Abstract: A method and system to determine if there is an open cell in a battery pack of cells arranged in a lattice. Voltage measurements from each parallel cell group along with information on the battery pack topology are used to estimate the resistance of each cell group. The resistance of each cell group is calculated based on the measured voltage less a nominal open circuit voltage divided by the current level of the battery pack. The average cell group resistance of the battery pack is also calculated. The cell group resistances are analyzed statistically using the resistance of each cell group and the average cell group resistance to reveal outliers which are indicative of open cell groups.

Abstract: An exemplary example of a medical device can include a retention structure for at least partially encircling a patient's body, the retention structure including a central member and a support portion configured to be placed underneath a patient, a piston extending from the central member, a driver coupled to the piston configured to retract and extend the piston, a patient contact member attached to the piston, the patient contact member configured to adhere to the patient's body, and a controller. The controller can be configured to cause the driver during a session to perform at least two cycles of negative pressure ventilation, each of the at least two cycles of negative pressure ventilation including positioning the piston at a reference position, retracting the piston from the reference position to an expansion position to expand a chest of a patient to generate negative pressure ventilation, and returning the piston from the expansion position to the reference position.

Abstract: Described herein are anti-microbial peptides having enhanced activity and transport.

Abstract: A pressure fluctuations mitigation system for an industrial flow operation is provided. The system includes a bellows assembly positioned within a pressure vessel. The bellows assembly can include two segments that are joined with a center ring to form a seal that allows the bellows assembly performs as would a unitary bellows structure. The bellows assembly encloses an internal space that is fluidically isolated from the interior space of the pressure vessel. The bellows assembly has a corrugated sidewall that extends along a longitudinal axis from a first collar portion to a second collar portion. The sidewall has a hollow cylindrical shape and is made of polytetrafluoroethylene. The sidewall has an outer diameter of more than 18 inches.

Abstract: Computing device and method for inferring a predicted number of physical blocks erased from a flash memory. The computing device stores a predictive model generated by a neural network training engine. A processing unit of the computing device executes a neural network inference engine, using the predictive model for inferring the predicted number of physical blocks erased from the flash memory based on inputs. The inputs comprise a total number of physical blocks previously erased from the flash memory, an amount of data to be written on the flash memory, and optionally an operating temperature of the flash memory. In a particular aspect, the flash memory is comprised in the computing device, and an action may be taken for preserving a lifespan of the flash memory based at least on the predicted number of physical blocks erased from the flash memory.

Abstract: There is provided a fiber optic temperature probe having a base, a first tube connected to the base, a second tube provided coaxially within the first tube, a probe tip extending through an opening in a distal end of the first tube; and an optical fiber extending from within the base through an opening in the proximal end of the first tube and being substantially coaxial with respect to the first tube. There is also provided a fiber optic temperature probe having a base, a first tube connected to the base, a probe tip extending through an opening in a distal end of the first tube, an optical fiber extending from within the base through an opening in the proximal end of the first tube and being substantially coaxial with respect to the first tube, and a first lens positioned between the probe tip and the optical fiber.

Abstract: A prehospital telemedicine system comprises a physiologic monitor; an electronic patient care reporting system (ePCR) system; and a point-of-care blood analyzer communicatively coupled to the physiologic monitor and the ePCR system. The point-of-care blood analyzer is configured to perform an analysis of a blood sample based on an indication of a need for a specific blood analysis provided by one of the physiologic monitor and the ePCR system, and to automatically transmit a result of the analysis to a remote data receiving system. The indication of a need for a specific blood analysis may be based upon any one of the following: vital signs data obtained for a patient by the physiologic monitor; and/or current documentation or past medical history captured on or available through the ePCR system.

Abstract: The present method and electronic device are adapted for secured commissioning. A generic password is stored in memory of the electronic device, and a transmission power of the electronic device is set to a reduced transmission power. The electronic device receives a commissioning request including the generic password and a specific password. The generic password is replaced in the memory of the electronic device by the specific password, and the transmission power of the electronic device is increased to full transmission power.

Abstract: The disclosed physiological feedback systems and methods assist with assessing, monitoring and/or treating a patient experiencing a cardiac arrest event. The systems and methods receive multiple inputs and are continuous and/or iterative during a treatment session to provide physiological state trends of the patient. An index of the physiological state of the patient can be derived and confounders, and/or their effects, can be identified, and/or removed, from the index. Additionally, the systems and methods can assist with determining ischemic injury in a patient based on cerebral tissue oxygenation and/or other physiological data.

Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill via a gas extraction system comprising well piping, the landfill gas having a first temperature when extracted, the control system comprising: a gas composition chamber coupled to the well piping and comprising at least one sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of a landfill gas sample in the gas composition chamber; a temperature control mechanism configured to heat the landfill gas sample in the gas composition chamber to a second temperature at least a threshold amount greater than the first temperature; and a controller configured to control the at least one sensor to measure the one or more characteristics of the landfill gas sample in the gas composition chamber when a temperature of the landfill gas sample in the gas composition chamber is at least the threshold amount greater than the first temperature.

Abstract: A system for extracting landfill gas from a landfill is provided. According to some embodiments, a control system for landfill gas extraction is provided. The control system uses a throttle to control flow of landfill gas extracted from the landfill. The throttle is actuated in use to vary the flow of gas between a well and a gas collection system, in accordance with a control algorithm that adjusts flow as a parameter in controlling gas extraction. The throttle is configured to ensure that there is at least some flow of landfill gas from the landfill to a gas output throughout operation. The extraction system provides an efficient system for landfill gas extraction, while mitigating a risk of creating undesired or unpleasant conditions and/or of violating regulations during operation.

Abstract: A gobo system for a light fixture. The rotating gobo system including a gobo, a gobo retainer, and a gobo carrier. The gobo retainer is coupled to the gobo and includes a tab. The gobo carrier is coupled to the light fixture. The gobo carrier includes a seat for supporting the gobo and a recess for receiving the tab of the gobo retainer. The gobo retainer is rotatable relative to the gobo carrier between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Abstract: A puncturing feature is provided on the deployable wings of a precision guidance kit of a rocket to facilitate breaking through the wing slot seal that protecting the wings prior to deployment. The puncturing feature may be a sharp region on the leading edge near the wing tip that first contacts the wing slot seal. The puncturing feature may be a sharp edge extended along the leading edge of the wing to provide a cutting action as the wing passes through the wing slot seal.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery system including at least one energy storage cell having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, a resistive element and a circuit configured to allow current to flow through the resistive element. A monitoring circuit measures the current flow through, and a voltage produced across, the resistive element and calculates the resistance of the resistive element. The current flow through the resistive element produces heat by raising the temperature of the resistive element. The current flow through the resistive element may be managed by a balancing circuit. A current sense resistor may be connected in series with a balancing resistor and a transistor turns on a balancing operation through balancing resistor. The monitoring circuit may determine the temperature of the resistive element based on the calculated resistance. The battery monitoring circuit may activate a battery cooling system based on the temperature of the resistive element.

Abstract: A multiple stage switching type converter circuit provided between an AC source and a DC source is provided. The circuit includes a boost converter stage coupled to the AC source, a DC link capacitor stage comprising a DC link capacitor decoupled from an AC source and a DC source, and an isolated DC-DC converter stage coupled to the DC source. The multiple stage switching type converter circuit comprises a plurality of switches, each switch configured to operate at a baseline duty cycle, a baseline voltage, a baseline resistance, with a baseline current and providing a baseline switching time. At least one switch is altered to perform at a duty cycle differing from the baseline duty cycle, a voltage differing from the baseline voltage, a resistance differing from baseline resistance, with a current differing from the baseline current or using a switching time differing from the baseline switching time.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a control system that automatically (1) determines whether a gas extraction system is in a state in which landfill gas is being released into the atmosphere, and (2) automatically controls landfill gas flow to mitigate, prevent and/or stop the release of landfill gas. The control system may control a valve to control flow of landfill gas through well piping of the gas extraction system. The pressure of landfill gas in the well piping at a location upstream of the valve may indicate whether there is a risk of landfill gas being released into the atmosphere. The control system may adjust a position of the valve in response to determining that the pressure at the location upstream of the valve indicates that there is a risk of landfill gas being released into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A capnograph system may be used together with a ventilation system for a patient. The capnograph system may include a capnography module with a carbon dioxide detector, which may generate a carbon dioxide signal responsive to an amount of carbon dioxide detected within an air path of the ventilation system. A monitoring circuit may further detect a pressure within the air path. A processing component within the capnography module may generate a pressure signal responsive to the pressure detected in the air path. The pressure signal, alone or in combination with other signals such as the carbon dioxide signal, may be used to detect spontaneous breaths of the patient.

Abstract: A touch panel smart switch includes a switch module comprising and a removable faceplate module communicatively couple to the switch module. The faceplate module includes a touch sensor, a display device, a processor, and a memory. The touch sensor is configured to detect a touch input by a user, and the display device is configured for displaying virtual switches at locations at which the touch sensor can detect a touch input by the user. The processor displays a first virtual switch at a first location on the display device, and selectively connects a first load to a power source using the switch module in response to the touch sensor detecting a touch input by the user at the first location of the first virtual switch displayed on the display device.

Abstract: The disclosed mechanical cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) apparatuses, systems, and devices have a plunger and a plunger displace sensor that can sense plunger displacement information during reciprocating cycles of the plunger. The disclosure CPR apparatuses, systems, and devices also have a microprocessor unit that can receive sensed plunger displacement information from the sensor and generate plunger driving instructions based on the plunger displacement information. The plunger driving instructions have one or both of a plunger driving force and a plunger amplitude for the reciprocating cycles.

Abstract: A system and method are described for conserving energy in HVAC systems. During certain temperature requests, ambient air can be supplied to a conditioned space and the HVAC compressor can be turned off to conserve power. During certain temperature requests, supply air can be adjusted through cycling of heating or cooling elements to conserve power and maintain desired space temperature. In various embodiments, supply air temperature, coil temperature, cabinet temperature and other values can be monitored for their effect on cooling and/or heating, and taken into account for determining how to best cool or heat a conditioned space.