Abstract: A robotic device for distributing designated items to persons includes a motion unit to autonomously move the robotic device through a premise, storage for designated items, an item dispenser to dispense from the storage, memory modules containing recognition scans and payment information of persons located within the premise and information of the designated items. The memory modules contain secondary recognition scans of persons located within the premise, recognition scanners, secondary recognition scanners, an additional scanner by an exit tube, a control unit in communication with the motion unit, the recognition scanners, the memory and the item dispenser and where the control unit directs the motion unit to move the robotic device within the premise, upon encountering a purchaser who selects a designated item, directs the recognition scanners to scan payment details of the purchaser and compares images from the recognition scanners to stored recognitions scans to verify payment.

Abstract: An intelligent robot includes at least one accessory to measure activity and state in proximity to the robot; an air filtration module housed in a casing made of a UV blocking material; and a control center to analyze output of the at least one accessory, to recognize a known target user according to the analysis and to control functionality of the robot and the air filtration module for the known target user according to saved preferences for the known target user.

Abstract: A multi-grain selector device includes an outer body having exterior surfaces. The outer body includes a cooling side configured to face a cooling plate of a casting furnace and an opposite mold side configured to face into a mold. The outer body includes an array of multiple grain selector columns each formed from two or more transversely oriented, elongated channels that are fluidly coupled with each other in an end-to-end arrangement oriented along a growth direction that extends from the cooling side of the outer body toward the mold side of the outer body. The selector columns extend to growth openings on the mold side of the outer body. Each of the selector columns is configured to form a single grain column out of the corresponding growth opening that is part of a columnar grained article to be formed in the mold that grows along the growth direction.

Abstract: A method includes: determining, based, at least in part, on a predicted driver characteristic, a first energy-versus-distance measure for a planned driving route of a vehicle, the first energy-versus-distance measure determined using an energy model; presenting the first energy-versus-distance measure on a user interface associated with the vehicle; identifying an already-driven part of the planned driving route; determining, based on information associated with the already-driven part of the planned driving route, a model error associated with the energy model; determining a second energy-versus-distance measure by modifying the first energy-versus-distance measure to account for the model error; and presenting the second energy-versus-distance measure on the user interface associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for genome modification of a nucleotide sequence located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell or plant to produce a male-sterile plant. In some examples, the methods and compositions employ a guide RNA/Cas endonuclease system for modifying or altering target sites located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell, plant or seed to produce a male-sterile plant. Also provided are compositions and methods employing a guide polynucleotide/Cas endonuclease system for genome modification a nucleotide sequence located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell to produce a male-sterile plant. Compositions and methods are also provided for restoring fertility to a Ms9, Ms22, Ms26, or Ms45 nucleotide sequence to a male-sterile Ms9, Ms22, Ms26, or Ms45 plant produced using the methods and compositions described herein.

Abstract: A method of detecting rainout in a respiratory therapy system that includes a conduit fluidly coupled to a user interface comprises generating, via at least one microphone, acoustic data representative of noise associated with the respiratory therapy system. The method further comprises analyzing the acoustic data to detect a presence of liquid in the respiratory therapy system. The method further comprises causing an action to be performed, based on the detected presence of the liquid.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for categorizing and/or characterizing a user interface. The systems and methods include generating acoustic data associated with an acoustic reflection of an acoustic signal, the acoustic reflection being indicative of, at least in part, one or more features of a user interface coupled to a respiratory therapy device via a conduit. The systems and methods further include analyzing the generated acoustic data. The systems and methods further include categorizing and/or characterizing the user interface based, at least in part, on the analyzed acoustic data.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, methods and apparatus for diagnosing and/or monitoring a virus-associated systemic inflammation by measurement of a host immune response. The invention can be used for diagnosis including early diagnosis, monitoring, making treatment decisions, or management of subjects suspected of having systemic inflammation associated with an infection. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to peripheral blood RNA and protein biomarkers that are useful for specifically distinguishing between the host systemic immune response to viruses as compared to the host immune response to other causes of systemic inflammation.

Abstract: A method includes generating acoustic data representative of at least one or more reflections of an acoustic signal. The one or more reflections are indicative of a length and/or a diameter of a conduit coupled to a respiratory therapy device. The method further includes analyzing the acoustic data to determine the length and/or diameter of the conduit. In some cases, analyzing the acoustic data includes determining a resonant frequency of the conduit, and determining the length of the conduit based at least in part on the resonant frequency. In some cases, analyzing the acoustic data includes comparing the acoustic data to predetermined sets of acoustic data that each correspond to a known length and/or diameter of the conduit, and selecting one of the predetermined sets of acoustic data that best matches the generated acoustic data. The selected set of acoustic data corresponds to the length and/or diameter of the conduit.

Abstract: A method includes receiving first physiological data associated with a user. The method also includes determining a first emotion score associated with the user based at least in part on the first physiological data. The method also includes modifying one or more settings of a respiratory therapy system responsive to determining that the first emotion score satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A driver login device includes: a network communication unit in communication with the server via a network; an image pickup device capturing a target to obtain a login data; an image processing unit electrically coupled to the image pickup unit, and receiving and processing the login data to obtain a digital data; and a central processing unit electrically coupled to the network communication unit, the image pickup device and the image processing unit. The central processing unit, by way of the network communication unit, receives the data of the driver from the server via the network, controls the image pickup device to capture the target, comparing the digital data with the data of the driver to generate a comparing result, and by way of the network communication unit, transmitting the comparing result back to the server via the network.

Abstract: A system includes an electronic circuit, a memory, and a control system. The electronic circuit is coupled to a conduit. The conduit may be configured to deliver pressurized air. A portion of the electronic circuit has a first electrical property that is configured to change based at least in part on movement of the portion of the electronic circuit. The memory stores machine-readable instructions. The control system includes one or more processors configured to execute the machine-readable instructions. Data associated with the first electrical property of the electronic circuit is received. The received data is analyzed. Based at least in part on the analysis, it is determined that the first electrical property of the electronic circuit has changed. Responsive to the determination that the first electrical property of the electronic circuit has changed, it is determined that the conduit is moving or has moved.

Abstract: Methods and devices provide physiological movement detection with active sound generation. In some versions, a processor may detect breathing and/or gross body motion. The processor may control producing, via a speaker coupled to the processor, a sound signal in a user's vicinity. The processor may control sensing, via a microphone coupled to the processor, a reflected sound signal. This reflected sound signal is a reflection of the sound signal from the user. The processor may process the reflected sound, such as by a demodulation technique. The processor may detect breathing from the processed reflected sound signal. The sound signal may be produced as a series of tone pairs in a frame of slots or as a phase-continuous repeated waveform having changing frequencies (e.g., triangular or ramp sawtooth). Evaluation of detected movement information may determine sleep states or scoring, fatigue indications, subject recognition, chronic disease monitoring/prediction, and other output parameters.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatus, kits and compositions for determining the absence of a systemic bacterial infection (sepsis) in patients, particularly ones presenting to hospital emergency departments (ED) as outpatients, by measurement of the host immune response using peripheral blood. The are methods, apparatus, kits and compositions can be used in mammals for diagnosing, making treatment decisions, determining the next procedure or diagnostic test, or management of patients suspected of having an infection, including those presenting with fever or other signs of systemic inflammation. More particularly, peripheral blood RNA and protein biomarkers are disclosed that are useful for distinguishing between the host immune response to bacteria compared to the host immune response to other causes of systemic inflammation including trauma, burns, autoimmune disease, asthma, anaphylaxis, arthritis, obesity and viral infections.

Abstract: There are disclosed hybrid proteins comprising at least one signal sequence; at least one DNA binding domain; and at least one cell penetrating peptide (CPP) domain. In embodiments the CPP domain is a TAT domain, and the DNA binding domain is a HU domain. There is also disclosed the use of the hybrid proteins to introduce exogenous DNA into target cells, and methods for introducing exogenous DNA into target cells using the hybrid proteins.

Abstract: A driver login device includes: a network communication unit in communication with the server via a network; an image pickup device capturing a target to obtain a login data; an image processing unit electrically coupled to the image pickup unit, and receiving and processing the login data to obtain a digital data; and a central processing unit electrically coupled to the network communication unit, the image pickup device and the image processing unit. The central processing unit, by way of the network communication unit, receives the data of the driver from the server via the network, controls the image pickup device to capture the target, comparing the digital data with the data of the driver to generate a comparing result, and by way of the network communication unit, transmitting the comparing result back to the server via the network.

Abstract: A multi-grain selector device includes an outer body having exterior surfaces. The outer body includes a cooling side configured to face a cooling plate of a casting furnace and an opposite mold side configured to face into a mold. The outer body includes an array of multiple grain selector columns each formed from two or more transversely oriented, elongated channels that are fluidly coupled with each other in an end-to-end arrangement oriented along a growth direction that extends from the cooling side of the outer body toward the mold side of the outer body. The selector columns extend to growth openings on the mold side of the outer body. Each of the selector columns is configured to form a single grain column out of the corresponding growth opening that is part of a columnar grained article to be formed in the mold that grows along the growth direction.