Abstract: A retractor includes retractor blades and one or more shims coupled to one or more of the retractor blades. The shims can include features configured to fasten the shim to vertebral anatomy. Such features can facilitate the use a K-wire or barbed features. Example disclosed shim designs include those featuring a K-wire feature, a barbed feature, and a K-wire with barb design.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system that analyzes a corpus of text (e.g., a financial article, an audio book, etc.) so that the context surrounding the text is fully understood. For instance, the context may be an environment described by the text, or an environment in which the text occurs. Based on the analysis, the system can determine sentiment, part of speech, entities, and/or human characters at the token level of the text, and automatically generate Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) tags based on this information. The SSML tags can be used by applications, services, and/or features that implement text-to-speech (TTS) conversion to improve the audio experience for end-users. Consequently, via the techniques described herein, more realistic and human-like speech synthesis can be efficiently implemented at larger scale (e.g., for audio books, for all the articles published to a news site, etc.).

Abstract: Techniques for rapid halt of repositionable arms include a computer-assisted device comprising a first repositionable arm configured to support a first end effector, a second repositionable arm configured to support a second end effector, and a control unit communicably coupled to the first repositionable arm and the second repositionable arm. The control unit is configured to monitor an actual motion of at least one structure selected from the group consisting of the first repositionable arm and the first end effector, determine a composite deviation between a plurality of kinematic or dynamic values of the actual motion and the plurality of kinematic or dynamic values of a desired motion of the at least one structure, determine whether the composite deviation is greater than a deviation threshold, and in response to the composite deviation being greater than the deviation threshold: halt motion of the first repositionable arm or the second repositionable arm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of culturing microorganisms normally grown on a solid in liquid media, methods of use thereof to determine the presence or absence of the microorganism in a sample, and methods of use in a mutation accumulation assay.

Abstract: Crystalline forms of Compound A: characterized by its X-ray powder diffraction diagram, solid-state 13C NMR spectrum, MIR spectrum and Raman spectrum and pharmaceutical compositions containing it.

Abstract: An imaging head of a medical scope comprises a capsule that encapsulates an image sensor and electronics associated with the image sensor. The imaging head further comprises a light guide, within or attached to the capsule, that conveys illumination to a field of view of the image sensor. The imaging head can be disassembled by breaking or cutting the capsule to separate the image sensor and the electronics from the light guide. The imaging head is manufactured by encapsulating the image sensor and electronics, and optionally also the light guide, in a capsule. The light guide may be overmoulded in a first overmoulding step to embed the light guide in an overmoulded body. The image sensor and electronics may then be positioned beside or against the overmoulded body and overmoulded in a second overmoulding step to complete the capsule.

Abstract: A salt and related crystalline forms of Compound A: wherein the salt is the hydrogen sulfate salt, characterised by its X-ray powder diffraction diagram, method for preparing the same via crystallization, and pharmaceutical compositions containing it.

Abstract: An embodiment configures a software robot to operate collaboratively with a plurality of platforms within a work environment. The embodiment decomposes, via the software robot, a request to perform a task received from one of the platforms, into at least one integration-action pair. An integration in this pair represents a configuration to operate on an execution platform within the plurality of platforms where a function is to be executed; an action in the pair represents the function to be performed on the execution platform. Responsive to the determination that the at least one integration-action pair does not exist in a database of integration-action pairs, the embodiment trains the software robot to perform the function on the platform.

Abstract: Provided are one or more black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae frass formulations and combinations comprising said formulations and at least one other substance including but not limited to soil amendment, fertilizer, herbicide, pesticide, fungicide, nematicide or bactericide, uses for said formulations and combinations and methods of production of said formulations.

Abstract: An action selection facility for a website made up of pages is described. The facility receives requests, each identifying a requested page among the website's pages, and a requesting user for whom the request was generated. For each received request, the facility: (a) identifies actions presently available to the requesting user that can be performed using the website; (b) accesses a set of action determinant factors that relate to the request, and uses them to generate a score for each identified action; and (c) selects a proper subset of the identified actions based at least in part on the scores generated for them.

Abstract: Crystalline forms of Compound A: characterized by its X-ray powder diffraction diagram, solid-state 13C NMR spectrum, MIR spectrum and Raman spectrum and pharmaceutical compositions containing it.

Abstract: Genetically modified microorganisms enabling the simple, rapid production and purification of thermostable polymerases are described. Methods of rapid purification of a thermostable polymerase are described including the steps of autoinducible expression achieving high titers of soluble protein; autolysis of cells post harvest, autohydrolysis of host nucleotides through expression of a thermolabile endonuclease; and heat denaturation and precipitation of contaminating proteins. Polymerases are obtained with >95% purity, and are readily usable in standard PCR.

Abstract: Provided are one or more black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae frass formulations and combinations comprising said formulations and at least one other substance including but not limited to soil amendment, fertilizer, herbicide, pesticide, fungicide, nematicide or bactericide, uses for said formulations and combinations and methods of production of said formulations.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods related to nucleic acid amplification and sequencing. In particular, the present disclosure provides methods for amplifying and sequencing double stranded nucleic acids using a high yield and resolution circularizing-sequencing method.

Abstract: Methods and microorganisms for improved malonyl-CoA flux and production of products having malonyl-CoA as a precursor. The methods comprise dynamically regulating, in a stationary phase of a method, a nitrogen regulatory protein. The methods may dynamically regulate more than one gene.

Abstract: A dielectric cover for a first type of insulator, supporting a conductor in an electrical distribution system, has a first height for covering high voltage portions of the first type of insulator. Thus, wildlife is protected from electrocution. In the event a second type of insulator is used, such as a K-Line type insulator having a relatively large top metal, an inexpensive dielectric shell is fitted over top of the cover to extend the dielectric height by at least one inch to fully laterally cover the top metal of the of the K-Line type insulator. Thus, different covers are not needed for covering both types of insulators, since only the shell is added for covering the second type of insulator. The shell may be provided in different sizes to accommodate different lengths of the top metal. Retaining pins are used to secure the cover over the insulator and conductor.

Abstract: Methods and microorganism for expression of a protein requiring at least one disulfide bond for proper folding of the protein are described. The biofermentation methods comprise growth of a microorganism that may conditionally expressing the protein in addition to at least one synthetic metabolic valve designed to regulate of at least one enzyme effective for altering the redox characteristics of the cytosolic environment of the genetically modified microorganism. In a product producing step of the method, an oxidative cytosolic environment is conditionally provided.

Abstract: Methods and microorganisms for improved malonyl-CoA flux and production of products having malonyl-CoA as a precursor. The methods comprise dynamically regulating, in a stationary phase of a method, a nitrogen regulatory protein. The methods may dynamically regulate more than one gene.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for automatically providing a suggestion to delay sending a message that is being composed by a user to send to a chat participant using a chat feature of an application. The suggestion is sent in response to determining that one or more trigger conditions occurred. The suggestion includes a scheduled time to send the message. The methods and systems send the delayed message at the scheduled time.

Abstract: A facility for causing the refill of prescriptions is described. The facility conducts a conversational exchange with a person. From the exchange, the facility discerns (1) an intent of refilling a prescription, and (2) an identification of a prescription to be fulfilled. In response to this discerning, the facility causes a pharmacy refill order to be placed on behalf of the person for the identified prescription.