Abstract: Provided are bioactive compositions and metabolites derived from Bacillus and particularly Bacillus megaterium cultures responsible for controlling pests as well as their methods of use for controlling pests. Further provided are pesticidal Bacillus megaterium strains.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a sample conditioning system includes a first valve subsystem, a controller, and a signal generator. The first valve subsystem includes a first electrically activated valve and a first timed switch in electrical communication with the first electrically activated valve, where the first timed switch is configured with a first time duration. The controller is configured to receive drilling data from a data source and, responsive to the drilling data satisfying a trigger associated with a timed sequence, cause the signal generator to apply a signal to at least the first timed switch. The signal causes the first timed switch to close for at least the first time duration and power the first electrically activated valve, the powered first electrically activated valve switching to allow air from a first air line to pass therethrough to a sample line.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein provide a water meter assembly that includes a main case, which may be permanently situated in-line with a monitored piping system, and an interchangeable measuring element installed within the main case. The measuring element may include solid state ultrasonic components to measure fluid flow through the measuring element. Installation and/or replacement of the measuring element is enabled without removal of the main case and without additional calibration. One measuring element may be swapped out with another measuring element (e.g., a replacement or upgrade) without disconnecting from pipe sections to which the main case is attached. The measuring element cover includes an underside cavity and a bleed hole located at a high point of the underside cavity. The underside cavity releases entrapped air from the measuring channel through the bleed hole, after starting a fluid supply through the meter assembly.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically analyzing handwritten text to determine a mismatch between a purported writer and an actual writer is disclosed. The method comprises receiving two samples of digitized handwriting each allegedly created by one individual and received and entered into a digital system by another. The method further comprises performing a series of feature extractions to convert the samples into two vectors of extracted features; automatically clustering a set of vectors such that the first vector and the second vector are assigned to the same cluster among multiple clusters, based on vector similarity; and automatically determining that a same individual being associated with both the first and second samples indicates a heightened probability that the individual fraudulently created both samples. Finally, the method comprises automatically transmitting a message to flag additional samples of digitized handwriting entered into a digital system as possibly fraudulent.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may enable editing and deployment of software by including in an application container editable source code used to produce an application, and tools to edit and build the application, such as a code editor and a build tool to convert the source code to the executable application. The container may include an executable application which may execute in the environment on which the container is saved. A server in the container may control execution of the executable application and build the executable application. A remote user computer may communicate with the code editor to edit the source code, which in its updated version may be built to produce an updated version of the executable application. The server may stop execution of the existing executable application, and start execution of the updated version of the executable application.

Abstract: A method of contrastive learning (CL) performed by at least one processor includes receiving, by at least one processor implementing a text-based transformer, a text title corresponding to an anchor, generating, by the at least one processor implementing the text-based transformer, a text representation of the text title, receiving, by at least one processor implementing an image-based transformer, a first image corresponding to the anchor, generating, by the at least one processor implementing the image-based transformer, a first image representation of the first image corresponding to the anchor, and constructing a positive pair between the text representation and the first image representation.

Abstract: Provided is a payment system including at least one processor configured to: reserve, before a payment request for first payment means is received, at least one second payment means associated with the first payment means; receive the payment request; and execute, when the payment request is received, payment based on the first payment means and the at least one second payment means.

Abstract: An anti-theft device for securing an article of merchandise against unauthorized removal from a display counter. The anti-theft device includes a plurality of arms slidingly disposed within the housing. Grips are disposed on proximal ends of the arms and are configured to receive and secure edges of an article of merchandise. A locking mechanism is disposed within the housing of the anti-theft device. The locking mechanism involves an actuator that presses a locking component to engage at least one of the arms. The arms have a first set of teeth disposed thereon, such that, when the locking component engages at least one of the arms, the first set of teeth interlocks with a second set of teeth. The arms cannot slide relative to the housing while the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth remain interlocked.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer storage media for providing an optimal control configuration for a material processing system are provided. In operation, a material processing engine accesses causal graph input data. Causal graph input data includes input data of a continuous flow process. Based on the causal graph and the input data, a causal graph that aligns with do-calculus manipulations—associated with determining identifiable causal relationships corresponding to input materials of the continuous flow process—is generated. The causal graph is parsed based on the do-calculus manipulations to determine valid conditioning sets associated with estimating a causal impact on an optimization target. Based on the valid conditioning sets, an optimal control configuration comprising optimal control variable values is generated.

Abstract: The information processing device acquires load information of a load to be transported by UGV 1; acquires environmental information obtained by sensing an environment around the UGV by a sensor mounted on the UGV at a transport destination of the load; and determines a place where the load is placed by the UGV at the transport destination on the basis of the load information and the environmental information.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems are disclosed for receiving and indexing a plurality of files for later querying, for dynamically generating scripts to be executed during a query of a data store, and for horizontally distributing a query and aggregating results of the distributed query.

Abstract: A hydraulic jack for providing safety security is disclosed. The hydraulic jack comprises a hydraulic cylinder storing hydraulic fluid inside, and a piston installed in the hydraulic cylinder that is raised up from the hydraulic cylinder by a pressure of the hydraulic fluid stored in the hydraulic cylinder, thereby a heavyweight can be lifted by the piston. The piston has a drill hole on a body thereof that has a determined diameter and is perpendicular to the piston. When the piston is raised up, a safety pin is penetrable through the drill hole to secure the piston in place.

Abstract: Textile compositions comprising at least one filamentous fungus are disclosed, as are methods for making and using such textile compositions. Embodiments of the textile compositions generally include at least one of a plasticizer, a polymer, and a crosslinker, in addition to the filamentous fungus. The disclosed textile compositions are particularly useful as analogs or substitutes for conventional textile compositions, including but not limited to leather.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel chemical compositions of matter and their methods of synthesis, and in particular novel analogs of Psilocin having enhanced physical and pharmacokinetic characteristics.

Abstract: A drawer includes a drawer base mounted to a housing, a drawer, and a bottom tray. The drawer slides relative to the drawer base and includes a front wall and a receptacle that includes a bottom wall with a front edge and a back edge. The front edge is mounted to the front wall. The bottom wall forms a first funnel that slopes downward from the front edge to the back edge. The bottom tray is mounted to the drawer base below the receptacle not to slide relative to the drawer base. The bottom tray includes a tray wall and a drain aperture wall. The tray wall includes a front edge and a back edge and forms a second funnel that slopes downward from the front edge to the back edge. The drain aperture wall is mounted to the tray wall at a lowest elevation of the second funnel.