Abstract: This invention pertains to mutant Cas9 nucleic acids and proteins for use in CRISPR/Cas endonuclease systems, and their methods of use. In particular, the invention pertains to an isolated mutant Cas9 protein, wherein the isolated mutant Cas9 protein is active in a CRISPR/Cas endonuclease system, wherein the CRISPR/Cas endonuclease system displays reduced off-target editing activity and maintained on-target editing activity relative to a wild-type CRISPR/Cas endonuclease system. The invention also includes isolated nucleic acids encoding mutant Cas9 proteins, ribonucleoprotein complexes and CRSPR/Cas endonuclease systems having mutant Cas9 proteins that display reduced off-target editing activity and maintained on-target editing activity relative to a wild-type CRISPR/Cas endonuclease system.

Abstract: An RF pulse correlator comprising a track database, an antenna, a receiver, and a processor. The track database is configured to store established tracks of RF emissions. The antenna and receiver are configured to receive RF pulses. The tracker is configured to generate improved geolocation data for every received RF pulse based on kinematics of the received RF pulses. The processor is communicatively coupled to the database, the receiver, and the tracker. The processor is configured to associate each received RF pulse with an existing track in the track database or to create a new track.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to intelligent grippers with individual cup control are disclosed. One aspect of the disclosure provides a method of determining grip quality between a robotic gripper and an object. The method comprises applying a vacuum to two or more cup assemblies of the robotic gripper in contact with the object, moving the object with the robotic gripper after applying the vacuum to the two or more cup assemblies, and determining, using at least one pressure sensor associated with each of the two or more cup assemblies, a grip quality between the robotic gripper and the object.

Abstract: The present teachings provide a camera housing that includes a first housing portion, a second housing portion, a hinge, a latch mechanism, and protrusions. The first housing portion forms a first portion of a cavity. The second housing portion forms a second portion of the cavity The hinge is located within the first housing portion so that the first housing portion is divided into a first piece and a second piece. The hinge movably connects the first housing portion to the second housing portion so that the second housing portion is movable relative to the first housing. The latch mechanism is movable between an open position and a closed position. The protrusion extend from a third housing portion, and the third housing portion is located opposite the first housing portion with respect to the cavity.

Abstract: A cloud security control platform and method enforces security controls across multiple cloud environments, services and disparate teams while providing a frictionless “Permissions on Demand” mechanism for approvals and exceptions. In contrast to the prior art, security is evaluated on a permission by permission basis, with the default being that all permissions are denied and then only given to a particular identity on an as-needed basis. This approach reduces the security risks associated with the vast capabilities available in Public Cloud environments and permits an organization that uses the platform to grant access, approve exceptions and delegate approvals with the appropriate compliance.

Abstract: There is described a method of producing hydrogen and nitrogen using a feedstock gas reactor. Reaction of feedstock and combustion gases in the reactor produces hydrogen and nitrogen through pyrolysis of the feedstock gas. Parameters of the process may be adjusted to control the ratio of hydrogen to nitrogen that is produced such that it may be suitable, for example, for the synthesis of ammonia.

Abstract: A spreader comprises a hopper for containing sand, salt or other granular material to be spread upon snow or ice on paved surfaces, the hopper being adapted to be installed in or on a bed of a truck, the hopper having a trough, a shaftless auger positioned in the trough, an auger motor for driving the auger, a spinner positioned at one end of the auger for slinging the granular material upon the snow or ice, a spinner motor for driving the spinner, and at least one keeper supported by the trough and extending over the auger for retaining the auger in place during operation and thereby reducing flexure of the auger and resulting loss of efficiency of material transport by the auger during operation of the spreader.

Abstract: A circuit for transposing a matrix comprising reversal circuitry configured, for each of one or more diagonals of the matrix, to receive elements of the matrix in a first vector and generate a second vector that includes the elements of the matrix in an order that is a reverse of an order of the elements of the matrix in the first vector, and rotation circuitry configured, for each of the one or more diagonals of the matrix, to determine a number of positions by which to rotate the elements of the matrix in the second vector, receive the second vector of elements of the matrix, and generate a third vector that includes the elements of the matrix in the second vector in an order that is a rotation of the elements of the matrix in the second vector by the determined number of positions.

Abstract: Methods of extracting rare earth elements (REEs) from low-grade REE sources composed of clayey materials. In one aspect, the REE sources are the waste materials generated in the coal and kaolin clay industries during the courses of upgrading mined coal and kaolinite. The methods described herein include the steps of pre-concentrating REE-bearing minerals using physical separation methods to prepare high-grade feedstocks for the chemical extraction of high-value REEs and critical materials while minimizing both the capital and operating costs.

Abstract: Key-locked carabiner devices, systems, and methods are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Some embodiments include a carabiner and a lock coupled with the carabiner that locks the gate of the carabiner. The lock may be operated with a key to form a key-operated lock. The key-operated lock may be positioned within a nose portion of the carabiner. The key-operated lock coupled with the carabiner may include a bolt that extends from the nose portion of the carabiner into an aperture of the gate of the carabiner to preclude the gate of the carabiner from opening. Some embodiments utilize a key-operated lock that may be opened utilizing a TSA007 key, while the key designed specifically for the key-operated lock may not open other locks that a TSA007 key may open. Some embodiments include key-locked carabiners that may be designed to facilitate alignment of the carabiner's gate.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for methods for extracting earth elements from rare earth element sources. In one aspect, the rare earth element source includes clayey materials present in coal and coal by-products, where one or more rare earth elements are adsorbed on the clayey materials. The methods involve admixing the rare earth element source with a base and an electrolyte composition. In one aspect, the electrolyte composition includes a chelating agent and/or a complexing agent. The extraction process is conducted at temperatures less than or equal to 100° C., which makes the process cost-effective and sustainable.

Abstract: Various examples are provided in relation to improved recovery and throughput of both fine and coarse particulate materials. In one example, a method includes injecting an aqueous suspension of a cloud of small air bubbles into an aqueous phase including fine particulate materials, wherein the fine particulate material is selectively hydrophobized and collected by small air bubbles; allowing the bubbles to rise in the aqueous phase; and collecting the air bubbles to obtain a concentrate of the fine particulate materials. In another example, a method includes adding a hydrophobizing agent to an aqueous phase to render coarse particulate material selectively hydrophobic; allowing air bubbles to attach to the coarse particulate material and changing the apparent specific gravity of the coarse particulate materials so a layer of one type of coarse particle is formed on top; allowing the one type of coarse particles to float and enter the forth phase.

Abstract: In a system including vector registers storing right-hand side data and left-hand side data, first and second matrix staging registers, and a systolic array of processing cells for conducting matrix multiplication operations using the right-hand side data and left-hand side data, one or more processors load the right-hand side data from the vector registers to the first matrix staging register based on an instruction indicating whether to transpose the right-hand side data, load the left-hand side data from the vector registers into the second matrix staging register based on another instruction indicating whether to transpose the left-hand side data, load the right-hand side data from the first matrix staging register into the systolic array, and, in a cycle of the matrix multiplication operation, pass one or more columns of the left-hand side data from the second matrix staging register to a column of the systolic array.

Abstract: In a system including vector registers storing right-hand side data and left-hand side data, first and second matrix staging registers, and a systolic array of processing cells for conducting matrix multiplication operations using the right-hand side data and left-hand side data, one or more processors load the right-hand side data from the vector registers to the first matrix staging register based on an instruction indicating whether to transpose the right-hand side data, load the left-hand side data from the vector registers into the second matrix staging register based on another instruction indicating whether to transpose the left-hand side data, load the right-hand side data from the first matrix staging register into the systolic array, and, in a cycle of the matrix multiplication operation, pass one or more columns of the left-hand side data from the second matrix staging register to a column of the systolic array.

Abstract: A circuit for performing neural network computations for a neural network comprising a plurality of layers, the circuit comprising: activation circuitry configured to receive a vector of accumulated values and configured to apply a function to each accumulated value to generate a vector of activation values; and normalization circuitry coupled to the activation circuitry and configured to generate a respective normalized value from each activation value.

Abstract: A crossover bumper for damping noise in a dual-spring shock absorber that includes a spring coupler and a crossover ring. The crossover bumper includes a first ring having a first material forming a ring-shaped body that includes a first side and a second side facing opposite to the first side, and that defines a central opening, an inside diameter and an outside diameter; and a second ring attached to the first side of the first ring and including a second material forming a ring-shaped body defining a central opening aligned with the central opening of the first ring, an inside diameter and an outside diameter. The first material has a modulus of elasticity that is greater than a modulus of elasticity of the second material.

Abstract: A system and method for matrix multiplication using a systolic array configurable between multiple modes of operation. A systolic processor may receive a data type indicator for the matrix multiplication. For a first data type, the systolic processor may load the right-hand side data from the right-hand matrix register into the data processing cells of the systolic array between row 0 and row M?1, and pass the respective row of the left-hand side data through a corresponding row of the systolic array between rows 0 and M?1. For a second data type, the systolic processor may split each element of the left-hand side data and the right-hand side data into respective first and second element halves, and move each element half through a corresponding row of the systolic array between rows 0 and 2M?1.

Abstract: A circuit comprises an input register configured to receive an input vector of elements, a control register configured to receive a control vector of elements, wherein each element of the control vector corresponds to a respective element of the input vector, and wherein each element specifies a permutation of a corresponding element of the input vector, and a permute execution circuit configured to generate an output vector of elements corresponding to a permutation of the input vector. Generating each element of the output vector comprises accessing, at the input register, a particular element of the input vector, accessing, at the control register, a particular element of the control vector corresponding to the particular element of the input vector, and outputting the particular element of the input vector as an element at a particular position of the output vector that is selected based on the particular element of the control vector.

Abstract: A circuit for performing neural network computations for a neural network comprising a plurality of layers, the circuit comprising: activation circuitry configured to receive a vector of accumulated values and configured to apply a function to each accumulated value to generate a vector of activation values; and normalization circuitry coupled to the activation circuitry and configured to generate a respective normalized value from each activation value.

Abstract: A process of evaluating whether to open a new car wash at a new geographic location includes establishing the geographic location for consideration, obtaining real-time data generated for a plurality of existing car washes at or near the geographic location, and categorizing the real-time data obtained for each of the existing car washes into a plurality of defined categories. A data structure linking the real-time data obtained with unique location identifiers is generated, and demographic information is accessed for the respective locations using the location identifiers. An artificial neural network generates a financial prediction indicating an expected financial performance of the car wash if constructed at the geographic location based on the data structure. A determination can be made whether to construct the new wash at the geographic location based on whether an expected financial performance of the car wash at the geographic location satisfies a minimum performance threshold.