Abstract: A thermoacoustic stack includes an outer wall which is cylindrical and has a length extending between a first end and a second end. An internal wall structure is disposed inside the outer wall. The internal wall structure includes a plurality of spaced adjacent wall surfaces extending along the length of the outer wall to provide open flow passages between the spaced adjacent wall surfaces. A first cross member extends across the outer wall at the first end and is connected to the outer wall and the internal wall structure at the first end.

Abstract: A stopped vehicle information remote retrieval method includes an emergency personnel or first responder vehicle (FRV) establishing a vehicle connection between an infotainment system of a stopped vehicle and the FRV. The FRV sends a vehicle information request to the infotainment system of the stopped vehicle, via the vehicle connection, seeking release of vehicle information. The FRV obtains authentication of the vehicle information received in response to the vehicle information request. The FRV determines occupant status based on the vehicle information. The FRV communicates the passenger status to a first responder.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed towards a system and method to dispense an explosive compound onto a substrate. An example device includes a solvent having the explosive compound dissolved in the solvent to form a sample. A delivery mechanism dispenses the sample in a dispersed manner to sufficiently vaporize the solvent to prevent wicking while dispersing a residue of the explosive compound on the substrate to enable detection by explosive detection tools.

Abstract: A kit-of-parts for assembling an apparatus for verifying Explosive Trace Detector responses includes an alignment tool and a dispenser. The alignment tool has a body with a top cavity open on a top side and configured to receive the dispenser housing or a sampling medium head of a sampling medium. The sampling medium head has a sample collection area. The body has a bottom cavity to receive a hammer arm. The body has one or more sampling media cavities disposed between the top cavity and the bottom cavity, each configured to receive another sampling medium having a respective sample collection area. The top cavity and sampling media cavities are in communication with each other via a common slot. The top cavity and sampling media cavities are configured to receive different sampling media and to align the dispenser housing with the sample collection area of each of the different sampling media.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described, and an example system includes a transport bin configured to carry a baggage item and having spatial reference frame marking detectable by electromagnetic scan and by machine vision. The system includes a robotic arm apparatus at an inspection area, and includes a switched path baggage conveyor that, responsive to electromagnetic scan detection of an object-of-interest (OOI) within the baggage item, conveys the transport bin to the inspection area. The electromagnetic scan generates OOI geometric position information indicating geometric position of the OOI relative to the spatial reference frame marking. The robotic arm apparatus, responsive to receiving the transport bin, uses machine vision to detect orientation of the spatial reference frame marking, then translates OOI geometric position information to local reference frame, for robotic opening of the baggage item, and robotic accessing and contact swab testing on the OOI.

Abstract: Systems and methods and an example method including storing, in an access control memory of an access control computer system a set of access control identity records, receiving from an individual a proffered biographic information, and comparing the proffered biographic information to the access control identity records. In response to the comparing indicating a subset of than one access control identity records having biographic information having similarity to the proffered biographic information exceeding a threshold, generating and sending to a central resource computer system a biometric comparison request. The request includes the proffered biographic information of the persons, an indication of the biometric information of the person, and indication of biographic information in the identity records in the subset.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described, and an example system includes, in association with an intermediate, a server and a validation module on the server. The server receives a communication from a mobile device, carrying a customs information. The validation module performs a validation on the customs information and in association with an affirmative validation outcome stores the customs information as a validated information. Upon an occurrence, optionally an event and optionally a time, the validation module sends the validated information to an authorization authority server for vetting. The intermediate server receives an electronic receipt from the authorization authority server, the receipt including an indication of a result of the vetting, and communicates, via the network, the receipt to the mobile device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described, and an example method includes a training an artificial intelligence (AI) classifier of electromagnetic (EM) scanned items, including obtaining a training set of sample raw EM scans. The set includes a population of sample in-class raw EM scans, which include blocks of EM sensor data from EM scans of regions having in-class objects, and the set includes a population of sample not-in-class raw EM scans, which include blocks of EM sensor data from EM scan of regions without in-class objects. The example includes applying the AI classifier to sample raw EM scans in the training set, measuring errors in the results, and updating classifier parameters based on the errors, until detecting a training completion state.

Abstract: In an example, a sample collection apparatus to collect sample from a detection subject disposed in a sample collection zone includes a circumferential ring tubing surrounding an interior and configured to be moved between first ring tubing position and second ring tubing position. The circumferential ring tubing includes air nozzles along a circumferential length of the ring tubing to direct targeted air flow within the sample collection zone as the ring tubing is moved between the first ring tubing position and the second ring tubing position, to blow air toward the detection subject in the sample collection zone in the interior and to push a sample of the detection subject via an air flow toward a receptacle. Adjustable actuators are affixed along a periphery of the circumferential ring tubing to adjust the circumferential length of the circumferential ring tubing between a first circumferential length and a second circumferential length.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed toward systems and methods relating to security screening. For example, a screening system includes chamber scanners oriented to scan different heights corresponding to different respective portions of a user, to identify whether the user is carrying an item that is to be divested. The screening system also includes a divestment scanner configured to obtain a detailed item characterization of the item divested from the user.

Abstract: A cover device for a regulator, which has a purge button and a mouthpiece connected to the regulator, includes a body having a mouthpiece housing to receive the mouthpiece through an access opening which presents a friction fit to squeeze the mouthpiece passing therethrough in a squeezed state to enter and exit a hollow interior of the mouthpiece housing. The hollow interior is configured to store the mouthpiece in a relaxed state. A button cover is connected to the mouthpiece housing to cover the purge button on a top surface of the regulator when the mouthpiece is inserted into the hollow interior of the mouthpiece housing. The button cover is narrower in width than the mouthpiece housing.

Abstract: In an example, a ventilator includes an outer container containing liquid, an inverted container submerged in the liquid to provide inverted container space between a closed top and an inner container liquid level; gas supply line to supply breathing gas to the inverted container space; and inhalation line having an inlet in the inverted container space to provide breathing gas to patient. The inverted container moves upward from a first elevation when the inverted container space reaches a hydrostatic delivery pressure and volume of the inverted container space increases. The inverted container stops moving upward and the gas supply line stops supplying when the inverted container reaches a second elevation above the first. Based on a breath demand signal or preset timing, the inhalation line opens to permit flow of breathing gas to the patient at the hydrostatic delivery pressure, lowering the inverted container due to lost buoyancy resulting in sinkage.

Abstract: In an example, a kit for assembling a scalable body armor for a wearer's body includes hard ballistic plates, soft ballistic panels, a plate carrier including a front plate carrier and a rear plate carrier connected by shoulder straps and having front and rear plate carrier pockets for receiving the hard ballistic plates, a front panel carrier having a front outward facing side joinable to an inward facing side of the front plate carrier by contact and a front panel carrier pocket to receive one of the soft ballistic panels, and a rear panel carrier having a rear outward facing side joinable to an inward facing side of the rear plate carrier by contact and a rear panel carrier pocket to receive another one of the soft ballistic panels.

Abstract: In an example, a method of detecting cyanide exposure of an individual comprises measuring a thiocyanate level of the individual, and comparing the measured thiocyanate level to a preset thiocyanate threshold to determine whether the measured thiocyanate level is above the preset thiocyanate threshold indicating a level of cyanide poisoning requiring immediate medical assessment.

Abstract: In an example involving a transaction conducted between a first party using a user mobile-identification-credential device (UMD) and a second party using a relying party system (RPS), RPS receives a request from UMD for transfer of an item, requests identification information of the first party from UMD, receives, based on consent of the first party, some or all user ID information associated with a mobile identification credential (MIC) which UMD received from an authorizing party system (APS), receives verification of the received user ID information, uses the verified user ID information to verify or not verify an identity of the first party, grants the request to transfer the item in exchange for payment or another item to be transferred from the first party to the second party when the identity of the first party is verified, and denies the request when the identity of the first party is not verified.

Abstract: A negator spring tool for winding a negator spring output drum around a rotational axis includes: a pair of tool handles; and a tool disk having an outer edge which is generally circular except for a cutout. The tool disk is configured to be releasably attached to the output drum. The tool disk has a drum-facing side which includes protruding teeth protruding from the drum-facing side to engage radial spokes of the output drum. The outer edge of the tool disk includes handle slots which are spaced circumferentially. The distal end of each tool handle is insertable into a handle slot to rotate the tool disk around the rotational axis. The protruding teeth of the tool disk each having a T-shaped cross section, each T-shaped protruding tooth and the drum-facing side forming an I-shaped cross section having two opposite facing cavities on two opposite sides of the I-shaped cross section.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an isolated polynucleotide encoding a modified picornavirus 3C protease, wherein the modified picornavirus 3C protease includes an altered secondary structure and one or more amino acid substitution(s) located at one or more amino acid position(s) corresponding to positions 16-25, 99-100 and 115-130 of a wild-type Fool-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) 3C protease, wherein the isolated polynucleotide encoding the modified picornavirus 3C protease, when transformed into and co-expressed in a host cell, enhances transgene expression of a P1 precursor polypeptide in comparison to an amount of P1 precursor polypeptide transgene expression exhibited in a host cell transformed and co-expressed with a control picornavirus 3C protease, wherein the one or more corresponding amino acid position(s) is/are identified by an alignment of the modified picornavirus 3C protease with the one or more of the wild type FMDV 3C protease(s).

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed and an example system includes a digital image receiver for receiving a digital image, and an automatic obscuration processor coupled to the image receiver and configured to determine whether the digital image includes a region that classifies as an image of a category of object and, upon a positive determination, to obscure the region and output a corresponding obscured-region digital image.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed and an example system includes a digital image receiver for receiving a digital image, and an automatic obscuration processor coupled to the image receiver and configured to determine whether the digital image includes a region that classifies as an image of a category of object and, upon a positive determination, to obscure the region and output a corresponding obscured-region digital image.

Abstract: An alignment tool has a body with a top cavity. The top cavity is open on a top side and configured to receive the dispenser housing of a dispenser or a sampling medium head of a sampling medium on which to place the dispenser housing. The sampling medium head has a sample collection area. The body has a bottom cavity configured to receive a hammer arm. The body has one or more sampling media cavities disposed between the top cavity and the bottom cavity, each configured to receive another sampling medium having a respective sample collection area. A barrier is disposed between the bottom cavity and other cavities including the top cavity and the one or more sampling media cavities. The top cavity and the one or more sampling media cavities are in communication with each other via a common slot extending from the top cavity to the barrier.