Abstract: A surgical system and method of operating the same involve a surgical operating table is controllable and adjustable and that supports a patient thereon. A robotic system includes a moveable arm that supports and moves an end effector relative to a surgical site of the patient. Controller(s) coupled to the surgical operating table and to the robotic system associate a virtual boundary with respect to the surgical site and detect that the end effector is outside of the virtual boundary. In response to detection of the end effector being outside of the virtual boundary, the controller(s) command adjustment of the surgical operating table to reposition the surgical site and the virtual boundary to enable the end effector to be inside the virtual boundary.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and compositions for inhibiting fungal growth in food and cosmetic products, as well as food and cosmetic products treated with anti-fungal compositions.

Abstract: A method of constructing a building is disclosed, including selecting a standard dimension less than a wide-load trucking permit limit and designing a building on a grid defined by the selected standard dimension. The building includes a plurality of prefabricated elements, wherein each prefabricated element has a width correspond to the selected standard dimension. The plurality of prefabricated elements includes a wall panel, a roof panel, a laterally resistive frame, and a rebar cage. The method includes fabricating each of the plurality of prefabricated elements at a manufacturing plant and transporting the elements by truck to a building site. The method includes constructing intersecting grade beam footings at the building site and pouring a slab between the intersecting grade beam footings. The grade beam footings include the rebar cage and have a uniform width and depth, the grade beam footings and the slab having contiguous upper surfaces.

Abstract: A detachable protective device includes a base support, a mounting unit connected to the base support, and a quick-release unit. The base support has a mounting hole having an engaging portion and an open end portion. The quick-release unit includes a positioning pin extending movably through the mounting hole. The quick-release unit is operable to move the positioning pin between a locked position, where a large-diameter section of the positioning pin is disposed in the engaging portion, and a release position, where a small-diameter section of the positioning pin is disposed in the engaging portion, thereby allowing separation of the mounting unit from the base support.

Abstract: A control mechanism for a chair comprises a baseplate configured to be coupled to a chair base assembly, a support plate configured to be coupled to a chair seat, and an elastic element arranged between the base plate and the support plate. The elastic element enables the support plate to be tilted with respect to the base plate around a first tilt axis and a second tilt axis different from the first tilt axis. The control mechanism further comprises a control handle configured to be actuated in an actuating direction, and at least one stop element. Each stop element is arranged between the base plate and the support plate and configured to limit a minimum distance between the base plate and the support plate at the position of the corresponding stop element. A stop element adjust mechanism is coupled to the control handle and configured to adjust the minimum distance of each stop element in response to actuating the control handle in the actuating direction.

Abstract: A flexible cellular foam or composition contains a flexible foam structure that comprises a plurality of highly thermally conductive solids including nanomaterials. The thermally conductive solids may be carbon nanomaterials or other metallic or non-metallic solids. The carbon nanomaterials may include, but are not necessarily limited to, carbon nanotubes and graphite nanoplatelets. The highly thermally conductive solids may include but are not limited to micro-sized solids that may include graphite flakes, for example. When mixed within flexible foam, the presence of nanomaterials may impart greater support factor, greater thermal conductivity, and/or a combination of these improvements. The flexible foam composition may be polyurethane foam, latex foam, polyether polyurethane foam, viscoelastic foam, high resilient foam, polyester polyurethane foam, foamed polyethylene, foamed polypropylene, expanded polystyrene, foamed silicone, melamine foam, among others.

Abstract: A comfort layer for a bedding or seating product has liquid pods sandwiched between plies of fabric. The plies of fabric are joined with seams thereby creating pockets, at least one liquid pod being inside each pocket. Each seam joining opposed plies of fabric around each of the liquid pods of the comfort layer may be segmented or solid, depending upon the fabric and type of seam.

Abstract: A pocketed spring assembly comprises a plurality of parallel strings of individually pocketed springs. A dimensionally stabilizing substrate is secured to at least some of the strings on one of the top and bottom surfaces of the strings. A scrim sheet is secured to at least some of the strings on an opposed surface of the strings to maintain the positions of the strings. The dimensionally stabilizing substrate is laterally rigid enough to maintain length and width dimensions of the coil spring assembly. However, the dimensionally stabilizing substrate is flexible enough to allow the pocketed spring assembly to be roll packed for shipping.

Abstract: An activated sludge process for the treatment of municipal wastewater, particularly applicable to oxidation ditch activated sludge treatment systems which utilize a conventional race track or continuous loop reactor basin configuration. The process removes phosphorus and nitrogen from an activated sludge wastewater treatment system, with an anoxic cycle followed by an aerobic cycle, and followed by a surface wasting cycle until a low flow diurnal period is reached in a diurnal or twenty-four hour period. Automated microprocessor control system using “oxidation-reduction potential” (ORP) and “dissolved oxygen” (DO) as process variable inputs automate aerated and anoxic cycles to optimize phosphorus and nitrogen removal using the available carbon in the influent wastewater resulting in an energy efficient dynamic dissolved oxygen control during the aerated periods.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer program code for controlling a display of dynamic data updates is provided. A scroll position is determined for a viewport. The viewport chronologically displays a sequence of dynamic data within a graphical user interface. Responsive to determining that the scroll position is a top-of-page, a set of data updates is retrieved from a buffer. The sequence of dynamic data displayed in the viewport is updated with the set of data updates. The viewport is updated only when the scroll position is the top-of-page.

Abstract: A flat-packing machine for producing a package of compressed innerspring units comprises a press device having a first pressing tool and a second pressing tool. The press device is configured to compress an innerspring unit between the first pressing tool and the second pressing tool while one of the first pressing tool and the second pressing tool holds one or more further previously compressed innerspring units in a compressed state.

Abstract: A needleless pain-free injection device according to the present disclosure includes a valve body, a valve member provided in an internal space of the valve body and airtightly sliding along the valve body, a liquefied gas container communicating with the internal space of the valve body and detachably coupled, at one end thereof, to the valve body, an operating knob provided on the exposed end of the valve member, a cylinder body coupled to one side of the valve body and having an internal space, a piston member provided such that one end thereof slides in the internal space of the cylinder body and having a piston rod, an injection unit provided with an injection piston rod coupled to the piston rod, and a gas passage forming means for selectively establishing and blocking the communication of the valve body and the cylinder body with outside air.

Abstract: A tissue fixation system is provided for dynamic and rigid fixation of tissue. A fastener connected with an elongate fastening member, such as a cable, wire, suture, rod, or tube, is moved through a passage between opposite sides of tissue. A medical device is used to secure the fastener to the elongate fastening member. The medical device includes a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the elongate fastening member. As crimping mechanism is used to secure the fastener to the elongated member, where a cutting mechanism cut the excess portion of the elongated member.

Abstract: A three-layered topper for a bedding or seating product has a first piece of foam, a second piece of foam and a pocketed spring comfort layer therebetween. The pocketed spring comfort layer has individually pocketed mini coil springs. At least one of the foam pieces may be infused with metallic particles to improve thermal conductivity. Alternatively, at least one of the foam pieces may be infused with microencapsulated phase change materials to improve heat absorption. At least one of the foam pieces may have a coating to further improve thermal conductivity or heat absorption.

Abstract: A refractory lining in a combustion chamber operating in a reducing atmosphere. The lining includes at least one or more Zirconia (Zr)-based refractory lining members comprising one or more Zr-based parts. The Zr-based parts comprise at least 90 wt. %, preferably at least 95 wt. %, of monoclinic ZrO2 and/or partially stabilized ZrO2 and/or fully stabilized ZrO2, wherein the total content of tetragonal and cubic ZrO2 amounts to at least 20 wt. %, preferably more than 35 wt. %, as well as Zr based refractory lining members and methods for manufacturing the Zr based refractory lining members.

Abstract: A method for data visualization is provided. The method comprises receiving an input comprising a number of search parameters and then creating a cache node for the number of search parameters in the database, wherein the cache node comprises a first reference associated with the number of search parameters. Then identifying a number of search results related to the number of search parameters and storing the number of search results related to the number of search parameters in the cache node. Further, identifying a number of visualization options related to the number of search results stored in the cache node, wherein each visualization option comprises a second reference associated with the cache node.

Abstract: A method to forecast financial performance of companies is provided. The method comprises retrieving from a database news articles related to a number of companies published within a predefined time period. The news articles are classified as either ESG articles or non-ESG articles and then vectorized. A subset of relevant non-ESG articles are selected. The ESG and selected non-ESG articles are fed into a sentiment scoring model, which generates sentiment scores for the companies over the predefined time period. The sentiment scores are fed into an ESG forecast model along with historical market data and ESG data related to the companies. The ESG forecast model forecasts the financial performance of the companies in relation to ESG policies.