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: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In a wireless audio system, a first wireless device may generate a first media stream associated with a first media mode and a second media stream associated with a second media mode, buffer the first media stream in accordance with a first latency time value for adjusting a first latency time of the first media stream and buffering the second audio stream, independently from the first media stream, in accordance with a second latency time value for adjusting a second latency time of the second media stream, and transmit a mixed media stream including the buffered first media stream mixed with the buffered second media stream to a second wireless device.

Abstract: A piston for a support sleeve of a dispensing assembly, the piston has a substantially cylindrical outer shape and includes a piston body as well as first and second film bag retainers arranged at opposite sides of the piston body.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for techniques for dynamically adjusting retransmission opportunities within a connected isochronous stream (CIS) are described. In some aspects, a first wireless device and a second wireless device may support one or more dynamic or “on-the-fly” adjustments to one or more CIS settings in accordance with a link quality between the first wireless device and the second wireless device. For example, the first wireless device and the second wireless device may tie a number of transmission opportunities that are usable for retransmissions, within a given isochronous (ISO) interval, to the link quality between the first wireless device and the second wireless device. The link quality may be tied or associated with a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) of the link. As such, the first wireless device and the second wireless device may tie a dynamic change in MCS to a dynamic change in retransmission opportunities.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. The described techniques generally provide for modifying a bit rate of a real-time stream at a station (STA). The STA may determine an average wake duration within an interval for communications with an access point (AP), and may compare the average to a target active duration for efficient power usage. In some other cases, the STA may learn a scheduling pattern of the AP, and may reduce the bitrate to eliminate the need for a portion of the wake duration having relatively lower data transmissions. Modifying the bit rate may support adjusting the active duration of the STA to be closer to the target active duration while maintaining a similar quality of the real-time stream (such as, a lossless stream).

Abstract: Semicrystalline polyethylene-2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate (PEBF) homopolyester or copolyester with up to 5 mole percent isophthalate or up to 2.7 mole percent terephthalate, based on the diacid component, or up to 2.5 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), based on the diol component, prepared by esterifying or transesterifying the diacid and the diol components with a catalyst including about 10 to about 50 ppm wt metal, and polycondensation, wherein the bifuran polyester has an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.4 g/dL and a semicrystalline melting peak (Tm) with ?Hf equal to or greater than 5 J/g on the second heating ramp.

Abstract: A powder actuated fastening tool including a charge advance apparatus for advancing a powder charge strip relative to a barrel of the tool, wherein the charge advance apparatus includes a rotatable ratchet having teeth for engaging receptacles formed in the powder charge strip, and a charge advance member coupled to a trigger of the tool, wherein the charge advance member acts on the rotatable ratchet to rotate the ratchet in response to actuation and/or release of the trigger, such that the rotation of the ratchet causes advance of the powder charge strip relative to the barrel.

Abstract: Methods, devices, non-transitory computer-readable medium, and systems are described for compressing audio data. The techniques involve obtaining a sequence of digitized samples of an audio signal, performing a transform using the sequence of digitized samples, to generate a plurality of spectral lines, obtaining a group of spectral lines from the plurality of spectral lines, and quantizing the group of spectral lines to generate a group of quantized values. Quantizing the group of spectral lines to generate the group of quantized values may comprise performing a specialized rounding operation on a spectral line selected from the group of spectral lines and using the specialized rounding operation to force a group parity value, computed for the group of quantized values, to a predetermined parity value. One or more data frames based on the group of quantized values may be outputted.

Abstract: A system and method of producing a moulded article, e.g. a one-piece container, comprises delivering a fibre suspension to a porous mould and removing a suspending liquid (e.g. water) via pores of the porous mould. An inflatable bladder is inserted into the mould in a collapsed state and then inflated to apply pressure to internal walls of the article to remove water content. A wet embryonic form of the container is then transferred to a non-porous mould where an inflatable bladder applies internal pressure to compress the walls and remove further water content. The container is further dried by microwave and/or air drying and may be coated with a protective layer.

Abstract: A mould (14) for forming an article from a fibre suspension. The mould includes an insert with a cavity (27) in the negative shape of an article to be formed and two regions of different porosity/permeability (28, 29) about the cavity (27). In use the mould communicates a suspending fluid of the fibre suspension, e.g. by vacuum pump, through the at least two regions of different porosity/permeability about the cavity. A formed shape (22) of fibres is left behind on the cavity.

Abstract: A breach detection engine detects and mitigates the effects of breaches across one or more data sources. An index is generated based on one or more data sources and the index is queried using keywords indicative of potential breaches. A database of potential breaches is populated based on the query of the index. The potential breach database is queried using keywords associated with a system identity (e.g., a third party). A likelihood of a candidate breach is identified based on a set of breach criteria weights. A network node associated with a candidate breach determined to be an actual breach is identified for isolation or for the performance of one or more additional security actions.

Abstract: A method of using a support accessory rack includes aligning a first mounting portion of the support accessory rack with a first pin of a rollover protective structure. The method includes aligning a second mounting portion of the support accessory rack with a second pin of a second rollover protective structure. The method includes actuating the first pin to secure the first mounting portion to the rollover protective structure. The method further includes actuating the second pin to secure the second mounting portion to the rollover protective structure. The method includes pivoting a rotating support member of the support accessory rack away from the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion, and supporting the rotating support member onto a lateral bar of the rollover protective structure.

Abstract: A powder actuated fastening tool including a charge advance apparatus for advancing a powder charge strip relative to a barrel of the tool, wherein the charge advance apparatus includes a rotatable ratchet having teeth for engaging receptacles formed in the powder charge strip, and a charge advance member coupled to a trigger of the tool, wherein the charge advance member acts on the rotatable ratchet to rotate the ratchet in response to actuation and/or release of the trigger, such that the rotation of the ratchet causes advance of the powder charge strip relative to the barrel.

Abstract: Provision of a virtual secure cryptoprocessor (VSC) for a guest virtual machine (VM), part of a first guest, of a hypervisor of a computer system, includes (i) storing guest VM state and VSC state together in an encrypted virtual hard disk drive file, (ii) storing a decryption key in a sealed partition, of a second guest, sealed against a physical secure cryptoprocessor, (iii) based on verifying that a host computing environment of the computer system is in a trusted state and on booting the hypervisor thereon, unsealing the sealed partition of the second guest, the unsealing providing the decryption key, and decrypting the encrypted virtual hard disk drive file using the decryption key, where the decrypting decrypts the stored guest VM state for execution of the guest VM and decrypts the VSC state to provide the VSC for use by the guest VM.

Abstract: A breach detection engine detects and mitigates the effects of breaches across one or more data sources. An index is generated based on one or more data sources and the index is queried using keywords indicative of potential breaches. A database of potential breaches is populated based on the query of the index. The potential breach database is queried using keywords associated with a system identity (e.g., a third party). A likelihood of a candidate breach is identified based on a set of breach criteria weights. A network node associated with a candidate breach determined to be an actual breach is identified for isolation or for the performance of one or more additional security actions.

Abstract: Provision of a virtual secure cryptoprocessor (VSC) for a guest virtual machine (VM), part of a first guest, of a hypervisor of a computer system, includes (i) storing guest VM state and VSC state together in an encrypted virtual hard disk drive file, (ii) storing a decryption key in a sealed partition, of a second guest, sealed against a physical secure cryptoprocessor, (iii) based on verifying that a host computing environment of the computer system is in a trusted state and on booting the hypervisor thereon, unsealing the sealed partition of the second guest, the unsealing providing the decryption key, and decrypting the encrypted virtual hard disk drive file using the decryption key, where the decrypting decrypts the stored guest VM state for execution of the guest VM and decrypts the VSC state to provide the VSC for use by the guest VM.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to the production of alternating polymers of maleic anhydride or an N-substituted maleimide with a stilbene.

Abstract: A powder actuated fastening tool including a charge advance apparatus for advancing a powder charge strip relative to a barrel of the tool, wherein the charge advance apparatus includes a rotatable ratchet having teeth for engaging receptacles formed in the powder charge strip, and a charge advance member coupled to a trigger of the tool, wherein the charge advance member acts on the rotatable ratchet to rotate the ratchet in response to actuation and/or release of the trigger, such that the rotation of the ratchet causes advance of the powder charge strip relative to the barrel.

Abstract: A device includes one or more processors configured to execute instructions to obtain, at a first audio output device, first spatial audio data and a first reference time associated, and to cause the first reference time and data representing at least a portion of the first spatial audio data to be transmitted from the first audio output device. The instructions further cause the one or more processors to receive, at the first audio output device from a second audio output device, second spatial audio data and a second reference time. The instructions further cause the one or more processors to, based on the first reference time and the second reference time, time-align the first spatial audio data and the second spatial audio data to generate combined audio data representing a three-dimensional (3D) sound field and to generate audio output based on the combined audio data.