Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices related to a radial mounting interface holding a compact monolithic telescope, or generally an optical component, with robust optical alignment. An example optical mounting apparatus includes a mounting structure including a plurality of segments that are configured to surround a circumferential area of a monolithic optical device and to hold the monolithic optical device in place, wherein each of the plurality of segments includes a ridged or a grooved interface surface to couple the mounting structure to corresponding grooves or ridges in a surface of the monolithic optical device. The apparatus further includes an elastomeric material confined between the ridged or grooved interface surface of the mounting structure and the one or more corresponding grooves or ridges in the surface of the monolithic optical device. Also disclosed are thermal management features that passively enable diffraction-limited performance of large aperture monolithic optics.

Abstract: A method of implementing administrative services for managing group feedback is disclosed. A selection of a feedback visibility setting for a feedback message from a plurality of predefined feedback visibility settings is received via a give feedback tab of a user interface. The feedback message and a selection of one or more recipients are received via the give feedback tab. The feedback message is sent to the selected one or more recipients based on the selected feedback visibility setting. A request for feedback and a selection of one or more feedback providers are received via a request feedback tab of the user interface. The request for feedback is sent to the selected one or more feedback providers. Received feedback responses linked to a user profile of the feedback requestor are stored.

Abstract: A method of implementing administrative services for managing status updates is disclosed. A status update configuration window is provided on a graphical user interface. The status update configuration window comprises a plurality of update settings for configuring recurring status updates. A selection of update settings is received in the status update configuration window comprising an update frequency, a set of update questions, and a schedule for update reminders. The selected update settings are stored as an update template. An update summary window is displayed concurrently with the status update configuration window. The update summary window comprises a limited list of one or more selectable update management functions. A selection of an update management function is received from the update summary window.

Abstract: Provided are computing systems, methods, and platforms that automatically produce production-ready machine learning models and deployment pipelines from minimal input information such as a raw training dataset. In particular, one example computing system can import a training dataset associated with a user. The computing system can execute an origination machine learning pipeline to perform a model architecture search that selects and trains a machine learning model for the training dataset. Execution of the origination machine learning pipeline can also result in generation of a deployment machine learning pipeline configured to enable deployment of the machine learning model (e.g., running the machine learning model to produce inferences and/or optionally other tasks such as re-training and/or re-tuning the model).

Abstract: Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest including plants, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The pesticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing Lepidopteran, Coleopteran, Dipteran, fungal, Hemipteran and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.

Abstract: A method for friction reduction during professional network expansion is implemented via a computing system including a processor. The method includes executing, via a network, an enterprise application on a remote computing system operated by a user associated with an enterprise and surfacing a professional networking UI on a display of the remote computing system during execution of the enterprise application. The method includes generating parameters that are representative of a connection between the user and each suggested professional contact based on enterprise-level data corresponding to the user and each suggested professional contact and generating friction-reducing UI elements for each suggested professional contact based on the generated parameters.

Abstract: A method for data-driven professional network expansion techniques is implemented via a computing system including a processor. The method includes executing, via a network, an enterprise application on a remote computing system operated by a user associated with an enterprise and surfacing a professional networking UI on a display of the remote computing system during execution of the enterprise application. The method includes accessing enterprise-level data corresponding to the user and the enterprise, extracting parameters associated with the user and the enterprise from the enterprise-level data, and automatically generating, based on the extracted parameters, the user's professional network and a list of suggested professional contacts.

Abstract: A method for integrated professional network expansion during employee onboarding is implemented via a computing system including a processor. The method includes executing, via a network, an enterprise application on a first remote computing system operated by an employer associated with an enterprise, as well as causing surfacing of a professional networking UI on a display of the first remote computing system during the execution of the enterprise application. The method also includes receiving, via the professional networking UI surfaced on the display of the first remote computing system, user input including a specification of onboarding parameters for an employee of the enterprise, where the onboarding parameters correspond to one or more professional networking intentions for the employee. The method further includes causing the enterprise application to be executed on a second remote computing system operated by the employee in accordance with the specified onboarding parameters.

Abstract: A system for managing wish list items from a plurality of online merchants is provided. The system includes a memory, processor and item management module executed by the processor. The memory stores data regarding the wish list items that have been selected by a user while browsing online merchant websites. The item management module has a receive-advice feature that sends an electronic message to user-selected contacts. The electronic message contains a request for feedback on one or more selected items of interest. When the contacts submit feedbacks, they are stored in the memory for viewing by the user.