Abstract: An implantable biocompatible expander suitable for implantation into a urinary duct, comprises an elongated sinusoidal ring comprising at least two proximal prongs and at least two distal prongs, wherein the expander is resiliently deformable from a relaxed radially expanded orientation to a radially contracted orientation suitable for transluminal delivery through the urinary duct. The expander is configured to exert an outward radial force against a wall of the urinary duct when in-situ within the urinary duct. In particular, the expander is suitable for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and configured for implantation into the prostatic urethra between, and substantially spanning the prostatic urethra between, the bladder neck and external sphincter.

Abstract: A fluid discharge event detection apparatus measures a change in capacitance to detect the presence of a fluid in a sensing conduit where the presence of fluid indicates a discharge event. The apparatus includes a first conduit, the sensing conduit and a control valve, coupled between the first conduit and the sensing conduit. The control valve is configured to activate and fluidly couple the first conduit and the sensing conduit to one another when the control valve detects at least one predetermined condition of a fluid within the first conduit. A sensor, configured to measure a capacitance value, is disposed about the sensing conduit. A controller, coupled to the sensor, is configured to detect a change in the sensing conduit capacitance value and assert an alarm condition upon detection of the change in the sensing conduit capacitance value.

Abstract: A food sheet is disclosed for use in connection with the preparation of a food product. One example food sheet is disclosed to include a base material that is dissolvable at a predetermined environmental condition and a grease agent contained within the base material. The grease agent is released from the base material when the base material dissolves and then provides a baking or cooking lubrication for the food product.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to storing a blockchain private key on a SIM device and securing the blockchain private key through multi-factor authentication. Various layers of security that controls access to the blockchain private key on the SIM device may be employed. These layers may include authentication of the user device on the cellular network using the SIM device, storage on a hidden partition of the SIM device that only a key applet executing on the SIM device or on a user device processor is aware of, storage of the blockchain private key in encrypted form, and/or use of the key applet to enforce credentialed access to the blockchain private key (e.g., the key applet obtains from the hidden partition and/or decrypts the blockchain private key only if a valid passcode is supplied to it).

Abstract: A heating system includes a heat source. A controller is connected to the heat source and controls operation of the heat source. A first sensor is configured to sense temperature and report a signal to the controller. An input/output (I/O) device is configured to send a set point to the controller. The controller selectively operates the heat source based on a comparison of the signal and the set point. The heat source communicates wirelessly with at least one of the controller, the first sensor, and the I/O device.

Abstract: A multistage centrifugal grinder pump includes a grinder to grind a fluid, a first stage impeller, a second stage impeller, a stationary diffusor arranged between the first stage impeller and the second stage impeller to guide the fluid from the first stage impeller to the second stage impeller and a shaft to rotate the first stage impeller, the second stage impeller and the grinder. The first and second stage impellers in series and connected to the shaft in a torque-proof manner. The diffusor is a semi-open diffusor having a top wall, a radially outer annular side wall, and an open bottom side facing the first stage impeller, the top wall arranged adjacent the second stage impeller, the top wall having a central outlet opening surrounding the shaft, and the open bottom side extending beyond the first stage impeller with respect to a radial direction.

Abstract: A shredding assembly for a grinder pump includes a stationary shredding ring mounted to an inlet of the pump, and a cutting device rotatable about an axial direction and fixed to a shaft of the pump. The shredding ring includes a top face, a bottom face, and a central opening extending from the top face to the bottom face and delimited in a radial direction by an inner periphery. Slots extending in the axial direction are formed in the inner periphery. The cutting device is positioned in the central opening of the shredding ring, and includes a front face and a back face. The front face includes a plurality of first cutting members extending in the axial direction and facing the slots. The back face includes a second cutting member projecting beyond the central opening with respect to the radial direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a camera assembly, in which a first camera and a second camera capture images (36, 42). Respective fields of view of the two cameras overlap at least in a partial region (24). At least in an image (36) captured by the first camera, at least one contamination region (38) including a plurality of pixels is detected within the partial region (24). Thereupon, data values specifying the respective transparency of the pixels in the at least one contamination region (38) are varied with respect to respective reference values of transparency, wherein those reference values increase in the partial region (24) towards an edge (28) of the respective images upon superimposition of the images. Furthermore, the invention relates to a camera assembly.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide the ability to enforce access methods on data based upon a policy or policies identified within the metadata of a file. The data is self-protected by including or being wrapped with one or more policy/rule identifiers that act as a form of body armor to the data when in transit or in different situations. In embodiments, access is only granted upon successful authentication and compliance with the identified policy or policies. In embodiments, depending upon the conditions and policies, varying level access may be granted. In embodiments, depending upon the conditions and policies, the system may take one or more mitigations or remedial access levels, such as containerizing, sandboxing, granting limited access, or erasing the data.

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein involve receiving a request from a calling device to establish a communication session between a mobile device and the calling device, the mobile device assigned a virtual telephone number, retrieving location information corresponding to a location of the mobile device from a location register, and sending a redirect to a session border controller (SBC) to establish the communication session between the calling device and the mobile device based on the location information.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide the ability to enforce access methods on data based upon a policy or policies identified within the metadata of a file. The data is self-protected by including or being wrapped with one or more policy/rule identifiers that act as a form of body armor to the data when in transit or in different situations. In embodiments, access is only granted upon successful authentication and compliance with the identified policy or policies. In embodiments, depending upon the conditions and policies, varying level access may be granted. In embodiments, depending upon the conditions and policies, the system may take one or more mitigations or remedial access levels, such as containerizing, sandboxing, granting limited access, or erasing the data.

Abstract: A vehicle computing system includes at least one processor configured to provide a lockout icon to a mobile device using a uniform resource identifier. The at least one processor is further configured to, in response to established communication with the mobile device having a user-interface display, retrieve the uniform resource identifier based on an application being executed at the mobile device. The at least one processor is further configured to transmit the uniform resource identifier to the mobile device to lockout the user-interface display with the lockout icon associated with the uniform resource identifier.

Abstract: A paint roller cleaning system including an elongated cylindrical member configured to receive a paint roller, a first-end-cap, and a second-end-cap. The first-end-cap for attachment at a first-end of the elongated cylindrical member and the second-end-cap for attachment at a second-end of the elongated cylindrical member. The first-end-cap includes a threaded-member and may couple to a water supply and direct water through a receiving-aperture. The second-end-cap includes an exit-aperture and a positioning-member for positioning the paint roller above the exit-aperture allowing for water to drain therethrough. The paint roller cleaning system may be used for cleaning a paint roller when inserted into the elongated cylindrical member and the water supply is activated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multilayer cladding including a combination of ceramic and metallic components. The multilayer coating includes an inner layer, an intermediate layer and an outer layer. The inner layer can form the cladding structure, the intermediate layer can include a ceramic composite or ceramic-containing composite composed of interlocking woven or braided fibers, e.g., fiber tows wrapped on the inner layer to form a woven structure, and a matrix material, and the outer can be composed of metal or metal alloy, such as, in the form of a coating. The multilayer cladding is effective to protect contents of the cladding structure from exposure to high temperature environments.

Abstract: A process for recycling aqueous quenching fluids, said process comprising: (a)(1) providing a metal quenching bath tank comprising a used metal aqueous quenching fluid containing contamination with a water insoluble, fire resistant hydraulic fluid; or (a)(2) collecting, in a collection tank in association with a quench barrel or quench ring, used metal aqueous quenching fluid after the fluid has been sprayed onto heated metal, wherein the collected used fluid is contaminated with a water insoluble, fire resistant hydraulic fluid; (b) heating the bath tank (a)(1) or collection tank (a)(2) to a temperature of about 105 to 200 ° F. with agitation for less than 12 hours; (c) recovering a resulting uncontaminated aqueous quenching phase from a lower portion of the bath tank (a)(1) or collection tank (a)(2); and (d) returning the recovered aqueous quenching phase to a functional quenching bath tank or functional quenching spray tank.

Abstract: A service may provide media content metadata describing available media content to reader devices, the service including a zeroth characteristic indicating a count of additional data characteristics of the service and a count of read cycles of the data characteristics to retrieve the metadata. Each of the data characteristics may include an indication of the read cycle of the data characteristic, a data element including a portion of the metadata, and an indication of a data offset of the data element into the media content metadata. Responsive to all subscribed reader devices downloading data from one of the data characteristics, including update data of a next read cycle in the characteristic.

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein involve receiving a request from a calling device to establish a communication session between a mobile device and the calling device, the mobile device assigned a virtual telephone number, retrieving location information corresponding to a location of the mobile device from a location register, and sending a redirect to a session border controller (SBC) to establish the communication session between the calling device and the mobile device based on the location information.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel method to fabricate magnetic silica nanomembranes using thin polymer cores based on silica deposition and self-wrinkling induced by thermal shrinkage. These micro- and nano-scale structures have vastly enlarged the specific area of silica, thus the magnetic silica nanomembranes can be used for solid phase extraction of nucleic acids. The magnetic silica nanomembranes are suitable for nucleic acid purification and isolation and demonstrated better performance than commercial particles in terms of nucleic acid recovery yield and integrity. In addition, the magnetic silica nanomembranes may have high nucleic acid capacity due to significantly enlarged specific surface area of silica. Methods of use and devices comprising the magnetic silica nanomembranes are also provided herein.

Abstract: An end-effector for a hoist includes a drive and an articulating arm. The articulating arm includes support disks, control cables extending through the support disks, and a hoist cable extending through the support disks. The drive includes an actuator connected to one of the control cables. The actuator deploys and retracts the control cables, thereby displacing the articulating arm from an end-effector axis. The drive also includes a stabilizer mounted on a drive housing, the stabilizer generates a stabilizing moment in response to the articulating arm displacing from the end-effector axis.

Abstract: An external contact center testing system is integrated with an internal monitoring and diagnostic system to identify and verify a fault condition, and to determine the cause of such fault condition. Test data for each of the stimuli launched into the call center from the external testing system are synced with the monitoring results data generated by the internal monitoring system. The synced results can be analyzed to verify that a true fault has occurred and also to identify both failure conditions and specific hardware malfunctions giving rise to the noted failure. The internal monitoring system can interface with the external testing system to cause one or more testing stimuli to be launched by external testing system. The internal monitoring data can also be linked to the external testing data for drill-down viewing by a user.