Abstract: A system includes one or more processors that may determine one or more of an energy drag or a parasitic energy loss for upcoming planned travel of a vehicle along one or more routes based on externality information. The one or more processors may determine the one or more of the energy drag or the parasitic energy loss for each of plural, different route locations along the one or more routes and may change one or more aspects of the upcoming planned travel of the vehicle based on the one or more of energy drag or parasitic energy loss that is determined.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optical imaging are disclosed. An optical sensor for imaging a biometric input object on a sensing region includes a transparent layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; a set of apertures disposed above the first side of the transparent layer; a first set of reflective surfaces disposed below the second side of the transparent layer configured to receive light transmitted through the first set of apertures and to reflect the received light; a second set of reflective surfaces disposed above the first side of the transparent layer configured to receive the light reflected from the first set of reflective surfaces and to further reflect the light; and a plurality of detector elements positioned to receive the further reflected light from the second set of reflective surfaces.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating 3D printed structures from biocompatible proteins include forming a photoreactive, proteinaceous resin, and 3D printing biocompatible structures from the resin by the patterned application of light in a select wavelength to cure the resin into the desired structures. Suitable photoreactive proteinaceous resins can be formed by reacting an aqueous solution of an acrylated or methacrylated globular protein with a photoreactive comonomer or photoinitiator. Structures printed from the photoreactive, proteinaceous resin can be photo-cured and dried to form bioplastic structures.

Abstract: An introduced autonomous aerial vehicle can include multiple cameras for capturing images of a surrounding physical environment that are utilized for motion planning by an autonomous navigation system. In some embodiments, the cameras can be integrated into one or more rotor assemblies that house powered rotors to free up space within the body of the aerial vehicle. In an example embodiment, an aerial vehicle includes multiple upward-facing cameras and multiple downward-facing cameras with overlapping fields of view to enable stereoscopic computer vision in a plurality of directions around the aerial vehicle. Similar camera arrangements can also be implemented in fixed-wing aerial vehicles.

Abstract: A surgical fixation system can include a fixation device, a loop connected to the fixation device, a graft carried by the loop, and a reinforcement material. Surgical fixation systems can be used in various tissue reconstruction procedures, including but not limited to, ACL and PCL reconstructions. The graft and the reinforcement material may be tensioned independently of one another to avoid stress shielding the graft.

Abstract: A system determines wind information for achieving a desired outcome for travel of a selected group of one or more vehicles along one or more routes. The system determines wind drag and/or a parasitic energy loss for travel by different potential groups of vehicles based on the wind information. The system determines the wind drag and/or parasitic energy loss for each of plural, different locations along the one or more routes, visually presents the wind drag and/or parasitic energy loss for each of the different groups of vehicles, and/or determines the selected group of the one or more vehicles from the different groups of vehicles for travel along the one or more routes to achieve the desired outcome based on the wind drag and/or parasitic energy loss that is determined.

Abstract: A conducted electrical weapon may interchangeably receive a plurality of magazines. A magazine may be releasably engaged with a magazine bay of the conducted electrical weapon. Engagement of a magazine with the magazine bay may expose a bottom surface of the magazine. Each magazine may comprise a plurality of firing tubes. A magazine may be configured to launch at least one electrode from at least one firing tube of the plurality of firing tubes. A control circuit may be configured to provide an ignition signal to less than all of the plurality of firing tubes. A first pair of firing tubes may be oriented to achieve a minimum electrode spread at a first range. A second pair of firing tubes may be oriented to achieve a minimum electrode spread at a second range. The plurality of firing tubes may be arranged in an array comprising a column of firing tubes.

Abstract: Estimating parental contribution of ancestry includes: obtaining a set of ancestry assignment data associated with an individual's genotype data, at least some of the ancestry assignment data indicating that one or more segments of the individual's genotype data is deemed to be associated with a specific ancestry; determining whether in the individual's genotype data there is at least one confirmed region of overlapping ancestry assignment associated with the specific ancestry; in the event that it is determined that there is at least one confirmed region of overlapping ancestry assignment associated with the specific ancestry: specifying that parental contribution of the specific ancestry is made by both parents of the individual; in the event that it is determined that there is no confirmed region of overlapping ancestry assignment associated with the specific ancestry: statistically determining whether the parental contribution to the specific ancestry is made by only one parent of the individual or by bot

Abstract: An assay method is provided for determining the status of the health of a tissue within the body of a subject, wherein the tissue comprises an abundance of at least a first target protein, wherein assay comprises analysis of a liquid biopsy sample obtained from the subject, and wherein the liquid biopsy sample comprises at least a first cell free mRNA (cf-mRNA) that encodes the at least a first target protein. The assays and methods are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of liver health in a subject. In particular, methods and systems are provided for the diagnosis and treatment of fatty liver; non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); cirrhosis; liver disease; hepatitis; and liver cancer.

Abstract: Fingerprint sensors include a plurality of optical sensor elements, a collimator filter disposed above the plurality of optical sensor elements, and a display disposed above the collimator filter, wherein the display is a fingerprint imaging light source. The collimator filter has a plurality of apertures, and the plurality of optical sensor elements is configured to receive light transmitted through one aperture of the plurality of apertures.

Abstract: A unitary cartridge for a conducted electrical weapon (CEW) may include a cartridge body that stores an electrode, a piston, a propulsion module, and a propulsion module contact. To launch the electrode from the cartridge body, a signal may be sent from the CEW through a conductor disposed within the propulsion module. The signal may be configured to heat up the conductor and ignite a pyrotechnic material in the propulsion module to create a rapidly expanding gas. The rapidly expanding gas may move the piston to propel the electrode from the cartridge body and toward a target. A frangible cap may be disposed at one end of the cartridge body to retain the electrode in the cartridge body prior to launch.

Abstract: The technology described herein relates to autonomous aerial vehicle rotor configurations. In some embodiments, the aerial vehicle includes a central body that extends along a longitudinal axis from a forward end to an aft end including a port side opposite a starboard side. Multiple rotor arms each have a proximal end coupled to the central body and a rotor assembly arranged at a distal end to provide propulsion for the aerial vehicle. The rotor assemblies include a first set of rotor assemblies and a second set of rotor assemblies. The first set of rotor assemblies are arranged in a non-inverted configuration on a top side of the aerial vehicle such that each rotor assembly includes an upward-facing rotor. The second set of rotor assemblies are arranged in an inverted configuration on a bottom side of the aerial vehicle such that each rotor assembly includes a downward-facing rotor.

Abstract: The innovation disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises systems and methods of an improved multi-domain management system. The innovation provides mitigation of uncontrolled privilege and access, lacking defined roles for at user. The innovation mitigates risk of inadvertent error while not diminishing desired trans-domain user capability. Functions such as creating user and/or service accounts, group creations, group memberships, host memberships, and the like, may thus be undertaken from a single high level location, based on controlled user rules at that level, and may do so without regard or limitation to the specific domains or master server controls at the specific domains. Agnostic aspects are coupled with scalability regardless of number of domains.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device comprising: a light guide configured to receive incident light from one or more light sources; a cover layer with a sensing surface configured to receive an input object to be sensed; and a set of photodetectors. The light guide includes diffraction gratings configured to diffract the incident light as diffracted light, wherein the diffracted light exits the light guide and travels towards the sensing surface. The diffracted light is reflected from the sensing surface as reflected light. The reflected light is sensed by the set of photodetectors to form an image of the input object.

Abstract: Provided is a method for isolating nucleic acids from a plant sample comprising (a) preparing a lysed sample wherein preparing comprises (i) lysing a plant sample by mechanically disrupting the plant sample in a lysis solution which comprises at least one chaotropic agent and one or more solid disrupting particles, and (ii) optionally clearing the lysate; (b) contacting the lysed sample with at least one protein precipitating agent and at least one inhibitor removing agent and providing a mixture; (c) obtaining a liquid phase from the mixture; and (d) isolating nucleic acids from the liquid phase. Also provided is a kit for use in such method.

Abstract: The technology described herein relates to autonomous aerial vehicle technology and, more specifically, to environment illumination for autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles. In some embodiments, a UAV includes upward-facing image capture devices, downward-facing image capture devices, one or more illumination sources, and a computer system. The computer system is configured to direct the one or more illumination sources to selectively emit light into a surrounding physical environment while the UAV is in flight, process images captured by any one or more of the plurality of upward-facing image capture devices or the plurality of downward-facing image capture devices to estimate a position and/or orientation of the aerial vehicle, generate a planned trajectory for the aerial vehicle through a physical environment based on the processing of the images, and control a propulsion system and/or flight surface of the aerial vehicle to cause the aerial vehicle to autonomously maneuver along the planned trajectory.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lysis method for releasing microbial nucleic acids from microorganisms comprised in a plant sample, comprising mechanically disrupting the plant sample in a liquid lysis composition using at least two types of solid disrupting particles, wherein (i) the first type is provided by one or more disrupting particles having a size of at least 1.5 mm and (ii) the second type is provided by a plurality of disrupting particles having a size of 1 mm or less. Also provides is a method for isolating nucleic acids including microbial nucleic acids from a plant sample and kits.

Abstract: The technology described herein relates to autonomous aerial vehicle technology and, more specifically, to image stabilization systems for autonomous aerial vehicles. In some embodiments, a UAV including a central body, an image capture assembly that couples the image capture assembly to the central body. The image stabilization assembly is configured to provide structural protection and support around the image capture assembly while passively isolating the image capture assembly from vibrations and other motion of the central body while the UAV is in flight.

Abstract: The technology described herein relates to autonomous aerial vehicle technology and, more specifically, to autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle with folding collapsible arms. In some embodiments, a UAV including a central body, a plurality of rotor arms, and a plurality of hinge mechanisms is disclosed. The plurality of rotor arms each include a rotor unit at a distal end of the rotor arm. The rotor units are configured to provide propulsion for the UAV. The plurality of hinge mechanisms mechanically attach (or couple) proximal ends of the plurality of rotor arms to the central body. Each hinge mechanism is configured to rotate a respective rotor arm of the plurality of rotor arms about an axis of rotation that is at an oblique angle relative to a vertical median plane of the central body to transition between an extended state and a folded state.

Abstract: A lock system for securing a storage container comprises a first lock having a first lock body and a shackle, the first lock having a first locked condition wherein the shackle is locked to the first lock body and a first unlocked condition wherein the shackle is unlocked from the first lock body. The first lock has a first key receptacle for actuating the first lock between the first locked condition and the first unlocked condition. The lock assembly includes a second lock having a second lock body and a cable. The second lock has a second locked condition wherein the cable is locked to the second lock body and a second unlocked condition wherein the cable is unlocked from the second lock body. The second lock has a second key receptacle for actuating the second lock between the second locked condition and the second unlocked condition. A key is receivable by both the first key receptacle and the second key receptacle and keyed to lock and unlock both the first lock and the second lock.