Abstract: A manifold for collecting a tissue sample with a medical waste collection assembly. A base portion of a housing is removably engaged with a manifold receiver to provide a suction path from an inlet fitting receiving a suction line. A tray may be removably positioned within an accessory sleeve. Locating features facilitate defining a gap between a base portion of the tray and a lower barrier of the accessory sleeve. The tray may include a control surface to move the manifold between a sealing configuration, and a bleed configuration in which a second suction path is provided through the gap and below the tray. A backflow prevention valve may be disposed within the suction path between the tray and a filter element. Methods for collecting the tissue sample are also disclosed.

Abstract: A collapsible detection antenna (10) to detect electromagnetic tags (12) of surgical articles (14) in an operating room (16) includes an antenna assembly (18) configured to detect the electromagnetic tags (12). The antenna assembly (18) is configured to move between a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the antenna assembly forms an antenna loop (20) configured to detect the electromagnetic tags (12). The antenna assembly (18) has a greater detection range in the deployed configuration than in the collapsed configuration. The deployed configuration corresponds to a tuned shape of the antenna assembly (18) sufficient to detect the electromagnetic tags (12) in the deployed configuration.

Abstract: Systems for providing on-demand cup printing and dispensing for food service are provided herein. A cup dispenser includes a cup source configured to hold a stack of cups and one or more cup-moving elements configured to cause a cup from the stack of cups to move through the cup dispenser. The cup dispenser includes a motor configured to operate the one or more cup-moving elements to cause the cup to move through the cup dispenser along a path. The cup dispenser also includes a printer configured to print at least one of order information or personalization information on the cup that is based on the food service order associated with the cup. The cup dispenser further includes a dispensing section that provides the cup, which includes the at least one of order information or personalization information printed thereon.

Abstract: A playing card tray assembly for separating a pair of decks of playing cards includes a card cradle that has a pair of sloped surfaces that is each opposed with respect to each other to support respective one of a pair of decks of playing cards. The card cradle has a partition extending between the pair of sloped surfaces to separate the decks of playing cards from each other.

Abstract: A cassette for retrieving plural tissue samples from a fluid stream. The cassette includes a bypass conduit and plural voids. A catch tray is removably seated in each of the voids. A fitting extends from the cassette. The cassette has an outlet opening through which a suction is drawn. The cassette also has a valve. The valve directs the fluid stream from the fitting so the fluid stream flows through the bypass conduit or through one of the voids in which a catch tray is seated.

Abstract: A manifold for a medical/surgical waste collection system. An outlet opening and a fitting are in fluid communication with a manifold volume within a housing. The fitting receives a suction line. A filter element with porous features is disposed within the housing such that a fluid communication path is established across the filter element. The porous features trap material entrained within the fluid. A material collection volume is at least partially distal to and below a bottom of the filter element. As the fluid and the material is drawn through the fluid communication path, the material collects within the material collection volume. A flow diverter may be positioned within the housing for directing the material towards the material collection volume. The material collection volume may be at least partially defined by a tissue trap removably coupled to the housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for updating text files for a processing pipeline without restarting the processing pipeline. A processing pipeline may include a frontend thread and a backend thread. The frontend thread of the processing pipeline may generate transformed data using the text file. A backend thread of the processing pipeline may periodically determine whether an updated text file has been uploaded. The backend thread can determine that an updated text file has been uploaded and cause the frontend thread to pause generating transformed data. The backend thread can validate the updated text file by comparing the text file and the updated text file. Based on validating the updated text file, the backend thread can cause the frontend thread to resume transforming data using the updated text file.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cannabis briquette formed from compressed cannabis and having a hole defining an air channel through the cannabis briquette. The hole can enable an inside portion of the cannabis briquette to be lit and burned during use. In this way, the cannabis briquette can burn outward from the inside portion, which can help to facilitate an even burn of the cannabis briquette. The cannabis briquette is a pre-bowl configuration, which can be convenient for users because it circumvents any need to grind or compress any cannabis, and it is easy to place into a bowl.

Abstract: An apparatus to separate water droplets from an air stream. The apparatus includes an elongated tube, a reservoir, and a helix structure. The elongated tube has a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis, an inner surface, an inlet opening at the first end of the elongated tube, the inlet opening arranged to accept the air stream tangentially relative to the longitudinal axis, and an outlet opening at the second end of the elongated tube. The reservoir is positioned at a second end of the elongated tube. The helix structure is positioned within the elongated tube and includes an upper surface, a lower surface arranged opposite the upper surface, an outer edge, and a variable pitch along a length of the elongated tube, the variable pitch providing a variable interior angle between an inner wall of the elongated tube and the upper surface of the helix structure.

Abstract: A cassette for retrieving plural tissue samples from a fluid stream. The cassette includes a bypass conduit and plural voids. A catch tray is removably seated in each of the voids. A fitting extends from the cassette. The cassette has an outlet opening through which a suction is drawn. The cassette also has a valve. The valve directs the fluid stream from the fitting so the fluid stream flows through the bypass conduit or through one of the voids in which a catch tray is seated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the inventive concept provide a portable organic entity termination applicator unit. The applicator unit can include an organic herbicide reservoir or can otherwise be an herbicideless applicator unit. The applicator unit can include an outer housing, a cold water supply line, an organic herbicide reservoir to hold organic herbicide, an herbicide adjustment valve for controlling a liquid mixture, a heater core to pre-heat the herbicide water liquid mixture, and a delivery pipe to expel the heated liquid. The applicator unit can include a fuel canister receptacle to receive a fuel canister. The heater core may heat the liquid using fuel stored in the fuel canister.

Abstract: Provided is a method for encoding scatterplot data using strings. The method may comprise receiving a plurality of data points in a data set. Each data point has at least a first data value corresponding to a first dimension and a second data value corresponding to a second dimension. The method further comprises determining a first resolution for the first dimension and a second resolution for the second dimension. The method further comprises determining an encoding scheme for encoding the plurality of data points. The encoding scheme includes a plurality of valid encoding characters. The method further comprises encoding each of the plurality of data points based on the first resolution, the second resolution, and the encoding scheme.

Abstract: A tray and a manifold for collecting a tissue sample under influence of a vacuum. The manifold includes a sleeve, and the tray includes a sealing member configured to be removably positioned in sealing engagement with the opening. A basket defining a tissue collecting cavity, and a base portion includes at least one rib disposed within said tissue collecting cavity. The rib(s) define pockets arranged in series in the proximal-to-distal direction so as to provide low pressure regions when the tray is being removed from the sleeve. The rib(s) may be transverse to a longitudinal axis, and/or arcuate in a shape complimentary to the base portion. The base portion defines porous features that may be arranged in groupings A sealing edge in sealing engagement with an upper barrier of the sleeve may delay an onset of airflow entering the tissue collecting cavity.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for human balance training. The systems and methods involve intermittently occluding the vision of a subject while the subject is engaged in a balance activity, such as walking on a balance beam, for example. Creating a brief period of continuous visual occlusion results in posterior parietal cortex activation, leading to enhanced balance training. The end result is much greater improvement in balance compared to physical training alone.

Abstract: A method of making laminate foam material is provided. The laminate foam material includes a layer of non-foam material sandwiched between two layers of foam material. The non-foam material is bonded to the foam material, such as with a bonding agent and/or by heating respective surfaces of the foam material until the surface softens or melts. When a heating process is utilized, the non-foam material is pressed against the softened or melted foam material. As the foam material begins to cool, the non-foam material becomes bonded to the foam material. The non-foam material is narrower than the foam material and is positioned relative to the foam material such that the edges of the non-foam material are concealed by the foam material. Foam products, such as foam mats, can be formed from the laminate foam material by cutting across the width of the foam material.

Abstract: An equipment mounting system for mounting equipment to a support structure is described. An equipment mounting system including: (i) a mounting plate having defined therein a plate aperture of a particular shape; (ii) a bolt having a shaft portion including a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion that is of a complementary shape that complements the particular shape of the plate aperture; and (iii) a washer having defined therein a scored aperture that includes multiple radially extending scorings. In an assembled configuration of the mounting plate, the bolt and the washer, the plate aperture of the particular shape aligns with the scoring aperture such that both of the plate aperture and the scoring aperture receive the non-threaded portion of the complementary shape, and the particular shape of the mounting plate engages with the complementary shape of the bolt to prevent rotational displacement of the bolt around the mounting plate.

Abstract: A plant growth system for a microgravity environment includes a root chamber configured to prevent liquid from escaping from the root chamber in the microgravity environment and to enable recovery of liquid from within the root chamber. In some embodiments, the root chamber may be configured to provide water and/or nutrients to the plants, via ebb/flow and/or spray delivery. In some embodiments, the root chamber includes a main body and a root/shoot interface coupled to the main body. The root/shoot interface can be configured to hold a plant having a root system extending outward from one side of the root/shoot interface into the root chamber and a chute system extending outward from another side of the root/shoot interface outside of the root chamber. The root/shoot interface may be configured to provide water and/or nutrients to the plants.

Abstract: An equipment mounting system for mounting equipment to a support structure is described. An equipment mounting system including: (i) a mounting plate having defined therein a plate aperture of a particular shape; (ii) a bolt having a shaft portion including a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion that is of a complementary shape that complements the particular shape of the plate aperture; and (iii) a washer having defined therein a scored aperture that includes multiple radially extending scorings. in an assembled configuration of the mounting plate, the bolt and the washer, the plate aperture of the particular shape aligns with the scoring aperture such that both of the plate aperture and the scoring aperture receive the non-threaded portion of the complementary shape, and the particular shape of the mounting plate engages with the complementary shape of the bolt to prevent rotational displacement of the bolt around the mounting plate.

Abstract: An equipment mounting system for mounting equipment to a support structure is described. An equipment mounting system including: (i) a mounting plate having defined therein a plate aperture of a particular shape; (ii) a bolt having a shaft portion including a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion that is of a complementary shape that complements the particular shape of the plate aperture; and (iii) a washer having defined therein a scored aperture that includes multiple radially extending scorings. In an assembled configuration of the mounting plate, the bolt and the washer, the plate aperture of the particular shape aligns with the scoring aperture such that both of the plate aperture and the scoring aperture receive the non-threaded portion of the complementary shape, and the particular shape of the mounting plate engages with the complementary shape of the bolt to prevent rotational displacement of the bolt around the mounting plate.