Abstract: A proning assessment method includes determining, from received respiratory and/or body position data, a flipping time (tflipping) when a patient is placed in a partial or full prone position; determining a target imaging time (timg,target) for acquiring imaging data to assess an impact of proning on mechanical ventilation therapy as the flipping time (tflipping) plus a predetermined time interval (?t); receiving at least one lung image of at least one lung of the patient, the at least one lung image being timestamped with an image acquisition time (timg,actual); and at least one of: (i) displaying the at least one lung image; and/or (ii) analyzing the at least one lung image to generate a proning recommendation for the patient, and displaying, on a display device, a representation of the proning recommendation.

Abstract: Described herein is a beverage system that is configured to produce beverages having different characteristics, such as different levels of carbonation including producing substantially non-carbonated beverages and carbonated beverages with a single machine. The beverage system includes a beverage appliance and a beverage container. The beverage container includes a beverage material, which can include a flavoring ingredient for a target beverage. The beverage appliance is used to access the beverage material from the beverage container and produce the target beverage. The beverage appliance and beverage container are adaptable to produce the target beverage having any of a range of carbonation levels or other characteristics.

Abstract: A system for generating a biased random bit stream, wherein said biased bit stream has different predetermined probabilities of occurrence for bit “0” and bit “1”, said system comprising: a true random generator unit configured to output a true random bit stream, a pseudo random generator unit configured to output a pseudo random bit stream, said pseudo random bit stream comprising n bit words, where n is an integer of at least two; a combining unit configured to combine a bit from said true random generator unit with an n-bit word from said pseudo random generator unit to output a processed n-bit word; and an output unit configured to generate an output bit value from said processed n-bit word using a function, wherein said function is selected to control the probabilities of occurrence of the bit “0” values and bit “1” values to be the predetermined probabilities of occurrence.

Abstract: A stored energy discharge apparatus for discharging electrical charge from a first component prior to being installed into a second component. The apparatus includes at least one mounting component adapted to a desired voltage potential used in the second component, and at least one discharge component adapted to receive the first component and discharge electrical charge from the first component to the second component through the at least one mounting component prior to the first component being installed in the second component.

Abstract: A cartridge shell for a suction or discharge stabilizer dampening pumped fluid pressure pulsations at an inlet or outlet of a reciprocating pump includes a head including a protrusion, an annular shell of deformable material of a deformable multi-ply material coupled to the protrusion, a plug coupled to the annular shell of deformable material at an opposite end of the annular shell of deformable material from the protrusion, and a cellular foam included within the interior of the annular shell of deformable material.

Abstract: Performance of a substitute upstream processing component is tested, in order to determine whether that performance is sufficient to support a downstream processing component, within an autonomous driving system, in place of an existing upstream processing component. The existing upstream processing component and the substitute upstream processing component are mutually interchangeable in so far as they provide the same form of outputs interpretable by the downstream processing component, such that either upstream processing component may be used without modification to the downstream processing component. A direct or indirect metric-based comparison is formulated in terms of the resulting performance of the downstream processing component.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet-metal fastener configured to join two components, such as sheet-metal. The sheet-metal fastener comprising a head and a shank. The head may define an undercut region and a serrated region. The serrated region can be positioned at an outer perimeter of the head. The serrated region can be composed of a plurality of knurls. The shank extends perpendicularly from the undercut region and comprises one or more threads.

Abstract: Disclosed in one aspect is a method for performing a complete blood count (CBC) on a sample of whole blood by metering a predetermined amount of the whole blood and mixing it with a predetermined amount of diluent and stain and transferring a portion thereof to an imaging chamber of fixed dimensions and utilizing an automated microscope with digital camera and cell counting and recognition software to count every white blood cell and red blood corpuscle and platelet in the sample diluent/stain mixture to determine the number of red cells, white cells, and platelets per unit volume, and analyzing the white cells with cell recognition software to classify them.

Abstract: A combining unit for combining a first optical input and a second optical input, the first optical input comprising a first polarisation maintaining fibre “PMF” having a fast optical axis and a slow optical axis, the second optical input comprising a second PMF having a fast optical axis and a slow optical axis, the combining unit being configured to combine the first optical input with the second optical input in free space such that the fast and slow optical axis of the first PMF and the second PMF are rotated with respect to one another by a non-zero angle to produce a combined signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are electroluminescent devices that comprise organic layers that contain certain organic compounds containing one ore more pyrimidine moieties. The organic compounds containing one ore more pyrimidine moieties are suitable components of blue-emitting, durable, organo-electroluminescent layers. The electroluminescent devices may be employed for full color display panels in for example mobile phones, televisions and personal computer screens.

Abstract: A pulsation dampening device includes a body having an upper connection end and a lower connection end, each connection end adapted to connect the body to connectors for a drill string pipe segment that are part of one of a top drive, a lower Kelly valve, a saver sub, drill string sub, a drill string pipe and a bottom hole assembly. Flow restriction is provided within an internal flow path extending axially through the body and is configured to reduce pumped fluid pressure pulses originating from an agitator within downhole tools. The flow restriction is provided by a combination of one or more orifice(s) restricting fluid flow within the internal flow path, optionally coupled with relief feature(s) gradually increasing or decreasing a cross-section of the internal flow path, or by an orifice device. Flow restriction operates unidirectionally or bidirectionally relative to predominant fluid flow in attenuating pressure pulses.

Abstract: An image-reading device, such as optical code readers used in retail environments to scan objects, is configured to select from various operational modes. The operational modes are selected based on an application of the image-reading device, such as optical code identification or image recognition. Red, white, and other color light sources are activated in patterns corresponding to an illumination sequence of the selected operational mode, while imagers are activated to capture an image based on an exposure pattern of the selected operational mode. Further, a repeating series of light pulses having different portions of light is provided. Various imagers are configured to capture images over one of the portions. This allows an operator to perceive one continuous light pattern, yet allows various imagers to capture an image under different light conditions used for different applications of the image-reading device.

Abstract: Backend processes in a storage system are implemented using a plurality of worker threads that are divided into two thread groups: thread group A and thread group B. Threads of thread group A are able to be used to process both Random Read Miss (RRM) workload items and Random Write Miss (RWM) workload items. Threads of thread group B are divided into two thread sub-groups: thread sub-group B1 and thread sub-group B2. Threads of thread sub-group B1 are able to be used to process both RRM and RWM workload items, while threads of thread sub-group B2 are reserved to be used to process only RRM workload items. The size of thread sub-group B2 relative to the size of thread sub-group B1 changes over time (from 0 threads to all threads of thread group B), depending on the duty cycle of the threads of group A.

Abstract: Replaceable wear inserts of a material resisting abrasive wear due to particulates within pumped fluid are used for the inlet and/or outlet of a pulsation dampener coupled to the outlet of a land-base or mobile-mounted pump. The wear inserts may be integrated with pressure orifice devices contributing to pressure pulsation dampening. The wear inserts may have internal passages or be mounted to create turbulent flow through the pulsation dampener to mitigate the risk of dead spots accumulating particulates. The wear inserts may be sized for either “loose” or “tight” fit within the inlet and outlet to facilitate removability despite the potential for particulates embedding within the gap. Grooves may be provided with O rings to seal against pressure leaks.

Abstract: A respiration monitoring device includes at least one electronic processor programmed to perform a respiration monitoring method including receiving ultrasound imaging data of a diaphragm of a patient as a function of time during inspiration and expiration while the patient undergoes mechanical ventilation therapy with a mechanical ventilator; receiving respiratory data of the patient as a function of time during the inspiration and expiration while the patient undergoes the mechanical ventilation therapy; calculating an intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (iPEEP) value for the patient based on the ultrasound imaging data and the respiratory data; and displaying, on a display device, a representation of the calculated iPEEP value.

Abstract: A method at a permission service on a computing device for managing permissions, the method including receiving a request at the permission service from a first application, the request comprising an identifier associated with an operating system for a second application and a permission for the second application to access resources; performing an action at the permission service based on the received request; and returning results of the action to the first application indicating whether the second application has the permission to access the resources.

Abstract: A cage for a rolling element bearing is intended to ensure the circumferential spacing of at least one row of rolling elements and includes a plurality of pockets to accommodate the rolling elements of the row. The cage is made of a fiber-reinforced synthetic material having a glass transition temperature equal to or greater than 120° Celsius.

Abstract: A diffuser element for use over a vent opening of a breathing assistance apparatus. In some configurations, the diffuser element is formed by knitting or weaving one or more threads together into an interlocking pattern. In some configurations, the diffuser pad has a first surface and an opposing second surface and at least the first surface includes a surface texture. Arrangements for coupling the diffuser element to a structure that defines or carries the vent are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mechanical ventilation assessment assistance device includes at least one electronic processor; and a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions readable and executable by the at least one electronic processor to perform a mechanical ventilation assessment assistance method including obtaining an image of a patient (P) receiving mechanical ventilation; generating or updating a patient-specific lung model of at least one lung of the patient based on the obtained image; simulating a response of the patient to a mechanical ventilation therapy using the generated or updated patient-specific lung model; comparing the simulated response with an actual response of the patient to the mechanical ventilation therapy; based on the comparison, determining an imaging recommendation for acquiring an image of at least one lung of the patient; and outputting the determined imaging recommendation.

Abstract: A cartridge shell for a suction or discharge stabilizer dampening pumped fluid pressure pulsations at an inlet or outlet of a reciprocating pump includes a head including a protrusion, an annular shell of deformable material of a deformable multi-ply material coupled to the protrusion, a plug coupled to the annular shell of deformable material at an opposite end of the annular shell of deformable material from the protrusion, and a cellular foam included within the interior of the annular shell of deformable material.