Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to various ways of improving the functioning of computer systems, information networks, data stores, search engine systems and methods, and other advantages. Among other things, provided herein are methods, systems, components, processes, modules, blocks, circuits, sub-systems, articles, and other elements (collectively referred to in some cases as the “platform” or the “system”) that collectively enable, in a single database and system, the development and maintenance of a set of universal contact objects that relate to the contacts of a business and that have attributes that enable use for a wide range of activities, including sales activities, marketing activities, service activities, content development activities, and others, as well as improved methods and systems for sales, marketing and services that make use of such universal contact objects.

Abstract: A negative pressure device having a negative pressure source, a canister in fluid communication with the negative pressure source, a conduit the can couple with a wound dressing to provide negative pressure to a space beneath the wound dressing. Some arrangements of the negative pressure source can have a first noise reduction chamber and a second noise reduction chamber downstream of and in fluid communication with an outlet of a pump. The first and second noise reduction chambers can be configured to reduce noise generated by the pump and/or a level of pressure pulses in the fluid that is advanced through the negative pressure source.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a vehicle may include a frame having longitudinal axis. The vehicle may include a steering assembly having a steering input and at least one wheel. The steering assembly may be coupled to the frame and configured to steer the vehicle based on input from a steering input. The vehicle may include a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel. The vehicle may include a steering position sensor configured to detect steering input including a position of the steering input and at least one of i) a rate of change of position of steering input and ii) steering position time. The vehicle may include at least one controller configured to process a signal from the steering position sensor and, in response to the processed signal, drive the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel, the first drive wheel being driven independent of the second drive wheel.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a vehicle may include a frame having longitudinal axis. The vehicle may include a steering assembly having a steering input and at least one wheel. The steering assembly may be coupled to the frame and configured to steer the vehicle based on input from a steering input. The vehicle may include a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel. The vehicle may include a steering position sensor configured to detect steering input including a position of the steering input and at least one of i) a rate of change of position of steering input and ii) steering position time. The vehicle may include at least one controller configured to process a signal from the steering position sensor and, in response to the processed signal, drive the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel, the first drive wheel being driven independent of the second drive wheel.

Abstract: The invention provides separation media of substantially monodisperse populations of substantially spherical particles of polyarylketone polymers or of thio-analogues of such polymers, of selected sizes, and further provides containers, such as chromatographic columns and cartridges, containing substantially monodisperse populations of such particles.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for making substantially monodisperse populations of substantially spherical particles of polyarylketone polymers or of thio-analogues of such polymers, of selected sizes. Populations of such particles can be used, for example, to form porous devices with greater control of porosity than previously available. In some embodiments, the porous devices are frits, filters, membranes or monoliths.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for making porous devices from substantially monodisperse populations of substantially spherical particles of polyarylketone polymers or of thio-analogues of such polymers, of selected sizes. The porous devices allow greater control of porosity than previously available porous devices. In some embodiments, the porous devices are frits, filters, membranes or monoliths.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a vehicle may include a frame having longitudinal axis. The vehicle may include a steering assembly having a steering input and at least one wheel. The steering assembly may be coupled to the frame and configured to steer the vehicle based on input from a steering input. The vehicle may include a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel. The vehicle may include a steering position sensor configured to detect steering input including a position of the steering input and at least one of i) a rate of change of position of steering input and ii) steering position time. The vehicle may include at least one controller configured to process a signal from the steering position sensor and, in response to the processed signal, drive the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel, the first drive wheel being driven independent of the second drive wheel.

Abstract: Various training devices and methods for simulating intranasal drug delivery are described. In one exemplary embodiment, a training device can include an outer sleeve, a locking sleeve coupled to the outer sleeve, a core sleeve coupled to the locking sleeve, and a plunger operatively coupled to the core sleeve. The plunger can be configured to selectively translate the core sleeve from an initial position to a first actuated position that indicates the release of a first simulated dose of a drug, and from the first actuated position to a second actuated position that indicates the release of a second simulated dose of the drug, in which the device does not contain the drug. The plunger can also be configured to rotate relative to the outer sleeve to reset the core sleeve to the initial position such that the core sleeve can be translated back to the first and second actuated positions.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a vehicle may include a frame having longitudinal axis. The vehicle may include a steering assembly having a steering input and at least one wheel. The steering assembly may be coupled to the frame and configured to steer the vehicle based on input from a steering input. The vehicle may include a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel. The vehicle may include a steering position sensor configured to detect steering input including a position of the steering input and at least one of i) a rate of change of position of steering input and ii) steering position time. The vehicle may include at least one controller configured to process a signal from the steering position sensor and, in response to the processed signal, drive the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel, the first drive wheel being driven independent of the second drive wheel.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for isolating polypeptides having antibiotic activity are provided. In some aspects, bacterial cell populations are provided that express a surface-displayed library of candidate polypeptide sequences under the control of an inducible promoter.

Abstract: A lift chair comprising: a lift that transitions the lift chair between a resting position and a standing position; a user interface that receives one or more user inputs indicating a request to transition the lift chair between the resting position and the standing position; a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the lift and to the user interface, the controller circuit configured to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position, in response to a single user input, at a first speed over a first time period followed by a second speed over a second time period, the first speed being slower than the second speed.

Abstract: A lift chair comprising: a lift that transitions the lift chair between a resting position and a standing position; a user interface that receives one or more user inputs indicating a request to transition the lift chair between the resting position and the standing position; a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the lift and to the user interface, the controller circuit configured to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position, in response to a single user input, at a first speed over a first time period followed by a second speed over a second time period, the first speed being slower than the second speed.

Abstract: Blind mate mechanisms that are capable of simultaneously making multiple connections in a single motion are disclosed. Such mechanisms may be useful for applications where two or more of structural, electrical, and/or fluid couplings could be made manually or robotically at the same time using the mechanism. The mechanism may include a removable side and a fixed side.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a vehicle may include a frame having longitudinal axis. The vehicle may include a steering assembly having a steering input and at least one wheel. The steering assembly may be coupled to the frame and configured to steer the vehicle based on input from a steering input. The vehicle may include a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel. The vehicle may include a steering position sensor configured to detect steering input including a position of the steering input and at least one of i) a rate of change of position of steering input and ii) steering position time. The vehicle may include at least one controller configured to process a signal from the steering position sensor and, in response to the processed signal, drive the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel, the first drive wheel being driven independent of the second drive wheel.

Abstract: A lift chair comprising: a lift that transitions the lift chair between a resting position and a standing position; a user interface that receives one or more user inputs indicating a request to transition the lift chair between the resting position and the standing position; a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the lift and to the user interface, the controller circuit configured to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position, in response to a single user input, at a first speed over a first time period followed by a second speed over a second time period, the first speed being slower than the second speed.

Abstract: A lift chair comprising: a lift that transitions the lift chair between a resting position and a standing position; a user interface that receives one or more user inputs indicating a request to transition the lift chair between the resting position and the standing position; a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the lift and to the user interface, the controller circuit configured to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position, in response to a single user input, at a first speed over a first time period followed by a second speed over a second time period, the first speed being slower than the second speed.

Abstract: A system and method for voice based social networking is disclosed. The system receives a voice message (and frequently an image) and ultimately delivers it to one or multiple users, placing it within an ongoing context of conversations. The voice and image may be recorded by various devices and the data transmitted in a variety of formats. An alternative implementation places some system functionality in a mobile device such as a smartphone or wearable device, with the remaining functionality resident in system servers attached to the internet. The system can apply rules to select and limit the voice data flowing to each user; rules prioritize the messages using context information such as user interest and user state. An image is fused to the voice message to form a comment. Additional image or voice annotation (or both) identifying the sender may be attached to the comment. Fused image(s) and voice annotation allow the user to quickly deduce the context of the comment.

Abstract: Failure types that caused defective items to fail testing are identified, the defective items are grouped by the failure types to produce failure-type groups, and the defective items are analyzed to identify defect types that caused the failures. Failure-type limited yield within each of the failure-type groups, and failure-type group-specific defect ratio based on proportions of the defect types within each of the failure-type groups are determined. Additionally, each failure-type group-specific defect ratio is weighted using the failure-type limited yield to produce a weighted failure-type group-specific defect limited yield. For each of the defect types, the weighted failure-type group-specific defect limited yield from each of the failure-type groups is combined to produce the failure-type influenced defect-type total limited yield. Matrix processing is used for the weighting and combination processes. The defect types are ranked based on the failure-type influenced defect-type total limited yield.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of controlling a broadleaf volunteer crop, comprising applying to the broadleaf volunteer crop, an area adjacent the broadleaf volunteer crop, or to soil or water to prevent the emergence or growth of the broadleaf volunteer crop, a herbicidally effective amount of a 6-arylpicoline carboxylic acid, a 2-arylpyrimidine carboxylic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, wherein the broadleaf volunteer crop is genetically modified soybean.