Abstract: Membranes for electrochemical technologies that operate at non-extreme acidic or basic conditions are described herein. The membrane can be a bipolar membrane having an anion-exchange layer, a cation-exchange layer, and a polymer layer containing a catalyst juxtaposed between the two layers. The catalyst can improve the rate for water dissociation and water formation at low applied bias thereby decreasing the overpotential and resistance for overall ion transport, especially when unequal pH values are used between the catholyte and anolyte.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to extracorporeal blood processing or other processing of fluids. Volumetric fluid balance, a required element of many such processes, may be achieved with multiple pumps or other proportioning or balancing devices which are to some extent independent of each other. This need may arise in treatments that involve multiple fluids. Safe and secure mechanisms to ensure fluid balance in such systems are described.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for an interactive, intelligent hub built around the completion of a task. This hub brings together resources, information, suggested steps, and other automated assistance to facilitate the completion of the task. AI-based assistance may indicate which steps can be completed by automated processes, and dispatch those processes, or suggest resources to assist in the completion of other steps. The hub displays the current status of the task, and lives until the completion of the task, or abandonment by the user.

Abstract: A liquid seal mating system to accommodate thermal expansion during elevated-temperature operation, including a collar, sized and shaped to receive a discharge end of a gas-delivery conduit and a fence that surrounds the collar and is attached thereto, wherein when installed, the collar accommodates thermal expansion of the gas-delivery conduit along a longitudinal axis of the gas-delivery conduit and limits movement of the gas-delivery conduit perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A method for suppressing bulk fluid motion in an elevated-temperature liquid seal, including attaching a mount to an outer shell of a liquid seal and receiving, within a mating collar, a discharge end of a gas-delivery conduit, the mating collar attached to the mount and being sized and shaped to accommodate thermal expansion of the gas-delivery conduit, filling the outer shell with liquid to submerge the discharge end of the gas-delivery conduit, and flowing gas through the gas-delivery conduit.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a framework through which securitization of a secured payment instrument is performed through real-time solicitation of peers for a security deposit associated with the secured payment instrument. The systems and methods, through training of machine learning algorithm, generate a recommendation for one or more peers that can be solicited for a security deposit associated with the secured payment instrument. If the security deposit is obtained, the secured payment instrument is issued. The security deposit is returned to the peers that contributed to the security deposit upon graduation of the secured payment instrument according to their pro rata contribution to the security deposit.

Abstract: A surgical device includes a ratchet having pawls biased to a locked position in which the pawls prevent movement of a ratchet body along a rack. A pinion and a cam disc of the ratchet cooperate to selectively release the pawls from the rack and impart ratcheted movement of the ratchet body along the rack. Rotation of a handle rotates the pinion and the cam disc. Due to such rotation, the cam disc periodically releases the pawls from the rack, and the pinion imparts movement of the ratchet body along the rack during the periodic release of the pawls.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for an interactive, intelligent hub built around the completion of a task. This hub brings together resources, information, suggested steps, and other automated assistance to facilitate the completion of the task. AI-based assistance may indicate which steps can be completed by automated processes, and dispatch those processes, or suggest resources to assist in the completion of other steps. The hub displays the current status of the task, and lives until the completion of the task, or abandonment by the user.

Abstract: A retractor may include one or more racks and retractor blades coupled to the respective racks via respective carriages and retractor arms. The carriages may traverse respective racks to laterally position retractor blades. The retractor blades may include tracks which the retractor arms may traverse to longitudinally position retractor blades with respect to the racks.

Abstract: A system and method to provide computer support for a meeting of invitees comprises accessing one or more sensory data streams providing digitized sensory data responsive to an activity of one or more of the invitees during the meeting, the one or more sensory data streams including at least one audio stream. The method also comprises subjecting the at least one audio stream to phonetic and situational computer modeling to recognize a sequence of words in the audio stream and to assign each word to an invitee, subjecting the sequence of words to semantic computer modeling to recognize a sequence of directives in the sequence of words, and releasing one or more output data streams based on the sequence of directives, the one or more output data streams including one or more notifications.

Abstract: Recommending one or more relevant skills to a user that are appropriate for the user's current context is provided. A machine learning contextual skills model is trained on data associated with skills that are invoked by the particular user and by various users and context data that defines characteristics of the context of the users, the users' computing devices, and the users' environments in association with the invoked skills. Responsive to a trigger event associated with the user and a computing device, current context data and user data is collected and passed to the contextual skills system. The contextual skills model is applied to the collected data and generates a ranked list of skills. One or more top-ranking skills are selected and provided to the user as one or more skill recommendations that are determined to be relevant to the user and relevant to the user's current context.

Abstract: A headwear system that allows changing the outward appearance of headwear such as a cap is disclosed. The system includes a fabric head covering having a securing mechanism on an interior surface of the fabric. A utility belt is inserted in the securing mechanism. The utility belt has a magnet. A decorative element having a ferrous material is attached to an exterior area of the headwear corresponding to a location of the magnet of the utility belt on the interior surface of the fabric head covering.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are sortilin binding agents, including conjugate agents comprising a sortilin binding moiety, directly or indirectly conjugated with a payload moiety, compositions comprising the same as well as methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: A system and method to provide computer support for a meeting of invitees comprises accessing one or more sensory data streams providing digitized sensory data responsive to an activity of one or more of the invitees during the meeting, the one or more sensory data streams including at least one audio stream. The method also comprises subjecting the at least one audio stream to phonetic and situational computer modeling to recognize a sequence of words in the audio stream and to assign each word to an invitee, subjecting the sequence of words to semantic computer modeling to recognize a sequence of directives in the sequence of words, and releasing one or more output data streams based on the sequence of directives, the one or more output data streams including one or more notifications.

Abstract: Biases in search and retrieval (i.e., situations where searchers seek or are presented with information that significantly deviates from the truth) may be detected by comparison to one or more authoritative sources. Once bias or potential bias is detected, techniques may be applied to indicate and/or compensate for the bias. Such techniques may allow users to more easily assess the veracity of search results, and increase the chances that users will locate accurate answers to their questions.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a rack, a first arm coupled to the rack, a second arm coupled to the rack, a first tower coupled to the first arm, and a second tower coupled to the second arm. The first tower comprises an upper end, a lower end, and a track between the upper end and the lower end. A channel of the first arm is configured to receive the track of the first tower and selectively position the first arm along the track of the first tower. The lower end of the first tower is configured to snap onto a pedicle screw and to disengage from the pedicle screw in response to a removal tool being inserted into the first tower.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for user interaction and task completion using multiple devices. A set of devices may be used to perform a task, such that different devices may perform different steps of the task. A device management service may update state information at each device of the set, thereby enabling a user to interact with any of the computing devices to perform the task. A device management service may also automatically determine which device should be used by the user, based on task or step requirements, device characteristics, and device capabilities, among other examples. Thus, rather than being required to continue a task on the same device (even when the device is not well-suited for the current step or task), the user is provided with the option to use and, in some instances, is automatically transitioned to use, different devices within the set.

Abstract: A method for monitoring quality of a conferencing session between a plurality of participant devices is described. One or more data streams of the conferencing session are monitored. Presenter contextual information is determined for media transmitted over the one or more data streams by a presenter device of the plurality of participant devices. A mismatch is identified between the presenter contextual information and a first participant contextual information for a first participant device of the plurality of participant devices. A mismatch notification is provided to the presenter device for an identified mismatch.