Abstract: An incentive spirometer is disclosed having a helical tube, wherein the helical tube includes a first inlet, second outlet, third outlet, and fourth outlet. The spirometer further includes a chamber, wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with the first inlet, second outlet, third outlet, and fourth outlet of the helical tube; and an object disposed within the spirometer, wherein the object is adapted to move through the first inlet of the helical tube and through either the second outlet, third outlet, or fourth outlet. In addition, the spirometer further includes an inhalation draw tube in fluid communication with the chamber and helical tube.

Abstract: A touch sensitive keyboard is disclosed. In one embodiment, a touch sensitive keyboard is provided that has a touchpad area separate from the keyboard keys. The keyboard is configured to disabled touchpad sensitivity when certain touch signals are received. In another embodiment, a touch sensitive keyboard is used as a controller. In a controller mode, keys on a touch sensitive keyboard are adapted to output a signal strength corresponding to a distance between the key and a finger operating as a control. In an embodiment, a touch sensitive keyboard includes a processor adapted to output a keystroke in response to one of the plurality of touch sensitive keys being pressed, and to output one or more touch points determined by interpolating signal strength for each of the plurality of touch sensitive keys on the keyboard.

Abstract: An image quality scorer machine accesses a candidate image to be analyzed for visual quality. The image quality scorer machine generates a visual quality score of the candidate image by first generating a prediction of a similarity score for the candidate image. The predicted similarly score of the candidate image may be generated by a process including inputting the candidate image into a neural network that has been trained to detect a set of image features in the candidate image and then to generate a corresponding predicted similarity score based on degrees to which the image features in the set are present in the candidate image. The image quality scorer machine derives the visual quality score based on the predicted similarity score outputted by the neural network. Accordingly, the image quality score machine may provide or store the generated visual quality score of candidate image for subsequent usage.

Abstract: A neural network architecture is disclosed for performing video frame prediction using a sequence of video frames and corresponding pairwise optical flows. The neural network processes the sequence of video frames and optical flows utilizing three-dimensional convolution operations, where time (or multiple video frames in the sequence of video frames) provides the third dimension in addition to the two-dimensional pixel space of the video frames. The neural network generates a set of parameters used to predict a next video frame in the sequence of video frames by sampling a previous video frame utilizing spatially-displaced convolution operations. In one embodiment, the set of parameters includes a displacement vector and at least one convolution kernel per pixel. Generating a pixel value in the next video frame includes applying the convolution kernel to a corresponding patch of pixels in the previous video frame based on the displacement vector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for purification and concentration of autologous alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) from whole blood are provided. Also provided are diagnostic methods for identifying sites in the synovial joints, spine, tendons or ligaments for treatment of pain, degeneration, or inflammation with autologous A2M. Methods for utilizing autologous A2M in combination with other autologous treatments (e.g. platelets and other growth factors) are provided in addition to combinations with exogenous drugs or carriers. Also provided is a method of producing recombinant A2M wild type or variants thereof where the bait region was modified to enhance the inhibition characteristics of A2M and/or to prolong the half life of the protein in joints and spine disc or epidural space.

Abstract: A method of adaptive chroma downsampling is presented. The method comprises converting a source image to a converted image in an output color format, applying a plurality of downsample filters to the converted image and estimating a distortion for each filter chose the filter that produces the minimum distortion. The distortion estimation includes applying an upsample filter, and a pixel is output based on the chosen filter. Methods for closed loop conversions are also presented.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for presenting a route in a manner that emphasizes the route and provides context information. For example, a vivid color or vivid colors may be used to display the route, and pastel colors or other desaturated colors may be used for non-route context information. This may result in a map in which the vivid colors of the route stand out over the faded style of the non-route context information to emphasize the route. In this manner, the map may both emphasize the route and provide context information for the route.

Abstract: For a battery system including a battery pack and a battery management system, the battery system having output battery terminals, a method and apparatus for preventing inadvertent connection and disconnection the output battery terminals from the battery pack is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating wound healing dressings, treatments, and other variables. The present invention includes in vitro systems and methods for testing wound dressing materials for bacterial control, moisture control, and surface contact properties. The present invention further includes in vivo systems and methods for testing wound dressings, treatments, and other variables utilizing arrays of wound wells on an experimental subject animal. Wound arrays allow for different wound healing variables to be tested with numerous experimental trials within the same subject animal, giving reliable results and reducing the number of subject animals required for testing.

Abstract: A system for tracking position of objects in an industrial environment includes an interrogator, a transponder, and a processor. The interrogator transmits a signal and provides a first reference signal corresponding to the transmitted signal. The transponder provides a response signal. The interrogator receives the response signal and provides a second reference signal corresponding to the response signal. The processor determines a location of either the interrogator or the transponder, relative to the other, based on the two reference signals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus which comprises a plurality of execution units, and a first general register file (GRF) communicatively couple to the plurality of execution units, wherein the first GRF is shared by the plurality of execution units.

Abstract: A surgical manipulator operates in a manual mode in which a user applies forces and torques to the surgical instrument to cause movement of the energy applicator. The surgical manipulator also operates in a semi-autonomous mode in which the surgical manipulator moves the energy applicator along a tool path. A controller monitors output of a force/torque sensor as the energy applicator is being moved along the tool path in the semi-autonomous mode and transitions from the semi-autonomous mode to the manual mode in response to the output exceeding a limit.

Abstract: A rotating platform has a peripheral wall to form a catch basin. A donut shaped wrapper housing can hold perhaps 50-100 cigarette wrappers facing inbound with a closed end projecting out an outer wall exit hole into the catch basin. Tobacco or any work material is dropped onto the center of the rotating platform which may be motor driven. Centripetal forces urge the work material into the wrappers. Empty wrapper channel feed the excess material into the catch basin. A lid prevents loss of work material.

Abstract: A joint tape embedding apparatus configured to determine the bonding and/or “feel” of embedding joint tape into a dry wall or wall board joint using a particular joint compound. The joint embedding apparatus is configured to allow the same user or different users to accurately repeat the determination of the bonding and/or “feel” attributes of the joint compound.

Abstract: A control unit system. The system includes a control unit which includes a control unit charging interface, at least one magnet located proximate to the control unit charging interface, at least one actuator, a detachable manifold including at least one magnet, fluidly coupled to the at least one actuator, a pump connected to the at least one actuator for causing actuation thereof, and a control system for controlling the pump, wherein the control system controls the pump to actuate the at least one actuator at least in response to a signal received by the control system. The system also includes a recharging device configured to receive the control unit, the recharging device including a reed switch, wherein when the magnet in the control unit is located proximate to the reed switch, the switch is activated.

Abstract: A tether for attachment to a damper device is formed to include a heated, reshaped enlarged bulbous end.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable medium described herein relate to techniques for automatic type inference from machine code. An example technique includes receiving a machine code of a program, generating an intermediate representation of the machine code, generating a plurality of type constraints from the intermediate representation, generating one or more inferred types based at least upon the plurality of type constraints, converting the generated inferred types to C types, updating the intermediate representation by applying the inferred types to the intermediate representation, and outputting said inferred types, said converted C types, and/or at least a portion of the updated intermediate representation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to inhibitors of zinc-dependent histone deacetylases (HDACs) useful in the treatment of diseases or disorders associated with an HDAC, e.g., HDAC6, having a Formula I: where R, L, X1, X2, X3, X4, Y1, Y2, Y3, and Y4 are described herein.

Abstract: Systems, computer-readable media and methods for enabling secure computation on spreadsheet software. A secure spreadsheet is implemented as an add-in to an existing spreadsheet program, or as a new spreadsheet program/web application, to allow secure computations on private input data (and also optionally with private functions) without the parties learning anything about them, via the familiar spreadsheet interface and its formula language. Automatic conversion of previous spreadsheet data and formulas is provided whenever possible, or assisted via a helper. The secure computation can be executed between the computers of the involved parties, or outsourced to a third-party—cloud computing system (FIG. 4)—: the secure cryptographic calculation module automatically optimizes for the best performing technique of secure computation (for example, homomorphic encryption, garbled circuits, oblivious transfers, secret sharing, oblivious random access machines and/or a combination of the previous crypto-primitives).