Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle with deployable components (UAVDC) may comprise a foldable propeller blade with a locking mechanism. Foldable propeller blades may have a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration relative to the UAVDC, and the foldable propeller blades may pivot about a hinge to move between configurations. In the deployed configuration, the foldable propeller may experience forward folding forces acting upon it. The locking mechanism may lock the foldable propeller blade in the deployed configuration. The locking mechanism may keep the foldable propeller locked into place to prevent forward folding tendency.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system includes at least one eye tracking system positioned detect the direction of at least one user's gaze. Input derived from the eye tracking system may be used to enter commands to the surgical robotic system depending on the directions of the gaze detected or other aspects of the gaze such as pupil dilation or speed of eye movement.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for creating an oligonucleotide sequence to represent digital data. A processor selects from a first set of multiple oligonucleotide sequences one oligonucleotide sequence for each of multiple parts of the data. The multiple oligonucleotide sequences are configured to generate an electric time-domain signal from one oligonucleotide sequence that is distinguishable from the electric time-domain signal from another oligonucleotide sequence. The electric time-domain signal is indicative of an electric characteristic of one or more nucleotides present in an electric sensor at any one point in time. The processor then combines the one oligonucleotide sequence for each of multiple parts of the data into a single oligonucleotide sequence that represents a single oligonucleotide molecule to encode the digital data.

Abstract: A traditional method for making, pasteurizing and packaging preservative-free, fresh food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus that involves a continuous process in which the temperature does not deviate more than 50° C. from the cooking step until just prior to packaging. In one embodiment, the method comprises cooking the chickpeas from 110° C. to 125° C. while under pressure within the closed vessel, which is followed by adding raw ingredients to the cooked chickpeas at a temperature ranging from 75° C. to 85° C., which is immediately followed by a pasteurization at a temperature ranging from 70° C. to 80° C., such as approximately 75° C. Only after this pasteurization step is the temperature reduced in a multi-step cooling process. A fresh, preservative-free, fresh food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus made according to the present method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A traditional method for making, pasteurizing and packaging preservative-free, fresh food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus, that involves a continuous process in which the temperature does not deviate more than 50° C. from the cooking step until just prior to packaging. In one embodiment, the method comprises cooking the chickpeas from 110° C. to 125° C. while under pressure, which is followed by adding raw ingredients to the cooked chickpeas at a temperature ranging from 75° C. to 85° C., which is immediately followed by a pasteurization at approximately 75° C. Only after this pasteurization step is the temperature reduced in a multi-step cooling process. The as-made, fresh and preservative-free food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus, is packaged into containers by transferring the finished food product that is maintained at a temperature ranging from 5° C. to 10° C.

Abstract: A food package comprising a container having a sealed top layer and comprising a fresh, preservative-free food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus, which includes no preservatives and exhibits a total yeast and mold counts of less than 10 CFU/g at 28 days after production when stored at 2° C. to 8° C. The package includes a headspace between the fresh hummus and the top sealing layer, the headspace comprising a modified atmosphere which is nitrogen rich, such as 70% N2:30% CO2.

Abstract: This invention discloses a pretreatment approach for blood and bodily fluids to remove unwanted protein interferences in the measurement of analytes. Enzymes either contained in a cartridge or immobilized on a solid support break down proteins that complex with the analyte to shield it from detection. This pretreatment significantly enhances the detectability of analytes and does not require subsequent clean-up steps that would normally be required to ensure the functionality of the analysis method, thereby, creating a simple yet powerful approach for sample pretreatment in a variety of settings ranging from a complex laboratory infrastructure to a field deployable application.

Abstract: A shield assembly for shielding a housing of an electro-mechanical device from a hot body includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall disposed in a spaced apart relation from each other. A third sidewall extends between the first sidewall and the second sidewall to define a space therebetween. The first, second, and third sidewalls are configured to receive the housing of the electro-mechanical device in the space defined therebetween. The shield assembly further includes a backing plate extending laterally from a bottom end of at least one of the first, second, and third sidewalls. The backing plate is releasably fastened with a bottom end of the housing. The shield assembly further includes a tab member extending away from a top end of at least one of the first, second, and third sidewalls. The tab member is releasably fastened with a bracket associated with the housing of the electro-mechanical device.

Abstract: A gas flotation separator for use in horizontal tanks, such as those used for oil storage on board Floating Production Storage and Off-loading (FPSO) vessels, includes dividing the tank into a plurality of chambers operating in series. Prior to entering each chamber, the contaminated aqueous phase is mixed with a stream containing gas bubbles to aid in flocculation and flotation of the immiscible phase contaminant. The gas bubble recycle stream can be generated by injecting a controlled rate of a pressurized gas into a liquid stream of the clean produced water in a process external to the tank or by induction of a gas phase internal to the tank. The mixture flows into the first chamber and impinges on an angled inlet water weir. A portion of the immiscible phase and the gas phase rises to the top of the chamber while the remaining immiscible contaminants flow downward with the aqueous phase to the bottom of the chamber.

Abstract: A gas flotation separator for use in horizontal tanks, such as those used for oil storage on board Floating Production Storage and Off-loading (FPSO) vessels, includes dividing the tank into a plurality of chambers operating in series. Prior to entering each chamber, the contaminated aqueous phase is mixed with a stream containing gas bubbles to aid in flocculation and flotation of the immiscible phase contaminant. The gas bubble recycle stream can be generated by injecting a controlled rate of a pressurized gas into a liquid stream of the clean produced water in a process external to the tank or by induction of a gas phase internal to the tank. The mixture flows into the first chamber and impinges on an angled inlet water weir. A portion of the immiscible phase and the gas phase rises to the top of the chamber while the remaining immiscible contaminants flow downward with the aqueous phase to the bottom of the chamber.