Abstract: A process and apparatus for applying a needle lubricant to a syringe. The interface forces between the needle lubricant and the syringe at the tip of the needle are balanced by optimizing the flow rate of a positively pressurized gas that is delivered to the syringe. Such optimization prevents the formation of bubbles in the needle lubricant that is applied to the syringe, thereby providing a confluent, uniform and smooth lubricant coating on the exterior wall of the needle and prevents lubricant from contaminating inner portions of the syringe. The smooth and uniform lubricant coating may minimize dilation and glide forces and pain associated with the insertion of the needle into a patient's tissue. Additionally, a gas pulse may blow off the droplet of needle lubricant from the tip of the needle to further minimize dilation forces and associated patient pain.

Abstract: A display control system for a multi-layer display system including at least one multi-layer display unit. A multi-layer display unit includes multiple stacked or overlapped display layers each adapted to render display elements thereon for viewing through the uppermost display layer. The level of difficulty for a user to view an overlapped image differs depending on the colour, brightness or type of images (for example text-on-text) being displayed and also the layer in which the image is being displayed and whether the image is currently active. At least any overlapping portion of display elements from different display layers are adjusted (automatically or by a user) in order to improve the viewing experience for a viewer. Types of adjustment possible include moving the images within their display layer or to an alternative display layer or altering their visual properties (such as colour, brightness, contrast, etc.).

Abstract: A platform for storing and reporting of data records associated with management of a population of managed devices is disclosed. Data records are injected into a hosted computing environment in which data processing services are arranged to store and generate analytics associated with a mobile device management (MDM) platform.

Abstract: A method for providing a passivation layer or pH protective coating on a substrate surface by PECVD is provided, the method comprising generating a plasma from a gaseous reactant comprising polymerizing gases. The lubricity, passivation, pH protective, hydrophobicity, and/or barrier properties of the passivation layer or pH protective coating are set by setting the ratio of the O2 to the organosilicon precursor in the precursor feed, and/or by setting the electric power used for generating the plasma. In particular, a passivation layer or pH protective coating made by the method is provided. Pharmaceutical packages coated by the method and the use of such packages protecting a composition contained in the vessel against mechanical and/or chemical effects of the surface of the package without a passivation layer or pH protective coating material are also provided.

Abstract: A spinal fixation construct for aligning vertebral bodies includes a bone screw, a spinal rod, a flexible member, and a fixation member. The spinal rod is disposed within a saddle portion of a housing of the bone screw, and includes an elongated body having a first end and a second end. The spinal rod is formed from a first material having a first modulus of elasticity. The flexible member is coupled to the spinal rod, and includes an elongated body having a first end portion and a second end portion. The flexible member is formed from a second material having a second modulus of elasticity that is different from the first modulus of elasticity. The fixation member includes a threaded body portion and a head portion defining a hole therethrough. A portion of the flexible member extends through the hole of the head portion.

Abstract: A display control system for a multi-layer display system including at least one multi-layer display unit. A multi-layer display unit includes multiple stacked or overlapped display layers each adapted to render display elements thereon for viewing through the uppermost display layer. The level of difficulty for a user to view an overlapped image differs depending on the color, brightness or type of images (for example text-on-text) being displayed and also the layer in which the image is being displayed and whether the image is currently active. At least any overlapping portion of display elements from different display layers are adjusted (automatically or by a user) in order to improve the viewing experience for a viewer. Types of adjustment possible include moving the images within their display layer or to an alternative display layer or altering their visual properties (such as color, brightness, contrast, etc.).

Abstract: A package including a vessel wherein at least a portion of the vessel wall is made of a double wall material is disclosed. The double wall material comprises an interior polymer layer enclosed by an exterior polymer layer and one of the polymer layers is a layer made of cyclic olefin polymer (COP) resin. The package comprising the double wall, a CVD coating set on the wall, and a medicament comprising at least one protein, peptide, and/or DNA sequence is disclosed. Methods for processing a vessel, for example to provide lubricity or hydrophobicity, are also disclosed. The interior surface of the seated vessel can be processed via the vessel port by PECVD. Vessel barrier, lubricity and hydrophobic coatings and coated vessels, for example syringes and medical sample collection tubes are disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided which automatically adjusts settings based on the environment of the electronic device. The settings of the electronic device which are adjusted may be security settings, filter settings, or status for instant messaging in dependence on the determined location of the electronic device.

Abstract: An exercise machine has a mobile base and an upright support extending upwards from the mobile base. An upper support assembly extends forward from an upper portion of the upright support and an exercise device is suspended from the upper support assembly at a location spaced forward from the upright support. The exercise machine may include a compact and safe counterbalancing gas spring mechanism that tends to move the exercise device away from the exerciser, and that requires a force to be applied to move an exercise device down towards the exerciser. The exercise machine may include an exercise device that is rotatable along a vertical axis, and may be coupled to an adjustable monitor for a wide range of uses. The exercise machine may be used by a exerciser lying supine, sitting in a chair or wheelchair, or standing in front of or adjacent the exercise machine.

Abstract: A spinal fixation construct for aligning vertebral bodies includes a bone screw, a spinal rod, a flexible member, and a fixation member. The spinal rod is disposed within a saddle portion of a housing of the bone screw, and includes an elongated body having a first end and a second end. The spinal rod is formed from a first material having a first modulus of elasticity. The flexible member is coupled to the spinal rod, and includes an elongated body having a first end portion and a second end portion. The flexible member is formed from a second material having a second modulus of elasticity that is different from the first modulus of elasticity. The fixation member includes a threaded body portion and a head portion defining a hole therethrough. A portion of the flexible member extends through the hole of the head portion.

Abstract: A crystal puller for growing a crystal ingot includes a housing, insulation, a crucible assembly, a heat shield, and a dust barrier. The housing encloses a growth chamber, and has an upper wall with an inner surface and an aperture. The insulation separates an inside of the housing into an upper area and a lower area, and has a central opening. The crucible assembly is within the lower area to contain the melt. The heat shield is adjacent the central opening of the insulation, and forms a labyrinth gas path with the crucible assembly. The dust barrier extends from the inner surface of the upper wall to one of the insulation and the heat shield, and forms a seal with the upper wall around the aperture to inhibit particles from entering the growth chamber through the upper area of the housing.

Abstract: Methods for determining desired doping conditions for a semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube (s-SWCNT) are provided. One exemplary method includes doping each of a plurality of s-SWCNT networks under a respective set of doping conditions; determining a thermoelectric (TE) power factor as a function of a fractional bleach of an absorption spectrum for the plurality of s-SWCNT networks doped under the respective sets of doping conditions; and using the function to identify one of the TE power factors within a range of the fractional bleach of the absorption spectrum. The identified TE power factor corresponds to the desired doping conditions.

Abstract: An exercise machine has a mobile base and an upright support extending upwards from the mobile base. An upper support assembly extends forward from an upper portion of the upright support and an exercise device is suspended from the upper support assembly at a location spaced forward from the upright support. The mobile base has caster wheels and can be positioned from either side of a bed so as to extend partially under a bed with the upright support located on one side of the bed and the exercise device suspended over the bed in a position accessible by a patient lying supine in the bed for performing exercise. An anchoring system resists movement of the base for stability when exercise is performed.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided which automatically adjusts settings based on the environment of the electronic device. The settings of the electronic device which are adjusted may be security settings, filter settings, or status for instant messaging in dependence on the determined location of the electronic device.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for applying a needle lubricant to a syringe. The interface forces between the needle lubricant and the syringe at the tip of the needle are balanced by optimizing the flow rate of a positively pressurized gas that is delivered to the syringe. Such optimization prevents the formation of bubbles in the needle lubricant that is applied to the syringe, thereby providing a confluent, uniform and smooth lubricant coating on the exterior wall of the needle and prevents lubricant from contaminating inner portions of the syringe. The smooth and uniform lubricant coating may minimize dilation and glide forces and pain associated with the insertion of the needle into a patient's tissue. Additionally, a gas pulse may blow off the droplet of needle lubricant from the tip of the needle to further minimize dilation forces and associated patient pain.

Abstract: A system for securing a flexible member to a vertebra includes a flexible member, a fixation member, and an inserter. The flexible member includes two ends. The fixation member includes a head and a shank that defines a longitudinal axis of the fixation member. The head defines a slot that passes through the head orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The slot receives a portion of the flexible member. The inserter includes a handle and a tubular member that has proximal and distal end portion. The proximal end portion is attached to the handle and the distal end portion extends from the handle. The tubular member defines a passage between the proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion includes a couple for receiving the head of the fixation member with the portion of the flexible member received in the slot of the flexible member.

Abstract: A package including a vessel made of cyclic olefin polymer (COP) resin, a CVD coating on a vessel, and a medicament comprising at least one protein, peptide, and/or DNA sequence is disclosed. Methods for processing a vessel, for example to provide lubricity or hydrophobicity, are also disclosed. The interior surface of the seated vessel can be processed via the vessel port by PECVD. Vessel barrier, lubricity and hydrophobic coatings and coated vessels, for example syringes and medical sample collection tubes are disclosed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for applying a needle lubricant to a syringe. The interface forces between the needle lubricant and the syringe at the tip of the needle are balanced by optimizing the flow rate of a positively pressurized gas that is delivered to the syringe. Such optimization prevents the formation of bubbles in the needle lubricant that is applied to the syringe, thereby providing a confluent, uniform and smooth lubricant coating on the exterior wall of the needle and prevents lubricant from contaminating inner portions of the syringe. The smooth and uniform lubricant coating may minimize dilation and glide forces and pain associated with the insertion of the needle into a patient's tissue. Additionally, a gas pulse may blows off the droplet of needle lubricant from the tip of the needle to further minimize dilation forces and associated patient pain.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a method and method for recovery of solution mined minerals. The method may include creating superheated steam using a steam boiler; passing the superheated steam through a turbine/generator to generate electricity; reheating the steam exiting the turbine/generator to saturation with a steam reheater; using the saturated steam with an absorption chiller to create chilled water; and recovering minerals using the chilled water in a cooling crystallizer system. In embodiments, the method and system may be used to recover minerals, such as potash (KCl), washing soda (Na2CO3.10H2O); nahcolite (NaHCO3); and glauber salt (NaSO4.10H2O). The method may utilize the trigeneration of steam, electrical, and chilled water utilities, which may be used for a recovery process.

Abstract: A system for securing a flexible member to a vertebra includes a flexible member, a fixation member, and an inserter. The flexible member includes two ends. The fixation member includes a head and a shank that defines a longitudinal axis of the fixation member. The head defines a slot that passes through the head orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The slot receives a portion of the flexible member. The inserter includes a handle and a tubular member that has proximal and distal end portion. The proximal end portion is attached to the handle and the distal end portion extends from the handle. The tubular member defines a passage between the proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion includes a couple for receiving the head of the fixation member with the portion of the flexible member received in the slot of the flexible member.