Abstract: The invention provides, in various embodiments, devices and methods relating to ex-vivo organ care. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to aortic cannulas for use in perfusion systems to return perfusate to the heart or delivering perfusate from the heart while the organ is sustained ex vivo at physiologic or near-physiologic conditions.

Abstract: A telematics system 34 for a vehicle 10 is provided. The vehicle 10 comprises a controller area network bus (CAN-bus) 30, an on-board diagnostics (OBD) system comprising a data port at a first OBD connector part 32 provided on the CAN-bus. The telematics system 34 comprises a basic security system 12 providing a first and limited set of functionalities and a telematics device 36 which is connected to a second OBD connector part 38 which in turn is connectable to the first OBD connector part 32. The telematics device 36 comprises a controller 41, a second wireless transceiver 40 which is connected to controller 41 and which, in use, is in data communication with the first wireless transceiver 24 of the security system 12. A means in the form of a GPS receiver 42 is connected to the controller for providing a second set of functionalities not included in the first limited set of functionalities.

Abstract: The invention provides, in various embodiments, devices and methods relating to ex-vivo organ care. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to aortic cannulas for use in perfusion systems to return perfusate to the heart or delivering perfusate from the heart while the organ is sustained ex vivo at physiologic or near-physiologic conditions.

Abstract: A communication system includes: a control unit configured to: connect a system user with channel participant in an anonymous voice chat session; determine a participant distance for the channel participant relative to the system user; adjust a volume level for a verbal communication of the channel participant based on the participant distance; and a communication unit, coupled to the control unit, to transmit the verbal communication.

Abstract: A system provides interactive and automated features to aid in planning, management, and execution of events within venues. Venue hardscapes are geolocated, parsed, and stored to be used when configuring events. During event configuration a venue softscape may be automatically generated and applied to the venue hardscape to produce an initial layout. The initial layout may be modified to create and assign booths to exhibitors by multiple coordinators in parallel. Geolocation of hardscaped may be extended into softscapes, such that location data may be maintained for temporary structures such as booths. Conflicts may be avoided by implementing one or more conflict prevention features, including enforcement of universal layouts, booth locking, synchronous session management, automatic identifier assignment to preserve locational correspondence, booth and layout validation, and others.

Abstract: A satellite system may have a constellation of communications satellites that provides services to users with electronic devices such as portable electronic devices and home/office equipment. A network operations center may use gateways to communicate with the satellite constellation. The satellite constellation may include sets of satellites with different orbits such as circular orbits with different inclinations, sets of satellites with elliptic orbits, sets of satellites with circular orbits of different altitudes including low earth orbits, medium earth orbits, and/or geosynchronous orbits, sets of satellites with sun synchronous orbits, and/or sets of satellites with other orbits. The orbits of the satellites in the constellation may be selected to provide coverage to desired user population concentrations at different locations on the Earth, while reducing the amount of capacity that goes unused (e.g., is idle) at one or more times of day.

Abstract: A collar compression system is configured to press a shirt collar and restore the collar to its store-bought form. The open triangle press body is placed on the inside of the shirt collar. The open triangle press body can be made of plastic to hold the shape of the collar. The three separate press members are also made of plastic. One press member is located on the left, right and rear side of the open triangle body. In this embodiment, the living hinge may be made of plastic, metal, or a combination of both. The living hinges connect the press members to the open triangle press body. In one operation, the open triangle press body can be placed on the inside of the collar and the three press members may be placed over the top of the collar to compress the collar, which shapes the collar to its pressed form.

Abstract: An implant device is provided that is configured for implantation at multiple locations between adjacent vertebrae. The implant device comprises an implant body, a first portion of the implant body, and a second portion of the implant body adjustably interconnected with the first portion. The implant body has a compact orientation and an extended orientation to allow the implant body to be shifted from one orientation to the other orientation for being positioned in any one of areas between the spinous processes of the adjacent vertebrae, between laminar regions of the adjacent vertebrae, spanning an opening in the annulus between the adjacent vertebrae, and in the intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebrae.

Abstract: A method for the oxidation of ethylene to form ethylene oxide which comprises: providing an aqueous stream containing ethylene glycol and impurities; introducing the aqueous stream in a first ion exchange treatment bed to reduce the content of these impurities; determining whether an outlet of the first ion exchange treatment bed has a conductivity greater than about 5 ?S/cm; upon determining that the outlet of the first ion exchange treatment bed has a conductivity greater than about 5 ?S/cm, introducing the outlet of the first ion exchange treatment bed into a second ion exchange treatment bed; and upon determining that the outlet of the first ion exchange treatment bed has a conductivity greater than about 60 ?S/cm, redirecting the introduction of the aqueous stream to the second ion exchange treatment bed and regenerating the first ion exchange bed.

Abstract: A compose form for drafting a message is presented inline within a window along with a message list. For example, instead of overlaying the message application's user interface (UI) with a new window for composing a message, the compose form is displayed within a portion of the window reserved for viewing content of messages. While composing the message using the compose form, the rest of the message application's UI remains visible and accessible to the user. For example, the user may navigate to another folder and/or move to another message/conversation by interacting with the tree view/message list view. A draft of the message being composed may be automatically saved when the user navigates away from the compose form (e.g. by selecting another conversation in the list view).

Abstract: Methods and systems of maintaining, evaluating, and providing therapy to a lung ex vivo. The methods and systems involve positioning the lung in an ex vivo perfusion circuit; circulating a perfusion fluid through the lung, the fluid entering the lung through a pulmonary artery interface and leaving the lung through a left atrial interface; and ventilating the lung by flowing a ventilation gas through a tracheal interface. Maintaining the lung for extended periods involves causing the lung to rebreath a captive volume of air, and reaching an equilibrium state between the perfusion fluid and the ventilation gas. Evaluating the gas exchange capability of the lung involves deoxygenating the perfusion fluid and measuring a time taken to reoxygenate the perfusion fluid by ventilating the lung with an oxygenation gas.

Abstract: A satellite system may have a constellation of communications satellites that provides services to users with electronic devices such as portable electronic devices and home/office equipment. A network operations center may use gateways to communicate with the satellite constellation. The satellite constellation may include sets of satellites with different orbits such as circular orbits with different inclinations, sets of satellites with elliptic orbits, sets of satellites with circular orbits of different altitudes including low earth orbits, medium earth orbits, and/or geosynchronous orbits, sets of satellites with sun synchronous orbits, and/or sets of satellites with other orbits. The orbits of the satellites in the constellation may be selected to provide coverage to desired user population concentrations at different locations on the Earth, while reducing the amount of capacity that goes unused (e.g., is idle) at one or more times of day.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for improving the efficiency of nucleic acid amplification reactions. The invention encompasses hybrid polymerases that show increased processivity over wild type polymerases as well as decreased exonucleases activity. The invention also encompasses methods, compositions and kits for conducting nucleic acid synthesis and amplification reactions in which non-specific amplification of primers is reduced.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed herein that generally involve applying thermal therapy to tissue (e.g., localized cooling or heating of tissue), and in particular applying thermal therapy to the spinal canal, tissue disposed within the spinal canal, and/or nerve roots extending from the spinal canal. In some embodiments, tissue can be cooled or heated by implanting a malleable or deformable thermal device in proximity to the targeted tissue. The thermal device can be left in place following surgery to facilitate application of post-surgical thermal therapy. In some embodiments, the thermal device can be removed post-surgery in a minimally- or non-invasive manner. The thermal device can be connectionless or can include penetrable regions, pre-attached tubing, or detachable connectors to facilitate application of cooling or heating means to the device. Methods are disclosed for utilizing thermal devices and for carrying out various treatment regimens that involve cooling or heating tissue using such devices.

Abstract: Methods and systems of maintaining, evaluating, and providing therapy to a lung ex vivo. The methods and systems involve positioning the lung in an ex vivo perfusion circuit; circulating a perfusion fluid through the lung, the fluid entering the lung through a pulmonary artery interface and leaving the lung through a left atrial interface; and ventilating the lung by flowing a ventilation gas through a tracheal interface. Maintaining the lung for extended periods involves causing the lung to rebreath a captive volume of air, and reaching an equilibrium state between the perfusion fluid and the ventilation gas. Evaluating the gas exchange capability of the lung involves deoxygenating the perfusion fluid and measuring a time taken to reoxygenate the perfusion fluid by ventilating the lung with an oxygenation gas.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a livestock grooming article and method of forming same are disclosed. The livestock grooming article includes a handle extending along a handle axis, and a head extending along a head axis and connected to the handle. The head includes a body including a first major surface and a second major surface, and a back slidably connected to the first major surface of the body. The back includes a first major surface and a second major surface, where the first major surface of the back faces the first major surface of the body when the back is connected to the head. The head also includes a bristle extending through the body and beyond the second major surface of the body.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a livestock grooming article and method of forming same are disclosed. The livestock grooming article includes a handle extending along a handle axis, and a head extending along a head axis and connected to the handle. The head includes a body including a first major surface and a second major surface, and a back slidably connected to the first major surface of the body. The back includes a first major surface and a second major surface, where the first major surface of the back faces the first major surface of the body when the back is connected to the head. The head also includes a bristle extending through the body and beyond the second major surface of the body.

Abstract: A SCBI useful in ambient air pressure systems is disclosed. The SCBI includes a body which serves as the culture tube, a glass media ampoule, an inoculated stainless steel disc positioned on the top of the glass media ampoule so that the spores are close to the top/opening of the SCBI, filter paper on the top of the body and overlying the disc, and a cap.

Abstract: A computing device includes a first program configured to display a menu on a screen and display a summary on the screen that can be reached directly from the menu, and a second program. The summary displays patient account information of a plurality of patient accounts for a selected one of a plurality of available clients. The displayed patient account information includes a plurality of displayed entries, where each entry includes a first field indicating an account number of one of the patient accounts, a second field indicating a status associated with the account number, and a third field indicating a due date. The second program causes the third field to display a due date for submitting a claim associated with the account number to insurance, and dynamically updates the third field to display a due date for appealing denial of the claim.