Abstract: Cosmetic compositions for alleviating the signs of photoaged skin containing a substituted azole. Methods for alleviating the signs of photoaged skin that include applying a cosmetic composition comprising substituted azole to a target UV-exposed skin surface. The substituted azole compound present in the cosmetic composition may be 1-phenylimidazole, 4-phenylimidazole or a combination thereof. An effective amount of the cosmetic composition is applied to the target skin surface for a period of time sufficient to alleviate at least one sign of photoaging.

Abstract: Methods of improving the appearance of aging skin that include applying a cosmetic composition to a target skin surface having one or more signs of aging. The cosmetic composition includes a substituted azole. In some instances, the substituted azole compound is 1-phenylimidazole, 4-phenylimidazole, or combinations thereof. An effective amount of the cosmetic composition is applied for a period of time sufficient to improve the appearance of at least one sign of aging skin.

Abstract: A method for providing adaptive control of the flow of a plurality of ejector valves arranged in close proximity to each other in a sorting machine is described. The method comprises measuring a temporal response curve for each ejector valve, comparing the measured temporal response curve for each ejector valve to a library set of previously stored temporal response curves, determining from the comparison a predicted flow for each ejector valve, and adapting a drive signal for each ejector valve in dependence on the predicted flow. Temporal response curves may be measured and compared in a calibration (non-sorting) mode, and real-time feedback of the measured temporal responses in a sorting mode may be used to indicate health of a valve and to further adapt the drive signal to provide conformal performance. The number of neighbouring ejector valves may also be taken into account.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for storing graph data within a column-oriented data store. Graph data including vertex data describing one or more vertices in the graph and edge data describing one or more edges within the graph may be received. One or more vertex rows within the column-oriented data store may be assigned, whereby each vertex row of the one or more vertex rows is assigned to one vertex of the one or more vertices. One or more edge rows within the column-oriented data store may also be assigned, whereby each edge row of the one or more edge rows is assigned to one edge of the one or more edges. At least one vertex row and at least one edge row may be populated based on the graph data.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a shell having a mating end and a termination end. The shell has a securing feature configured to secure the shell to a mating connector. The shell has a cavity that extends between the mating end and the termination end. A terminal subassembly includes a dielectric insert that is configured to be held within the cavity of the shell. The dielectric insert is configured to hold terminals such that mating interfaces of the terminals are configured to mate with corresponding terminals of the mating connector and such that termination interfaces of the terminals are configured to be terminated to a cable. The dielectric insert is a modular insert that is configured to hold the terminals when the termination interfaces are flat interfaces and is also configured to hold the terminals when the termination interfaces are crimp interfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus is presented having a housing, the housing has an aperture configured to receive a body part of a user. A light emitting part is supported by the housing and at least one proximity sensor is disposed within the housing. A controller is configured to receive signals from the at least one proximity sensor and to determine from the signals whether a body part protrudes by a required amount within the aperture. The control of the appearance of the light emitting part according to the determination.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing audio are provided. The system may include a processor to convert an audio input received via a call to text. The processor may perform a comparison between a portion of the text to one or more phrases included in a table. The processor may also make a selection of at least one of a first object or a first action based on the comparison. The processor may further route the call based on the at least one of the first object or the first action.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of microbiological testing of food. It relates to a method for identifying bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group, comprising the steps consisting in: bringing a sample that may contain bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group, a reaction medium comprising at least one fluorescent phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C substrate and an inhibitor of Gram-negative bacteria into contact, in a container; incubating all of the above together; identifying the bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group by detecting the PC-PLC substrate hydrolysis reaction, in which the pH of the reaction medium and the time necessary for detecting the PC-PLC substrate hydrolysis reaction carried out are adapted in such a way that said hydrolysis reaction by the bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group is detected before the hydrolysis of the PC-PLC substrate by the Gram-positive bacteria other than those belonging to the Bacillus cereus group, and potentially present in the sample, is detectable.

Abstract: The methods apparatuses described herein involve recovering of glycol from an aqueous phase to form a stream of recovered glycol and a glycol recovery system. The aqueous phase is fed to the top of a lower theoretical stage in a distillation column. An overhead vapour stream is drawn from the distillation column overhead of an upper theoretical stage, and a bottom stream comprising a stream of regenerated glycol is drawn from the distillation column via a bottom outlet configured below the lower theoretical stage. The stream of recovered glycol comprises the regenerated glycol. In addition, a first middle theoretical stage is situated within the distillation column gravitationally above the lower theoretical stage and below the upper theoretical stage. A side stream of liquid water is drawn from the bottom of the upper theoretical stage in the distillation column.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a shell having a mating end and a termination end. The shell has a securing feature configured to secure the shell to a mating connector. The shell has a cavity that extends between the mating end and the termination end. A terminal subassembly includes a dielectric insert that is configured to be held within the cavity of the shell. The dielectric insert is configured to hold terminals such that mating interfaces of the terminals are configured to mate with corresponding terminals of the mating connector and such that termination interfaces of the terminals are configured to be terminated to a cable. The dielectric insert is a modular insert that is configured to hold the terminals when the termination interfaces are flat interfaces and is also configured to hold the terminals when the termination interfaces are crimp interfaces.

Abstract: A cartridge (700) for insertion into a meter comprises: a plurality of cartridge brackets (704) disposed on an inner wall (703) of the cartridge; a spindle (702) mounted so as to be rotatable within the cartridge and movable longitudinally in first and second directions within the cartridge; and a plurality of testing members (708) each arranged to be supported temporarily by at least one of the plurality of cartridge brackets, each of the testing members including) a hole (306) through which the spindle is located, the spindle having a plurality of spindle brackets (706) disposed on an outer surface thereof, each spindle bracket being movable between first and second positions.

Abstract: The present application relates to an apparatus for eliciting a blood sample. The apparatus has a housing having an aperture. A shaft extends in the housing and a testing member is mounted on the shaft which rotates with the shaft. A lancing member is pivotably mounted to the testing member and a lancet protrudes from the lancing member. The lancing member is arranged to pivot relative to the testing member from a retracted position to a skin penetrating position in which the lancet extends into or through the aperture when the testing member is rotated so that the lancing member is coincident with the aperture.

Abstract: A cartridge is configured to be inserted into a meter, the cartridge comprises a housing having an aperture, and end face and a side wall; at least one testing member disposed within the housing; a removable seal; and a knob attached in a fixed positional relationship with the seal, wherein when the seal is in a sealed condition a part of the seal covers the aperture and is secured to the housing around the aperture so as to provide a moisture impermeable barrier and the knob is located adjacent the side wall of the housing.

Abstract: The specification describes a cartridge for insertion into a meter, the interior of the meter comprising a boss having a main body and a protrusion extending from the main body. The cartridge comprises an orientation member provided at one end of the cartridge, the orientation member comprising a recess having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to that of the boss and configured to receive the boss therein, the orientation member further comprising a ramp surrounding at least part of the portion of the recess corresponding to the main body, the portion of the recess which corresponds to the protrusion adjoining the lower end of the ramp via a step.

Abstract: The present application relates to an apparatus for eliciting a blood sample. The apparatus has a housing having an aperture. A shaft extends in the housing. A first part of a testing member is mounted on the shaft and a second part of a testing member is configured to co-rotate with the first part. A lancet protrudes radially from the second part. The second part is configured, in the presence of a force exerted against the testing member by an actuator, to translate relative to the first part from a retracted position to a skin penetrating position in which the lancet is displaced towards the aperture.

Abstract: A meter configured to perform a blood analysis is presented where the meter has a housing, the housing having an aperture configured to receive a body part of a user. The meter also having a plurality of light sources supported by the housing and a controller configured to control the plurality of light sources to indicate an operational status of the apparatus.

Abstract: A cartridge configured to be inserted into a meter, the cartridge comprising: a housing having at least two electrical contacts disposed on an inner surface of a wall of the housing and at least two electrical contacts disposed on an outer surface of the wall of the housing, wherein a conductive path is provided between corresponding ones of the at least two electrical contacts on the inner and outer surfaces; and at least one testing member supported within the housing, each testing member having at least two contact pads configured to engage with the at least two electrical contacts disposed on the inner surface of the housing wall when that testing member is moved into a measurement position, wherein the at least two electrical contacts disposed on the outer surface of the housing wall are configured to provide a conductive connection between the testing member and the meter.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a housing, a testing member rotatably mounted in the housing, a lancet protruding from an edge of the testing member and having a piercing end, and a cover configured to cover at least the piercing end of the lancet and to be displaced from the piercing end of the lancet during actuation of the testing member.

Abstract: A cartridge comprises plural blood testing discs, each blood testing disc including a lancet and a blood collection and testing part. Each of the discs has a generally circular shape with a cutout at one side thereof. The lancet of each disc is supported at the periphery of the disc at a location that does not coincide with the cutout. The cartridge includes a side face having an aperture formed therein. The discs are supported in a rotatable manner on a common longitudinal axis. In a non-operational condition, the cutouts of the discs are located in a close proximity to and facing the side face of the cartridge and in an operational condition a disc that is coincident with the aperture is permitted to rotate on the longitudinal axis such that the part of the disc on which the lancet is supported passes through the aperture to allow lancing.

Abstract: An apparatus for eliciting a blood sample comprises a housing, an aperture in a wall of the housing, an aperture cover moveable between a first position in which the aperture is covered and a second position in which the aperture is uncovered, the aperture cover comprising a sealing member configured to seal the aperture on a first side of the wall when the aperture cover is in the first position and a user-contactable part extending from the sealing member through the aperture to the second side of the wall and configured to allow a user to move the aperture cover between the first and second positions.