Abstract: In one embodiment, a multiplex fluid processing cartridge includes a sample well, a deformable fluid chamber, a mixing well with a mixer disposed therein, a lysis chamber including a lysis mixer, an electrowetting grid for microdroplet manipulation, and electrosensor arrays configured to detect analytes of interest. An instrument for processing the cartridge is configured to receive the cartridge and to selectively apply thermal energy, magnetic force, and electrical connections to one or more discrete locations on the cartridge and is further configured to compress the deformable chamber(s) in a specified sequence.

Abstract: A fairing assembly is provided which is located between a frame hub and an engine casing. The assembly provides for use of a metallic structure in combination with a light weight low alpha material in order to improve engine efficiency and performance. Relative growth between the dissimilar materials is compensated for by a flexible bracket which provides biasing force on one of the assembly components in a cold engine condition as well as allowing for growth at the high temperature operating conditions of the engine.

Abstract: A phased array ultrasonic probe may be mounted to a component to be inspected for wall thickness on an apparatus that includes a split ring adapted to be magnetically held in place on the component. In particular, the probe may be mounted to a carriage connected to the split ring in a manner that allows the carriage to rotate around the split ring while the probe is in operation. Between the probe and the component, a transducer shoe defining, by a flexible membrane, a cavity and an aperture. Conveniently, the construction of the flexible membrane allows wall thickness measurements to be acquired in portions of the component that have complex topography, such as welds. The apparatus is installed on an adaptor assembly for inspection of straight section of pipes. This adaptor assembly is not used in absence of straight section.

Abstract: A novel maize variety designated PH2DVF and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH2DVF with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH2DVF through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH2DVF or a locus conversion of PH2DVF with another maize variety.

Abstract: A grill assembly for attachment to a vehicle front end includes a grill portion having a front surface and a rear surface and a carrier portion carrier portion may include a pair of carrier brackets coupled to the rear surface of the grill portion for supporting and reinforcing the grill portion. An adhesive layer may be disposed between each of the carrier brackets and the rear surface of the grill portion to securely bond the carrier brackets to the grill portion a laminate carrier portion of a plastic material may also be utilized. The carrier brackets may be disposed at opposite ends of the grill portion and each carrier bracket is shaped and positioned relative to the grill portion to prevent the at least one carrier bracket from being seen as viewed from the front surface. Each of the carrier brackets can consist of metal and the grill portion may consist of plastic.

Abstract: A grill assembly for attachment to a vehicle front end includes a grill portion having a front surface and a rear surface and a carrier portion having a front side and a rear side. The grill portion also includes a peripheral border portion and a plurality of generally horizontal grill cross-slats, which define a plurality of grill openings therebetween. The carrier portion also includes an outer perimeter and a plurality of generally horizontal cross-pieces, which define a plurality of carrier portion openings therebetween which are designed to align with the grill openings. The front surface of the grill portion includes a decorative surface disposed thereon. The front side of the carrier portion is bonded to substantially the entirety of the rear surface of the grill portion so as to form a laminate grill structure.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for identifying transgenic seed that contain a transgene of interest, but lack a marker gene. Use of an identification sequence that results in a detectable phenotype increases the efficiency of screening for seed and plants in which transgene sequences not linked to a gene of interest have segregated from the sequence encoding a gene of interest.

Abstract: A firearm includes one or more rails to which accessories may be mounted. The rails provide a communication path over which data may be transferred between the accessories and a processor located in the rails or in the firearm. The processor may cause the data to be sent to another location and may receive other data from other locations to provide a network of intercommunicating firearms that may deployed in a battlefield environment.

Abstract: A data transfer system, a method of data transfer and a corresponding transmitter and receiver are disclosed. A communication protocol between the transmitter and receiver is defined using a set of valid transmission states for communication from the transmitter to the receiver and a set of valid acknowledgement states for transmission from the receiver to the transmitter. A Hamming distance between patterns of zeroes, and between patterns of ones, in valid states of each of these sets is at least one and the transmitter is arranged to transition between a number of transmission states in response to the reception of an acknowledgement state from the receiver which matches a transmission state it has sent to the receiver on a request bus. A communication protocol which is robust across a multi-voltage and/or clock domain interface is thus provided.

Abstract: An exhaust system is described including an exhaust manifold having different length runners, with an emission control device housing a plurality of catalyst bricks, at least one of which having a multi-cell density. In this way, uneven exhaust mixing may be addressed without modifying packaging of the exhaust system.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for networking accessories to a firearm or weapon wherein the accessories are powered from the rail and data is transferred between the accessories and the rail. In one embodiment, a weapon is provided, the weapon having: an upper receiver; a lower receiver; a powered accessory mounted to a rail of the upper receiver; and an apparatus for networking a microcontroller of the powered accessory to a microcontroller of the upper receiver and a microcontroller of the lower receiver, wherein the data is exclusively provided to the powered accessory from one of a plurality of coils located within the rail; and wherein the powered accessory further comprises a plurality of coils and the powered accessory is configured to determine when one of the plurality of coils of the powered accessory is adjacent to the one of the plurality of coils of the rail.

Abstract: An apparatus configured for displacing fluid from a fluid container comprises first and second actuators configured to be movable together until the first actuator compresses a first part of the fluid container and then moveable independently until the second actuator compresses a second part of the fluid container. Fluid containers comprise a first vessel, a second vessel, and a sealing partition preventing fluid flow from the second vessel and further include piercing means for piercing the sealing partition to permit fluid flow from the second vessel. A fluid container comprises a vessel configured to be collapsed to displace fluid from the vessel, a housing surrounding at least a portion of the vessel, and a floating compression plate movably disposed within the housing and configured to permit an external actuator to press the compression plate into the vessel to collapse the vessel and displace the fluid contents therefrom.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a multiplex fluid processing cartridge includes a sample well, a deformable fluid chamber, a mixing well with a mixer disposed therein, a lysis chamber including a lysis mixer, an electrowetting grid for microdroplet manipulation, and electrosensor arrays configured to detect analytes of interest. An instrument for processing the cartridge is configured to receive the cartridge and to selectively apply thermal energy, magnetic force, and electrical connections to one or more discrete locations on the cartridge and is further configured to compress the deformable chamber(s) in a specified sequence.

Abstract: A curable film-forming composition is provided, comprising: (a) a curing agent comprising reactive functional groups; (b) a compound comprising functional groups reactive with the reactive functional groups in (a); and (c) a photothermally active material. The composition may further include a catalyst component. Coated substrates are also provided using the compositions described, as well as methods for coating a substrate using the compositions.

Abstract: An integrated circuit has voltage generating circuitry for generating an on-chip voltage from a supply voltage in response to clock pulses. Clock control circuitry controls transmission of the clock pulses to the voltage generating circuitry. The clock control circuitry receives a reference voltage and a digital offset value comprising a binary numeric value identifying an offset. The clock control circuitry suppresses transmission of the clock pulses if the on-chip voltage is greater than the sum of the reference voltage and the offset identified by the digital offset value, to reduce power consumption. The offset can be tuned digitally to vary the average level of the on-chip voltage. A similar digital tuning mechanism may be used in a clocked comparator to compare a first voltage with a digitally tunable threshold voltage.

Abstract: A wireless public address (PA) system for providing wireless access to a live performance while restricting access to only those audience members who have purchased access. The system comprising a soundboard, configured to receive an audio input signal from audio equipment providing an audio signal of the live performance. The sound board is programmed with instructions to segregate low frequency sound from high frequency sound. An amplifier is electrically coupled to the sound board. A loud speaker is adapted to broadcast the low frequency sound. A transmitter is electrically coupled to the sound board and configured to transmit the high frequency sound to a mobile device. An application is configured within the mobile device with instructions to coordinate low frequency sound from the loud speaker with high frequency sound emitted from headphones attached to the mobile device.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a gasket for sealing opposing flange surfaces of a pipe having corrosive fluid flowing therethrough. The method comprises defining a gasket profile incorporating a serrated profile core having a flange extending radially inward therefrom. A deformable pillow extends radially inward from the serrated profile core, to define a gasket intermediate portion about the flange, and a gasket inner portion radially inward from the flange. The deformable pillow material and thickness are selected such that upon compression to a thickness no less than the core thickness, the gasket inner portion exhibits a stress level sufficient to preclude corrosive liquid flowing through the pipe from passing radially outward beyond the gasket inner portion, and the gasket intermediate portion exhibits a stress level sufficient to preclude gas and liquid flowing through the pipe from passing radially outward beyond the gasket intermediate portion.

Abstract: “Smart” controllers for windows having controllable optical transitions are described. Controllers with multiple features can sense and adapt to local environmental conditions. Controllers described herein can be integrated with a building management system (BMS) to greatly enhance the BMS's effectiveness at managing local environments in a building. The controllers may have one, two, three or more functions such as powering a smart window, determining the percent transmittance, size, and/or temperature of a smart window, providing wireless communication between the controller and a separate communication node, etc.

Abstract: Composite particulates, topical composition containing composite particulates, methods for improving the appearance of skin depth, dimensionality or undertones; a method for improving the ashy, chalky or mask-like appearance of color cosmetic compositions on the skin; and a method for reducing the number of shades in a color cosmetic shade range by formulating the cosmetic with composite particulates.

Abstract: A method and system for an inductively powering rail on a firearm to power accessories such as: telescopic sights, tactical sights, laser sighting modules, and night vision scopes. This is achieved by having primary and secondary electromagnets (U-Cores) on both the inductively powering rail and the accessory. Once the electromagnets are in contact, the accessory is able to obtain power through induction via the inductively powering rail. Accessories may be attached to various fixture points on the inductively powering rail and are detected by the firearm when attached and detached. When attached, power and data communications may flow between the accessory and a master CPU located on the firearm. Accessories that are attached to the inductively powering rail and have rechargeable power systems may be recharged via the inductive power rail. Further, accessories that have power that is not needed may be transferred to other accessories.