Abstract: Various examples are related to exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) for building retrofits. In one example, a method includes sensing, by a robotic system, at least one characteristic of an exterior of a building and, in response to the at least one sensed characteristic, adjusting application of insulation or finish to the exterior by the robotic system. The robotic system can include a 3D-articulated robot or other suitable robot that applies the insulation or finish. The robotic system can include a turret or application head configured to sense the at least one characteristic of the building and apply the insulation or finish to the exterior.

Abstract: An ADA compliant shielded door is disclosed. According to one aspect, a door is configured to create a radio frequency (RF) seal when the door is sealed so that RF energy is restricting from passing through a gap between an outer periphery of the door and a door frame when the door is sealed. The door includes: at least one knife edge along at least part of the outer periphery of the door, each knife edge configured to project into a channel of a door frame in a direction parallel to a face of the door when the door is sealed. The door also includes at least one contact element along a length of a knife edge, the at least one contact element being configured to make electrical contact with a channel wall of a channel of the door frame when the knife edge projects into the channel.

Abstract: An ADA compliant shielded door is disclosed. According to one aspect, a door is configured to create a radio frequency (RF) seal when the door is sealed so that RF energy is restricting from passing through a gap between an outer periphery of the door and a door frame when the door is sealed. The door includes: at least one knife edge along at least part of the outer periphery of the door, each knife edge configured to project into a channel of a door frame in a direction parallel to a face of the door when the door is sealed. The door also includes at least one contact element along a length of a knife edge, the at least one contact element being configured to make electrical contact with a channel wall of a channel of the door frame when the knife edge projects into the channel.

Abstract: Door sealing systems for providing an RF seal to a door to an enclosure such as an anechoic chamber are disclosed. According to one aspect, a door sealing system includes a door having an outer periphery and a plurality of extendable and retractable knife edges along at least a portion of the outer periphery. The door sealing system includes a door frame having a plurality of channels corresponding to the plurality of knife edges, each knife edge projecting outward in a direction parallel to a face of the door and into the corresponding channels when the door is in a sealed position. Further, the door sealing system may include channels in the door frame along which knife edges of the door frame move.

Abstract: Door sealing systems for providing an RF seal to a door to an enclosure such as an anechoic chamber are disclosed. According to one aspect, a door sealing system includes a door having an outer periphery and a plurality of extendable and retractable knife edges along at least a portion of the outer periphery. The door sealing system includes a door frame having a plurality of channels corresponding to the plurality of knife edges, each knife edge projecting outward in a direction parallel to a face of the door and into the corresponding channels when the door is in a sealed position. Further, the door sealing system may include channels in the door frame along which knife edges of the door frame move.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for converting of a flue gas desulfurization (FGD) waste product to a gypsum-enriched product by fostering growth of sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB) in the FGD waste product. Also provided are isolated sulfur oxidizing bacteria cultures as well as kits comprising an isolated sulfur oxidizing bacteria culture and written instructions for fostering the growth of the isolated sulfur oxidizing bacteria culture in FGD waste product to product a gypsum-enriched product.

Abstract: An audio system includes a loudspeaker, a first microphone, an echo canceller, and a second microphone within the loudspeaker enclosure coupled to the loudspeaker. The first microphone provides an environmental acoustic signal to the echo canceller. The second microphone can be a high acoustic overload microphone and be placed in a back cavity of the speaker enclosure. A speaker signal is used to drive the loudspeaker, which may produce non-linear distortions in the acoustic output. The second microphone senses a signal that includes both the linear and non-linear distortions. This sensed signal is used to remove both the linear and the non-linear distortions from the environmental acoustic signal picked up from the first microphone and processed by the echo canceller.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for converting of a flue gas desulfurization (FGD) waste product to a gypsum-enriched product by fostering growth of sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB) in the FGD waste product. Also provided are isolated sulfur oxidizing bacteria cultures as well as kits comprising an isolated sulfur oxidizing bacteria culture and written instructions for fostering the growth of the isolated sulfur oxidizing bacteria culture in FGD waste product to product a gypsum-enriched product.

Abstract: Unique Avian Nephritis Virus (ANV) nucleic acid sequences have been determined. Primers and probes have been developed using the isolated nucleic acid sequences and a reverse transcription PCR has been developed to detect the presence of ANV in commercial flocks. Furthermore, use of the nucleic acid sequences and amino acids sequences encoded therefrom and antibodies to said amino acids is discussed.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus ultimately for converting a carbonaceous material to liquid hydrocarbons suitable for use, for example, as transportation fuels. In a first step the carbonaceous material is converted to a syngas product, and in subsequent steps the syngas product is converted to the desired liquid hydrocarbons. In one embodiment, coal and methane are converted to syngas, and the syngas product is converted to hydrocarbons through a methanol intermediate. An example use for the methods and apparatus of the invention is in the preparation of aviation fuels.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus ultimately for converting a carbonaceous material to liquid hydrocarbons suitable for use, for example, as transportation fuels. In a first step the carbonaceous material is converted to a syngas product, and in subsequent steps the syngas product is converted to the desired liquid hydrocarbons. In one embodiment, coal and methane are converted to syngas, and the syngas product is converted to hydrocarbons through a methanol intermediate. An example use for the methods and apparatus of the invention is in the preparation of aviation fuels.

Abstract: A novel astrovirus designated chicken astrovirus type 3 has been isolated and characterized. Nucleotide sequences and polypeptide sequences of this astrovirus are provided with uses of the same and the isolated astrovirus in assay kits and vaccines.

Abstract: Unique Avian Nephritis Virus (ANV) nucleic acid sequences have been determined. Primers and probes have been developed using the isolated nucleic acid sequences and a reverse transcription PCR has been developed to detect the presence of ANV in commercial flocks. Furthermore, use of the nucleic acid sequences and amino acids sequences encoded therefrom and antibodies to said amino acids is discussed.

Abstract: Compositions which specifically block cathepsin L function in podocytes, compositions which protect cytoskeletal adaptor protein (CD2AP) for degradation, compositions which modulate expression or function of cytoskeletal adaptor protein (CD2AP), protect against renal diseases or disorders. Methods of treatment in vivo involve use of one or more compositions.

Abstract: A novel astrovirus designated chicken astrovirus type 3 has been isolated and characterised. Nucleotide sequences and polypeptide sequences of this astrovirus are provided with uses of the same and the isolated astrovirus in assay kits and vaccines.

Abstract: A wireless device (300) receives and captures multiple-channel audio signals and outputs the multiple-channel audio signals on at least one channel output stream (606). The wireless device (300) includes a microphone (401) for capturing a first audio channel and at least one speaker (402) for capturing additional audio channels. Each speaker has a switch (403) to enable the speaker to operate as an additional microphone for capturing at least one additional audio channel. The device also has a comparator (404), connected to a plurality of audio channels including the first audio channel and any additional audio channels, so that the comparator identifies which of the audio channels has a predetermined signal strength so as to identify one of the audio channels as a reference audio channel (406, 405). Additionally, in one embodiment, the comparator identifies which of the audio channels has a predetermined phase and identifies one of the audio channels as a reference phase channel (406, 405).

Abstract: Systems and methods for pre-conditioning a received audio signal prior to audio equalization of the audio signal are provided. The system (100) includes a spectral tilt estimator (110) for estimating a spectral tilt of the received audio signal, and a compensative filter synthesizer (115) for synthesizing a compensative filter based upon the spectral tilt estimated by the spectral tilt estimator. The filter comprises at least one compensative filter coefficient for mitigating the spectral tilt of the received audio signal prior to audio equalization of the audio signal.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for selectively coupling a communication unit (110) to a hearing enhancement device (112). The method includes the steps of—in the communication unit—selecting (212) between an acoustic coupling setting and an inductive coupling setting, in response to the selecting step, switching (214) an audio output of the communication unit to an acoustic coupling path (136) or an inductive coupling path (138), and outputting (226) through either the acoustic coupling path or the inductive coupling path an audio signal to the hearing enhancement device.

Abstract: A wireless device (300) receives and captures multiple-channel audio signals and outputs the multiple-channel audio signals on at least one channel output stream (606). The wireless device (300) includes a microphone (401) for capturing a first audio channel and at least one speaker (402) for capturing additional audio channels. Each speaker has a switch (403) to enable the speaker to operate as an additional microphone for capturing at least one additional audio channel. The device also has a comparator (404), connected to a plurality of audio channels including the first audio channel and any additional audio channels, so that the comparator identifies which of the audio channels has a predetermined signal strength so as to identify one of the audio channels as a reference audio channel (406, 405). Additionally, in one embodiment, the comparator identifies which of the audio channels has a predetermined phase and identifies one of the audio channels as a reference phase channel (406, 405).