Abstract: A joining arrangement between a main tube and a side arm (5) in a side arm stent graft (1). The side arm (5) is stitched into an aperture (11) in the main tube and is in fluid communication with it. The aperture is triangular, elliptical or rectangular and the side arm is cut off at an angle to leave an end portion having a circumferential length equal to the circumference of the aperture. The side arm can also include a connection socket (76) comprising a first resilient ring (79) around the arm at its end, a second resilient ring (80) spaced apart along the arm from the first ring and a zig zag resilient stent (82) between the first and second rings. The zig-zag resilient stent can be a compression stent. Both the main tube and the side arm are formed from seamless tubular biocompatible graft material.

Abstract: An allograft optimization system utilizes an optical system to determine the outer perimeter of a tissue blank for allograft cutting therefrom. The optical system determines an optimal allograft array pattern that can be derived from the irregular tissue blank and may include a plurality of various allograft shapes and sizes. A computer operates an allograft optimization computer program that receives input regarding the outer perimeter of the tissue blank. A cutting implement, such as a laser, is configured to cut the allografts from the irregularly shaped tissue blank according the allograft array pattern. The cutting implement is automatically actuated by an actuator with respect to the tissue blank to cut the allografts therefrom. The cutting implement may be a laser or a galvo laser that is directed by one or more mirrors. The tissue may be birth tissue including placental tissue and amnion.

Abstract: The disclosure describes devices and methods for starting up a microphone assembly. The device may be implemented on an integrated circuit that includes a direct current (DC) bias circuit. The DC bias circuit may be coupled to a transducer and configured to supply a DC bias signal to the transducer. The DC bias circuit includes a multi-stage charge pump and a low pass filter (LPF) circuit. The LPF circuit includes an adjustable resistance and a capacitor. A resistance of the adjustable resistance may be reduced to reduce the settling time of the LPF while starting (e.g., turning on) the microphone assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and implements for sensing, analyzing, and displaying different soil parameters. A soil sensing system includes a mechanical component of an agricultural implement and at least one sensor disposed on the mechanical component. The sensor generates an electromagnetic field through a region of soil as the agricultural implement traverses a field. The sensor comprises at least one radar transmitter and at least one radar receiver and the sensor measures different soil parameters including a soil dielectric constant.

Abstract: A method of grinding large sample quantities using a bead beater homogenizer includes steps of loading a sample material into a vial having a size of 500 ml or greater having a chamber enclosed by two end walls and a cylindrical sidewall defining a central vial axis, loading a plurality of balls into the vial with the sample material, securing the vial to a movable platform of the homogenizer, and oscillating the platform in a back-and-forth motion isolated to a movement axis, thereby causing the balls to move in a circular motion along the cylindrical sidewall, wherein the central vial axis is perpendicular to the movement axis. A system of a cylindrical vial and a bead beater homogenizer is also provided.

Abstract: A microgrid comprises an electric vehicle battery storage system that supplies a first DC signal, a bus bar that receives the first DC signal and provides a combined DC signal, a frequency variable and/or voltage variable inverter that receives the combined DC signal, converts, responsive to one or more control signals, the combined DC signal into a first AC signal having variable frequency and/or variable voltage, and provides the first AC signal having the variable frequency and/or voltage to the electrical loads of the facility, and a DC to AC that receives, responsive to the one or more control signals, the combined DC signal from the bus bar, and converts the combined DC signal to a second AC signal.

Abstract: A pre-saturated disposable disinfecting wipe may include a microfiber cloth. The microfiber cloth may include a low weight substrate having a first face and an opposed second face, and microfiber yarn attached to the low weight substrate in a plurality of parallel rows of stitches. The pre-saturated disposable disinfecting wipe further includes a disinfecting formulation saturated in the microfiber cloth. The pre-saturated disposable disinfecting wipe may have a single-touch two-minute wetness coverage of more than 100 in2. A method of manufacturing a pre-saturated disposable disinfecting wipe may include saturating, with a disinfecting formulation, a microfiber cloth.

Abstract: A two-wire load control device may be configured to compute an accurate estimate of real-time power consumption by a load that is electrically connected to, and controlled by, the two-wire load control device. The load control device may be adapted to measure a voltage drop across the device during a first portion of a half-cycle of an AC waveform provided to the device. The device may be further configured to estimate a voltage drop across the load during the second portion of the half-cycle. The estimated voltage drop may be based on the measured voltage drop. The device may be further configured to measure a current supplied to the load during a second portion of the half-cycle. The device may be configured to estimate power consumed by the load based on the measured current and the estimated voltage drop.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described for provisioning and managing data orchestration platforms in a cloud computing environment. A server provisions in a first region a first data orchestration platform comprising (i) a first data transformation instance, (ii) first endpoints, and (iii) a first data integration instance. The server provisions in a second region a second data orchestration platform comprising (i) a second data transformation instance, (ii) second endpoints, and (iii) a second data integration instance. The server integrates the first data integration instance and the second data integration instance with an identity authentication service. The server monitors operational status of the first orchestration platform and the second orchestration platform using a monitoring service. The server refreshes virtual computing resources in each of the first orchestration platform and the second orchestration platform using a rehydration service.

Abstract: Implementations relate to various techniques for resource efficient interactions with data corresponding to a physical parcel (already created or yet to be created) that is to be delivered to a recipient by a courier entity. Some of those implementations relate to techniques to enable access, by the recipient, of interior content data of the physical parcel. Some additional or alternative implementations relate to techniques to enable resource efficient storage and/or access to data related to a physical parcel, while enabling interaction(s) with the physical parcel by various disparate entities to be tracked and while maintaining appropriate access control to such data.

Abstract: It has been unexpectedly discovered that the addition of a natural or other pozzolan to non-spec coal ash significantly improves the properties of the non-spec coal ash to the extent it can be certified under ASTM C618 and AASHTO 295, as either a Class F or Class C coal ash. The natural pozzolan may be a volcanic ejecta, such as pumice or perlite. Other pozzolans may also be used for this beneficiation process. Many pozzolans are experimentally tested and may be used to beneficiate non-spec coal ash into certifiable Class F coal ash. Additionally, this disclosure provides a method of converting a Class C coal ash to a more valuable Class F coal ash. This discovery will extend diminishing Class F coal ash supplies and turn non-spec coal ash waste streams into valuable, certified coal ash pozzolan which will protect and enhance concrete, mortars and grouts.

Abstract: In certain aspects, the disclosed implementations include methods and systems for dynamically generating and determining transaction affinity relationship information associated with a set of merchants involved in a set of transactions. In certain implementations, the transaction affinity relationship information may reflect affinity relationships between merchant chains in a merchant affinity network. The disclosed implementations may receive an adjustment to an affinity relationship associated with a merchant chain, and based on the adjustment, predicts one or more changes to affinity relationships associated with other merchant chains in the merchant affinity network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing sales tax information. The information may be generated, for example, in connection with transactions involving financial accounts, such as a credit card account. The sales tax information may be received electronically from, for example, a merchant or a point of sale device. A determination may be made whether there is any missing sales tax information. If there is missing information a request may be generated and sent to a source having the information. The source may receive the request, retrieve the desired information, and transmit it to the requesting entity. The sales tax information may be stored and later retrieved for presentation to a user, such as the account holder. The account holder may use the information in completing a tax return.

Abstract: A plant-based food product with zero sugar is provided. The plant-based food product includes an amount of water, a sugar content of between 0 wt% and 0.4 wt% referred to as having “zero sugar,” and a plant-based fiber product. The plant-based fiber product includes an amount of water, a plant-based flour, an amount of plant fiber, and a plurality of enzymes comprising: an alpha amylase, a glucose oxidase, catalase, and a cellulase. The plant-based food product may be incorporated in a milk, yogurt, shake, or bar, for example.

Abstract: A system for increasing the safety of voice conversations between drivers and remote parties is shown. The system includes an in-vehicle subsystem and a remote subsystem. The system includes a plurality of sensors which are configured to generate monitoring data. The system includes a computing device, which may be distributed between the subsystems and is configured to calculate a risk level as a function of the monitoring data. The computing device may engage an automatic safety response as a function of the risk level, that may include suspension or termination of on-going conversations among the parties, together with notification about the status of the communication channel. The safety response may be communicated to the driver by generating an alert. The in-vehicle and the remote subsystems communicate using a wireless connection and collaborate in engaging the automatic safety response and communicating any alerts to the driver and remote party using notifications.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing data and source validation for equipment output data and/or for equipment failure predict. In various embodiments, in response to receiving a first request for first data that is output by first equipment, a computing system might retrieve and analyze the first data to determine whether the first data can be trusted. If so, the computing system might send the first data to the requesting device. If not, the computing system might send a second request for identifying a blockchain containing a block containing a copy of the first data. In response to the blockchain system identifying such a blockchain, the computing system might receive the identified blockchain; might abstract the block containing the copy of the first data from the identified blockchain; might abstract the first data from the block; and might send the first data to the requesting device.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium for consolidating multiple databases into a single or a smaller number of databases is described. An improved structure of target database may be achieved by removing constraints used when creating legacy databases. According to some aspects, these and other benefits may be achieved by combining multiple source tables into a single target table with errors being identified and addressed during the creation of the instructions to generate the target table. In implementation, this may be effected by converting values from a source table and values from a target table into normalized versions of those values and then comparing the normalized values. A benefit includes verifying that the data from the source table is being properly reflected in the target table.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling a fuel delivery system to limit acidic corrosion. An exemplary control system includes a controller, at least one monitor, an output, and a remediation system. The monitor of the control system may collect and analyze data indicative of a corrosive environment in the fuel delivery system. The output of the control system may automatically warn an operator of the fueling station of the corrosive environment so that the operator can take preventative or corrective action. The remediation system of the control system may take at least one corrective action to remediate the corrosive environment in the fuel delivery system.

Abstract: Systems described herein may use machine classifiers to perform a variety of natural language understanding tasks including, but not limited to multi-turn dialogue generation. Machine classifiers in accordance with aspects of the disclosure may model multi-turn dialogue as a one-to-many prediction task. The machine classifier may be trained using adversarial bootstrapping between a generator and a discriminator with multi-turn capabilities. The machine classifiers may be trained in both auto-regressive and traditional teacher-forcing modes, with the maximum likelihood loss of the auto-regressive outputs being weighted by the score from a metric-based discriminator model. The discriminators input may include a mixture of ground truth labels, the teacher-forcing outputs of the generator, and/or negative examples from the dataset. This mixture of input may allow for richer feedback on the autoregressive outputs of the generator.

Abstract: A method of providing alpha particle emitters and materials suitable for use in generating the alpha particles for medical treatment is disclosed. Metal oxide targets, preferentially Bi2O3 pellets and Bi2O3 coatings on metallic or metal oxide substrates are formed. The targets placed in a heated vacuum chamber subjecting to irradiation using a 6Li beam at an elevated temperature below the melting point of the target generate a radioactive gas, such as 211Rn, the radioactive gas is carried by an inert gas which is delivered a carrier for, such as a carbon column or oil for delivery to a treatment facility. The radioactive gas such as 211Rn generates 211At, which has a useable half-life of at least about 14 hours, in turn releases alpha particles which are effective for use in medical procedures.