Abstract: Some configurations of a microfluidic apparatus can comprise a fluidic circuit of interconnected fluidic structures into which a plurality of different media can be introduced or extracted. A variety of operations can be performed with the different media including isolating with a second medium one or more of the fluidic structures that is filled partially or fully with a first medium. Discrete volumes of a medium can be moved through the isolating second medium to deliver materials or micro-objects to or remove micro-objects or materials from a fluidic structure that is otherwise isolated by the second medium. Some configurations of a microfluidic apparatus can isolate microfluidic structures in a microfluidic apparatus using flow rates or blocking structures, and some configurations can manage bubbles in fluidic structures.

Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, context-based device arbitration techniques to select a voice-enabled device from multiple voice-enabled devices to provide a response to a command included in a speech utterance of a user. In some examples, the context-driven arbitration techniques may include determining a ranked list of voice-enabled devices that are ranked based on audio signal metric values for audio signals generated by each voice-enabled device, and iteratively moving through the list to determine, based on device states of the voice-enabled devices, whether one of the voice-enabled devices can perform an action responsive to the command. If the voice-enabled devices that detected the speech utterance are unable to perform the action responsive to the command, all other voice-enabled devices associated with an account may be analyzed to determine whether one of the other voice-enabled devices can perform the action responsive to the command in the speech utterance.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to devices, method, and material compositions. Specifically, the present invention related to a delivery device to deliver a material composition that prevents complications during minimally invasive procedures.

Abstract: A multi-stage process for the production of an ISO 8217 compliant Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil from ISO 8217 compliant Feedstock Heavy Marine Fuel Oil involving a Reaction System composed of one or more reactor vessels selected from a group reactor wherein said one or more reactor vessels contains one or more reaction sections configured to promote the transformation of the Feedstock Heavy Marine Fuel Oil to the Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil. The Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil has a Environmental Contaminate level has a maximum sulfur content (ISO 14596 or ISO 8754) between the range of 0.05 mass % to 1.0 mass. A process plant for conducting the process for conducting the process is disclosed that can utilize a modular reactor vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting a brain disorder in a subject include a display device and an eye tracker operatively connected to a processor, wherein the display device displays visual scenes to the subject according to at least one viewing task. The eye tracker tracks at least one of the subject's eyes while the subject performs the viewing task, and outputs eye tracking data. The 5 processor extracts data for one or more selected feature, and analyzes the data for the one or more selected feature using a classifier to determine one or more condition, validates the determined condition through comparisons to meta-data and the true condition if available, and generates an output based on the determined condition for the selected feature: wherein the output indicates the likelihood of the subject having a brain disorder.

Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, techniques for determining device groupings, or clusters, for multiple voice-enabled devices. The device clusters may be determined based on metadata data for audio signals (or audio data) generated by each of the multiple voice-enabled devices. For example, a remote system may analyze timestamp data for the audio signals received from the devices, and determine that the devices detected the same voice command of a user based on the timestamp data indicating that the audio signals were received within a threshold period of time from each other. Additionally, the remote system may analyze other metadata of the audio data, such as signal-to-noise (SNR) values, and determine that the SNR values are within a threshold value. The remote system may determine device clusters for the voice-enabled devices of a user based on these, and potentially other, types of metadata of the audio signals.

Abstract: Tool monitoring systems and beacon devices used in the tool monitoring systems are provided. The tool monitoring systems permits one or more beacon devices to upload tool information to a cloud-based computing system either directly or indirectly. Direct communication between the beacon devices and the cloud-based computing system 12 utilizes a communication module and a server. Indirect communication between the beacon devices and the cloud-based computing system utilizes a mobile application running on a mobile computing device or platform and a web services running on the server. The beacon devices are worn by a tool user or installed in a fixed location and communicate with one or more tools to retrieve tool information from the one or more tools and upload the tool information to the cloud-based computing system's database.

Abstract: A forest fire retardant composition contains a retardant compound that includes a potassium salt. The potassium salt may include a potassium salt of an organic acid, a potassium salt of an inorganic acid, or mixtures thereof. The organic acid may include formic acid, acetic acid, propanoic acid, butanoic acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, malic acid, gluconic acid, tartaric acid, uric acid, malic acid, or citric acid. The inorganic acid may include sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, carbonic acid, or hydrochloric acid. The composition may be in the form of a dry concentrate, a liquid concentrate, or a final diluted product. The final diluted product is effective in suppressing, retarding, and controlling forest fires while exhibiting corrosion resistance and low toxicity.

Abstract: Described herein are formulations of cell culture media and supplements that are stable when stored at room temperature. Embodiments described herein encompass dry granulated or agglomerated cell culture media with carbohydrate sources and vitamins that are physically separated. Further embodiments described herein are dry granulated or agglomerated cell culture media with a carbohydrate source that is separately agglomerated or powdered. Additional embodiments are dry granulated or agglomerated cell culture media with a carbohydrate source that is separately agglomerated or powdered and optionally contains vitamins. In another embodiment, the culture media or supplement is a dry granulated or agglomerated cell culture media containing granulated or agglomerated or powdered carbohydrates and vitamins in one or more of a liquid-, powdered-, granulated-, agglomerated-, coated-, or encapsulated-form.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a treadmill may comprise one or more lifting mechanisms configured to lift and lower a treadmill belt (e.g., adjust an angle of the treadmill belt relative to a support surface) by adjusting a height of the front and rear of the treadmill about a pivot point. In particular embodiments, the pivot point may be positioned somewhat centered along a length of the belt. In particular embodiments, a seesaw arrangement may provide a central pivot point, providing a moment arm to the motor while decreasing a moment arm caused by the load (e.g., a runner). In this way, an apparent load on a motor providing incline and decline to the running surface may be reduced.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to devices, method, and material compositions. Specifically, the present invention related to a delivery device to deliver a material composition that seals a tract, for example during a percutaneous intervention.

Abstract: A firearm security device removably connected to at least a portion of a firearm, the firearm security device including a biometric sensor to scan a physical characteristic of a user and send biometric data therefrom, a control unit running a program thereon and connected to the biometric sensor to compare the biometric data received from the biometric sensor to user data to determine whether the user is an authorized user of the firearm, and a locking pin disposed on a trigger bar of the firearm and connected to the control unit to prevent use of the firearm until the control unit determines the user is authorized to use the firearm.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are several embodiments of a negative pressure appliance and methods of using the same in the treatment of wounds. Some embodiments are directed to improved fluidic connectors or suction adapters for connecting to a wound site, for example using softer, kink-free conformable suction adapters.

Abstract: A multi-stage process for the production of a Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil compliant with ISO 8217: 2017 as a Table 2 residual marine fuel from a high sulfur Feedstock Heavy Marine Fuel Oil compliant with ISO 8217: 2017 as a Table 2 residual marine fuel except for the sulfur level, involving hydrotreating under reactive distillation conditions in a Reaction System composed of one or more reaction vessels. The reactive distillation conditions allow more than 75% by mass of the Process Mixture to exit the bottom of the reaction vessel as Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil. The Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil has a maximum sulfur content (ISO 14596 or ISO 8754) less than 0.5 mass %. A process plant for conducting the process for conducting the process is disclosed.

Abstract: A forest fire retardant composition contains a retardant compound that includes a potassium salt. The potassium salt may include a potassium salt of an organic acid, a potassium salt of an inorganic acid, or mixtures thereof. The organic acid may include formic acid, acetic acid, propanoic acid, butanoic acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, malic acid, gluconic acid, tartaric acid, uric acid, malic acid, or citric acid. The inorganic acid may include sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, carbonic acid, or hydrochloric acid. The composition may be in the form of a dry concentrate, a liquid concentrate, or a final diluted product. The final diluted product is effective in suppressing, retarding, and controlling forest fires while exhibiting corrosion resistance and low toxicity.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating physical therapy that may include a wearable display, wearable sensors disposed at varying positions on a user, a processor comprising executable instructions configured to provide a virtual reality environment, virtual characters, and therapeutic activities on the wearable display, wherein the virtual characters interact with the user to provide at least form feedback and positive reinforcement. A new instance of the virtual reality environment, with identifiable differences, may be generated in response to a measured completion or partial completion of a therapeutic activity. Changes in the virtual reality environment may offer users continued indications of progression throughout the duration of a physical therapy program.

Abstract: A forest fire retardant composition contains a retardant compound that includes a potassium salt. The potassium salt may include a potassium salt of an organic acid, a potassium salt of an inorganic acid, or mixtures thereof. The organic acid may include formic acid, acetic acid, propanoic acid, butanoic acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, malic acid, gluconic acid, tartaric acid, uric acid, malic acid, or citric acid. The inorganic acid may include sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, carbonic acid, or hydrochloric acid. The composition may be in the form of a dry concentrate, a liquid concentrate, or a final diluted product. The final diluted product is effective in suppressing, retarding, and controlling forest fires while exhibiting corrosion resistance and low toxicity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for establishing, using, and recovering universal digital identifiers. In an embodiment, a system establishes a universal identifier (ID) associated with a user and a device of the user. The universal ID is universal with respect to a plurality of distinct entities, has at least a suspended state and an unsuspended state, and initially is in the unsuspended state. The system transmits the universal ID to the device of the user. Thereafter, the system detects an ID-suspension event in connection with the universal ID, and responsively suspends the universal ID, including placing the universal ID in the suspended state. After suspending the universal ID, the system completes an ID-recovery process for the universal ID, and responsively unsuspends the universal ID, including placing the universal ID in the unsuspended state.

Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, context-based device arbitration techniques to select a voice-enabled device from multiple voice-enabled devices to provide a response to a command included in a speech utterance of a user. In some examples, the context-driven arbitration techniques may include determining a ranked list of voice-enabled devices that are ranked based on audio signal metric values for audio signals generated by each voice-enabled device, and iteratively moving through the list to determine, based on device states of the voice-enabled devices, whether one of the voice-enabled devices can perform an action responsive to the command. If the voice-enabled devices that detected the speech utterance are unable to perform the action responsive to the command, all other voice-enabled devices associated with an account may be analyzed to determine whether one of the other voice-enabled devices can perform the action responsive to the command in the speech utterance.

Abstract: A system can receive a request from a client to perform a job via a multi-cloud platform at a leader management node. The system can, based on receiving the request, send respective first inquiries to respective management nodes of a group of management nodes, wherein the respective first inquiries inquire about respective available processing resources of the respective cloud platforms to perform the job. The system can, based on receiving respective responses from the respective management nodes, determine a first proposal for reservation of computing resources for the request among the respective cloud platforms. The system can select a subgroup leader node from the group of management nodes, wherein the subgroup leader node is configured to perform a commit operation for the reservation of the computing resources in parallel with the leader management node sending respective second inquiries to the respective management nodes and determining a second proposal.