Abstract: Exemplary sanitary soap refilling systems and methods are disclosed herein. An exemplary refill refilling system includes a housing, a pump located within the housing, and a bulk storage tank connector. The bulk storage tank connector having a liquid outlet and an air inlet. A liquid inlet conduit is in fluid communication with the pump the liquid outlet. A refill connector is included. The refill connector has a liquid inlet and an air outlet. The refill connector air outlet and the bulk storage tank connector air inlet are in fluid communication with one another. The refill liquid inlet is in fluid communication with the pump.

Abstract: A nasal pillow system for treating sleep apnea is disclosed that may include a nasal pillow. The pillow has a cavity wall that defines a cavity, and two nasal interface structures connected to and extending away from the cavity wall. The nasal interface structures are in fluid communication with the cavity. Each nasal interface structure includes a conical nasal interface, a cylindrical trunk structure connected to conical nasal interface, and an annular relief pocket connected to the cylindrical trunk structure and to the cavity wall. The connection between the annular relief pocket and the cavity wall defines substantially a plane, and a first portion of the annular relief pocket extends away from the plane while a second portion extends towards the plane.

Abstract: An apparatus for imparting a tensile force to deflect a distal portion of a catheter while maintaining its exterior dimensions may include a handle grip including a cross-section of generally predetermined exterior dimensions, and a longitudinal axis. A flexible elongate member may include proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion being coupled to the handle grip. An adjustment knob may include a cross-section of generally predetermined exterior dimensions, and is rotatably coupled to the handle grip around the longitudinal axis. An elongate deflection member may be operably coupled to the adjustment knob and to the distal end portion of the elongate member. Rotation of the adjustment knob may impart a tensile force to the deflection member thereby causing the distal end portion of the elongate member to deflect from a prior configuration while maintaining the generally predetermined exterior dimensions of the handle grip and the adjustment knob.

Abstract: A method collectively and yet individually assesses a parking area and locates a parking space which is energy-optimized with respect to a temperature control. A correspondingly equipped parking system carries out the method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for predicting graft alterations in a transplanted patient, comprising a step of determining the expression levels of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI), chemokine (C motif) ligand 1 (XCL1) and thioredoxin domain containing 3 (TXNDC3) genes in a biological sample obtained from said transplanted patient.

Abstract: A method to compare first and second source data in a processor in response to a vector maximum with indexing instruction includes specifying first and second source registers containing first and second source data, a destination register storing compared data, and a predicate register. Each of the registers includes a plurality of lanes. The method includes executing the instruction by, for each lane in the first and second source register, comparing a value in the lane of the first source register to a value in the corresponding lane of the second source register to identify a maximum value, storing the maximum value in a corresponding lane of the destination register, asserting a corresponding lane of the predicate register if the maximum value is from the first source register, and de-asserting the corresponding lane of the predicate register if the maximum value is from the second source register.

Abstract: A directed flow pressure washer system for precision cleaning of parts is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of inlets connected to an elongated pipe tubing at a proximal end thereof via an inlet tee fitting. The plurality of inlets are configured to receive at least a gas, a detergent or surfactant, and a solvent, intermittently or simultaneously therethrough. A gas source supplies gas connected to one of the plurality of inlets via a first tubing. A detergent or surfactant source supplies detergent or surfactant connected to one of the plurality of inlets via a second tubing. A solvent source supplies solvent connected to one of the plurality of inlets via a third tubing. A component retainer is removably attached to elongated pipe tubing at a distal end thereof. Elongated pipe tubing contains parts therein such that parts are exposed to a directed variable pressure and flow rate of gas, detergent or surfactant, and solvent.

Abstract: An application test system can determine an objective measure of elapsed time between interaction with a user interface device and the occurrence of a particular event within the application, such as a video game. This objective measure enables a tester to determine whether an application is objectively operating slowly or just feels slow to the tester, and may indicate the existence of coding errors that may affect execution speed, but not cause visible errors. The system may obtain the objective measure of elapsed time by simulating a user's interaction with the application. Further, the system may identify data embedded into a frame of an animation by the application source code to identify the occurrence of a corresponding event. The system can then measure the elapsed time between the simulated user interaction and the occurrence or triggering of the corresponding event.

Abstract: Configurations are described for assisting in the execution of a percutaneous procedure while protecting the vascular pathway to the operational theater, which may comprise diseased tissue. A railed sheath may be controllably expandable and collapsible, and may comprise two or more elongate rail structures configured to assist in the distribution of loads to associated diseased tissue structures, while also contributing to the deployment of percutaneous tools by maintaining alignment of such tools with the railed catheter and associated anatomy.

Abstract: A computer system receives a request to locate a vehicle within a facility. The computer system parses the request to identify one or more characteristics of the vehicle. The computer system identifies a sensor corresponding to the vehicle based on the one or more characteristics of the vehicle. The computer system identifies a most recent location of the vehicle based on the last registered position of the vehicle within the facility. The computer system transmits a signal to a parking spot sensor at the most recent location of the vehicle in the facility. The computer system receives the unique identification. The computer system determines that the unique identification of the vehicle sensor co-located with the parking spot sensor matches the sensor of the requested vehicle. The computer system reports to the user a current location of the vehicle within the facility based on a location of the parking spot sensor.

Abstract: An active illumination three-dimensional sensor device is configured with a number of diagnostic functions that can satisfy the requirements of industrial safety within the context of a single-channel safety sensor architecture. The sensor diagnostic functions provide sufficient diagnostic coverage for an optical safety sensor (e.g., a time-of-flight safety sensor) to achieve a desired safety integrity level without the need for multiple channels. The diagnostic features can be applied to one or more components along the single-channel path (e.g., the sequencer, the illumination source, input and/or output optics, image sensor pixel, etc.) to provide a level of diagnostic coverage that renders the optical safety sensor suitable for use within industrial safety applications requiring high safety integrity levels.

Abstract: A patient support structure for supporting a patient in a supine position for surgery and a method for use of the patient support structure is provided. The patient support structure includes a back support portion, a neck support portion, and a head support portion. The back support portion includes a panel portion and padding padding movably attached to relative to the upper surface. The neck support portion includes an adjustable neck support pad and at least a first rotational adjustment assembly, where the first rotational adjustment assembly is configured to eccentrically rotate the neck support pad about an axis offset from a central axis of the rotatable neck pad. The head support portion includes at least one base portion, a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a head harness, where the first arm portion and the second arm portion are adjustable inwardly/outwardly and upwardly/downwardly, and the head harness is supported by the first arm portion and the second arm portion.

Abstract: Embodiments for manipulating an object, such as an image, are described. For example, a content application renders the object and supports multiple manipulation modes. A GUI of the application is available at a touch screen of a computing device. A mapping of standard touch screen gestures and object manipulations are defined for each manipulation mode. One of the modes is a standard manipulation mode that supports standard object manipulations. At least one other mode is a special manipulation mode. In this special mode, the standard user gestures are mapped to application-defined manipulations that are different from the standard object manipulations. Based on a user selection of one of the manipulation modes, the selected mode is activated. While in the activated manipulation mode, a standard user gesture is received and the relevant object manipulation is applied to the object.

Abstract: Synchronizing operation between a digital radiographic detector's integration periods and an x-ray generator's x-ray pulse rate by transmitting a frame rate to the detector and the generator. In a first mode, the detector monitors one or more pixels to detect an x-ray pulse. The firing time of the detected x-ray pulse relative to an internal clock of the detector is used to synchronize the detector's integration periods with the pulse rate of the x-ray generator based on the transmitted frame rate and the detected firing time of the x-ray pulses. Successive pulses may also be used to determine a frame rate without prior transmission thereof.

Abstract: Here described is a composition comprising a compound of formula I: wherein R1 and R2 is independently selected from a group consisting of C10 to C18 alkyl, C12 to C18 alkenyl, and oleoyl group; R3 and R4 are independently selected from a group consisting of C1 to C6 alkyl, and C2 to C6 alkanol; X is selected from a group consisting of —CH2—, —S—, and —O— or absent; Y is selected from —(CH2)n, —S(CH2)n, —O(CH2)n—, thiophene, —SO2(CH2)n—, and ester; n=1-4; a=1-4; b=1-4; c=1-4; and Z? is a counterion.

Abstract: A storage system and a load handling device for lifting and moving containers stacked in the storage system are described. The storage system includes a plurality of rails or tracks arranged in a grid pattern above the stacks of containers. The grid pattern can include a plurality of grid spaces and each stack is located within a footprint of only a single grid space. The load handling device is configured to move laterally on the rails or tracks above the stacks. The load-handling device includes a container-receiving space located above the rails or tracks in use and a lifting device arranged to lift a container from a stack into the container-receiving space. The load handling device has a footprint that, in use, occupies only a single grid space in the storage system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an air-blown optical fiber unit includes one or more optical fibers, an inner layer substantially completely embedding the one or more optical fibers, and an outer layer radially external to the inner layer. The inner layer has a tensile strength of from 0.1 MPa to 1 MPa, and an elongation at break of from 10% to 80%.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods, compounds, and compositions for reducing expression of KEAP1 in animal. Such methods, compounds, and compositions are useful to treat, prevent, delay, or ameliorate oxidative stress or a disease, disorder or condition related to oxidative stress an animal in need. Diseases, disorders or conditions related to oxidative stress include NASH, NAFLD, asthma and insulin resistance.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens incorporating an optically functional wafer having improved adhesion to a polymerized polyurea-urethane bulk lens resin.