Abstract: An ice bagger is provided. The ice bagger includes an ice hopper into which ice is disposed from an ice manufacturer. The ice hopper further includes an ice agitator and defines an ice trough there beneath. An ice auger, housed inside the ice trough, transports ice to an ice delivery chute. A hatch is positioned beneath the ice delivery chute, upon which the bag rests while filling. A scale is positioned on the hatch. The scale weighs the ice being deposited into the bag. When the bag is full, the bag is sealed by a sealer. When the bag is sealed, the hatch opens and the bag of ice is deposited in an bag depository. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A flexible auger design for low-torque transmitting drive shafts, which allows effective tissue material transport through curved, flexible tubes and channels. A hollow auger has a hollow center, so that the helical member hugs the inner wall of the tube and material is transported along the center axis and the inner wall of the tube. The hollow flexible auger allows for transportation of material from an operative location in the patient (material removal) as well as to operative location in the patient (material delivery).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a real-time video extensometer. Typically, the apparatus of the disclosure combines the image source, data processing and electrical output on to a single processing board in order to achieve high frequency images and low latency times on data flow. Further, the video processing engine processes the image on a pixel basis and updating the output the intermediate extension/strain result so that after receipt of the final image pixel, a final extension/strain value is achieved and immediately output for evaluation.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a real-time video extensometer. Typically, the apparatus of the disclosure combines the image source, data processing and electrical output on to a single processing board in order to achieve high frequency images and low latency times on data flow. Further, the video processing engine processes the image on a pixel basis and updating the output the intermediate extension/strain result so that after receipt of the final image pixel, a final extension/strain value is achieved and immediately output for evaluation.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for an adjustable fluid-filled lens is provided. In some embodiments, the actuator assembly includes a clamp configured to adjust the optical power of the fluid lens module when the clamp is compressed. In some embodiments, a magnetic element is configured to adjust the optical power of the fluid-filled lens. In some embodiments, a plunger changes the optical power of the fluid lens module. In some embodiments, a reservoir is configured such that deformation of the reservoir changes the optical power of the fluid-filled lens. In some embodiments, a balloon is configured to deform the reservoir. In some embodiments, an adjustable fluid-filled lens includes a septum configured to be pierceable by a needle and automatically and fluidly seal a fluid chamber after withdrawal of the needle. In some embodiments, a thermal element can heat fluid within a fluid chamber to change an optical power of the lens module.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to improve a topic modeling system that tunes a topic model for a set of topics from a corpus of documents, by allowing users to pre-inform the tuning process with bias parameters for desired associations in the topic model. In embodiments, the topic model may be a Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model. In embodiments, the bias parameter may indicate a fixed association where a particular word in a particular document is associated with a particular topic. In embodiments, the bias parameter may specify a weight value that biases the inference process with regard to a particular association. Advantageously, the disclosed features allow users to specify a small number of parameters to steer the tuning process towards a set of desired topics. As a result, the topic model may be generated more quickly and with more useful topics.

Abstract: A device for controlling a fluid flow in an array of fluid pathways on a microfluidic chip is provided. The device comprising: two or more resistors provided upstream of the chip wherein each upstream resistor is configured to provide a resistance at an upstream end of a fluid pathway; two or more resistors provided downstream of the chip wherein each downstream resistor is configured to provide a resistance at a downstream end of a fluid pathway, wherein the values of the resistances are selected in order to control a proportion of fluid that flows through each fluid pathway.

Abstract: Provided are compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and methods for their use and production.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein are directed to techniques for improving battery life performance of end devices in resource monitoring systems which transmit data using low-power, wide area network (LPWAN) technologies. Further, the techniques include providing sensor interfaces in the end devices configured to communicate with multiple types of metrology sensors. Additionally, the systems and methods include techniques for reducing the size of a concentrator of a gateway device which receives resource measurement data from end devices. The reduced size of the concentrator results in smaller, more compact gateway devices that consume less energy and reduce heat dissipation experienced in gateway devices. The concentrator may comply with modular interface standards, and include two radios configured for transmitting 1-watt signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, devices, apparatuses and methods for automated bioprocessing. Examples of protocols and bioprocessing procedures suitable for the present invention include but are not limited to: immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, recombinant protein isolation, nucleic acid separation and isolation, protein labeling, separation and isolation, cell separation and isolation, food safety analysis and automatic bead based separation. In some embodiments, the invention provides automated systems, automated devices, automated cartridges and automated methods of western blot processing.

Abstract: A frame used for mounting a bicycle eliminates bending loads typically observed in U-shaped frames, where an axial load is forced on the rear axle of a bicycle wheel. The frame uses the rear axle of the bicycle as a structural member to change the loading such that bending is eliminated. This reduces the requirements for the material strength of the frame. An axle interconnect system facilitates quick adjustment and mounting of the rear axle to the frame, and may use an existing skewer of the bicycle wheel. A resistance unit may be attached to the frame, or affixed to a joint in the frame, to facilitate use with a stationary trainer. Flexible frame members may be used to permit a rocking motion of the wheel when used for stationary training, or to allow for use on unlevel ground when training outdoors or for warmup before a race.

Abstract: An indirection mapping data structure can maintain a mapping between logical block addresses used by a host computer and physical data storage locations on a solid state drive. Changes to the indirection mapping data structure can be stored in journals. When a journal is full, the journal can be stored to a predetermined location on the cluster block determined based on the number of entries stored by the journal, leading to a number of journals scattered throughout the cluster block at predetermined locations. Each physical chunk of media, whether written with data or marked as defective is journaled. Such a journaling scheme, where the journal locations are predetermined and each physical chunk of media is journaled is referred to as physical media-aware spatially coupled journaling. During replay the spatially coupled journals can be retrieved from the predefined locations within cluster blocks and used to rebuild the indirection mapping data structure.

Abstract: A system and method for producing a disposable undergarment, with the lateral edges of the undergarment bonded by means of an ultrasonic horn. When a blank is formed for an individual undergarment, the lateral edges of opposing edges of the blank will form the seam. When the edges are sealed together, a seam is formed. The individual undergarments may be later separated along the seams.

Abstract: A collaboration database service may allow users to create, edit, and share collaborative content on custom databases, and may also integrate and interoperate with various productivity applications. For example, a collaboration database engine of the service may detect creation or modification of a table through an application associated with the service. In response to a request to add a choice type column to the table, the engine may automatically select, provide, and enable modification of a set of symbols and associated text values corresponding to choices. The engine may then provide the choice type column for display within the table such that each cell of the choice type column is automatically and/or manually populated with at least one of the choices. The choice may be represented by a symbol and/or associated text value from the modified set of symbols and associated text values corresponding to the choice.

Abstract: An ice bagger is provided. The ice bagger includes an ice hopper into which ice is disposed from an ice manufacturer. The ice hopper further includes an ice agitator. The ice hopper defines an ice trough positioned beneath the ice hopper. An ice auger is housed inside the ice trough. The ice auger transports ice to an ice delivery chute. A hatch is positioned beneath the ice delivery chute, upon which the bag rests while filling. The ice delivery chute and the hatch define a bag filling area such that, when bags are present in the bag filling area, the bags are positioned to be filled. A scale is positioned on the hatch. The scale weighs the ice being deposited into the bag. When the bag is full, the bag is sealed by a sealer. When the bag is sealed, the hatch opens and the bag of ice is deposited in an bag depository. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A sample capture and transport unit comprises a housing defining a substrate chamber for containing a sample-capture substrate. The housing comprises at least a first part and a second part which are movable relative to one another ? i) from a first closed configuration in which the substrate chamber is inaccessible; ? ii) to a first open configuration in which access to the substrate chamber is enabled to allow capturing of a skin-print on a sample-capture substrate contained within the substrate chamber; and subsequently ? iii) into a second closed configuration in which the substrate chamber is again inaccessible. The unit further comprises a retaining mechanism for retaining it in the second closed configuration. The retaining mechanism is disablable to permit movement of the unit out of the second closed configuration. A sample can be obtained at a first location, secured for transport and analysed at a second location.

Abstract: In a solid state drive, a journal may be associated with a cluster block, such that the journal stores updates to an indirection mapping data structure for that cluster block. The journals may be stored on the cluster block. During garbage collection these spatially coupled journals can be retrieved and used to determine the data written to each media location within the cluster block. Logical and physical address information can be determined from the journal content, and used to compare against the current mapping in the indirection mapping data structure, to determine the validity of each media location. Since the journals are physical media aware, this comparison can occur without the consultation of a bad block tracking structure. When a physical media address is deemed to hold valid data it will be relocated as part of garbage collection processing.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a real-time video extensometer. Typically, the apparatus of the disclosure combines the image source, data processing and electrical output on to a single processing board in order to achieve high frequency images and low latency times on data flow. Further, the video processing engine processes the image on a pixel basis and updating the output the intermediate extension/strain result so that after receipt of the final image pixel, a final extension/strain value is achieved and immediately output for evaluation.

Abstract: A system and method for producing a disposable undergarment, with the lateral edges of the undergarment bonded by means of an ultrasonic horn. When a blank is formed for an individual undergarment, the lateral edges of opposing edges of the blank will form the seam. When the edges are sealed together, a seam is formed. The individual undergarments may be later separated along the seams.

Abstract: A system and method for producing a disposable undergarment, with the lateral edges of the undergarment bonded by means of an ultrasonic horn. When a blank is formed for an individual undergarment, the lateral edges of opposing edges of the blank will form the seam. When the edges are sealed together, a seam is formed. The individual undergarments may be later separated along the seams.