Abstract: An apparatus and method for disinfecting probes. A probe may be positioned using a probe positioning system that locates the probe in the proper location for disinfecting. The probe may be subjected to a cleaner and/or rinsing liquid to remove foreign materials (e.g., bioburden, soil, and other like material) from the probe before disinfecting. After rinsing, a disinfectant is applied to the probe via one or more nozzles. The disinfectant is applied to the probe for a specified amount of time to disinfect the surface of the probe, and afterwards the probe is rinsed thoroughly to remove the disinfectant from the probe. The rinsing liquid and the disinfectant liquid are held in separate fluid circuits, yet heated to their respective ideal temperatures using the same heater assembly, the heater assembly having heating element shared by both fluid circuits.

Abstract: Provided are affinity matured and humanized antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof that specifically bind to human neuropilin-2 (NRP2) polypeptides, including those that modulate binding interactions between human NRP2 and at least one NRP2 ligand, and which thereby modulate subsequent NRP2-mediated downstream signaling events, including related therapeutic compositions and methods for modulating NRP2 activity and treating diseases such as NRP2-associated diseases.

Abstract: Polymeric electro spray emitters and related methods are generally described. In some embodiments, an emitter may be made from an ionic electro active polymer. The composition of the electro spray emitters described herein may enable the transport of ions and/or liquid ion sources, such as an ionic liquid or room temperature molten salt, through the bulk of the polymeric emitter. In some embodiments, the described emitters may be fabricated using a mixture of an ionic electroactive polymer, a solvent, and a liquid ion source to at least partially mitigate swelling effects of the polymer emitter that may otherwise occur when the one or more emitters are exposed to the liquid ion source during operation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are kits and methods for assessing the risk of poor reading performance in an individual by detecting and identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms in chromosome 19, e.g. in the KIAA0355 (GARRE1) gene. Also disclosed herein are risk alleles in chromosome 19 that are associated with a latent measure for reading ability.

Abstract: A motorized cervical traction device comprises an inferior base configured to attach to a patient support (such as an operating table or gurney), a superior base spaced apart from the inferior base along a cranial/caudal direction, and a set of linear actuators extending between the inferior base and the superior base. The superior base includes an attachment point configured to enable mechanical coupling of a load sensor and a patient head attachment (e.g., Gardner-Wells device or Mayfield skull clamp) to the superior base. In use, the device provides real-time load sensing capability and can apply distraction via extension of the linear actuators to a preset load (force control) or displacement (position control). The device also includes a flexion/extension mechanism that enables rotational positioning of the linear actuators relative to the inferior base along and enables control of the flexion/extension angle of the applied traction.

Abstract: A method of controlling the injection of hydraulic fluid into a high pressure diaphragm compressor having a hydraulic system, the method including: measuring a representation of pressure in a high-pressure part of the hydraulic system of the diaphragm compressor, and maintaining a desired pressure in the high-pressure part of the hydraulic system by adding hydraulic fluid to the high-pressure part of the hydraulic system under the control of a controller on the basis of the measuring of pressure.

Abstract: Provided are affinity matured and humanized antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof that specifically bind to human neuropilin-2 (NRP2) polypeptides, including those that modulate binding interactions between human NRP2 and at least one NRP2 ligand, and which thereby modulate subsequent NRP2-mediated downstream signaling events, including related therapeutic compositions and methods for modulating NRP2 activity and treating diseases such as NRP2-associated diseases.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for efficiently, quickly, and flexibly applying median filters to digital image utilizing a separable sorting network approach for computation sharing. For example, the disclosed systems generate a modified digital image by determining pixel values for a number of output tiles in applying a median filter. To generate output tiles, in some implementations, the disclosed systems utilize different forms of separability to precompute sorted columns of pixels to reduce the size of per-pixel tasks required to generate output pixels and to share computations among nearby pixels of an input tile captured from a digital image in generating output tiles. In some implementations, the disclosed systems utilize an interpreter to generate and apply a median filter to a digital image at runtime based on a user-selected filter size.

Abstract: A diaphragm compressor having a compressor head with a hydraulic fluid plate having a fluid plate contact plane and a process fluid plate having a process plate contact plane, the plates forming a compression chamber when contact therebetween is established, the compression chamber being divided in an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a multi-layered diaphragm where a controller is configured for controlling an alternating movement of the multi-layered diaphragm towards the upper and the lower chambers respectively, a process fluid plate seal is positioned in a process fluid seal groove provided in the contact plane, the process fluid plate seal forms a process fluid seal between an upper side of the multi-layered diaphragm and the contact plane, and the process fluid plate includes a process fluid leak groove system fluidly connected to a process fluid plate leakage passage provided in the process fluid plate.

Abstract: A high-pressure compressor having a hydraulic system and a gas chamber, where the hydraulic system includes a reservoir, connected to a hydraulic fluid chamber by a hydraulic flow path and a pump assembly positioned in the hydraulic flow path, and the compressor furthermore includes a control element controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic flow path and thereby the pressure in the hydraulic fluid chamber, where the control element and the pump assembly is configured for controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic fluid chamber when the compressor is not in operation.

Abstract: A method of measuring temperature of a battery having an internally disposed thermal protection arrangement is disclosed which includes providing at least one sensor holder having an electrode side and a housing side disposed within a housing, with at least one cavity provided on the electrode side, providing at least one temperature sensor placed in the at least one cavity of the at least one sensor holder, the outer surface of the at least one temperature sensor being flush with the remaining surface of the at least one sensor holder, attaching the at least one sensor holder to one of a first electrode or a second electrode of the battery, coupling the at least one temperature sensor to a header, and measuring the temperature of the battery.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for efficiently, quickly, and flexibly applying median filters to digital image utilizing a separable sorting network approach for computation sharing. For example, the disclosed systems generate a modified digital image by determining pixel values for a number of output tiles in applying a median filter. To generate output tiles, in some implementations, the disclosed systems utilize different forms of separability to precompute sorted columns of pixels to reduce the size of per-pixel tasks required to generate output pixels and to share computations among nearby pixels of an input tile captured from a digital image in generating output tiles. In some implementations, the disclosed systems utilize an interpreter to generate and apply a median filter to a digital image at runtime based on a user-selected filter size.

Abstract: A battery having a thermal protection arrangement is disclosed which includes a housing, a first electrode, a second electrode, a polymer porous separator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, an electrolyte interspersed between the first electrode, the second electrode, and the polymer porous separator, at least one sensor holder having an electrode side and a housing side, with at least one cavity provided on the electrode side, the at least one sensor holder in firm contact with the first electrode or the second electrode, and at least one temperature sensor placed in the at least one cavity of the at least one sensor holder, the at least one cavity sized such that the outer surface of the temperature sensor being flush with remaining surface of the at least one sensor holder, and wherein the at least one temperature sensor has no contact with the polymer porous separator.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for pacing a spend may include: (1) receiving, at a pacing computer program executed by a computer processor, a spend budget for a user for a period, wherein the spend budget represents income transactions for the period minus recurring or expected expense transactions for the period; (2) determining, by the pacing computer program, a pace of spend for the spend budget at a point in time for the period, wherein the pace of spend may be asymmetrical across the period; (3) determining, by the pacing computer program, a current spend for the period at the point of time; and (4) causing, by the pacing computer program, a display of an electronic device to graphically present the pace of spend for the point in time and the current spend for the period at the point in time.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides tobacco having genetic modification(s) in a group of ERF genes. Also provided are tobacco plants with altered total alkaloid and nicotine levels and commercially acceptable leaf grade, their development via breeding or transgenic approaches, and production of tobacco products from these tobacco plants. Further provided are compositions and methods for producing tobacco plants having novel mutations or alleles to reduce nicotine levels. Further provided are sequence polymorphisms and molecular markers for breeding tobacco with reduced nicotine or alkaloids while maintaining tobacco leaf grade and tobacco product quality.

Abstract: The invention related to a system for control of a hydrogen refueling station. The control of the hydrogen refueling station is optimized according to a high frequency tank profile in a time period between time A and time B. The high frequency tank profile includes selecting a first of the plurality of vessels as supply to the compressor during at least part of the refueling of the vehicle tank, the selection is based on pressure of hydrogen gas in one or more vessels of the supply storage. The control of the hydrogen refueling station is furthermore optimized according to a low frequency tank profile in a time period between time C and time D. The low frequency tank profile includes preparing one or more hydrogen refueling station components to enable a plurality of vehicle tank refuelings in the subsequent time period between time A and time B.

Abstract: Provided are affinity matured and humanized antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof that specifically bind to human neuropilin-2 (NRP2) polypeptides, including those that modulate binding interactions between human NRP2 and at least one NRP2 ligand, and which thereby modulate subsequent NRP2-mediated downstream signaling events, including related therapeutic compositions and methods for modulating NRP2 activity and treating diseases such as NRP2-associated diseases.

Abstract: A method of controlling the injection of hydraulic fluid into a high pressure diaphragm compressor having a hydraulic system, the method including: measuring a representation of pressure in a high-pressure part of the hydraulic system of the diaphragm compressor, and maintaining a desired pressure in the high-pressure part of the hydraulic system by adding hydraulic fluid to the high-pressure part of the hydraulic system under the control of a controller on the basis of the measuring of pressure.

Abstract: A high-pressure compressor having a hydraulic system and a gas chamber, where the hydraulic system includes a reservoir, connected to a hydraulic fluid chamber by a hydraulic flow path and a pump assembly positioned in the hydraulic flow path, and the compressor furthermore includes a control element controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic flow path and thereby the pressure in the hydraulic fluid chamber, where the control element and the pump assembly is configured for controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic fluid chamber when the compressor is not in operation.