Abstract: Methods and compositions for reducing a ratio of collagen III to collagen I in wounded skin, treating wounds and accelerating healing is provided with a surfactant polymer dressing comprising FL2 siRNA, collagen and a poloxamer.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for inhibiting or treating metastasis based on discoveries regarding Kif19 and Cep192. Methods and compositions are provided for enhancing wound healing, treating fibrosis, reducing scarring and treating nerve pain.

Abstract: A footwear traction device is provided that is removably attachable to an item of footwear. The footwear traction device comprises a traction portion having one or more traction elements on a bottom thereof, a heel support portion disposed at a rear traction portion, and a forefoot support portion disposed at a forefoot traction portion. A cable extends through cable guides or channels and attaches the traction portion, the heel support portion, and the forefoot support portion together. A cable reel device is rotatably operable to adjust a length of the cable to selectively secure and unsecure the footwear traction device to the item of footwear. Shortening the length of the cable tightens the traction portion, the heel support portion and the forefoot support portion inwardly against the item of footwear, thereby securing the footwear traction device to the footwear.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided to implement an intelligent service broker for routing a voice command from a user to one or more virtual assistants based on each virtual assistant's capability to provide an accurate response. Responsive to receiving a voice command with a wake word associated with the intelligent service broker, the intelligent service broker identifies a subject or category of the voice command. Using the identified subject or category, the intelligent service broker selects one or more virtual assistants using a set of ranking values and a set of characteristics that indicate which ranking values to evaluate. The intelligent service broker sends the voice command to the identified virtual assistants and, responsive to receiving responses from more than one virtual assistant, identifies a confidence ranking for each of the responding virtual assistants and provides one or more of the responses based on a set of user configuration settings.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a video sequence comprises: obtaining an indication of camera movement from acquisition of a previous camera frame to acquisition of a current camera frame; determining an orientation for the camera at a time of acquiring the current camera frame; and determining a candidate orientation for a crop frame for the current camera frame by adjusting an orientation of a crop frame associated with the previous camera frame according to the determined orientation. A boundary of one of the camera frame or crop frame is traversed to determine if a specific point on the boundary of the crop frame exceeds a boundary of the camera frame. If so, a rotation of the specific point location which would bring the specific point location onto the boundary of the crop frame is determined and the candidate crop frame orientation updated accordingly before the crop frame is displayed.

Abstract: A method of preparing a nucleic acid sample with target enrichment uses a reaction vessel, within which is added a chelating agent to a sample with heating to about 99° C. to provide a crude lysate. A PNA probe is provided at a concentration sufficient for binding and capture of discernible levels of target nucleic acid. The PNA probe may be attached to beads which are initially embedded in a wax body and are released during the heating so that the y are free to move and come into contact with the PNA probe and target DNA. After binding has occurred, the heads are magnetically attracted back into a pocket along with the wax, which is allowed to solidify before they are removed from the reaction vessel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a common tower configured to be erected adjacent a building structure into construction. The tower comprises spaced apart columns, made of vertically aligned column hollow sections, spacedly and substantially vertically positioned adjacent the building structure, and vertically spaced apart flooring structures releasably and slidably supported by the spaced apart columns using a plurality of sliders. Each flooring structure is being capable of vertical displacement when supported by the spaced apart columns. The tower further comprises an anchoring system adapted to securely engage with the building structure to maintain the spaced apart columns substantially upright, as well as protection structures adapted to surround the flooring structures. A safe and easy erection of the tower using a common tower assembly is described.

Abstract: A method of delivering packages using a robot delivery system including: obtaining information about a package from an online ordering platform application programing interface, the information about the package including at least a destination of the package; transmitting the information about the package to a first robot; instructing the first robot to obtain the package or retain the package; and instructing the first robot to deliver the package to the destination using a conveyance system.

Abstract: An air filter assembly for a bicycle is disclosed. The air filter assembly includes a body having a bracket and a frame. The bracket is configured to mount to a bicycle frame. The frame defines a tapered opening having a windward side and a leeward side. The tapered opening is larger on the windward side than on the leeward side. A removable air filter cartridge is mounted within the opening of the frame such that a force acting on the air filter cartridge on the windward side tends to wedge the air filter cartridge in the opening. A foam member is attached to an outer periphery of the air filter cartridge and is disposed between the air filter cartridge and the frame. The foam member is compressible so as to hold the air filter cartridge in the opening of the frame. The foam member compresses to a greater degree on the leeward side of the opening than on the windward side of the opening. The air filter assembly is mountable to a handle bar of a bicycle.

Abstract: A method of target enrichment or depletion from a sample with an analyte is described. A probe has one of a left-handed PNA pair and a targeting moiety, in which the left-handed PNA pair are a complementary pair of PNAs that are chiral and have a cyclic backbone modification that induces a left-handed helical structure. A capture surface has the other of the left-handed PNA pair; and the left-handed PNA pair bind to hybridize the probe to the capture surface, which may be a magnetic bead.

Abstract: A pump device (10) operable with a syringe (11) having a barrel (12) and a plunger (13). The pump device (10) is operable to cause relative movement between the syringe plunger (13) and the syringe barrel (12) for discharging fluid from the syringe (11). The pump device (10) comprises a portion (31) adapted to engage the syringe barrel (12), and a drive mechanism for moving the syringe plunger (13) relative to the syringe barrel (12) to discharge fluid from the syringe (11). The drive mechanism comprises an actuator (45) adapted to engage the syringe plunger (13) and a power mechanism (61) for moving the actuator (45) to effect movement of the syringe plunger (13) relative to the syringe barrel (12). The pump device (10) thus provides a syringe driving means. There is also provided an infusion system comprising a syringe driving means, the syringe driving means comprising the pump device (10).

Abstract: Techniques for determining snapshot compliance may include receiving policy information for a snapshot policy associated with a storage group of logical devices; receiving snapshot information regarding snapshots taken of the storage group during a time period denoting an amount of time corresponding to the retention time for the storage group; determining, based on the snapshot creation interval of the snapshot policy, a timeline of expected policy runtimes denoting different points in time at which the snapshot policy is scheduled to run to take a snapshot of the storage group; analyzing the snapshot information and the timeline to determine a number of valid snapshots of the storage group; and determining a compliance level for the time period based on the number of valid snapshots of the storage group and at least one compliance threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to dynamically adjusting storage device system configurations. Information from one or more storage devices is collected. Dynamic adjustment of each storage device's system configuration is enabled based on the information. The information can include performance data, telemetry data, system configuration data, component configuration data, change events/commands, and/or alerts. Each storage device's components can be monitored with at least one daemon. Information patterns can be identified. The patterns can be matched to spikes in data traffic and/or storage device performance. The matched patterns and spikes can be correlated with each storage device's performance and errors. Storage device system configuration adjustment options can be determined. Rules for each option can be generated. Dynamic adjustment of each storage device's system configuration based on the generated one or more rules can be enabled.

Abstract: Maintenance routines that can be used to maintain the operability of one or more DOD print heads in a card processing system. The maintenance routines can include, but are not limited to: a cover routine where a cover or cap is selectively and automatically located over the print head(s) to protect the print head(s); a shake pulse routine that energizes the nozzles of the print head(s) without causing an ejection of ink; a spit routine where the nozzles of the print head(s) are energized to eject one or more drops of ink; and a purge routine where the nozzles are not electrically energized but the pressure holding the ink in the nozzles of the print head(s) is reversed to push ink out of the nozzles.

Abstract: A high power laser system for providing laser beams in various laser beam patterns along a laser beam path that is positioned to provide for the in situ laser processing of materials in tubulars, such as pipes in a hydrocarbon producing well. Laser treating for providing flow assurance by direct and indirect laser processing of materials interfering with flow.

Abstract: A fluid coupling (10) comprising several intravenous fluid delivery tubes (11) and a connector (15). The connector (15) is configured for attachment to an intravenous cannula or needle. The connector (15) comprises a body (20) having a first end portion (21) and a second end portion (22). The first end portion (21) comprises a plurality of sockets (23), each socket being adapted to receive an end section of a respective fluid delivery tube (11). The second end portion (22) comprises a nozzle (31) having an end face (33), wherein there is a plurality of interior flow paths (41) within the nozzle. Each flow path (41) opens onto the end of the nozzle (31) and communicates with a respective one of the sockets (23), whereby fluid delivered by each tube (11) is transported along the respective flow path (41) to the end of the nozzle (31) and the intravenous cannula or needle attached thereto. Each tube (11) has an end section thereof sealingly received in a respective socket (23).

Abstract: A footwear traction device is provided that is removably attachable to an item of footwear. The footwear traction device comprises a traction portion having one or more traction elements on a bottom thereof, a heel support portion disposed at a rear traction portion, and a forefoot support portion disposed at a forefoot traction portion. A cable extends through cable guides or channels and attaches the traction portion, the heel support portion, and the forefoot support portion together. A cable reel device is rotatably operable to adjust a length of the cable to selectively secure and unsecure the footwear traction device to the item of footwear. Shortening the length of the cable tightens the traction portion, the heel support portion and the forefoot support portion inwardly against the item of footwear, thereby securing the footwear traction device to the footwear.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation comprising nicotine. The formulation can be aerosolised at ambient temperature for delivery via inhalation. The invention also relates to a method of delivering nicotine to a subject via inhalation, and specifically via the use of a nebuliser.

Abstract: Methods for identifying in range endpoints in a network are provided. The methods includes providing a map including endpoints in the network, the endpoints including target endpoints, out of range endpoints and non-out of range endpoints; positioning a grid over the map including the endpoints in the network, the grid including a plurality of subsections each having a defined radius, locating a target endpoint on the map and in one of the subsections of the grid; and identifying a plurality of endpoints within subsections of the grid within a defined range of the target endpoint.

Abstract: An ink bottle is mounted in a DOD printer with the ink bottle acting as an ink supply reservoir that supplies ink to a DOD print head. A unique cap is provided that is configured to be affixed to an end of the ink bottle via threads or the like. The cap can be provided with one or more mechanical keying features used to limit mounting of the cap and the bottle assembly to a correct receiver in the DOD printer. The cap can also be provided with a valve controlled ink passage that allows ink to flow out of the bottle through the cap and a valve controlled vent passage that allows air to enter the bottle through the cap.