Abstract: An extracorporeal life support device control system and method arranged to provide suitable gas and blood flow rates through an extracorporeal life support device. The control system comprises: a sensor arranged to detect and output a measurand, wherein the measurand is characteristic of a single autonomic nervous system output defining a metabolic demand; and a controller arranged to receive the measurand, and further arranged to control, according to the measurand: gas and/or liquid flow rates through an extracorporeal life support device; wherein the flow rates are arranged to provide blood gas concentrations similar to those arising from healthy lungs at the metabolic demand. In the case of patients with healthy lungs, the control system can control the blood flow rate without controlling gas flow rates through an oxygenator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating an object, in particular, for disinfecting and/or drying objects and/or surfaces are provided. One or more of an air delivery system, an electromagnetic emitter (e.g., a Far ultraviolet (UV) light source), and/or an air treatment device (e.g., a gaseous hydrogen-peroxide generator) may be used to condition ambient air to treat a surface or container for use (e.g., prior to filling the container, applying a surfactant, etc.). An ionizer may be employed with one or more of the emitter or air treatment device to additionally remove static from air within or provided to a treatment area.

Abstract: A distributed database system maintains data for a database client by storing data on a plurality of storage nodes. Upon receiving a request from the database client in a first format, the database system translates the request to a second format and sends the translated request to a storage subsystem. The storage subsystem generates an exception if the translated request cannot be successfully completed. The distributed database system resends the translated request on behalf of the database client if the exception corresponds to a request that can be retried, and continues to resend the translated request until a first of an expiration of a predetermined time period or until the request completes successfully. The distributed database system sends a response to the database client based on the resent database request.

Abstract: Described herein, an anhydrous cosmetic composition includes one or more water-absorbing components; a malodour-controlling component; a cosmetically acceptable carrier; wherein the anhydrous cosmetic composition has a burst resistance pressure greater than about 137.9 mBar (2 psi); wherein the anhydrous cosmetic composition has a water vapor sorption per 100 g of the composition from about 2.0 g to about 15 g; and wherein the anhydrous cosmetic composition is essentially free of aluminium-based antiperspirant actives.

Abstract: A device for determining the rheological properties of blood may include a channel having at least one channel sub-section that has a substantially constant cross-section; apparatus for determining a pressure differential along at least a portion of the sub-section of the channel; a first reservoir that is adapted to be located at a first end of the channel and to be placed in fluid communication with the channel, the first reservoir being of variable internal volume; a second reservoir that is adapted to be placed in fluid communication with first reservoir via the channel, the second reservoir being of variable internal volume; means for allowing blood to be introduced into the device; an outlet for allowing gas to be expelled from the device; and means for varying the volume of the first reservoir.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for producing nanometer scale particles for electrochemical materials utilizing an electrosterically stabilized slurry in a media mill. The method includes adding to a media mill a feed substrate suspension including a liquid carrier medium and electrochemical feed substrate particles. The method further includes adding to the feed substrate suspension in the media mill an electrosteric dispersant that includes a polyelectrolyte. Still further, the method includes operating the media mill for a period of time to comminute the feed substrate particles, thereby forming nanometer scale particles having a (D90) particle size of less than about one micron, and recirculating for further grinding the nanometer scale particles from the media mill.

Abstract: A distributed database system maintains data for a logical table by storing, on a plurality of storage nodes, a collection of key-item pairs. An operation to delete a range of these items is processed by first storing, on each of the plurality of storage nodes, a tombstone record indicative of the items to be deleted. The tombstones are committed once each of the plurality of nodes has stored the tombstone. Items within the range are treated as deleted. A cleanup operation deletes items within the range and updates the tombstone.

Abstract: A method and system for a perforating gun having a box by pin perforating gun system using swaged down gun bodies. The box by pin perforating gun system may include a removable cartridge to hold a detonator with a switch and an insulated charge holder as an electrical feed-through.

Abstract: A curtain wall panel mounting system comprises a ball anchor seated in a spherical cavity or a cylindrical cavity with plugs nearly abutting the ball of the anchor. A stem extends from the ball to connect to the wall panel. Under seismic stress, the ball may swivel within the cavity so as to pivot the anchor, allowing the attached wall panel to angle itself to accommodate the stress.

Abstract: The length of an endoscope carried by a robotic arm is determined using computer vision. The endoscope is inserted through a trocar into a body cavity and mounted to a manipulator arm. The position of a fulcrum for movement of the endoscope at the trocar site is determined using input from a force/torque sensor. While images are captured using the endoscope, the manipulator arm withdraws the distal end of the endoscope intro the trocar. Image processing is used to determine when the distal end of the trocar becomes visible in the captured images. The position of the endoscope at the point where the trocar becomes visible is recorded, and the length of the endoscope is determined based on the recorded position.

Abstract: A method and system for a perforating gun having a box by pin perforating gun system using swaged down gun bodies. The box by pin perforating gun system may include a removable cartridge to hold a detonator with a switch and an insulated charge holder as an electrical feed-through.

Abstract: A cell washing apparatus is provided to wash a cell-containing fluid. The apparatus is arranged to exchange one or more exchangeable entities from a cell-containing first fluid, and comprises, a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, the second fluid conduit separated from the first fluid conduit by a semi-permeable membrane disposed therebetween; the first fluid conduit having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, the first fluid conduit arranged to transport the first fluid in a first direction between the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet; the second fluid conduit being arranged to house a second fluid; wherein the semi-permeable membrane comprises a plurality of pores arranged to permit transport of said one or more exchangeable entities from the first fluid to the second fluid; wherein the one or more exchangeable entities comprise free haemoglobin and/or blood plasma; and wherein the first fluid is whole blood isolated from a human body, or packed red blood cells.

Abstract: A non-antigenic microRNA exosomal vaccination that includes dendritic-derived exosomes resulting from the incubation of dendritic cells with Spike Protein of a COVID-19 virus so that the dendritic cells process the Spike Protein of the COVID-19 virus to enable education of naïve T-cells. The exosomes so-derived are then harvested and encapsulated for delayed release oral capsule delivery to selectively reach intestinal antigen-presenting cells in the terminal ileum for stimulating an acquired immune response to the Spike Protein of the COVID-19 virus.

Abstract: Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide techniques for generating haptic feedback or haptic sensations, and in particular to techniques for outputting haptic feedback which varies depending on the input. The haptic feedback is delivered by a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator that controls the movement of a component based on the required haptic feedback/sensation.

Abstract: Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide shape memory alloy (SMA) actuation apparatus for moving a moveable component relative to a static component or support structure and along a notional primary axis. The SMA actuation apparatus may comprise a biasing element to resist motion of the moveable component in particular directions relative to the primary axis, or may comprise an arrangement of SMA actuator wires that provides the biasing function.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method of manufacturing an implantable construct comprising chondrogenically differentiated cells and one or more polycaprolactone (PCL) microcarriers, an implantable construct produced using said method, and uses of the implantable construct. The present invention also refers to a method of manufacturing an implantable construct comprising mesenchymal stromal cells and one or more polycaprolactone (PCL) microcarriers, an implantable construct produced using said method, and uses of the implantable construct. The present invention further refers to a method of treating a disease or disorder associated with cartilage and/or bone defect, the method comprises administering one or more cell-free polycaprolactone (PCL) microcarriers in a patient suffering from the disease or disorder.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes comparing a first hue of a displayed test pattern with a second hue of a generated test pattern to determine one or more differences in hue. The displayed test pattern is displayed on a display of a media viewing device, and the media viewing device receives and displays digital content. The displayed test pattern includes a first plurality of steps, and a first step of the first plurality of steps includes the first hue. The generated test pattern includes a second plurality of steps, and each step of the second plurality of steps includes the second hue. The one or more differences in hue are utilized to determine a quality of the digital content displayed on the media viewing device.

Abstract: A method for generating a spatially transformed optical output from a laser system, the method comprising: disposing a laser gain medium within a laser cavity structure; arranging an interferometric device to complete the laser cavity structure, wherein the interferometric device receives an input beam from laser oscillation in the laser cavity structure, splits the input beam into two sub-beams, and recombines the two sub-beams to provide an optical feedback beam to sustain laser oscillation; configuring the optical components that comprise the interferometric device to provide relative misalignment of the two sub-beams that are produced internally to the interferometric device; using at least a first output port of the interferometric device to provide an output beam of the laser system that due to the misalignment is a spatial transformation of the internal mode structure of the laser; and using at least a second output port of the interferometric device to provide the optical feedback beam to the laser ca

Abstract: Oxygenation constituents and finished oxygenation media, as well as methods of making oxygenation constituents and finished oxygenation media are provided. The oxygenation constituents comprise a hemoglobin preparation, and a red blood cell preparation. The oxygenation constituents comprise from about 10% to about 99% by weight hemoglobin of the hemoglobin preparation and the balance by weight hemoglobin of the oxygenation constituents comprise a red blood cell preparation. The finished oxygenation media comprise the oxygenation constituents and one or more other ingredients such as a diluent, or excipient. The finished oxygenation media can be used to ex-vivo preserve organs or tissue.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a reconfigurable simulative and predictive digital assistant/platform for simulation of a multi-stage processing facility. The digital assistant generates and assembles digital representations of the individual physical processing stages and components of the multi-stage processing facility in a reconfigurable manner according to a set of configuration commands generated using user inputs in a graphical user interface. At least one of the digital representations include a reusable predictive model that is trained when the digital representation is generated by the digital assistant. The digital assistant further performs simulation of the multi-state processing facility “as is” or in alternative “what-if” scenarios by simulating the digital representations according to a set of timing signals in the set of configuration commands.