Abstract: An apparatus for selectively heating or cooling a food product includes a housing including a shell and a thermally-conductive liner coupled to the shell. The shell defines a housing cavity, and the thermally-conductive liner defines a receptacle. The apparatus also includes a removable tray and a plurality of thermoelectric heating/cooling devices disposed within the housing cavity. The removable tray is sized and shaped to be received within the receptacle such that the removable tray is coupled in thermal communication with the thermally-conductive liner. Each of the thermoelectric heating/cooling devices is selectively operable in a heating mode and a cooling mode and is coupled in thermal communication with the thermally-conductive liner such that the liner draws heat away from the removable tray when the thermoelectric devices are operated in the cooling mode, and the liner transfers heat to the removable tray when the thermoelectric devices are operated in the heating mode.

Abstract: A fluid displacement and pressurization device which provides both a substantial amount of thread engagement as well as provides for single hand control for all operational manipulations including maintaining a set fill volume, rapid filling and displacement, and pressurization and retention of evacuation positioning during balloon depressurization. The device allows for the use of one hand to not only transition the device from micro-movement control to macro-movement control, but also regarding rotating, pushing or pulling the handle of the plunger.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe apparatuses, optical systems, and methods for utilizing a dynamically reconfigurable optical transmitter. A laser array outputs a plurality of laser signals (which may further be modulated based on electrical signals), each of the plurality of laser signals having a wavelength, wherein the wavelength of each of the plurality of laser signals is tunable based on other electrical signals. An optical router receives the plurality of (modulated) laser signals at input ports and outputs the plurality of received (modulated) laser signals to one or more output ports based on the tuned wavelength of each of the plurality of received laser signals. This reconfigurable transmitter enables dynamic bandwidth allocation for multiple destinations via the tuning of the laser wavelengths.

Abstract: Self-driving surface antigen-regulated promoter-therapeutic payload constructs containing antigen binding domains are disclosed. Nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, antigen binding fragments, and pharmaceutical compositions, relating to the surface antigen-regulated promoter-therapeutic payload constructs are also disclosed. Methods of treating or preventing cancer in a subject, and methods of making self-driving surface antigen-regulated promoter-therapeutic payload constructs in T-cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods of sequestering carbon dioxide in concrete are described herein. The methods include combining water and a foaming agent to form a foaming agent mixture, adding a gas comprising carbon dioxide to the foaming agent mixture in a first mixing chamber, mixing the water, the gas comprising carbon dioxide and the foaming agent to form a foam mixture in the first mixing chamber, the foam mixture comprising a plurality of foam bubbles containing the at least a portion of the carbon dioxide, combining the foam mixture with concrete materials in a second mixing chamber so that the foam mixture contacts the concrete materials, the concrete materials comprising cement, and mixing the foam mixture and the concrete materials in the second mixing chamber to form the concrete having the carbon dioxide sequestered therein.

Abstract: The precision aerial firefighting and deluge system for helicopters and unmanned aerial systems is a device to attack fires inaccessible to firefighters due to altitude or other obstructions by streaming water or other fire retardant into or onto a specific location on the ground, on the water, or at altitude. The system employs a medium or heavy lift helicopter or unmanned aerial systems one or more tanks or bladders for water and/or fire retardant chemicals, a compressed air foam system, a pump, rigid plumbing lines for outflow of water/fire retardant; a rigid, telescopic boom that extends beyond rotor tip path plane, flexible lines/hoses inside boom; a crew switched electronic boom controller, a boom management system, a flange adapter, an electric, variable direction, crew-controlled fire monitor, a drop-hose, and a dart with inertial feathers.

Abstract: A chainsaw hanger has a flat face with a J-shaped support arm extending perpendicular to and vertically downward from the face, curving to form a horizontal portion parallel to and spaced laterally from the face, and a vertical portion extending upward towards and spaced laterally from a bottom surface of the face. The chainsaw hanger supports a chain saw in a vertical position abutting a wall. The support arm of a lockable chainsaw hanger has a pair of apertures spaced to accommodate a U-shaped rod having legs extending downward. One leg is slidably and rotatably secured within the support arm.

Abstract: A surgical guide includes a first guide arm extending from a first end to a second end on a first longitudinal axis. The first guide arm defines a first plurality of openings sized and configured to receive a first guide element therethrough. A second guide arm extends from a first end to a second end on a second longitudinal axis. The second guide arm defines a second plurality of openings sized and configured to receive a second guide element therethrough. A pivot element couples the first end of the first guide arm to the first end of the second guide arm such that an angular distance between the first guide arm and the second guide arm can be adjusted in a first plane.

Abstract: An adaptive support accessory for providing improved handling, positioning, mounting, and adapting of a mobile device is disclosed. The accessory includes a base attachable to a mobile device and a cap rotationally coupled to the base. The base includes an annular base protrusion centered about an axis of rotation. The cap includes an annular cap protrusion centered about the axis of rotation and disposed adjacent to the annular base protrusion. An aperture formed in the center of the accessory and defining an interior perimetric face provides an engagement feature configured for engaging one or more of a user's fingers, a plug, a mount, and a mounting structure. One or more supports attached to the cap may be configured to engage one or more of a user's fingers, a mount, and a mounting structure. One or more detachably attachable plugs provide additional mounting, adapting, and augmenting the accessory.

Abstract: At least an output shaft angle associated with an output shaft is initialized to a known value where the output shaft is coupled to a motor shaft via a set of one or more gears. A direction of rotation associated with the motor shaft is determined using a plurality of discrete Hall sensors in the motor and the output shaft angle is updated using an incremental value and the direction of rotation.

Abstract: A media system comprises one or more non-wearable playback devices, a gateway device, and a wearable playback device. The one or more non-wearable playback devices are configured to receive media content and to play the media content in synchrony with one another. The gateway device is commutatively coupled with at least one of the non-wearable playback devices and is configured to receive the media content. The wearable playback device comprises a microphone and a transducer and is commutatively coupled to the gateway device. The wearable playback device is configured to receive the media content and to simultaneously play ambient audio received via the microphone and the media content via the transducer while the one or more non-wearable playback devices play the media content.

Abstract: A solid block or unit dosed detergent composition as described which can be utilized in a variety of applications for cleaning surfaces and objects, removing suspending soils, and rinsing easily. The detergent composition, when exposed to an aqueous solution such as water, dissolves quickly and completely to create the use solution.

Abstract: A cannula insertion system for inserting a cannula into a human or animal body, includes a cannula and a cannula insertion device to hold and insert the cannula into the human or animal body in an insertion direction.

Abstract: A cannula insertion system includes: a contact sensor positioning system arranged to determine a suitable location for insertion of the cannula, where the contact sensor positioning system includes: a contact sensor having a contact surface to be placed at least partially on the human or animal body to enable measurement with the contact sensor, a positioning device configured to support and position the contact sensor, and a control device arranged to control the positioning device to position the contact sensor in a desired position. The contact sensor positioning system includes one or more sensors to determine a position and/or contact force related parameter representative for a position and/or contact force of the contact sensor, and a processing device to process the position and/or contact force related parameter and to provide a position control signal to the control device, where the contact sensor is an imaging sensor.

Abstract: An injection molded component includes a wall that has an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface. A sensor is molded into one of the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface. A channel is at least partially surrounding the sensor.

Abstract: An example photonic integrated circuit includes a transmitter circuit with a optical communication path to an optical coupler configured to couple with an optical fiber. The optical communication path has a propagation direction away from the transmitter circuit and towards the optical coupler. A counter-propagating tap diverts light sent by a light source backward against the propagation direction of the optical communication path. A photodiode receives the diverted light and measures its power level. The photodiode generates a feedback signal for the optical coupler and provides the feedback signal to the optical coupler. The optical coupler receives the feedback signal and adjusts a coupling alignment of the optical communication path to the optical fiber based on the feedback signal, which indicates the measured power level of the diverted counter-propagating light.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product algorithmically analyzes scoring data from a competitive event where the scoring, determined by a plurality of evaluators, is based on subjective criteria. The method receives, and/or determines a scale factor associated with each evaluator. The method adjusts scores awarded by each evaluator, based on respectively corresponding scale factors, to arrive at normalized scores. The method, thereby minimizes influences of biases associated with the evaluators.

Abstract: Provided is a process for preparing acrylic acid comprising (1) preparing acrolein by catalytic gas phase oxidation comprising (a) providing a reaction gas comprising (i) 5 to 10 mol % propylene, (ii) 0.02 to 0.75 mol % propane, and (iii) 0.25 to 1.9 mol % of a fuel mixture comprising at least one of methane and ethane, wherein the molar ratio of the total amount of propane, methane, and ethane to the total amount of propylene is from 0.01:1 to 0.25:1, (b) contacting the reaction gas with a first mixed metal oxide catalyst to form a mixture comprising acrolein, wherein the first mixed metal oxide catalyst comprises one or more of molybdenum, bismuth, cobalt, and iron, and (2) contacting the acrolein mixture with a second mixed metal oxide catalyst to form a mixture comprising acrylic acid, wherein the second mixed metal oxide catalyst comprises one or more of molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten, copper, and antimony.

Abstract: A surgical guide includes a first guide arm extending from a first end to a second end on a first longitudinal axis. The first guide arm defines a first plurality of openings sized and configured to receive a first guide element therethrough. A second guide arm extends from a first end to a second end on a second longitudinal axis. The second guide arm defines a second plurality of openings sized and configured to receive a second guide element therethrough. A pivot element couples the first end of the first guide arm to the first end of the second guide arm such that an angular distance between the first guide arm and the second guide arm can be adjusted in a first plane.