Abstract: Multicore fibers can include multiple cores surrounded by a cladding. The cores of the multicore fibers can be coupled with a transition portion to facilitate a fanout into one or more ribbons having multiple single cores.

Abstract: A moisture removal apparatus for a breathing circuit may include a breathing gas conduit configured to receive a flow of breathing gas having a first humidity level. The apparatus may include a dry gas conduit adjacent to at least a portion of the breathing gas conduit, the dry gas conduit configured to receive a flow of dry gas having a second humidity level lower than the first humidity level. The apparatus may also include a feeding conduit extending through at least a portion of the dry gas conduit, the feeding conduit configured to introduce the dry gas into the dry gas conduit. The apparatus may further include a moisture transmission pathway configured to enable transfer of moisture from the breathing gas to the dry gas based on the humidity differential.

Abstract: An electric pallet jack can be configured to include logic controllers that are connected to a drive system and a steering system of the electric pallet jack. The logic controllers can be in communication with one or more sensors that enable determinations of pallet jack velocity, pallet jack acceleration, and a rate of turning for the electric pallet jack. The logic controllers can be configured to provide maximum velocity, maximum acceleration, maximum deceleration, and maximum rate of turning limitations to maintain control over an object transported by the electric pallet jack. The logic controllers can determine whether the maximum thresholds of the electric pallet jack are exceeded by an operating variable and can modulate the amount of power provided by the drive system to reduce the operating variable below the associated threshold.

Abstract: A moisture removal apparatus for a breathing circuit may include a breathing gas conduit configured to receive a flow of breathing gas having a first humidity level. The apparatus may include a dry gas conduit adjacent to at least a portion of the breathing gas conduit, the dry gas conduit configured to receive a flow of dry gas having a second humidity level lower than the first humidity level. The apparatus may also include a feeding conduit extending through at least a portion of the dry gas conduit, the feeding conduit configured to introduce the dry gas into the dry gas conduit. The apparatus may further include a moisture transmission pathway configured to enable transfer of moisture from the breathing gas to the dry gas based on the humidity differential.

Abstract: A moisture removal and condensation and humidity management apparatus for a breathing circuit comprises a breathing circuit tubing defining a breathing gas conduit. The breathing gas has a first humidity level and a level of moisture therein. A dry gas conduit is adjacent at least a portion of the breathing gas conduit. The dry gas flow is configured to have a second humidity level lower than the first humidity level. A moisture transmission pathway is provided between the breathing gas conduit and the dry gas conduit, such that humidity in the flow of breathing gas is lowered and moisture is transferred to the dry gas flow. The moisture transmission pathway may be provided by a permeable portion which is permeable to water vapor but impermeable to liquid water, or by one or more perforations which permit drainage of liquid water from the breathing gas conduit to the dry gas conduit.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to lateral flow assays having a number of different detection zones tuned to extend the dynamic range of the assay in indicating concentration of a hazardous contaminant in a test sample. Some aspects relate to assay reader devices configured with instructions to generate a result representing the concentration of the hazardous contaminant in the test sample based on some or all of the detection zones.

Abstract: A moisture removal and condensation and humidity management apparatus for a breathing circuit includes a breathing circuit tubing defining a breathing gas conduit. The breathing gas has a first humidity level and a level of moisture therein. A dry gas conduit is adjacent at least a portion of the breathing gas conduit. The dry gas flow is configured to have a second humidity level lower than the first humidity level. A moisture transmission pathway is provided between the breathing gas conduit and the dry gas conduit, such that humidity in the flow of breathing gas is lowered and moisture is transferred to the dry gas flow. The moisture transmission pathway may be provided by a permeable portion which is permeable to water vapor but impermeable to liquid water, or by one or more perforations which permit drainage of liquid water from the breathing gas conduit to the dry gas conduit.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to lateral flow assays having a number of different detection zones tuned to extend the dynamic range of the assay in indicating concentration of a hazardous contaminant in a test sample. Some aspects relate to assay reader devices configured with instructions to generate a result representing the concentration of the hazardous contaminant in the test sample based on some or all of the detection zones.

Abstract: A level compensator system may be configured to receive containers of different heights and position them at the same level. The level compensator system can include engagement platforms for engaging with the containers. The engagement platforms can move between an engagement configuration for engaging with the containers and a conveyance configuration for conveying of the containers relative to the level compensator.

Abstract: A respiratory filter and condensate management apparatus is provided for use in a breathing circuit during patient respiration. The apparatus includes a housing having an air inlet port for receiving a flow of respiratory air, and an air outlet port for outputting the flow of respiratory air to a ventilator. A filter compartment is provided within the housing and includes a filter member located in a flow path of the respiratory air from the air inlet port to the air outlet port. A condensate collection compartment is provided within the housing and includes at least one reservoir and at least one self-sealing drainage port. The reservoir collects liquid formed by condensation of the respiratory air within the filter compartment, and the drainage port allows removal of the collected liquid from the reservoir while the housing remains connected to the breathing circuit.

Abstract: A near-patient humidification system provides vapor to a respiratory breathing circuit. The system includes an expiratory gas conduit and an inspiratory gas conduit. A patient coupling member is provided for coupling the expiratory and inspiratory gas conduits to a patient interface. A vapor injection unit is located at least partially within the housing of the patient coupling member. The vapor injection unit heats a supply of fluid into vapor and injects the vapor into the inspiratory gas passage of the patient coupling member at a vapor injection location for providing moisture to the inspiratory gas flow. A method of simultaneously and independently controlling the temperature and humidity of inspiratory gas in a respiratory breathing circuit is performed by injecting vapor having a temperature determined as a function of measured temperatures and measured humidities of the breathing gas at different locations along the breathing circuit.

Abstract: A moisture removal apparatus for a breathing circuit may include a breathing gas conduit configured to receive a flow of breathing gas having a first humidity level. The apparatus may include a dry gas conduit adjacent to at least a portion of the breathing gas conduit, the dry gas conduit configured to receive a flow of dry gas having a second humidity level lower than the first humidity level. The apparatus may also include a feeding conduit extending through at least a portion of the dry gas conduit, the feeding conduit configured to introduce the dry gas into the dry gas conduit. The apparatus may further include a moisture transmission pathway configured to enable transfer of moisture from the breathing gas to the dry gas based on the humidity differential.

Abstract: A near-patient humidification system provides vapor to a respiratory breathing circuit. The system includes an expiratory gas conduit and an inspiratory gas conduit. A patient coupling member is provided for coupling the expiratory and inspiratory gas conduits to a patient interface. A vapor injection unit is located at least partially within the housing of the patient coupling member. The vapor injection unit heats a supply of fluid into vapor and injects the vapor into the inspiratory gas passage of the patient coupling member at a vapor injection location for providing moisture to the inspiratory gas flow. A method of simultaneously and independently controlling the temperature and humidity of inspiratory gas in a respiratory breathing circuit is performed by injecting vapor having a temperature determined as a function of measured temperatures and measured humidities of the breathing gas at different locations along the breathing circuit.

Abstract: A moisture removal apparatus for a breathing circuit may include a breathing gas conduit configured to receive a flow of breathing gas having a first humidity level. The apparatus may include a dry gas conduit adjacent to at least a portion of the breathing gas conduit, the dry gas conduit configured to receive a flow of dry gas having a second humidity level lower than the first humidity level. The apparatus may also include a feeding conduit extending through at least a portion of the dry gas conduit, the feeding conduit configured to introduce the dry gas into the dry gas conduit. The apparatus may further include a moisture transmission pathway configured to enable transfer of moisture from the breathing gas to the dry gas based on the humidity differential.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to lateral flow assays having a number of different detection zones tuned to extend the dynamic range of the assay in indicating concentration of a hazardous contaminant in a test sample. Some aspects relate to assay reader devices configured with instructions to generate a result representing the concentration of the hazardous contaminant in the test sample based on some or all of the detection zones.

Abstract: An energy conversion device comprising a first electrically conductive layer, a mesoporous oxide layer contiguous with the first electrically conductive layer and comprised of volcanic ash particles and photoactive dye molecules adsorbed on the ash particles, an electrolyte layer contiguous with the mesoporous oxide layer and comprised of a redox mediator, a catalyst layer comprised of an electrically conductive catalyst material, and a second electrically conductive layer contiguous with the catalyst layer. The electrically conductive catalyst material may be graphene, graphite, platinum, or carbon. The device may be further comprised of a light transmissive substrate contiguous with the first electrically conductive layer. The mesoporous oxide layer may be further comprised of titanium dioxide particles. The volcanic ash may comprise a mixture of particles from different indigenous sources of volcanic ash.

Abstract: A near-patient humidification system provides vapor to a respiratory breathing circuit. The system includes an expiratory gas conduit and an inspiratory gas conduit. A patient coupling member is provided for coupling the expiratory and inspiratory gas conduits to a patient interface. A vapor injection unit is located at least partially within the housing of the patient coupling member. The vapor injection unit heats a supply of fluid into vapor and injects the vapor into the inspiratory gas passage of the patient coupling member at a vapor injection location for providing moisture to the inspiratory gas flow. A method of simultaneously and independently controlling the temperature and humidity of inspiratory gas in a respiratory breathing circuit is performed by injecting vapor having a temperature determined as a function of measured temperatures and measured humidities of the breathing gas at different locations along the breathing circuit.

Abstract: A moisture removal apparatus for a breathing circuit may include a breathing gas conduit configured to receive a flow of breathing gas having a first humidity level. The apparatus may include a dry gas conduit adjacent to at least a portion of the breathing gas conduit, the dry gas conduit configured to receive a flow of dry gas having a second humidity level lower than the first humidity level. The apparatus may also include a feeding conduit extending through at least a portion of the dry gas conduit, the feeding conduit configured to introduce the dry gas into the dry gas conduit. The apparatus may further include a moisture transmission pathway configured to enable transfer of moisture from the breathing gas to the dry gas based on the humidity differential.

Abstract: A respiratory mask for a medical patient including a shell and a flow coupling is disclosed. The shell includes an upper portion configured to cover a nose of the patient and a lower portion configured to cover a mouth of the patient, where an internal surface of the shell defines an interior volume of the respiratory mask. The flow coupling includes a body, a supply flow passage extending through the flow coupling, a scavenging flow passage extending through the flow coupling, and a septum within the body that separates the supply flow passage from the scavenging flow passage. The supply flow passage and the scavenging flow passage are fluidly coupled to an aperture that extends through the upper portion of the shell, and an aperture extending through the lower portion of the shell, respectively.

Abstract: A moisture removal and condensation and humidity management apparatus for a breathing circuit comprises a breathing circuit tubing defining a breathing gas conduit. The breathing gas has a first humidity level and a level of moisture therein. A dry gas conduit is adjacent at least a portion of the breathing gas conduit. The dry gas flow is configured to have a second humidity level lower than the first humidity level. A moisture transmission pathway is provided between the breathing gas conduit and the dry gas conduit, such that humidity in the flow of breathing gas is lowered and moisture is transferred to the dry gas flow. The moisture transmission pathway may be provided by a permeable portion which is permeable to water vapor but impermeable to liquid water, or by one or more perforations which permit drainage of liquid water from the breathing gas conduit to the dry gas conduit.