Abstract: A floating liquid intake for a liquid suction removal system, the liquid intake comprising housing defining an internal cavity. The housing has a hollow and buoyant annular body, an upper cover and a lower cover. The internal cavity is formed between the upper and lower covers. A substantially annular inlet is formed in the annular body for ingress of liquid into the cavity. The annular body has a buoyancy sufficient for the liquid intake to float in a liquid with the annular inlet submerged below the surface of the liquid in which the liquid intake is floating. A pipe extends into the cavity and the pipe includes an inlet that in use is open below the surface of the liquid within the cavity. The pipe extends outside of the cavity for connection to a liquid suction removal system.

Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis for insertion between adjacent vertebrae, in one embodiment, includes upper and lower prosthesis plates and a movable core. The prosthesis plates and optionally the core are formed of polyaryletherketone (PAEK) for improved imaging properties. A metallic insert is provided on each of the PAEK prosthesis plates providing a bone ongrowth surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a robotic high throughput sample preparation machine. The apparatus includes: a tool retaining portion configured to engage and disengage with a sample preparation tool, and a rotation element configured to rotate the engagement portion. Actuation of the rotation element causes the tool retaining portion to alternately engage and disengage a sample preparation tool. The tool retaining portion may be configured to engage multiple sample preparation tool types such as syringes, needles, and media-containing cartridges such as those used for solid phase extraction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a valveless spacer device for a metered dose inhaler (MDI), the spacer device comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet opposed from the inlet, a demountable, flexible bag attached to the body, the bag and body together defining a chamber, such that the inlet and outlet are in fluid flow communication with an interior of the chamber, wherein the inlet is configured to be connected to an MDI containing a drug to be inhaled and wherein the flexible bag, following actuation of the MDI, serves as a reservoir allowing for the formation of a cloud or mist of the drug therewithin which is then ready for inhalation, the flexible bag being configured to be at least partially deflatable and at least partially inflatable commensurate with a single breath and/or rebreathing.

Abstract: Determining that a vehicle is speeding in violation of a speeding regulation. Capture a timed sequence of image frames of the target vehicle at known capture times of the vehicle, identify corresponding images of a license plate of the target vehicle in the image frames, recognize an alphanumeric character of the license plate in the corresponding images of the license plate, measure respective image dimensions of the alphanumeric character; and responsive to a change between the image dimensions of the alphanumeric character, compute a speed of the target vehicle relative to the camera. Font style and font size are stored of one or more standard vehicle license plate.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an air filter cleaning device having a rotating stage on which an air filter to be cleaned is seated and rotated about its central axis; and an inner outlet head configured to extend through a central opening of the rotating stage and be vertically moveable between a lower position and an upper position at least parallel to the central axis of the air filter, said outlet head having at least one gas outlet for discharging pressurized air outwardly through at least one wall of the air filter for dislodging contaminants; an outer vacuum head located externally to the air filter for suctioning the contaminants dislodged from the air filter by the inner outlet head wherein the inner outlet head is further configured such that the lower position is located less than about 1,500 mm above a support surface for the cleaning device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises: displaying a particular view of a plurality of views of a continuous content stream of individually actionable content items; wherein the plurality of views, each including a different subset of the individually actionable content items, responds to different sets of signaling gestures; automatically recognizing, while the continuous content stream is being displayed, a mode change from a control mode to a signal mode in the particular view of the plurality of views; receiving a touch input in the particular view of the plurality of views and, in response, generating output data indicating a signaling gesture classification that is accepted by the particular view and is for the touch input; updating, according to the output data, the particular view of the plurality of views; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

Abstract: A covering arrangement for an animatronic arrangement, the covering arrangement having a laminated structure comprising: an outer stretchable polymer layer having a thickness of between 0.5 to 5 mm; and a foam layer configured to provide desired bulk and form to the covering arrangement, wherein the foam layer comprises a shaped foam preform formed from precast flexible foam sheets.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to evaluating and improving performance of a control implementation on a quantum processor comprising multiple qubits in the presence of noise. A noise model decomposes noise interactions described by a multi-qubit noise Hamiltonian into multiple contributory noise channels. Each channel generates noise dynamics described by a unique noise-axis operator. For a given control implementation, a unique filter function represents susceptibility of the multi-qubit system to the associated noise dynamics. The filter functions are based on a frequency transformation of the noise axis operator of the corresponding noise channel to thereby evaluate the performance of the control implementation. An optimised control sequence is based on the filter function to reduce the susceptibility of the multi-qubit system to the noise channels, thereby reducing the effective interaction with the multi-qubit noise Hamiltonian.

Abstract: A dynamic intervertebral spacer includes a ring which is split on an anterior portion. A posterior portion of the ring acts as a torsion spring. After implantation, the ring is able to act as a spring between superior and inferior vertebral bodies, thus allowing dynamic bone growth in fusion procedures.

Abstract: An air delivery tube for a CPAP system includes a first end configured to connect to a flow generator of the CPAP system and a second end configured to connect to a patient interface of the CPAP system. The air delivery tube also includes a central lumen that is formed by an inner wall of the air delivery tube and is configured to convey pressurized breathable gas from the first end to the second end. In addition, a circumferential chamber surrounds the central lumen and is configured to retain a supply of water. A wick is located within the central lumen and is connected to the inner wall.

Abstract: This invention relates to a print bar structure, a printing apparatus and a method for printing on an outer surface of an object comprising at least one cylindrical portion, particularly a cylindrical and/or conical container. The invention also relates to a manufacturing facility and method for manufacturing containers. The printing apparatus typically comprises a print bar structure, a plurality of print heads attachable to the print bar structure, a curing device, and a displacement assembly operatively attachable to the container. The print bar structure at least partly defines a print zone, wherein the print heads and the curing device is operatively disposed in the print zone. The displacement assembly is operable to rotate object about an axis substantially aligned with the central axis relative to the plurality of print heads in the print zone such that fluid is deposited onto the object during rotation of the object.

Abstract: A system for providing information technology (IT) assistance packages enables a graphical user interface that can be launched from a single application icon and that can be customised on an individual user basis to provide a locally-branded system for servicing the user's IT needs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for fixing a container on a loading area, having a bolt (6) and having a lift drive (10), wherein the bolt (6) is rotatable and by means of the lift drive (10) is displaceable along a longitudinal axis of the bolt (6), wherein the bolt (6) in a secured position by means of a locking element (21) is secured against rotation and against axial displacement. The device (1) for fixing the container is improved in that the lift drive (10) is designed in such a manner that a head (7) of the bolt is displaceable through the slot (5) up to a first terminal position, wherein the head (7) of the bolt (6) in the first terminal position is spaced apart from the periphery of the slot (5) so as to have an axial clearance relative to said periphery, wherein the bolt (6) then is retractable to a second terminal position in which the head (7) of the bolt (6) bears on the periphery of the slot (5).