Abstract: A method for determining the risk of an adverse pregnancy outcome for a woman is provided comprising the steps of measuring a level of TM7-H1 and optionally one or more of BVAB1, Sneathia amnii, and Prevotella cluster 2 in a vaginal sample obtained from the woman, and identifying the woman as having an increased risk for an adverse pregnancy outcome, or other adverse pregnancy outcomes, if the levels are increased compared to corresponding standard control levels. Methods for the prophylactic treatment of subjects identified as being at increased risk for an adverse pregnancy outcome are also provided.

Abstract: A novel system and method for determining a viewing frustum for a wide angle camera system employs multiple detection sub-systems to detect the presence or occurrence of events and/or objects of interest within the entire captured field of view of the system and processes the results of those detection sub-systems in accordance with a Hierarchy of Interest to select a viewing frustum for providing a de-warped view of interest to a viewer. The Hierarchy of Interest can be predefined, or selected from a set of Hierarchies of Interest and/or can be adaptive is response to feedback from a viewer.

Abstract: A method for implementing end-of-row (EOR) turns within a field may include receiving a selection of a selected EOR turn path type of a plurality of EOR turn path types associated with executing EOR turns within the field. The method may further include controlling an operation of the agricultural vehicle to traverse a first path extending across the field during the performance of an agricultural operation. Moreover, the method may include generating an EOR turn path based on the selected EOR turn path type for making an EOR turn between an end point of the first path and a start point of a second path extending across the work area, the EOR turn path being associated with a speed profile. Additionally, the method may include automatically controlling a speed system of the agricultural vehicle to execute the speed profile as the agricultural vehicle moves along the EOR turn path.

Abstract: A product system for an agricultural sprayer can include a product tank configured to store a first volume of an agricultural product. A second volume of the agricultural product can be positioned within a flow assembly after the fill mode. A reclaim system can be configured to provide the agricultural product within the flow assembly to the product tank. A computing system can be communicatively coupled with the reclaim system and configured to determine an open volume of the product tank based on data captured by the tank sensor and activate a reclaim mode of the reclaim system to move the second volume of the agricultural product from the flow assembly to the product tank when the open volume can be greater than the second volume of the agricultural product.

Abstract: A product system for an agricultural sprayer includes a product tank configured to store an agricultural product. A reclaim system can be configured to provide the agricultural product within a flow assembly to a product tank. A computing system can be communicatively coupled to the reclaim system. The computing system can be configured to receive information indicative of one or more characteristics of the agricultural product inputted into the fill station during a fill mode; detect termination of the fill mode; and activate a reclaim mode to move the agricultural product from the flow assembly to the product tank through activation of the reclaim system, wherein one or more operating conditions of the reclaim mode are based on the one or more characteristics of the agricultural product.

Abstract: The invention comprises of a UAV designed to limit visually contrast and audibility in flight for covert surveillance operations, a method of configuring the UAVs structure to further reduce its visual signature to take account for the atmospheric and terrestrial environment it will operate in and a method of conducting a covert surveillance operation to actively minimise the UAVs visual & auditory signature from the viewpoint of an individual under surveillance. Both passive and active illumination are used to reduce the visual signature of the UAV. The UAV is actively camouflaged using lighting techniques that utilises the limitations of the human visual system and the optical effects of light interacting with the terrain, atmosphere and aircraft. The visual camouflage is directional. The audible signature of the UAV is reduced through the design of the propulsion system and the mode in which the UAV is operated.

Abstract: The invention comprises of a UAV designed to limit visually contrast and audibility in flight for covert surveillance operations, a method of configuring the UAVs structure to further reduce its visual signature to take account for the atmospheric and terrestrial environment it will operate in and a method of conducting a covert surveillance operation to actively minimise the UAVs visual & auditory signature from the viewpoint of an individual under surveillance. Both passive and active illumination are used to reduce the visual signature of the UAV. The UAV is actively camouflaged using lighting techniques that utilises the limitations of the human visual system and the optical effects of light interacting with the terrain, atmosphere and aircraft. The visual camouflage is directional. The audible signature of the UAV is reduced through the design of the propulsion system and the mode in which the UAV is operated.

Abstract: A sprayer boom charging system for an agricultural sprayer is provided that allows a wet boom to be pre-loaded or charged during a charging session with liquid product before starting a spraying session. The boom charging system may deliver liquid product into the boom sections at their downstream ends to flow in a charge-flow or reverse flow direction that is opposite a normal spray delivery flow direction. This purges air from the boom sections and pushes it into the product tank that also collects the purging liquid product so that no liquid product is released onto the ground during the charging session.

Abstract: The invention is a self-contained, anti-collision safety system controller for high altitude, solar powered, unmanned aircraft. The controller acts as a backup to the primary safety system on the aircraft. It automatically turns on safety system equipment, such as a Mode S transponder and anti-collision lights when the aircraft descends below a pre-set pressure altitude. The pre-set altitude is chosen so that exceeds the altitude where other aircraft are operating and where collisions might occur. The controller measures the external air pressure to determine the aircrafts pressure altitude and activates/deactivates an internal switch between the power supply and the safety system equipment depending on whether the measured altitude exceeds the pre-set altitude level or not. The controller can be integrated into the exterior surface of an aircraft or internally within the airframe.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pod (100) for an aircraft (1000), comprising: a housing (1); a unit (2) comprising a propulsion system, the unit comprising at least one attachment point (5) for coupling the unit to the housing (1), wherein the position of the unit relative to the housing is selected from a plurality of positions based on the centre of gravity of the aircraft, such that deflection of control surfaces required for the aircraft to maintain a constant angle of attack is minimised. The invention also provides an aircraft (1000) having the pod (100) and a method of balancing the aircraft (1000).

Abstract: A maintenance cap is provided for in-situ attachment to a printhead of printing apparatus. The maintenance cap comprises a housing defining at least one chamber for receiving a liquid. An opening in the housing provides a path for the liquid to pass from the chamber into a portion of the printhead when the maintenance cap is engaged with the printhead. The maintenance cap also includes a seal disposed around the opening for engagement with the printhead. A transducer coupled to the housing is used to generate ultrasound acoustic waves in the liquid contained in the chamber and printhead so as to clean the printhead.

Abstract: An ashtray is disclosed for use with a smoking machine for smoking a smoking article. The ashtray comprises directional fins underneath the ashtray for directing airflow over the smoking article. This can allow the direction of airflow to be confined to a well-defined path, and turbulence in the airflow to be reduced.

Abstract: A touchscreen Human Machine Interface (HMI) may be used to communicate with a machine controller which, in turn, may communicate with a variety of systems of an agricultural machine to calibrate those systems. Accordingly, the HMI, via the machine controller, may communicate and interact with various electronically controlled devices of the machine, such as a joystick, a brake pedal, a hydrostatic pump system, a steering angle sensor, a rear steering controller, and the like (such as via an ISO Bus or CAN bus) to effect such calibrations.

Abstract: In a switched digital video content-based network, wherein a head end obtains a first group of program streams and sends to a client only a subset of the program streams selected by subscribers in a neighborhood of the client, imminence and/or presence of a condition of inadequate bandwidth is determined. Responsive to the determining, a bit rate of at least one of the subset of the program streams selected by the subscribers in the neighborhood of the client is dynamically decreased by adjusting encoding thereof, while maintaining adequate quality for the at least one of the subset of the program streams selected by the subscribers in the neighborhood of the client, based on an objective quality measure, in order to address the imminence and/or presence of the condition of inadequate bandwidth.

Abstract: An improved system of determining the speed at which an agricultural vehicle is traveling is disclosed. A control system for the sprayer receives feedback signals from multiple sensors, where each feedback signal may be utilized to determine the speed at which the sprayer is traveling. An operator interface, such as a touch-screen terminal, is provided to receive input from the operator for selecting one of the feedback signals. Each of the feedback signals has certain operating conditions under which they are more or less reliable. The operator may select one of the feedback signals from which the speed of the sprayer is determined according to the present operating conditions. The speed determined from the selected feedback signal is then used by the sprayer to control and record application of product to the field.

Abstract: An improved system for braking an agricultural vehicle propelled by a hydrostatic drive unit is disclosed. An operator provides a desired speed command from a first user interface, such as a joystick. The joystick generates a command responsive to the deflection and communicates the command to a controller. The agricultural vehicle also includes a second user interface, such as a brake pedal. The brake pedal includes a transducer configured to generate a signal corresponding to a deflection of the brake pedal which is also communicated to the controller. If the operator presses the brake pedal when the joystick is commanding motion, the controller reduces the signal from the joystick. The amount the signal is reduced increases as the deflection of the brake pedal increases until the brake pedal overrides any speed command from the joystick.

Abstract: A maintenance cap is provided for in-situ attachment to a printhead of printing apparatus. The maintenance cap comprises a housing defining at least one chamber for receiving a liquid. An opening in the housing provides a path for the liquid to pass from the chamber into a portion of the printhead when the maintenance cap is engaged with the printhead. The maintenance cap also includes a seal disposed around the opening for engagement with the printhead. A transducer coupled to the housing is used to generate ultrasound acoustic waves in the liquid contained in the chamber and printhead so as to clean the printhead.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for providing improvements in genome-scale metabolic models are described. The methods identify and optimize metabolic flux states that minimize the cost of enzyme production while maximizing a desired cellular phenotype. The computer-implemented methods may maximize cellular phenotypes such as growth (biomass) or production of a metabolite, such as a commercially valuable chemical compound, through the selection of metabolic pathways that maximize these phenotypes while minimizing metabolic costs associated with production of the proteomic constituents of individual metabolic pathways. The computer implemented methods may be useful for computationally designing microbial strains for the production of chemicals.