Abstract: A valve seat and blast tube assembly is provided herein. The valve seat and blast tube assembly may include a ceramic valve seat liner positioned within a valve seat housing. The valve seat may be configured to couple to a blast tube/choke assembly.

Abstract: A valve seat assembly is provided herein. The valve seat may include a ceramic valve seat liner positioned within an upper segment that is proximal to a lower segment. An upper retaining ring may at least partially surround the upper segment.

Abstract: A seat system for a watercraft defining a support surface, the seat system comprising a seat frame, a seat cover supported by the seat frame, at least one first mounting assembly, and at least one second mounting assembly. The at least one first mounting assembly is secured to the support surface. The at least one second mounting assembly is secured to the support surface. The seat frame is slid horizontally to engage one of the first mounting assemblies and is pivoted such that the seat frame moves downward to engage the second mounting assembly.

Abstract: A saddle for a crutch to assist a user in walking. The saddle comprises a frame having a support membrane disposed thereon, the frame and support membrane providing an inner lobe configured to rest against a torso of the user during use, an outer lobe configured to rest against an arm of the user during use, and a top portion connecting the inner lobe and the outer lobe and forming a U-shaped channel having an curved upper surface configured to fit within an armpit of the user with the U-shaped channel open along at least a portion of a downward facing side. A pivoting joint is attached. A spring mechanism having an upper portion is attached to the pivoting joint such that the joint is configured to allow the spring mechanism to move with respect to the frame along an arced path.

Abstract: A rotatable shock absorber assembly for a crutch. A guide pin is removably fixable within the upper portion of a support leg. A piston comprises a flange arranged proximate a saddle, comprising a top surface having two or more arcuate rotation grooves defined therein, and a main body defining an elongate slot enabling the guide pin to be inserted therethrough, such that the piston can translate along the elongate axis relative to the guide pin. A joint, can operably couple the piston to the saddle. The joint can rotate about the elongate axis relative to the piston. A biasing mechanism is configured to urge the piston along the elongate axis toward the armpit of the user whereby the saddle can be held stable in the armpit of the user and the support leg can rotate about, and translate along the elongate axis during use.

Abstract: A saddle for a crutch to assist a user in walking. The saddle comprises a frame having a support membrane disposed thereon, the frame and support membrane providing an inner lobe configured to rest against a torso of the user during use, an outer lobe configured to rest against an arm of the user during use, and a top portion connecting the inner lobe and the outer lobe and forming a U-shaped channel having an curved upper surface configured to fit within an armpit of the user with the U-shaped channel open along at least a portion of a downward facing side. A pivoting joint is attached. A spring mechanism having an upper portion is attached to the pivoting joint such that the joint is configured to allow the spring mechanism to move with respect to the frame along an arced path.

Abstract: Seating assemblies and methods are disclosed. A seating assembly can comprise a seat, a back support, and a frame component. The frame component can extend from a bottom portion, positioned near an underside of the seat, to a top portion, configured to maintain the back support at a position above the seat. The back support can laterally extend from a left edge portion to a right edge portion and can include a spring member at or near each of the left and right edge portions. The spring member can include at least one undulation or are providing integrated compression adaptation to a user. The seating assembly can further comprise a tilt mechanism, engaged with the frame component, including one or more leaf springs and a spring contact assembly. The spring contact assembly can be positioned on a top side of the one or more leaf springs.

Abstract: A method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailer assembly comprises initiating a backing system mode with an electronic control unit (ECU) for the backing system when a start system input is received from a control device. At least one input is received by the ECU from the control device which includes information about a desired vehicle action. The ECU interprets from the at least one input the desired vehicle action and calculates a required vehicle response to achieve the desired vehicle action. The ECU then sends a request to at least one vehicle system to perform the calculated vehicle response.

Abstract: A crutch having a first side direction, a second side direction opposite the first side direction, a third side direction perpendicular to the first side direction and a fourth side direction opposite the third side direction, the crutch including an elongate leg having a top end, a top portion, a middle portion, a bottom portion, and a bottom end, wherein the elongate leg extends from a saddle to a foot and has a handle disposed on the middle portion, wherein the saddle extends in an elongate shape between the first side direction and the second side direction, wherein the handle extends in an elongate shape between the first side direction and the second side direction, wherein the elongate leg middle portion is to the third side direction of an axis extending between the leg and the foot, wherein the elongate leg middle portion is to the first side direction of an axis extending between the top end of the elongate leg and the bottom end of the elongate leg; and wherein the handle is cantilevered and has a

Abstract: A method is disclosed of predicting cancer patient response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, e.g., an antibody drug blocking ligand activation of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or CTLA4. The method includes obtaining mass spectrometry data from a blood-based sample of the patient, obtaining integrated intensity values in the mass spectrometry data of a multitude of pre-determined mass-spectral features; and operating on the mass spectral data with a programmed computer implementing a classifier. The classifier compares the integrated intensity values with feature values of a training set of class-labeled mass spectral data obtained from a multitude of melanoma patients with a classification algorithm and generates a class label for the sample. A class label “early” or the equivalent predicts the patient is likely to obtain relatively less benefit from the antibody drug and the class label “late” or the equivalent indicates the patient is likely to obtain relatively greater benefit from the antibody drug.

Abstract: A rotatable shock absorber assembly for a crutch. A guide pin is removably fixable within the upper portion of a support leg. A piston comprises a flange arranged proximate a saddle, comprising a top surface having two or more arcuate rotation grooves defined therein, and a main body defining an elongate slot enabling the guide pin to be inserted therethrough, such that the piston can translate along the elongate axis relative to the guide pin. A joint, can operably couple the piston to the saddle. The joint can rotate about the elongate axis relative to the piston. A biasing mechanism is configured to urge the piston along the elongate axis toward the armpit of the user whereby the saddle can be held stable in the armpit of the user and the support leg can rotate about, and translate along the elongate axis during use.

Abstract: A crutch having a first side direction, a second side direction opposite the first side direction, a third side direction perpendicular to the first side direction and a fourth side direction opposite the third side direction, the crutch including an elongate leg having a top end, a top portion, a middle portion, a bottom portion, and a bottom end, wherein the elongate leg extends from a saddle to a foot and has a handle disposed on the middle portion, wherein the saddle extends in an elongate shape between the first side direction and the second side direction, wherein the handle extends in an elongate shape between the first side direction and the second side direction, wherein the elongate leg middle portion is to the third side direction of an axis extending between the leg and the foot, wherein the elongate leg middle portion is to the first side direction of an axis extending between the top end of the elongate leg and the bottom end of the elongate leg; and wherein the handle is cantilevered and has a

Abstract: Seating assemblies and methods are disclosed. A seating assembly can comprise a seat, a back support, and a frame component. The frame component can extend from a bottom portion, positioned near an underside of the seat, to a top portion, configured to maintain the back support at a position above the seat. The back support can laterally extend from a left edge portion to a right edge portion and can include a spring member at or near each of the left and right edge portions. The spring member can include at least one undulation or are providing integrated compression adaptation to a user. The seating assembly can further comprise a tilt mechanism, engaged with the frame component, including one or more leaf springs and a spring contact assembly. The spring contact assembly can be positioned on a top side of the one or more leaf springs.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of predicting cancer patient response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, e.g., an antibody drug blocking ligand activation of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or CTLA4. The method includes obtaining mass spectrometry data from a blood-based sample of the patient, obtaining integrated intensity values in the mass spectrometry data of a multitude of pre-determined mass-spectral features; and operating on the mass spectral data with a programmed computer implementing a classifier. The classifier compares the integrated intensity values with feature values of a training set of class-labeled mass spectral data obtained from a multitude of melanoma patients with a classification algorithm and generates a class label for the sample. A class label “early” or the equivalent predicts the patient is likely to obtain relatively less benefit from the antibody drug and the class label “late” or the equivalent indicates the patient is likely to obtain relatively greater benefit from the antibody drug.

Abstract: A crutch having a first side direction, a second side direction opposite the first side direction, a third side direction perpendicular to the first side direction and a fourth side direction opposite the third side direction, the crutch including an elongate leg having a top end, a top portion, a middle portion, a bottom portion, and a bottom end, wherein the elongate leg extends from a saddle to a foot and has a handle disposed on the middle portion, wherein the saddle extends in an elongate shape between the first side direction and the second side direction, wherein the handle extends in an elongate shape between the first side direction and the second side direction, wherein the elongate leg middle portion is to the third side direction of an axis extending between the leg and the foot, wherein the elongate leg middle portion is to the first side direction of an axis extending between the top end of the elongate leg and the bottom end of the elongate leg; and wherein the handle is cantilevered and has a

Abstract: Seating assemblies and methods are disclosed. A seating assembly (100) can comprise a seat, a back support (114), and a frame component (110). The frame component can extend from a bottom portion (118), positioned near an underside of the seat, to a top portion (120), configured to maintain the back support at a position above the seat. The back support can laterally extend from a left edge portion (1670) to a right edge portion (1672) and can include a spring member (122) at or near each of the left and right edge portions. The spring member can include at least one undulation or arc (1674) providing integrated rated compression adaptation to a user. The seating assembly can further comprise a tilt mechanism (408), engaged with the frame component, including one or more leaf springs (424) and a spring contact assembly. The spring contact assembly (426) can be positioned on a top side of the one or more leaf springs.

Abstract: A method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailer assembly comprises initiating a backing system mode with an electronic control unit (ECU) for the backing system when a start system input is received from a control device. At least one input is received by the ECU from the control device which includes information about a desired vehicle action. The ECU interprets from the at least one input the desired vehicle action and calculates a required vehicle response to achieve the desired vehicle action. The ECU then sends a request to at least one vehicle system to perform the calculated vehicle response.