Abstract: A payload dispenser and a method for populating same with satellites is disclosed. The payload dispenser comprises a shell. A plurality of rail assemblies are each configured to receive plural satellites. The satellite laden rail assemblies are then coupled to the shell.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for refining natural oils and for producing high-weight esters, high-weight acids, and/or high-weight derivatives thereof, wherein the compositions are made by cross-metathesizing low-weight unsaturated esters or low-weight unsaturated acids having hydrocarbon chain lengths less than or equal to C24 with an olefin feedstock, thereby forming a metathesized product composition including high-weight esters or high-weight acids having hydrocarbon chain lengths greater than C18, wherein at least a portion of the hydrocarbon chain lengths in the metathesized product are larger than the hydrocarbon chain lengths in the starting feedstock.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to (a) carbidopa prodrugs, (b) pharmaceutical combinations and compositions comprising a carbidopa prodrug and/or an L-dopa prodrug, and (c) methods of treating Parkinson's disease and associated conditions comprising administering a carbidopa prodrug and an L-dopa prodrug to a subject with Parkinson's disease.

Abstract: Methods and devices for conducting chemical or biochemical reactions that require multiple reaction temperatures are described. The methods involve moving one or more reaction droplets or reaction volumes through various reaction zones having different temperatures on a microfluidics apparatus. The devices comprise a microfluidics apparatus comprising appropriate actuators capable of moving reaction droplets or reaction volumes through the various reaction zones.

Abstract: Provided are computer implemented methods for organic solute sampling in aqueous and heterogeneous environments using oscillating chemical potentials in Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations. The methods involve GCMC of both the solutes and water, with the excess chemical potential (?ex) of both the solute and the water oscillated to attain their target concentrations in the simulation system. In some example methods, the ?ex of the water and solutes over the GCMC iterations are varied to improve solute exchange probabilities and the spatial distributions of the solutes and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations may be performed in addition to GCMC to improve sampling of spatial distributions. These methods may be used to determine the hydration free energy (HFE) of the individual or multiple solutes when targeting in aqueous solutions. Also included are methods of driving solute sampling in and around macromolecules, including proteins, in aqueous environments.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a drawer lifting mechanism, and more particularly to a mechanism that is adapted to bring stored items that are disposed on a supporting surface of a drawer lifting mechanism to a user. The drawer lifting mechanism may be actuated by human power or by use of one or more actuators. In some configurations, the drawer lifting mechanism is disposed and used in the kitchen to enable the delivery of the contents of a kitchen cabinet to a user that is disposed proximate to the cabinet.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a material comprises a crystal comprising strontium iodide providing at least 50,000 photons per MeV, where the strontium iodide material is characterized by a volume not less than 1 cm3. In another embodiment, a scintillator optic includes europium-doped strontium iodide providing at least 50,000 photons per MeV, where the europium in the crystal is primarily Eu2+, and the europium is present in an amount greater than about 1.6%. A scintillator radiation detector in yet another embodiment includes a scintillator optic comprising SrI2 and BaI2, where a ratio of SrI2 to BaI2 is in a range of between 0:1 and 1.0, the scintillator optic is a crystal that provides at least 50,000 scintillation photons per MeV and energy resolution of less than about 5% at 662 keV, and the crystal has a volume of 1 cm3 or more; the scintillator optic contains more than about 2% europium.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a material comprises a crystal comprising strontium iodide providing at least 50,000 photons per MeV, where the strontium iodide material is characterized by a volume not less than 1 cm3. In another embodiment, a scintillator optic includes europium-doped strontium iodide providing at least 50,000 photons per MeV, where the europium in the crystal is primarily Eu2+, and the europium is present in an amount greater than about 1.6%. A scintillator radiation detector in yet another embodiment includes a scintillator optic comprising SrI2 and BaI2, where a ratio of SrI2 to BaI2 is in a range of between 0:1 and 1.0, the scintillator optic is a crystal that provides at least 50,000 scintillation photons per MeV and energy resolution of less than about 5% at 662 keV, and the crystal has a volume of 1 cm3 or more; the scintillator optic contains more than about 2% europium.

Abstract: A decoration made from a plurality of colored objects arranged in a regular pattern on a colored substrate, individual colored objects discernable at arm's length, with the decoration recognizable at greater distance as corresponding to a digital image. The colored objects may be pushpins, and no colored objects are placed at positions where the substrate color is the desired color. Embodiments also include an apparatus to select a single pushpin from a container of pushpins, and an apparatus to orient a pushpin in preparation for insertion into the substrate.

Abstract: An oral health care implement and system are provided for use during oral health care activities. The oral health care implement has a proximity sensor, most often in the embodiment of a capacitive sensor. The proximity sensor provides usage time and instance measurements in a plurality of proposed formats. The oral health care system has an oral health care implement, a first data transfer medium, and any combination of: a second data transfer medium, a network storage device, and a third data transfer medium. The system provides means for collecting usage measurements and transmitting data into a readable, usable form for the user via an oral health care implement.

Abstract: A display may be mounted within an electronic device housing. The display may deflect inwardly when pressed by a user. A sensor formed from a flexible printed circuit may measure capacitance changes associated with inward deflection of the display. A backlight for the display may have a backlight plate on which the printed circuit is mounted. The backlight plate may be formed from a fiber-composite material such as carbon fiber. Multiple carbon-fiber layers may be sandwiched together to form the backlight plate. An electromagnetic shield layer may be used to electromagnetically the printed circuit. The backlight plate may have an opening in which conductive material is placed to short the electromagnetic shield layer to a ground pad on the printed circuit.

Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with electrical components mounted in an electronic device housing. A display module may be attached to a display cover layer with a layer of adhesive to form a display module assembly. The display module assembly and a backlight unit assembly may together form a display that is mounted within an electronic device housing. A support structure that supports the display cover layer may be integrated with the backlight unit assembly. The support structure may have an upper surface to which the display cover layer is attached and a lower portion that is molded to a metal chassis that supports the backlight unit. The lower portion of the support structure may form a plastic chassis that surrounds the backlight unit. In this way, an integrated support structure may be used to support both the display module and the backlight unit.

Abstract: A satellite deployment system has a plurality of releasable dispenser modules that are attached to each other with each module carrying satellites. Each dispenser module acts as an individual final stage with its own propulsion unit and deploys a subset of satellites to the appropriate altitude and orbit. Since each dispenser module can deploy its satellites far from other dispenser modules, the risk of collision among the satellites is greatly reduced, which allows a large number of satellites to be launched in a safe, timely and cost-effective manner.

Abstract: A wireless data processing device is described which periodically exits an unpowered state and transmits location data. For example, one embodiment of a wireless data processing device comprises: power circuitry for maintaining the wireless data processing device in a powered or unpowered state, the power circuitry causing the wireless data processing device to enter into an unpowered state responsive to user input; a timer to periodically power up the wireless device or portion thereof in response to reaching a predetermined time; a location services module determining a current location of the wireless data processing device using one or more specified location determination techniques; a transmit thread transmitting the current location of the wireless device over one or more specified communication channels; and the power circuitry powering down the wireless data processing device a second time after the current location has been transmitted.

Abstract: A stackable satellite includes a satellite frame and at least one vertical pillar attached to the frame. The vertical pillar has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end is coupled to the lower end of the vertical pillar of the satellite above and the lower end is coupled to the upper end of the vertical pillar of the satellite below. The vertical pillar receives substantially all of the vertical load of the stackable satellite and any other satellites stacked above. Use of such vertical pillars removes the need for a dispenser or substantially lightens the dispenser mass to allow substantially more satellites to be carried in a payload.

Abstract: A kitchen appliance includes a housing that defines a cavity. The housing has a housing rim defining an opening to the cavity. A heating or cooling element is disposed within the housing to heat or cool the cavity. A container has a generally hollow interior and a container rim. A lid is sized and shaped to at least partially cover the opening of the container when placed on the container. The lid has an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface. At least one latching mechanism or handle is operable to seal the contents of the appliance within the appliance.

Abstract: A passive thermal system for use in aerospace vehicles includes a plurality of core-bearing radiator panels having at least one heat pipe embedded therein. The portion of the heat pipe embedded in each panel is fluidically coupled to the portions of the heat pipe in the other core-bearing radiator panels.

Abstract: A satellite deployment system has a plurality of releasable dispenser modules that are attached to each other with each module carrying satellites. Each dispenser module acts as an individual final stage with its own propulsion unit and deploys a subset of satellites to the appropriate altitude and orbit. Since each dispenser module can deploy its satellites far from other dispenser modules, the risk of collision among the satellites is greatly reduced, which allows a large number of satellites to be launched in a safe, timely and cost-effective manner.

Abstract: A method for thermally stabilizing a communication satellite in orbit around the Earth relies on the discrete rotational symmetry of the pattern of antenna beams of the satellite. Exploiting the symmetry, the orientation of the satellite is changed from time to time by rotating the satellite through a symmetry angle of the rotational symmetry. Because of the symmetry, the beam pattern is unchanged after the rotation; but, because the rotation angle is less than 360°, a different side of the satellite is exposed to sunlight. The use of different thermal radiators and thermal shields on different sides of the satellite means that the thermal budget of the satellite is different after the rotation. By judiciously applying rotations as needed, as the orbit's orientation relative to the Sun evolves in time, it is possible to achieve effective control on the thermal budget of the satellite.

Abstract: A passive thermal system for use in satellites includes a solid radiator panel with a plurality of heat pipes attached to a surface thereof. In addition to their heat transporting capability, the heat pipes strengthen the radiator panel to which they are coupled. In some embodiments, the heat pipes are structurally modified to increase their area moment of inertia.