Abstract: The present technology proposes techniques for generating globally coherent timestamps. This technology may allow distributed systems to causally order transactions without incurring various types of communication delays inherent in explicit synchronization. By globally deploying a number of time masters that are based on various types of time references, the time masters may serve as primary time references. Through an interactive interface, the techniques may track, calculate and record data relative to each time master thus providing the distributed systems with causal timestamps.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic composition that includes a mutant Clostridium difficile toxin A and/or a mutant Clostridium difficile toxin B. The mutant toxin may include a glucosyltransferase domain having at least one mutation and a cysteine protease domain having at least one mutation, relative to the corresponding wild-type C. difficile toxin. The mutant toxins may include at least one amino acid that is chemically crosslinked. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods and compositions for use in culturing Clostridium difficile and in producing C. difficile toxins.

Abstract: Bias circuits and methods for silicon-based amplifier architectures that are tolerant of supply and bias voltage variations, bias current variations, and transistor stack height, and compensate for poor output resistance characteristics. Embodiments include power amplifiers and low-noise amplifiers that utilize a cascode reference circuit to bias the final stages of a cascode amplifier under the control of a closed loop bias control circuit. The closed loop bias control circuit ensures that the current in the cascode reference circuit is approximately equal to a selected multiple of a known current value by adjusting the gate bias voltage to the final stage of the cascode amplifier. The final current through the cascode amplifier is a multiple of the current in the cascode reference circuit, based on a device scaling factor representing the relative sizes of the transistor devices in the cascode amplifier and in the cascode reference circuit.

Abstract: A compound having the structures: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable solvate of said compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt, wherein; R selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy and —(CH2)m—W, where W is C3-C8 cycloalkyl, bicycloalkyl, bridged bicycloalkyl, phenyl, 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl or heterocyclic containing one, two or three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, S and O atoms; wherein each of said alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, heterocyclic, phenyl, naphthyl or heteroaryl may be unsubstituted or substituted by phenyl, halo, cyano, deuterium, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, —SO2—R?, —CONR?R?, NR?COR?, —NR?CONR?R?, —NR?CO2R?, —(CH2)n—SO2—R?, —NHSO2—R?, —NR?SO2—R?, —SO2NR?R?, NR?R? or SR? where R? and R? are independently H, C1-C6 alkyl or C3-C8 cycloalkyl; R1 selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl, 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl or heterocyclic containing one, two, three or four heteroatoms se

Abstract: A unit of luggage configured to ascertain its own weight. The unit of luggage comprises a detection assembly with one sensor assembly disposed around each wheel. Each sensor assembly comprises a housing assembly and a shaft disposed therein. The sensor assembly comprises a sensor housing, a cylinder housing and a cylinder. A load cell sensor is generally disposed within the sensor housing and is operatively disposed adjacent to the shaft such that it may engage the sensor and cause an upward deflection that generates a stress indicative of the weight of the unit of luggage being transferred to the particular, corresponding wheel. The cylinder housing is disposed below the sensor housing and encloses the cylinder, which itself encloses the shaft. A frictional resistance between the shaft and the cylinder permits a controlled movement of the shaft therein and permits a processing unit to ascertain a corresponding weight reading.

Abstract: Routing packetized actions in a voice activated data packet based computer network environment is provided. A system can receive audio signals detected by a microphone of a device. The system can parse the audio signal to identify trigger keyword and request, and generate an action data structure. The system can transmit the action data structure to a third party provider device. The system can receive an indication from the third party provider device that a communication session was established with the device.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, the method including: detecting, using a content focus system, an attentive state of a user with respect to a display; determining, using the content focus system, the attentive state corresponds to content displayed on the display; and increasing, using the content focus system, a size of the content, wherein the increasing comprises increasing the content to a size that covers other content displayed on the display. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: Improved inspection techniques are described herein for checking for the presence of and identifying surface defects on a honeycomb body. The improved inspection utilizes measurement of travel of an outer surface of the honeycomb body to collect images of the outer surface. The images are combined into a composite image showing the outer surface of the honeycomb body. The composite image is analyzed to identify surface defects.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds, e.g., compounds of Formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, hydrates, tautomers, stereoisomers, isotopically labeled derivatives, and compositions thereof. Also provided are implantable elements (e.g., devices and materials) comprising the same, as well as methods of use thereof, e.g., for treating or preventing a disease, disorder, or condition.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular and/or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes which expand around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, and/or nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel, or in prostatic tissue. The system may also include a means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into and beyond the tissue of the vessel wall. The catheter may also include structures which provide radial and/or lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes expand uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened injection needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method is provided of effecting secure communications for a movable barrier operator and a trainable transmitter. The method includes, at the movable barrier operator, transmitting to a remote control a first radio frequency communication via a first communication protocol wherein the first radio frequency communication includes an access code. The method further includes receiving from the trainable transmitter a second radio frequency communication via a second communication protocol. The second radio frequency communication includes a derived access code based at least in part upon the access code. The method further includes learning the trainable transmitter in response to the derived access code corresponding to the access code.

Abstract: A method for mapping a surface using signals transmitted from a single transmitter comprises: receiving signals transmitted from the single transmitter, where each signal has a different propagation path; determining a motion of an antenna of the receiver; generating phasor sequences, where each phasor sequence represents a hypothesis based on antenna motion and a direction of arrival estimate for each received signal; compensating the received signals, local signals, or correlation results from correlating the received signals with the local signals using the phasor sequences based on the hypotheses to generate compensated correlation results; determining a preferred hypothesis in the hypotheses for each received signal that optimizes each correlation result; identifying a direction of arrival for each received signal using the determined hypothesis; determining a point of reflection from the direction of arrival of each received signal; and combining the points of reflection into one or more reflective surf

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to the use of black liquors from kraft pulp mills as a source of catalysts for the thermochemical conversion of organic matter feedstocks to bio oils.

Abstract: Energy is transmitted to a body lumen or passageway in the form of pulsed electric fields (PEFs) and in a manner which provides focal therapy. In some embodiments, PEFs are delivered through independent electrically active electrodes of an energy delivery body, typically in a monopolar fashion. Such delivery concentrates the electrical energy over a smaller surface area, resulting in stronger effects than delivery through an electrode extending circumferentially around the lumen or passageway. It also forces the electrical energy to be delivered in a staged regional approach, mitigating the effect of preferential current pathways through the surrounding tissue. Focal delivery of PEFs can provide increased tissue lethality by employing precise timing and sequencing of energy delivery to the electrodes.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards improved systems and methods for large-scale production of nanoparticles used for delivery of therapeutic material. The apparatus can be used to manufacture a wide array of nanoparticles containing therapeutic material including, but not limited to, lipid nanoparticles and polymer nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, continuous flow operation and parallelization of microfluidic mixers contribute to increased nanoparticle production volume.

Abstract: A disconnector device including an isolator connected between a first terminal and to a second terminal, and a sleeve positioned around the isolator and moveable between an un-extended position prior to the isolator operating and an extended position after the isolator operates, the sleeve being configured to trap debris produced by operation of the isolator.

Abstract: Techniques control a utility vehicle. Such techniques involve storing electric power in a lithium battery of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve operating a motor controller of the utility vehicle in a normal mode in which the motor controller provides electric power from a lithium battery of the utility vehicle to an electric motor of the utility vehicle to turn one or more ground engaging members of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve, after operating the motor controller in the normal operating mode, operating the motor controller in a walkaway mode in which the motor controller configures the electric motor to provide braking torque.

Abstract: Methods of sealing tubulars are disclosed herein, which methods may include: providing a patch plug assembly that includes: a shaft; a wedge coupled to the shaft; a slip coupled to the shaft; a plug slidably coupled to the wedge; and a ferrule disposed between the wedge and the plug; pushing the slip against the tubular; pushing the plug against the ferrule after the slip is pushed against the tubular; pushing the ferrule against the wedge after the plug is pushed against the ferrule; and pushing a plug portion of the plug against an inner surface of the tubular.

Abstract: The disclosure provides, e.g., compositions, systems, and methods for targeting, editing, modifying, or manipulating a host cell's genome at one or more locations in a DNA sequence in a cell, tissue, or subject. Gene modifying systems for treating cystic fibrosis, e.g., in subjects having a mutation resulting in F508del, are described.