Abstract: A drill bit can include a bit body having an upper portion, a central bore, and an adjustable inner gauge. The central bore can define a bore surface, and the bit body can include a plurality of fixed cutters formed on the upper portion. The adjustable inner gauge may be movably positioned within the bit body central bore to increase or decrease an exposed area of the bore surface for adjusting stability or steerability of the drill bit while forming the wellbore.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle receives geographic location data defined via a mobile computing device operated by a user. The geographic location data is indicative of a device position of the mobile computing device. The autonomous vehicle also receives image data generated by the mobile computing device. The image data is indicative of a surrounding position nearby the device position. The surrounding position is selected from an image captured by a camera of the mobile computing device. A requested vehicle position (e.g., a pick-up or drop-off location) is set for a trip of the user in the autonomous vehicle based on the geographic location data and the image data. A route from a current vehicle position of the autonomous vehicle to the requested vehicle position for the trip of the user in the autonomous vehicle is generated. Moreover, the autonomous vehicle can follow the route to the requested vehicle position.

Abstract: Multiple subterranean probes at an area of land detect soil conditions and wirelessly transmit soil condition information to a service provider's backend server or to a technician's hand-held wireless device. The server provides multiple user interface screens of a customer application that display soil condition information and irrigation's system status. Local micro weather stations may determine and wirelessly transmit weather condition information to the server. An installer may use the customer application to determine that received signal strength at a given probe is weak and should thus be relocated, or to determine refined location information corresponding to the probe. Historical soil condition information and artificial intelligence may predict soil conditions where a previously installed probe has been moved or quit working. Probes' housings seal internal electronics, including soil condition sensors, wireless communication modules, processors, and memory.

Abstract: Transmitting and receiving mud pulse pressure waves at a downhole device. The mud pulse pressure waves may be transmitted from a surface mud pulser and/or by a downhole mud pulser to a downhole device. The mud pulse pressure waves may be detected directly by a transducer or indirectly by detecting physical changes induced in the downhole tool by the pressure waves of the mud pulse. The detected physical changes can be converted to a digital signal for use by the downhole tool. The mud pulse pressure waves may encode information including data, or instructions to the downhole devices.

Abstract: A drill bit may comprise a bit body including an electronic housing, one or more electronics coupled within the electronic housing, a transducer housing coupled to the electronic housing, a first transducer seated in the transducer housing, a first pressure tube extending through the bit body and coupled to the transducer housing, and a floating ball in the first pressure tube. A method may comprise allowing a drilling fluid to move through a first entrance and into a pressure tube formed in a bit body of the drill bit, allowing the drilling fluid to exert a force on a floating ball placed within the pressure tube, allowing the floating ball to transmit the force to a fluid placed within the pressure tube on an opposing side of the floating ball from the drilling fluid, and measuring pressure of the fluid with a first transducer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides pyrrolopyrimidine nucleoside analogs of the Formula I, Formula IA, Formula IB, or Formula II and phospholipid conjugates and pharmaceutical compositions thereof wherein Rc and A are defined herein. Also presented are methods of treating and/or preventing viral infection and/or viral infection-associated disease or disorder with one or more compounds of Formula I, Formula IA, Formula IB, or Formula II.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fixed-cutter drill bit including a bit body defining a bit rotational axis, a plurality of blades each having an inner end that is radially closer to the bit rotational axis than a remainder of the respective blade, a central bit surface, and a plurality of cutters disposed on the blades and including an innermost cutter located closest among all of the plurality of cutters to the bit rotational axis and having a flattened cutting surface, a cutting arc, and a relief having ends which is located within and interrupts the cutting arc such that the cutting arc includes at least two portions located on opposite ends of the relief. The disclosure also provides a drilling system including the drill bit and a drill string attached to the drill bit and a surface assembly to rotate the drill string and drill bit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for recovering an amine solvent from an acid gas stream. The apparatus includes a water wash recovery column, a nozzle for spraying water wash and an amine nucleation agent into the water wash recovery column and an inlet port for introducing acid gas into the water wash recovery column adjacent the lower end thereof. The method includes the steps of treating the acid gas stream in the water wash recovery column with a counter-current flow of water wash in an amine nucleation agent, discharging treated acid gas from an upper end of the water wash recovery column and collecting water wash, amine nucleation agent and entrained amine solvent from the acid gas stream and a sump at a lower end of the water wash recovery column.

Abstract: An airframe design may include a bonded frame or assembly, and one or more components that may be removably attached to the bonded frame. The bonded frame may include struts, central bulkheads, a tail section, a plurality of wing sections, and motor mounts that are adhered together using adhesive. The one or more attachable components may include a forward fuselage, motors, propellers, motor pod fairings, stabilizer fins, and landing gear that are attached using fasteners. The bonded frame may reduce the number of parts of the airframe design and may also reduce complexity, cost, and weight, while also increasing stiffness and strength. Further, the various attachable components may facilitate fabrication, assembly, and maintenance of an aerial vehicle having the airframe design.

Abstract: This disclosure extends to systems, apparatus, and methods for the rapid deployment of a sling or strap on a rifle, firearm, tool, or implement from a storage mode to a deployment mode in a reliable and repeatable manner, while minimizing snagging, binding or tangling during storage or transport. In one exemplary system in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, a capture device may include a single closed loop interface adjacent to an open interface. A first strap may be looped through the closed interface and secured therein. Another portion of the sling system, such as a loop of strap or webbing may be secured by tensioning in the open interface to tightly secure the system against the rifle or tool in a secured position. By slightly loosening the loop, the secured portion can exit the open interface rapidly as the sling is deployed.

Abstract: Automating discovery server configuration as part of a discovery process includes determining one or more subnets selected from multiple subnets. Each of the one or more subnets selected is associated with a respective scheduled task. In response to determining the one or more subnets selected, one or more available discovery servers are identified from multiple discovery servers. The one or more discovery servers are configured based at least in part on the one or more subnets selected. In response to the automatic configuration, network discovery is initiated to perform the respective scheduled task.

Abstract: Provided are method for treating age-related macular degeneration (AGE), and/or preventing the occurrence or progression thereof in a subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the methods include administering to the subject in need thereof a composition that has an effective amount of an inhibitor of reverse transcriptase (RTase) activity. Also provided are methods for protecting retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells, retinal photoreceptor cells, and/or choroidal cells; methods for treating geographic atrophy of the eye, and/or for preventing occurrence or progression thereof; and pharmaceutical compositions for treating AGE and/or GA and/or for preventing the occurrence or progression thereof; and/or for protecting RPE cells, retinal photoreceptor cells, and/or choroidal cells.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle receives geographic location data defined via a mobile computing device operated by a user. The geographic location data is indicative of a device position of the mobile computing device. The autonomous vehicle also receives image data generated by the mobile computing device. The image data is indicative of a surrounding position nearby the device position. The surrounding position is selected from an image captured by a camera of the mobile computing device. A requested vehicle position (e.g., a pick-up or drop-off location) is set for a trip of the user in the autonomous vehicle based on the geographic location data and the image data. A route from a current vehicle position of the autonomous vehicle to the requested vehicle position for the trip of the user in the autonomous vehicle is generated. Moreover, the autonomous vehicle can follow the route to the requested vehicle position.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a downhole drilling tool that may include: an earth-boring drill bit including: a bit body; a shank coupled to the bit body; a strain puck removably coupled to the earth-boring drill bit, the strain puck including a strain gauge to collect data indicating a downhole force applied to the earth-boring drill bit during a drilling operation; and a plurality of blades disposed on exterior portions of the bit body, each blade having respective cutting elements disposed thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing a yield and a transfer rate of a packed bed includes a packed bed, a vessel having a reaction chamber, a support frame and acoustic attenuator for holding the packed bed in the reaction chamber, at least one acoustic transducer adapted to transmit acoustic energy into the packed bed and an acoustic generator. The acoustic generator has impedance matching functionality.

Abstract: Disclosed are copolymers comprising a modified protein first monomer, a surfactant, and a second monomer. Methods of making copolymers comprising a modified protein first monomer, a surfactant, and a second monomer are described. Also disclosed are articles comprising the copolymers. Disclosed are blends comprising a protein, a surfactant, and a second monomer. Methods of making blends comprising a protein, a surfactant, and a second monomer are described. Also disclosed are articles comprising the blends.

Abstract: A device for hailing a vehicle includes a location sensor outputting location information indicative of a location of the device. The device further includes a device interface configured to receive an input from a user of the device. Responsive to the input, a transmitter of the device transmits the location information, input information, and identification information for the device to a dispatch server system. The transmitter is further configured to route the location information, the input information, and the identification information for the device to only the dispatch server system. The identification information is used by the dispatch server system to set a predefined location associated with the identification information as a destination for a trip for the user in the vehicle. The predefined location is defined in an account corresponding to the identification information of the device maintained by the dispatch server system prior to receipt of the input.

Abstract: Disclosed examples include semiconductor devices and fabrication methods to fabricate semiconductor wafers and integrated circuits, including forming a first epitaxial semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type on a first side of a semiconductor substrate of the first conductivity type, forming a nitride or oxide protection layer on a top side of the first epitaxial semiconductor layer, forming a second epitaxial semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type on the second side of the semiconductor substrate, and removing the protection layer from the first epitaxial semiconductor layer. The wafer can be used to fabricate an integrated circuit by forming a plurality of transistors at least partially on the first epitaxial semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Skin hydration is necessary to maintain the epidermal barrier, minimize adverse environmental influences, and reduce cell stress. Provided herein are compounds, such as compounds of Formula (I), and pharmaceutically and cosmetically acceptable salts thereof, and compositions, methods, and uses that may be used for skin hydration. Also reported herein is a scalable method for synthesizing compounds of Formula (I). The compounds provided herein are responsible for improved skin penetration and/or retention and are therefore useful for the treatment and/or prevention of various diseases, disorders, or conditions to protect human skin.

Abstract: A method for using a mud motor may comprise drilling a borehole into a formation using a drill string connected to the mud motor and the mud motor is connected to a drill bit, measuring one or more parameters of the mud motor in the borehole, and sending the one or more parameters to surface. A system may comprise a mud motor connected to a drill string, a drill bit connected to the mud motor, a strain gauge, and in information handling system. The strain gauge may be connected to the drill bit and configured to take one or more parameters of the mud motor. The information handling system may be in communication with the strain gauge and configured to record the one or more parameters from the strain gauge.