Abstract: Systems and methods for single-pass, countercurrent diafiltration of a fluid feed are provided. The systems and methods operate to reduce impact on the biologic product, reduce use of diafiltration buffer and reduce equipment size compared to traditional systems.

Abstract: Vehicles may have autonomous capabilities that permit the vehicle to navigate according to varying levels of participation by a human operator. A human operator may be associated with a driving capability profile and the environment surrounding a vehicle may be associated with an environmental risk profile. A vehicle, or another party in communication with a vehicle, may determine whether, based on the human operator's driving capability profile and the environmental risk profile, it is likely that the vehicle will be navigated more safely if there is a change to the vehicle's autonomous capabilities and a corresponding change to the human operator's driving responsibilities. If it is determined that a change in autonomous vehicle capability is likely to increase safe navigation of the vehicle, an insurer may offer an insurance premium cost reduction if the human operator agrees to the proposed change in autonomous capabilities.

Abstract: Modular lighting fixtures include, for example, a section having an elongated member and at least one light source. The elongated member includes an upper portion, a lower portion, an H-shaped cross-section, a longitudinal axis, and a first flange, a second flange, and a web defining a first channel along a first side of the web and the flanges and a second channel along a second side of the web and the flanges. The at least one light source is attached to the upper portion of the elongated member. The section may be a main section, a first upper section, and/or a second upper section. The sections may have a hollow cross-section and the flanges of the sections may be disposed at 90 degrees relative to each other. Methods for use in forming modular lighting fixtures and methods for illumination are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, a gel formulation in a package, the package may be pressurized. The formulation comprises one or more active agents and is co-mingled with a gas propellant prior to being filled under pressure into the package. The gas propellant is added in sufficient amounts to be dispersed in the formulation; the pressurized package is under sufficient pressure suitable to maintain the first gas propellant dispersed in the formulation. The pressurized package is under sufficient pressure to expel the formulation as a whipped gel formulation upon application of external force on the formulation in the package. The present disclosure also relates to, inter alia, a method of preparing the disclosed formulation; a package comprising the disclosed formulation, and a method of using the disclosed formulation.

Abstract: Hemodynamic monitoring system is presented. In one embodiment, a system for non-invasive monitoring of a subject's heart includes an RF transmitting antenna. The RF transmitting antenna is configured for transmitting at least one transmitted RF signal toward the subject. The system also includes an RF receiving antenna. The RF receiving antenna is configured for receiving at least one received RF signal transmitted by the RF transmitting antenna and modified by a subject's body. The RF transmitting antenna and the RF receiving antenna are located on opposing sides of a planar projection of the subject's heart. The system also includes a processing circuit configured for: controlling transmitting and receiving of the RF signal, and determining, based on the at least one received RF signal, at least one physiological parameter of the subject.

Abstract: A system and method for intent-based active callback management using enhanced callback objects, utilizing a cloud callback system comprising at least a profile manager, callback manager, interaction manager, media server, and environment analyzer, allowing users to call businesses, agents in contact centers, or other users who are connected to a cloud callback system, and, failing to connect to the individual they called, allow for an automatic callback object to be created, whereby the two users may be automatically called and bridged together at a time when both users are available.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method, alert responsiveness data indicating how responsive a driver is to one or more types of vehicle alerts is received. The method also includes generating or modifying a driver profile associated with the driver, the driver profile including alert responsiveness profile information based upon the alert responsiveness data, and identifying, based at least upon the generated or modified driver profile, a suggested vehicle type. Identifying the suggested vehicle type includes determining that the generated or modified driver profile meets a set of one or more matching criteria associated with the suggested vehicle type at least in part by determining that the alert responsiveness profile information meets one or more criteria indicative of reliability of the suggested vehicle type. The method also includes causing an indication of the suggested vehicle type to be displayed to a user.

Abstract: Modular lighting fixtures include, for example, a section having an elongated member and at least one light source. The elongated member includes an upper portion, a lower portion, an H-shaped cross-section, a longitudinal axis, and a first flange, a second flange, and a web defining a first channel along a first side of the web and the flanges and a second channel along a second side of the web and the flanges. The at least one light source is attached to the upper portion of the elongated member. The section may be a main section, a first upper section, and/or a second upper section. The sections may have a hollow cross-section and the flanges of the sections may be disposed at 90 degrees relative to each other. Methods for use in forming modular lighting fixtures and methods for illumination are also disclosed.

Abstract: A soft baked, shelf stable brownie including a high amount of hydrolyzed collagen that achieves an indulgent texture and flavor, yet retains a soft, moist eating experience over an extended shelf life is described. The brownie includes pantry friendly ingredients to form a matrix that includes collagen, chia seed, a flour content that includes at least a portion that is gluten-free, fiber and/or sugar syrup, and fat to achieve an indulgent eating experience. Methods of making a soft baked brownie are also disclosed.

Abstract: A snap hook configured to secure a car seat within a vehicle. The restraint system includes a hook body that has a hook at one end and a handle portion at an opposing end. The snap hook further includes a clip insert with a gate. The clip insert is configured to snap fit into an opening defined by the handle portion. The snap hook is configured to attach to the car seat by a belt and/or other suitable attachment device received within a belt opening. The gate extends from the clip insert so that an end of the gate is biased to contact the hook of the hook body. As should be appreciated, the gate is rotatable away from contact with the hook to form a gap. The gap enables a user to secure the snap hook to an anchor point within the vehicle.

Abstract: A belt adjuster configured to secure a belt of a child car seat. The belt is squeezed and/or compressed between a belt bar and a frame to prevent movement of the belt. The belt adjuster includes a trigger configured to function as a lever. In one example, the lever extends from a belt bar to the trigger, such that force applied to the trigger actuates the belt bar. The lever is configured to multiply a force applied to the trigger to reduce the force needed to release the belt. In one embodiment, a force vector applied to the trigger is in a parallel and opposite direction from a force vector of the belt bar. In another embodiment, a force vector applied to the trigger is in a parallel and/or transverse direction from a force vector of the belt bar.

Abstract: A harness adjuster configured to secure webbing of a child car seat. The adjuster includes a frame, a lever assembly, and a shaft configured to secure the lever assembly within the frame. The lever assembly further includes a lever portion and a web engagement portion. The web engagement portion is configured to secure a toothed insert via a tongue and groove connection. In one embodiment, the lever portion and the toothed insert are made from different materials. For example, the lever portion is made from a plastic and/or polymeric material and the toothed insert is made from a metallic material.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for increasing energy output from Z-pinch and other plasma confinement systems. In one example, a system may include memory storing instructions that, if executed by one or more processors, cause the system to adjust one or more parameters to generate a magnetic field which is sufficiently strong to axially compress a fuel gas to induce thermonuclear fusion and increase a fusion energy gain factor greater than a fusion energy gain factor limit attainable by the thermonuclear fusion. In certain examples, adjusting the one or more parameters may include adjusting a duty cycle of a discharge current applied to the fuel gas based, at least in part, on an amount of thermal collisions between fusion byproducts and the fuel gas. In certain examples, by adjusting the duty cycle, the magnetic field may be adjusted to induce or increase the thermal collisions.

Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein provide for the efficient separation of gas from fluid comprising liquid. In particular, gas separator systems and methods for use in bioreactor systems and operations are disclosed herein providing an efficient means to remove gaseous waste products, unreacted gaseous substrates, and or inert gas from broth of the biological fermentation of carbon substrates using a microorganism biocatalyst.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for plasma confinement utilizing various electrode and valve configurations. In one example, a device includes a first electrode positioned to define an outer boundary of an acceleration volume, a second electrode arranged coaxially with respect to the first electrode and positioned to define an inner boundary of the acceleration volume, at least one power supply to drive an electric current along a Z-pinch plasma column between the first second electrodes, and a set of valves to provide gas to the acceleration volume to fuel the Z-pinch plasma column, wherein an electron flow of the electric current is in a first direction from the second electrode to the first electrode. In additional or alternative examples, a shaping part is conductively connected to the second electrode to, in a presence of the gas, cause a gas breakdown of the gas to generate a sheared flow velocity profile.

Abstract: A configurable cutting and transfer apparatus includes a cutter mechanism to cut an incoming web of material into a plurality of discrete articles and a transfer mechanism operable with the cutter mechanism to transfer and rotate the discrete articles from a web receiving location to an article placement location. The transfer mechanism includes a drive shaft rotatable about a transfer axis, a carriage plate mounted to the drive shaft so as to rotate therewith about the transfer axis, and a segmented puck wheel comprising a plurality of carriage units securable to, and repositionable on, the carriage plate so as to rotate therewith to travel along a transfer path about the transfer axis from the web receiving location to the pad placement location, each of the carriage units including a puck operable to provide a rotating and re-pitching of the articles between the web receiving location and the pad placement location.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for plasma confinement utilizing various electrode and valve configurations. In one example, a device includes a first electrode positioned to define an outer boundary of an acceleration volume, a second electrode arranged coaxially with respect to the first electrode and positioned to define an inner boundary of the acceleration volume, at least one power supply to drive an electric current along a Z-pinch plasma column between the first second electrodes, and a set of valves to provide gas to the acceleration volume to fuel the Z-pinch plasma column, wherein an electron flow of the electric current is in a first direction from the second electrode to the first electrode. In additional or alternative examples, a shaping part is conductively connected to the second electrode to, in a presence of the gas, cause a gas breakdown of the gas to generate a sheared flow velocity profile.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes an event site device having a display and an imaging device. The event site device is configured to capture an image of a user's face for identification. The system further includes a server configured to associate ticketing information with an identity of the user, receive the image of the user's face from the event site device, determine the identity of the user based on facial feature information stored for the user, retrieve the ticketing information associated with the user, and transmit the ticketing information to the event site device for presentation on the display.

Abstract: An example method includes directing gas, via one or more first valves, from within an inner electrode to an acceleration region between the inner electrode and an outer electrode that substantially surrounds the inner electrode, directing gas, via two or more second valves, from outside the outer electrode to the acceleration region, and applying, via a power supply, a voltage between the inner electrode and the outer electrode, thereby converting at least a portion of the directed gas into a plasma having a substantially annular cross section, the plasma flowing axially within the acceleration region toward a first end of the inner electrode and a first end of the outer electrode and, thereafter, establishing a Z-pinch plasma that flows between the first end of the outer electrode and the first end of the inner electrode. Related plasma confinement systems and methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A buckle has a buckle mechanism with a lock pawl and a latch pin. The latch pin is designed to travel only in a longitudinal or horizontal direction relative to the buckle mechanism. When a latch plate assembly is secured, the latch pin holds the lock pawl in a latched position and prevents accidental release of the latch plate assembly. A release button is coupled to the latch plate retention bar so that all of the effective actuation and other motions are in the longitudinal direction of the buckle mechanism. The buckle mechanism has an ejector mechanism with an ejection spring for ejecting the latch plate assembly.