Abstract: Provided herein, inter alia, are compositions comprising oxygen tolerant strains of Megasphaera elsdenii and methods of making and using the same to promote improvement of one or more metrics in an animal, such as increased bodyweight/carcass gain, increased feed intake, decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR), decreased medical costs, decreased transition period, decrease use of antibiotics, and reduced mortality.

Abstract: A ring cutter for transecting a ring trapped on an appendage. The ring cutter includes a body, a motor housed in the body, a blade drivingly connected to the motor, a guard coupled to the body, a guard actuator drivingly connected to the guard and controlling a movement of the guard, a current sensor positioned to sense electrical current associated with the motor, and a processor communicatively coupled to the current sensor and the guard actuator. The blade has a rotation axis and a peripheral cutting edge. The guard is insertable between the ring and the appendage to position the ring between the guard and the blade. The processor is configured to: i) receive, from the current sensor, an electrical current reading associated with the motor, and ii) transmit, to the guard actuator, one or more commands to control the movement of the guard based on the electrical current reading.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that utilizes renewable energy to generate high temperature, superheated steam for driving a prime mover, such as a steam turbine coupled to an electrical generator, and/or to deliver heat where only a portion of the renewable energy system needs to withstand a high temperature working fluid that is necessary to generate high temperature superheated steam.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that utilizes renewable energy to generate high temperature, superheated steam for driving a prime mover, such as a steam turbine coupled to an electrical generator, and/or to deliver heat where only a portion of the renewable energy system needs to withstand a high temperature working fluid that is necessary to generate high temperature superheated steam.

Abstract: A method for presenting pre-approved and pre-underwritten offers to a customer may include: receiving targeting criteria based on at least one of current accounts with the financial institution, assets, creditworthiness, and credit risk for an offer for a financial product; identifying a target population of customers for the offer by applying the targeting criteria to a population of customers; reviewing each customer in the target population for underwriting for the financial product based on inferred income for each customer and accounts that each customer has with the financial institution, wherein the underwriting is performed before the financial product is offered; determining a channel to present the offer to one of the customers that passed underwriting; communicating the offer to the customer over the selected channel; and providing an accepted offer to a fulfilment engine, wherein the fulfilment engine initiates an account opening for the financial product.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer implemented method for determining and generating an electronic recommendation and/or other outputs, such as observations and tasks, in which the method may include the steps of receiving input from the user through a client device in which the input may include data for populating a key member or key player data record; identifying, via a computing device processor, a first rule corresponding to the key player data record; retrieving, via a computing device processor, a first observation in which the first observation is associated with the first rule; and displaying to the user, via a display screen of the client device, the first observation. In further embodiments of the method, an observation may be associated with a recommendation and the recommendation may include a pre-recorded video multimedia file specific for the observation.

Abstract: A compression device for freeing a ring trapped on a digit includes a rigid outer body. The rigid outer body includes a digit cavity extending from a cavity opening at a body proximal end of the body towards a body distal end of the body, a fluid inlet, and a fluid flow path fluidly connecting the fluid inlet to one or more inflation chambers positioned in the digit cavity. The body proximal end includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and two laterally spaced-apart side portions. At least one side portion is distally recessed as compared to the upper and lower portions to accommodate an interdigital fold. At least one flexible bladder lines the digit cavity, each flexible bladder defining at least one wall of one of the one or more inflation chambers.

Abstract: A real-time virtual reality welding system including a programmable processor-based subsystem, a spatial tracker operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem, at least one mock welding tool capable of being spatially tracked by the spatial tracker, and at least one display device operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem. The system is capable of simulating, in virtual reality space, a weld puddle having real-time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics. The system is further capable of importing data into the virtual reality welding system and analyzing the data to characterize a student welder's progress and to provide training.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to extrusion for a vehicle component. The vehicle component includes a plurality of flanges that form a periphery of the vehicle component, a cavity that extends through the periphery of the vehicle component, a corner portion that is positioned proximate to a corner defined by a pair of the plurality of flanges, and a channel that is positioned proximate to the corner portion.

Abstract: Shock absorber assembly structures are disclosed. An example shock absorber disclosed herein includes a shock absorber mount coupled to an end of the shock absorber, the shock absorber mount including a recess to receive a locating rib of a vehicle body, and an aperture to receive a fastener to couple the shock absorber mount to an attachment boss of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A compression device for freeing a ring trapped on a digit includes a rigid outer body. The rigid outer body includes a digit cavity extending from a cavity opening at a body proximal end of the body towards a body distal end of the body, a fluid inlet, and a fluid flow path fluidly connecting the fluid inlet to one or more inflation chambers positioned in the digit cavity. The body proximal end includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and two laterally spaced-apart side portions. At least one side portion is distally recessed as compared to the upper and lower portions to accommodate an interdigital fold. At least one flexible bladder lines the digit cavity, each flexible bladder defining at least one wall of one of the one or more inflation chambers.

Abstract: A real-time virtual reality welding system including a programmable processor-based subsystem, a spatial tracker operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem, at least one mock welding tool capable of being spatially tracked by the spatial tracker, and at least one display device operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem. The system is capable of simulating, in virtual reality space, a weld puddle having real-time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics. The system is further capable of importing data into the virtual reality welding system and analyzing the data to characterize a student welder's progress and to provide training.

Abstract: A precision tripod motion system is provided. The tripod motion system in one example includes a bottom plate including three spaced-apart bottom single-degree-of-freedom hinges, a top plate including three spaced-apart top three-degrees-of-freedom (TDOF) joints, wherein the top plate is configured to receive a workpiece. Each linear actuator of three linear actuators is coupled to an associated SDOF hinge of the bottom plate and coupled to an associated TDOF joint of the top plate. Each linear actuator is configured to change length over a linear actuation span and configured to return the top plate to a predetermined set position after the top plate is displaced by an external force Each linear actuator includes a ball coupled to the associated three TDOF joint and a positioning actuator configured to move the ball to the predetermined set position prior to the return of the top plate to the predetermined set position.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame. The vehicle frame includes a frame rail elongated along a vehicle-longitudinal axis that defines a hole. The vehicle includes a trailer hitch mount supported by the frame rail. The vehicle includes a face plate supported by the trailer hitch mount that defines an opening extending through the face plate that is aligned with the hole of the frame rail. The trailer hitch mount extends through the opening and is completely surrounded by the face plate. The trailer hitch mount extends into the hole of the frame rail along the vehicle-longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Shock absorber assembly structures are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a body of a vehicle having a first longitudinal structural member adjacent a wheel arch area of the body, a first locating rib integrally formed in the first longitudinal structural member to position a shock absorber of a chassis of the vehicle during assembly of the vehicle body to the chassis, and a first attachment boss integrally formed in the first longitudinal structural member adjacent to the first locating rib to receive a first fastener to fasten the shock absorber to the body.

Abstract: Shock absorber assembly structures are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a body of a vehicle having a first longitudinal structural member adjacent a wheel arch area of the body, a first locating rib integrally formed in the first longitudinal structural member to position a shock absorber of a chassis of the vehicle during assembly of the vehicle body to the chassis, and a first attachment boss integrally formed in the first longitudinal structural member adjacent to the first locating rib to receive a first fastener to fasten the shock absorber to the body.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are aqueous compositions comprising fructose and methods of production thereof. A method for producing an aqueous composition comprising fructose can comprise, for example, conducting an enzymatic reaction by contacting water, sucrose, and a glucosyltransferase enzyme that synthesizes poly alpha-1,3-glucan having at least 30% alpha-1,3-linkages. A soluble fraction produced by such a reaction comprises at least about 55% fructose on a dry weight basis, and can be separated from insoluble poly alpha-1,3-glucan product(s), thereby providing an aqueous composition comprising fructose.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to extrusion for a vehicle component. The vehicle component includes a plurality of flanges that form a periphery of the vehicle component, a cavity that extends through the periphery of the vehicle component, a corner portion that is positioned proximate to a corner defined by a pair of the plurality of flanges, and a channel that is positioned proximate to the corner portion.

Abstract: A device and method for shutting off fluid-flow in a pipe. The device includes a moveable sealing member inside a pipeline, a longitudinal spring configured to bias against the sealing member in a first direction, and a lateral spring at an angle to the longitudinal spring wherein the lateral spring is configured to bias against the sealing member in a second direction. The device includes a housing with a passage configured to be positioned inline with a pipeline, and a sealing seat. A locking element is biased against the sealing member using the lateral spring to maintain an open position with the sealing member off of the sealing seat. The locking element is configured to move from the sealing member upon a fluid overpressure in the passage, whereby the sealing member extends into the seal seat to close off the pipeline upon the overpressure.

Abstract: A system and method for treating exhaust gas includes an exhaust gas discharge structure, a catalytic exhaust gas treatment device positioned at least partially within the exhaust gas discharge structure, a pump, and at least two heat exchangers. The catalytic exhaust gas treatment device is positioned at least partially within the exhaust gas discharge structure. A first heat exchanger is positioned at least partially within the exhaust gas discharge section and upstream of the catalytic exhaust gas treatment device to remove heat from an exhaust gas by transferring heat to a working fluid. A second heat exchanger removes heat from the working fluid gained at the first heat exchanger. The pump drives the working fluid between the first and second heat exchanger.