Abstract: An apparatus and methods for tracking administering of medication by syringes is provided. The apparatus may include a plunger head for a syringe. The plunger head may include a transducer that sends and receives ultrasonic signals. The plunger may also include an antenna and a microcontroller that interfaces with the transducer and the antenna. The plunger may also include a power source that powers the microcontroller and the transducer. The transducer, the antenna, the microcontroller, and the power source may be at least partially encapsulated in an elastomer housing that fits within a barrel of the syringe. The microcontroller may be programmed with instructions to calculate data representative of the quantity of medication dispensed from the barrel and transmit the data to a remote device via the antenna.

Abstract: A molecular complex comprising a therapeutic agent and a controlled release construct, the controlled release construct comprising a primary matrix conjugation site which is linked to an cell adhesive site, via a binding region and optionally via one or more spacer elements, wherein the binding region has a folded configuration in which it is bound to the therapeutic agent, wherein the construct is configured such that when mechanical tension is applied between the primary matrix conjugation site and the cell adhesive site, the binding region adopts a less folded configuration in which bound therapeutic agent is released. Related controlled release constructs for loading with the therapeutic agent, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of manufacture and use.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes an automatic driver and vehicle information reporting arrangement. The arrangement includes a memory device storing information about a human driver of the motor vehicle and registration information associated with the motor vehicle. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the memory device and responds to a prompt by transmitting a signal indicative of the information about the human driver of the motor vehicle and about registration information associated with the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a plurality of seats. Each seat receives a respective human occupant of the motor vehicle. A movable driver control interface enables a human occupant to drive the motor vehicle. A positioning mechanism is coupled to the driver control interface and enables a human occupant to move the driver control interface to a position in front of any one of the seats such that any one of the human occupants may use the driver control interface to drive the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A miniature camera having an image sensor; an actuator which includes conductive components capable of conducting a pulse width modulation drive signal for driving the actuator; and a screening component located between the conductive components of the actuator and the image sensor, the screening component being electrically isolated from the actuator.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and/or powertrain producing noise that is audible in a passenger compartment of the vehicle when the engine and/or powertrain is running. An active noise control arrangement includes a first loudspeaker disposed within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. A digital signal processor receives audio data and transmits an audio signal to the first loudspeaker dependent upon the audio data. A microphone is disposed within the passenger compartment and converts the sound from the first loudspeaker and the noise within the passenger compartment into a microphone signal. The microphone signal is transmitted to the digital signal processor, and the digital signal processor modifies the audio signal such that the audio signal attenuates the noise in the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A system and method for generating activity summaries for users. User activity information is received by a user activity information receiver module. Once enough data is received and processed, the data is analyzes and segmented to determine and create an activity summary or story. Content is selected. The selection of the content includes selection of content items, such as multimedia items, e.g. pictures and videos. Secondary information, such as user activity information or location information is analyzed. A story is generated based on the selected content, including the selected content. The story is represented by a display of the selected media and other information associated with the media.

Abstract: A welding system includes an interface having a first input element configured to receive an input relating to a parameter of power delivered to a welding torch from a welding power supply and to alternatively receive an input relating to a thickness of a work piece, a second input element configured to receive an input relating to a rate of advancement of an electrode delivered to the welding torch from a welding wire feeder and to alternatively receive an input relating to a diameter of the electrode, and a third input element configured to receive an input relating to a welding process type. The welding system also includes control circuitry configured to automatically adjust the parameter of the power and the rate of advancement of the electrode based on the input relating to the welding process type selected with the third input element when the second input element receives the input relating to the diameter of the electrode.

Abstract: Automated system configured to perform and methods for performing one or more slide processing operations on slides bearing biological samples. The system and methods enable high sample throughput while also minimizing or limiting the potential for cross-contamination of slides. The automated systems can include features that facilitate consistency, controllability of processing time, and/or processing temperature.

Abstract: A method (and structure) includes performing an initial partial anneal of a metal interconnect overburden layer for semiconductor devices being fabricated on a chip on a semiconductor wafer. Orientation of an early recrystallizing grain at a specific location on a top surface of the metal overburden layer is determined, as implemented and controlled by a processor on a computer. A determination is made whether the orientation of the early recrystallizing grain is desirable or undesirable.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a porous dielectric layer including a recessed portion, forming a conductive layer in the recessed portion of the porous dielectric layer, and forming a conformal cap layer on the porous dielectric layer and on the conductive layer in the recessed portion, an upper surface of the porous dielectric layer being exposed through a gap in the conformal cap layer.

Abstract: A system for presenting operational data is disclosed. The system includes a storage element to store a plurality of insurance policies and a product designer module to: maintain an insurance product model that specifies possible configurations of insurance policy products associated with the plurality of insurance policies; obtain operational data pertaining to a set of existing insurance transactional data associated with the insurance policies; and present to be displayed: at least a portion of the insurance product model comprising a set of insurance product model elements and at least some of the operational data corresponding to the set of insurance product model elements.

Abstract: There is described a method of extracting DNA and/or RNA from a cell or capsid, the method comprising contacting the cell or capsid with a composition comprising a quaternary ammonium compound including a silicon-containing functional group. The quaternary ammonium compound may be of general formula (I) or a derivative salt thereof wherein L is a linking group; each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 is independently selected from H or an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkoxy group; and n is 0 or 1. A PCR promoting agent may be provided. The method may be one of 1 detecting and/or diagnosing a disease or medical condition.

Abstract: A method includes determining a commanded load rate of change of an industrial system, wherein the commanded load rate of change comprises a rate of load placed on an industrial machine of the industrial system. The method also includes determining a measured load rate of change of the industrial system based at least in part on an output power of the industrial system. The method further includes determining a variable multiplier based at least in part on the commanded load rate of change and the measured load rate of change. The method also includes applying the variable multiplier to a load rate command to the industrial system to generate a multiplied load rate command. The method further includes sending a signal to the industrial system to control the rate of the load placed on the industrial machine based at least in part on the multiplied load rate command.

Abstract: A method of controlling thermal transfer in a perfusion system heat exchanger of an extracorporeal fluid treatment device for conditioning an extracorporeal patient fluid for administration to a patient comprises a step of providing a perfusion system heat exchanger, wherein the perfusion system heat exchanger comprises a first fluid passage for a liquid heat transfer medium and a second fluid passage for the extracorporeal patient fluid to be temperature-controlled via exchange of thermal energy with the heat transfer medium, and a step of providing the heat transfer medium through the first fluid passage. The heat transfer medium comprises a component with anti-microbial properties, such as glycol. The provision of antimicrobial fluid reduces the risk of microbe contamination of the extracorporeal fluid, and hence the risk of clinical complications.

Abstract: We describe a quantitative PCR (qPCR) instrument for combined qPCR and melt curve (dissociation and/or association curve) analysis. The instrument has at least one optical channel; a fluorescence excitation source; a fluorescence detector; an electronic analog signal amplifier having an input coupled to an output of the fluorescence detector; and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having analog input coupled to an output of the analog signal amplifier. The instrument further comprises a quantified automatic gain control (AGC) loop coupled between the signal output of the fluorescence detector and the analog input of the ADC. The AGC loop is configured to apply a determined, numerical gain value to a fluorescence signal for the analog input of the ADC. The instrument also includes a system to scale a digital output of the ADC responsive to the numerical gain value and to provide a digital fluorescence level signal from the scaled digital output.

Abstract: Systems and methods for health monitoring and upgrade of a distributed controller are provided. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a method for health monitoring and upgrade of a distributed controller may commence with receiving, by a lower level controller from a high-level controller, high-level control references. The method may further include generating low-level control references for a hardware asset based at least in part on the high-level control references. The method may include monitoring the network connection and detecting an error in the network connection. In response to the detection of the error in the network connection, a control of the hardware asset may be transferred to the low-level controller. The method may further include determining that the network connection has been restored. In response to the determination that the network connection has been restored, the control of the hardware asset may be transferred to the high-level controller.

Abstract: A document including a Directed Self-Assembly (DSA) pattern including a unique and randomized pattern embedded on the document, where the DSA is formed by using two different-length polymer chains.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media for persistent conversations are described. In some implementations, a method can include receiving a communication message sent from a first user to at least one other user, and generating a persistent conversation object having a conversation content section and conversation state information. The method can also include storing the communication message in the conversation content section of the persistent conversation object, and forwarding the communication message to the at least one other user. The method can further include updating the conversation state information to reflect the receiving, storing and forwarding of the communication message.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for building a score plan for a healthcare organization, its providers, its payers, and/or its patients and presenting the results of the score plan on one or more score card user interfaces. Score cards graphically display an entity's progress towards meeting quality measure objectives. The score cards provide information on percentage completion of one or more quality measure objectives by the entity and/or quality measure objectives that may be difficult for the entity to achieve.