Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sterilization apparatus which uses thermal or non-thermal plasma to disinfect surgical scoping devices such as endoscopes, gastroscopes, laparoscopes and the like. Aspect of the disclosure provide: (i) an apparatus for sterilizing inside an instrument channel formed with an insertion tube of a surgical scoping device, (ii) a whole-device sterilization apparatus for treating the entire exterior surface of a surgical scoping device, and (iii) an apparatus for cleaning and sterilizing a distal end face of an insertion tube of a surgical scoping device.

Abstract: A treatment apparatus which uses thermal or non-thermal plasma to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) by destroying bacteria. The apparatus comprises an elongate probe that includes a coaxial cable for conveying radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) energy and/or microwave EM energy, a probe tip connected at the distal end of the coaxial cable for receiving the RF and/or microwave EM energy, and a gas conduit for conveying gas to the probe tip. The probe tip comprises a first electrode connected to the inner conductor of the coaxial cable, and a second electrode connected to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable, and wherein the first electrode and second electrode are arranged to produce an electric field from the received RF and/or microwave EM energy across a flow path of gas received from the gas conduit to produce a thermal or a non-thermal plasma.

Abstract: A medical support control system comprises a medical support having memory and a control system in connection with the memory and for connection with a component for use at the medical support. The medical support control system further includes a detection system configured to detect when the component is connected to the control system, such as the control system microprocessor.

Abstract: A garment apparatus has two front panels, a rear panel, a neck section, two shoulder sections, a bust section, a waist section, two shoulder pockets, a waist pocket and a back pocket. The rear panel is connected in between the two front panels. The two shoulder pockets are mounted onto and located at the two shoulder sections. The waist pocket is mounted onto and located at and extends along the waist section. The back pocket is mounted onto and extends from the waist section, through the bust section to the neck section. Two shoulder heat exchangers are accommodated within two shoulder pocket compartments. A waist heat exchanger is accommodated within a waist pocket compartment. A back heat exchanger is accommodated within a back pocket compartment.

Abstract: A method for shadow and cloud masking for remote sensing images of an agricultural field using multi-layer perceptrons includes electronically receiving an observed image, performing using at least one processor an image segmentation of the observed image to divide the observed image into a plurality of image segments or superpixels, extracting features for each of the image segments using the at least one processor, and determining by a cloud mask generation module executing on the at least one processor a classification for each of the image segments using the features extracted for each of the image segments, wherein the cloud mask generation module applies a classification model including an ensemble of multilayer perceptrons to generate a cloud mask for the observed image such that each pixel within the observed image has a corresponding classification.

Abstract: A method for predicting crop yield of an agricultural field may include steps of applying a pre-season model to provide a pre-season model crop yield prediction, applying an in-season model to provide an in-season model crop yield prediction, applying a statistical imagery model to provide a statistical imagery model crop yield prediction, applying a histogram-based image model to provide a histogram-based image model crop yield prediction, applying crop-specific models to provide at least one crop-specific model crop yield prediction, and combining at a computing system crop yield predictions from a plurality of models within a set comprising the pre-season model, the in-season model, the statistical imagery model, the histogram-based image model, and the crop-specific models, to produce a final crop yield prediction.

Abstract: A method for determining harvest state of an agricultural field includes obtaining an observed image of the agricultural field from a data store containing agricultural image data, filtering the observed image using an image filtering module to provide a filtered image for processing, and assigning coordinates to the filtered image, the assigning coordinates to the filtered image performed by a coordinate projection module to provide an input image, processing the input image to determine a set of image statistics for the input image using a statistics calculation module, determining by a harvest state prediction module the harvest state of the agricultural field using the set of image statistics, wherein the harvest state is selected from a set including a pre-harvest state, an in-harvest state, and a post-harvest state and electronically transmitting a notification of the harvest state of the agricultural field to a computing device.

Abstract: A medical support control system comprises a medical support having memory and a control system in connection with the memory and for connection with a component for use at the medical support. The medical support control system further includes a detection system configured to detect when the component is connected to the control system, such as the control system microprocessor.

Abstract: A method for predicting crop yield of an agricultural field may include steps of applying a pre-season model to provide a pre-season model crop yield prediction, applying an in-season model to provide an in-season model crop yield prediction, applying a statistical imagery model to provide a statistical imagery model crop yield prediction, applying a histogram-based image model to provide a histogram-based image model crop yield prediction, applying crop-specific models to provide at least one crop-specific model crop yield prediction, and combining at a computing system crop yield predictions from a plurality of models within a set comprising the pre-season model, the in-season model, the statistical imagery model, the histogram-based image model, and the crop-specific models, to produce a final crop yield prediction.

Abstract: A medical support control system comprises a medical support having memory and a control system in connection with the memory and for connection with a component for use at the medical support. The medical support control system further includes a detection system configured to detect when the component is connected to the control system, such as the control system microprocessor.

Abstract: A method for shadow and cloud masking for remote sensing images of an agricultural field using a convolutional neural network, the method includes electronically receiving an observed image, the observed image comprising a plurality of pixels and each of the pixels associated with corresponding band information and determining by a cloud mask generation module executing on the at least one processor a classification for each of the plurality of pixels in the observed image using the band information by applying a classification model, the classification model comprising a convolutional neural network comprising a plurality of layers of nodes. The cloud mask generation module applies a plurality of transformations to transform data between layers in the convolutional neural network to generate a cloud map.

Abstract: A method for shadow and cloud masking for remote sensing images of an agricultural field using multi-layer perceptrons includes electronically receiving an observed image, performing using at least one processor an image segmentation of the observed image to divide the observed image into a plurality of image segments or superpixels, extracting features for each of the image segments using the at least one processor, and determining by a cloud mask generation module executing on the at least one processor a classification for each of the image segments using the features extracted for each of the image segments, wherein the cloud mask generation module applies a classification model including an ensemble of multilayer perceptrons to generate a cloud mask for the observed image such that each pixel within the observed image has a corresponding classification.

Abstract: A method for determining harvest state of an agricultural field includes obtaining an observed image of the agricultural field from a data store containing agricultural image data, filtering the observed image using an image filtering module to provide a filtered image for processing, and assigning coordinates to the filtered image, the assigning coordinates to the filtered image performed by a coordinate projection module to provide an input image, processing the input image to determine a set of image statistics for the input image using a statistics calculation module, determining by a harvest state prediction module the harvest state of the agricultural field using the set of image statistics, wherein the harvest state is selected from a set including a pre-harvest state, an in-harvest state, and a post-harvest state and electronically transmitting a notification of the harvest state of the agricultural field to a computing device.

Abstract: A self-adjusting holster includes first and second shell portions having opposite side panels extending substantially parallel to each other. At least one of the first and second shell portions having a bottom panel. The side panels of the first shell portion and side panels of the second shell portion are configured to telescopically mate such that the mated shell portions slidably adjust relative to each other in a first direction and together define an interior space and an open end opposite the bottom panel. An elastomeric member is configured to bias the shell portions toward each other along the first direction. An item inserted into the open end between the first and second shell portions displaces the shell portions relative to each other against biasing force provided by the elastomeric member.

Abstract: A self-adjusting holster includes first and second shell portions having opposite side panels extending substantially parallel to each other. At least one of the first and second shell portions having a bottom panel. The side panels of the first shell portion and side panels of the second shell portion are configured to telescopically mate such that the mated shell portions slidably adjust relative to each other in a first direction and together define an interior space and an open end opposite the bottom panel. An elastomeric member is configured to bias the shell portions toward each other along the first direction. An item inserted into the open end between the first and second shell portions displaces the shell portions relative to each other against biasing force provided by the elastomeric member.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to hardware alias detection and management in caches are described. A cache controller can receive a cache request that specifies a virtual address, which includes a virtual page number (VPN) and a page offset; access, concurrently, one or more primary tags in a slot of the cache corresponding to a primary cache index that is based on a portion of the page offset and a portion of the VPN and one or more secondary tags in one or more slots corresponding to one or more secondary cache indices that are based on the portion of the page offset and one or more variations of the portion of the VPN; and determine whether there are any primary or secondary matching ways. The controller can write store data to a primary matching way if it exists and perform an alias management operation if any secondary matching ways exist.

Abstract: A circuit includes a Virtually Indexed Physically Tagged (VIPT) cache and a cache coherency circuit. The VIPT cache includes a plurality of sets and performs a memory operation by selecting, using a Virtual Set Address (VSA), a first tag of a first set. The cache coherency circuit is to detect cache aliasing during memory operations of the VIPT cache when a second tag maps a physical address to a second set of the VIPT cache, the second set being different than the first set. A method of managing a VIPT cache includes performing, by the VIPT cache, a memory operation and determining, using a cache coherency protocol, that cache aliasing has occurred during the memory operation.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of an electromagnetic (EM) field absorbing composition, in particular, those capable of providing absorbance in the frequency of commercial radar. The composition finds particular use as a radar absorbing coating for wind turbines, in particular for use in onshore and offshore environments. There are further provided coated surfaces comprising the composition, methods of absorbing EM radiation, and methods of use of such a composition, such that a surface coated in the composition is capable of absorbing EM radiation. There is provided an electromagnetic radiation absorbing composition comprising elongate carbon elements with an average longest dimension in the range of 50 to 1 000 microns, with a thickness in the range of 1 to 15 microns and present in the range of from 0.5 to 20 volume % dried, in a non conductive binder.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with providing limited writing in a memory hierarchy are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of memory devices sequentially configured in a memory hierarchy. The apparatus also includes a first logic configured to execute a first command to initiate a sequence of write operations to write data to the plurality of memory devices in the memory hierarchy via propagation of the data sequentially through the memory hierarchy. The apparatus further includes a second logic configured to execute a second command to initiate an interruption of the sequence of write operations by indicating to at least one memory device of the plurality of memory devices to terminate the propagation of the data through the memory hierarchy prior to completing the propagation.

Abstract: A medical support control system comprises a medical support having memory and a control system in connection with the memory and for connection with a component for use at the medical support. The medical support control system further includes a detection system configured to detect when the component is connected to the control system, such as the control system microprocessor.