Abstract: Apparatuses are provided for manufacturing a rod member for a cigarette filter element. Each rod member defines a longitudinal axis and includes a generally longitudinally-extending filter material and a plurality of objects disposed therein along the longitudinal axis. Such an apparatus comprises a rod-forming unit configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An object insertion unit is configured to introduce a plurality of objects into engagement with the rod member. A rod-dividing unit is configured to divide the rod member into a plurality of rod portions such that each rod portion includes a plurality of the objects. Associated methods are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cereal grain comprising an aleurone, an embryo, a starchy endosperm and a reduced level and/or activity of a mitochondrial single-stranded DNA binding (mtSSB) polypeptide, a RECA3 polypeptide or a TWINKLE polypeptide. Grain of the invention, or aleurone therefrom, has improved nutritional properties, and hence is particularly useful for human and animal feed products.

Abstract: A stable liquid formulation is provided. The liquid formulation includes a composition of active ingredients paeonol and apocynin. Methods of production of such a formation and treatment of diseases administering such a formulation are also provided.

Abstract: A stable liquid formulation is provided. The liquid formulation includes a composition of active ingredients paeonol and apocynin. Methods of production of such a formation and treatment of diseases administering such a formulation are also provided.

Abstract: A location system for locating workers including a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations and configured to detect light from one or more workers, and a processing system configured to determine locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors. There is also disclosed a wearable device for locating a worker including a wireless transceiver, and a wearable device light source and/or one or more reflective elements. There is also disclosed a method for locating workers including detecting light from one or more workers using a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations, and determining locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to rice grain with thickened aleurone. Also provided is a rice plant comprising at least one genetic variation which reduces the activity of at least one ROS1a gene in the plant. Grain of the invention, or aleurone there-from, has improved nutritional properties, and hence is particularly useful for human and animal feed products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to rice grain with thickened aleurone. Also provided is a rice plant comprising at least one genetic variation which reduces the activity of at least one ROS1a gene in the plant. Grain of the invention, or aleurone therefrom, has improved nutritional properties, and hence is particularly useful for human and animal feed products.

Abstract: A sensor unit mountable on a rotatable element on a platform that is itself movable, and includes an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, a processor arranged to derive a rotational position signal representing the orientation of the rotatable element from the measurements, and a buffer arranged to buffer a series of recent measurements taken by the orientation sensor over a predetermined period of time. The processor derives the rotational position signal making a correction to compensate for the effect of the motion of the platform on the measurements on the basis of the overall series of measurements buffered in the buffer.

Abstract: A helmet comprises a protective shell shaped to protect a head of a user. The protective shell has an exterior surface, an interior surface, and at least on one opening extending from the exterior surface to the interior surface. At least one detachable cap is sized and shaped to fit the at least one opening.

Abstract: A location system for locating workers including a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations and configured to detect light from one or more workers, and a processing system configured to determine locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors. There is also disclosed a wearable device for locating a worker including a wireless transceiver, and a wearable device light source and/or one or more reflective elements. There is also disclosed a method for locating workers including detecting light from one or more workers using a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations, and determining locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors.

Abstract: A method for mitigating the spread of infectious diseases among dialysis patients is provided. The method comprises: receiving, by a prediction system and from a medical facility, individual treatment data indicating dialysis treatment information associated with a patient undergoing dialysis treatment; receiving, by the prediction system and from a blood testing laboratory, individual lab data indicating blood analysis information associated with the patient; determining, by the prediction system, disease analysis results for the patient based on inputting the individual treatment data and the individual lab data into a disease prediction machine learning (ML) model, wherein the disease analysis results indicate a likelihood of the patient being infected with a contagious disease; and providing, by the prediction system and to the medical facility, instructions indicating one or more responsive actions based on the disease analysis results.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for an ultra-short throw projector. The projector may include an illuminator having an ellipsoidal reflector, a light emitting diode (LED) positioned inside of the ellipsoidal reflector, and a Fresnel lens positioned inside of the ellipsoidal reflector. The projector may include a circular transmissive liquid crystal display (LCD) and a three-element plastic projection lens positioned outside of the ellipsoidal reflector, wherein the circular transmissive LCD is positioned between the ellipsoidal reflector and the three-element plastic projection lens, wherein the ellipsoidal reflector reflects light emitted by the LED, wherein the Fresnel lens refracts light emitted by the LED, and wherein the three-element plastic projection lens projects the reflected light and the refracted light.

Abstract: A location system for locating workers in including a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations and configured to detect light from one or more workers, and a processing system configured to determine locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors. There is also disclosed a wearable device for locating a worker including a wireless transceiver, and a wearable device light source and/or one or more reflective elements. There is also disclosed a method for locating workers including detecting light from one or more workers using a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations, and determining locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors.

Abstract: A wireless network comprises nodes, including routers having a tree-shaped communication topology and end devices, communicate in accordance a network protocol, wherein the routers transmit beacons in respective timeslots within a periodic beaconing interval, passively scan for messages, and, in response to receiving a message, transmit an acknowledgement thereof the received message. An end device that has a message that is pending transmission, passively scans for beacons transmitted from any router; and in response thereto, transmits the message, and passively scans for an acknowledgement, repeating those steps if no acknowledgement is received. This provides responsivity in an environment having rapidly changing propagation paths. To reduce power consumption, the end devices do not passively scan for beacons except when they have a message that is pending transmission, and also at predetermined times for reception of a downstream message.

Abstract: A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly comprising a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket comprises a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch and a wireless, optical or other communication unit arranged to communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor. The sensor unit may be mountable on the latch and comprise an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements, the communication unit being arranged to communicate the orientation signal. A monitoring system receives the sensed orientations from plural sensor units.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method, system and apparatus for detecting when an animal is in heat. The invention further relates to a method of alerting a responsible individual that the animal is in heat. The method for detecting when an animal is in heat comprises the steps of, using a sensor mounted on a bull, monitoring the activity of the bull in the proximity of the animal. Thereafter, the activity of the bull is analysed before finally it is determined, based on the analysed activity of the bull, whether or not the animal is in heat. The invention shifts the focus from the animal, such as a cow, to the bull and leans on the natural instincts of the bull to determine when the cow is in heat. By implementing such a system, a more reliable and/or less expensive system than many of the existing offerings is provided.

Abstract: A stable liquid formulation is provided.

Abstract: An imaging system captures one or more images at a time when a subject is comfortably wearing a pair of glasses with dummy lenses. The subject's face is illuminated by energy sources (e.g. visible light sources), and specular reflections (“glints”) from the dummy lenses used to measure the locations the dummy lens(es). This provides information about how the comfortable positions for glasses on the subject's face, which can be used to design and fabricate personalized glasses.

Abstract: A wireless network comprises nodes, including routers having a tree-shaped communication topology and end devices, communicate in accordance a network protocol, wherein the routers transmit beacons in respective timeslots within a periodic beaconing interval, passively scan for messages, and, in response to receiving a message, transmit an acknowledgement thereof the received message. An end device that has a message that is pending transmission, passively scans for beacons transmitted from any router; and in response thereto, transmits the message, and passively scans for an acknowledgement, repeating those steps if no acknowledgement is received. This provides responsivity in an environment having rapidly changing propagation paths. To reduce power consumption, the end devices do not passively scan for beacons except when they have a message that is pending transmission, and also at predetermined times for reception of a downstream message.

Abstract: A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly comprising a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket comprises a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch and a wireless, optical or other communication unit arranged to communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor. The sensor unit may be mountable on the latch and comprise an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements, the communication unit being arranged to communicate the orientation signal. A monitoring system receives the sensed orientations from plural sensor units.