Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and correcting diverged maps for robotic devices include three scoring metrics that quantify map quality using different methods and properties of the map. The scoring metrics provide localized map quality measurements useful for determining diverged portions of the maps and provide metrics useful for correcting the maps.

Abstract: In an acid digestion reaction performed in a vessel, an elastic lid or septum can be mounted to the mouth of the vessel with a flanged band. In response to determining that a predetermined pressure has been reached in the vessel, a closing force being applied to the lid or septum can be reduced to initiate venting from the vessel. One or more parameters, including the closing force, can be monitored during the venting, and the closing force can be responsively adjusted to optimize the venting. The closing force can be provided by a clamping apparatus that may or may not include a hydraulic system. The clamping apparatus can be configured to increase the closing force in response to increased hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic system. The clamping apparatus can include an engager having an upwardly extending recess extending at least partially around a downwardly protruding portion of the engager.

Abstract: A refrigerator has an open front, an air curtain system having at least one upper air egress having an outer edge and at least one lower air-recovery ingress. The air curtain system is adapted to produce a substantially vertical air curtain over at least part of the open front of the refrigerator. The refrigerator has a plurality of shelves between the egress and the ingress a plurality of shelves between the egress and the ingress including a first shelf that has an aerofoil positioned in front of it, the first shelf being located in the upper half of the open front of refrigerator. The refrigerator also includes a second shelf that does not have an aerofoil positioned in front of it, the second shelf being located below the first shelf.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating a sequence of data elements that includes a respective data element at each position in a sequence of positions. In one aspect, a method includes: for each position after a first position in the sequence of positions: obtaining a current sequence of data element embeddings that includes a respective data element embedding of each data element at a position that precedes the current position, obtaining a sequence of latent embeddings, and processing: (i) the current sequence of data element embeddings, and (ii) the sequence of latent embeddings, using a neural network to generate the data element at the current position. The neural network includes a sequence of neural network blocks including: (i) a cross-attention block, (ii) one or more self-attention blocks, and (iii) an output block.

Abstract: A surgical tool has an elongate tool body that supports a retractable scalpel blade at a working end of the tool body. A bougie passage extends through the tool body to receive a bougie slidable longitudinally through the passage in the tool body. The tool body may be a single scalpel handle, or a pair of forceps. In either instance, the tool may be used to perform a cricothyrotomy procedure on patient or introduce a thoracostomy tube into a patient. In each instance, the scalpel blade forms an incision, followed by retraction of the blade and insertion of the bougie while the tool remains inserted into the patient. After removal of the tool, the bougie is used to guide subsequent insertion of a tube into the patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-aqueous lubricant composition comprising a base stock and 5 at least 0.02 wt % of a friction reducing additive which comprises a block co-polymer of at least one block A which is an oligo- or polyester residue of a hydroxycarboxylic acid and at least one block B which is a residue of a polyalkylene glycol. The invention also provides the use of a block co-polymer of at least one block A which is an oligo- or polyester residue of a hydroxycarboxylic acid and at least one block B which is a residue of a polyalkylene glycol to reduce the kinetic co-efficient 10 of friction in a non-aqueous lubricant composition when compared to an equivalent lubricant composition comprising no block co-polymer.

Abstract: Copolymers are formed of monomers of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and poly(alkylene oxide) of the following formula: Ax-XCH2CH2—[ByCz]n—X-Ax. In the formula, each X independently represents a —CH2— group or an oxygen atom, A represents a polydimethylsiloxane derivative, B represents a polyethylene glycol unit, C represents a polypropylene glycol unit, x and n independently represent an integer from 1 to 150, and y and z independently represent an integer from 0 to 150. The copolymers can be used as emulsifiers in personal care compositions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery component (e.g., a smoking substitute component) comprising: a first aerosolisation portion (which may be a passive aerosolisation portion) configured to generate a first aerosol from a first aerosol precursor; and a second aerosolisation portion (which may be an active aerosolisation portion) configured to generate a second aerosol from a second aerosol precursor. The component further comprises a mouthpiece nozzle rotatable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the component is configured to supply the first aerosol and the second aerosol through the mouthpiece nozzle, and in the second position the component is configured to supply only the second aerosol through the mouthpiece nozzle.

Abstract: A refrigerator has an open front, an air curtain system having at least one upper air egress having an outer edge and at least one lower air-recovery ingress. The air curtain system is adapted to produce a substantially vertical air curtain over at least part of the open front of the refrigerator. The refrigerator has a plurality of shelves between the egress and the ingress a plurality of shelves between the egress and the ingress including a first shelf that has an aerofoil positioned in front of it, the first shelf being located in the upper half of the open front of refrigerator. The refrigerator also includes a second shelf that does not have an aerofoil positioned in front of it, the second shelf being located below the first shelf.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery system comprising a first air passage having a first aerosol generator, and a second air passage separate from the first air passage having a second aerosol generator, wherein the first aerosol generator is operable to generate a first aerosol including an active ingredient, and the second aerosol generator is operable to generate a second aerosol including an active ingredient, the first aerosol being less visible than the second aerosol in use; and wherein the aerosol delivery system is configurable to selectively operate the first aerosol generator alone; the second aerosol generator alone; or the first and second aerosol generators together.

Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus comprising an air passage, a reservoir formed from an air-permeable substrate and arranged to allow air to be drawn through the reservoir, the reservoir being loaded with a source of nicotine, and one or more one-way valves arranged along the air passage and configured to allow air to flow along the air passage in an upstream to downstream direction.

Abstract: A distance detector comprising: a laser transmitter and receiver for generating a laser beam to irradiate an object and to receive return light reflected in response from the object, an image detection system for generating an image of a view, the image detection system including an objective lens for collecting light from the view, an image sensor for receiving light collected by the objective lens and for generating the image therefrom, and a digital display for displaying the image such that the digital display displays a real-time image of the view, a laser beam indicium on the digital display or a laser beam indicium generator configured to display laser beam indicium on the digital display, wherein the laser beam indicium indicates a direction of the laser beam, and a range-finding system for determining the distance to an object irradiated by the laser beam using return light and for displaying distance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a smoking substitute device comprising a body, a heating element projecting from an end of the body, a cap for engagement with the end of the body, the cap defining a cavity for receipt of the heating element when engaged with the body, and a lock configured to selectively prevent disengagement of the cap from the body based on a condition of the heating element.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heat not burn (HNB) consumable comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and a downstream filter having upper and lower surfaces spaced by opposing longitudinally-extending transverse surfaces wherein the filter has a greater width than depth. The filter may comprise at least one inwardly-extending air flow path extending from at least one of the upper, lower or transverse surfaces. At least one of the surfaces may be a curved or rounded surface or comprises a curved or rounded surface portion.

Abstract: A UAV capable of sampling a hazardous body of water and a method of using the same. An electronic controller of the attached apparatus receives a first instruction to lower a sampling device at a specified rate into the body of water. The sampling device is connected to the apparatus via a line, and the sampling device is lowered by unspooling the line from a reel. The sampling device is lowered at the specified rate into the body of water based on the instruction and is retrieved from the body of water. A line-cutting device can cut the line should the sampling device get caught up in an obstruction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an HNB consumable comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, the consumable having an axial length extending perpendicularly to a non-rectangular transverse end face. The axial length of the aerosol-forming substrate is greater than 45% of the axial length of the consumable and/or the volume of the aerosol-forming substrate is greater than 45% of the volume of the consumable.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed herein for detecting motion in video using motion vectors. In an implementation, a frame of video is divided into regions and a vector score is identified for each of the regions. A selection is then made of a subset of the regions based on the identified vector scores, i.e. at least some of the regions may be excluded from further analysis based on their score. The selected subset is divided into or grouped in clusters. Motion may then be identified in response to at least one of the clusters appearing in at least one other frame of the video.

Abstract: A substrate for a reservoir having an aerosol former stored therein, the substrate comprising: a property modifying agent disposed on the substrate, wherein the substrate is configured to be received in the reservoir to contact the aerosol former, so as to facilitate a release of the property modifying agent from the substrate to the aerosol former, and wherein the substrate is insoluble in the aerosol former.

Abstract: A refrigerator has an open front, an air curtain system having at least one upper air egress having an outer edge and at least one lower air-recovery ingress. The air curtain system is adapted to produce a substantially vertical air curtain over at least part of the open front of the refrigerator. The refrigerator has a plurality of shelves between the egress and the ingress a plurality of shelves between the egress and the ingress including a first shelf that has an aerofoil positioned in front of it, the first shelf being located in the upper half of the open front of refrigerator. The refrigerator also includes a second shelf that does not have an aerofoil positioned in front of it, the second shelf being located below the first shelf.