Abstract: A heating device for a rear wall of a tumble dryer is disclosed, wherein the heating device includes an electric heating arrangement which may be formed of heating coils. A bypass airflow which is not directly heated by the heating arrangement flows in addition in the housing so that the heat loss through the housing is reduced.

Abstract: An animal trap may include a source of compressed gas; a trigger mechanism configured to be actuated by an animal, and a kill mechanism powered by compressed gas. The trap may include two or more trigger valves connected in series. At least one trigger valve may include an opening, a valve seat surrounding the opening, a valve member having a sealing surface, and an O-ring arranged to seal between the sealing surface and the valve seat. One or more flow paths may allow gas to flow along at least part of an internal periphery of the O-ring. The trigger may include a trigger rod extending in a rest position from a mount at or near a first end thereof. The trigger rod may be mounted for pivoting movement about the mount, and may have two rotational degrees of freedom. Pivoting movement of the trigger rod in any direction away from the rest position may result in actuation of the trigger.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a catheter having an ellipsoidal basket-shaped electrode assembly at the distal end of the catheter body formed from a plurality of spines with electrodes. The ellipsoidal basket-shaped electrode assembly has a first deployed expanded configuration having a first area of electrode coverage and a first electrode density, a second deployed expanded configuration having a second area of electrode coverage less than the first area and a second electrode density higher than the first density, and a collapsed configuration wherein the spines are arranged generally along a longitudinal axis of the catheter body.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for predicting preferences of an observer for two images, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the first image and an associated salience map indicating regions of the first image that are likely to be scrutinized by the observer; receiving a content masking map indicating differences between the first image and the second image that the observer is likely to be able to perceive; determining a number of preference measures; and processing the salience map and the content masking map to determine a distribution of a set of values of the preference measures predicting the preferences of the observer for the first image and the second image, the set of values of the preference measures having a number of degrees of freedom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for modifying a template polynucleotide for characterization, especially for nanopore sequencing. The method produces a modified polynucleotide which is complementary to the template polynucleotide at some positions and which contains universal or abasic nucleotides at the other, and in some instances predicable, positions. The resulting modified polynucleotide can then be characterized.

Abstract: An animal trap is powered by compressed gas and includes a trigger mechanism and kill mechanism. The trap is preferably self-resetting. A variety of sources of compressed gas may be used, and different kill mechanisms may also be used. The trap is particularly suited to applications where low-maintenance traps are required, because it uses a simple, reliable mechanism which can kill a number of animals over a long period of time without requiring maintenance or manual resetting.

Abstract: A system and method of displaying a suggested luminance adjustment for an image are disclosed. The method comprises applying a contrast adjustment to a first region of the image, the contrast adjustment defining a preference for the contrast adjusted image and determining a second region of the contrast adjusted image based on a salience map associated with the contrast adjusted image and the preference for the contrast adjusted image. The method further comprises displaying a visual indication of the suggested luminance adjustment for the second region in association with the contrast adjusted image, wherein the suggested luminance adjustment is determined based on a preference of the contrast adjusted image with the suggested luminance adjustment applied.

Abstract: An animal trap includes: a bait, a support, and an elastic band, wherein in a set state the support supports the elastic band in an expanded state, and wherein removal, consumption or destruction of the bait by an animal: causes the elastic band to contract around the animal to kill the animal; or causes the elastic band to drive a kill mechanism to kill the animal. Animal traps may be formed substantially or entirely of biodegradable materials. Animal traps may be adapted for aerial distribution. A trap dispenser may dispense traps as they are triggered.

Abstract: A catheter with basket-shaped electrode assembly with spines configured for hyper-flexing in a predetermined, predictable manner when a compressive force acts on the assembly from either its distal end or its proximal end. At least one spine has at least one region of greater (or hyper) flexibility that allows the electrode assembly to deform, for example, compress, for absorbing and dampening excessive force that may otherwise cause damage or injury to tissue wall in contact with the assembly, without compromising the structure and stiffness of the remaining regions of the spine, including its distal and proximal regions. The one or more regions of greater flexibility in the spine allow the spine to flex into a generally V-shape configuration or a generally U-shape configuration.

Abstract: A sequence of polymer units in a polymer (3), eg. DNA, is estimated from at least one series of measurements related to the polymer, eg. ion current as a function of translocation through a nanopore (1), wherein the value of each measurement is dependent on a k-mer being a group of k polymer units (4). A probabilistic model, especially a hidden Markov model (HMM), is provided, comprising, for a set of possible k-mers: transition weightings representing the chances of transitions from origin k-mers to destination k-mers; and emission weightings in respect of each k-mer that represent the chances of observing given values of measurements for that k-mer. The series of measurements is analysed using an analytical technique, eg. Viterbi decoding, that refers to the model and estimates at least one estimated sequence of polymer units in the polymer based on the likelihood predicted by the model of the series of measurements being produced by sequences of polymer units.

Abstract: A catheter adapted or high density mapping and/or ablation of tissue surface has a distal electrode matrix having a plurality of spines arranged in parallel configuration on which a multitude of electrodes are carried in a grid formation for providing uniformity and predictability in electrode placement on the tissue surface. The matrix can be dragged against the tissue surface upon deflection (and/or release of the deflection) of the catheter. The spines generally maintain their parallel configuration and the multitude of electrodes generally maintain their predetermined relative spacing in the grid formation as the matrix is dragged across the tissue surface in providing very high density mapping signals. The spines may have free distal ends, or distal ends that are joined to form loops for maintaining the spines in parallel configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for machine classifiers that employ enhanced machine learning. The machine classification may be automated, based on the input of human classifiers, or a combination of both. The selection of human classifiers is determined by a classifier ranking or scoring process. In addition, data generated by the ranking or scoring process can be used to train the machine classifiers to more accurately classify data.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes an electron accepting material and an electron donating material. One of the electron accepting or donating materials is configured and dimensioned as a first component of a bulk heterojunction with a predetermined array of first structures, each first structure is substantially equivalent in three dimensional shape, has a substantially equivalent cross-sectional dimension, and where each first structure of the array of first structures has a substantially equivalent orientation with respect to adjacent first structures of the predetermined array forming a substantially uniform array.

Abstract: A target polynucleotide is expanded. In respect of each nucleotide in the target polynucleotide, the target polynucleotide comprises clock nucleotides and at least one signal nucleotide in a predetermined order. The clock nucleotides have a predetermined sequence common to each nucleotide in the target polynucleotide. The at least one signal nucleotide is characteristic of the identity of the respective nucleotide in the target polynucleotide. During translocation of the expanded polynucleotide through a nanopore, electrical measurements dependent on the polynucleotide within the pore are made, to derive an analysis signal. Clock signals derived from the clock nucleotides are identified. Relative to the positions of the identified clock signals, nucleotide signals derived from the least one signal nucleotide are derived to analyse the target polynucleotide.

Abstract: To form a layer separating two volumes of aqueous solution, there is used an apparatus comprising elements defining a chamber, the elements including a body of non-conductive material having formed therein at least one recess opening into the chamber, the recess containing an electrode. A pre-treatment coating of a hydrophobic fluid is applied to the body across the recess. Aqueous solution, having amphiphilic molecules added thereto, is flowed across the body to cover the recess so that aqueous solution is introduced into the recess from the chamber and a layer of the amphiphilic molecules forms across the recess separating a volume of aqueous solution introduced into the recess from the remaining volume of aqueous solution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for acoustic feedback or resonance mitigation are provided. The systems and methods include an exhaust acoustic noise reduction apparatus having an exhaust port comprising an exhaust aperture, a first vane extending at least partially across the exhaust aperture, and a second vane extending at least partially across the exhaust aperture and intersecting the first vane, such that the first and second vanes are oriented to interfere with formation of an acoustic feedback loop and reduce an acoustic noise signature of the exhaust port.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for modifying a template polynucleotide for characterisation, especially for nanopore sequencing. The method produces a modified polynucleotide which is complementary to the template polynucleotide at some positions and which contains universal or abasic nucleotides at the other, and in some instances predicable, positions. The resulting modified polynucleotide can then be characterised.

Abstract: Articles such as filter media, which include dendrimers and/or other components, are provided. The filter media may further include a water repellant (e.g., a fluorinated species) to impart desirable properties to the media such as high water repellency. The filter media may also have a high efficiency as a function of pressure drop (i.e., high gamma values). In some embodiments, the filter media includes a fiber web which may be formed of various components such as glass fibers. The fiber web can also include additional components such as synthetic fibers, binder components, as well as other additives. The media may be incorporated into a variety of filter element products.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for predicting preferences of an observer for two images, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the first image and an associated salience map indicating regions of the first image that are likely to be scrutinized by the observer; receiving a content masking map indicating differences between the first image and the second image that the observer is likely to be able to perceive; determining a number of preference measures; and processing the salience map and the content masking map to determine a distribution of a set of values of the preference measures predicting the preferences of the observer for the first image and the second image, the set of values of the preference measures having a number of degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A process of onboarding a resource into an identity management system is disclosed. The identity management system is configured to connect users with resources and manage user identities and security entitlements of the connected resources. The process of onboarding a resource includes marking or tagging resource fields with semantic markers.