Abstract: A specimen collection device includes a test stick with an absorbent pad and a stick receptacle with a squeeze chamber and an outlet port at a distal end of the stick receptacle. The test stick has a stick body which extends through a pad channel. A stick tip extends through the outlet port when squeezing the absorbent pad against a chamfer end face of the squeeze chamber. The absorbent pad does not pass through the outlet port but remains in the squeeze chamber. Only the stick passes through the outlet port during squeezing. Advantageously, the test stick remains aligned inside the stick receptacle during squeezing which contributes to a proper release of fluid from the absorbent pad to obtain the fluid specimen in a specimen tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a flame-resistant polymer-modified polyol having a solids content of 1 to 65 wt. % wherein (i) at least one polyisocyanate and (ii) an olamine are reacted in (iii) a base polyol having at least two active hydrogen containing groups of which more than 50% are primary active hydrogen containing groups and wherein the olamine has at least one phosphonic ester group attached to a tertiary nitrogen atom and contains at least two hydroxyl groups. The invention further relates to a flame-resistant polymer-modified polyol obtainable with the process of the invention, to a process for preparing optionally foamed plastics using the polymer-modified polyol of the invention, and to the use of a polymer-modified polyol for the preparation of flexible polyurethane foams.

Abstract: There is described a machine learning system comprising a first subsystem and a second subsystem remote from the first subsystem. The first subsystem comprises an environment having multiple possible states and a decision making subsystem comprising one or more agents. Each agent is arranged to receive state information indicative of a current state of the environment and to generate an action signal dependent on the received state information and a policy associated with that agent, the action signal being operable to cause a change in a state of the environment. Each agent is further arranged to generate experience data dependent on the received state information and information conveyed by the action signal. The first subsystem includes a first network interface configured to send said experience data to the second subsystem and to receive policy data from the second subsystem.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a polymer-modified polyol having a solid content from 13 to 55 wt. % wherein an olamine is reacted with an organic polyisocyanate in the presence of a base polyol and at least one catalyst, wherein said at least one catalyst is a zinc carboxylate, and wherein the base polyol has hydroxyl functions wherein more than 20% of said hydroxyl functions are primary hydroxyl functions. The invention further relates to a polymer-modified polyol obtainable with the method of the invention, the use of the polymer-modified polyol for the preparation of optionally foamed plastics, and to a method for the preparation of optionally foamed plastics using the polymer-modified polyol of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a flame-resistant polymer-modified polyol having a solids content of 1 to 65 wt. % wherein (i) at least one polyisocyanate and (ii) an olamine are reacted in (iii) a base polyol having at least two active hydrogen containing groups of which more than 50% are primary active hydrogen containing groups and wherein the olamine has at least one phosphonic ester group attached to a tertiary nitrogen atom and contains at least two hydroxyl groups. The invention further relates to a flame-resistant polymer-modified polyol obtainable with the process of the invention, to a process for preparing optionally foamed plastics using the polymer- modified polyol of the invention, and to the use of a polymer-modified polyol for the preparation of flexible polyurethane foams.