Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules that include a nucleotide sequence encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and a nucleotide sequence encoding a protease sensitive scFv, wherein the chimeric antigen receptor comprises: an scFv targeting a tumor antigen, a spacer, a transmembrane domain, a co-stimulatory domain, and a CD3 ? signaling domain; and the protease-sensitive scFv and the scFv target the same tumor antigen are described.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for component deconvolution by a mixture model based on methylation information. A mixture model may be trained agnostic of labels or known component contributions. A system generates a methylation signature for each of a plurality of training samples. The methylation signature may be based on a count or a percentage of a methylation variant(s) expressed in the methylation sequence reads of a training sample at each genomic region of a plurality of genomic regions. The system may train the mixture model using maximum likelihood estimation to deconvolve the component contributions. The mixture model may comprise component submodels and a deconvolution submodel. The component submodels predict a component likelihood based on the methylation signature. The deconvolution submodel predicts the component contributions based on the component likelihoods.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for presenting media streams based on changes in geolocation. A MapView system may receive a first positioning signal indicating a first geographical location of a user device. The MapView system may determine a first media stream to be presented by the user device based on the first geographical location and a location of a source of the first media stream. The MapView system may then facilitate a presentation of the first media stream by the user device. When the MapView system receives a second positioning signal indicating a second geographical location of the user device, the MapView may identify, a second media stream to be presented by the user device based on the second geographical location being in broadcast range of the second media stream. The MapView system may then facilitate a presentation of the second media stream by the user device.

Abstract: A system and method for supplying power to a power grid. The system includes a battery storage system; and a power management system, the power management system including a storage management system with a processor configured to: direct generated energy to the battery storage system; discharge battery-stored energy from the battery storage system to the power grid; and control the discharge of the battery-stored energy from the battery storage system to the power grid based on a demand index.

Abstract: An energy storage system and method employing second-life electric vehicle batteries.

Abstract: An integrated battery energy storage system and method for integrating electric vehicle battery packs into an integrated battery energy storage system are disclosed. The integrated battery energy system includes: a plurality of electric vehicle battery packs coupled in a series/parallel arrangement, the series/parallel arrangement including a plurality of series strings of electric vehicle battery packs, each of the plurality of series strings of electric vehicle battery packs includes at least two of the plurality of electric vehicle battery packs coupled in series; and wherein the plurality of series strings of electric vehicle battery packs are connected in parallel.

Abstract: A mobile communication device is provided. The mobile communication device includes a housing and an input device operable with the housing. Actuating the input device enables a user to at least one of change and verify an operational status of the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device also includes an indicator coupled in communication with said input device and configured to provide feedback to the user based on the operational status of the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A mobile communication device is provided. The mobile communication device includes a housing and an input device operable with the housing. Actuating the input device enables a user to at least one of change and verify an operational status of the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device also includes an indicator coupled in communication with said input device and configured to provide feedback to the user based on the operational status of the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A mobile communication device is provided. The mobile communication device includes a housing and an input device operable with the housing. Actuating the input device enables a user to at least one of change and verify an operational status of the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device also includes an indicator coupled in communication with said input device and configured to provide feedback to the user based on the operational status of the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A method of authorizing an operation to be performed on a targeted computing device is provided. The method includes generating a request to perform an operation on the targeted computing device, signing the request with a private key of a first private, public key pair, transmitting the request to an authentication server, receiving an authorization response from the authentication server that includes the request and an authorization token, and transmitting the authorization response to the targeted computing device.

Abstract: A spinous process device and method are disclosed. The device includes a first plate having a first part slidably coupled to a second part, a second plate having a third part slidably coupled to a fourth part, and first and second connector devices configured to be placed through openings created in spinous processes and rotatably couple respective first and second parts to third and fourth parts of the first and second plates together allowing angular displacement of the second plate with respect to the first plate and secure the spinous processes between the first and second plates.

Abstract: A mobile communication device is provided. The mobile communication device includes a first trusted platform module, a second trusted platform module, a processor, and a storage medium. The storage medium includes instructions that cause the processor to establish a root of trust for a first persona and a second persona, wherein the first persona includes a first operating system and a first trusted execution environment, and the second persona includes a second operating system and a second trusted execution environment. The instructions also cause the processor to store measurements defining the root of trust for the first persona in the first trusted platform module, store measurements defining the root of trust for the second persona in the second trusted platform module, and load the first persona and the second persona using the roots of trust for the first and second personas.

Abstract: A mobile communication device is provided. The mobile communication device includes a first trusted platform module, a second trusted platform module, a processor, and a storage medium. The storage medium includes instructions that cause the processor to establish a root of trust for a first persona and a second persona, wherein the first persona includes a first operating system and a first trusted execution environment, and the second persona includes a second operating system and a second trusted execution environment. The instructions also cause the processor to store measurements defining the root of trust for the first persona in the first trusted platform module, store measurements defining the root of trust for the second persona in the second trusted platform module, and load the first persona and the second persona using the roots of trust for the first and second personas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an aircraft. The aircraft is flown. A skin panel is held on a support structure. The support structure has flanges on a number of edges of the support structure, the flanges being substantially orthogonal to the edges. The support structure also has openings into the support structure substantially orthogonal to the flanges. First connecting structures on clips are connected to the flanges and positioned such that an opening in each clip is aligned with one of the openings in the support structure. The skin panel is positioned such that the clips are received in holes in the skin panel. Fasteners are attached to the second connecting structures such that the support structure holds the skin panel.

Abstract: A mobile communication device is provided. The mobile communication device includes a housing and an input device operable with the housing. Actuating the input device enables a user to at least one of change and verify an operational status of the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device also includes an indicator coupled in communication with said input device and configured to provide feedback to the user based on the operational status of the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A method of authorizing an operation to be performed on a targeted computing device is provided. The method includes generating a request to perform an operation on the targeted computing device, signing the request with a private key of a first private, public key pair, transmitting the request to an authentication server, receiving an authorization response from the authentication server that includes the request and an authorization token, and transmitting the authorization response to the targeted computing device.

Abstract: A mobile communication device is provided. The mobile communication device includes a first trusted platform module, a second trusted platform module, a processor, and a storage medium. The storage medium includes instructions that cause the processor to establish a root of trust for a first persona and a second persona, wherein the first persona includes a first operating system and a first trusted execution environment, and the second persona includes a second operating system and a second trusted execution environment. The instructions also cause the processor to store measurements defining the root of trust for the first persona in the first trusted platform module, store measurements defining the root of trust for the second persona in the second trusted platform module, and load the first persona and the second persona using the roots of trust for the first and second personas.

Abstract: A DC-to-AC power converter is disclosed which provides current regulated three-phase AC outputs and very high conversion efficiencies. The converter sinks power from an external DC current source and steers that current directly into two phases of a three-phase load by using complementary semiconductor switches in disparate half-bridges of a six-pole bridge. The steering switch selection rotates every 60° to direct current into the two phases with the largest voltage differential at any given time. The remaining half-bridge acts as a high-frequency, bi-directional current source to balance the three-phase load currents. This topology and control method significantly reduces power conversion losses. Prior art converters first convert “soft” DC sources to voltage sources and then to AC current sources. The invention eliminates the need for large filter inductors and DC bus capacitors used in prior art converters. The invention is optimized for photovoltaic, utility-grid-interactive applications.

Abstract: A spinous process device and method are disclosed. The device includes a first plate having a first part slidably coupled to a second part, a second plate having a third part slidably coupled to a fourth part, and first and second connector devices configured to be placed through openings created in spinous processes and rotatably couple respective first and second parts to third and fourth parts of the first and second plates together allowing angular displacement of the second plate with respect to the first plate and secure the spinous processes between the first and second plates.

Abstract: A solar photovoltaic plant is disclosed where a number of distributed DC-to-DC converters are used in conjunction with a central DC-to-AC converter. Each DC-to-DC converter is dedicated to a portion of the photovoltaic array and tracks the maximum power point voltage thereof. The DC-to-DC converters also boost the photovoltaic voltage and regulate a DC output current for transmission to the central DC-to-AC converter. Five distinct advantages are had over the prior art. First, efficiencies in intra-field power collection are greatly improved by transferring power at higher DC voltages. Second, the number of independent photovoltaic maximum power point trackers in the power plant can be increased, in a cost effective manner, to optimize the overall photovoltaic array energy harvest. Third, each DC-to-DC converter output “looks” like a current source at the input of the DC-to-AC converter and therefore can be easily paralleled.