Abstract: A combination bearing is configured to support both axial loads and radial loads. The combination bearing includes a bearing housing including a radial bearing ring and an axial bearing cup. Radial rolling elements are located within the radial bearing ring, are configured to support a radial load, and collectively rotate about a central axis. Axial rolling elements are located within the axial bearing cup, are configured to support an axial load, and are axially offset from the radial rolling elements along the axis. An axial washer directly contacts the axial rolling elements. The axial washer is configured to support the axial load and transfer it toward the axial rolling elements. A sealing washer is disposed about the axis and spaced axially from the axial washer. Oil is retained within the combination bearing during free-wheeling conditions with little to no external oil supply.

Abstract: A method for creating an authentication tag includes receiving, at an authentication server, tagging device data and item data from a tagging device, authenticating, by the authentication server, the tagging device using the tagging device data, generating an authentication tag, and sending, by the authentication server, the authentication tag to the electronic device. The tagging device is affixed to an item, and the authentication tag comprises a digital signature provided by the authentication server.

Abstract: An ion plasma reaction (IPR) drive system is disclosed which generates thrust by directionally accelerating relativistic velocity ion plasmas through closed loop magnetic confinement rings in order to interact more strongly with space-time. The IPR drive system provides an approach for the generation of continuous space vehicle acceleration without the need to eject on-board stored propellant. Charged particles are accelerated through a closed loop system up to velocities approaching the speed of light in such a manner that they strongly interact in an asymmetrical manner with space-time to generate continuous space vehicle acceleration. The supplemental means for electrical power generation and propulsive thrust augmentation are also disclosed.

Abstract: Forming a precipitation hardened composite material having reinforcing particles and precipitated intermetallic particles dispersed in the binder material may involve heat treating the hard composite material at a temperature above a solvus line for the binder material and below a melting point of the binder material and quenching the hard composite material to a temperature below the solvus line of the binder material. At least some of the precipitated intermetallic particles in the precipitation hardened composite material may have at least one dimension less than 1 micron. Such precipitated intermetallic particles may optionally be grown to larger sizes by heat treating the precipitation hardened composite material at a temperature below the solvus line of the binder material.

Abstract: An insertion tool for inserting a catheter into a patient's body is disclosed. In one embodiment, the insertion tool comprises a housing in which at least a portion of the catheter is initially disposed, a hollow needle distally extending from the housing with the catheter pre-disposed over the needle, and a guidewire pre-disposed within the needle. A guidewire advancement assembly with a first finger pad is included for selectively advancing the guidewire distally past a distal end of the needle in preparation for distal advancement of the catheter. A catheter advancement assembly with a second finger pad is also included for selectively advancing the catheter into the patient. The finger pads are positioned such that a user can begin to advance the second finger pad after advancing the first finger pad without substantially re-positioning the thumb or finger of the user so as to successively advance the guidewire and catheter.

Abstract: A flow path assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The flow path assembly may include an outer casing comprising a metal material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, a ceramic structure comprising a ceramic material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, and a mounting component attached on a first end to the outer casing and attached on a second end to the ceramic structure. The mounting component may be constructed from at least two materials transitioning from the first end to the second end such that the coefficient of thermal expansion is different at the first end than the second end.

Abstract: A mixing vessel for an electric motor-operated food processor, with a vessel floor, an agitator extending through the vessel floor into the mixing vessel, and a foot part that can be externally connected with the vessel floor, which is designed for fixing the agitator to the vessel floor. In order to prevent a user from filling the mixing vessel without the agitator properly assembled in the food processor, it is proposed that the vessel floor or foot part have a blocking element that can be exposed to the spring force of a spring element, and can be shifted against the spring force by means of a corresponding contact element of the foot part or vessel floor from a blocking position that prevents a fixation of the agitator into a release position that enables a fixation.

Abstract: A method for at least one of characterizing, diagnosing, and treating a condition associated with microbiome-derived functional features in at least a subject, the method comprising: receiving an aggregate set of biological samples from a population of subjects; generating at least one of a microbiome composition dataset and a microbiome functional diversity dataset for the population of subjects; generating a characterization of the condition based upon features extracted from at least one of the microbiome composition dataset and the microbiome functional diversity dataset; based upon the characterization, generating a therapy model configured to correct the condition; and at an output device associated with the subject, promoting a therapy to the subject based upon the characterization and the therapy model.

Abstract: Compressive imaging captures images in compressed form, where each sensor does not directly correspond with a pixel, as opposed to standard image capture techniques. This can lead to faster image capture rates due to lower I/O bandwidth requirements, and avoids the need for image compression hardware, as the image is captured in compressed form. Measuring the transformation of an emitted multimodal signal is one method of compressive imaging. Metamaterial antennas and transceivers are well suited for both emitting and receiving multimodal signals, and are thus prime candidates for compressive imaging.

Abstract: A synthetic aperture photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor is disclosed. A group or matrix of contiguous PPG sensors located on a toilet seat are conditionally combined based on sensor measurements. Conditional combinations may be based on timing data and signal-to-noise ratio data of each of the PPG measurements. Measurements associated with the conditional combinations are then used to determine a cardiac function of a toilet user.

Abstract: The invention relates to the identification of Secreted Protein, Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) as a new therapeutic target in patients with fulminant hepatitis and allows the development of a strategy destined to protect the liver form damage. The invention relates to the treatment of acute liver failure or fulminant hepatitis by administering to a subject in need thereof an agent that inhibits at least partially the expression of SPARC and/or interferes with its biological function.

Abstract: A method for managing a current revision on prior revision of an order is described. A modified set of compensations tasks for addressing amendments indicated in the current revision are determined. The modified set of compensation tasks may be determined by carrying over one or more compensation tasks, associated with the prior revision, that have not yet been completed. Alternatively or additionally, the modified set of compensation tasks may be determined by adding new compensation tasks based on the current revision.

Abstract: To offload forces from a tissue site being treated with reduced pressure, an offloading pressure component may be used as part of a reduced-pressure treatment system. A reduced-pressure source of the reduced-pressure treatment system vents positive pressure exhaust into the offloading pressure component to inflate the offloading pressure component. The offloading pressure component disperses forces away from the tissue site. Other devices, methods, and systems are presented.

Abstract: Radio frequency switch circuitry is disclosed having first and second port terminals, a switch branch having first and second branch terminals, and a branch control terminal, wherein the switch branch is configured to pass an RF signal between the first and second branch terminals in an on-state and block the RF signal from passing between the first and second branch terminals in an off-state in response to a control signal that is coupled with the RF signal and received at the first port terminal. Control signal decoupling circuitry has a control signal input terminal coupled to the first port terminal to receive the control signal coupled to the RF signal and a control signal output terminal coupled to the branch control terminal, wherein the control signal decoupling circuitry is configured to decouple the control signal from the RF signal and provide the control signal to the branch control terminal.

Abstract: A method can include defining a two dimensional grid of cells for a region associated with a geologic environment, assigning directions to at least some of the cells, tracing a first set of trajectories with respect to the grid based on the directions, determining a first set of scalar field values based on the first set of trajectories, rotating the directions, tracing a second set of trajectories with respect to the grid based on the rotated directions, determining a second set of scalar field values based on the second set of trajectories, outputting a map based on the first set of scalar field values and the second set of scalar field values and applying the map to map a spatially distributed variable in the region associated with the geologic environment. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: Device for the in-vivo and/or in-vitro enrichment of target structures in a sample liquid, including at least one functional portion, which is provided with receptors for enriching the target structures. In order to improve the enrichment of the target structures in the sample liquid, it is provided according to the invention that the functional portion has a helical shape, which is produced by twisting a symmetrical starting cross section about a twisting axis. The invention likewise discloses a method for producing this device.

Abstract: A turbine shroud segment of a turbine shroud for use in a turbine of a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The turbine shroud segment includes a carrier segment and a blade track segment. The carrier segment includes metallic materials. The blade track segment includes ceramic matrix composite materials. A seal is arranged between the carrier segment and the blade track segment.

Abstract: Indoline sulfonamide compounds that can inhibit DapE and/or bacterial metallo-?-lactamases (MBLs), such as NDM-1, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of treating an individual suffering from a bacterial infection using the indoline sulfonamide compounds disclosed herein.