Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel drug carriers including a non-aqueous pH dependent release system and a non-aqueous pH dependent reassembly/assembly and reabsorption/absorption system. The carriers are capable of pH dependent release of biologically active agents and assembly or reassembly when the carrier transitions from a low pH environment, to a high pH environment and back to a low pH environment.

Abstract: The connected exercise device includes a main body member that receives resistance bands attached thereto where the main body member is flexed during such use. The main body member includes a preferably tubular configuration for slidably receiving a force sensing member that is interconnected to the main body member. At least one strain gauge attached to the force sensing member, which provides a live real time output signal associated with the force sensed by the at least one strain gauge due to the flexing of the main body member. Electronic circuitry is configured and arranged for wirelessly transmitting the output signal to an external computing device for use by the user for enhanced understanding of use of the connected exercise device.

Abstract: A system for providing impact absorption on an interior surface of an aircraft performing parabolic flight maneuvers including: (1) a liner layer having a first side and an opposing second side; (2) a first compression deflection padding layer having a first side, adhered to the second side of the liner layer, and an opposing second side; (3) a second compression deflection padding layer having a first side, adhered to the second side of the first compression deflection padding layer, and an opposing second side; and (4) a flooring layer having a first side, adhered to the second side of the second compression deflection padding layer, and an opposing second side.

Abstract: A backpack includes a frame, a pack attached to the frame to define an interior space, and at least one divider positioned within the interior space to define at least one compartment within the interior space. The frame and the pack define a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, and a depth direction within the backpack. The compartment positions at least one equipment within the interior space such that a center of mass of the backpack is centered on a backpacker's back when the backpacker is wearing the backpack centered in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction within the interior space.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method including forming a plurality of components via an additive manufacturing process to define an integral reinforcement member and reinforcing a corner member of a vehicle pillar with the integral reinforcement member. The plurality of components include a first component and a second component. The first and second components formed integrally as a single unit. The first component and the second component include a functionally graded material that is deposited on the corner member via the additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: Described herein are polymer compositions including at least 20 wt. % of a liquid crystal polymer (“LCP”); 10 wt. % to 40 wt. % of a flat glass fiber and 15 wt. % to 50 wt. % of boron nitride and/or zinc oxide. It was surprisingly discovered that polymer compositions including an LCP in conjunction with a combination of flat glass fibers and boron nitride and/or zinc oxide had improved thermal conductivity and flexural properties, relative to analogous polymer compositions having round glass fibers in place of the flat glass fibers.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an output of a torsional vibration transducer can include: providing a torsional vibration transducer proximate to a body of a shaft configured to rotate along an axis of rotation, the torsional vibration transducer configured to measure a torsional vibration of the shaft; actuating the shaft to cause rotation of the shaft; while the shaft rotates, acquiring, using the torsional vibration transducer, a plurality of zero-stress measurements of the shaft across a plurality of gaps between the torsional vibration transducer and the shaft; calculating at least one calibration coefficient using the plurality of zero-stress measurements; and calibrating the output of the torsional vibration transducer according to the at least one calibration coefficient to reduce a sensitivity of the torsional vibration transducer to changes in gap between the torsional vibration transducer and the shaft when the torsional vibration of the shaft is measured.

Abstract: Upon determining that a vehicle is operating within an area, a stop time for the vehicle in the area is estimated based on operation data from an infrastructure element in the area. A vehicle sensor that is available to transition to a low power mode is identified based on the estimated stop time. Upon stopping the vehicle in the area, the available vehicle sensor is transitioned to the low power mode based on the estimated stop time being greater than a threshold.

Abstract: An electrostatic air precipitator electrode system having collecting electrodes made of a conductive polymer material, preferably a conductive synthetic polymer material. The repelling electrode may be integrated with ion-emitting sites to avoid the necessity of a separate corona electrode in an electrostatic precipitator. Ion emitting structures are portions of the electrode that have very small diameters. Molded ion emitting sites may be in the form of pointed cones or knife-like ridges. Features of reduced diameter to be ion emitting sites may be formed in metallic repelling electrode by mechanical disruption such as punching, cutting, or sawing the repelling electrode at or near the end of the electrode near the inlet end of the particle collecting structure. The repelling electrodes may also be made of a conductive polymer material, preferably a conductive synthetic polymer material.

Abstract: A computing system is provided. The computing system comprises a processor, and memory comprising instructions executable by the processor to receive a chemical structure input, obtain retrosynthetic step data based on the chemical structure input, determine a chemical structure of a primary chemical in the retrosynthetic step data, the primary chemical being a chemical used as a starting material in a retrosynthetic step, when the structure of the primary chemical is not available in a life-cycle inventory (LCI), input the primary chemical into a trained proxy chemical selection model to select a proxy chemical for which an LCI is available, and obtain proxy chemical LCI data to include in an estimated LCI for a life cycle assessment (LCA).

Abstract: A circuit includes a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) and a snubber circuit coupled between a drain and a source of the MOSFET. The snubber circuit includes a transistor disposed in parallel to the MOSFET. The transistor has a floating gate. The circuit further includes a capacitor in series with the transistor, and a resistor disposed parallel to the capacitor.

Abstract: A system and a method for reducing band clamp failure on a multi-piece canister having an at least one first section coupled to an at least one second section by a band clamp, the system and method comprising a band clamp cover, wherein the band clamp cover comprises a cover first section and a cover second section, the cover first section is coupled to the cover second section at a first end by a hinge, the cover first section is coupled to the cover second section at a second end by removable fastener, the band clamp cover having a shape of the multi-piece canister, wherein the band clamp cover has a channel that encompasses the band clamp.

Abstract: A touch sensor device includes a first panel, a second panel, and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The first panel that includes first electrodes arranged in a first direction and second electrodes arranged in a second direction. The second panel includes third electrodes arranged in a third direction and fourth electrodes arranged in a fourth direction. The DSC is operably coupled via a single line to a coupling of a first electrode of the first electrodes and a first electrode of the third electrodes. The DSC is configured to provide the signal, which is generated based on a reference signal, via the single line to the coupling and simultaneously to sense the signal via the single line. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the at least one electrical characteristic associated with the first electrode of the first electrodes and/or the first electrode of the third electrodes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods related to tobacco plants with altered total alkaloid and nicotine levels and commercially acceptable leaf grade, their development via breeding or transgenic approaches, and production of tobacco products from these tobacco plants.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing liquid water from the condensation of atmospheric water vapor includes a transportable housing defining a first air inlet, a second air inlet, and an air outlet; first and second doors operable selectively to open and close the first and second air inlets, respectively; and at least one water condensation unit located in the housing between the first air inlet and the air outlet, and between the second air inlet and the air outlet. The housing is configured so that, when at least one of the first and second air inlets is open, at least a portion of an air flow into the at least one open air inlet is passed through the at least one condensation unit and out the air outlet.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment relates to an apparatus. In at least one example embodiment, the apparatus includes a shaft and a housing. The shaft is configured to rotate. The shaft defines a pocket. The housing includes a sidewall. The sidewall at least partially defines an interior region. At least a portion of the shaft is in the interior region. The sidewall defines a first opening to the interior region.

Abstract: A contactless payment device including a wireless communication device; a power source; a processor coupled to the power source; an accelerometer communicatively coupled to the processor and the power source; and an actuator communicatively coupled to the wireless communication device and the processor. The actuator is configured to activate the wireless communication device when the actuator is set in a closed state, and deactivate the wireless communication device when the actuator is set in an open state, The processor is configured to receive an incoming signal from the accelerometer; determine whether the incoming signal corresponds to a pre-programmed signal corresponding to an enabling gesture; and set the actuator in the dosed state for a time interval, when the incoming signal corresponds to the enabling gesture.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system and method that can be used to define a standardized interface through which Internet of Things (IoT) device notifications from one or more IoT devices can be received and served to one or more network-connected television device displays based on configuration information. For instance, an IoT device notification, such as an informational notification, warning, video stream, or other information output by one of various types of IoT devices may be served to and displayed as a Picture-in-Picture on the network-connected television device display. The configuration information may cause an IoT device notification to be displayed on one or more network-connected television device displays when availability of the network-connected television device display is known, when availability of the network-connected television device display in association with a particular user is known, or according to another determined delivery action.

Abstract: A companion device for use with a server device, a media device and a display device, the server device having stored therein a metadata manifest including metadata and time data associated with content and being configured to transmit the metadata manifest, the media device being configured to provide the content and content timing information to the display device, the display device being configured to display media, the content timing information being additionally associated with the time data, the companion device comprising: a memory having instructions stored therein; and a processor configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory to cause the companion device to: receive the content timing information from the media device; transmit a manifest request to the server device based on the content timing information; receive the metadata manifest from the server device; and instruct the display to display an icon based on the metadata.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for downloading of geographic information. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided that includes the following steps: identifying, via a processor using map data, a plurality of geographic areas in which a vehicle is to travel along a selected route to a destination; identifying, via the processor using the map data, a plurality of map tiles corresponding to the plurality of geographic areas, such that each of the plurality of map tiles corresponds to a different one of the plurality of geographic areas; obtaining data access information for each of the plurality of geographic areas; and determining, via the processor, a prioritized sequence for downloading the plurality of map tiles, based on the data access information for the plurality of geographic areas.