Abstract: A system determines an amount of time available for responding to a request regarding eligibility for a client account for a modification based on a confidence grade for the client. The system transmits a first query and a second query. The system uses trained machine learning model(s) to determine respective estimated receipt times of first and second datasets responsive to the first and second queries, and to determine respective importance levels of the first and second datasets to determining the confidence grade. The system generates a preliminary confidence grade based on the first dataset, and delays generation of the confidence grade until the second dataset is received based on the estimated receipt times and importance levels. The system updates the preliminary confidence grade using the second dataset to generate the confidence grade, determines the eligibility determination, and updates the training of the machine learning models.

Abstract: A jar candle includes a jar, a lid connected to the jar of the jar candle for articulation between an open position and a closed position, and an arrangement for controlling a flame of the jar candle. The arrangement includes an electromagnet carried in a housing fixed to the jar, a permanent magnet carried by the lid, and a power source for powering the electromagnet. The electromagnet cooperates with the permanent magnet to retain the lid in the open position when the power source powers the electromagnet and further cooperates with the electromagnet to repel the electromagnet and thereby articular the lid to the closed position.

Abstract: A torsion bar assembly comprises an input shaft, an output shaft, and a torsion bar that connects the input shaft to the output shaft. An end stop face on the input shaft that co-operates with a respective end stop face of the output shaft to limit an angular deflection of the torsion bar assembly in a first direction away from the neutral position and an end stop face on the input shaft that co-operates with a respective end stop face of the output shaft to limit an angular deflection of the torsion bar assembly in a second direction that opposes the first direction. A first alignment feature is provided at or close to the end of the input shaft nearest the output shaft and a second alignment feature is provided at or close to an end of the output shaft nearest to the input shaft, the first alignment feature facing the second alignment feature across a gap.

Abstract: In response to receipt of a request for an assessment of a user at a system and from a client terminal, the system identifies a duration of time available for responding to the request and starts a timer. The system transmits requests for information about the user to data sources. The system can and receive some responsive datasets back from the data sources, and can determine which responsive datasets are optimal to wait for and which are not based on how closely the timer is approaching the duration of time available for responding to the request. The system generates the assessment of the user based on the datasets that the system received before the timer reached a threshold time that is based on the duration of time available for responding to the request, and sends the assessment of the user to the client terminal.

Abstract: A hydrogel comprising a particle physically entrapped within a hydrogel matrix, a method for making the hydrogel, a particle for use in the hydrogel and the use of the hydrogel to sense a chemical species, especially anions in solution. The particle comprises an active material and a plurality of chains of a first polymeric material, each of the chains of the first polymeric material having a first end and a second end. The active material and the first ends of the chains form a core; and the second ends of the chains extend outwardly away from the core to form a shell. The hydrogel matrix comprises chains of a second polymeric material in the form of a three dimensional cross-linked network.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling a flame of a candle includes a lid mounted to the jar of the jar candle for articulation between an open position and a closed position. The arrangement further includes an electromagnet, a permanent magnet and a power source. The electromagnet is carried in a housing fixed to the jar. The permanent magnet is carried by the lid. The power source provides powering the electromagnet. The electromagnet cooperates with the permanent magnet to retain the lid in the open position when the power source powers the electromagnet and allow the lid to articulate to the closed position when the power source is disconnected from the electromagnet.

Abstract: A torsion bar assembly comprises an input shaft, an output shaft, and a torsion bar that connects the input shaft to the output shaft. An end stop face on the input shaft that co-operates with a respective end stop face of the output shaft to limit an angular deflection of the torsion bar assembly in a first direction away from the neutral position and an end stop face on the input shaft that co-operates with a respective end stop face of the output shaft to limit an angular deflection of the torsion bar assembly in a second direction that opposes the first direction. A first alignment feature is provided at or close to the end of the input shaft nearest the output shaft and a second alignment feature is provided at or close to an end of the output shaft nearest to the input shaft, the first alignment feature facing the second alignment feature across a gap.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for securing a steering column shroud, comprising: a clamp pin which passes through an opening in the shroud and having a stopper towards one end, a toothed block carried by the clamp pin having a set of rake teeth, the teeth of the block being urged into engagement with a rack of teeth fixed to a support bracket by the stopper when the clamp assembly is in the clamped condition, thereby securing the relative positions of the fixed and moving portions of the steering assembly; and a biasing means that provides a biasing force that acts in an unclamped condition to bias the stopper of the clamp pin away from the moving part to permit the rack of teeth on the block to move clear of the rack of the support bracket, in which a substantial part of the biasing force provided by the biasing means acts upon the clamp pin without passing through the toothed block.

Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly comprises a steering column shroud, a support bracket, and a clamp mechanism. The support bracket comprises two arms having a portion of the column shroud located therebetween. The clamp mechanism comprises a pin that passes through slots in the arms and carries a fixed cam portion and moving cam portion, relative rotation of the fixed cam portion and moving cam portion causing the clamp mechanism to move between a locked position and an unlocked position. The fixed cam portion has an anti-rotation feature that sits at least partially within one of the slots in one of the arms and which co-operates with the side walls of the slot to substantially prevent unwanted rotation of the fixed portion of the cam mechanism.

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises an adjustable shroud and a locking mechanism that comprises a clamp pin, a locking handle and a cam mechanism fitted to the clamp pin, in which the cam mechanism comprises first and second cam portions which can be moved relative to each other by operation of the locking handle to vary the overall length of the cam mechanism, the unlocked position of the cam mechanism being defined by contact of a first end stop of the first cam portion with a second end stop of the second cam portion. At least one of the end stops comprises a resilient cushioning member which provides cushioning as the at least one end stop engages the other end stop upon the locking mechanism reaching the unlocked position. The resilient cushioning member is free to move so that on a first engagement, a portion of the resilient cushioning member makes contact with the end stop; and on a second engagement, a different portion of the resilient cushioning member makes contact with the end stop.

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises an adjustable shroud and a locking mechanism that comprises a clamp pin, a locking handle and a cam mechanism fitted to the clamp pin, in which the cam mechanism comprises first and second cam portions which can be moved relative to each other by operation of the locking handle to vary the overall length of the cam mechanism, the unlocked position of the cam mechanism being defined by contact of a first end stop of the first cam portion with a second end stop of the second cam portion. At least one of the end stops comprises a resilient cushioning member which provides cushioning as the at least one end stop engages the other end stop upon the locking mechanism reaching the unlocked position. The resilient cushioning member is free to move so that on a first engagement, a portion of the resilient cushioning member makes contact with the end stop; and on a second engagement, a different portion of the resilient cushioning member makes contact with the end stop.

Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly comprises a steering column shroud, a support bracket, and a clamp mechanism. The support bracket comprises two arms having a portion of the column shroud located therebetween. The clamp mechanism comprises a pin that passes through slots in the arms and carries a fixed cam portion and moving cam portion, relative rotation of the fixed cam portion and moving cam portion causing the clamp mechanism to move between a locked position and an unlocked position. The fixed cam portion has an anti-rotation feature that sits at least partially within one of the slots in one of the arms and which co-operates with the side walls of the slot to substantially prevent unwanted rotation of the fixed portion of the cam mechanism.

Abstract: A system and method is described for providing enterprise information to a mobile communications device. The system receives enterprise information from server based application software products at a publisher, and determines particular enterprise data from the enterprise information and integrates the particular enterprise data into a normalised data structure. The normalised data structure is stored on a local server in a Sync database and platform, wherein at least part of the normalised data structure may be accessed through an application user interface on mobile or web based communication devices.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for securing a steering column shroud, comprising: a clamp pin which passes through an opening in the shroud and having a stopper towards one end, a toothed block carried by the clamp pin having a set of rake teeth, the teeth of the block being urged into engagement with a rack of teeth fixed to a support bracket by the stopper when the clamp assembly is in the clamped condition, thereby securing the relative positions of the fixed and moving portions of the steering assembly; and a biasing means that provides a biasing force that acts in an unclamped condition to bias the stopper of the clamp pin away from the moving part to permit the rack of teeth on the block to move clear of the rack of the support bracket, in which a substantial part of the biasing force provided by the biasing means acts upon the clamp pin without passing through the toothed block.

Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly for a vehicle comprises a shroud which surrounds a steering column shaft, a mounting bracket secured to or integral with a fixed part of the vehicle, a support bracket secured to the mounting bracket through one or more frangible connectors, a clamp mechanism which releasably secures the shroud to the support bracket, and a blocking part which is fixed in position relative to the mounting and at least in an unclamped condition of the clamp mechanism provides an additional force path between the clamp mechanism and the mounting bracket that does not pass through the support bracket. In the event that an axial load is applied to the steering assembly when the clamp mechanism is unlocked and has reached the end of its allowable travel at least some of the load is carried through the clamp mechanism and the blocking part to the mounting bracket along the additional force path.

Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly for a vehicle comprises a shroud which surrounds a steering column shaft, a mounting bracket secured to or integral with a fixed part of the vehicle, a support bracket secured to the mounting bracket through one or more frangible connectors, a clamp mechanism which releasably secures the shroud to the support bracket, and a blocking part which is fixed in position relative to the mounting and at least in an unclamped condition of the clamp mechanism provides an additional force path between the clamp mechanism and the mounting bracket that does not pass through the support bracket. In the event that an axial load is applied to the steering assembly when the clamp mechanism is unlocked and has reached the end of its allowable travel at least some of the load is carried through the clamp mechanism and the blocking part to the mounting bracket along the additional force path.

Abstract: A unique system and method that facilitates providing customized search results for a particular user. The system and method involve tracking user interactions with respect to a list of search results for a given query. In particular, click content, click order, and time stamp data can be collected for each submitted query on a per-user basis. Analysis of the collected data can facilitate inferring the user's context or intention with respect to the submitted query to improve the relevancy of returned search results. In addition, the presentation or appearance of the search results can vary according to user preferences, user profile data, or user interests. Thus, different users who submit similar queries using the same or similar terms can receive different sets of search results.

Abstract: A substance abuse surveillance system comprising a source of respondent responses to a self-administered virtual interview and a data collector coupled to receive from the source multiple respondent responses and analyzing the same in near real-time to form current substance abuse data, the data collector allowing access to the current substance abuse data by third parties. The data collector is coupled to the source in a manner enabling delay-free, continuous feed of the respondent responses.

Abstract: A controlled rate freezer for the controlled freezing of biological material, the freezer comprising a first chamber which can hold biological material to be frozen, a second chamber which can hold a cryogenic material, forced convection apparatus which lowers the temperature of the first chamber by forcibly moving air present in the first chamber towards the second chamber whereby heat transfer occurs at the second chamber, and control apparatus which monitors the temperature of the first chamber and which controls the forced convection apparatus based on the monitored temperature, so that the lowering of the temperature of the first chamber, and thus the freezing of the biological material, follows a material-dependent predetermined optimum or substantially optimum freezing profile. The forced convection apparatus includes two recirculating flow paths along which air in the first chamber is movable at a rate controlled by the control apparatus.