Abstract: Identification of immunodominant Babesia microti antigens using genome-wide immunoscreening is described. Candidate antigens were screened against sera from patients with clinical babesiosis. Also described are diagnostic assays with high sensitivity and specificity for detecting B. microti-specific antibodies in patient samples using the identified immunodominant antigens.

Abstract: A cloud tracking system may store configuration data separately for each account of multiple accounts that an entity has with a cloud computing provider and may aggregate the configuration data into a data structure that stores the configuration data together for the multiple accounts. The cloud tracking system may receive a request that includes a user identifier of a user associated with the entity and may search for the user identifier in the data structure. The cloud tracking system may identify a set of deployed cloud computing services associated with the user identifier based on searching for the user identifier in the data structure, wherein the set of deployed cloud computing services is associated with more than one account of the multiple accounts. The cloud tracking system may identify one or more deployed cloud computing services, of the set of deployed cloud computing services, that are outdated.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing cell populations enriched for stable, regulatory T cells (Tregs). In particular, the invention relates to methods for culturing T cells such that the final culture is enriched for stable, regulatory T cells. It also relates to methods for stabilizing regulatory T cells. Also provided are compositions enriched for stable, regulatory T cells, which are useful for treating individuals in need of such treatment. The methods and compositions disclosed herein can also be used to treat an individual suffering from an immune-mediated disease.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products to transmit, by a web browser to a web server, a hypertext transfer protocol request for a web page at a first uniform resource identifier (URI). The web browser may receive, from the web server via, the web page and metadata of a plurality of candidate advertisements, the plurality of candidate advertisements determined based on a master machine learning (ML) model. A client ML model executing in the web browser may process the received metadata, the client ML model trained based on prior interactions between one or more users of the web browser and a plurality of previously displayed advertisements. The client ML model may determine based on the processing, a first candidate advertisement of the plurality of candidate advertisements to display in the web browser with the received web page.

Abstract: Aspects described herein may relate to a transaction exchange platform using a streaming data platform (SDP) and microservices to process transactions according to review and approval workflows. The transaction exchange platform may receive transactions from origination sources, which may be added to the SDP as transaction objects. As the transactions are processed, the transactions may require access to a resource (e.g., a key value in a database). A microservice processing the transaction may request, from a locking microservice, a lock for the resource. The locking microservice may query a local cache to determine whether a lock exists for the resource. If the local cache determines that no lock exists for resource, the locking mechanism may employ a consensus protocol to obtain a lock for the resource from a plurality of clusters. If consensus is reached, a lock for the resource may be granted to the requesting microservice.

Abstract: State of the art milk quality estimation techniques fail to determine quality of the milk non-invasively. This disclosure relates generally to a system and method for non-invasive estimation of milk quality within targeted packaging. A voltage signal is applied at a first capacitor plate amongst a plurality of capacitor plates placed on either side of a targeted packaging containing milk, wherein the targeted packaging is placed inside an electrode receptacle. The resulting voltage signal is measured at a second capacitor plate of the plurality of capacitor plates. A capacitance value is calculated from the measured voltage signal and a value of pH corresponding to the calculated capacitance value is then determined using a regression-based model. A correlation of the determined value of pH with one or more pre-defined quality indices is performed and the quality of milk within the targeted packaging estimated based on the correlation.

Abstract: A machine and method for packaging tobacco sachets, comprising a plurality of linearly arranged, multi-functional, vertically moveable chambers having fluid sealing means on lower portions thereof, conveyor means disposed below the plurality of multi-functional, vertically moveable chambers, and a lidding apparatus disposed downstream of and in communication with the plurality of vertically moveable chambers through the conveyor means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an endophyte strain isolated from a plant of the Poaceae family, wherein said endophyte is a strain of Pseudomonas poae which provides bioprotection and/or biofertilizer phenotypes to plants into which it is inoculated. The present invention also relates to plants infected with the endophyte and related methods.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for transition-coded media, measuring engagement of transition-coded media, and distribution of components of transition-coded media. For instance, the method may include: obtaining a media file; determining whether the media file includes transition-coded media; in response to determining the media file includes the transition-coded media, setting up a dynamic media environment; detecting whether a user is interacting with the transition-coded media; and in response to detecting the user is interacting with the transition-coded media, executing the transition-coded media with the dynamic media environment.

Abstract: A bead delivery disk, system and method of delivering flavor beads to a tobacco rod or tow including a bead source, a bead delivery disk in communication with the bead source, including a central disk portion having front and back sides and a first central thickness, an inner annular rim around the central disk portion, the inner annular rim having a second thickness less than said first thickness, a series of pockets spaced around the inner annular rim and multiple vacuum transmission apertures located on one side of the disk, each aperture communicating with at least one of the pockets.

Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes a heater in communication with a liquid supply reservoir including liquid material and operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the liquid material contained therein and form an aerosol. The volatilized material flows through a sheath flow and aerosol promoter insert that is operable to cool the aerosol, reduce the particle size of the aerosol and increase the delivery rate of the aerosol.

Abstract: A transaction card may power on the transaction card using electric current induced from an interaction of the transaction card with an electromagnetic field. The transaction card may establish a communication with a device. The communication may indicate that the transaction card has powered. The transaction card may receive, from the device, a set of instructions to configure a set of applets on the transaction card after notifying the device that the transaction card has powered on. The set of applets to be configured may be related to completing one or more different transactions. The set of applets to be configured may be different than another set of applets already configured on the transaction card. The transaction card may configure the set of applets on the transaction card according to the set of instructions after receiving the set of instructions.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein include a mobile solution to enable users to perform financial transaction over a network using a mobile device. These techniques allow users to maintain a single personal account identifier or number (“PAN”) on the user's mobile device and to utilize it to access a plurality of linked financial accounts and sub-accounts. Any one of the accounts can be selected by a user on the mobile device to remotely deposit funds to that account based on an image of a financial payment instrument. The image can be obtained using image capture technology on the user's mobile device. Users can perform a financial transaction using the verified images over a network in order to conduct a remote financial transaction such as applying a deposit, a payment, or cash load to a designated account which is linked to the user's mobile account in real-time or near real-time.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying a fault in a downhole tool. The method may comprise storing a plurality of diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) from one or more previous downhole operations in a database, mapping the plurality of DTCs in the database, performing a downhole operation wherein a DTC is generated, and performing a determinative algorithm that uses pattern recognition to identify a fault caused by a DTC signature based on the one or more of the plurality of DTCs.

Abstract: The method includes first defining a longitudinal channel in a major body, the major body including a first portion, a second portion and a flange, the flange being located between the first portion and the second portion, the longitudinal channel traversing through a longitudinal length of the major body from the first portion through the second portion, the first portion including a shaft, and second defining a first side end of the flange, the first side end at least partially defining a first segment of at least one first airflow inlet, the first segment being in communication with the longitudinal channel.

Abstract: The method includes electrically connecting a first line and a second line to a first terminal and a second terminal, the first line and the second line being in parallel, first configuring an aerosol-generator and a first barrier element within the first line, and second configuring an identifying element and a second barrier element within the second line. The first barrier element and the second barrier element each have an asymmetric electrical conductance. The first and second configuring configures the aerosol-generating system so that a first electrical current applied through the first and second terminal in a first direction allows the first electrical current to pass through the identifying element without activating the aerosol-generator, and a second electrical current applied through the first and second terminal in a second direction allows the second electrical current to activate the aerosol-generator without the second electrical current passing through the identifying element.

Abstract: A cartridge includes an air flow passageway defining a first airflow direction, a heating element having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis perpendicular to the first airflow direction, and a jacket at least partially surrounding the heating element along the longitudinal axis of the heating element and defining a second airflow direction perpendicular to the first airflow direction.

Abstract: A wall system comprising a frame and one or more panels removably attached to the frame, wherein the one or more panels are positioned over one or more cutouts of the frame to form a substantially coplanar surface.

Abstract: A capsule for a heat-not-burn (HNB) aerosol-generating device may include a first frame, a second frame, a first heater, a second heater, and/or an aerosol-forming substrate. The first frame has a first interior face and a first exterior face. In addition, the first frame defines a first opening. The first heater may be secured to the first frame so as to cover the first opening. The second frame is connected to the first frame. The second frame has a second interior face and a second exterior face. Furthermore, the second frame defines a second opening. The second heater may be secured to the second frame so as to cover the second opening. The aerosol-forming substrate may be between the first heater and the second heater.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and computer-implemented method for character recognition in a payment card. The method includes receiving an image of a payment card and one or more details associated with the payment card. Further, a derivative of the image is determined based on the one or more details and a horizontal sum of pixel values is determined for a plurality of rows in the image. Furthermore, one or more Regions of Interest (ROIs) are identified in the image by comparing the horizontal sum of pixel values with a predefined first threshold. Subsequently, one or more characters in the one or more ROIs are extracted using one or more peak values in a histogram of the one or more ROIs. Finally, each of the one or more characters extracted from the one or more ROIs is recognized using a trained Artificial Intelligence technique.