Abstract: The following relates generally to the medical monitoring arts, medical warning systems concerning a monitored patient, and so forth. In clinical settings, alarms are usually triggered when a single-parameter or a multi-parameter score exceeds certain thresholds. When a score needs to be determined, if certain parameters are not available, the common practice is to use the most recent measurements of the parameters for the score calculation. However, a patient's status may change from moment to moment. The parameters measured hours ago may not be a good indicator of the patient's current status. This uncertainty can put deteriorating patients at great risk. An embodiment uses statistical methods to estimate a range of scores and the probability of these scores if old measurements have to be used for score determination. Instead of giving a single number at a time, a confidence interval may be displayed to emphasize the fact that the score is determined partially based on old measurements.

Abstract: An inhaler with a housing (H) comprising an air-inlet (A_I) and a an air-outlet (A_O). Inside the housing (H) a flow path (FP) is defined between air-inlet (A_I) and air-outlet (A_O) where a dispenser (DP) is arranged to dispense an aerosol or a dry powder in the flow path (FP). Two sensors (S1, S2), e.g. microphones, are positioned spaced apart at external surfaces of the housing (H) to sense sound or vibrations resulting from a flow in the flow path (FP) at two different positions. This allows a precise detection of flow velocity during inhalation based on the sound or vibrations sensed by the two sensors (S1, S2), thus allowing examination of correct use of the inhaler. Further, the use of two spaced apart sensors (S1, S2) facilitates identification of priming and firing events in the sensed sound or vibrations which may also be used in evaluating the use of the inhaler.

Abstract: A reusable air filter and methods are provided for filtering air being conducted to an air intake of an internal combustion engine. The reusable air filter comprises a filter medium configured to pass an airstream and entrap particulates flowing within the airstream. The filter medium is comprised of cotton gauze disposed in a sinusoidal arrangement that provides a filtration surface area that is larger than a perimeter area of the filter medium. An end cap and base may be configured to retain the filter medium therebetween. The base provides an interface between the air filter and an air inlet of the engine. The filter medium may be disposed in a flat, panel shape that is bordered by a supportive tray. Support rods may be embedded within the tray to prevent bowing of the tray due to air pressure when coupled with an air box of the engine.

Abstract: A computer-implemented data processing system includes a data storage device and a processor and program logic stored in memory and executable by the processor. The program logic may include account management logic coupled to the data storage device to manage accounts respectively associated with a plurality of users, and interface logic coupled to the account management logic and the data storage device to connect the data processing system to computing systems associated with the plurality of users by way of the Internet, the interface logic providing the users with web access to an on-line banking area of a website of a financial institution, the interface logic further configured to establish a connection with one of the users and provide the user with a user interface. The user interface may be customizable based on inputs received from the user to provide selected ones of display modules.

Abstract: A display device comprises a display panel (24), a light blocking arrangement for selectively blocking light which is directed to a lateral output direction from the display panel and an array of lenses (27). The display has a privacy mode in which the light blocking arrangement blocks laterally directed light output from the display device and a public mode in which the light blocking arrangement allows light to pass which is directed to a lateral output direction. The light blocking arrangement comprises a stack of layers (80), each layer comprising a pattern of light blocking arrangement portions of two different types (90,92) such that in the stack of layers, the portions align to form light blocking members, each light blocking member being aligned with an respective lens. The repeating pattern of the light blocking members has a pitch which is double the lens pitch. This enables the light blocking arrangement to be manufactured more easily.

Abstract: A brachytherapy method and apparatus include implanting an applicator having at least one radiation source or seed receiving channel (62) into soft tissue adjacent a target region (40) to be irradiated. A high resolution planning image (64) of the target region including the applicator is generated, wherein the high resolution planning image is used for determining a three-dimensional treatment plan (66). A position of the applicator is tracked relative to the target region (40) and the treatment plan (66). Tracking the position includes measuring, via shape-sensing, a location and shape of the at least one radiation source or seed receiving channel (62).

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with a social media assessment tool. According to one embodiment, a social media assessment tool includes an identification logic that identifies interactivity criteria of a social media property. The interactivity criteria is associated with access to the social media property. The social media assessment tool also includes an assessment logic that determines that interactivity criteria satisfies a threshold value. In response to the social media property satisfying the threshold, the assessment logic calculates a score for at least one feature of the social media property.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a depth map source (109) providing a depth map for an image and a confidence map source (111) providing a confidence map with confidence values for pixels of the depth map. The confidence values designate the pixels as confident or non-confident pixels reflecting whether the depth value meets a reliability criterion or not. A depth modifier (113) performs a depth modification operation which modifies depth values for pixels of the depth map. A modified depth value for a first pixel is determined as a current depth value for the first pixel if this is designated as a confident pixel or if there are no confident pixels within a neighborhood set of pixels, and otherwise the modified value is determined as the maximum of the current depth value and a depth value determined as a function of depth values of pixels within the neighborhood set being designated as confident pixels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system that implements a payment initialization input that receives an electronic payment; the payment initialization input generates a payment context with an execution plan; a payments topology comprising a stage router, coupled to the payment initialization input and further in communication with a transform-to-external component and de-duplication component; and the stage router routes the payment context in accordance with the execution plan to a plurality of stages, the plurality of stages comprising a validation stage, an enrichment stage, a controls stage and a clearing stage where after each stage, the payment context is routed back to the stage router before being routed to a subsequent stage.

Abstract: A data management system includes a storage device configured to store financial data for a plurality of financial transactions, the financial data for the plurality of financial transactions being associated with a plurality of different accounts of a user, each of the plurality of financial transactions being associated with one of a plurality of transaction categories.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a burner grate (7), gas cooking hob, gas stove top and gas stove. For obtaining sufficient secondary air supply for inner flame exit ports (6) of a gas burner (4) of a gas cooking hob (3), a burner grate (7) adapted to be placed over the gas burner (4) and to support cooking vessels placed on the gas cooking hob (3) is proposed, which burner grate (7) comprises a feeder duct (12) extending from an outer region (13) to a mid section (14) thereof, and is adapted and implemented for feeding air towards flames of inner flame exit ports (6).

Abstract: A treatment device for fractional laser-based skin treatment includes an emission window having an elongated area and predefined locations that are arranged in an elongated array which extends along a treatment axis of the window. A treatment generator has a treatment laser for emitting laser light towards skin tissue from the predefined locations in the emission window for generating, in use, laser-based lesions inside the skin tissue. The treatment device also includes a motion sensor for sensing motion of the treatment device relative to the skin surface, and a controller for determining a non-zero sequence of at least one of the predefined locations from which laser light is consecutively emitted in dependence on the sensed motion. The controller allows generation of the non-zero sequence when the sensed motion of the treatment device relative to the skin surface only has a component in a direction parallel to the treatment axis.

Abstract: A system for interventional brachytherapy for generating data to be used directly for therapy and/or for therapy planning includes a radiation source which irradiates tissue of a patient and one or more radiation detectors which detect radiation delivered to the patient and generate radiation dosage data indicative thereof. One or more position sensors determine the position of the radiation source and a localization unit, in communication with the one or more position sensors, generates position data indicative of the position of the radiation source. An image database stores one or more anatomical images of the patient. A dose calculation unit which co-registers the one or more anatomical images with the positional and radiation dosage data and generates dose monitoring data based on the co-registration.

Abstract: A computing system receives first input from a customer to establish an account at the financial institution having a physical payment card associated therewith, approves the customer for the account based on account registration information received from the customer, and establishes the account for the customer. Establishing the account includes generating a card number for the physical payment card and associating the card number with a first status indicator, the first status indicator being associated with an inactive status of the account. Once the account is established, the computing system transmits a prompt instructing the customer to establish a PIN for the account and receives a customer-input PIN for the account.

Abstract: A voltage doubler circuit supports operation in both a positive voltage boosting mode to positively boost voltage from a first node to a second node and a negative voltage boosting mode to negatively boost voltage from the second node to the first node. The voltage doubler circuit is formed by transistors of a same conductivity type that share a common bulk that is not tied to a source of any of the voltage doubler circuit transistors. A bias generator circuit is coupled to receive a first voltage from the first node and second voltage from the second node. The bias generator circuit operates to apply a lower one of the first and second voltages to the common bulk.

Abstract: A method, and corresponding system (300), for monitoring patients based on activity state and posture. Activity state and/or posture of a patient are measured. Further, one or more vital signs of the patient are measured according to a schedule. Based on the measured activity state and/or posture of the patient and the measured one or more vital signs, the schedule is adjusted and/or patient deterioration is monitored for.

Abstract: An augmented reality apparatus for facilitating a patient interface device fitting process includes a device or system for providing a real-time image of the patient, and a processor apparatus structured to: (i) store a plurality of augmented reality component data files, each of the augmented reality component data files relating to either a structure or an aspect of one or more particular patient interface devices or a problem that may be encountered in the fitting process, and (ii) cause an augmented real-time image to be created and transmitted by the augmented reality apparatus by augmenting the real-time image using at least one of the augmented reality component data files.

Abstract: Techniques of detecting errors on a transaction channel. As described herein, nodes that perform actions of a transaction channel automatically generate reception records that memorialize receptions by the nodes of transaction items that represent financial transactions. These reception records can be analyzed to determine whether a node that performs an action in the transaction channel failed to receive a transaction item within an expected time. If a node that performs an action in the transaction channel failed to receive a transaction item within the expected time, an error remediation process may be performed.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a retractable tonneau cover for a vehicle that has been modified in order to generally minimize the size of a housing of the tonneau cover, providing more vehicle cargo space for a user. The modified retractable tonneau cover can be automatically closed through an electronic system.