Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for associating data with non-material concepts that allows for subsequent searching and retrieval of such non-material concepts. A concept definition is received that defines a concept identifier used for identifying data associated with the concept, and a plurality of discrete stages of the concept. Retrieved data is analyzed to determine if the data corresponds to the concept, and to determine at least one discrete stage of the concept definition that the data corresponds to. The data is stored in association with the concept identifier and the at least one discrete stage to allow for subsequent searching and retrieval. When a search request relating to the concept is received, the data associated with the different stages of the concept can be retrieved and output in a manner to capture the holistic nature of the concept.

Abstract: A fastening apparatus for two or more prefabricated blocks, in which the apparatus includes a perforated plate, a first block with a step, a connector plate that sized and shaped to engage the step, and an upstanding wall that is spaced apart from the block member. The perforated plate is connected to the wall and extends away from it towards the step. The perforated plate is partially mounted on part of the connector plate so as to sandwich it between the perforated plate and the step.

Abstract: A stick distributing unit and corresponding method for laying spacer sticks over a board layer is provided. The unit includes a frame defining a stick-receiving area for receiving sticks and a hold-and-release mechanism configured to dispense each stick one-by-one. The hold-and-release mechanism includes a lower holding member selectively operable to hold and release a bottommost stick, and an upper holding member selectively operable to hold and release a penultimate stick. The unit also includes a controller configured to operate the lower and upper holding members to release the bottommost stick from the stick-receiving area and knock on the penultimate stick. The unit further has a stick-laying mechanism configured to receive and lay the released bottommost stick over the board layer.

Abstract: A lift-assisted rack mountable to a roof of a vehicle and pivotable between a transport configuration and a loading configuration. The lift-assisted rack comprises: a fixed base mounted to the roof of the vehicle, a set of pivoting links, an article support, a pivoting arm and a lift-assisting strut. The set of pivoting links are pivotally connected to the fixed base at a link proximal end thereof. The article support is pivotally connected to the set of pivoting links, at a link distal end thereof. The pivoting arm is pivotally connected to the fixed base at an arm proximal end and is pivotable of a predetermined angular. The lift-assisting strut is pivotally connected to one link of the set of pivoting links at a strut distal end and is pivotally connected to the arm distal end of the pivoting arm, at a strut proximal end thereof.

Abstract: A cylindrical plug to close a femoral opening drilled in a femur to receive an intramedullary cutting guide, to prevent bleeding from the opening after removal of the intramedullary cutting guide from the opening.

Abstract: A brush cutter rotor comprising cutting tooth assemblies sequentially arranged along a longitudinal axis of the brush cutter rotor, and azimuthally offset to make up intertwined spirals of cutting tooth assemblies. The cutting tooth assemblies of immediately adjacent tracks are arranged to provide for a longitudinal gap in-between, and separating blades are provided within said longitudinal gap on each side of each track comprising one of the cutting tooth assemblies. They form a comb to separate incoming material to a center of the corresponding one of the cutting teeth and away from side edges thereof. The front space before the central portion of cutting teeth is thereby free, exempt from a protective guard. A wear plate can be used in the holding base of the cutting tooth assemblies under each cutting tooth.

Abstract: An optical probe and method for analysing a soil located in an underground area are provided. The optical probe includes a probe head insertable into the underground area, the probe head including a transparent wall defining a hollow chamber within the probe head; a light source mounted in the hollow chamber, configured to generate an illumination beam towards the soil, the illumination beam passing through the transparent wall to irradiate the soil, thereby producing a resulting light emanating from the soil, a portion of the resulting light returning towards the probe head and being guided in the transparent wall by total internal reflection along the optical path; a detector configured to receive the portion of the resulting light and outputting an output signal representative of characteristic(s) of the soil; and an optical element guiding the portion of the resulting light from the transparent wall to the detector.

Abstract: A cylindrical plug to close a femoral opening drilled in a femur to receive an intramedullary cutting guide, to prevent bleeding from the opening after removal of the intramedullary cutting guide from the opening.

Abstract: An oral delivery system based on in situ forming protein/polysaccharide coacervates is described herein. The system comprises an active ingredient dispersed in a dry, homogenous powder mixture of a protein powder and a polysaccharide powder, which is able to form a protein/polysaccharides complex coacervate in situ upon immersion in gastric fluid, thereby conferring gastric protection and/or modified-release to the active ingredient. Varying the ratio of protein powder to polysaccharide powder in the oral delivery system varies the level of gastric protection and/or rate of release to the active ingredient. The ability of the system described herein to be based on natural and/or naturally-derived biopolymers provides commercial advantages in terms of regulatory approval and/or growing consumer demand for such products.

Abstract: An optical probe and method for analysing a soil located in an underground area are provided. The optical probe includes a probe head insertable into the underground area, the probe head including a transparent wall defining a hollow chamber within the probe head; a light source mounted in the hollow chamber, configured to generate an illumination beam towards the soil, the illumination beam passing through the transparent wall to irradiate the soil, thereby producing a resulting light emanating from the soil, a portion of the resulting light returning towards the probe head and being guided in the transparent wall by total internal reflection along the optical path; a detector configured to receive the portion of the resulting light and outputting an output signal representative of characteristic(s) of the soil; and an optical element guiding the portion of the resulting light from the transparent wall to the detector.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spa including molding a plurality of side walls, cutting utility openings in said side walls, thereby producing cutouts which are then secured to the side wall and cover at least a part of the utility opening. The cutouts may cover the same utility opening from which it stems or a different utility opening from the same side wall or different side wall. The side walls may be made integral to the basin, such as in rotomolded spas, or made separate from the basin. Certain cutouts are rotated so as to have a major dimension of the cutout cover a minor dimension of the utility opening. Certain cutouts are trimmed from their initial size so as to cover a utility opening smaller than the utility opening from which it stems.

Abstract: A dispensing pump mechanism is provided. The pump comprises integrally molded temper-evidence part between a container collar and a spout; said collar has multiple off-centre outlet channel for dispensing one or more products from the container; said collar also comprises an integrated air vent to be blocked and opened by the rotation of the spout. The whole pump can be over-molded one-piece structure with elastic parts as being actuating parts. The pump improves the functions of the pump, such as lower restitution rate, less structural parts, lower cost, water/dust proof, lightweight, easy assembly.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for digital fingerprinting of media content. The system does this by normalizing and pre-processing the media content into a standard format, then generating fingerprints for image, audio, and/or video aspects of the media. These fingerprints are mathematical vectors generated using one or more techniques, such as perceptual hashes coupled with machine learning. Once the fingerprints for new content is generated, the system can compare those fingerprints to fingerprints of known content to determine if the new content contains prohibited content.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for installing seals on support frames. The system comprises, generally, a seal supply system, a guiding mechanism and a sealing mechanism. The supply system comprises two bobbins around which are disposed the sealing elements. The guiding mechanism comprises a plurality of guiding drive wheels adapted to guide the support frames towards the sealing mechanism which is adapted to seal the sealing element to the support frame. The sealing mechanism is adapted to exert continuously a constant pressure on the sealing element allowing it to fit to the correspondent support frame once being introduced to the sealing mechanism.

Abstract: An oral delivery system based on in situ forming protein/polysaccharide coacervates is described herein. The system comprises an uncoacervated, dry homogenous mixture comprising a protein powder, a polysaccharide powder, and an active ingredient dispersed therein, wherein the polysaccharide powder has a Carr compressibility index greater than 25% to enable the protein and polysaccharide powders to form a protein/polysaccharide complex coacervate in situ upon immersion of the oral delivery system in a gastric fluid, thereby conferring gastric protection and/or modified release to the active ingredient.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to packing material for stuffing boxes. The packing material comprises a resilient body configured to generate a sealing force on shafts and characterized by a directional resiliency to maintain a substantially constant sealing force under conditions of wear and axial displacement of rotating shafts.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes i) a hollow base defining an axial direction and having a first mounting portion, ii) an outer axial tube, having first and second longitudinal ends, and being coaxially mounted into the hollow base via its first longitudinal end so as to allow adjusting a distance of the second longitudinal end relative to the base; and iii) an inner axial tube slidably mounted into the outer axial tube therein; the inner axial tube having a second mounting portion. The hollow tube has an opening therein that defines a window to allow visualizing a part of the outer axial tube therethrough which includes the first longitudinal end thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to apparatuses, kits and methods for testing quality. The water testing apparatus for analyzing at least one parameter and/or at least one substance from water flowing through a faucet and/or a water pipe comprises at least one sensor configured to directly contact said water flowing through said faucet and/or said water pipe, and an analyzer for analyzing said at least one parameter and/or at least one substance, said analyzer being in communication with said at least one sensor.