Abstract: Provided is a Cas12 reporter oligonucleotide comprising an arm-stem-loop-stem-arm structure, having a fluorophore molecule on one end of the oligonucleotide and a quencher molecule on the other end, wherein the oligonucleotide is able to be cleaved by Cas12 enzyme in the presence of a guide RNA bound to a target sequence. Also provided include kits and methods of detecting the presence or absence of a target sequence.

Abstract: Methods performed by a validation one or a sender one of a plurality of nodes implemented by computing devices in a network. The sender node sends, to the validation node, a request to transfer an amount of virtual currency from a sender account (associated with transaction receipts) to a recipient account. The request includes first copies of the receipts or references thereto. The validation node requests second copies of the receipts from at least two of the nodes, and receives the second copies from fewer than all of the nodes. The validation node determines whether the first copies have been tampered with by comparing the first and second copies to one another. When tampering has not occurred, at least one new receipt is generated indicating the amount has been transferred. Then, the at least one new receipt is forwarded to fewer than all of the nodes for storage.

Abstract: A plurality of nodes implemented by computing devices in a network include sender and recipient nodes. The sender node sends, to the validation node, a request to transfer an amount of virtual currency from a sender account (associated with transaction receipts) to a recipient account. The request includes first copies of the receipts or references thereto. The validation node requests second copies of the receipts from at least two of the nodes, and receives the second copies from fewer than all of the nodes. The validation node determines whether the first copies have been tampered with by comparing the first and second copies to one another. When tampering has not occurred, at least one new receipt is generated indicating the amount has been transferred. Then, the at least one new receipt is forwarded to fewer than all of the nodes for storage.

Abstract: An eyeglasses-matching tool may provide consumers with a high level of confidence that eyeglasses purchased online will have a proper fit. The consumer provides frame measurements from the consumer's current eyeglasses. The frame measurements may include a lens width, bridge width, and temple arm length, such as typically found printed on the inside temple arm of eyeglasses. The eyeglasses-matching tool may recommend eyewear styles and products that have similar measurements and may provide contextual information regarding eyewear styles, such as a relative fit compared to the consumer's current eyeglasses.

Abstract: A system including a network connected to at least one mint computing device implementing a virtual currency mint. The network has a ring topology and includes computing devices that implement a plurality of nodes. The mint issues units of virtual currency to user accounts implemented by the nodes. Each of at least a portion of the nodes is configured to initiate (as a sender node) a transaction with a recipient node that transfers at least one unit of the virtual currency from a sender one of the user accounts to a recipient one of the user accounts. The recipient node validates the transaction, creates a receipt, performs an operation on the receipt to identify a storage node, and routes the receipt to the storage node. The storage node stores the receipt, identifies next storage nodes, and routes copies of the receipt to the next storage nodes for storage thereby.

Abstract: A system including a network connected to at least one mint computing device implementing a virtual currency mint. The network has a ring topology and includes computing devices that implement a plurality of nodes. The mint issues units of virtual currency to user accounts implemented by the nodes. Each of at least a portion of the nodes is configured to initiate (as a sender node) a transaction with a recipient node that transfers at least one unit of the virtual currency from a sender one of the user accounts to a recipient one of the user accounts. The recipient node validates the transaction, creates a receipt, performs an operation on the receipt to identify a storage node, and routes the receipt to the storage node. The storage node stores the receipt, identifies next storage nodes, and routes copies of the receipt to the next storage nodes for storage thereby.

Abstract: A system including a network connected to at least one mint computing device implementing a virtual currency mint. The network has a ring topology and includes computing devices that implement a plurality of nodes. The mint issues units of virtual currency to user accounts implemented by the nodes. Each of at least a portion of the nodes is configured to initiate (as a sender node) a transaction with a recipient node that transfers at least one unit of the virtual currency from a sender one of the user accounts to a recipient one of the user accounts. The recipient node validates the transaction, creates a receipt, performs an operation on the receipt to identify a storage node, and routes the receipt to the storage node. The storage node stores the receipt, identifies next storage nodes, and routes copies of the receipt to the next storage nodes for storage thereby.

Abstract: Methods for use with computing devices implementing a plurality of nodes of a ring-shaped overlay network. A joining node implemented by a joining computing device requests a connection with a bootstrap one of the plurality of nodes. In response, the bootstrap node sends a handshake identifier to the joining node. The joining node loads one or more portions of selected software code as a byte stream, and performs an operation (e.g., a hash function) on the handshake identifier and the byte stream to determine a first value. The joining node transmits the first value to the bootstrap node. The bootstrap node compares the first value to a second value. When the first and second values are identical, the bootstrap node validates the joining node. When the first and second values are not identical, the bootstrap node rejects the joining node thereby preventing the joining node from joining the overlay network.

Abstract: Methods for use with computing devices implementing a plurality of nodes of a ring-shaped overlay network. A joining node implemented by a joining computing device requests a connection with a bootstrap one of the plurality of nodes. In response, the bootstrap node sends a handshake identifier to the joining node. The joining node loads one or more portions of selected software code as a byte stream, and performs an operation (e.g., a hash function) on the handshake identifier and the byte stream to determine a first value. The joining node transmits the first value to the bootstrap node. The bootstrap node compares the first value to a second value. When the first and second values are identical, the bootstrap node validates the joining node. When the first and second values are not identical, the bootstrap node rejects the joining node thereby preventing the joining node from joining the overlay network.

Abstract: A system including a network connected to at least one mint computing device implementing a virtual currency mint. The network has a ring topology and includes computing devices that implement a plurality of nodes. The mint issues units of virtual currency to user accounts implemented by the nodes. Each of at least a portion of the nodes is configured to initiate (as a sender node) a transaction with a recipient node that transfers at least one unit of the virtual currency from a sender one of the user accounts to a recipient one of the user accounts. The recipient node validates the transaction, creates a receipt, performs an operation on the receipt to identify a storage node, and routes the receipt to the storage node. The storage node stores the receipt, identifies next storage nodes, and routes copies of the receipt to the next storage nodes for storage thereby.

Abstract: Methods performed by a validation one or a sender one of a plurality of nodes implemented by computing devices in a network. The sender node sends, to the validation node, a request to transfer an amount of virtual currency from a sender account (associated with transaction receipts) to a recipient account. The request includes first copies of the receipts or references thereto. The validation node requests second copies of the receipts from at least two of the nodes, and receives the second copies from fewer than all of the nodes. The validation node determines whether the first copies have been tampered with by comparing the first and second copies to one another. When tampering has not occurred, at least one new receipt is generated indicating the amount has been transferred. Then, the at least one new receipt is forwarded to fewer than all of the nodes for storage.

Abstract: Operations in a livestock facility can be automated and made more efficient by utilizing an interrogator system that reads and writes data to tags associated with livestock. For instance, gates can be automated to sort livestock based on data read by interrogators from tags and livestock can be identified for examination when data suggest that their behavior deviates from expected or normal behavior. The tag associated with a livestock can carry and accumulate information across multiple facilities throughout the livestock production and processing cycle. Gathering information across facilities allows for more informed decision making and a more cooperative approach to improving the livestock production and processing cycle.

Abstract: Operations in a livestock facility can be automated and made more efficient by utilizing an interrogator system that reads and writes data to tags associated with livestock. For instance, gates can be automated to sort livestock based on data read by interrogators from tags and livestock can be identified for examination when data suggest that their behavior deviates from expected or normal behavior. The tag associated with a livestock can carry and accumulate information across multiple facilities throughout the livestock production and processing cycle. Gathering information across facilities allows for more informed decision making and a more cooperative approach to improving the livestock production and processing cycle.

Abstract: Material is removed from a body of material, e.g. to create a bore hole, by plasma channel drilling. High voltage, high energy, rapid rise time electrical pulses are delivered many times per second to an electrode assembly in contact with the material body to generate therein elongate plasma channels which expand rapidly following electrical breakdown of the material causing the material to fracture and fragment.

Abstract: A network management system includes a plurality of network cells, each network cell associated with at least one monitored network node or element. The system also includes an instant messaging server in communication with the network nodes, and a client workstation, in communication with the instant messaging server, performs the monitoring functions. The system utilizes the instant messaging capability for acquiring, caching, transferring, storing, analyzing, correlating, and displaying network management information from the network nodes. The network cell provides for either manual or automatic control of a selected network node or element, and converts the respective management protocols into a single format that is integrated into an instant messaging data bus. Network management events from disparate and diverse network entities are sent to one or more instant messaging ‘group chat’ environments to facilitate the consolidation, processing and correlation of network events.