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: The present invention relates to processes for producing fermentation products from starch-containing material, wherein a thermostable alpha-amylase and optionally a thermostable protease are present and/or added during liquefaction. The invention also relates to a composition suitable for use in a process of the invention.

Abstract: A device includes: a processor, and a memory storing executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor, alone or in combination with other processors, to provide the following: a user interface comprising administrator access to a collaboration system, the user interface comprising a control to invoke an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant function; and an Application Programming Interface (API) to, in response to activation of the control, download user activity data for the collaboration system, generate a prompt for a Large Language Model (LLM) comprising the user activity data and instructing the LLM to generate a report based on the user activity data, and submit the prompt to the LLM and receive the report generated by the LLM. The user interface provides the report and controls for administrative actions suggested by the report.

Abstract: An animal washing system includes an enclosure structure forming an interior volume. An animal is to be located at least partially in the interior volume. The animal washing system further includes spray devices and valves. The spray devices are configured to wash the animal. Each valve is configured to selectively provide fluid to a corresponding spray device to wash the animal. The animal washing system further includes a controller configured to selectively actuate each valve to wash the animal.

Abstract: An adjustable animal washing system includes an enclosure structure forming an interior volume. An animal is to be located at least partially in the interior volume. Spray devices are disposed in the interior volume. At least a portion of the enclosure structure is adjustable to change one or more dimensions of the interior volume based on size of the animal or one or more of the plurality of spray devices are adjustable to wash the animal based on the size of the animal.

Abstract: A waste collection system includes a base defining a plurality of bays. A pair of tine openings are defined in the base. A plurality of container bodies are each receivable in one of the plurality of bays, such that the plurality of container bodies would be emptied when the base is inverted.

Abstract: An autonomous or semi-autonomous cell for inspecting composite parts, verifying repairs made to such parts, and facilitating repairs to composite parts. The cell employs automated inspection, damage assessment, and repair systems. An industrial robot automatically attaches to a set of interchangeable inspection and repair end effectors to carry out the inspection, verification, and repair processes. The cell can be equipped with fixtures for supporting a rotorcraft blade and rotating the blade within the cell so that the robot can access the entire blade. Processes are provided for performing inspections, tracking the inspection data for parts in a database, and carrying out repairs. Over time, a software applicant can use the inspection data to train a machine learning model for recognizing damage to the composite part based on inspection images.

Abstract: Various embodiments describe communication systems for implementing high-speed transmission systems using waveguide-mode transmission over wires. In certain examples, a communication system uses wire pairs as “waveguides” that transmit data at high frequencies and speeds. The data is transmitted through wave propagation that takes various forms, such as surface waves and Total Internal Reflection (TIR) waves.

Abstract: A method including detecting, in a written electronic communication, an input sentence satisfying a readability metric threshold. The method also includes transforming, by a sentence transformer model, the input sentence to output suggested sentences. The method also includes evaluating the suggested sentences along a set of acceptability criteria. The method also includes determining, based on the evaluating, that the set of acceptability criteria is satisfied. The method also includes modifying, based on determining that the set of acceptability criteria is satisfied, the written electronic communication with the suggested sentences to obtain a modified written electronic communication. The method also includes returning the modified written electronic communication.

Abstract: Methods are provided in which a network device hosts distinct network access resources that are managed by different entities. The method includes obtaining a request for partitioning one or more network resources of an on-premise network device for connecting one or more endpoints to a first network managed by a first entity. The on-premise network device connects one or more endpoints to a second network managed by a different entity. The method further involves partitioning, based on the request, the one or more network resources and connecting the one or more endpoints to the first network using the one or more network resources. The one or more network resources are managed by the first entity while at least one other network resource of the on-premise network device is managed by the different entity and is associated with connecting the one or more endpoints to the second network.

Abstract: A technique may include receiving, by a management service a plurality of instance configurations from a client device. The technique may then include receiving, by the management service, information identifying a launch request for a compute instance. The technique may include determining, by the management service, one or more candidate shapes for the compute instance based at least in part on the plurality of instance configurations. The technique may include selecting, by the management service and from the one or more candidate shapes, a launch shape for the compute instance and launching the compute instance using the launch shape. The technique may then include providing, the client device access to the compute instance, launched based on the launch shape.

Abstract: Embodiments of secondary batteries having electrode assemblies are provided. A secondary battery can comprise an electrode assembly having a stacked series of layers, the stacked series of layers having an offset between electrode and counter-electrode layers in a unit cell member of the stacked series. A set of constraints can be provided with a primary constraint system with first and second primary growth constraints separated from each other in a longitudinal direction, and connected by at least one primary connecting member, and a secondary constraint system comprises first and second secondary growth constraints separated in a second direction and connected by members of the stacked series of layers. The primary constraint system may at least partially restrain growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction, and the secondary constraint system may at least partially restrain growth in the second direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A system and method for authorization policy validation. A validator takes as input an authorization policy to be analyzed and a schema that specifies entity types and their attributes, types of entity parents in an entity hierarchy, and which entity types can be used with which actions. The validator checks that the policy conforms to the schema. If the check passes, then the policy is guaranteed to be free of both type errors and attribute access errors for any input that conforms to the schema.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for genetically engineering T cells, such as CD4+ T cells, for use in cell therapy. In some aspects, the provided methods include one or more steps for incubating the cells under stimulating conditions, introducing a recombinant polypeptide to the cells through transduction or transfection, and cultivating the cells under conditions that promote proliferation and/or expansion. In some aspects, the incubation and/or the cultivation is performed in the presence of recombinant IL-2. In some aspects, the provided methods are an efficient, reliable means to produce genetically engineered T cells with a high degree of success.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for registering image data with robotic data for image-guided robotic catheters and other elongate bodies. Fluid drive systems can be used to provide robotically coordinated motion. Precise control over catheter-supported tools is enhanced by alignment of fluoroscopic and ultrasound image data, particularly for structural heart and other therapies in which the catheter will interact with soft tissues. A marker plate having a planar array of machine-readable 2D barcode markers may facilitate alignment of image and robotic data. Determining an ultrasound-based pose of a component in the ultrasound image field allows that component to effectively a fiducial for alignment.

Abstract: Simulation software and planning tools are provided that can simulate treatment, allowing a user to identify preferred poses or positions of a histotripsy therapy transducer array for a given treatment location. The planning tools can identify obstructed transducer elements for a given pose/position, and can provide pressure simulations to estimate driving voltages required to generate cavitation at the treatment location. A digital treatment plan made with the planning tool can transferred to a histotripsy system for use during the therapy procedure. A histotripsy therapy system configured for the treatment of tissue is provided, which may implement the digital treatment plan from the simulation software and planning tools.