Abstract: Disclosed is an antimicrobial coating and antimicrobial laminate that can be used on surfaces to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. Spray-on techniques can be used with antimicrobial agents mixed with an air-drying antimicrobial coating and a heated liquid plastic antimicrobial coating. Efficacy of the antimicrobial coating can be monitored by detecting changes in texture, color, opaqueness, fluorescence, and other techniques. Soft plastics and acrylics can be used to suspend the antimicrobial agents to provide better efficacy in the release of antimicrobial agents over time.

Abstract: Various catheter systems using a patient's own bodily fluids to increase local fluid velocity and therefore localized lower pressure via the Venturi effect. Exemplary systems utilize a pump to suction and eject blood to/from an attached catheter. One catheter comprises a valve moveable such that the area of the opening at the distal end for fluid passage is larger during suction than during ejection. Another catheter comprises openings in the sidewall and a balloon at the distal end to temporarily occlude the vessel during suction. Another catheter comprises a narrow distal opening and multiple openings with valves in the catheter sidewall. When catheters are deployed near a lymphatic opening into the circulation, such as at the thoracic duct, the ejection of blood from the catheter may cause a localized pressure reduction aiding in the reintroduction of lymph into the circulation.

Abstract: A window shade mounting system comprising: a mounting bracket having a first slot for receiving a portion of a hanger band; a roller shade bracket attached to the hanger band; a roller window shade assembly attached to the roller shade bracket; a defined cavity defined by the support band, hanger band or both; and, wherein the support band and the hanger band have the same cross section.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are engineered antimicrobial peptides (e.g, HTH peptide or AAPs) and methods of using such peptides to treat pathogenic infections, such as HLB disease and X. fastidiosa, in plants, such as citrus plants and grape plants. The engineered antimicrobial peptides may be derived from amphipathic helical peptides. The engineered antimicrobial peptides disclosed herein may be formed by coupling two or more amphipathic helical peptides. An engineered antimicrobial peptide may include a first amphipathic helical peptide coupled with a second amphipathic helical peptide by a linker domain forming a helix-turn-helix scaffold formation. Such amphipathic helical peptides may be endogenous to a target host, such as a plant (e.g., a citrus plant or grape plant).

Abstract: A system for improved cable management is disclosed in several example embodiments. The disclosed embodiments describe example structures for supporting cables, for example telecommunications and fiber optic cables, within a cable storage cabinet. The disclosed embodiments also describe a door for a cable storage cabinet. The example door includes a hinge control and handle system which allows the door to be opened along either side to therefore allow the door to be opened either way from a single handle. The disclosed embodiments also describes an indicator system which informs a user when the door for the cable storage cabinet is in either a closed position or an open position. Each of these embodiments improves the utility and safety of cable management, particularly within cable storage cabinets.

Abstract: A rod support device including an exterior flange, a female portion configured to receive a telescoping rod, and a male portion configured to extend beyond the surface of a wall. In one aspect, the male portion may include one or more circumferential ribs. In another aspect, the female portion may include a fastener aperture configured to receive a fastener, such as a screw. In yet another aspect, the rod support device may include a cap configured to cover the female portion when not in use.

Abstract: A system for self-fulfillment of an alimentary instruction set based on vibrant constitutional guidance is disclosed. The system includes at least a server. The system includes a diagnostic engine, operating on the at least a server configured to generate a diagnostic output for a user. The system includes an alimentary instruction set generator module configured to generate at least an alimentary instruction set as a function of the diagnostic output. The alimentary set generator is configured to update the at least an alimentary instruction set as a function of an alimentary self-fulfillment action. The system includes a fulfillment module which receives, from a user device at least a user entry containing the alimentary self-fulfillment action. The user entry comprises a digital reproduction from a user device. A method for self-fulfillment of an alimentary instruction set based on vibrant constitutional guidance is disclosed.

Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to heat a passenger cabin of a vehicle and to actuate a vehicle security subsystem to prevent entry into the vehicle upon initiation of a cabin sanitizing operation, wherein the sanitizing operation includes actuating a heater to heat the passenger cabin above a temperature threshold.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved locking mechanisms for vessels, including both pressure and vacuum/suction vessels, used in swimming pool and spa equipment. These improved locking mechanisms provide a more robust, reliable seal between the lid and the body of the vessel, and include features that make moving the vessel between its sealed and unsealed positions easier. More specifically, the locking mechanisms include features that allow the lid to move into its sealed position when the locking ring is rotated relative to the vessel in a first direction, and that allow the lid to release from its sealed position and lift off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the vessel in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: The application relates to a sensing device and a lighting device. The sensing device comprises a sensor provided with a glass window to transmit light and is configured to sense light incident upon the sensor; a circuit board, wherein one side of the circuit board is provided with the sensor; a Fresnel lens arranged above the sensor and configured to transmit light to the sensor; and a housing made from a flame-resistant material, wherein the housing comprises an accommodation space configured to accommodate the sensor and the circuit board, and the housing is provided with a center hole to expose the glass window. By adopting the technical solution, the sensor has flame-resistant performance.

Abstract: An organic and inorganic material test system includes at least one test container, a first and second set of electrodes embedded in the at least one test container, a set of transmit circuits coupled to the first set of electrodes, and a set of differential drive-sense circuits (DDSCs) coupled to the second set of electrodes. A first transmit circuit coupled to a first electrode is operable to produce a first transmit signal at a first frequency for transmission through contents of a first test container. A first DDSC coupled to a second electrode of the first test container includes a pair of drive-sense circuits (DSCs) and an output operational amplifier. The pair of DSCs are operable to generate receive signals at the first frequency. The output operational amplifier compares receive signals to produce a signal representative of the contents with respect to positioning of the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A multiphase power supply including a controller and phases can respond to a drop in load level by reducing all but one active phase to reduce power consumption. If the load level drops further, further reduction of the power consumption could be achieved by reducing, changing, or disabling the functions of some circuits within the active phase during these conditions. Estimating these conditions, however, may be difficult for a controller when the communication between the controller and the phase is limited. The disclosure describes an active phase that estimates a state of the load based on a sensed output current and a pulse width modulation control signal. The active phase may change its operating mode to match the estimated state of the load so that lighter load conditions consume less power. Furthermore, the idle phase(s) may nearly turn off all function except PWM detection to save power. Because this mode change is local to the phase, no additional communication with the controller is required.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric has active antimicrobial and anti-viral agents coated onto it. Alternatively, an active antimicrobial/antiviral agent may be mixed into the barrier coating or fiber polymers themselves that make up the nonwoven material. A primary example is the treatment of an existing fabric having known permeability appropriate for an intended use. Intended uses for this nonwoven fabric include, but are not limited to, as a wearable garment, hair coverings, “booties,” patient cubicle curtains, temporary curtains, instrument wraps, surgical drapes, and blankets, each of which has active antimicrobial protection, thereby allowing the possibility of multiple uses of the fabric product.

Abstract: An oral appliance that is placed in a user's mouth. An upper tray is designed to engage with a user's maxillary teeth, and a lower tray is designed to engage with a user's mandibular teeth. Thermal impression material may be designed into at least one of the trays to engage the upper and lower dentition. Two side straps mechanisms are designed to connect the upper and lower trays, and may provide forward positioning of the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw. A ramped lingual shelf may be included on the inside portion of the lower tray, to position a user's tongue forward and upward. The upper tray has an open section in its anterior portion which provides additional space for a forward-positioned tongue. Upper and lower trays may be constructed out of rigid polypropylene or similar materials.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for directing transaction rewards may comprise receiving, via a user device associated with a user, user preference data regarding a preferred merchant list including one or more merchants and reward criteria for each of the merchants, wherein the preferred merchant list defines a priority of the one or more merchants and the reward criteria defines a dynamic reward for each of the one or more merchants based on the priority on the preferred merchant list; receiving transaction information from a first merchant; determining, via one or more processors, if the first merchant is one of the one or more merchants on the preferred merchant list; and in response to determining the first merchant is on the preferred merchant list, determining, via one or more processors, a reward based on the transaction information; and transmitting, via the one or more processors, the reward to the first merchant.

Abstract: A method for altering surface charge on an insulating surface of a first sample includes generating first plasma inside a plasma source, causing the first plasma to diffuse into a first vacuum chamber to generate second downstream plasma, immersing the first sample in the second downstream plasma, and applying a first bias voltage to a conductive layer of the first sample, or applying a first bias voltage to a metal holder that holds the first sample.

Abstract: Embodiments may provide a first device that comprises eyeglasses, where the eyeglasses may further include a lens housing, a first temple and a second temple coupled to the lens housing, and a first and a second lens supported by the lens housing. The first device may further include a façade that covers the lens housing. The first device may further comprise an electronic component and at least one conductive path may be provided from the electronic component to the first lens having a portion that runs through the lens housing.

Abstract: A method including at each of a number of client devices receiving a data item, receiving a public key from a second computing system, encrypting the data item using the public key to produce a singly encrypted data item, engaging in an oblivious pseudorandom function protocol with a first computing system using the singly encrypted data item to produce a seed, generating an encrypted secret share using a threshold secret sharing function under which the encrypted secret share cannot be decrypted until a threshold number of encrypted secret shares associated with the same singly encrypted data item are received, and transmitting the encrypted secret share to the first computing system and at the first computing system receiving a number of encrypted secret shares from the number of client devices, processing the number of encrypted secret shares to produce processed data, and transmitting the processed data to a second computing system.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining, for each of a plurality of mobile communication devices in a physical vicinity of one another, a respective operational capability; selecting, from the plurality of mobile communication devices, first and second mobile communication devices, the first and second mobile communication devices being selected based at least in part upon a determination that a first operational capability of the first mobile communication device is greater than a second operational capability of the second mobile communication device; engaging in wireless communications with the first mobile communication device, a service being provided to the first mobile communication device via the wireless communications; sending instructions to the first mobile communication device, the instructions including an identifier of the second mobile communication device, the instructions indicating the second operational capability of the second mobile communication device, the

Abstract: A production method for manufacturing a hairpin coil includes positioning a plurality of hairpin-like conductor elements on a coil support such that conductor end portions of conductor elements to be connected, which protrude from the coil support, are arranged adjacent to one another as conductor end portion pairs, securing the relative position of the conductor end portions of a conductor end portion pair, and simultaneously welding the respective conductor end portions of a plurality of conductor end portion pairs by friction welding, by a friction surface of a welding tool being simultaneously moved in a frictional manner along the plurality of conductor end portion pairs.