Abstract: A method of calibrating a polarized light microscope comprises placing an optical data storage medium in a sample stage of the polarized light microscope, the optical data storage medium comprising a substrate having birefringent voxels embedded therein; measuring a background birefringence of the optical data storage medium; adjusting the polarized light microscope to compensate for the background birefringence. By correcting for background birefringence, image contrast may be improved. Further improvements may be obtained by optimizing swing angles of measurement states after compensating for the background birefringence. Also provided is a method of reading data from a birefringent optical data storage medium, and a system useful for implementing the methods.

Abstract: A method of repairing a mat including: cutting an irregular section of the mat to an approximately perpendicular edge; applying a sealant to the perpendicular edge; conjoining a secondary piece to the perpendicular edge; clamping the secondary piece to the perpendicular edge temporarily; and fixing the secondary piece to the perpendicular edge; where the mat being configured to support the weight of people, vehicles and equipment thereupon and undergo movement relative to one or more other mats without disengaging from another, and the mats include at least four sides and an edge extending along each side, the first and second sides of each mat having a lower lip extending horizontally outwardly below the edge thereof and the third and fourth sides of each mat having an upper lip forming the edge thereof, the respective upper and lower lips of different mats being interconnectable with pins.

Abstract: A histology processing is provided for processing of large samples which do not fit in standard size histology cassettes and which may be labelled using conventional laboratory printing apparatus. The cassette has a box structure with an apertured base and open top face and the internal length to the internal width of the structure is of a ratio from 1.0 to 1.6 and able to receive sample identification information from an automated cassette printing apparatus and a closure for the open upper face of the structure, engageable with the structure to provide a sample enclosure in which the ratio of the width of the sample enclosure to its depth is less than 5:1 and the ratio of the length of the sample enclosure to its depth is less than 6:1.

Abstract: A plurality of computing devices are provisioned configured to communicate on a mobile communications network operated, in part, by an edge computing network. The edge computing network is associated with a customer of a computing service provider. The edge computing network comprises computing and storage devices configured to extend computing resources of the computing service provider to the customer of the computing service provider. A selection is received of a SIM provider and a quantity of SIM profiles for enabling the plurality of computing devices to access the mobile communications network. SIM data corresponding to the quantity of SIM profiles is received. The SIM data is encrypted and received over an encrypted channel.

Abstract: A food cooking appliance such as a waffle maker, pizza maker or toaster uses a combination of sensor inputs and optional user preferences to determine an optimal cooking time.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for tracking content across multiple content outlets. Content items, characterized by first metadata, and content slots, characterized by second metadata, can be received. Third metadata for digital content slots can be generated. Fourth metadata can be received. A recommended content item package can be provided based on a comparison between a combination of the first metadata, the second metadata, and the third metadata and the fourth metadata. The recommended content item package can include a content file and a metadata file. A performance and a measurement of the recommended content item package can be determined by executing the metadata file to track the content file across one or more of the content slots and the potential digital content slots. The performance and the measurement can be provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention manage a state of charge of a rechargeable battery for extended storage by determining a manual override for a storage protocol is not activate for a rechargeable battery associated with a battery charger and an electronic device. Receiving battery data, environment data, and historical data for the rechargeable battery associated with a battery charger. Embodiments of the present invention determine to activate the storage protocol for the rechargeable battery based on the battery data, the environment data, and the historical data and discharge the rechargeable battery to a preset state of charge level based on the storage protocol.

Abstract: A control system for controlling a surgical robot arm, the surgical robot arm having a drive mechanism configured for driving a robotic surgical instrument, said robotic surgical instrument comprising a first end effector element and a second end effector element, the drive mechanism comprising one or more interface elements configured to interface with the robotic surgical instrument for controlling a spread angle between the first end effector element and the second end effector element, the control system being configured to: cause an instrument drive force applied at the one or more interface elements to be varied; measure, at each of a plurality of times, the instrument drive force applied at the one or more interface elements; determine, for each of the plurality of times, a force behaviour value using a derivative of the measured instrument drive force with respect to the time at that time; determine an offset value in dependence on the plurality of determined force behaviour values; and control, in de

Abstract: Methods of production of edible filamentous fungal biomat formulations are provided as standalone protein sources and/or protein ingredients in foodstuffs as well as a one-time use or repeated use self-contained biomat reactor comprising a container with at least one compartment and placed within the compartment(s), a feedstock, a fungal inoculum, a gas-permeable membrane, and optionally a liquid nutrient medium.

Abstract: A head unit system for controlling motion of an object includes a secondary object sensor and a head unit device that include shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber configured to contain the STF. The chamber further includes a front channel and a back channel. The head unit device further includes a piston housed at least partially radially within the piston compartment and separating the back channel and the front channel. The piston includes a first piston bypass and a second piston bypasses to control flow of the STF between opposite sides of the piston. The chamber further includes a set of fluid flow sensors and a set of fluid manipulation emitters to control the flow of the STF to cause selection of one of a variety of shear rates for the STF within the chamber to control motion of the object with regards to a secondary object.

Abstract: Methods of production of edible filamentous fungal biomat formulations are provided as standalone protein sources and/or protein ingredients in foodstuffs as well as a one-time use or repeated use self-contained biomat reactor comprising a container with at least one compartment and placed within the compartment(s), a feedstock, a fungal inoculum, a gas-permeable membrane, and optionally a liquid nutrient medium.

Abstract: Methods of production of edible filamentous fungal biomat formulations are provided as standalone protein sources and/or protein ingredients in foodstuffs as well as a one-time use or repeated use self-contained biomat reactor comprising a container with at least one compartment and placed within the compartment(s), a feedstock, a fungal inoculum, a gas-permeable membrane, and optionally a liquid nutrient medium.

Abstract: An actuation system comprises a plurality of actuators, a common power drive unit for driving the actuators and a transmission line transmitting drive from the common drive unit to the plurality of actuators. A clutch is arranged in the transmission line between the power drive unit and the plurality of actuators for selectively disconnecting the power drive unit from the plurality of actuators. At least one sensor is provided for sensing an abnormal load condition in the actuation system. The at least one sensor is operatively coupled to a clutch control which is configured such that when the at least one sensor senses an abnormal load condition, the clutch control is operative to disengage the clutch so as to disconnect the power drive unit from the plurality of actuators. A brake is operative to brake the actuators upon disengagement of the clutch.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method may include displaying, on a display device, a graphical diagram with multiple graphical objects that represent data of a data source. The method may include overlaying a legend on the graphical diagram, the legend including one or more legend data objects associated with a set of graphical objects of the graphical objects, each set of graphical objects including a common graphical attribute among the set of graphical objects. Additionally, the legend data objects may be configured to be user-interactable, where, upon interacting with a given legend data object, the set of graphical objects associated with the given legend data object are all selected such that by interacting with the given legend data object, all of the members of the associated set are interacted with.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for opening of a plastic bag containing a food product in the form of powder or similar fine particulate material is disclosed. The bag is positioned atop a plate with a plurality of slots, with at least one slot transverse to the others. Beneath the plate, a bag opener is provided that includes a plurality of blades, with at least one blade transverse to the others. The plastic bag is penetrated with aeration spears and pressurized. The bag opener is moved relative to the plate such that the blades pass through the slots and open the bag. The plate is then allowed to pivot downwards, allowing its contents to be emptied into a hopper beneath the plate.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing a training operation of a neural network are provided. In one example, a method comprises: performing backward propagation computations for a second layer of a neural network to generate second weight gradients; splitting the second weight gradients into portions; causing a hardware interface to exchange a first portion of the second weight gradients with the second computer system; performing backward propagation computations for a first layer of the neural network to generate first weight gradients when the exchange of the first portion of the second weight gradients is underway, the first layer being a lower layer than the second layer in the neural network; causing the hardware interface to transmit the first weight gradients to the second computer system; and causing the hardware interface to transmit the remaining portions of the second weight gradients to the second computer system.

Abstract: A system measures, by executing a monitoring process, first metric data associated with trade data at a first time point after the trade data is output by a first process of an application and before the trade data is input to a second process of the application, identifies the trade data at a second time point after the trade data is output by the second process and before the trade data is output by the application, measures second metric data associated with the trade data identified at the second time point, and sends, in response to a latency value obtained based on the first metric data or the second metric data exceeding a latency threshold, a latency alert to a user computing device associated with the application. The monitoring process is not a process of the application and is not linked with the first process or the second process.

Abstract: A storage library system comprises a plurality of slots for storing items, a plurality of rails, and a robot for interacting with said items. The robot has at least two foot arrangements each having a respective gripping mechanism for releasably engaging that foot arrangement with the rails. The robot also has a transfer mechanism for moving the robot, while a first one or more of the foot arrangements remains engaged with a first of the rails, from a first position in which one or more of the foot arrangements is in abutment with a second of the rails to a second position in which one or more of the foot arrangements is in abutment with a third of the rails. The robot also has an end-effector for interacting with the items in the slots.

Abstract: A modular housing structure for solitary bees, having a core partially enclosed within a housing with an opening on one side. The core has an exposed side facing the opening on the housing and one or more recesses formed on the exposed side of the core. The core may be solid and integrally formed with the housing or may be made up of a plurality of wafers stacked on top of one another.