Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gene delivery system comprising: a) an R2 retrotransposon R2 polypeptide, or a first nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the R2 polypeptide; and b) a nucleic acid comprising a heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding one or more heterologous gene products, where the heterologous nucleotide sequence is flanked by an R2 retrotransposon 3? untranslated region (UTR) and an R2 retrotransposon 5? UTR, and where the heterologous nucleotide sequence has a length of at least 200 nucleotides. The present disclosure provides a method of delivering one or more gene products of interest to a eukaryotic cell, the method comprising contacting the cell with the gene delivery vehicle system.

Abstract: In one aspect a method that includes receiving an input signal captured by one or more first sensors associated with an active noise reduction (ANR) device, and processing the input signal using a first filter disposed in an ANR signal path to generate a first signal for an acoustic transducer of the ANR device. The input signal is processed in a pass-through signal path disposed in parallel with the ANR signal path to generate a second signal for the acoustic transducer, wherein the pass-through signal path allows a portion of the input signal to pass through to the acoustic transducer in accordance with a variable gain. One or more second sensors detect an existence of a condition likely to cause instability in the pass-through signal path, and in response, the variable gain is adjusted. A driver signal for the acoustic transducer is generated using an output based on the adjusted gain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of reducing the rate of decline in lung function in a human patient with COPD, wherein the human patient having COPD has a blood eosinophil count of ?150 cells/?L, and further wherein the method comprises administering to the patient an inhaled pharmaceutical product comprising fluticasone furoate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical products comprising fluticasone furoate for use in the treatment of COPD patients, particularly a subgroup of COPD patients that through analysis have been identified as possessing an eosinophil blood count of ?150 cells/?l. The present invention is further directed to methods for treating a patient with COPD which methods include identifying a patient that will respond to treatment and administering a pharmaceutical product of the present invention comprising fluticasone furoate to said patient.

Abstract: In one aspect a method that includes receiving an input signal captured by one or more first sensors associated with an active noise reduction (ANR) device, and processing the input signal using a first filter disposed in an ANR signal path to generate a first signal for an acoustic transducer of the ANR device. The input signal is processed in a pass-through signal path disposed in parallel with the ANR signal path to generate a second signal for the acoustic transducer, wherein the pass-through signal path allows a portion of the input signal to pass through to the acoustic transducer in accordance with a variable gain. One or more second sensors detect an existence of a condition likely to cause instability in the pass-through signal path, and in response, the variable gain is adjusted. A driver signal for the acoustic transducer is generated using an output based on the adjusted gain.

Abstract: In one aspect a method that includes receiving an input signal captured by one or more first sensors associated with an active noise reduction (ANR) device, and processing the input signal using a first filter disposed in an ANR signal path to generate a first signal for an acoustic transducer of the ANR device. The input signal is processed in a pass-through signal path disposed in parallel with the ANR signal path to generate a second signal for the acoustic transducer, wherein the pass-through signal path allows a portion of the input signal to pass through to the acoustic transducer in accordance with a variable gain. One or more second sensors detect an existence of a condition likely to cause instability in the pass-through signal path, and in response, the variable gain is adjusted. A driver signal for the acoustic transducer is generated using an output based on the adjusted gain.

Abstract: A method of charging a cell of a battery includes the steps of: applying a test current to an input terminal of the battery; measuring a voltage output, wherein the voltage output is comprised of a voltage of the cell and a voltage drop, induced by the test current, across an internal impedance of the battery; and applying a charging current to the input terminal of the battery if the measured voltage output is higher than a predetermined voltage, wherein the charging current is greater than the test current.

Abstract: Described herein are platinum-based brush-arm star polymers (Pt-BASPs), or a pharmaceutical composition thereof, for delivery of platinum-based agents, such as oxaliplatin. Also provided are methods and kits involving the Pt-BASPs, or a pharmaceutical composition thereof, for treating proliferative diseases such as cancers (e.g., lung cancer, head-and-neck cancer, esophagus cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, pancreas cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, or prostate cancer) in a subject.

Abstract: Techniques for efficient medical appointment scheduling are described. In an example, a method of facilitating access between a patient endpoint system and a healthcare provider computer system includes: receiving, at a management computer system through a network, healthcare provider information from the healthcare provider computer; storing the healthcare provider information in a database along with a collection of healthcare provider information from a plurality of other healthcare provider computer systems, the healthcare provider information including appointment availability information; providing, from the management computer to the patient endpoint system, an interface to the database to retrieving the healthcare provider information; and providing, from the patient endpoint system to the healthcare provider computer system, a request for an appointment based on the appointment availability information retrieved by the patient endpoint system from the database.

Abstract: Various implementations include wearable audio devices and related methods for controlling such devices. Some approaches include controlling a wearable audio device by: determining a magnitude of an acoustic transfer function based on an electrical signal from an internal microphone and an audio signal from an acoustic transducer at one or more predetermined frequencies; calibrating a proximity sensor; detecting a change in the state of the wearable audio device from one of: off-head to on-head, or on-head to off-head using both the calibrated proximity sensor and the magnitude of the acoustic transfer function; and adjusting at least one function of the wearable audio device in response to detecting the change from the on-head state to the off-head state or detecting the change from the off-head state to the on-head state.

Abstract: This document describes a method that includes receiving an input signal representing audio captured by a sensor disposed in an active noise reduction (ANR) device, determining, by one or more processing devices, that the ANR device is operating in a first operational mode, and in response, applying a first gain to the input signal to generate a first amplified input signal. The method also includes determining, by the one or more processing devices, that the ANR device is operating in a second operational mode different from the first operational mode, and in response, applying a second gain to the input signal to generate a second amplified input signal, wherein the second gain is different from the first gain. The method further includes processing the first or second amplified input signal to generate an output signal, and generating, by an acoustic transducer, an audio output based on the output signal.

Abstract: Various implementations include wearable audio devices and related methods for controlling such devices. Some approaches include controlling a wearable audio device by: determining a magnitude of an acoustic transfer function based on an electrical signal from an internal microphone and an audio signal from an acoustic transducer at one or more predetermined frequencies; calibrating a proximity sensor; detecting a change in the state of the wearable audio device from one of: off-head to on-head, or on-head to off-head using both the calibrated proximity sensor and the magnitude of the acoustic transfer function; and adjusting at least one function of the wearable audio device in response to detecting the change from the on-head state to the off-head state or detecting the change from the off-head state to the on-head state.

Abstract: Various implementations include printed circuit board mounts and related headphone systems employing such mounts. In one implementation, a mount for a printed circuit board (PCB) includes: a plate for matingly engaging an inner portion of a headphone earcup, the plate including at least one PCB mount for coupling with the PCB; and a coupling element extending from the plate and including at least one coupler for coupling the plate proximate to a spine extending through the inner portion of the headphone earcup.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for use in implementing access controls to content blocks of a user profile associated with a user. One exemplary system includes an access engine configured to receive an access command from a user, via a communication device, to access the user profile. The access command includes a designation of at least one the content blocks for access by a provider, an identity of the provider, and a duration of the access. The access engine is configured to also modify a permission associated with the designated content block(s) in relation to the provider to permit the access by the provider, and to expose the content block(s) to the provider, thereby granting the access for the provider to the content block(s). The access engine is configured to further terminate the access of the provider to the content block(s) when the duration of the access expires.

Abstract: A method of transferring audio signals from an analog audio source to an audio sink, where the audio sink has a multiple-pin connector. A cable is coupled to the audio source and to the multiple-pin connector of the audio sink, where the cable is constructed and arranged to carry audio signals. The audio sink detects a return signal provided to the audio sink over the cable, where the audio sink is configured to interpret the receipt of a return signal as indicating that an audio source is operably connected to the audio sink by the cable. Responsive to this detecting, the audio sink receives audio signals from the audio source over the cable.

Abstract: Historical telemetry data can be used to generate predictions for various classes of data at various aggregates of a system that implements an online service. An anomaly detection process can then be utilized to detect anomalies for a class of data at a selected aggregate. An example anomaly detection process includes receiving telemetry data originating from a plurality of client devices, selecting a class of data from the telemetry data, converting the class of data to a set of metrics, aggregating the set of metrics according to a component of interest to obtain values of aggregated metrics over time for the component of interest, determining a prediction error by comparing the values of the aggregated metrics to a prediction, detecting an anomaly based at least in part on the prediction error, and transmitting an alert message of the anomaly to a receiving entity.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for use in implementing access controls to content blocks of a user profile associated with a user. One exemplary system includes an access engine configured to receive an access command from a user, via a communication device, to access the user profile. The access command includes a designation of at least one the content blocks for access by a provider, an identity of the provider, and a duration of the access. The access engine is configured to also modify a permission associated with the designated content block(s) in relation to the provider to permit the access by the provider, and to expose the content block(s) to the provider, thereby granting the access for the provider to the content block(s). The access engine is configured to further terminate the access of the provider to the content block(s) when the duration of the access expires.

Abstract: A delivery device that allows for the sustained release of an agent, particularly useful for the sustained release of a therapeutic agent to limited access regions, such as the posterior chamber of the eye and inner ear. The delivery device is minimally invasive, refillable and may be easily fixed to the treatment area. The delivery device includes a hollow body with an inlet port at its proximal end for insertion of the agent, a reservoir for holding the agent and a delivery mechanism for the sustained delivery of the agent from the reservoir to the patient.

Abstract: Various implementations include wearable audio devices and related methods for controlling such devices. Some approaches include: detecting a change from an on-head state to an off-head state with a first sensor system; calibrating a second, distinct sensor system after detecting the change from the on-head state to the off-head state; detecting a change from the off-head state to the on-head state using the calibrated second sensor system; and adjusting an operating state of at least one function of the wearable audio device in response to detecting the change from the on-head state to the off-head state or detecting the change from the off-head state to the on-head state.

Abstract: A battery protection system, comprising: a first protection circuit configured to detect a battery output voltage value and to disconnect the battery output from a load when the output voltage falls below a first threshold; a second protection circuit configured to detect the battery output voltage value and to disconnect the battery output from the load when the output voltage falls below a second threshold, wherein the first threshold is within a tenth of a volt of the second threshold.