated with a first knowledge domain. The second set of privatized embeddings may be generated by a local model based on a second set of private documents associated with a second, different knowledge domain. The collaborative knowledge system may train, based on the first and second sets of privatized embeddings, a centralized model. The collaborative knowledge system may receive a query associated with the first knowledge domain or the second knowledge domain. The collaborative knowledge system may generate a response to the query based on processing the query with the centralized model. The collaborative knowledge system may provide the response to the query to a user device.

Abstract: A device can include analog circuits formed with a substrate, including a comparator, analog switches, and a balance current circuit. A sensor current and balance current can be applied at an input of the comparator. The sensor current, balance current or both can be modulated with a switch control signal. Digital circuits can include switch control logic that generates the switch control signal in response to an output of the comparator and a modulation clock signal. Digital signal processing circuits can generate a multi-bit digital value from a bit stream output by the comparator circuit. The multi-bit digital value can be an analog-to-digital conversion of the sensor current. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device may generate, from a subset of historical ontology data and a substance description of a substance, a knowledge base. The subset of historical ontology data may be associated with historical substances. The device may generate, based on the knowledge base, a substance knowledge graph embedding (KGE) that is representative of the substance; compare the substance KGE and a historical KGE associated with the knowledge base; determine, based on comparing the substance KGE and the historical KGE, a similarity score associated with the substance KGE and the historical KGE; determine, based on the similarity score, whether substance data associated with a related substance is similarly represented in the substance KGE and the historical KGE; and perform, based on whether the substance data is similarly represented in the substance KGE and the historical KGE, an action associated with the related substance relative to the substance description or the knowledge base.

Abstract: A sense unit for inductive sensing or capacitive sensing is described. The sense unit may include a first terminal coupled to a first node, a first electrode coupled to the first node, and a second terminal. The sense unit may include a second electrode coupled to the second terminal. In a first mode, a first signal is received at the first terminal and a second signal is output on the second terminal, where the second signal may be representative of a capacitance of the sense unit. The sense unit may include an inductive coil. The sense unit may include a first capacitor. The inductive coil and the first capacitor are coupled in parallel between the first node and ground. In a second mode, a third signal is received at the first terminal and a fourth signal is output on the second terminal.

Abstract: A device may generate, from a subset of historical ontology data and a substance description of a substance, a knowledge base. The subset of historical ontology data may be associated with historical substances. The device may generate, based on the knowledge base, a substance knowledge graph embedding (KGE) that is representative of the substance; compare the substance KGE and a historical KGE associated with the knowledge base; determine, based on comparing the substance KGE and the historical KGE, a similarity score associated with the substance KGE and the historical KGE; determine, based on the similarity score, whether substance data associated with a related substance is similarly represented in the substance KGE and the historical KGE; and perform, based on whether the substance data is similarly represented in the substance KGE and the historical KGE, an action associated with the related substance relative to the substance description or the knowledge base.

Abstract: An apparatus for inductive sensing or capacitive sensing is described. The apparatus may include a signal generator to output on a first terminal a first signal in a first mode and a second signal in a second mode. The apparatus may include a charge measuring circuit to receive on a second terminal a third signal in the first mode and a fourth signal in the second mode. The third signal is representative of an inductance of a sense unit coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The fourth signal is representative of a capacitance of the sense unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for inductive sensing or capacitive sensing is described. The apparatus may include a signal generator to output on a first terminal a first signal in a first mode and a second signal in a second mode. The apparatus may include a charge measuring circuit to receive on a second terminal a third signal in the first mode and a fourth signal in the second mode. The third signal is representative of an inductance of a sense unit coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The fourth signal is representative of a capacitance of the sense unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for inductive sensing or capacitive sensing is described. The apparatus may include a signal generator to output on a first terminal a first signal in a first mode and a second signal in a second mode. The apparatus may include a charge measuring circuit to receive on a second terminal a third signal in the first mode and a fourth signal in the second mode. The third signal is representative of an inductance of a sense unit coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The fourth signal is representative of a capacitance of the sense unit.

Abstract: A junction box has a main body defining an interior space and a lid hingedly connected to the main body for use in enclosing the interior space. The main body includes an inlet for allowing an end of electrical cable to be positioned with the interior space. The inlet is formed by a first pair of spaced flaps between which is defined a first slot into which the electrical cable is to be positioned and a second pair of spaced flaps between which is defined a second slot into which the electrical cable is to be positioned. Each of the first pair of flaps is arranged to extend outwardly from the defined first slot at an angle that is away from the interior space to provide a structure that will inhibit a pushing of the electrical cable further into the interior space. Each of the second pair of flaps is arranged to extend inwardly from the defined second slot at an angle towards the interior space to provide a structure that will inhibit a pulling of the electrical cable from the interior space.