Abstract: A method facilitates the treatment of the spine of a patient by providing simultaneous access through at least a first opening and a second opening formed in the patient. For example, the method can include the acts of positioning the patient on a surgical table, providing the first opening into a posterior portion of the patient, providing the second opening into a lateral portion of the patient, inserting a first device through the first opening into the patient to contact the spine in a first direction that is transverse to the coronal plane of the patient, and inserting a second device through the second opening into the patient to contact the spine in a second direction that is transverse to the sagittal plane of the patient, where the first and second openings are accessible simultaneously, and, when the first and second devises are inserted into the patient, the position of the patient is stationary with respect to a portion of the table.

Abstract: Provided is a method for review of an XBRL document. An XBRL document is received followed by a request to create an XBRL review for the XBRL document. A selection of an XBRL fact included in the XBRL document is received and a first review status, of a plurality of review statuses, is applied to the selected XBRL fact. The selected XBRL fact is monitored to detect a change to the XBRL fact, and in response to detecting a change to the XBRL fact, the first review status of the XBRL fact is updated to a second review status of the plurality of review statuses.

Abstract: Method and systems for generating vehicle motion planning model simulation scenarios are disclosed. The system receives a base simulation scenario with features of a scene through which a vehicle may travel. The system then generates an augmentation element with a simulated behavior for an object in the scene by: (i) accessing a data store in which behavior probabilities are mapped to object types to retrieve a set of behavior probabilities for the object; and (ii) applying a randomization function to the behavior probabilities to select the simulated behavior for the object. The system will add the augmentation element to the base simulation scenario at the interaction zone to yield an augmented simulation scenario. The system will then apply the augmented simulation scenario to an autonomous vehicle motion planning model to train the motion planning model.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently managing bulk material are provided. The disclosure is directed to a portable support structure used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material and output bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. The portable support structure may include a frame for receiving and holding the one or more portable bulk material containers in an elevated position proximate the blender hopper, as well as one or more gravity feed outlets for routing the bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. In some embodiments, the portable support structure may be transported to the well site on a trailer, unloaded from the trailer, and positioned proximate the blender unit. In other embodiments, the portable support structure may be a mobile support structure that is integrated into a trailer unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods include determining a collision probability between a first spacecraft and a second spacecraft; responsive to a determination that the collision probability exceeds a threshold, identifying a plane that is orthogonal to a relative velocity between the first spacecraft and the second spacecraft; determining a boundary on the plane that, when intersected by the first spacecraft, reduces the collision probability to a threshold level; selecting a first test point along the boundary and a second test point along the boundary; determining a first cost associated with maneuvering the first spacecraft towards the first test point and a second cost associated with maneuvering the first spacecraft towards the second test point, the first cost and the second cost based on one or more user-defined parameters; and maneuvering the first spacecraft toward a target point along the boundary that is determined based on the first cost and the second cost.

Abstract: Methods for characterizing the surface shapes of optical elements include the following steps: carrying out, in an interferometric test arrangement, at least a first interferogram measurement on the optical element by superimposing a test wave, which has been generated by diffraction of electromagnetic radiation on a diffractive element and has been reflected at the optical element, carrying out at least one additional interferogram measurement on in each case one calibrating mirror for determining calibration corrections, and determining the deviation from the target shape of the optical element based on the first interferogram measurement carried out on the optical element and the determined calibration corrections. At least two interferogram measurements are carried out for the at least one calibrating mirror, which differ from one another with regard to the polarization state of the electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A prosthetic system for implantation between upper and lower vertebrae having an upper joint component and a lower joint component. The joint is adapted for implantation within a disc space between the upper and lower vertebrae, allowing the upper and lower vertebrae to move relative to one another. The system further includes a bridge component extending posteriorly from the lower joint component and from the disc space, with the bridge component having a lower contact surface configured for engaging a resected bone surface of a pedicle of the lower vertebrae. The distal end of the bridge component comprises a connection component adapted to receive a fastener.

Abstract: This document discloses system, method, and computer program product embodiments for operating an autonomous vehicle (AV). For example, the method includes performing the following operations by a muxing tool when AV is deployed within a particular geographic area in a real-world environment: receiving perception data that is representative of at least one actual object which is perceived while AV is deployed within the particular geographic area in a real-world environment; receiving simulation data that represents a simulated object that could be perceived by AV in the real-world environment and that was generated using a simulation scenario which is selected from a plurality of simulation scenarios based on at least one of the particular geographic area in which AV is currently located and a current operational state of AV; and generating augmented perception data by combining the simulation data with the perception data.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides delivery constructs comprising a carrier coupled to a heterologous payload, wherein coupling of the carrier to the payload can result in transportation of the payload (e.g., a therapeutic payload) into and/or across intact polarized epithelial cells (e.g., epithelial cells of the gut of a mammal). The delivery construct can be part of a pharmaceutical composition that can be orally administered to a subject to provide for improved, effective therapies for treatment of, e.g., inflammatory diseases or autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: A pressure gauge includes a housing, a helical tube, and a compensation member. The housing has an inlet. The helical tube is arranged within the housing and has a closed end and an open end, the open end of the helical tube in fluid communication with the inlet. The compensation member is arranged between the between the open end and the closed end of the helical tube, the compensation member fixed to the helical tube. The compensation member and the helical tube are formed from materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion to limit movement of the closed end of the helical tube due to temperature change of a compressed fluid in fluid communication with the helical tube. Pressure vessel assemblies and methods of displaying pressure in pressure vessels are also described.

Abstract: A pool cover assembly includes a first encapsulation member defining a first side of a pool cover encapsulation, the first encapsulation member comprising a first mating feature. The pool cover assembly further includes a second encapsulation member defining a second side of the pool cover encapsulation, the second encapsulation member comprising a second mating feature. And the pool cover assembly further includes a corner endcap member comprising a third mating feature and a fourth mating feature. The first encapsulation member is coupleable to the corner endcap by the first mating feature and the third mating feature, and the second encapsulation member is coupleable to the corner endcap by the second mating feature and the fourth mating feature. The corner endcap member couples with the first encapsulation member and the second encapsulation member to form a corner of the pool cover encapsulation.

Abstract: Methods and operations for controlling effective delivery of fire suppressant are disclosed. The fire suppression system comprises a control valve operatively coupled with a cylinder containing a fire suppressant. The system comprises a controller operatively coupled with the control valve. The controller is configured to command the control valve to open, discharging a flow of the fire suppressant at a first flow rate; and adjust the flow of the fire suppressant to a second flow rate during the discharge.

Abstract: Methods and systems for intraoperatively determining alignment parameters of a spine during a spinal surgical procedure are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method of intraoperatively determining an alignment parameter of a spine during a surgical procedure includes receiving initial image data of the spine including multiple vertebrae and identifying a geometric feature associated with each vertebra in the initial image data. The geometric features each have a pose in the initial image data and characterize a three-dimensional (3D) shape of the associated vertebra. The method further comprises receiving intraoperative image data of the spine and registering the initial image data to the intraoperative image data. The method can then update the pose of each geometric feature based on the registration and the intraoperative image data, and determine the alignment parameter based on the updated poses of the geometric features associated with two or more of the vertebrae.

Abstract: A method in a first wireless communication device for displaying current location information representing a current location of a second wireless communication device. The method entails, from within a communication application executing on a processor of the first wireless communication device, receiving the current location information representing the current location of the second wireless communication device, performing a reverse look-up of the received current location of the second wireless communication device to determine address information, displaying a map from within the communication application, and identifying the received current location information on the displayed map with a name associated with the determined address information.

Abstract: A ventilation hood system is provided. The ventilation hood system includes a hood body defining an interior through which cooking vapors are passable, a support system affixed to a fixed body and supportive of an entire weight of the hood body and a weight sensing system operably coupled to the support system to sense and monitor the entire weight of the hood body over time.

Abstract: A manual activation system includes a pulley movable between an inactive position and an active position, a tension member wrapped about the pulley, the tension member having a tensile force acting on the pulley, and at least one arm rotatably mounted adjacent to the pulley. The at least one arm has a groove configured to cooperate with a portion of the pulley to selectively oppose the tensile force.

Abstract: A pool cover assembly includes a first encapsulation member defining a first side of a pool cover encapsulation, the first encapsulation member comprising a first mating feature. The pool cover assembly further includes a second encapsulation member defining a second side of the pool cover encapsulation, the second encapsulation member comprising a second mating feature. And the pool cover assembly further includes a corner endcap member comprising a third mating feature and a fourth mating feature. The first encapsulation member is coupleable to the corner endcap by the first mating feature and the third mating feature, and the second encapsulation member is coupleable to the corner endcap by the second mating feature and the fourth mating feature. The corner endcap member couples with the first encapsulation member and the second encapsulation member to form a corner of the pool cover encapsulation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to isolated non-naturally occurring delivery constructs comprising a bacterial toxin-derived delivery construct coupled to a biologically active therapeutic cargo; wherein the delivery construct is capable of delivering the biologically active cargo via transcytosis transport across an epithelial cell; and wherein the delivery construct does not comprise a bacterial toxin-derived translocation domain or a bacterial toxin-derived catalytic (cytotoxic) domain.

Abstract: This document describes methods by which an autonomous vehicle deploys a simulation scenario while operating in a real-world environment. The vehicle's sensors collect perception data. During a run of the vehicle in a real-world environment, the vehicle's on-board computing system will: (i) receive the perception data; (ii) publish the perception data to a muxing tool of the on-board computing system; (iii) generate simulation data that identifies and labels one or more simulated objects in the environment; (iv) publish the simulation data to the muxing tool; (v) use the muxing tool to add at least a portion of the simulation data to the perception data to yield augmented perception data; and (v) use at least a portion of the augmented perception data to make one or more navigation decisions based for the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A system of creating a simulation scenario definition to simulate behavior of an autonomous vehicle includes a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium having one or more programming instructions. The system identifies an event on which a simulation scenario definition is to be based, identifies one or more log files associated with the event, parses the one or more log files in a time-sequential order and populates the simulation scenario definition with information from the identified log files until an event trigger is detected, identifies an actor from one or more of the log files, infer a shape of the actor, generates one or more simulated tracks that includes the inferred shape for the actor, and adds the simulated tracks to the simulation scenario definition.