Abstract: Compression devices for joining tissue and methods for using and fabricating the same.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying elastics to a running web including a crank and arm, the arm arranged to reciprocate from side to side during use and having a laydown carriage carried on the arm, the laydown carriage including at least one eyelet arranged to support an elastic strand, the assembly further including a shoe guide.

Abstract: User-level privacy preservation is implemented within federated machine learning. An aggregation server may distribute a machine learning model to multiple users each including respective private datasets. Individual users may train the model using the local, private dataset to generate one or more parameter updates. Prior to sending the generated parameter updates to the aggregation server for incorporation into the machine learning model, a user may modify the parameter updates by applying respective noise values to individual ones of the parameter updates to ensure differential privacy for the dataset private to the user. The aggregation server may then receive the respective modified parameter updates from the multiple users and aggregate the updates into a single set of parameter updates to update the machine learning model. The federated machine learning may further include iteratively performing said sending, training, modifying, receiving, aggregating and updating steps.

Abstract: Systems and methods for platform occupancy detection on an aerial device are described. An aerial platform may be provided for the aerial device. A worker may perform operations in the aerial platform and connect to an interlock system thereof. The worker may have an associated transmitter configured to transmit a signal. A first receiver and a second receiver may be disposed on the aerial platform to receive the signal. Based on the time difference between receiving the signal at the first receiver and receiving the signal at the second receiver, the position of the transmitter may be triangulated. If the transmitter is determined to be within the aerial platform and the worker is not connected to the interlock system, preventive actions may be taken before operation of the aerial platform is permitted.

Abstract: Herein are techniques for domain adaptation of a machine learning (ML) model. These techniques impose differential privacy onto federated learning by the ML model. In an embodiment, each of many client devices receive, from a server, coefficients of a general ML model. For respective new data point(s), each client device operates as follows. Based on the new data point(s), a respective private ML model is trained. Based on the new data point(s), respective gradients are calculated for the coefficients of the general ML model. Random noise is added to the gradients to generate respective noisy gradients. A combined inference may be generated based on: the private ML model, the general ML model, and one of the new data point(s). The noisy gradients are sent to the server. The server adjusts the general ML model based on the noisy gradients from the client devices. This client/server process may be repeated indefinitely.

Abstract: A conductive member such as conductive pad (1) for use in radiofrequency ablation, the conductive member being flexible so as to conform to a subject's skin, the conductive member comprising a conductive skin contact layer (5) arranged for contact with the subject's skin and a conductive layer (4) over the conductive skin contact layer, in which the conductive skin contact layer (5) and the conductive layer (4) are both conductive to DC electrical signals.

Abstract: A tissue splayer (76) is described which includes an index finger portion (4) and a middle finger portion (5). The tissue splayer also includes a first pivot joint (80) coupling the index finger portion (4) to the middle finger portion (5) to permit the middle finger portion (5) to rotate relative to the index finger portion (4) about a first pivot axis (81). The tissue splayer (76) also includes a first splay mechanism (88) configured to permit rotation of the middle finger portion (5) away from the index finger portion (4) about the first pivot axis, and to resist rotation of the middle finger portion (5) towards the index finger portion (4) about the first pivot axis (81).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods that collapse risk in connection with electronic trades. The method includes collecting electronic trades, each electronic trade comprising party information, buy/sell information; determining hedge amounts for buys/sells for the electronic trades based on buy/sell data; simultaneously determining net hedge amounts for market participants; simultaneously determining a net hedge percentage for electronic trades; determining an individual hedge size for one or more first market participants based on a unique umbrella hedge value, wherein the umbrella hedge value for each of the first market participants is the net hedge percentage of said first market participant's net hedge amount; and distributing instructions to the plurality of market participants to fill the plurality of electronic trades at prices controlled by each first market participant's unique umbrella hedge value and by a composite mid-price for a plurality of second market participants.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for portfolio trading of corporate bonds. Liquidity takers generate a list of bonds to send to liquidity providers where the liquidity provider provides quotes for one or more of the bonds. The decision to trade is made at the portfolio level and the winning dealer trades the portfolio or sub-portfolio.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying elastics to a running web including a crank and arm, the arm arranged to reciprocate from side to side during use and having a laydown carriage carried on the arm, the laydown carriage including at least one eyelet arranged to support an elastic strand, the assembly further including a shoe guide.

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 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: An apparatus for applying elastics to a running web including a crank and arm, the arm arranged to reciprocate from side to side during use and having a laydown carriage carried on the arm, the laydown carriage including at least one eyelet arranged to support an elastic strand, the assembly further including a shoe guide.

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: 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 pulpless core is provided with flexibility for superabsorbent expansion by using elastic strands stretched and coupled to a nonwoven layer, and then relaxed partially to create receiving valleys (puckers) and the puckers are provided with superabsorbent polymer, and then a layer of nonwoven or acquisition film can be coupled on top of nonwoven/elastic/sap carrier layers to create an absorbent core laminate. A tubular core can be created and placed into a product with or without additional absorbent material between adjacent tubular members. A printed back sheet corresponding to either the tubular core shape, or void spaces between tubular members can be provide. A forming drum pocket can be profiled to match tube or tube shaped zones and elastic placements between adjacent tubes, if desired.

Abstract: Systems and methods utilizing stationary and/or moveable cutting components provide limited interference with web processing operations, such as pad spin and pitch alteration. Heat, laser, fluid, or mechanical cutting operations may be used, including respectively, a heated element (e.g., wire, ribbon, bar, or embossing or perforating element) that may be triggered inductively, water or steam jets, or improved knife/anvil cooperation.

Abstract: Herein are techniques for domain adaptation of a machine learning (ML) model. These techniques impose differential privacy onto federated learning by the ML model. In an embodiment, each of many client devices receive, from a server, coefficients of a general ML model. For respective new data point(s), each client device operates as follows. Based on the new data point(s), a respective private ML model is trained. Based on the new data point(s), respective gradients are calculated for the coefficients of the general ML model. Random noise is added to the gradients to generate respective noisy gradients. A combined inference may be generated based on: the private ML model, the general ML model, and one of the new data point(s). The noisy gradients are sent to the server. The server adjusts the general ML model based on the noisy gradients from the client devices. This client/server process may be repeated indefinitely.

Abstract: A method for leashing an animal is provided, including steps of attaching a quick-release mechanism to a collar on an animal, and encircling the animal's abdomen by passing a handle end of the leash through an intermediate loop such that the leash forms a constrictive loop around the animal's abdomen. The leash includes a collar end formed from a loop of a first flexible web that captures the quick-release mechanism, and a handle end formed from a loop of a second flexible web. The intermediate loop is between the collar end and the handle end and formed of a third flexible web. The first flexible web overlaps the third flexible web and the overlapping portions are bonded together at a collar end of the intermediate loop. The second flexible web overlaps the third flexible web and the overlapping portions are bonded together at a handle end of the intermediate loop.

Abstract: A series of elastic break brakes are provided throughout a travel path of elastics in a machine operation. Elastic strands thread through each individual brake mechanism, and if an elastic strand breaks downstream, a natural snap back of the elastic, which ordinarily travels through the system under tension, drives an immediately upstream cam mechanism back, and holds the elastic thread in place at the elastic break brake immediately upstream of the break as to minimize rethreading required downstream of the elastic break brake.