Abstract: A highway work basket apparatus includes a vertically movable lift platform that can be selectively mounted on either side of the work basket. The frame of the work basket supports a pair of lift mechanisms mounted on opposing sides at the forward end of the work basket. A detachable lift platform is provided for selective attachment to one of the opposing lift mechanism to enable movement of highway markers between the levels of the truck bed and the surface of the highway. The floor of the lift platform has conveyors embedded therein and powered by the hydraulics of the highway truck on which the work basket is mounted to facilitate the movement of the highway markers onto or off of the surface of the highway. The frame of the work basket also supports a hitch receiver to permit a trailing attachment of a directional sign.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a dual-blade agricultural grinder are disclosed. A dual blade grinder comprises a casing, a hopper, a cutting mechanism, a chute, and a display. The grinder is configured to cut a plant to a desired particle size. The casing is configured to provide rigid structural support for components of the grinder and provide a safety barrier between the user and the cutting mechanism. The hopper is configured to store and distribute a plant to the cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism comprises a static blade with one or more serrated edges and one or more plain edges, a floating curved blade, and a particle screen. The display is configured to accept input from a user operating the grinder, and to control operational settings of the grinder. The grinder and its components may be comprised of a food-grade quality steel configured to resist bacterial growth.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery pack for a hybrid vehicle. The battery pack includes: multiple battery cells, a housing, a first end plate, a second end plate, a bearing plate and an upper cover, wherein the housing is provided with a bottom portion and side walls extending from the periphery of the bottom portion and forming an upper portion opening; the housing is configured for accommodating the multiple battery cells and the two end plates, when the multiple battery cells are sequentially arranged and mounted into the housing, the first end plate and the second end plate are located at two end sides of the sequentially arranged multiple battery cells to laterally fix the multiple battery cells; the bearing plate is mounted above the top portions of the multiple battery cells; and the upper cover is mounted above the housing to cover the upper portion opening of the housing.

Abstract: A self-checkout system including a cabinet supported by a floor, a tilt body coupled to a hinge and located inside the cabinet and a support body being slidably coupled to the tilt body. When the support body is located inside the cabinet, the tilt body is balanced about the hinge and the support body is spaced apart from the floor. When the support body is pulled outside the cabinet, a front of the tilt body is rotated about the hinge and the support body engages with the floor.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module of a storage unit of a storage network identifying a first storage format used to store a plurality of encoded data slices in a first memory of the storage unit and continues with the processing module determining to utilize another storage format for storage of the plurality of encoded data slices. The method then continues, with the storage unit selecting a second storage format for storage of the plurality of encoded data slices and initiating migration of the plurality of encoded data slices from the first storage format to storage using the second storage format. Finally, the method continues with updating a performance metric for at least a portion of the storage network while initiating migrating the plurality of encoded data slices.

Abstract: A staple cartridge configured to defeat a staple firing lockout is disclosed. Also disclosed is a staple cartridge configured to defeat a jaw closure lockout.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus comprises a base and a support frame. The patient support apparatus also comprises a lift assembly that operates to lift and lower the support frame relative to the base. The lift assembly comprises lift members that extend and collapse to lift and lower the support frame. A timing link is pivotally connected to one of the lift members and pivotally connected to the base. Guides operate to guide movement of the lift members during operation. In some cases guided bodies coupled to the lift members move passively in the guides. In other embodiments, driven members coupled to the lift members move actively in the guides to cause lifting and lowering of the support frame.

Abstract: A system and method for non-invasively estimating an absolute blood flow of a vascular region in a subject using optical data are provided. In some aspects, the method includes acquiring optical data from the vascular region using one or more optical sensors placed about the subject, and determining, using the optical data, an index of blood flow and a blood volume associated with the vascular region. The method also includes computing a blood inflow and a blood outflow using the index of blood flow and the blood volume, and estimating an absolute blood flow using the blood inflow and blood outflow. The method further includes generating a report indicative of the absolute blood flow of the vascular region.

Abstract: Method and system for verifying a reliability of sensor data received from a mobile device of a user are disclosed. For example, the method includes receiving first sensor data collected and/or generated by one or more sensors of the mobile device from an application installed on a mobile device of a user at a first time, receiving second sensor data collected and/or generated by the one or more sensors of the mobile device from the application at a second time, determining whether the mobile device is in a vehicle that the user is driving during a time interval based at least upon the first sensor data and the second sensor data, and in response to the mobile device not being in the vehicle that the user is driving during the time interval, transmitting a notification to the mobile device indicating that the application does not work properly.

Abstract: Dialysis systems comprising actuators that cooperate to perform dialysis functions and sensors that cooperate to monitor dialysis functions are disclosed. According to one aspect, such a hemodialysis system comprises a user interface model layer, a therapy layer, below the user interface model layer, and a machine layer below the therapy layer. The user interface model layer is configured to manage the state of a graphical user interface and receive inputs from a graphical user interface. The therapy layer is configured to run state machines that generate therapy commands based at least in part on the inputs from the graphical user interface. The machine layer is configured to provide commands for the actuators based on the therapy commands.

Abstract: A platform and method for testing antibiotic sensitivity of a polymicrobial infection is provided. The platform includes a body defining a plurality of sets of chambers and a plurality of wells. Each set of chambers has a plurality of chambers adapted for culturing microbes of the polymicrobial infection therein. Each well is associated with a corresponding set of chambers and has an input in fluidic communication with the outlets of the plurality of chambers in the corresponding set of chambers. Selected antibiotic therapies may be received in the wells which fluidically connect the plurality of chambers in a corresponding set of chambers such that microbes cultured in the plurality of chambers in the corresponding set of chambers are in soluble factor contact.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a robotic device, an end effector mounted on the robotic device, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to generate a plurality of virtual geometries, each virtual geometry associated with a surgical task, track a position of the end effector, and determine whether the position of the end effector is at a location corresponding to a first virtual geometry of the plurality of virtual geometries. In response to a determination that the position of the end effector is at the location corresponding to the first virtual geometry, the processing circuit is configured to control the robotic device to facilitate completion of a first surgical task associated with the first virtual geometry.

Abstract: A system for noise and vibration management of a smoke evacuation system includes a pump that compresses air and produces a pressure differential within an airflow path. The pump may be a sealed, positive displacement pump. The system includes vibration absorption mechanisms disposed between inner and outer housings, as well as on the outside surface of the outer housing. Methods of controlling and regulating a motor of the system to preserve the lifespan of the motor and maintain consistent airflow rates throughout the smoke evacuation system include varying a supply of electrical current to the motor so that it can operate at variable performance levels. Orifices are opened and closed in order to relieve resistance pressures within the airflow path due to clogging and blockages.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for authenticating image files when network connections should not or cannot be used to transfer image files. A user device application may capture an image at a user device, generate an image file, and generate a hash file based on the image file. Instead of sending the image file to an authentication server for authentication, the application may send the hash file. If desired, the application may transfer the image file when a desirable network connection is available. Any alteration to the image file in the meantime will result in a different hash file for the altered image file, thus allowing detection of altered image files. This approach offers decreases the amount of data that is required to be transmitted in low or undesirable signal conditions, while maintaining an ability to detect alterations to image files that may have been made in the meantime.

Abstract: An implant for therapeutically separating bones of a joint has two endplates each having an opening through the endplate, and at least one ramped surface on a side opposite a bone engaging side. A frame is slideably connected to the endplates to enable the endplates to move relative to each other at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the implant, in sliding connection with the frame. An actuator screw is rotatably connected to the frame. A carriage forms an open area aligned with the openings in the endplates. The openings in the endplates pass through the carriage to form an unimpeded passage from bone to bone of the joint. The carriage has ramps which mate with the ramped surfaces of the endplates, wherein when the carriage is moved by rotation of the actuator screw, the endplates move closer or farther apart.

Abstract: An implantable device may include a barrel, the barrel having an upper portion and a lower portion. The implantable device may further include an actuator assembly disposed in the barrel, and a central screw that extends from a rear ramped actuator through a front ramped actuator. The implantable device may further include a first plate having multiple projections extending from one side of the first plate. The implantable device may further include a second plate having multiple projections extending from one side of the second plate, the second plate configured to be received on the central screw. The barrel may be configured to transition from a collapsed form having a first height to an expanded form having a second height and wherein the second height is greater than the first height.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving information about an augmented reality (AR) environment which includes a plurality of objects and a user participating in the AR environment, the user viewing the AR environment through a user equipment, receiving context information for the AR environment, identifying a diminished reality (DR) object of the plurality of objects, wherein the identifying is responsive to the context information, modifying the AR environment to render the DR object invisible to the user viewing the AR environment through user equipment, monitoring movement of one or more objects of the AR environment including the DR object, and modifying visibility of the DR object to the user viewing the AR environment through user equipment as a notification of a possible collision between the user and the DR object, wherein the modifying is responsive to detecting a risk of collision. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In an example, a cryotherapy system includes a base station, a cryotherapy applicator, and a cryogen conduit configured to couple the cryotherapy applicator to the base station and supply a cryogen from the base station to the cryotherapy applicator. The base station includes a housing including a canister receptacle that is configured to receive a canister containing the cryogen. The cryotherapy applicator includes a handle, a shaft extending from the distal end of the handle, and an end-effector coupled to the shaft. The end-effector is configured to use the cryogen to ablate a target tissue. An entirety of the cryotherapy applicator is movable relative to an entirety of the base station while the cryogen conduit couples the cryotherapy applicator to the base station.

Abstract: Systems and methods for attaching a reference marker to a patient in a computer-assisted image-guided surgery system. An apparatus for attaching a reference marker to a patient includes an elongated member extending between a first end and a second end, a sharp tip located proximate to the first end of the elongated member that is configured to break through a cortical surface of a bone of the patient to enable the elongated member to be advanced into the bone, an anchoring device that is extendable from the elongated member in order to anchor the apparatus within the bone and inhibit relative movement of the apparatus and the bone, and a reference marker device comprising at least one optical marker configured to enable the apparatus to be tracked using a motion tracking system.