Abstract: Method and composition for producing aggregates from cement and concrete, including residual or returned concrete. Exemplary methods involve the use of an aggregate-forming inducer that provides a surface anchoring site for cement paste to bond/adhere, such as shredded news print, cardboard, or mixtures thereof, and also including fiber materials such as polymers, glass, and other material fibers. The aggregate-forming inducer is mixed with fresh concrete until aggregates are formed.

Abstract: Various arrangements of fluidics systems are disclosed. In one arrangement, an aspiration circuit for a fluidics system is disclosed that selectively controls aspiration. The aspiration circuit comprises an aspiration line operatively connected to a surgical instrument, an aspiration exhaust line operatively connected to a waste receptacle; an aspiration vent line connected at a first end to the aspiration line; and a selectively variable vent valve operatively connected to the aspiration vent line. The variable vent valve may be selectively moved to vary aspiration pressure within the aspiration line. Other fluidics systems are disclosed that include a selectively positionable irrigation valve that may also be incorporated into a fluidics system that includes a variable vent valve.

Abstract: A surgical stapler instrument includes a stapling head assembly that receives a plurality of staples. The staples are configured with features that allow the staples to expand after deployment so that an anastomosis created by the instrument can increase in size after forming. In some versions the staples expand automatically after deployment, and in other versions the staples expand in response to tissue forces imparted upon the staples after deployment. In some versions the staples are configured to be deployed in various patterns that promote expandability of the circular staple line.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to assign respondents to geographic locations for audience measurement are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein are to determine a set of constraints based on aggregate values of demographic features associated with respective ones of the geographic locations. Disclosed example apparatus are also to construct a model to return probabilities that respective ones the respondents are associated with the respective ones of the geographic locations, the model to have a set of parameters, respective ones of the parameters to be associated with respective ones of the constraints. Disclosed example apparatus are further to evaluate the model based on values of the set of parameters and values of the demographic features for a first one of the respondents to determine a set of probabilities that the first respondent is to be assigned to respective ones of the geographic locations.

Abstract: Various arrangements of fluidics systems are disclosed. In one arrangement, an aspiration circuit for a fluidics system is disclosed that selectively controls aspiration. The aspiration circuit comprises an aspiration line operatively connected to a surgical instrument, an aspiration exhaust line operatively connected to a waste receptacle; an aspiration vent line connected at a first end to the aspiration line; and a selectively variable vent valve operatively connected to the aspiration vent line. The variable vent valve may be selectively moved to vary aspiration pressure within the aspiration line. Other fluidics systems are disclosed that include a selectively positionable irrigation valve that may also be incorporated into a fluidics system that includes a variable vent valve.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to generate synthetic respondent level data. Example apparatus disclosed herein include means for generating a synthetic panel corresponding to a duration of time, the means for generating the synthetic panel to: generate a transition matrix corresponding to a first sub-duration of the duration of time and a second sub-duration of the duration of time; generate, based on the transition matrix, a plurality of synthetic panelists and associated viewing data; remove first ones of the synthetic panelists associated with one or more weights that do not satisfy a threshold to generate the synthetic panel corresponding to the duration of time, the synthetic panel representative of audiences of media presented by a plurality of media devices during the duration of time; and generate synthetic respondent level data based on the viewing data associated with remaining second ones of the synthetic panelists.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to estimate population reach for different unions based on marginal ratings. An example method includes performing first parallel computations to determine first multipliers corresponding to a total number of panelists exposed to media at (a) a first margin of time, (b) a second margin of time, and (c) a union corresponding to the first and second margins of time, keeping a subset of the first multipliers corresponding to unknown census data; performing second parallel computation to determine second multipliers corresponding to a total audience exposed to the media at the first margin of time and the second margin of time, the second parallel computations to be performed by solving second equations corresponding to a tree association; and determining an estimate for a population reach of the union based on the second multipliers.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to generate synthetic respondent level data. An example apparatus includes at least one memory; processor circuitry to execute instructions to: identify locations corresponding to monitored panelists; when a location of the identified locations corresponds to two or more affiliates, sum tuning minutes of the two or more affiliates; generate an affiliate probability based on the sum; convert first data of households in the location to a candidate receivability session based on the affiliate probability; generate a seed panel, the seed panel to include at least one of the monitored panelists selected based on a population associated with return path data; and donate second data associated with a donor pool of first panelists to second panelists included in the seed panel when the second panelists are included in the seed panel, the second panelists corresponds to faulty media monitoring equipment.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to generate synthetic respondent level data. Example apparatus disclosed herein include means for generating a synthetic panel corresponding to a duration of time, the means for generating the synthetic panel to: generate a transition matrix corresponding to a first sub-duration of the duration of time and a second sub-duration of the duration of time; generate, based on the transition matrix, a plurality of synthetic panelists and associated viewing data; remove first ones of the synthetic panelists associated with one or more weights that do not satisfy a threshold to generate the synthetic panel corresponding to the duration of time, the synthetic panel representative of audiences of media presented by a plurality of media devices during the duration of time; and generate synthetic respondent level data based on the viewing data associated with remaining second ones of the synthetic panelists.

Abstract: Methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and apparatus are disclosed to map client specifications to standardized characteristics. An example apparatus includes a cluster identifier to cluster client databases into client clusters based on a threshold quantity of overlapping universal product codes (UPCs) between respective ones of the client databases, a characteristic analyzer to identify custom characteristics from the respective ones of the client clusters, ones of the custom characteristics having dissimilar nomenclature, and a graph builder to cluster the ones of the custom characteristics based on a similarity metric, and normalize the ones of the custom characteristics as a proxy characteristic, the proxy characteristic having a common nomenclature to represent the ones of the custom characteristics, the characteristic analyzer to enable improved product marketing analysis by replacing dissimilar nomenclature with the proxy characteristic.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to estimate population reach. An example apparatus includes processor circuitry to determine first multipliers corresponding to a panelist impression count and panelist audience size totals of at least one of a first margin of media, a second margin of the media, or a union of the first margin and the second margin, the first margin, the second margin, and the union included in a tree association; concurrently determine second multipliers using the tree association and the first multipliers; determine third multipliers corresponding to a total audience size exposed to the media at at least one of the first margin, the second margin, or the union based on the tree association using database proprietor impression totals; and determine, based on the third multipliers, an estimate for the population reach of the media for at least one of the first margin, the second margin, or the union.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to estimate population reach for different unions based on marginal ratings. An example method includes performing first parallel computations to determine first multipliers corresponding to a total number of panelists exposed to media at (a) a first margin of time, (b) a second margin of time, and (c) a union corresponding to the first and second margins of time, keeping a subset of the first multipliers corresponding to unknown census data; performing second parallel computation to determine second multipliers corresponding to a total audience exposed to the media at the first margin of time and the second margin of time, the second parallel computations to be performed by solving second equations corresponding to a tree association; and determining an estimate for a population reach of the union based on the second multipliers.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to assign respondents to geographic locations for audience measurement are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein are to determine a set of constraints based on aggregate values of demographic features associated with respective ones of the geographic locations. Disclosed example apparatus are also to construct a model to return probabilities that respective ones the respondents are associated with the respective ones of the geographic locations, the model to have a set of parameters, respective ones of the parameters to be associated with respective ones of the constraints. Disclosed example apparatus are further to evaluate the model based on values of the set of parameters and values of the demographic features for a first one of the respondents to determine a set of probabilities that the first respondent is to be assigned to respective ones of the geographic locations.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to generate synthetic respondent level data. An example apparatus includes at least one memory; processor circuitry to execute instructions to: identify locations corresponding to monitored panelists; when a location of the identified locations corresponds to two or more affiliates, sum tuning minutes of the two or more affiliates; generate an affiliate probability based on the sum; convert first data of households in the location to a candidate receivability session based on the affiliate probability; generate a seed panel, the seed panel to include at least one of the monitored panelists selected based on a population associated with return path data; and donate second data associated with a donor pool of first panelists to second panelists included in the seed panel when the second panelists are included in the seed panel, the second panelists corresponds to faulty media monitoring equipment.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to estimate population reach from marginal ratings. An example apparatus includes means for iteratively converging on an output estimate of a reach of media for a total population audience and means for outputting the estimate of the reach for the total population audience.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to replicate panelists using a local minimum solution of an integer least squares problem are disclosed. An example apparatus includes memory; and processor circuitry to execute computer readable instructions to: determine weight adjustments based on a ratio of (A) a first dot product of (i) attribute data and (ii) a difference between first aggregate panelist data and second seed panelist data, and (B) a second dot product of the attribute data and the attribute data, the first aggregate panelist data based on the attribute data, the attribute data corresponding to a seed panel; determine weight estimates based on the weight adjustments, the weight estimates to replicate respective seed panelists in the seed panel; and replicate respective ones of the seed panelists based on the weight estimates to generate a synthetic audience representative of return path data reported by a plurality of media devices.

Abstract: A surgical system comprises a pressurized irrigation fluid source; an irrigation line fluidly coupled to the pressurized irrigation fluid source; a hand piece fluidly coupled to the irrigation line; and a controller for controlling the pressurized irrigation fluid source. The controller controls the pressurized irrigation fluid source based on an estimated flow value modified by a compensation factor.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to estimate population reach for different unions based on marginal ratings. An example method includes performing first parallel computations to determine first multipliers corresponding to a total number of panelists exposed to media at (a) a first margin of time, (b) a second margin of time, and (c) a union corresponding to the first and second margins of time, keeping a subset of the first multipliers corresponding to unknown census data; performing second parallel computation to determine second multipliers corresponding to a total audience exposed to the media at the first margin of time and the second margin of time, the second parallel computations to be performed by solving second equations corresponding to a tree association; and determining an estimate for a population reach of the union based on the second multipliers.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to assign respondents to geographic locations for audience measurement are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein are to determine a set of constraints based on aggregate values of demographic features associated with respective ones of the geographic locations. Disclosed example apparatus are also to construct a model to return probabilities that respective ones the respondents are associated with the respective ones of the geographic locations, the model to have a set of parameters, respective ones of the parameters to be associated with respective ones of the constraints. Disclosed example apparatus are further to evaluate the model based on values of the set of parameters and values of the demographic features for a first one of the respondents to determine a set of probabilities that the first respondent is to be assigned to respective ones of the geographic locations.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to generate synthetic respondent level data. Example apparatus disclosed herein are to identify locations corresponding to monitored panelists, and when a first one of the identified locations corresponds to two or more affiliates, sum tuning minutes of the two or more affiliates. Disclosed example apparatus are also to generate an affiliate probability based on the sum, and convert first data of households in the first one of the locations to a candidate receivability session based on the affiliate probability. Disclosed apparatus are further to generate a seed panel, the seed panel to include at least one of the monitored panelists selected based on a population associated with return path data, and donate second data associated with a donor pool of first panelists to second panelists included in the seed panel, the second panelists associated with faulty media monitoring equipment.