Abstract: The present disclosure provides tobacco Nic1b locus and associated genes (e.g., a group of ERF genes). Also provided are tobacco plants with altered total alkaloid and nicotine levels and commercially acceptable leaf grade, their development via breeding or transgenic approaches, and production of tobacco products from these tobacco plants. Further provided are compositions and methods for producing tobacco plants having novel mutations or alleles to reduce nicotine levels. Further provided are sequence polymorphisms and molecular markers for breeding tobacco with reduced nicotine or alkaloids while maintaining tobacco leaf grade and tobacco product quality.

Abstract: A reinforcing element and a method of forming the reinforcing element are generally described. The reinforcing element may be used in reinforcing a cementitious material and may comprise a settable material and a tension-resistant material that extends for a length of the element. To form the reinforcing element the settable material and tension-resistant material may be disposed together such that the settable and tension-resistant materials generally take the form of the reinforcing element. The settable material may then be cured.

Abstract: Filtration systems and methods for removing a filter residue from a filter employed in filtering a liquid (for example, grey water). The filtration system may include a vessel having an inlet through which a liquid can be introduced during use and an outlet through which filtered clean liquid can exit. A filter configured to filter the liquid is disposed within the vessel between the inlet and the outlet. The filtration system may further include at least one transducer disposed on or adjacent to the filter. The at least one transducer may be configured to generate one or more pressure waves effective to dislodge at least some residue materials collected on an upstream side of the filter.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides tobacco inbred plants TND950 (phph) SRC, Narrow Leaf Madole (phph) SRC, Narrow Leaf Madole SRC, CMS TND950 SRC, CMS Narrow Leaf Madole SRC, and CMS KY171 SRC, and hybrids PD7305 SRC, PD7309 SRC, PD7312 SRC, PD7318 SRC, and PD7319 SRC. The present disclosure also provides parts of such plants and products made from those parts. The present disclosure also includes progeny of the provided plants including hybrids.

Abstract: A device for treating a diverticulum includes a containment device and a bushing. The containment device includes an elongate conduit. The bushing is in the conduit of the containment device. The bushing includes a heat-shrink material. The bushing has a first tubular shape including a first open end and a second open end. At least a portion of the diverticulum in an inverted state is positionable into the first open end. The bushing is configured to transform from the first tubular shape toward a second shape upon heating the heat-shrink material. The second shape includes at least a portion of the bushing radially inward relative to the first tubular shape. The bushing in the second shape is configured to hold the diverticulum in a radially compressed inverted state.

Abstract: A package for compartmentalized preservation of harvested fruit or vegetables and methods are disclosed. The package may include a first flexible polymer film, comprising integral molded or vacuum formed cups configured to hold a fruit or vegetable, wherein the integral molded or vacuum formed cups can be collapsed into a plane of the first polymer film or extended from the first polymer film; and a second flexible polymer film configured to overlay the first polymer film. In some embodiments, the cups containing the fruit or vegetable may be inflated and sealed to form protective bubbles.

Abstract: A package for compartmentalized preservation of harvested fruit or vegetables and methods are disclosed. The package may include a first flexible polymer film, comprising integral molded or vacuum formed cups configured to hold a fruit or vegetable, wherein the integral molded or vacuum formed cups can be collapsed into a plane of the first polymer film or extended from the first polymer film; and a second flexible polymer film configured to overlay the first polymer film. In some embodiments, the cups containing the fruit or vegetable may be inflated and sealed to form protective bubbles.

Abstract: Technologies are presented for reducing corrosion M supercritical water gasification through seeded sacrificial metal particles. The metal panicles may be seeded into one or more material input streams through high pressure injection. Once distributed in the SCWG reactor, the metal particles may corrode preferentially to the metal SCWG reactor walls and convert into metal oxides that precipitate out above the supercritical point of water. The precipitated metal oxides may then be collected downstream of the SCWG reactor to be reprocessed back into seed metal at a smelter. The seeded metal particles may complete a process material cycle with limited net additional waste.

Abstract: A package for compartmentalized preservation of harvested fruit or vegetables and methods are disclosed. The package may include a first flexible polymer film, comprising integral molded or vacuum formed cups configured to hold a fruit or vegetable, wherein the integral molded or vacuum formed cups can be collapsed into a plane of the first polymer film or extended from the first polymer film; and a second flexible polymer film configured to overlay the first polymer film. In some embodiments, the cups containing the fruit or vegetable may be inflated and sealed to form protective bubbles.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides the identification of tobacco Nic1 locus. Also provided are tobacco plants with altered total alkaloid and nicotine levels and commercially acceptable leaf grade, their development via breeding or transgenic approaches, and production of tobacco products from these tobacco plants. Also provided are compositions and methods for producing tobacco plants having novel Nic1 mutations or alleles to reduce nicotine levels. Further provided are sequence polymorphisms and molecular markers for breeding tobacco with reduced nicotine or nicotine free while maintaining tobacco leaf grade and tobacco product quality.

Abstract: Systems and methods for stateless system management are described. Examples include a method wherein a user sends the management system a request to act upon a managed system. The management system determines whether the user is authorized for the requested action. Upon authorization, the management system looks up an automation principal, which is a security principal native to the managed system. The management system retrieves connecting credentials for the automation principal, and connects to the managed system using the retrieved credentials. Once the managed system is connected, the management system performs the requested action on the managed system, and sends the result back to the user.

Abstract: Some embodiments herein generally relate to self-clean lenses, sensor systems, and/or methods of cleaning. In some embodiments, a self-cleaning lens is provided for a sensor for monitoring a liquid.

Abstract: A device for treating a diverticulum includes a containment device and a bushing. The containment device includes an elongate conduit. The bushing is in the conduit of the containment device. The bushing includes a heat-shrink material. The bushing has a first tubular shape including a first open end and a second open end. At least a portion of the diverticulum in an inverted state is positionable into the first open end. The bushing is configured to transform from the first tubular shape toward a second shape upon heating the heat-shrink material. The second shape includes at least a portion of the bushing radially inward relative to the first tubular shape. The bushing in the second shape is configured to hold the diverticulum in a radially compressed inverted state.

Abstract: Technologies are presented for reducing corrosion M supercritical water gasification through seeded sacrificial metal particles. The metal panicles may be seeded into one or more material input streams through high pressure injection. Once distributed in the SCWG reactor, the metal particles may corrode preferentially to the metal SCWG reactor walls and convert into metal oxides that precipitate out above the supercritical point of water. The precipitated metal oxides may then be collected downstream of the SCWG reactor to be reprocessed back into seed metal at a smelter. The seeded metal particles may complete a process material cycle with limited net additional waste.

Abstract: Filtration systems and methods for removing a filter residue from a filter employed in filtering a liquid (for example, grey water). The filtration system may include a vessel having an inlet through which a liquid can be introduced during use and an outlet through which filtered clean liquid can exit. A filter configured to filter the liquid is disposed within the vessel between the inlet and the outlet. The filtration system may further include at least one transducer disposed on or adjacent to the filter. The at least one transducer may be configured to generate one or more pressure waves effective to dislodge at least some residue materials collected on an upstream side of the filter.

Abstract: Provided herein are composite fiber materials, for example materials that include reused or recycled carbon fibers. In addition, methods of processing composite fibers, and methods of making composite fiber-containing materials are provided herein.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for detecting the presence of anastomotic leakage in the abdominal cavity through a dual action catheter placed in the vicinity of a surgery site. A portion of the dual action catheter may be affixed around the surgery site, for example, coiled around the surgery site on the intestine. Through openings on the catheter near the surgery site, a neutral fluid such as saline solution may be injected and extracted through the same openings resulting in retrieval of fluids in the same are. By testing the extracted fluids, chemical and biochemical activity within the abdominal cavity may be determined in order to gauge the start of any anastomotic leakage.

Abstract: Fasteners are generally described. In some examples, a fastener may include at least one hook. The at least one hook may include an arcuate portion and a linking portion. The arcuate portion may be connected by the linking portion to a pivot point. The pivot point may be located with respect to the first member so that, as the linking portion pivots around the pivot point, the arcuate portion moves along an arcuate path between a non-fastening position and a fastening position. In the fastening position the arcuate portion may extend beyond the first member to engage with the second member to secure it to the first member.

Abstract: Systems and methods for stateless system management are described. Examples include a method wherein a user sends the management system a request to act upon a managed system. The management system determines whether the user is authorized for the requested action. Upon authorization, the management system looks up an automation principal, which is a security principal native to the managed system. The management system retrieves connecting credentials for the automation principal, and connects to the managed system using the retrieved credentials. Once the managed system is connected, the management system performs the requested action on the managed system, and sends the result back to the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for stateless system management are described. Examples include a method wherein a user sends the management system a request to act upon a managed system. The management system determines whether the user is authorized for the requested action. Upon authorization, the management system looks up an automation principal, which is a security principal native to the managed system. The management system retrieves connecting credentials for the automation principal, and connects to the managed system using the retrieved credentials. Once the managed system is connected, the management system performs the requested action on the managed system, and sends the result back to the user.