Abstract: A carabiner includes a swivel loop and a body rotatably coupled to the swivel loop about a rotational axis. The body includes a spine having a spine axis that intersects the rotational axis at an intersection point disposed within the connection between the swivel loop and the body. The carabiner also includes a captive eye formed completely within the spine. The body and the captive eye being both rotatable relative to swivel loop.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an insulation member for an appliance includes the steps of forming a porous bag with a woven fabric, filling the porous bag with insulation materials, heat sealing the porous bag, vibrating the porous bag to define a pillow, compressing the pillow within a mold to define a compressed insulation member, and evacuating the compressed insulation member within an insulated structure to define a vacuum insulated structure.

Abstract: A connector apparatus includes a first connector and a second connector. A housing defines a first channel and a second channel and a locking mechanism configured to secure one of the first and second connectors within the first channel or the second channel. The locking mechanism includes a disk with a rotational stop, and a latch arm pivotable between at least a latched position and an unlatched position. When the first connector is secured within the first channel by the disk and the second connector is inserted into the second channel, the second connector actuates the latch arm towards the unlatched position such that the disk is enabled to pivot and secure the second connector to the housing while simultaneously releasing the first connector from the housing.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards systems and methods built for predictively timing the inflation and/or deflation of an intra-aortic balloon pump. A controller operates in three states: (1) initialization state, (2) learning state, and (3) peak detection state. The controller decomposes a patient's electrocardiogram signal to a power signal. It then learns characteristics of the patient's electrocardiogram signal during the learning state and computes adaptive threshold parameter values. During the peak detection state, the controller applies the learnt threshold parameter values on a current electrocardiogram signal to identify occurrence and timings of R peaks in the electrocardiogram signal. The R-to-R peak timings are then used to trigger inflation of an intra-aortic balloon pump.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and formulations capable of maintaining or promoting the growth of certain strains of Lactobacilli spp. The compositions and formulations generally comprise only a single therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of isomaltulose, maltitol, pullulan, maltotriose, 2-deoxy-D-ribose, 1-kestose and erlose. The single therapeutic agent is the sole source of carbon for bacterium when administered to a user. Despite comprising only a single therapeutic agent the compositions have been shown to promote the growth and maintenance of beneficial Lactobacilli and to effectively inhibit the growth of pathogens associated with urogenital infections. As such administration of the compositions maintain a healthy microflora balance in the urogenital area.

Abstract: A muffle for a glass tube forming process includes an inlet end coupled to a bowl, an outlet end having an inner dimension larger than an inner dimension of the inlet end, and a sidewall extending from inlet end to the outlet end. A radial distance from a center axis of the muffle to an inner surface of the sidewall increases from the inlet end to the outlet end and the sidewall is substantially free of abrupt changes in the radial distance that produce instability regions within the muffle. The muffle includes a channel between an outer surface of a portion of the sidewall and an insulating layer disposed about the sidewall, the channel being operable to pass a heat transfer fluid into thermal communication with the sidewall to provide cooling to the muffle. Glass forming systems including the muffle and glass tube forming processes are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved, cleaner functioning smoking article is provided, comprising a aerosol forming substrate engineered to include airflow channels. Features include a hollow tube, which may be comprised of various materials, including the material for vaporization itself, within the engineered material, such as tobacco, for efficient vaporization. Other features include a hollow, inverted cone to permit air ingress in a closed bottomed HNB cigarette, and a capsule cigarette designed to retain loose leaf and original material for clean vaporization.

Abstract: A control system an unmanned vehicle includes a first processing unit configured to execute a primary autopilot process for controlling the unmanned vehicle. The control system further includes a programmable logic array in operative communication with the first processing unit. The control system also includes a state machine configured in the programmable logic array. The state machine is configured to enable control of the unmanned vehicle according to a backup autopilot process in response to an invalid output of the first processing unit.

Abstract: A carabiner includes a swivel loop and a body rotatably coupled to the swivel loop about a rotational axis. The body includes a spine having a spine axis that intersects the rotational axis at an intersection point disposed within the connection between the swivel loop and the body. The carabiner also includes a captive eye formed completely within the spine. The body and the captive eye being both rotatable relative to swivel loop.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards systems and methods built for predictively timing the inflation and/or deflation of an intra-aortic balloon pump. A controller operates in three states: (1) initialization state, (2) learning state, and (3) peak detection state. The controller decomposes a patient's electrocardiogram signal to a power signal. It then learns characteristics of the patient's electrocardiogram signal during the learning state and computes adaptive threshold parameter values. During the peak detection state, the controller applies the learnt threshold parameter values on a current electrocardiogram signal to identify occurrence and timings of R peaks in the electrocardiogram signal. The R-to-R peak timings are then used to trigger inflation of an intra-aortic balloon pump.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions, particularly compositions useful in maintaining and supporting healthy microflora in the female urogenital tract which could lead to inhibition of vaginal infections, as well as methods of treating and preventing vaginal infections. Compositions useful in supporting healthy microflora, disclosed herein, generally comprise a therapeutic amount of a first saccharide and a therapeutic amount of a second saccharide or an organic acid. The saccharides may be, for example, a pentose, a disaccharide, a cyclodextrin, a pectic substance or a non-digestible polysaccharide. The organic acid may be, for example, malic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions, particularly compositions useful in maintaining and supporting healthy microflora in the female urogenital tract which could lead to inhibition of vaginal infections, as well as methods of treating and preventing vaginal infections. Compositions useful in supporting healthy microflora, disclosed herein, generally comprise a therapeutic amount of a first saccharide and a therapeutic amount of a second saccharide or an organic acid. The saccharides may be, for example, a pentose, a disaccharide, a cyclodextrin, a pectic substance or a non-digestible polysaccharide. The organic acid may be, for example, malic acid.

Abstract: A method for absolute protein or peptide quantitation by mass spectroscopy. A sample containing a protein or peptide of interest is prepared for mass spectroscopy analysis. The sample is subjected to mass spectroscopy analysis at low resolution whereby a single additive mass spectroscopy peak is obtained, then is subjected to high resolution mass spectroscopy analysis whereby a plurality of mass spectroscopy peaks are obtained. The intensity of each of the plurality of mass spectroscopy peaks is quantitated either by comparison to an internal standard set, or by using a standard curve generated for each isotopologue set. Quantitation using a standard curve enhances quantitation across a dynamic range of analyte.

Abstract: A control system an unmanned vehicle includes a first processing unit configured to execute a primary autopilot process for controlling the unmanned vehicle. The control system further includes a programmable logic array in operative communication with the first processing unit. The control system also includes a state machine configured in the programmable logic array. The state machine is configured to enable control of the unmanned vehicle according to a backup autopilot process in response to an invalid output of the first processing unit.

Abstract: A line dispensing device includes a housing, a rotatable shaft rotatably supported by the housing and defining a rotational axis, and a line drum disposed about the rotational axis and configured to extend and retract a line from the housing. The line dispensing device also includes a retraction assembly disposed about the rotational axis and configured to generate a retraction force and retract the line from the housing, and a braking assembly disposed about the rotational axis and configured to generate a braking force on the line and during extension of the line from the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include skin diagnostics using optical signatures. A plurality of optical excitation light wavelength bands is scanned on a material sample, wherein the material sample exhibits optical spectral characteristics along the light wavelength spectrum. Excitation response wavelengths emitted by the material sample are captured in response to the plurality of optical excitation light wavelength bands, wherein the capturing is accomplished using an imaging sensor. Output values of a plurality of pixels of an image from the imaging sensor are measured, wherein the image represents excitation response wavelengths captured by the imaging sensor, wherein the measuring detects optical spectral characteristics of the material sample, and wherein the optical spectral characteristics are in response to the plurality of optical excitation light wavelength bands.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include exudate analysis using optical signatures. Access to a tissue exudate sample is obtained, wherein the tissue exudate sample contains one or more analytes representing a state of the tissue. The one or more analytes are isolated from the exudate sample on a substrate. The exudate is transferred from the substrate to an immunoassay. The immunoassay is illuminated with photons, wherein the illuminating comprises a controlled photon exposure. The controlled photon exposure comprises ambient lighting and/or one or more fluorescence excitation light wavelength bands. Light emanating from the immunoassay is imaged, wherein the imaging captures intensities of light wavelengths across the light wavelength spectrum. The imaging captures reflected light and fluorescent emanating light. A signature for the one or more analytes is generated, based on analysis of the intensities that were imaged. The signature expresses a magnitude for each of the one or more analytes.