Abstract: Patient interface components and/or associated head gear and adjustment systems improve sealing and/or patient comfort and/or ease of use. The interface includes an inflating or ballooning seal. The headgear assembly can be connected to the interface with an elastic component and an inelastic component. The elastic component enabling a course fitting of the interface to the patient and the inelastic component enabling a final fitting of the interface to the patient.

Abstract: An edge device may be configured to generate a secure container to perform a software application on the edge device. A security daemon operating on a processor of the edge device may receive a configure host request message from a container manager. In response, the security daemon may determine integrity of metadata, extract licenses from the metadata, determine image permissions, create a user or group account, and update one or more system service access-control lists (ACLs). The security daemon may generate and send a configure host response message to the container manager, which may create and/or start the container.

Abstract: Systems for determining a phase of a device coupled to an electrical distribution system. The system includes a number of gateway devices configured to transmit a synchronization signal. The gateway device receives a node response message from a first node device that includes a duration value indicating a time between a receipt of the transmitted synchronization signal and a detected zero crossing. The gateway device compares the duration value against duration values received from node devices with a known phase connection and determines a phase of the first node device based on the comparison.

Abstract: A respiratory mask can include one or a plurality of force sensors configured to detect a force imparted to a user's skin. Output from the one or more sensors can be represented in a way useful to the patient or healthcare provider for adjusting the mask to achieve a desired fitment. A representation of the detected forces can be displayed on a separate display device or on the mask.

Abstract: A pulsatile fluid pump system includes a pump-valving assembly including a chamber and a diaphragm assembly coupled to the chamber and including a flexible diaphragm. The diaphragm assembly and the pump-valving assembly are configured as an integral pump assembly. The system further includes a linear motor having a magnet and a coil, the magnet moving in relation to the coil, the coil having an electrical input. The system also includes a control housing rigidly coupled to the linear motor and a controller system having an electrical output coupled to the electrical input of the coil, the controller system defining an electrical waveform at the electrical output to cause desired operation of the diaphragm. The integral pump assembly is configured to be removably coupled to the control housing, and the diaphragm assembly of the integral pump assembly is configured to be removably coupled to the linear motor.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for the efficient and secure creation of unique identifier associated with submitted URLs and the transmission and processing of encrypted signals by a receiving device, and in particular an audio transmission and processing of encrypted unique inaudible signals by a receiving device that may direct the receiving device to initiate an action, such as directing the receiving device to request the associated URL to then access a specific Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or other digital content. The decoding and processing of the transmitted signal is operated on prior to the signal being played through the receiving devices speaker system(s). Consideration to the available signal bit rate is an important aspect of the systems operational integrity.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes: allowing a user of a spreadsheet program to select a transaction from a list of transactions for a transaction management platform; creating a mapping sheet in a workbook of the spreadsheet program, the mapping sheet listing, in a first column, data fields associated with the selected transaction; receiving, in a second column of mapping sheet, references to cells of the workbook that correspond to the data fields in the first column; and using the mapping sheet to automatically update the data fields associated with the selected transaction with data values from the corresponding cells of the workbook in response to a user command.

Abstract: A modular solution mining method may include the steps of: providing an injection wellbore, the injection wellbore including a horizontal injection portion, in which the horizontal injection portion includes a toe end and heel end; providing a production wellbore, in which the production wellbore includes a horizontal production portion that is proximate to the toe end; injecting a solvent into the horizontal injection portion; generating a turbulent solvent flow proximate to the toe end to generate a mineral solution and an initial cavern proximate to the horizontal production portion; and motivating the mineral solution from the initial cavern, into the horizontal production portion, and to a surface location. Optionally, the method may include the step of repositioning the turbulent solvent flow to be closer to heel ends to generate mineral solution and subsequent caverns further from horizontal production wellbore.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes: allowing a user of a spreadsheet program to select a transaction from a list of transactions for a transaction management platform; creating a mapping sheet in a workbook of the spreadsheet program, the mapping sheet listing, in a first column, data fields associated with the selected transaction; receiving, in a second column of mapping sheet, references to cells of the workbook that correspond to the data fields in the first column; and using the mapping sheet to automatically update the data fields associated with the selected transaction with data values from the corresponding cells of the workbook in response to a user command.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to pulsed spectropolarimeters for conducting remote, non-perturbative measurements of the local magnetic field, density and temperature fields of a magnetized plasma medium. In one aspect, a pulsed spectropolarimeter includes a light source emitting a polarized light pulse having sufficiently narrow spatial extent at a prescribed wavelength and a light gathering optical system including a light gathering optic having an optic axis directed toward the medium and positioned to collect and collimate a predetermined solid angle of the scattered emission by the pulse in the backward direction, toward the source, while preserving the polarization state of the emission. A proportion of the emission is redirected to a spectrometer detector to determine the spectral distribution of the emission. A second optical collection and spectrometer system collects emission other than backscatter localized to the intersection of the pulse trajectory and the focus of this collection system.

Abstract: A polymeric scaffold useful for conjugating with a protein based recognition-molecule (PBRM) to form a PBRM-polymer-drug conjugate is described herein. The scaffold includes one or more terminal maleimido groups. Also disclosed is a PBRM-polymer-drug conjugate prepared from the scaffold. Compositions comprising the conjugates, methods of their preparation, and methods of treating various disorders with the conjugates or their compositions are also described.

Abstract: The present application provides novel heterocyclic compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Also provided are methods for preparing these compounds. These compounds are useful for inhibiting ERK1/2. By administering to a patient in need a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the compounds of formula (I), wherein X, Y, Z, J, M, and R1 to R8 are defined herein, these compounds are effective in treating conditions associated with dysregulation of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway. A variety of conditions can be treated using these compounds and include diseases which are characterized by abnormal cellular proliferation. In one embodiment, the disease is cancer.

Abstract: A method of making glass is disclosed in which a flue gas that comprises water vapor is exhausted from a submerged combustion melter that is operated to discharge combustion products into a glass melt that results from the combustion of a mixture of hydrogen gas and an oxidant gas. Heat may be recovered from the exhausted flue gas to heat batch feedstock material fed to the melter, or water vapor in the exhausted flue gas may be condensed and returned to the melter for cooling purposes, or both. A glass-melting system is also disclosed that includes a submerged combustion melter, a batch feedstock material preheater in fluid communication with the submerged combustion melter and configured to heat batch feedstock material, a condenser in fluid communication with the batch feedstock material preheater, and a cooling water reservoir in fluid communication with the condenser and the submerged combustion melter.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of detecting or determining aging and/or oxidative damage in tissue, including placental tissue, skin, kidney and brain tissue. One embodiment provides a method for detecting or determining aging in body tissue, comprising measuring one or more markers of aldehyde oxidase 1 (AOX1) expression or activity in a biological sample, wherein the level of AOX1 expression or activity, or of the one or more markers, is indicative of aging in the tissue. Also provided herein are methods of treating a disease or condition associated with ageing or oxidative damage in one or more cells or tissues, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an inhibitor of AOX1.

Abstract: A drive unit for driving an acceleration electrode of a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The drive unit includes a power converter comprising a switching element and pulsing circuitry that can form output pulses suitable for driving an acceleration electrode of a mass spectrometer. The drive unit also includes a controller that is configured to synchronise operation of the switching element with the pulsing circuitry.

Abstract: Systems for determining a phase of a device coupled to an electrical distribution system. The system includes a number of gateway devices configured to transmit a synchronization signal. The gateway device receives a node response message from a first node device that includes a duration value indicating a time between a receipt of the transmitted synchronization signal and a detected zero crossing. The gateway device compares the duration value against duration values received from node devices with a known phase connection and determines a phase of the first node device based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system for determining a phase of a power supply coupled to a metering device. The system includes a collection device in electronic communication with a metering device connected to a power distribution network and having a memory and one or more electronic processors. The electronic processors are configured to receive a first beacon signal and measure a phasor in response to receiving the first beacon signal. The phasor is stored in the memory along with an identification value associated with the device that transmitted the first beacon signal and a first time. The electronic processors receive a second beacon signal, and extract data from the request message. The electronic processors determine whether the extracted time matches the first time and based on determining that the extracted time matches the first time stored in the memory, calculate a phase by comparing the reference phasor data to the stored phasor.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for adapting settings/operations of a remote microphone device associated with an auditory prosthesis based on a desired/preferred listening direction of a recipient of the auditory prosthesis. More specifically, an auditory prosthesis worn by a recipient and a remote microphone device, which are configured to wirelessly communicate with one another, are both positioned in the same spatial area. At least one of a recipient-specified (e.g., recipient-preferred) region of interest within the spatial area, or a recipient-specified listening direction, is determined. Based on a determined relative positioning (e.g., location and orientation) of the remote microphone device and the auditory prosthesis, operation of the remote microphone device is dynamically adapted so that the remote microphone device can focus on (e.g., have increased sensitivity to) sounds originating from the recipient-specified region of interest/listening direction.

Abstract: A fiber blend containing: (a) a cellulose acetate (CA) staple fibers having a denier per filament (DPF) of 3.0 or less; and (b) structural staple fibers having a dpf of 6.0 or more; and (c) optionally binder fibers. The fiber blend can be made into nonwoven webs for heat-bonding and subsequent use as thermal insulation in, e.g., outerwear, bedding, etc. The fiber blend can now contain sustainably derived fibers, optionally biodegradable, that provide good thermal insulation clo values and loft even after multiple wash cycles along with good short term compression recovery.

Abstract: Systems for determining a phase of a device coupled to an electrical distribution system. The system includes a number of gateway devices configured to transmit a synchronization signal. The gateway device receives a node response message from a first node device that includes a duration value indicating a time between a receipt of the transmitted synchronization signal and a detected zero crossing. The gateway device compares the duration value against duration values received from node devices with a known phase connection and determines a phase of the first node device based on the comparison.