Abstract: An endoscope comprises a handpiece housing, an elongate flexible shaft extending from the handpiece housing, a pull wire extending from the handpiece housing into the elongate flexible shaft, and a tensioning mechanism configured to adjust tension in the pull wire. A method for adjusting tension in a pull wire of a controller for an endoscope comprises preparing an endoscope for use before a procedure, adjusting tension in a pull wire for deflecting a flexible elongate shaft of the endoscope to reduce knob dwell, and performing an endoscopic procedure with the endoscope.

Abstract: Point of sale (POS) devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein enable payments by merchants to non-customers, such as to employees of the merchant. A point of sale system of the merchant determines an amount of a payment to be made by the merchant to the employee. The point of sale system transmits payment instructions for executing the payment to a payment system provider computing system. The funds are made available in a bank account of the employee instantly or near instantly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing and simulating an access control policy are disclosed. Evaluating an access control policy may be performed by utilizing a deny statement that causes the access request to be rejected despite actions indicated in the access request being authorized. Further, an independent simulation environment may be utilized for testing access control policy evaluation.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for conducting amplification-based analyses, including PCR testing. In one illustrative embodiment, a system may include a testing container assembly and a testing unit. The testing container assembly may include a sample collection port, a sample preparation chamber, and a reaction chamber. The sample collection port may include a bottom opening sealed by a plug member. In use, the testing container assembly may be placed in a seat of the testing unit with a sample in the sample collection port, closed by a lid. A plunger may dislodge the plug member and the sample drawn into the sample preparation chamber. Once sample preparation is complete, a channel may be opened, and the prepared sample flows into the reaction chamber which is then sealed. Testing including amplification reactions, may then be performed, followed by detection, as by detecting fluorescent emissions in the reaction chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for assembling food products. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus and methods for associating foodstuff and liquid with a base. Foodstuff may include food items such as meats, vegetables, cheeses, amongst others. Liquids include those food items that have a low viscosities (e.g. sauces, dressings, oils), high viscosities (e.g. peanut butter, frosting), and anything in between. A base can be anything on which foodstuff or liquid may be associated (e.g. bread, cake, cookies, pizza dough, a bowl in which to place foodstuff).

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for assembling food products. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus and methods for associating foodstuff and liquid with a base. Foodstuff may include food items such as meats, vegetables, cheeses, amongst others. Liquids include those food items that have a low viscosities (e.g. sauces, dressings, oils), high viscosities (e.g. peanut butter, frosting), and anything in between. A base can be anything on which foodstuff or liquid may be associated (e.g. bread, cake, cookies, pizza dough, a bowl in which to place foodstuff).

Abstract: A method of compressing a set of weight values is provided in which an uncompressed set of weight values is obtained, which uncompressed set of weight values includes a plurality of weight values associated with a neural network. A frequently occurring value is identified among the plurality of weight values within the set of weight values and each occurrence of the frequently occurring weight value is replaced within the set of weight values with an index value. The frequently occurring weight value and the index value are associated with the set of weight values. The index value is selected to be less storage intensive than the frequently occurring weight value that it replaces.

Abstract: Instruments, methods, and kits are disclosed for performing fast thermocycling.

Abstract: A method for compressing activation data of a neural network to be written to a storage is provided. The activation data is formed into a plurality of groups and a state indicator indicates whether there are any data elements within each group that have a non-zero value. A second state indicator indicates, for groups having a non-zero value, whether sub-groups within the group contain a data element having a non-zero value. A sub-group state indicator indicates, for each sub-group having a non-zero value, which data elements within that sub-group have a non-zero value. Non-zero values of data elements in the activation data are encoded and a compressed data set is formed comprising the first state indicators, any second state indicators, any sub-group state indicators and the encoded non-zero values.

Abstract: Instruments, methods, and kits are disclosed for performing fast thermocycling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for assembling food products. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus and methods for associating foodstuff and liquid with a base. Foodstuff may include food items such as meats, vegetables, cheeses, amongst others. Liquids include those food items that have a low viscosities (e.g. sauces, dressings, oils), high viscosities (e.g. peanut butter, frosting), and anything in between. A base can be anything on which foodstuff or liquid may be associated (e.g. bread, cake, cookies, pizza dough, a bowl in which to place foodstuff).

Abstract: Instruments, methods, and kits are disclosed for performing fast thermocycling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for diagnosing a disease state mediated by pathogenic cells, said method comprising the steps of administering to a patient a composition comprising a conjugate or complex of the general formula Ab-X wherein the group Ab comprises a ligand that binds to the pathogenic cells and the group X comprises an imaging agent, and detecting the pathogenic cells that express a receptor for the ligand using mutiphoton in vivo flow cytometry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to producing more densely functionalized indicator cells which along, with other components, can be used to detect the presence or absence of antibodies or antigens, by using the A, B, AB and MNS antigens which have a greater degree of expression than the conventionally used D antigen to label the indicator cells with IgG. The present antigen systems have levels of expression that approach one million antigens per cell, which is in great contrast to the conventional D antigen sites of about 10,000-30,000 antigens per cell. This marked increase in the antigen systems level of expression could produce a boost in the kinetics and the magnitude of the binding of the indicator cell to the solid phase, which improves assay performance.

Abstract: The invention provides a dispensing closure to supply a dose with an inverted dome having a housing, the housing having a septum, a convex dome, and an end plate seal. A main vessel can be attached to the inverted dome dispensing closure, and a user-actuated means for dispensing from the inverted dome dispensing closure into the main vessel is also provided. The invention provides a point of use dispensing device that will supply fresh healthy ingredients that are stored inside the closure.

Abstract: Inverted dome to supply a dose with an inverted dome dispensing closure having a housing, the housing having a septum, a thinner convex dome, and an end plate seal, a main vessel attached to the inverted dome dispensing closure, and a user-actuated for dispensing from the inverted dome dispensing closure into the main vessel. To provide a point of use dispensing devise that will supply fresh healthy ingredients that are stored inside the closure. The devise is used to store ingredients protecting them from UV light and moisture at minimum. The closure will be intuitive for use and easily operated by the end user. The new devise minimizes components and materials while maximizing the dispensing port.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for diagnosing a disease state mediated by pathogenic cells, said method comprising the steps of administering to a patient a composition comprising a conjugate or complex of the general formula Ab-X wherein the group Ab comprises a ligand that binds to the pathogenic cells and the group X comprises an imaging agent, and detecting the pathogenic cells that express a receptor for the ligand using mutiphoton in vivo flow cytometry.

Abstract: Seating apparatus (40) for use on a vehicle having a flat carrying area (42), which seating apparatus (40) comprises a frame, at least two seats (46, 48) mounted on the frame, and securing means (44) for releasably securing the seating apparatus (40) on the flat carrying area (42) of the vehicle whereby the seating apparatus (40) is ale to be secured on the flat carrying area (42) and removed from the flat carrying area (42) as desired, and the seating apparatus (40) being such that the frame is able to be dismantled when not in use and/or at least one of the seats (46) is a rear facing seat and at least one of the seats (48) is a side facing seat.

Abstract: This invention relates to antagonists of calcitonin gene related peptide and in particular the invention relates to amino terminal modifications to peptides to improve their ability to bind to a member of the CGRP-receptor superfamily.

Abstract: This invention relates to antagonists of calcitonin gene related peptide and in particular the invention relates to amino terminal modifications to peptides to improve their ability to bind to a member of the CGRP-receptor superfamily.