Abstract: The invention relates to a breathing assistance apparatus that may be configured to reduce the risk of damage to electronics within the apparatus as a result of liquid leaks within the apparatus or impacts to the apparatus. In other forms, the apparatus may be configured to allow for easy assembly and/or safe operation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting pulse power on two wire pairs, the pulse power comprising a plurality of high voltage pulses with the high voltage pulses on the wire pairs offset between the wire pairs to provide continuous power, performing low voltage fault detection on each of the wire pairs between the high voltage pulses, and transmitting data on at least one of the wire pairs during transmittal of the high voltage pulses. Data transmittal is suspended during the low voltage fault detection.

Abstract: A casino credit access instrument comprises a source of funds for a player, such as for placing wagers to play casino-style games or to purchase other goods or services. The instrument defines a period of timed during which credit may be accessed up to a predetermined amount, defines a redemption period during which any accessed credit may be re-paid, and defines settlement terms if the instrument is not redeemed. Controls may be utilized which control access to the credit. Credit may be granted based upon financial collateral, which collateral may be executed upon to settle the instrument. The instrument provides a convenient source of funding for players at low risk to the casino or other lender.

Abstract: Methods of firing ceramic honeycomb bodies are disclosed that include heating the ceramic honeycomb bodies and blocking furnace gases from flowing through the ceramic honeycomb body by placing an aluminum metal layer adjacent an endface of the honeycomb body. Heating removes organic pore-forming material and graphite pore-forming material in the ceramic honeycomb body. The aluminum metal layer oxidizes to form a porous Al2O3 layer after firing to a first temperature, and furnace gases flow through the ceramic honeycomb body.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to ultra high molecular weight poly(ethylene) (“UHMWPE”) tubes with an average wall thickness of 0.2 mm or less; a tensile stress at break greater than 40 MPa; and a storage modulus of greater than 500 MPa at 23° C. The disclosure further relates to preparing and using such tubes and to constructions (e.g., catheter constructions) and components thereof including such tubes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides extruded PTFE composite tubes with a reduced coefficient of friction (COF). In some embodiments, such extruded PTFE composite tubes may exhibit a reduced change in coefficient of friction between about 20° C. and about 40° C. with the inclusion of secondary polymeric particles with small particle sizes (<100 ?m) at loading percentages of less than about 50 weight %.

Abstract: In an implementation, a hydraulic valve includes a valve body, a cylindrical chamber within the valve body, and a cylindrical spool within the chamber. The spool is rotatable between at least a first position and a second position about a longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the chamber. The spool includes a landing and an eccentric channel that extends around a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the landing. In the first position, an inlet and an outlet of the hydraulic valve are fluidly coupled by the eccentric channel to allow a flow of a hydraulic fluid circumferentially around the landing from the inlet to the outlet. In the second position, the inlet and/or the outlet are obstructed by another portion of the outer circumferential surface of the landing to prevent the flow of the hydraulic fluid from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions including a constituent-A, which constituent-A consists of a polylysine component and a fibrous component which fibrous component consists of at least one fibrous element which fibrous element includes vegetable fibers. The fibrous element is free of any fibers other than the vegetable fibers. The composition is free of any fibers other than the vegetable fibers of the fibrous component (compositions of the invention). The invention further relates to processes for obtaining an object from the compositions of the invention. The invention further relates to objects such as sheets, tapes, sticks, strips, films, cloths, containers, boards, panels, beams, frames, planks, engineered wood (e.g. fibreboards) obtained by said processes. The invention further relates to articles including a) a part which is solid at 23° C. and 1 atm; and one or both of b) and c), wherein b) is a composition of the invention, and c) is an object of the invention (articles of the invention).

Abstract: Methods of firing ceramic-forming honeycomb bodies are disclosed that include heating the honeycomb bodies and blocking furnace gases from flowing through the honeycomb body by placing a layer selected from the group consisting of a graphite layer, a graphite-containing layer, an activated carbon layer, or an amorphous carbon layer adjacent an endface of the honeycomb body. Heating removes organic pore-forming material and graphite pore-forming material in the honeycomb body. The layer oxidizes to form a porous layer after firing to a first temperature, and furnace gases flow through the honeycomb body.

Abstract: Processing logic may obtain health data from each of a plurality of clients. The health data includes attributes of a respective one of the plurality of clients, a health status of the respective one of the plurality of clients, and a software version of the respective one of the plurality of clients. Processing logic may determine a conditional risk that is associated with at least one of the attributes and the software version, in view of the health data, and store the conditional risk in memory. Processing logic can make the conditional risk, which includes the attributes and the software version, available to a client.

Abstract: Processing logic may obtain a version of software that is running on a client. Processing logic may obtain a second version of the software which is an update to the version of software that is running on the client. Processing logic may send the second version to the client with one or more conditions that are associated with the second version, for the client to determine whether or not to update to the second version.

Abstract: A transcutaneous neurostimulation therapy system can include an electrostimulation electronics unit, including first and second neurostimulation output which can be respectively coupled to first and second neurostimulation skin electrodes, and the electrostimulation electronics unit can include or be coupled to a rechargeable battery. The transcutaneous neurostimulation therapy system can also include battery charging circuitry configured for being coupled via the first and second neurostimulation output terminals to the electrostimulation electronics unit for charging the battery of the electrostimulation electronics unit through the first and second neurostimulation skin electrodes.

Abstract: A cutting blade assembly including a cutting plate, a plurality of cutting slots formed in the cutting plate, and a cutting hub. The cutting plate includes an axial face and a central opening. The plurality of cutting slots are circumferentially spaced about the central opening. Each of the plurality of cutting slots intersects the axial face and defines a respective axial cutting edge at an intersection of each of plurality of cutting slots and the axial face. Each of the plurality of cutting slots defines a base surface that is nonparallel to the axial face. The cutting hub is positioned in the central opening and has a cutting arm adjacent to the axial face.

Abstract: Methods of producing a ceramic article include heating the ceramic green body containing a quantity of one or more organic materials to extract only a fraction of the organic materials from the ceramic green body by exposing the ceramic green body to a process atmosphere which is heated to a hold temperature of from 225° C. to about 400° C. and has from 2% to 7% O2 by volume of the process atmosphere. The method further includes cooling the ceramic green body to a temperature of below 200° C., exposing the ceramic green body to a higher concentration of O2 than in the process atmosphere of the heating step, and firing the ceramic green body to form the ceramic article. Volatile extraction units for implementing the methods are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to porous ceramic materials and porous ceramic articles, including honeycomb structure bodies and porous ceramic filters comprised of plugged honeycomb bodies. In various embodiments, a particulate filter is disclosed herein, such as suitable as a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) for use with a gasoline engine and treating its exhaust, and/or such as a diesel particulate filter (DPF) suitable for use with a diesel engine and treating its exhaust.

Abstract: In some examples, an apparatus can include a cartridge flange, and a grip structure including an inner surface to receive an expansion member included in an imaging device, where the expansion member is to expand from a first diameter to a second diameter to be received by the grip structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to porous ceramic compositions and porous ceramic articles, such as honeycomb structure bodies and porous ceramic filters. In various embodiments, a particulate filter is disclosed herein; in some of these embodiments, the particulate filter is a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) and is suitable for use with a gasoline engine and treating its exhaust, and in some of the embodiments, the particulate filter is a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and is suitable for use with a diesel engine and treating its exhaust.

Abstract: Methods of producing a ceramic article include heating the ceramic green body containing a quantity of one or more organic materials to extract only a fraction of the organic materials from the ceramic green body by exposing the ceramic green body to a process atmosphere which is heated to a hold temperature of from 225° C. to about 400° C. and has from 2% to 7% O2 by volume of the process atmosphere. The method further includes cooling the ceramic green body to a temperature of below 200° C., exposing the ceramic green body to a higher concentration of O2 than in the process atmosphere of the heating step, and firing the ceramic green body to form the ceramic article. Volatile extraction units for implementing the methods are also described.

Abstract: In some examples, an apparatus can include a drive shaft, a compression flange, an expansion member located proximate to the compression flange, and a compression mechanism, where the compression mechanism is to cause the expansion member to expand from a first diameter to a second diameter when the compression mechanism moves from a disengaged position to an engaged position.

Abstract: A cutting blade assembly establishes a bidirectional and/or multifaceted scissor-type cutting action to efficiently and effectively process various types of debris encountered by the cutting blade assembly. The assembly includes a cutting plate and a cutting hub configured for relative rotation. A cutting slot is formed in the cutting plate and intersects the axial face to define a cutting edge at the intersection of the cutting slot and the axial face. The cutting hub has a cutting arm positioned adjacent to the axial face. When the cutting plate and the cutting hub undergo relative rotation, the cutting arm passes adjacent to the cutting edge to perform a scissor-type cutting action.