Abstract: The present application relates to a method of determining an action associated with an apparatus. The method comprises obtaining (100) data representing a visual code and a visual symbol; comparing (120) the visual code with a reference code, and comparing (130) the visual symbol with a reference symbol, to obtain comparison results; and determining (140) the action in response to the comparison results.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an air quality-monitoring system (100) may include at least one sensor (106) configured to detect operation of a mechanism (110) within or at a boundary of an indoor environment. The mechanism may be external to an air purifier (102) associated with the indoor environment. The system may include a persistent memory (124) for storing data about the indoor environment observed by the at least one sensor (106).

Abstract: An air purification apparatus (100) is disclosed that comprises a flow channel (110) extending between an inlet (111) and an outlet (113); a pollutant removal structure (120) and an air displacement apparatus (130) in the flow channel; a branched sensor channel (140) including: a first branch (142) extending between an ambient air port (141) and a further outlet (143) in the flow channel between the inlet and the air displacement apparatus; and a second branch (144) extending between the ambient air port and a further inlet (145) in the flow channel between the air displacement apparatus and the outlet, the first branch and second branch sharing a branch section; at least one sensor (150) in the shared branch section; a valve arrangement (161, 163) in the branched sensor channel adapted to exclusively disconnect the first branch from the flow channel in a first configuration and exclusively disconnect the second branch from the flow channel in a second configuration; and a controller (170) adapted to control

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a server via a network, transaction information descriptive of a money transfer transaction initiated at a point of entry device. The transaction information includes information that identifies a location of the point of entry device. The method includes determining, by the server, receipt information to be included in a receipt for the money transfer transaction. The receipt information may be determined based, at least in part, on the transaction information, and at least a portion of the receipt information included in the receipt satisfies regulatory requirements associated with the location of the point of entry device. The method includes generating, by the server, the receipt that includes the receipt information, and transmitting the receipt from the server to the point of entry device via the network.

Abstract: A veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system includes a dual lumen drainage cannula configured for withdrawing blood from a patient's vasculature in a manner that provides a perfusion of oxygenated blood with reduced carbon dioxide content while unloading the left ventricle, with two points of access to the patient's vasculature. The dual lumen drainage cannula has a first drainage tube and a second drainage tube co-axially aligned with the first drainage tube. The first and second drainage tubes are fluidly coupled to a connector. A blood pump having a pump inlet is configured for fluidly connecting with the connector, while an oxygenator having an oxygenator inlet is configured for fluidly connecting with a pump outlet. An infusion cannula is configured for fluidly connecting with an oxygenator outlet for infusing oxygenated blood into a patient's bloodstream.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid modification system having a container structure and a plurality of independent, ceramic elements. The ceramic elements may be arranged in random orientations and contained in the container structure, thus causing a fluid flow entering the container structure at any given cross-section location to flow over the surfaces of a first subplurality of the ceramic elements, and through the porous walls of a second subplurality of the ceramic elements, before exiting at a second location of the container structure. Each one of the ceramic elements has at least one of a nanofibrous or nanoporous microstructure to enable internal flow both through a wall structure thereof, and over and around the wall structure to affect performance.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a modular fluid modification system having an outer container configured to permit a fluid flow there into at a first location, and to allow the fluid flow to exit the container at a second location spaced apart from the first location. A plurality of fluid contacting elements is housed in the outer container. The fluid contacting elements each form an independent filtering or reactor element. Each fluid contacting element includes a plurality of openings formed in a grid or lattice-like pattern.

Abstract: A method for measuring an airborne metal pollutant on skin can include the taking of a skin sample and measuring of a target metal utilizing inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A method and integrated reactor system are provided for producing one or more organic acids, organic acid degradation compounds, and combinations thereof, from various types of biomass, including sludge from a pulp and paper mill.

Abstract: A particle sensing apparatus is provided for determining particle concentration in a fluid, e.g. air. The apparatus is based on fluid-flow passageway having an upstream inlet to receive the fluid and a downstream outlet to exhaust the fluid. It also includes a recirculation passageway in fluid communication with the fluid-flow passageway. Between them, the fluid-flow passageway and the recirculation passageway define a recirculation loop. A first particle sensor is located in the recirculation loop, and other sensors may also be present at other options. A force applicator is included in the fluid-flow passageway to apply a force to the particles entrained in the fluid. The force is used to direct some or all of the particles into the recirculation loop. This provides a choice between increasing the detection limit or the detection range. A processor determines the concentration of particles in the fluid based on the concentration of particles detected at the first particle sensor.

Abstract: A system for assisting a patient's heart has a pump, an oxygenator, a holder having a pump receiving portion for removably receiving the pump and an oxygenator receiving portion for removably receiving the oxygenator, and a harness configured to surround at least a portion of a patient's torso. The holder is connected to the harness. The system further has a brace connected to at least a portion of the harness. The brace is configured to extend behind a back portion of a user's head and to support tubing connected to at least one of the pump and the oxygenator. A priming tray and wet-to-wet connector connecting the cardiac assist system to the cannula so are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for estimating a local particle concentration indicating the local concentration of pollen and/or microorganisms and to a device and method for generating or refining a particle concentration map of a region. To increase the resolution and accuracy and to enable tracking and monitoring of exposure of a user a particle concentration map (40, 40?) of a region (30) including the actual location (33) is used, which may be generated and refined by crowdsourcing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for verifying the current status of a payment card are provided that may efficiently aggregate and distribute non-visible information regarding a recovered payment card. More particularly, the systems and computer-implemented methods of the present invention permit the efficient aggregation of the non-visible payment account data associated with a payment card and the distribution of such data to investigators in possession of the card. Such systems and methods for verifying a payment card typically involve: (a) aggregating payment account data associated with the payment card in an aggregated data storage site; (b) obtaining visible verification data associated with the payment card from an investigator; (c) verifying the visible verification data associated with the payment card; (d) retrieving the payment account data from the aggregated data storage site; and (e) submitting the payment account data to the investigator.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a control device (100) for operating an air treatment apparatus (10), the control device (100) comprising an input (102) arranged to receive measured data that is indicative of particle concentration from a sensing unit (130), a baseline processing module (104) arranged to derive particle concentration indicative information from the received measured data, an obtaining module (106) arranged to obtain augmenting information that is indicative of air quality, an air quality index augmenting module (108) arranged to determine an augmented air quality index based on the particle concentration indicative information and the augmenting information, and an operation control module (110) arranged to operate the air treatment apparatus (10) based on the augmented air quality index. The disclosure further relates to a corresponding computer program.

Abstract: A power connector assembly includes a power rail and a slide power connector. The power rail is mounted to a first wall of a first component via mechanical standoffs to define a clearance space between the power rail and the first wall. An electrode is disposed along a first side of the power rail facing the first wall. The slide power connector is mounted to a second wall of a discrete, second component. The slide power connector defines a track that receives the power rail therein. At least one power contact of the slide power connector is disposed within the clearance space and is electrically connected to the electrode of the power rail to establish an electrical connection. At least one of the first and second components is movable relative to the other along an extension cycle. The electrical connection is maintained throughout the extension cycle.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to identifying intermittent faults in a unit under test (UUT), and to mapping interconnections between connection points in a UUT. In one scenario, a testing apparatus includes an interface for electrically attaching the UUT to a testing module and an input circuit for supplying an individual stimulus signal to each unpowered connection point in the UUT. The testing apparatus also includes an active intermittence detecting circuit electronically connected to each connecting point in the UUT. A stimulus signal is applied simultaneously to each connecting line, so that an intermittent fault on any line will generate a trigger on those connection lines that have an intermittent fault. The testing apparatus also includes a logic circuit that determines when a trigger has been generated on the UUT, determines the connection point of the trigger, assigns a timestamp to the intermittent fault, and generates reporting data for the intermittent fault.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the taste of coffee, a method of controlling the taste of coffee and a coffee maker including the apparatus. The apparatus includes a control unit, configured to determine a target pH value of water corresponding to a desired coffee taste, and a corresponding adjustment control signal; and a pH adjustment unit, configured to adjust, in response to the adjustment control signal applied to the pH adjustment unit, the pH value of water to be fed into a brewing unit of a coffee maker to the target pH value. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the pH value of water to be fed to a brewing unit of a coffee maker may be adjusted for a desired coffee taste.

Abstract: A personal care composition having an effective amount of a 2-pyridinol-N-oxide material and an effective amount of an iron chelator; wherein the combination of the iron chelator and the 2-pyridinol-N-oxide material provides high antibacterial efficacy.

Abstract: A particle sensing system is for sensing particles entrained in a fluid. The system comprises a flow channel having a longitudinal direction along which the fluid is to be passed, a heating arrangement for heating the fluid and thereby applying a positive thermophoretic force on the fluid in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flow channel and a first sensor for sensing the particles in the fluid after heating by the heating arrangement. The thermophoretic force increases the concentration of the particles at the first sensor.