Abstract: Described are methods and systems are for generating dynamic conversational queries. For example, as opposed to being a simply reactive system, the methods and systems herein provide means for actively determining a user's intent and generating a dynamic query based on the determined user intent. Moreover, these methods and systems generate these queries in a conversational environment.

Abstract: A method of assembling a personal air purifying respirator includes assembling a housing including a blower disposed therein, a filter cavity, and an outlet manifold; installing a filter on the housing; attaching a filter cover to the housing with the filter cover disposed over the filter, wherein the filter cover defines an air inlet; and testing the filter including energizing the blower, introducing a testing aerosol into the air inlet, and measuring air exiting the outlet manifold.

Abstract: An organizer assembly includes a primary basket extending along a longitudinal axis between a first open end and a second closed end, the primary basket defining an interior. The organizer assembly further includes a bracket assembly extending along a transverse axis at the first open end of the basket, the bracket assembly including a plurality of hinge assemblies. The organizer assembly further includes a plurality of organizer trays, each of the plurality of organizer trays rotatably connectable to the bracket assembly at one of the plurality of hinge assemblies. Each of the plurality of organizer trays is rotatable between a first position wherein the organizer tray is aligned along the longitudinal axis and a second position wherein the organizer tray is aligned along the transverse axis.

Abstract: An irrigation control panel, an irrigation system, and a method of monitoring operations of the irrigation system are provided. The irrigation control panel comprises a display and a processing element. The display comprises an electrophoretic portion. The processing element is configured to determine an operating condition of the irrigation system, and display an indication representative of the operating condition on the electrophoretic portion so that the indication representative of the operating condition displayed on the electrophoretic portion persists after disconnecting power.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed as including a first material volume with at least a hardened portion and a second material volume that includes at least two layers. The first material volume is composed of at least a hardenable alloy of steel. The at least two layers is located adjacent to a first surface comprising the hardened portion of the first material volume. The at least two layers includes a first layer composed of at least a ductile low-carbon alloy of steel and a second layer composed of at least a cobalt-based hardfacing over the first layer. The apparatus is applicable in preparing shear ram blocks and shear ram blades to provide a hardened blade edge with an adjacent hardfacing surface.

Abstract: A system and/or method comprising providing a robotic control structure having a support structure, said support structure being adapted and configured to be selectively positionable along a prescribed path by said robotic control structure; providing a viscous material deposition system adapted and configured to control deposition of a viscous material from said viscous material deposition system; providing a load sensor associated with said robotic control structure adapted and configured to determine a load of said viscous material supported by said support structure; and positioning said support structure along said prescribed path, wherein said positioning is controlled at least in part based upon said load.

Abstract: An implant includes a first plate and a second plate, a first wedge member and a second wedge member spaced from the first wedge member that couple the first and second plates together. The first and second wedge members configured to translate along the first and second plates from a first contracted configuration into a second expanded configuration. The implant includes an actuation member coupled to the first wedge member and the second wedge member. The actuating member defines a flange extending toward the first and second plates. The actuation member configured to move the first and second wedge members from the first contracted configuration into the second expanded configuration so that the first and second plates separate from each other.

Abstract: Managing an online auction includes maintaining an automatically-decreasing, downward-going purchase price at which prospective buyers of a lot offered for sale can submit an immediate offer, and, concurrent with this, maintaining an upward-going contingent purchase price at which an offer to purchase the lot is to be automatically triggered, contingent on the downward-going purchase price decreasing to the upward-going contingent purchase price. Contingent bid(s) are received and work to increase the upward-going contingent purchase price. Server processing can then be performed based on submission of an immediately-effective offer to purchase the lot at the downward-going purchase price or automatic triggering of an offer to purchase the lot at the upward-going contingent purchase price. Related graphical user interfaces/online auction web interfaces, and presentation thereof, are also provided.

Abstract: A plastic keypad with data entry elements and at least one display element is protected from electrostatic discharge by an assembly having an overlay substrate on which an electrically-conductive arrangement is disposed. The overlay substrate has a top side and a back side with a precisely-positioned vias formed through the substrate. A top surface of the top side is a layer of a conductive polymer. The back side is printed with at least one layer of color ink that depict a plurality of alpha-numerical and pictorial elements of the keypad. The electrically-conductive arrangement is disposed on the overlay substrate to collect electrostatic charges on the top side, transfer the electrostatic charges to the back side through the plurality of vias and drain the transferred electrostatic charges to a ground.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed as including a first material volume with at least a hardened portion and a second material volume that includes at least two layers. The first material volume is composed of at least a hardenable alloy of steel. The at least two layers is located adjacent to a first surface comprising the hardened portion of the first material volume. The at least two layers includes a first layer composed of at least a ductile low-carbon alloy of steel and a second layer composed of at least a cobalt-based hardfacing over the first layer. The apparatus is applicable in preparing shear ram blocks and shear ram blades to provide a hardened blade edge with an adjacent hardfacing surface.

Abstract: Surgical plating systems, devices, and related methods for stabilizing and immobilizing portions of a body for surgical procedures, e.g., spinal surgery, are disclosed herein. The plating systems can have narrow profiles that minimize trauma to the patient. An exemplary bone plating system can include a bone plate having one or more holes for receiving attachment members to couple the bone plate to a bony structure. The plating system can provide multipoint fixation to anatomical structures of the patient to prevent unwanted migration of the bone plate and/or unintentional back-out of the attachment members. In some embodiments, the attachment members can be disposed at various trajectories and angles relative to plating structures and can include a mesh construct and/or additional locking features. In some embodiments, the plating system can be introduced into the patient via an access tube to further limit the invasiveness of the procedure.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed toward compression molding a polymeric product. The method preferably includes creating a casting mold. Elastomeric material is preferably placed in the casting mold. The elastomeric material is preferably allowed to at least partially cure in the casting mold to define a plug body. The plug body is preferably removed from the casting mold. A female compression mold is preferably provided. Polymeric material is preferably placed in the female compression mold. The polymeric material is preferably compressed in the female compression mold with the plug body to compression mold a polymeric product.

Abstract: A detection device for detecting the presence of a substance of interest in a sample is described. The device can include a data store comprising executable instructions for at least one convolutional neural network, CNN, configured to process images: and a processor coupled to the data store and configured to execute the instructions to operate the at least one CNN. The detection device can be configured to: obtain spectrometry data, operate a first one of the CNNs to process the spectrometry data to obtain a first CNN output; apply a mask to the spectrometry data to obtain masked data; operate a second one of the CNNs to process the masked data to obtain a second CNN output; and determine if the substance of interest is present in the sample based on both the first CNN output and the second CNN output.

Abstract: A surface-mounted vehicle includes a body and a mounting system configured to couple the surface-mounted vehicle to a surface. The surface-mounted vehicle also includes a propulsion system configured to move the surface-mounted vehicle along the surface. In addition, the surface-mounted vehicle includes a rail coupling system having at least one rail coupled to the body. The at least one rail is configured to couple a component to the surface-mounted vehicle. The rail coupling system also includes multiple electrical connectors disposed along the at least one rail. The electrical connectors are configured to provide electrical power to the component.

Abstract: Praziquantel may be formulated to enhance its pharmacokinetic, toxicity, and palatability properties. It can be stored and/or dispensed as a liquid, powder, or tablet. Reduction in the most common side effects improves patient compliance and satisfaction. Altered taste profile improves patient compliance and satisfaction. Once formulated it can be used to treat a variety of blood flukes and worms in human and veterinary subjects.

Abstract: A mobile irrigation system configured to support an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the mobile irrigation system comprising a number of irrigation spans, a control system, and a UAV support system. Each irrigation span includes a conduit section connected to conduit sections of adjacent irrigation spans for transporting an irrigation fluid from a fluid source to a field, a truss configured to support the conduit section, a number of fluid emitters, and a mobile tower connected to the truss for moving the truss, conduit section, and fluid emitters across the field. The UAV support system includes a docking station configured to receive the UAV and deploy the UAV to collect agricultural data or to carry out agricultural tasks and a data transfer module for transferring agricultural data from the UAV to a remote data storage system or edge processing devices.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to surgical instruments used to deliver locking or set screws to secure a rod or spinal fixation element relative to an implanted bone anchor or other spinal fixation construct during spine surgery. In one embodiment, the inserter instrument can include an inner driver shaft, a ratcheted outer sleeve, and a handle configured to receive the shafts therein. The inner driver shaft can receive a plurality of set screws on a distal end thereof. A side latch, pawl, or button can engage with the ratcheted outer sleeve to facilitate step-wise advancement of the sleeve relative to the driver shaft for set screw delivery.

Abstract: A system for warming a power generation system including a boiler and a mixer fluidly coupled to the boiler, a turbine first section operable to receive steam from the boiler at a first temperature. The turbine supplies steam at a second temperature to a first heat exchanger operably connected to receive the heated steam at the second temperature from the output of at least the first section of the turbine and transfer heat to at least one of water and steam in the boiler or the mixer, feedwater for the boiler, and a thermal energy storage system. The system further includes a control unit configured to receive the monitored operating characteristic and control the amount of steam directed through the turbine.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling and coordinating applications of fertilizers, pesticides, and water to fields while avoiding interferences between vehicles and other equipment may be implemented with a mobile irrigation system, a fertilizer applicator, a pesticide applicator, and a processing system. The processing system schedules and coordinates applications of fertilizers, pesticides, and water and prevents interferences between the machines primarily with data received from an irrigation schedule implemented by the irrigation system and data received from the fertilizer and pesticide applicators.

Abstract: Systems and method for coordinating movements of agricultural machines and irrigation systems on irrigated fields to avoid collisions and other interferences between the equipment may be implemented with a mobile irrigation system, a number of agricultural machines, and a processing system. The processing system receives and analyzes data from an irrigation schedule for the irrigation system and location data from the agricultural machines to detect possible interferences between the equipment and takes corrective action if likely interferences are detected.