Abstract: A refining member comprising a refining body with a refining surface comprising first and second refiner bars separated by first and second refiner grooves, respectively. The first refiner bars extend from a radially inward position to a first radially outward position. The second refiner bars extend to a second radially outward position that is nearer to an outermost part of the refining body than the first radially outward position. The second refiner bars have a longitudinal length from about 0.6 cm to about 10 cm. The first and second refiner bars have a respective first and second maximum height extending upward from a floor of a respective, adjacent first or second refiner groove. The second maximum height is at least 0.35 mm less than the first maximum height. The first refiner bars are adapted to refine wood fibers and the second refiner bars are adapted to break up fiber bundles.

Abstract: A panel system includes a chassis holding one or more tray arrangements, which are each configured to receive one or more cassettes at two or more bays. The tray arrangements and cassettes cooperate to define a cassette sensor arrangement and a port occupancy sensor arrangement having separate interface points. The cassette sensor arrangement may include electronic memory storing physical layer information about the cassette. All active components of the port occupancy sensor arrangement are disposed on the tray while the electronic memories of the cassette sensor arrangement are stored on the cassettes.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic composition that includes a mutant Clostridium difficile toxin A and/or a mutant Clostridium difficile toxin B. The mutant toxin may include a glucosyltransferase domain having at least one mutation and a cysteine protease domain having at least one mutation, relative to the corresponding wild-type C. difficile toxin. The mutant toxins may include at least one amino acid that is chemically crosslinked. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods and compositions for use in culturing Clostridium difficile and in producing C. difficile toxins.

Abstract: A medical device may include an elongated body, a balloon positioned at a distal portion of the elongated body, and one or more pressure-wave emitters positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the elongated body within the balloon. The one or more pressure-wave emitters may be configured to propagate pressure waves radially outward through the fluid to fragment a calcified lesion at the target treatment site. The at least one of the one or more pressure-wave emitters may comprise an electronic emitter including a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode may be arranged to define a spark gap between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the second electrode may comprise a portion of a hypotube.

Abstract: A drawer glide mechanism can include a first elongate guide member, a second elongate glide member, a ball bearing component, and a v-notch socket. The first elongate guide member includes a distal end that is configured to fit within an opening in the v-notch socket. The drawer glide mechanism can further include one or more floating members and fixed members.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a telecommunications distribution hub having a cabinet that defines a primary compartment. The cabinet also includes one or more main doors for accessing the primary compartment. Telecommunications equipment is mounted within the primary compartment. The distribution hub further includes a secondary compartment that can be accessed from an exterior of the cabinet without accessing the primary compartment. A grounding interface is accessible from within the secondary compartment.

Abstract: A medical device may include an elongated body having a distal elongated body portion and a central longitudinal axis. The medical device may include a balloon positioned along the distal elongated body portion. The balloon may be configured to receive a fluid to inflate the balloon such that an exterior balloon surface contacts a calcified lesion within a patient's vasculature. The medical device may include one or more pressure wave emitters positioned along the central longitudinal axis of the elongated body. The one or more pressure wave emitters may be configured to propagate at least one pressure wave through the fluid to fragment the calcified lesion. At least one pressure wave emitter may include an optical fiber configured to transmit laser energy into the balloon. The laser energy may be configured to create a cavitation bubble in the fluid.

Abstract: Method and system are provided for efficiently populating a phase diagram for modeling of multiple substances. The method may include defining an n-way phase diagram with data points each being an n-tuple describing the n substance inputs, wherein the n-way phase diagram is defined at a user-configured resolution. The method may select an initial subset of data points and calculate their contribution to the phase diagram. The method may then generate a Bayesian model based on the initial subset of calculated data points and predicting the resultant phase and an associated uncertainty of all the uncalculated data points in the defined phase diagram. The method may select a sample subset of the data points using maximum entropy sampling and calculating a resultant phase for each of the selected data points, and incorporate the calculated phases into the Bayesian model.

Abstract: A printed circuit board having an electrically insulative layer and a conductive solder pad. The conductive solder pad is disposed at least partially over the electrically insulative layer, and defines a solder contact area. The solder contact area is configured for making an electrical connection to an electrical component via laser soldering. The printed circuit board further includes a solder mask coating the conductive solder pad and defining an exposed area of the conductive solder pad. The conductive solder pad protects the electrically insulative layer from incident heat during the laser soldering by extending a length underneath the solder mask along a periphery of the exposed area.

Abstract: A medical device may include an elongated body, a balloon positioned at a distal portion of the elongated body, and one or more pressure-wave emitters positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the elongated body within the balloon. The one or more pressure-wave emitters may be configured to propagate pressure waves radially outward through the fluid to fragment a calcified lesion at the target treatment site. The at least one of the one or more pressure-wave emitters may comprise an electronic emitter including a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode may be arranged to define a spark gap between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the second electrode may comprise a portion of a hypotube.

Abstract: A refining member for a pulp refiner comprising a refining body with a refining surface comprising refiner bars separated by refiner grooves and teeth. Each of the refiner bars extend from a radially inward position on the refining surface to a first radially outward position on the refining surface, and the teeth extend to a second radially outward position on the refining surface. The second radially outward position is nearer to an outermost part of the refining body than the first radially outward position. The refiner bars are adapted to refine wood fibers, and the teeth are adapted to break up fiber bundles.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of welding filler metals, and more particularly to compositions suitable for welding or brazing aluminum alloys. In an embodiment, an aluminum-silicon-magnesium alloy, includes a magnesium content between approximately 0.1 wt % and approximately 0.5 wt %, wherein substantially all of the magnesium content is present as magnesium silicide. The alloy includes a silicon content between approximately 5.0 wt % and approximately 6.0 wt %, wherein at least 4.75 wt % of the silicon content is present as free silicon. The alloy includes one or more of iron, copper, manganese, zinc, and titanium. The alloy further includes a remainder of aluminum and trace components.

Abstract: A medical device may include an elongated body, a balloon positioned at a distal portion of the elongated body, and one or more pressure-wave emitters positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the elongated body within the balloon. The one or more pressure-wave emitters may be configured to propagate pressure waves radially outward through the fluid to fragment a calcified lesion at the target treatment site. The at least one of the one or more pressure-wave emitters may comprise an electronic emitter including a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode may be arranged to define a spark gap between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the second electrode may comprise a portion of a hypotube.

Abstract: A medical device may include an elongated body having a distal elongated body portion and a central longitudinal axis. The medical device may include a balloon positioned along the distal elongated body portion. The balloon may be configured to receive a fluid to inflate the balloon such that an exterior balloon surface contacts a calcified lesion within a patient's vasculature. The medical device may include one or more pressure wave emitters positioned along the central longitudinal axis of the elongated body. The one or more pressure wave emitters may be configured to propagate at least one pressure wave through the fluid to fragment the calcified lesion. At least one pressure wave emitter may include an optical fiber configured to transmit laser energy into the balloon. The laser energy may be configured to create a cavitation bubble in the fluid.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a vein ablation system, comprising a catheter having an elongated body. In some embodiments, the vein ablation system comprises an ablation device at a distal portion of the elongated body. According to some embodiments, the vein ablation system comprises a control device at a proximal portion of the elongated body. The control device may comprise an input mechanism configured to simultaneously control at least two of a longitudinal translation of the ablation device through a target vessel, a rotation of the ablation device about a central longitudinal axis, and an infusion of a chemical agent into the target vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for underwater dredging includes a pipe (10) and a dredging head (2). The pipe (10) has a first aperture (11) and a second aperture (12) each disposed at opposing ends of the pipe (10). The pipe (10) also has at least one first sidewall aperture (13). The dredging head (2) is circumferentially arranged on a sidewall of the pipe (10) and has at least one input (20), at least one output (21) and a plenum chamber (22). The at least one output (21) is in fluid communication with the at least one first sidewall aperture (13). A first obstruction mechanism (23) is configured to selectively deter reverse fluid flow into the dredging head (2). The first obstruction mechanism (23) is configured to be selectively transformable between: a first, obstructing, configuration in which at least reverse fluid flow through the dredging head (2) is deterred; and a second, open, configuration in which fluid flow through the dredging head (2) is permitted. A method of underwater dredging is also described.

Abstract: A medical device may include an elongated body, a balloon positioned at a distal portion of the elongated body, and one or more pressure-wave emitters positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the elongated body within the balloon. The one or more pressure-wave emitters may be configured to propagate pressure waves radially outward through the fluid to fragment a calcified lesion at the target treatment site. The at least one of the one or more pressure-wave emitters may comprise an electronic emitter including a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode may be arranged to define a spark gap between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the second electrode may comprise a portion of a hypotube.

Abstract: A refining member including a refining body with a refining surface including first and second refiner bars separated by first and second refiner grooves. The first and second refiner bars extend from respective first and second radially inward positions to respective first and second radially outward positions. The first and second refiner bars have a respective first and second height extending upward from a floor of a respective, adjacent first or second refiner groove. The second height is a minimum height of the second refiner bars and is spaced apart from the second radially inward position, with the second height being at least about 0.35 mm less than the first height. The first refiner bars are adapted to refine wood fibers and the second refiner bars are adapted to break up fiber bundles.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system comprising a plurality of multisensory wearable personal safety and tracking “assisted response” devices that are capable of local and remote communications over a network and with a number of tracking tags affixed to or integrated with objects of value. Each assisted response device is in constant communication with the network and configured to broadcast alarms and/or distress signals in response to various triggers that indicate a user's safety or the safety of their possessions has been compromised. The system can also be used in larger emergencies to co-ordinate response efforts.