Abstract: The present disclosure relates to kits for bone graft delivery, and specifically, for near-simultaneous and integrated delivery of bone graft material during the placement of surgical cages or other medical implants in a patient's spine. The kits include integrated fusion cage and graft delivery devices that deliver and disperse biologic material through a fusion cage to a disc space and, that may, without withdrawal from the surgical site, allow for selectively detaching the fusion cage for deposit to the same disc space. The integrated fusion cage and graft delivery device is formed such that a hollow tube and plunger selectively and controllably place bone graft material and a fusion cage in or adjacent to the bone graft receiving area. The kits also include a cover plate that secures to the fusion cage.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a computer-implemented method of identifying a species from mass spectra. The computer-implemented method includes: loading a data set including a species and associated mass spectra into memory on a computer; for each of the associated mass spectra, pre-processing to identify ranks of intensities of an in-bin peak across bins defining ranges of mass-to-charge ratio; and training a species binary classifier for each of a plurality of species using at least the ranks of intensities. Another aspect of the invention provides a system for identifying a species from mass spectra. The system includes: a processor; and computer-readable memory containing instructions to: implement an interface programmed to receive mass spectra; store the mass spectra in the computer-readable memory; and invoke execution of any of the methods described herein on the processor.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying a person's location at a school, hotel, office, business, restaurant or other venue and tracking the movements of that person during their visit to the venue. One or more wireless virtual beacons communicate with the person's electronic device. The virtual beacons provide the system with real-time data about the person's whereabouts, allowing for the confirmation and tracking of the person at the location. A first non-limiting example of use, include a company that provides food and beverage allowing the person to place an order for food and beverages on their electronic device and having the order delivered to the person at their current location as determined by the system. Another non-limiting example includes a company performing analytics on the time and movement of it's employees and customers.

Abstract: A system for determining snowpack characteristics includes a weight plate, at least one pressure sensor, and an inert plate surrounding the weight plate. The weight plate and the inert plate can be spaced apart from one another, and, in some cases, the weight plate has a perimeter and the inert plate surrounds the entirety of the perimeter of the weight plate with a gap formed therebetween.

Abstract: Compositions of matter and methods of identifying and making compositions of matter are disclosed. Some embodiments disclose making and chemically and/or compositionally tuning superconducting hydride materials. Some embodiments disclose an apparatus for making and compositionally tuning superconducting materials. Some embodiments disclose a composition of matter including a solid hydride exhibiting superconductivity at a temperature of at least 150 kelvin at an ambient pressure below 180 gigapascals, or at a temperature of at least 261 kelvin. In one or more embodiments, the superconductor includes a covalent metal hydride having at least three different chemical elements wherein an inter-atomic distance between the hydrogen in the covalent metal hydride is in a range of 1.1-2 angstroms. In yet further examples, the superconductor is formed using molecular exchange and compression of a Van der Waals solid.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the presence of an asset or person at a particular spot within a location. The asset or person is provided with a beacon transmitting a beacon signal. A plurality of receivers are disposed throughout the location. In one embodiment, two or more adjacent or nearby receivers are grouped together to define a receiver cluster. The receiver cluster having the highest average signal strength from the signal being transmitted from the beacon of the asset or person as determined by an electronic identification and location tracking system determines the particular area within the location where the asset or person is present at.

Abstract: Described are methods for the recovery of uranium from uranium hexafluoride dissolved directly into ionic liquids.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for decontaminating surfaces from human coronaviruses, such as SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and structures for decontamination from human coronaviruses. A structure for decontamination includes a first surface and a decontamination layer on the first surface. The decontamination layer comprises a nanostructured photocatalyst. Human coronaviruses on the decontamination layer are exposed to UV radiation and/or visible light. After the exposure, the human coronaviruses on the decontamination layer are inactivated. In some embodiments, the decontamination layer can include additives and/or an electrical bias can be applied to further reduce the exposure time required for viral inactivation.

Abstract: A system for determining one or more properties of one or more gases. The system comprises sensors configured to measure thermal conductivity and exothermic responses of a sample at multiple temperatures. Sensor responses to exposure to a gas sample at two or more temperatures are compensated and analyzed by a subsystem. The subsystem is configured to determine a thermal conductivity of the gas sample at each of the two or more temperatures and determine at least one component of the gas sample based at least in part on the thermal conductivity value of the sample at each of the two or more temperatures. Related systems and methods of determining one or more properties of a sample are also disclosed.

Abstract: A communication system utilizing unified gateways bridges communication gaps between data transmitters having differing transmission, security, data format, overhead restrictions and performance metrics by dynamically determining optimal data paths for the data being routed. The unified gateways can also dynamically alter data packages to upgrade/downgrade security standards, alter transmission networks, translate data to match recipient requirements and split/combine data to optimize data throughput using disparate systems.

Abstract: An imaging system for a moving vehicle aggregates pre-existing data with sensor data to provide an image of the surrounding environment in real-time. The pre-existing data are combined with data from one or more 3-D sensors, and 2-D information from a camera, to create a scene model that is rendered for display. The system accepts data from a 3-D sensor, transforms the data into a 3-D data structure, fuses the pre-existing scene data with the 3-D data structure and 2-D image data from a 2-D sensor to create a combined scene model, and renders the combined scene model for display. The system may also weight aspects of data from first and second sensors to select at least one aspect from the first sensor and another aspect from the second sensor; wherein fusing the pre-existing scene data with the sensor data uses the selected aspect from the first sensor and the selected aspect from the second sensor.

Abstract: A bone graft delivery kit includes a hollow tube having a proximal end and a distal end. The hollow tube is configured to convey graft material to a graft receiving area in a patient. The hollow tube can be connected to an implant. The kit further includes a plunger to facilitate moving the graft material through the hollow tube.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for controlling growth of fungi.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for monitoring operation of industrial equipment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a monitoring system is provided that includes a passive backplane and one more functional circuits that can couple to the backplane. Each of the functional circuits that are coupled to the backplane can have access to all data that is delivered to the backplane. Therefore, resources (e.g., computing power, or other functionality) from each functional circuits can be shared by all active functional circuits that are coupled to the backplane. Because resources from each of the functional circuits can be shared, and because the functional circuits can be detachably coupled to the backplane, performance of the monitoring systems can be tailored to specific applications. For example, processing power can be increased by coupling additional processing circuits to the backplane.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, systems, and methods for treating plants, soil, fungal, and/or pathogens. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to compositions having one or more microbial metabolites from a microbial cell bath mixture for the treatment of harmful plant, agriculture, and/or soil pathogens, and also relates to methods of making and using the compositions.

Abstract: An actuation system including a gear assembly, a plurality of friction members, an outsole for an article of footwear and an actuator. The gear assembly having a plurality of gears and each friction member being coupled to a respective gear of the gear assembly and having a series of textured outer surfaces. The outsole having an inner portion, an outer surface, and a plurality of openings extending from the inner portion to the outer surface, each opening being configured to receive one or more friction members such that at least one textured outer surface of each friction member is exposed on the outer surface of the outsole. The actuator is configured to rotate one or more gears of the gear assembly such that each friction member rotates relative to the outsole.

Abstract: A live virtual constructive (LVC) gateway system is configured to transparently separate, merge, and route data traffic between operator systems, live tactical Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) systems, and simulated tactical LRU systems. The LVC gateway is configured to receive LRU commands from an operator system, parse, the commands, and reconstruct the commands suitable for transmission to live or simulated tactical LRU systems. The LVC gateway is also configured to receive live and simulated status and target data from live tactical LRU and simulated tactical LRU systems, respectively, and merge the data for transmission to an operator system.