Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic arrays for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. Aspects of the present invention provide a variety of photovoltaic roofing elements and systems that include, for example, interlocking geometries to provide for water handling and integration with conventional roofing materials; and wire management features that can protect wiring and associated electrical components from physical and/or environmental damage.

Abstract: A flow control device is disclosed. The flow control device includes a solenoid, the solenoid including an armature. Also, a piston connected to the armature. The piston includes a primary orifice. The piston having an open position and a closed position. A piston spring connected to the piston is also includes and at least one secondary orifice. The movement of the piston to the open position at least partially opens the at least one secondary orifice and the movement of the piston to the closed position at least partially closes the at least one secondary orifice. The movement of the armature actuates the piston movement and controls fluid flow from the primary orifice through the at least one secondary orifice.

Abstract: An aircraft that includes a hybrid-electric propulsion system is provided. In one aspect, the hybrid-electric propulsion system includes at least one propulsor that includes a gas turbine engine and an electric machine mechanically coupled with a spool of the gas turbine engine. When idle operation is commanded, electrical power is provided to the electric machine to cause the electric machine to apply torque to the spool and fuel provided to the engine can be reduced. Thus, the electric machine is controlled to provide a power assist to maintain the engine at the commanded idle speed whilst reducing fuel consumption.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating single-stranded DNA circles from a biological sample. The method comprises the steps of: treating the biological sample with an extractant to release nucleic acids, thereby forming a sample mixture; neutralizing the extractant; denaturing the released nucleic acids to generate single-stranded nucleic acids; and contacting the single-stranded nucleic acids with a ligase that is capable of template-independent, intramolecular ligation of single-stranded DNA to generate the single-stranded DNA circles. All the steps of the method are performed without any intermediate nucleic acid isolation or nucleic acid purification. The single-stranded DNA circles may be amplified and further analyzed. Also provided is a kit which comprises compositions for carrying out the novel methods.

Abstract: Antibodies that bind ICOS (Inducible T cell Co-Stimulator). Therapeutic use of anti-ICOS antibodies for modulating the ratio between regulatory T cells and effector T cells, to stimulate the immune system of patients, including use in treating cancers. Methods of producing anti-ICOS antibodies, including species cross-reactive antibodies, using transgenic knock-out mice.

Abstract: Dynamic registration of software components for root cause of failure diagnosis may include determining a start of execution of a thread associated with a process, and creating a dynamic registry associated with the thread. One or more software components associated with execution of the thread are determined, and an entry in the dynamic registry is created for each of the one or more software components. The entry includes an identifier of the software component and a diagnostic content indicator associated with the software component. The diagnostic content indicator indicates component-specific diagnostic information associated with the software component.

Abstract: Digital fingerprints include data indicative of interior features or structures of an object. The physical object may be rigid or malleable. The digital fingerprints may also include data indicative of features on an exterior surface of the object. Digital fingerprints may uniquely identify an object with respect to other objects, even with respect to other objects of a same type or class of objects. The technology may be relatively invariant to changes in scale, rotation, affine, homography, perspective, and illumination as between a reference digital fingerprint and a later acquired or generated digital fingerprint. Digital fingerprints may be used to authenticate an object as being a second instance or appearance of a previously digitally fingerprinted object.

Abstract: A device holder assembly that includes a body and a housing coupled to the body. A drive assembly is rotatably coupled to the housing. A leg assembly that includes a first leg and a second leg is coupled to the housing. A first rack gear is coupled to the first leg and the drive assembly. A second rack gear is coupled to the second leg and the drive assembly. The drive assembly permits instantaneous movement of the first leg and the second leg. A first finger is rotatably coupled to the first leg and a second finger is coupled to the second leg. The first finger has a first finger outer surface and the second finger has a second finger outer surface that are generally coplanar with the body outer surface when the first finger and the second finger are in a retracted position.

Abstract: Introduced here are methods, apparatuses, and systems for mitigating the contact pressure applied to a human body by the surface of an object, such as a chair, bed, or table. A pressure-mitigation apparatus can include a series of chambers whose pressure can be individually varied. When placed between a patient and a contact surface, a controller can vary the contact pressure on the human body by controllably inflating one or more chambers, deflating one or more chambers, or any combination thereof. By monitoring the pressure in each chamber over time, the controller can also gain an enhanced understanding of movement(s) performed by the human body when positioned on the pressure-mitigation apparatus.

Abstract: Introduced here are pressure-mitigation apparatuses for mitigating the pressure applied to a human body by the support surface of an object. The pressure-mitigation apparatus can include a series of chambers that can be individually controlled to vary the pressure therein. By varying the chamber pressure, the main point of pressure applied by the support surface to the human body may be moved across the surface of the human body. An attachment apparatus may be used to securely adhere the pressure-mitigation apparatus to the support surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for informed mobility platform for an item processing supervisor within a distribution facility are disclosed. In one embodiment, a supervisor mobile terminal for electronically managing item processing activities associated with a distribution facility is provided. The terminal may include a transceiver circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with a server computer a plurality of sets of data relating to the item processing activities. The terminal may further include a user interface configured to display the plurality of sets of data and a controller in data communication with the transceiver circuit and the user interface. The controller may be configured to control the user interface to modify the at least one set of data and control the transceiver circuit to wirelessly communicate the modified data with the server computer such that the at least one set of data stored in the server computer is updated with the modified data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to synthetic polypeptide compounds which bind to a class A G-protein-coupled receptor, the Apelin receptor. These compounds may act as apelin receptor antagonists. These compounds and compositions comprising them may be useful in the treatment of diseases, such as cancer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing physical characteristics of a battery include arrangements of two or more transducers coupled to the battery. A control module controls one or more of the two or more transducers to transmit acoustic signals through at least a portion of the battery, and one or more of the two or more transducers to receive response acoustic signals. Distribution of physical properties of the battery is determined based at least on the transmitted acoustic signals and the response acoustic signals.

Abstract: A power distribution unit (PDU) of a disclosed embodiment comprises a configurable PDU architecture providing phase redundancy. The configurable PDU architecture comprises a switch bank having power inputs Phase A, Phase B, Phase C, and Neutral and providing respective phase outputs to respective connected loads. A switching control receives sense inputs and provides configuration controls to the switch bank. The switch bank switches in an alternate phase input when a primary phase fails providing phase redundancy and continued reliable operations with the loss of a single input phase. The PDU of one or more disclosed embodiments enables universal input power configurations including Single phase, Delta, and Wye configurations.

Abstract: Filaments that contain a filament-forming material and an additive, nonwoven webs, and methods for making such filaments are provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for vaporized hydrogen peroxide cleaning of a chamber. The method includes altering a temperature of air in the chamber from an initial temperature to a sterilization temperature over a first time period. The method also includes injecting vaporized hydrogen peroxide into air in the chamber to alter a relative humidity of hydrogen peroxide vapor in the chamber to a sterilization level over the first time period. The method also includes maintaining the temperature at the sterilization temperature and the relative humidity at the sterilization level over a second time period. The method also includes reducing the relative humidity from the sterilization level to a safe level over a third time period. In one embodiment, the method is provided for vaporized hydrogen peroxide cleaning of an interior chamber of an incubation container. In other embodiments, the incubation chamber featured in the method is provided.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes an inlet for receiving bulk solids, a plurality of heat transfer plate assemblies, a plurality of spacers disposed between adjacent heat transfer plate assemblies, and supports for supporting the heat transfer plate assemblies. The heat transfer plate assemblies include a first plate having a first pair of holes extending therethrough, the first plate having channels extending along a surface thereof, for the flow of fluid through the channels, and a second plate bonded to the first plate to enclose the channels, the second plate including a second pair of holes generally aligned with the first pair of holes to form through holes to facilitate flow of the fluid through the through holes and the channels.

Abstract: Disclosed are examples of systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products for sharing and publishing files. In one aspect, the database system can maintain a user database, a file database and a library. The database system can receive a first request initiated by a first user to share a first file with one or more second users and, responsive to the first request, enable a second set of one or more permissions for each of the second users. The database system also can receive a second request initiated by the first user to publish the first file to the library and, responsive to the second request, publish the first file to the library. The database system additionally can restrict access to the published file based on permissions associated with the library.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for simultaneously amplifying a plurality of sample wells for a predetermined amount of amplification, detecting whether amplification has occurred in a first set of the wells, amplifying for an additional amount of amplification and detecting whether amplification has occurred in a second set of the wells. Methods are also provided for analyzing a target nucleic acid sequence using melt curves that were generated in a plurality of amplification cycles.