Abstract: The present invention generally provides methods and devices for removing fluid from a surgical instrument. Surgical access devices and seal systems are generally provided having one or more valves or seal assemblies to create a closed system between the outside environment and the environment in which the surgical access device is being inserted. The devices of systems can also include a fluid remover in the form of a sorbent element, a scraper element, a wicking element, or any combination thereof that is configured to remove fluid from a working channel of the device or system and/or from a surgical instrument inserted therethrough.

Abstract: An exercise machine creates a simulated continuous resisted climbing motion. The machine includes a floor- or ground-contacting base frame and two or more substantially vertically oriented uprights, wherein at least one upright is rigidly connected to the base frame. The machine further includes two handles and two foot pedals, each handle and each foot pedal being movably engaged with an upright for linear reciprocating motion along the upright. The handles and foot pedals are interconnected so that they move concurrently. An adjustable resistance mechanism may be operatively connected to the interconnection of the handles and foot pedals to provide adjustable resistance for the simulated continuous climbing motion.

Abstract: A method for execution by a node in a database system includes determining to send a data block from a node to a destination node of a database system in accordance with execution of a query. An initial route to the destination node that includes a predefined number of relay nodes in a sequential relay ordering is determined. The second relay node in the sequential relay ordering is identified, and a set of intermediate node options that are each capable of receiving data from the node via a direct connection and capable of sending data to the second relay node via a direct connection is identified. One intermediate node is selected from the set of intermediate node options, and the data block is transmitted from the node to the one intermediate node to facilitate sending of the data to the destination node via exactly the predefined number of relay nodes.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for processing large datasets using a computationally-efficient representation are disclosed. A request to apply a coverage algorithm to a large input dataset is received. The large dataset includes sets of elements. A computationally-efficient representation of the large dataset is generated by generating a reduced set of elements that contains fewer elements based on a defined probability. For each element in the reduced set, a determination is made regarding whether the element appears in more than a threshold number of sets. When the element appears in more than the threshold number, the element is removed from sets until the element appears in only the threshold number. The coverage algorithm is then applied to the computationally-efficient representation to identify a subset of the sets. The system provides data identifying the subset of the sets in response to the received request.

Abstract: An optical system includes a first optical element having at least a first optical surface and a second optical surface, the first optical surface is not parallel to the second optical surface. The optical system includes a plurality of optical elements positioned adjacent to the second optical surface of the first optical element. The respective optical element of the plurality of optical elements is configured to receive light transmitted through the first optical surface at a first angle with respect to the second optical surface and direct the light back toward the first optical surface at a second angle, that is distinct from the first angle, with respect to the second optical surface.

Abstract: A conversion apparatus is provided herein. The conversion apparatus includes a cutting member having an edge configured for cutting the dunnage material. The conversion apparatus also includes a biasing member that is located adjacent to the cutting member such that the dunnage material passes between the biasing member and the cutting member. The biasing member operably contacts the dunnage material thereby biasing the dunnage material against the cutting member. The position of the biasing member relative to the cutting member is such that in response to the dunnage material being retracted back into the conversion apparatus the cutting member begins to sever the dunnage material, but in response to the dunnage material traveling in the dispensing direction the cutting member does not begin to sever the dunnage material due to the relative position.

Abstract: An example operation may include a method comprising one or more of creating a VNFC monitor, starting a VNFC monitor, sending VNFCI state change notifications which includes a status of one or more VNFC modules, stopping a VNFC monitor, and destroying a VNFC monitor.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH011145. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH011145, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH011145 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH011145.

Abstract: An air moving device includes a housing member, an impeller assembly, and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly can include one or more angled vanes set an angle with respect to a central axis of the air moving device. The air moving device can output a column of moving air having an oblong and/or rectangular cross-section. A dispersion pattern of the column of moving air upon the floor of an enclosure in which the air moving device is installed can have an oblong and/or rectangular shape. The dimensions of the dispersion pattern may be varied by moving the air moving device toward or away from the floor, and/or by changing the angles of the stator vanes within the nozzle assembly.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) includes a light generator emitting a beam of light into a local area and a detector. The detector captures light from the beam reflected by objects in the local area to a portion of an array of pixels that each include a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD). The location of the portion of the array is based in part on the angle of the beam emitted from the projector. The DCA identifies a set of pixels of the array corresponding to the portion and selectively retrieves current generated from the reflected light by the pixels in the portion of the array without retrieving current generated by pixels in other portions of the array.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a scale. One system includes a first touchless button, a first visual indicator associated with the first touchless button, a second touchless button, coupled to an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to receive, from the first touchless button, a first signal indicative of a first gesture. The electronic processor is configured to, in response to receiving the first signal, switch second touchless button from a dormant mode to an active mode and activate the first visual indicator. The electronic processor is configured to receive, from the second touchless button, a second signal indicative of a second gesture. The electronic processor is configured to, in response to receiving the second signal, execute a function of the scale associated with the second touchless button. The electronic processor is configured to switch the second touchless button from the active mode to the dormant mode.

Abstract: An emergency LED lighting system maintains power to an LED lighting source based on measured voltages and currents provided to the LED lighting source; rolls back or decreases power provided to an LED lighting source over time in order to increase the amount of time the battery can power the LED lighting source; executes a soft start procedure, such that the power provided to the LED lighting source is gradually ramped up during activation of the LED lighting sources; identifies a type of battery coupled to the emergency LED lighting system; cycles the emergency LED lighting system between charging mode and standby mode to reduce power consumption over a window of time; detects AC power or an absence of AC power; and/or uses a status LED to communicate information about the emergency LED lighting system with a remote device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating online storage of files (e.g., audio tracks, video, etc.) for playback/access or sale/exchange by the owners of the files without violating copyrights that copyright holders have in the files. For example, by providing a playback service that does not store additional versions of an audio file when the file is transmitted to, and immediately played on, a user device without buffering, the present invention avoids violating copyright laws by not making copies of the file. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for request distribution are described herein. In an example, a system for request distribution includes a storage to store instructions and a processor. In an example, upon execution of the instructions, the processor instructs the system to identify an endpoint for routing a request based on a request value using a global lookup table. In an example, upon execution of the instructions, the processor instructs the system to generate a case identifier, wherein the case identifier includes a case hint based on the endpoint for routing the request. In an example, upon execution of the instructions, the processor instructs the system to route the request to an independent scale group based on the case hint, wherein the independent scale group is selected based on a co-location of a geographic interaction point for a service agent and a data shard corresponding to the request.

Abstract: Technologies for emulating payment transaction messaging for electronic payment transaction include a transaction management controller for receiving a transaction amount for a payment transaction from a business management engine and simulated payment card data for the payment transaction from a point of interaction emulator. The transaction management controller inserts the transaction amount and the payment card data into a test payment authorization request message, which is transmitted to a null host. A payment authorization response message is received from the null host and transmitted by the transaction management controller the business management engine. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A firearm has a trigger shield that is a protective loop surrounding a first and second switch of the firearm and the switches actuate the function of the firearm when activated by a finger to start the firing process. The first switch is on a first side of the protective loop and the second switch is on a second side of the protective loop. The protective loop is vertically aligned having the first and second switches on respective shorter sides of the protective loop. The firearm further has a first emitter mounted on the trigger shield that propagates a first light beam to a first receiver mounted on an opposite side of the trigger shield and a second emitter mounted on the trigger shield that propagates a second light beam to a second receiver mounted on an opposite side of the trigger shield. When a finger depresses one of the switches, his/her finger is blocking the light beam and the firearm will not activate and when the finger is moved away from the light beam, the firearm discharges.

Abstract: Dosage forms, drug delivery systems, and methods related to sustained release of dextromethorphan or improved therapeutic effects are disclosed. Typically, bupropion or a related compound is orally administered to a human being to be treated with, or being treated with, dextromethorphan.

Abstract: Systems and method for generating a vanishing illusion special effect are provided. One approach involves two rooms that mirror each other and are separated by a wall. The wall includes a frame through which the transition glass is configured to move. The transition glass includes a mirrored portion and a transparent portion. A controller may instruct an actuator to move the transition glass such that the mirrored portion is in alignment or out of alignment relative to the frame. In a further embodiment, a first ride vehicle and a second ride vehicle mirror each other and are separated by a transition glass that also includes a mirrored portion and a transparent portion. A controller may regulate the movement of the first ride vehicle and the second ride vehicle from a position in alignment to a position out of alignment relative to the mirrored portion or the transparent portion.

Abstract: A charging system of an electrical automobile vehicle includes a converter unit and a first energy storage system of within a first automobile vehicle. A charging cable is releasably connected from the first energy storage system to a charging station or is releasably connected to a second energy storage system of a second automobile vehicle. A vehicle charging controller is connected to the converter unit and programmed to communicate with the charging station and to the second energy storage system. A plurality of low-loss switching devices of the converter unit are selectively operated by signals from the vehicle charging controller to position the plurality of low-loss switching devices in an on-state (ON) or an off-state (OFF) to control charging the first energy storage system from the charging station or charging the second energy storage system from the first energy storage system.

Abstract: An example medical device includes a body portion having a tubular inner wall defining an inner channel, and a tubular outer wall encircling the inner wall. The outer wall defines an outer channel between the outer wall and the inner wall. The body portion also includes an indicator substance disposed within the outer channel. The device also includes an indicator portion defining an indicator channel. The body portion is configured to insert at least in part into a patient, and the indicator portion is configured to remain at least in part along an exterior of the patient when the body portion is inserted into the patient. The device is also configured to transfer at least a portion of the indicator substance from the outer channel to the indicator channel when the body portion is bent.