Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for increasing ketone levels in the bloodstream of a subject comprising administering to the subject an aqueous composition comprising a hydrogel, the hydrogel comprising: ?-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB); and carboxymethylcellulose or chitosan; wherein the BHB and the carboxymethylcellulose or chitosan form a hydrogel matrix, and the matrix has a pH in the aqueous composition of about 4.0±0.5.

Abstract: There is described a rebound wall to be positioned with respect to a playing surface having an activity area and configured for varying a rebound of a ball directed thereon, the rebound wall comprising: a wall having a rebound surface and adapted to be positioned vertically relative to the playing surface so that the rebound surface substantially faces the activity area; the rebound surface comprising a plurality of impact zones each for returning the ball according to a respective type of shot, each impact zone comprising at least one rebound region each for rebounding the ball along a respective rebound direction towards the activity area upon the ball impacting thereon, each rebound region being shaped as a function of the respective rebound direction the type of shot of the respective impact zone in which the rebound region is contained.

Abstract: The wheel chock is part of a wheel chock restraint system that also includes a base plate to prevent a parked vehicle from moving away in an unauthorized or accidental manner in a departure direction. The wheel chock includes a main body having a bottom base portion and a tire-engaging bulge. It also includes a tire deformation cavity, made within the main body on the tire-facing side. Teeth are provided underneath the bottom base portion of the wheel chock to engage at least one of the corresponding teeth provided on the base plate in a latched engagement. The wheel chock has an improved resistance to rollover and tipping when the wheel is pressed forcefully against the wheel chock.

Abstract: There is disclosed a spa. The spa generally having a unibody shell having a basin, a rim portion surrounding the basin, a peripheral wall extending from the rim portion, and at least one opening in the peripheral wall, the basin, the rim portion and the peripheral wall defining a cavity therebetween, the at least one opening exposing the cavity; and a frame structurally mounted within the cavity, the frame having a crossbar and a plurality of strut members extending from the crossbar, the crossbar and the plurality of strut members running along respective sides of the at least one opening, the plurality of strut members each being affixed to the unibody shell at locations distributed about the at least one opening.

Abstract: The composite ceiling can have a shell made of a polymer-based material and defining a plurality of internal compartments, having a flat and smooth under surface spaced apart from a flooring and facing the flooring, and an upper surface opposite the under surface, a first layer of rebars having a first plurality of rebars spaced apart from one another along the depth of the shell, the first layer of rebars being separated from upper surface by spacers, a second layer of rebars having a second plurality of rebars spaced apart from one another along the width of the shell, the second layer of rebars being above the first layer of rebars, and a horizontally extending concrete slab extending over the shell and surrounding the rebars.

Abstract: The invention allows producing air flow to either inflate a self-making bedding system via a first outlet, or to heat the air exiting the apparatus via a second, optionally a third, outlet, for controlling the air flow and the temperature sent into the self-making bedding system. The 5 apparatus is operated via an interface on the outside surface of the apparatus; a smartphone or tablet, an intelligent virtual/personal assistant or a computer including an application or software for wirelessly sending instructions to the apparatus, e.g. using Bluetooth™ or Wifi; or a remote control. The invention is particularly useful for disabled persons for self-making their bed by directly controlling the apparatus via the application, with the possibility to use a 0 voice control system combined with the application, or to have the apparatus daily programmed for making the bed or controlling the temperature at specific time of the day.

Abstract: A bedding system, method and kit for the automation and ventilation of an existing duvet are disclosed. The system has an inflatable lining configured to be inserted and affixed into a cover together with the duvet, the inflatable lining comprising a network of pneumatic chambers defining a plurality of openings extending through the lining allowing air to circulate through the lining; and an air blower operatively connected to the inflatable lining for blowing air into the network of pneumatic chambers, so as in use, the inflatable lining is inflated to allow for the duvet and its cover to be straightened back into position after every use of the bed. The system can also include a sub-network for providing warm or cold air to control the temperature of the bedding. In contrast to traditional systems, the proposed invention is light weight and easily adaptable to current commercially available beds.

Abstract: A shoulder orthosis is provided for maintenance of a patients arm in a postoperative shoulder immobilization posture in the context of tearing of rotator cuff muscles. The orthosis comprises a belt, an arm splint, and a column member with axial mechanical spring continuously adjustable by a manual adjustment handle and interconnecting the belt to the splint and biasing the splint to an abduction upper limit position. The orthosis provides stable support for the patients forearm around a horizontal plane, while allowing pivoting movement of the patients injured arm about a vertical axis intersecting the patients elbow and approaching the patients torso in a transverse plane. This orthosis also allows a cyclical back and forth movement of the splint, the free downward movement of the patients arm by his healthy muscles, assisted by the adductor muscles against the bias of the adjustable spring without active movement of the rotator cuff.

Abstract: A tray system for filling pills into a blister pack is provided, as well as a corresponding method. The system includes a mounting tray to support the blister pack, rows of lights, with each light adapted to illuminate the pill-chambers of the blister pack; a depositing plate placed over the mounting tray and includes depositing-plate rows with pairs of pill-drop surface and a pill-hole, each pill-hole faces a corresponding pill-chamber; a sliding tray placed over the depositing plate which includes sliding-tray rows with opened cavities, and is slidable over the depositing plate from a pill-drop position to a chamber-filling position. Moving the sliding tray from the pill-drop position to the chamber-filling position pushes the pills from the pill-drop surfaces to the pill-chambers. The depositing plate material allows lights emissions to pass through the pill-drop surfaces while hiding the pills in the pill-chambers of the blister pack.

Abstract: A system for grabbing and filling pills into a blister pack is provided and associated corresponding method. The system includes a vacuum pill-manipulator provided with prongs having holes at their tip to retain pills. The vacuum pill-manipulator is configured to transition from a pill-retaining configuration where suction is applied at the tip of each prong to hold the pills during movement, to a pill-releasing configuration where suction is released to drop the pills in corresponding pill-chambers. A robotized arm is provided with the vacuum pill-manipulator, and is controllable to: move the vacuum pill-manipulator from a pill-container rack, for grabbing a pill-container, to a pill-container retaining station, to suction pills at the tips of the prongs; and move, in the pill-retaining configuration, the vacuum pill-manipulator to the blister pack location, and position the vacuum pill-manipulator to align the tip of each prong with the corresponding pill-chamber for the pill-releasing configuration.

Abstract: There is provided a snowblower comprising a frame with a transversally extending portion; an auger assembly mounted to the frame and comprising a rotating axle extending substantially parallel to the transversally extending portion and a snow-gathering device mounted to rotating axle and rotating therewith about an auger rotating axis at an auger revolution speed; an impeller assembly mounted to the frame and comprising a snow-expelling device rotatable about an impeller rotation axis at an impeller revolution speed, the impeller rotation axis extending substantially parallel to the auger rotating axis; an actuator assembly configured to engage the auger and impeller assemblies in rotation wherein the impeller revolution speed is greater than the auger revolution speed; and a discharge chute mounted to the frame and having a discharge chute inlet adjacent to the impeller assembly. There is also provided a method for clearing away snow.

Abstract: A portable work platform includes a top surface, a stationary plate coupled to the top surface, a pivot plate rotatably coupled to the stationary plate, an upper peg insertable through the stationary plate and the pivot plate for securing the pivot plate at a defined angle, and a plurality of leg assemblies coupled to the pivot plate, wherein rotation of the pivot plate provides rotation to the leg assemblies between an open and a closed state.

Abstract: The wheel chock handling unit includes a base, an articulated cantilever arm assembly, a main spring assembly and a force-compensation mechanism. The arm assembly has a first end pivotally mounted to the base for angular displacement of the arm assembly in a substantially vertical plane between a storage position and an extended position. It also has a second end receiving a wheel chock. The main spring assembly extends between the arm assembly and the base. The force-compensation mechanism includes a lever pivotally mounted to the base for angular displacement in a plane that is substantially parallel to that of the arm assembly.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for displaying and managing information structures, the graphical user interface comprising at least one Viewport, at least one concept space in the at least one Viewport and at least one container item displayed in the at least one concept space, the container item being adapted to include a concept space branch adapted to be connected to another concept space, wherein a user can interact with the at least one container item to create a link to an item, the interaction with the at least one container item comprising a zoom-in and a zoom-out function for respectfully increasing functions associated with the at least one container item or decreasing functions associated with the at least one container item.