Abstract: Recombinant nucleic acid molecules engineered for efficient propagation of a heterologous DNA sequence (such as a heterologous viral gene) that is toxic in E. coli are described. Influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes were used as exemplary toxic heterologous DNA sequences. Plasmids that included a heterologous DNA positioned between bacterial regulatory elements (such as lac operator sequences and/or terminator sequences) exhibited decreased gene transcription in E. coli and increased stability of the heterologous DNA while also retaining the property of inducible expression in E. coli.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to collections of flooring tiles, such as carpet tiles, that can include (1) a first group of tiles that has a first uniform appearance, visual field, and/or pattern across the entire tile, (2) a second group of tiles that has a second uniform appearance, visual field and/or pattern across the entire tile, and (3) a third group of tiles that are divided into three portions: a first portion that bears the first visual field, a second portion that bears the second visual field, and a third portion generally interposed between the first portion and the second portion and that has an appearance different from both the first and the second visual field. Tiles from the collections can be installed to create a desired appearance on a floor.

Abstract: A system described herein may provide a technique for a multi-modal interaction experience with a User Equipment (“UE”) via multiple concurrent presentation modes. Such multiple modes may include a voice call with an interactive voice response (“IVR”) system, as well as the simultaneous presentation of information and/or selectable options at a UE associated engaged in the voice call with the IVR system. The information may be presented via a graphical user interface at the UE that is engaged in the call with the IVR system. In this manner, the UE may provide a multi-modal experience to a user, in which the user can simultaneously interact with the IVR system via the call, and can also receive or provide further interactions related to call via the GUI.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a gesture recognition system determining, based on imagery of a user while the user touchlessly interacts with a user interface of a computer system, a configuration of a plurality of landmarks associated with the user and comparing the configuration of the plurality of landmarks to defined landmark configurations associated with a plurality of defined gestures. Each of the plurality of defined gestures may be associated with a different user input enterable by way of the user interface of the computer system. The method may further include the gesture recognition system selecting, based on the comparing of the configuration of the plurality of landmarks to the defined landmark configurations associated with the plurality of defined gestures, a defined gesture included in the plurality of defined gestures, and directing the computer system to enter a user input that is associated with the defined gesture.

Abstract: An addition to additive manufacturing sews a number of printed substrate sheets together using industrial sewing machine technology. Portions of the final 3D object that will be solid are sewn together into bundles of the object with a needle protruding through the top of the bundle via a sewing machine with a looping mechanism connecting the thread loops under each bundle of printed substrate sheet layers. This will result in many well connected stack bundles that are then stacked in alignment to form the final stack. During heat and compression, the stitch thread may bunch together and become entangled with the cooled plastic of the final solid 3D object. Removal of the excess substrate may proceed as usual, since the sewing is applied only in the solid portions of the final object. The end result will be a part with much higher strength in the Z axis.

Abstract: An aspiration system to control vacuum pressure in an ultrasonic surgical handpiece to result in improved control responsiveness during aspiration. The system comprises a console including a vacuum pump. The system includes a cassette comprising a joint that divides a vacuum path into at least two flow paths. A first joint port couples to a first flow path. A second flow path is coupled to a second joint port, a third flow path is coupled to a third joint port, and a fourth flow path is coupled to a port on a surgical waste receiver. A first sensor senses pressure in the fourth flow path and provides a waste receiver pressure signal. A second sensor senses pressure in the third flow path and provides a tip pressure signal. The controller controls a position of a first vent valve and a second vent valve based on the waste receiver pressure signal and the tip pressure signal, respectively.

Abstract: System and process that continuously circulates hotmelt adhesive at a circulating pressure rate to apply hotmelt adhesive to a moving substrate on a substrate delivery conveyor. The system includes an adhesive delivery line connected to an elongated manifold, the manifold including: (i) a main internal fluid pathway in fluid communication with the adhesive delivery line and an adhesive return line, and (ii) an elongated heater providing a substantially constant internal temperature to the elongated manifold. An adhesive pump transporting hotmelt adhesive from the adhesive reservoir to the adhesive delivery line under pressure, the adhesive reservoir including a filter that filters hotmelt adhesive. A plurality of hotmelt spray heads in fluid communication with the main internal fluid pathway to dispense hotmelt adhesive onto the moving substrate. The adhesive return line in fluid communication with the adhesive pump and/or the adhesive reservoir to transport hotmelt adhesive from the elongated manifold.

Abstract: System and process that continuously circulates hotmelt adhesive at a circulating pressure rate to apply hotmelt adhesive to a moving substrate on a substrate delivery conveyor. The system includes an adhesive delivery line connected to an elongated manifold, the manifold including: (i) a main internal fluid pathway in fluid communication with the adhesive delivery line and an adhesive return line, and (ii) an elongated heater providing a substantially constant internal temperature to the elongated manifold. An adhesive pump transporting hotmelt adhesive from the adhesive reservoir to the adhesive delivery line under pressure, the adhesive reservoir including a filter that filters hotmelt adhesive. A plurality of hotmelt spray heads in fluid communication with the main internal fluid pathway to dispense hotmelt adhesive onto the moving substrate. The adhesive return line in fluid communication with the adhesive pump and/or the adhesive reservoir to transport hotmelt adhesive from the elongated manifold.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a base and a plurality of risers. The apparatus used to hold, secure, or store fishing hooks with hackle so that the hackle is not damaged by being compressed against an adjacent surface. The plurality of risers are magnetic in order that each riser can attract hooks so that each hook can extend out from the riser, thus protecting the hackle from adjacent surfaces, and each riser can be attached to the surface such that the riser extends out from the surface.

Abstract: An aspiration system to control vacuum pressure in an ultrasonic surgical handpiece to result in improved control responsiveness during aspiration. The system comprises a console including a vacuum pump. The system includes a cassette comprising a joint that divides a vacuum path into at least two flow paths. A first joint port couples to a first flow path. A second flow path is coupled to a second joint port, a third flow path is coupled to a third joint port, and a fourth flow path is coupled to a port on a surgical waste receiver. A first sensor senses pressure in the fourth flow path and provides a waste receiver pressure signal. A second sensor senses pressure in the third flow path and provides a tip pressure signal. The controller controls a position of a first vent valve and a second vent valve based on the waste receiver pressure signal and the tip pressure signal, respectively.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a gesture recognition system determining, based on imagery of a user while the user touchlessly interacts with a user interface of a computer system, a configuration of a plurality of landmarks associated with the user and comparing the configuration of the plurality of landmarks to defined landmark configurations associated with a plurality of defined gestures. Each of the plurality of defined gestures may be associated with a different user input enterable by way of the user interface of the computer system. The method may further include the gesture recognition system selecting, based on the comparing of the configuration of the plurality of landmarks to the defined landmark configurations associated with the plurality of defined gestures, a defined gesture included in the plurality of defined gestures, and directing the computer system to enter a user input that is associated with the defined gesture.

Abstract: A system described herein may provide a technique for a multi-modal interaction experience with a User Equipment (“UE”) via multiple concurrent presentation modes. Such multiple modes may include a voice call with an interactive voice response (“IVR”) system, as well as the simultaneous presentation of information and/or selectable options at a UE associated engaged in the voice call with the IVR system. The information may be presented via a graphical user interface at the UE that is engaged in the call with the IVR system. In this manner, the UE may provide a multi-modal experience to a user, in which the user can simultaneously interact with the IVR system via the call, and can also receive or provide further interactions related to call via the GUI.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a base and a plurality of risers. The apparatus used to hold, secure, or store fishing hooks with hackle so that the hackle is not damaged by being compressed against an adjacent surface. The plurality of risers are magnetic in order that each riser can attract hooks so that each hook can extend out from the riser, thus protecting the hackle from adjacent surfaces, and each riser can be attached to the surface such that the riser extends out from the surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for treating a pregnancy related hypertensive disorder, such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, using ex vivo treatment with an anti-sFlt-1 antibody and an anti-sEng antibody bound to a solid support in order to reduce blood levels of sFlt-1 and sEng. The present disclosure relates to methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses for treating pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.

Abstract: A system described herein may provide a technique for a multi-modal interaction experience with a User Equipment (“UE”) via multiple concurrent presentation modes. Such multiple modes may include a voice call with an interactive voice response (“IVR”) system, as well as the simultaneous presentation of information and/or selectable options at a UE associated engaged in the voice call with the IVR system. The information may be presented via a graphical user interface at the UE that is engaged in the call with the IVR system. In this manner, the UE may provide a multi-modal experience to a user, in which the user can simultaneously interact with the IVR system via the call, and can also receive or provide further interactions related to call via the GUI.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for treating a pregnancy related hypertensive disorder, such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, using ex vivo treatment with an anti-sEng antibody bound to a solid support in order to reduce blood levels of sEng. The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing a disorder associated with soluble Endoglin (sEng), such as a pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder, in a subject in need thereof comprising providing ex vivo to the subject anti-sEng antibodies or sEng-binding fragments thereof in an amount sufficient and for a time sufficient to decrease the subject's blood levels of sEng to treat or prevent the disorder associated with sEng in the subject.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system and method for improving the certainty of removing or etching excess substrate from a stack of printed substrate slices to arrive at a 3D object. The approach includes printing a pseudo image as a shell layer around a desired object slice with less polymer (e.g., thermoplastic) material than the 3D object solid layer slice. This slows the etching process when this pseudo image is reached. The pseudo image may be printed to surround the object polymer image on a printed substrate sheet as a shell that provides notice during the excess substrate removal/cleaning process that the desired polymer image is nearby and extra care must be taken to avoid removal of the desired polymer image. The pseudo image may have a 3D patterned surface that can be recognized by a person doing the sandblasting or recognized automatically by an automated 3D object finisher.

Abstract: System and process that continuously circulates hotmelt adhesive at a circulating pressure rate to apply hotmelt adhesive to a moving substrate on a substrate delivery conveyor. The system includes an adhesive delivery line connected to an elongated manifold, the manifold including: (i) a main internal fluid pathway in fluid communication with the adhesive delivery line and an adhesive return line, and (ii) an elongated heater providing a substantially constant internal temperature to the elongated manifold. An adhesive pump transporting hotmelt adhesive from the adhesive reservoir to the adhesive delivery line under pressure, the adhesive reservoir including a filter that filters hotmelt adhesive. A plurality of hotmelt spray heads in fluid communication with the main internal fluid pathway to dispense hotmelt adhesive onto the moving substrate. The adhesive return line in fluid communication with the adhesive pump and/or the adhesive reservoir to transport hotmelt adhesive from the elongated manifold.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to collections of flooring tiles, such as carpet tiles, that can include (1) a first group of tiles that has a first uniform appearance, visual field, and/or pattern across the entire tile, (2) a second group of tiles that has a second uniform appearance, visual field and/or pattern across the entire tile, and (3) a third group of tiles that are divided into three portions: a first portion that bears the first visual field, a second portion that bears the second visual field, and a third portion generally interposed between the first portion and the second portion and that has an appearance different from both the first and the second visual field. Tiles from the collections can be installed to create a desired appearance on a floor.

Abstract: Design and manufacture of tufted articles, carpet tile webs and carpet tiles, and installation of carpet tiles, having different color, pile height, pile texture or other characteristics that, together with similar other such tiles, may be installed to create borders, edges or other multiple-tile designs, usually without any of the tiles looking out of place or improperly oriented relative to nap or the direction the tile is “facing.