Abstract: A system to perform marine surveying may include a pair of identical design autonomous marine survey vehicles configured for coordinated operations. The vehicles may navigate and transit from a launch location to a geographically distant designated survey location, continuously survey and transit to a designated recovery location. A pair of vehicles may operate interchangeably at the sea surface, semi-submerged and underwater. Each may generate energy when operating at the surface and store energy in a rechargeable battery to power vehicle operation. The payload may include a sensor system to acquire seabed sensor data. A data storage system may store the sensor data. An on-board payload quality control system may analyze data validity. Positioning when the vehicle is collecting seabed sensor data may be determined with high precision, to provide survey data of high precision.

Abstract: A method of providing therapeutic treatment by delivering therapeutic aptamers locally to a target site using microneedles includes providing complementary sequence modified microneedles by reacting a complementary sequence (CS) with a polymer thereby forming a covalent bond between the polymer and the CS, forming microneedle patches using an initial casting solution consisting of the polymer, the therapeutic aptamer, and a covalent bond between a complementary sequence (CS) and the polymer, thereby loading the therapeutic aptamer into the microneedles, each microneedle having a base, shaft and tip, physically binding the therapeutic aptamer to the CS, inserting the microneedles into the tissue such that the tips and shafts are embedded into the target site and the bases are on a surface of the target site, and sustained release of the aptamer to the target site due to dissociation of the aptamer from the CS over time.

Abstract: A pneumatic ball-suspending device includes a base, a conduit extending from the base, a source of pressurized air disposed within the base and in fluid communication with the conduit, and a cap formed at an end of the conduit. The cap includes a face that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the conduit and at least three channels formed through the cap, each channel having a longitudinal axis formed through a center of a respective channel, wherein the longitudinal axis of each channel defines an airflow path and wherein the longitudinal axis of at least one of the channels is angled with respect to at least one of an x-, y-, or z-axis. The source of pressurized air forces air through the conduit and through the channels, such that any escaping air follows at least one of the air flow paths.

Abstract: A pneumatic ball-suspending device includes a base, a conduit extending from the base, a source of pressurized air disposed within the base and in fluid communication with the conduit, and a cap formed at an end of the conduit. The cap includes a face that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the conduit and at least three channels formed through the cap, each channel having a longitudinal axis formed through a center of a respective channel, wherein the longitudinal axis of each channel defines an airflow path and wherein the longitudinal axis of at least one of the channels is angled with respect to at least one of an x-, y-, or z-axis. The source of pressurized air forces air through the conduit and through the channels, such that any escaping air follows at least one of the air flow paths.

Abstract: A device for supporting and stacking pallets is formed from a relatively small number of components which are removably connected to each other and which can be readily assembled into an operating configuration or disassembled into its individual components. The device, in its assembled configuration, includes channels for removably receiving advertising material or other displays around the outer perimeter of the assembled configuration. The advertising or displays around the perimeter of the device conceal space within the device and the pallet supporting the merchandise on display. The assembled configuration of the device is arranged so that the merchandise supported by the device is at a height to attract the attention of potential consumers. The advertising material around the perimeter of the assembled device, in addition to concealing the space within the device, also serves to attract the attention of potential consumers to the displayed merchandise.

Abstract: A user can interact with a portable device (10, 10A) to store and receive information using a voice-driven interface. Single utterance spoken commands can be used to perform functions such as making calendar entries, generating reminders, generating ToDo items and the like. A portable device (10, 10A) may automatically identify devices which are nearby at the time of an event and store a list of those other devices. Speech recognition and speech synthesis may be performed at a computer system which is remote from the portable device. The portable device may be in only sporadic communication with the computer system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically associating managed digital images with information produced by a print production system are described. Locating an image for reuse is simplified by searching associations. Utilizing digital image associations during a print production process ensures that print jobs are processed reliably, efficiently and accurately.

Abstract: Circulating oil used for removal of sulfur in sour gas wells is contacted with an aqueous solution of an organic amine and allowed to separate into an oil phase and an aqueous amine phase containing the sulfur. The oil is then returned to circulation to the gas well and the aqueous amine phase is removed for regeneration which is accomplished by precipitating the sulfur with CO.sub.2 and stripping out the CO.sub.2 from the aqueous amine solution with heat and/or vacuum.