Abstract: The invention is directed to an engineered yeast including an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a glucoamylase comprising SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:4, or a variant thereof. The engineered yeast are able to provide glucoamylase into a fermentation media and cause degradation of starch material generating glucose for fermentation to a desired bioproduct, such as ethanol. High titers of bioproduct (e.g., 70 g/kg of ethanol) can be achieved, along with low residual glucose levels. Further the yeast exhibit good growth and bioproduct product at temperatures of 32° C. or greater.

Abstract: Tripods and other support componentry for cameras, lighting and other equipment including a convertible tripod selfie-stick with dog-legged tripod legs collapsible together to form a singular selfie-stick shaft, foldable couplers on the tripod legs for optional attachment of supplemental feet thereto, a yoke body with a threaded collar that both tightens a ball and socket joint of each tripod leg and anchors a secondary tethering of each leg, a string-of-pearls latching mechanism for providing such secondary tethering of other components, a magnetic basal of lobe-shaped footprint and composite construction, a squeeze lever lock for telescopic tubes of a tripod leg or the like, a slidable ring coupler displaceable along a tripod leg or other shaft and lockable thereto via a tightenable collet, a rock-and-dock accessory mount for a tripod leg or the like, and a smartphone/tablet holder and cooperating case with a ball and socket connection.

Abstract: A PZT microactuator such as for a hard disk drive has a restraining layer bonded on its side that is opposite the side on which the PZT is mounted. The restraining layer comprises a stiff and resilient material such as stainless steel. The restraining layer can cover most or all of the top of the PZT, with an electrical connection being made to the PZT where it is not covered by the restraining layer. The restraining layer reduces bending of the PZT as mounted and hence increases effective stroke length, or reverses the sign of the bending which increases the effective stroke length of the PZT even further. The restraining layer can be one or more active layers of PZT material that act in the opposite direction as the main PZT layer. The restraining layer(s) may be thinner than the main PZT layer.

Abstract: Unique securement devices, usable for example as tripod feet, each feature a bistable spring band encapsulated in an outer skin with a set of optionally magnetic embedments discretely spaced along the band, and a coupler at one end for attachment to a tripod leg or other component. Unique ball and socket joints employ both a snap fit and a secondary retention mechanism to reliably secure together various components, including said securement devices and tripod legs. One joint includes an externally convex and internally concave ball coupler for optional mating with either a larger socket coupler or smaller ball. One joint includes a stabilization sleeve for angularly locking the ball and socket joint. An elongated support, usable as a tripod leg for example, features threaded connection ports usable to either directly mount threaded third-party componentry, or to receive a threaded ball coupler by which socket-equipped componentry can be indirectly attached.

Abstract: A PZT microactuator such as for a hard disk drive has a restraining layer bonded on its side that is opposite the side on which the PZT is mounted. The restraining layer comprises a stiff and resilient material such as stainless steel. The restraining layer can cover most or all of the top of the PZT, with an electrical connection being made to the PZT where it is not covered by the restraining layer. The restraining layer reduces bending of the PZT as mounted and hence increases effective stroke length, or reverses the sign of the bending which increases the effective stroke length of the PZT even further. The restraining layer can be one or more active layers of PZT material that act in the opposite direction as the main PZT layer. The restraining layer(s) may be thinner than the main PZT layer.

Abstract: A PZT microactuator such as for a hard disk drive has a restraining layer bonded on its side that is opposite the side on which the PZT is mounted. The restraining layer comprises a stiff and resilient material such as stainless steel. The restraining layer can cover most or all of the top of the PZT, with an electrical connection being made to the PZT where it is not covered by the restraining layer. The restraining layer reduces bending of the PZT as mounted and hence increases effective stroke length, or reverses the sign of the bending which increases the effective stroke length of the PZT even further. The restraining layer can be one or more active layers of PZT material that act in the opposite direction as the main PZT layer. The restraining layer(s) may be thinner than the main PZT layer.

Abstract: Tripods and other support componentry for cameras, lighting and other equipment including a convertible tripod selfie-stick with dog-legged tripod legs collapsible together to form a singular selfie-stick shaft, foldable couplers on the tripod legs for optional attachment of supplemental feet thereto, a yoke body with a threaded collar that both tightens a ball and socket joint of each tripod leg and anchors a secondary tethering of each leg, a string-of-pearls latching mechanism for providing such secondary tethering of other components, a magnetic basal of lobe-shaped footprint and composite construction, a squeeze lever lock for telescopic tubes of a tripod leg or the like, a slidable ring coupler displaceable along a tripod leg or other shaft and lockable thereto via a tightenable collet, a rock-and-dock accessory mount for a tripod leg or the like, and a smartphone/tablet holder and cooperating case with a ball and socket connection.

Abstract: A PZT microactuator such as for a hard disk drive has a restraining layer bonded on its side that is opposite the side on which the PZT is mounted. The restraining layer comprises a stiff and resilient material such as stainless steel. The restraining layer can cover most or all of the top of the PZT, with an electrical connection being made to the PZT where it is not covered by the restraining layer. The restraining layer reduces bending of the PZT as mounted and hence increases effective stroke length, or reverses the sign of the bending which increases the effective stroke length of the PZT even further. The restraining layer can be one or more active layers of PZT material that act in the opposite direction as the main PZT layer. The restraining layer(s) may be thinner than the main PZT layer.

Abstract: Unique securement devices, usable for example as tripod feet, each feature a bistable spring band encapsulated in an outer skin with a set of optionally magnetic embedments discretely spaced along the band, and a coupler at one end for attachment to a tripod leg or other component. Unique ball and socket joints employ both a snap fit and a secondary retention mechanism to reliably secure together various components, including said securement devices and tripod legs. One joint includes an externally convex and internally concave ball coupler for optional mating with either a larger socket coupler or smaller ball. One joint includes a stabilization sleeve for angularly locking the ball and socket joint. An elongated support, usable as a tripod leg for example, features threaded connection ports usable to either directly mount threaded third-party componentry, or to receive a threaded ball coupler by which socket-equipped componentry can be indirectly attached.

Abstract: A PZT microactuator such as for a hard disk drive has a restraining layer bonded on its side that is opposite the side on which the PZT is mounted. The restraining layer comprises a stiff and resilient material such as stainless steel. The restraining layer can cover most or all of the top of the PZT, with an electrical connection being made to the PZT where it is not covered by the restraining layer. The restraining layer reduces bending of the PZT as mounted and hence increases effective stroke length, or reverses the sign of the bending which increases the effective stroke length of the PZT even further. The restraining layer can be one or more active layers of PZT material that act in the opposite direction as the main PZT layer. The restraining layer(s) may be thinner than the main PZT layer.

Abstract: Unique securement devices, usable for example as tripod feet, each feature a bistable spring band encapsulated in an outer skin with a set of optionally magnetic embedments discretely spaced along the band, and a coupler at one end for attachment to a tripod leg or other component. Unique ball and socket joints employ both a snap fit and a secondary retention mechanism to reliably secure together various components, including said securement devices and tripod legs. One joint includes an externally convex and internally concave ball coupler for optional mating with either a larger socket coupler or smaller ball. One joint includes a stabilization sleeve for angularly locking the ball and socket joint. An elongated support, usable as a tripod leg for example, features threaded connection ports usable to either directly mount threaded third-party componentry, or to receive a threaded ball coupler by which socket-equipped componentry can be indirectly attached.

Abstract: Unique securement devices, usable for example as tripod feet, each feature a bistable spring band encapsulated in an outer skin with a set of optionally magnetic embedments discretely spaced along the band, and a coupler at one end for attachment to a tripod leg or other component. Unique ball and socket joints employ both a snap fit and a secondary retention mechanism to reliably secure together various components, including said securement devices and tripod legs. One joint includes an externally convex and internally concave ball coupler for optional mating with either a larger socket coupler or smaller ball. One joint includes a stabilization sleeve for angularly locking the ball and socket joint. An elongated support, usable as a tripod leg for example, features threaded connection ports usable to either directly mount threaded third-party componentry, or to receive a threaded ball coupler by which socket-equipped componentry can be indirectly attached.

Abstract: Unique securement devices, usable for example as tripod feet, each feature a bistable spring band encapsulated in an outer skin with a set of optionally magnetic embedments discretely spaced along the band, and a coupler at one end for attachment to a tripod leg or other component. Unique ball and socket joints employ both a snap fit and a secondary retention mechanism to reliably secure together various components, including said securement devices and tripod legs. One joint includes an externally convex and internally concave ball coupler for optional mating with either a larger socket coupler or smaller ball. One joint includes a stabilization sleeve for angularly locking the ball and socket joint. An elongated support, usable as a tripod leg for example, features threaded connection ports usable to either directly mount threaded third-party componentry, or to receive a threaded ball coupler by which socket-equipped componentry can be indirectly attached.

Abstract: A secure processing facility has a plurality of workstations, with associated computers to provide data to, and/or receive data from, the workstations. The computers are provided with a visual display unit, and display machine-readable data codes on the display. The computers are provided with a scanner to read the machine-readable data codes on the display of another of the computers. The computers have no other connection to receive or transmit machine readable data. A method of operating the facility includes processing a workpiece at a first workstation. A display of the computer of the first workstation displays a data code containing data related to the processing of the workpiece. The scanner of the computer associated with a second workstation scans the data code. The workpiece is transferred from the first workstation to the second workstation. The workpiece is processed at the second workstation.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for displaying a videoconference includes receiving a first video feed. The first video feed includes a first plurality of video signals, each video signal from at least one source and originating from one or more sites. The method also includes assigning for a videoconference each video signal of the first plurality of video signals to a zone of a plurality of zones of a display window. Each zone of the plurality of zones is able to display one video signal at a time. The method further includes, for each zone of the plurality of zones of the display window to which more than one video signal has been assigned, switching the current video signal to be displayed in the zone to another video signal assigned to the zone based on a switching protocol.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes establishing a video session in which a plurality of displays are used for rendering video data, and evaluating a presentation element in order to identify a control element that includes control data. The control element is included in the presentation element. The method further includes communicating at least a portion of the control data such that it can be used to determine which video data is to be rendered on the plurality of displays.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes monitoring a plurality of inputs associated with end users involved in a video session in which a plurality of displays are used. At least one of the inputs is associated with a frequency of speech of the end users. The method also includes determining a participation level for each of the end users based on the inputs, and determining which image data associated with the end users is to be rendered on a selected one of the plurality of displays based on the participation levels.

Abstract: A method for identifying conference media traffic includes receiving a plurality of dummy packets and matching a series of the plurality of dummy packets to a signature key. The method also includes extracting a first identification from one or more of the plurality of dummy packets in response to matching a series of the plurality of dummy packets to a signature key and determining that a second identification associated with one or more encrypted media packets matches the first identification. The method also includes associating one or more encrypted media packets with a conference in response to determining that the first identification matches the second identification.

Abstract: A computer system comprises a first region including a base image in the form of machine readable code stored on a non-volatile storage medium, a second region including a machine image in the form of machine readable code stored on a non-volatile storage medium, and a deduplicator. The second region machine image comprises a base part sufficiently similar to the base image for deduplication, and a part special to the second region machine image. The first region base image and the second region machine image are deduplicated by the deduplicator. The second region special part is encrypted by full disk encryption using a key not available to the first region. Methods of, and computer programs for, implementing such a system are described.

Abstract: A host computer cloud has a processor and supports a virtual machine. An agent under control of a user is in communication with the cloud over a network. A key management server is in communication with the cloud over a network. The cloud stores the virtual machine in the form of a virtual encrypted disk on a non-volatile storage medium. When commanded by the agent, the cloud requests a disk-wrapping key from the key management server and decrypts the encrypted disk using the disk-wrapping key.