Abstract: A system for interchangeable retractor blades includes a shell, a first retractor blade, and a second retractor blade. The shell includes a rigid proximal end configured to attach to a surgical retractor and an opening, a distal closed end, and a pliable portion including a pocket in communication with the opening and extending along a length of the shell to the distal closed end. The first retractor blade includes a first geometry received through the opening into the pocket and that shapes the pliable portion to configure the shell in a first configuration. The second retractor blade includes a second geometry received through the opening into the pocket and that shapes the pliable portion to configure the shell in a second configuration.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method of making a preform for use in manufacturing a component made of a composite material. The method includes stitching fibers onto a film to form a fiber bed in a two-dimensional shape, removing the film from the fiber bed, and adjusting the fiber bed into a three-dimensional shape to form the preform.

Abstract: A system and process may be used to test water samples to measure ATP and/or estimate a microbial population, for example using an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) based assay. The system includes a device that is use in combination with single-use or disposable cartridges. The cartridge receives the water sample and is pre-loaded with one or more reagents. The device receives the cartridge and contains physical, electronic and/or mechatronic devices that interact with cartridge. One or more actions such as metering, mixing and conveying are performed automatically by elements of the device and/or cartridge. A sensor in the device measures light produced in the cartridge from a reaction with ATP in the water sample. Optionally, the cartridge also contains a pre-loaded amount of ATP, which is used to provide an internal reference or calibration measurement.

Abstract: A method, system and/or device for validating encoded information, the validation device including a memory having computer readable instructions stored thereon and a database including a plurality of validation rules, and at least one processor configured to execute the computer readable instructions to receive formatted data from at least one formatting device, extract attributes associated with encoded information from the formatted data, the extracted attributes including at least one of a formatting device identifier, a store identifier, value information from the encoded information, and time information, validate the formatted data based on the extracted attributes and the plurality of validation rules, store the results of the validation and at least a subset of the extracted attributes in the database, generate modified formatted data compatible with a POS terminal based on the results of the validation, and transmit the modified formatted data to the at least one of formatting device.

Abstract: Provided herein are immunomodulatory proteins comprising variant PD-1 polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding such proteins and engineered cells expressing such proteins. The immunomodulatory proteins provide therapeutic utility for a variety of immunological and oncological conditions. Compositions and methods for making and using such proteins are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a corn dog mold device comprised of an upper half and a lower half that attach to one another in a snap-like fashion via a plurality of protrusions. The upper half has a convex area and the lower half has a concave area that receive the upper and lower portions of a corn dog, and wherein each half has a semi-circular opening that allows the stem of a corndog to extend outwards from the halves. To use the device, a corn dog can be battered and both halves can be secured to each other with the battered corn dog within the device. The device can be placed within a freezer for 3 to 5 minutes to allow the shape of the battered corn dog to settle before cooking, wherein after 3 to 5 minutes the corn dog can be removed from the device and then fried.

Abstract: An airfoil includes a body, a cooling passage, a first cooling cavity, a second cooling cavity, a cooling conduit, and a connecting conduit. The body defines an interior and includes a tip rail with an exterior surface extending between a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface. The cooling passage is formed within the interior. The first cooling cavity and the second cooling cavity are spaced from each other within the tip rail. The cooling conduit fluidly couples the cooling passage with the first cooling cavity. The connecting conduit fluidly couples the first cooling cavity to the second cooling cavity.

Abstract: System and method for initiating mass notification events. The notification events may include unidirectional or bidirectional messaging to a plurality of recipients. Events are provisioned to include a set of recipients and a message to be delivered to those recipients. The events are provided to a set of topic channels. Individual ones of communication method handlers are caused to subscribe to one or more of the topic channels.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating a target genome are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for programmatic access of a financial institution system. A normalized API request provided by an application system specifies user information corresponding to at least one account endpoint of an external financial institution system. Responsive to the request, at least one application proxy instance associated with the normalized API request is used to collect transaction information from a corresponding financial institution system by providing the financial institution system with a proprietary API request that specifies at least account credentials associated with the user information. The transaction information is included in at least one proprietary API response provided by the financial institution system. A normalized API response is generated based on the collected transaction information and provided to the application system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for isolating transaction records having deficient standard data elements. The method may include: acquiring a first transaction record corresponding to a transactional entity, the first transaction record including a set of standard data fields in a first state; acquiring a second transaction record corresponding to the transactional entity, the second transaction record including the set of standard data fields in a second state; analyzing the first state and the second state to identify a deficiency of the standard data fields of one or both of the first transaction record and the second transaction record, the deficiency corresponding to a misclassification of an installment payment transaction of the transactional entity; and storing a record of the misclassification, the record identifying one or both of the first transaction record and the second transaction record.

Abstract: A reservoir and method for manufacturing a reservoir that includes a first side piece, a second side piece, an inner fold piece and a reservoir fitting. The first side piece may be sealed to the second side piece with a top seal and a first side seal and a second side seal. The inner fold piece may be sealed to the first side piece and the second side piece through a third side seal, a fourth side seal, and a bottom seal. The top seal may include a fitting opening and the reservoir fitting may be fit into the fitting opening. The reservoir may contain a volume sensing system. The reservoir may be designed so as to empty and fill reliably without any concern for neighboring organ impingement or compression.

Abstract: A scarecrow includes a scarecrow body corresponding generally in shape to a body of a live animal; an assembled hollow scarecrow head of molded plastic construction corresponding in shape to a head of the live animal, the assembled head having a front face portion and a separate rear head portion fixed together to form the head, the front face portion having an aperture at an eye location of the front face portion; a camera having a lens configured as an eye and located at the eye location to appear as an eye of the scarecrow; a motion sensor associated with the camera to sense motion proximate the scarecrow; and a motor assembly mounted to the scarecrow body and the head and configured to move the head in multiple axis.

Abstract: A button inserter and system are disclosed that enable easily and effectively deploying a near bone suture button from the button inserter when implementing the suture button technique. To deploy the near bone button, with a far bone button deployed from the button inserter and against the far bone, the button inserter's handle may be translated away from the deployed far bone button. Translating the handle changes a position of a carriage body within a channel of the handle thereby compressing a spring. Protrusions on the carriage body may be forced through notches in the handle, which thereby alters an orientation of the carriage and releases the compressed spring, which applies force to the carriage body. The combination of force induces the carriage to rotate, which thereby releases the near bone button from the carriage. A free end of suture also releases from the carriage.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for hosting and arbitrating algorithms for the generation of structured frames of data from one or more sources of unstructured input frames. A plurality of frames may be received from a recording device and a plurality of object types to be recognized in the plurality of frames may be determined. A determination may be made of multiple machine learning models for recognizing the object types. The frames may be sequentially input into the machine learning models to obtain a plurality of sets of objects from the plurality of machine learning models and object indicators may be received from those machine learning models. A set of composite frames with the plurality of indicators corresponding to the plurality of objects may be generated, and an output stream may be generated including the set of composite frames to be played back in chronological order.

Abstract: A home appliance can operate in a future time frame. Information is obtained from a power distributor in order to determine a time when to operate the home appliance in this future time frame. The home appliance then operates at the time determined with information from the power distributor.

Abstract: Apparatus, system and method for heating fluid from a plurality of fluid sources. A heating chamber top portion includes a plurality of fluid inlet tubes configured to pass fluid from the plurality of fluid sources. A heating chamber may be coupled to the heating chamber top portion, the heating chamber collectively receives at least some of the fluid from the plurality of fluid sources. At least one heating element configured within the heating chamber heats the received fluid from the plurality of fluid sources. An agitator mixes the received fluid from the plurality of fluid sources in the heating chamber, wherein the agitator is configured to mix the received fluid from the plurality of fluid sources by rotationally turning within the heating chamber.

Abstract: A device for dispensing and applying a cosmetic product, the device includes a product dispensing assembly, an applicator which is configured to be coupled within an upper chamber of the product dispensing assembly in a removable manner, and a cap which is configured to be removably engaged with the product dispensing assembly for covering the applicator and the product dispensing assembly when the device is not in use. The applicator comprises an applicator element which is in contact with an intermediate receiving surface of the dispensing head of the product dispensing assembly. At least a portion of the applicator is placed in contact with the product delivered through at least one outlet of the dispensing head when the product dispensing assembly is actuated. Preferably, the product at least partially impregnates the applicator element when the product contacts the applicator element.