Abstract: A filter assembly for use in a vacuum cleaner includes a filter medium including a state-changing material which changes state in dependence on the quantity of liquid to which the filter medium is exposed to provide a first status indication to a user that the filter assembly is suitable for use in the vacuum cleaner when the state-changing material is in a first state and a second status indication to the user that the filter assembly is not suitable for use in the vacuum cleaner when the state-changing material is in a second state.

Abstract: In some examples, a distributed computer system includes a plurality of computer nodes, where the plurality of computer nodes include respective programs to cooperate to perform a workload. A first computer node includes a communication proxy between the program of the first computer node and a communication library that supports communications between the program of the first computer node and the programs of other computer nodes of the plurality of computer nodes, and a fault management service to monitor a health of the other computer nodes, and in response to a detection of a fault of a second computer node of the plurality of computer nodes, relaunch the communication proxy. The relaunched communication proxy selects, from a plurality of states, a common state to which the programs are to roll back.

Abstract: A product management computer system that can include one or more processors, and a computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by the processors, can cause the processors to: receive data representing a target product of interest to a user of the system, wherein the target product is described by a plurality of variable-value attributes associated; process the received data through a machine-learning-produced algorithm and generating data representing a first set of substitute product candidates for the target product and wherein each substitute product candidate has a corresponding match-score that represents a degree of determined similarity between that substitute product candidate and the target product; transform the generated data that represents the first set of substitute product candidates into data representing a refined set of substitute product candidates by processing the generated data utilizing a constraint-based algorithm; and output data representing

Abstract: A computer implemented method for identifying substitute products for a target product via a distributor's product management computer system, the method includes: receiving, at a distributor's product management computer system, data representing a target product of interest to a user of the system, wherein the target product is described by a plurality of variable-value attributes associated therewith; processing the received data through a machine-learning-produced algorithm and thereby generating data representing a first set of substitute product candidates for the target product and wherein each substitute product candidate has a corresponding match-score that represents a degree of determined similarity between that substitute product candidate and the target product; transforming the generated data that represents the first set of substitute product candidates into data representing a refined set of substitute product candidates by processing the generated data utilizing a constraint-based algorithm;

Abstract: A computer method for identifying product in a distributor's inventory system that fulfills a product request made via a natural language query. the natural language query is received as a product request including multiple words in sequential order. The words are vectorized into word-vectors that are concatenated and used to generate a query embedding. The query embedding is processed utilizing a trained product category classifier that predicts which product category the requested product belongs. Forward and backward sequence vectors are generated from the sequentially ordered words of the query that are concatenated and processed using a trained model specific to the predicted product category. The sequence vectors represent positional relationships between the words of the natural language query. Thereafter, the system identifies product attribute(s) embodied in the natural language query that each correspond to a predetermined key-characteristic of the category.

Abstract: A product management computer system that can include one or more processors, and a computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by the processors, can cause the processors to: receive data representing a target product of interest to a user of the system, wherein the target product is described by a plurality of variable-value attributes associated; process the received data through a machine-learning-produced algorithm and generating data representing a first set of substitute product candidates for the target product and wherein each substitute product candidate has a corresponding match-score that represents a degree of determined similarity between that substitute product candidate and the target product; transform the generated data that represents the first set of substitute product candidates into data representing a refined set of substitute product candidates by processing the generated data utilizing a constraint-based algorithm; and output data representing

Abstract: Systems and methods that include starch derived from grain as a carbon source for propagation of microorganisms.

Abstract: A dock for a surgical equipment holder is disclosed. The dock for a surgical equipment holder includes a base having a central arm mount and a lower clamping jaw. The dock for a surgical equipment holder also includes an upper clamp jaw movably coupled to the base. The dock for a surgical equipment holder also includes a central docking arm coupled to the central arm mount and a central ball cup coupled to the to the central docking arm. The dock for a surgical equipment holder also includes a central attachment nut coupled to the central ball cup. The central attachment nut may include an extendable moment arm, and the dock may also include a ball coupled between the central ball cup and the central attachment nut and a surgical equipment holder attached to the ball.

Abstract: A sensor module assembly for a respiratory therapy apparatus may be configured for a seal-based securement within a respiratory therapy device that includes a separable pneumatic block to make assembly or replacement more efficient. The sensor module assembly may include a flow manifold. The flow manifold may have an inlet and an outlet and a main pneumatic path between the inlet and the outlet. The assembly may have a sensor module with sensor(s) on a printed circuit board. The sensor module may be pneumatically and fixedly coupled to the flow manifold. The inlet of the flow manifold may be configured for removable coupling with an outlet of the pneumatic block assembly. Moreover, the outlet of the flow manifold may be configured for removable coupling with a pneumatic path of a housing panel of the respiratory therapy apparatus. The pneumatic path is adapted for supplying breathable gas to a patient interface.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition, a combination product including the composition and a method of manufacturing the composition. The composition includes a particulate complex of API bound with a crosslinked polysaccharide micro sponge. The combination product includes a dosage form of the particulate complex within a container. The amount of the particulate complex is selected to provide a defined dose of the API. The formulation may be heated within the container by a vaporizer device, vaporizing the API and dissociating the API from the micro sponge as vapour, which passes through apertures in the container facilitating administration of the API by inhalation of the vapour. The apertures are sized to facilitate passage of the vapour but prevent passage the particulate complex. The API may be hydrophobic such as phytocannabinoids or hydrophilic such as nicotine. The pharmaceutical composition may be manufactured by driving binding of the API to the micro sponge in solution.

Abstract: Content is organized for brands by selecting a plurality of brand templates. After each selection, a set of properties is generated by applying a portion of settings of the respective brand template, with the remaining settings being overridden with settings for a channel communicating one of a plurality of presentations to a node of a network involved in the communication. The plurality of presentations may include different renditions of the same content. The properties may include sections configured for different focus areas and/or types of content associated with at tags to enable brand-level-targeting. Filters may be identified in the properties. Based on each of the identifications, a property from among the generated sets of properties may be selected based on comparisons with the associated tags.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fire collar (10). The fire collar includes a body (11) that is constructed from a flexible, elongate strip of steel (12) having a first end portion (13) associated with one end thereof and an opposing second end portion (14) associated with the opposite end thereof. The fire collar (10) also includes actuation means, including a plurality of torsion springs (28) manufactured from spring steel, such as spring steel having a diameter of 4 mm or 5 mm. Each torsion spring (28) includes a spring body (29) comprising one or more helical coils, and two tails, (30) and (31), that extend outwardly away from opposite ends of the body.

Abstract: A system is provided comprising a robotic instrument for use with a tool. In some versions, the robotic instrument comprises a hand-held portion to be held by a user and a tool support movably coupled to the hand-held portion to support the tool. The robotic instrument further includes an actuator assembly operatively attached to the tool support and the hand-held portion and configured to move the tool support relative to the hand-held portion in a plurality of degrees of freedom. The robotic instrument may includes a handle alignment member extending from the hand-held portion. At least a portion of the handle alignment member and a tool plane defined by the tool are aligned when the tool support has an optimal range of motion relative to the hand-held portion.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a wireless communication device (WCD) may communicate, via a wireless link, with an audio device using a first configuration having first values for communication parameters. The WCD may transmit an indication to switch to a second configuration based at least in part on a configuration switch trigger, the configuration switch trigger being based at least in part on one or more of a link quality metric associated with the wireless link or a change of a use state of the WCD, and the second configuration having second values for the communication parameters associated with a reduction in voltage-induced interference in an audio output of the audio device. Numerous other aspects are described.

Abstract: A system for assessing grip security, the system comprising: a contact surface having at least a first contact surface region and a second contact surface region, the first contact surface region being configured to resist slip less than the second contact surface region, a sensor for detecting slip in the first contact region.

Abstract: A microfluidic device performs a method of partitioning droplets from a fluid reservoir containing particles that provides a non-Poissonian distribution of dispensed droplets containing a desired number of particles. Using an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device, droplets are dispensed having a Poissonian distribution of dispensed droplets containing a desired number of particles, and the droplets are interrogated to determine whether each dispensed droplet has a desired number of particles. Droplets that contain the desired number of particles are moved by EWOD operation to a reaction area on the EWOD device, and droplets that do not contain the desired number of particles are rejected and moved by EWOD operation to a holding area on the EWOD device that is different and spaced apart from the reaction area. The result is that droplets in the reaction area have a non-Poissonian distribution of droplets containing the desired number of particles.

Abstract: A cassette for collecting a tissue sample. The cassette includes a housing configured to be removably coupled with a manifold receiver of a medical fluid collection system. The housing defines a first void space, a second void space, and an outlet opening. A catch tray is removably positionable within the first void space and includes a screen defining porous features for collecting the tissue sample. A filter element separate from the catch tray is disposed within the second void space. The housing may include a cap portion defining the first void space, and a shell portion coupled to the cap portion and defining the second void space. The cassette may be simultaneously operable in a tissue collection mode in which fluid is suctioned across the catch tray to collect the tissue sample, and a bypass mode in which the fluid is not suctioned across the catch tray.