Abstract: A system for dispensing toppings onto a topping vehicle may include a hopper platform, hoppers, a retaining plate, a blade, and a hopper-advancing pin. The hoppers each include a hopper bracket slidably engaging the hopper platform. The blade is mounted on the retaining plate and may reciprocate relative to the retaining plate. The hopper-advancing pin is movable relative to the hoppers between deployed and stowed positions. The hopper-advancing pin may engage one of the hopper brackets in the deployed position such that movement of the retaining plate between retracted and extended positions causes movement of the hopper bracket and a respective hopper along a length of the hopper platform. The hopper-advancing pin may be disengaged from the hopper brackets in the deployed stowed position to allow movement of the retaining plate between the retracted and extended positions without causing movement of the hopper brackets.

Abstract: A plurality of known compounds with known CCS values is analyzed using a DMS device. The DMS device determines how the intensities of their transmitted ions vary with different separation voltages (SVs) and compensation voltages (CVs). A machine learning algorithm builds a data model from the known m/z value, known CCS value, and measured pairs of CV and SV values that provide optimal transmission through the DMS device for each of the known compounds. An unknown compound with an unknown CCS value is then analyzed. The DMS device determines how the intensity of its ions varies with the same different SVs and CVs. Finally, the machine learning algorithm predicts the CCS value of the unknown compound from the data model, the known m/z of the unknown compound, and the measured pairs of CV and SV values that provide optimal transmission through the DMS device for the unknown compound.

Abstract: An expandable intervertebral implant having an upper body portion, a lower body portion opposite the upper body portion, a wedge member connecting the upper body portion to the lower body portion, a nose member having a tapered distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, and an actuator disposed between the nose member and the wedge member, for translation of the wedge member along a longitudinal axis of the implant. A pin connects to the actuator for positioning the nose member relative to the actuator. Translation of the wedge member along the longitudinal axis of the implant displaces the upper body portion and the lower body portion away from each other, thereby expanding the intervertebral implant.

Abstract: A surgical implant and a surgical kit. The surgical implant has a body portion comprising a first hole formed in an exterior surface of the body portion, a second hole adjacent the first hole, and at least one through-hole within the body portion and extending entirely thought a depth of the body portion extending entirely thought a depth of the body portion. The implant has a central opening abutting the body portion and extending through the body portion. The first hole has a first sidewall and a first cavity in the body portion, the second hole has a second sidewall and a second cavity in the body portion, and the first cavity and the second cavity have an interconnected opening there between. The surgical kit includes the surgical implant and an intervertebral insertion device.

Abstract: A method of fulfilling custom food orders includes obtaining feedback from a user through an ordering application. The feedback relates to a first food item of a first food order following fulfillment of the first food order. The first food item includes a first ingredient. The method includes determining a preferred variation associated with the first ingredient based on the feedback and a first recipe used to make the first food item. The method includes updating a taste profile associated with the user based on the preferred variation. The method includes receiving, from the user, a second food order including a second food item. The method includes retrieving a second recipe associated with the second food item. The method includes selectively modifying the second recipe based on the taste profile. The method includes controlling a food assembly apparatus to prepare the second food item according to the second recipe.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods to streamline the mechanism by which data users access differently regulated data through the use of one or more integrated identifiers. The integrated identifiers lessen or eliminate the need to separately maintain one set of identifiers for regulated data and another set for non-regulated data. The methods and systems may be applicable in various credit and healthcare contexts where regulations over data use are prevalent. In one or more embodiments, a data user receives a unique integrated identifier for each of the data user's current or prospective customers, and the integrated identifiers can be used to persistently identify and track the customers over time and across applications that access regulated and/or non-regulated data. In the healthcare context, a healthcare provider may utilize a patient ID as the integrated identifier. To protect privacy, the integrated identifier may not include social security numbers or birthdates.

Abstract: A razor blade including: a substrate having a tip portion including a tip region, a blade body including a base, and first and second outer sides disposed opposite a split line of the substrate that converge at a tip; and first and second coatings disposed substantially on the first and second outer sides, respectively. Also provided is a method of coating the razor blade, including: applying a first coating to at least a portion of the first outer side; and applying a second coating to at least a portion of the second outer side. The first and second coatings each extend from the tip region toward the base and are substantially different, as compared to each other. One or both of the first and second coatings comprise a plurality of layers of material.

Abstract: A razor blade including: a substrate having a tip portion including a tip region, a blade body including a base, and first and second outer sides disposed opposite a split line of the substrate, in which the first and second outer sides converge at a tip, the first outer side comprises a first coating disposed substantially thereon and extending from the tip region toward the base, and a first portion of the second outer side is substantially free of any coating, the first portion extending from the tip region toward the base or being spaced apart from the tip region and the base. Also provided is a method of coating the razor blade.

Abstract: A razor blade including: a substrate having a tip portion including a tip region, a blade body including a base, and first and second outer sides disposed opposite a split line of the substrate that converge at a tip; and first and second coatings disposed substantially on the first and second outer sides, respectively. Also provided is a method of coating the razor blade, including: applying a first coating to at least a portion of the first outer side; and applying a second coating to at least a portion of the second outer side. The first and second coatings each extend from the tip region toward the base and are substantially different, as compared to each other.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns process for making chewable product using, as the main ingredient, a substantially dehydrated and/or a supplemented complex carbohydrate. The present disclosure provides the chewable products obtained as well as their use in confectionary or as delivery system for active ingredients.

Abstract: An expandable intervertebral implant having an upper body portion, a lower body portion opposite the upper body portion, a wedge member connecting the upper body portion to the lower body portion, a nose member having a tapered distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, and an actuator disposed between the nose member and the wedge member, for translation of the wedge member along a longitudinal axis of the implant. A pin disposed in a center of the nose member connects to the actuator for centering the nose member with the actuator. Translation of the wedge member along the longitudinal axis of the implant displaces the upper body portion and the lower body portion away from each other, thereby expanding the intervertebral implant.

Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for latching a transceiver to a host printed circuit board (PCB) are described. The transceiver is secured to its electrical sockets by a latch that does not extend or only minimally extends beyond the transceiver footprint and height. In some embodiments the latch includes a thermal bridge that provides a heat transfer path between the transceiver and host substrate.

Abstract: A multiuser communication system comprises multiple transmitters and a multiuser receiver that detects multiple transmissions via iterative soft interference cancellation. An initial acquisition module and single user decoder module are also described. The multiuser receiver acquires and subtracts known users in the residual signal before acquiring new users in the residual signal, which is performed iteratively until no new users are detected or a stopping criterion is met. To aid receiver acquisition, the transmitters insert discrete tones into the transmitted signals. These allow the multiuser receiver to obtain initial estimates of the frequency, time, gain, and/or phase offset for each user. To improve the quality of cancellation the receiver refines estimates of gain, time, frequency and phase offsets for each user after each iteration, and calculates time varying SINR estimates for each user. The multiuser receiver may be satellite based, may be a distributed receiver, or process users in parallel.

Abstract: A method for dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles includes: indexing a first topping vehicle to a first position adjacent a first topping module, the first topping module including a first hopper containing a first topping of a first topping type; indexing a second topping vehicle to a second position adjacent a second topping module including a second hopper containing a second topping of a second topping type; retracting a first blade of the first topping module; advancing the first blade through the first topping; retracting a first retaining plate to dispense a topping slice from the first topping onto the first topping vehicle according to a first topping order for the first topping vehicle specifying the first topping type, the first retaining plate offset from the first blade opposite the first hopper; advancing the first retaining plate; and indexing the first topping vehicle to the second position.

Abstract: A distributed control system having at least a distributed control module is disclosed. The distributed control module may be configured to determine a fault state associated with a control loop using a built-in test module. The built-in test module may be incorporated into the distributed control module. The fault state may include no faults, a communication fault, a sensor operation fault, or a controllable component fault. The distributed control module may be configured to transmit a closed-loop control command from the distributed control module to a controllable component when the fault state comprises no faults, or transmit an augmented control command from the distributed control module to the controllable component when the fault state comprises a communication fault or a sensor operation fault, or transmit a disconnect control command from the distributed control module to a controllable component when the fault state comprises a controllable component fault.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a agave syrup product having a low water content. The agave syrup product retains the physical and palatable properties of untreated agave syrup while having a prolonged shelf-life. It can be advantageously used to sweeten beverages (such as hot beverages) and in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions (such as throat lozenges) and/or confectionary.

Abstract: An expandable intervertebral implant having an upper body portion, a lower body portion opposite the upper body portion, a wedge member connecting the upper body portion to the lower body portion, a nose member having a tapered distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, and an actuator disposed between the nose member and the wedge member, for translation of the wedge member along a longitudinal axis of the implant. A pin disposed in a center of the nose member connects to the actuator for centering the nose member with the actuator. Translation of the wedge member along the longitudinal axis of the implant displaces the upper body portion and the lower body portion away from each other, thereby expanding the intervertebral implant.

Abstract: A surgical implant and a surgical kit. The surgical implant has a body portion comprising a first hole formed in an exterior surface of the body portion, a second hole adjacent the first hole, and at least one through-hole within the body portion and extending entirely thought a depth of the body portion extending entirely thought a depth of the body portion. The implant has a central opening abutting the body portion and extending through the body portion. The first hole has a first sidewall and a first cavity in the body portion, the second hole has a second sidewall and a second cavity in the body portion, and the first cavity and the second cavity have an interconnected opening there between.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of performing mass spectrometry is disclosed, which comprises forming at least two adduct ions of a molecular species in a sample, wherein said adduct ions comprise at least two different isotopes (e.g., the naturally occurring isotopes) of any of sodium and potassium, subjecting the adduct ions to Electron Impact Excitation of Ions from Organics (EIEIO) fragmentation to generate a plurality of fragment product ions, and using a mass analyzer to generate a mass spectrum of said product ions. The mass spectrum of the product ions can be analyzed to identify the parent ion. By way of example, the analysis of the mass spectrum can involve utilizing a reference library that contains mass spectral information regarding electron induced ionization of a plurality of reference compounds.