Abstract: This invention relates to engineered plastic-degrading enzymes with improved functional features. In particular, modified PETases capable of hydrolysis of PET or polyethelene terephthalate plastic polymer are disclosed herein. These engineered PETases contain one or more amino acid modifications at specified residue or residues, for example, N233, and exhibit improved enzymatic activity as well as therrnostability.

Abstract: A guidance system includes one or more processors and memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to receive data from multiple data sources, receive a geographic location associated with a user device, and to identify a forecast of an event for the geographic location based on the data. The instructions are executable by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to, in response to identifying the forecast of the event for the geographic location and based on the data, predict an occurrence of one or more supply chain shortages of one or more items in an area associated with the geographic location.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing and processing sensor data, such as aerial images of structures, to assess vehicular damage is disclosed. The system comprises a computing system used to obtain images of selected locations where large groups of vehicles were disposed during a natural or man-made disaster. The images are used to automatically determine a damage score for the vehicles. In addition, the imagery can be fed into a damage classifier that automatically classifies the degree of damage. The system and method may be used to quickly assess damage of vehicles in a disaster area and deploy resources to provide timely and swift assistance.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods for mounting a gas turbine engine to a pylon are disclosed. An example gas turbine engine disclosed herein a first mount, a first frame portion to be coupled to a pylon via the first mount, a second frame portion coupled to the first frame portion such that second frame portion is cantilevered from the first frame portion, and a second mount to couple the second frame portion to the pylon, the second mount defining a load path between the pylon and the second frame portion, the second mount including an elastic element disposed in the load path.

Abstract: A supply delivery system includes one or more processors and one or more memory devices storing instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to instruct an aerial vehicle to travel within a geographical area, instruct an imaging device carried by the aerial vehicle to capture image data as the aerial vehicle travels through the geographical area, analyze the image data to identify an identification code on a physical target, instruct the aerial vehicle to dispense one or more items from the aerial vehicle at or near the physical target.

Abstract: To enable efficient processing of an insurance claim that is submitted by a client, the presently disclosed embodiments include systems and methods that enable an insurance computing system to autonomously assess the risk of fraud associated with a claim by generating a risk score. The risk score may provide an indication of a likelihood of fraud associated with the claim based on similar insurance claims in the same geographical area, client information indicative of a likelihood to commit fraud, and/or a type of the claim. The insurance computing system may compare the risk score with a threshold number, and if the threshold number is exceeded, the insurance computing system may prompt the client to contact a service representative to further process or validate the claim. Otherwise, if the threshold number is not exceeded, the insurance computing system may continue processing the claim autonomously.

Abstract: Leaf-branch compost cutinase (LCC) and other cutinase mutants with activity over ranges of temperature and pH are provided.

Abstract: A technique for assessing a vehicle condition is provided that determines whether damage has occurred to the vehicle using electrical property data acquired by one or more electrical property detection systems disposed on one or more surfaces of the vehicles. The electrical property detection system include a conductive polymer material that changes in response to chemical deformations and/or mechanical deformations in the conductive polymer material, which may result from objects and/or other vehicles damaging the conductive polymer material. Based on the electrical property data, a control system may generate a damage assessment output, such as an alert for a vehicle owner.

Abstract: A method for performing a pump down cycle to isolate an indoor section of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) from an indoor section of the HVAC system is disclosed. The method includes transmitting a first control signal to a compressor of the HVAC system. The first control signal causes the compressor to turn on or stay turned on. The method further includes transmitting a second control signal to a vapor line isolation valve. The second control signal causes the vapor line isolation valve to open. The method further includes transmitting a third control signal to a liquid line isolation valve. The third control signal causes the liquid line isolation valve to close. The method further comprises determining that a refrigerant charge in the indoor section has become less than a threshold value. In response, the compressor is turned off and the vapor line isolation valve is closed.

Abstract: An advanced lens system includes an advanced lens configured to be worn by an individual. The advanced lens system includes a camera configured to obtain one or more images of a property. The advanced lens system includes one or more processors communicatively coupled to the advanced lens and the camera, the one or more processors being configured to receive the one or more images of the property and process the one or more images to identify primary damage to the property. The one or more processors are also configured to predict, based on the primary damage and previous damage data stored in a database, secondary damage that is likely to be present with the primary damage. The one or more processors are further configured to provide an output indicative of the secondary damage that is likely to be present with the primary damage via a display of the advanced lens.

Abstract: This invention relates to non-naturally occurring methyltransferase, wherein said methyltransferase can methylate norbelladine to form 4-O'Methylnorbelladine. The invention is also drawn to a biosensor for detecting 4-O'Methylnorbelladine, wherein the biosensor comprises an engineered substrate-promiscuous regulator, wherein said substrate-promiscuous regulator has been engineered to interact more efficiently with 4-O'Methylnorbelladine than does a naturally occurring substrate promiscuous regulator; and further wherein the biosensor is engineered to provide an output signal, wherein said output signal is generated when the biosensor interacts with 4-O'Methylnorbelladine.

Abstract: A battery module for an electrically-driven aircraft is disclosed. The battery module can house multiple battery cells and prevent a battery cell fire or explosion from one battery cell from damaging neighboring battery cells. The battery module includes: a housing; a plurality of cell tubes housing a plurality of battery cells, each cell tube having an elongated surface and being positioned in the housing spaced apart from each other; a heat absorbing member comprising a heat absorbing material, wherein the heat absorbing member is arranged between at least two neighboring cell tubes; and the heat absorbing material being configured to undergo a phase transition from an initial state of matter into a final state of matter when at least one of the plurality of cell tubes exceeds a predetermined temperature in case of explosion or fire of at least one of the plurality of battery cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are recombinant fusion proteins comprising a villin headpiece HP47 domain and a heterologous protein domain, such as, for example, a nucleic acid polymerase. Also disclosed are nucleic acids (e.g., DNA constructs) encoding the fusion protein, expression vectors and recombinant host cells for expression of the fusion protein, and methods of using the recombinant fusion proteins.

Abstract: To enable efficient processing of an insurance claim that is submitted by a client, the presently disclosed embodiments include systems and methods that enable an insurance computing system to autonomously assess the risk of fraud associated with a claim by generating a risk score. The risk score may provide an indication of a likelihood of fraud associated with the claim based on similar insurance claims in the same geographical area, client information indicative of a likelihood to commit fraud, and/or a type of the claim. The insurance computing system may compare the risk score with a threshold number, and if the threshold number is exceeded, the insurance computing system may prompt the client to contact a service representative to further process or validate the claim. Otherwise, if the threshold number is not exceeded, the insurance computing system may continue processing the claim autonomously.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing and processing aerial images of structures to assess structural damage is disclosed. The system comprises an aerial system associated with an aerial vehicle, which is in contact with a ground system. The aerial system is used to capture images of selected locations associated with known structures and crop those images around the selected locations. The cropped images are then fed into a damage classifier that automatically classifies the degree of damage done to structures at the selected locations. The system and method may be deployed to quickly assess damage of structures in a disaster area.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing and processing aerial images of structures to assess structural damage is disclosed. The system comprises an aerial system associated with an aerial vehicle, which is in contact with a ground system. The aerial system is used to capture images of selected locations associated with known structures and crop those images around the selected locations. The cropped images are then fed into a damage classifier that automatically classifies the degree of damage done to structures at the selected locations. The system and method may be deployed to quickly assess damage of structures in a disaster area.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to formatting system monitoring information. In one embodiment, a processor formats information related to monitoring a system. The formatted information may be related to components in a system. In one embodiment, the processor formats received information related to the system. The processor may output the formatted information.

Abstract: An electronic social trivia network system that allows multiple parties to engage in matches of trivia contests from remote locations. The social network further permits electronic trivia access without the need for specific hardware. The network also provides means for participants to author questions and host trivia games. A related software program or “app,” designed for at personal computing or communications devices is downloadable to be installable on multiple hardware platforms therefore eliminating the need for dedicated trivia hardware. Participants in the social trivia network can chat, play trivia, create games, join games, and maintain game records.