Abstract: A system, method, and device for monitoring a passive optical network (PON). A probe signal is transmitted into the PON. A waypoint device located in the PON proximate to a network waypoint reflects one or more portions of the probe signal in a manner that embeds an address of the waypoint device in a return signal. The address is extracted from the return signal and used to identify the network waypoint associated with the waypoint device. The waypoint device may be selectively perturbed, and the perturbation detected based on changes in the reflected signal to validate the physical identity of the waypoint device.

Abstract: Various embodiments discussed herein enable client applications to be heavily integrated with a voice assistant in order to perform commands associated with voice utterances of users via voice assistant functionality and also seamlessly cause client applications to automatically perform native functions as part of executing the voice utterance. Such heavy integration also allows particular embodiments to support multi-modal input from a user for a single conversational interaction. In this way, client application user interface interactions, such as clicks, touch gestures, or text inputs are executed alternative or in addition to the voice utterances.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods, compositions, and kits for preparing biological samples for multiplex spatial gene expression and proteomic analysis, such as determining a location of a nucleic acid analyte and a protein analyte in a biological sample.

Abstract: Systems and methods for material processing using wafer scale waves of precisely controlled electrons in a DC plasma is presented. A surface floating potential of a substrate placed atop a stage in a positive column of the DC plasma is adjusted and maintained to a reference potential. A periodic biasing signal referenced to the reference potential is capacitively coupled to the stage to control a surface potential at the substrate according to: an active phase for provision of kinetic energy to free electrons in the DC plasma for activation of targeted bonds at the surface of the substrate; a neutralization phase for repelling of the free electrons from the surface of the substrate; and an initialization phase for restoring an initial condition of the surface floating potential.

Abstract: Described herein is an oral composition, such as a toothgel or a toothpaste, comprising Streptococcus salivarius, a viscosity modifier, a buffering agent, and a non-aqueous carrier. Advantageously, the oral composition may provide a desirable property, including a delayed release profile of the probiotic, improved colonisation in an oral cavity of a subject, improved stability and/or improved syneresis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of diagnosing a disease or condition associated with abnormal platelet activation in a subject. Also disclosed herein are methods for assessing the propensity of donor platelets to release an uptaken fluorescent false neurotransmitter (FFN).

Abstract: The current invention relates to a method of separating polyunsaturated fatty acids containing lipids from a lipids containing biomass.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the location of a vehicle are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for localizing a vehicle includes driving over a first road segment, identifying by a first localization system a set of candidate road segments, obtaining vertical motion data while driving over the first road segment, comparing the obtained vertical motion data to reference vertical motion data associated with at least one candidate road segment, and identifying, based on the comparison, a location of the vehicle. The use of such localization methods and systems in coordination with various advanced vehicle systems such as, for example, active suspension systems or autonomous driving features, is contemplated.

Abstract: Atomic layer etching (ALE) of a substrate using a wafer scale wave of precisely controlled electrons is presented. A volume of gaseous plasma including diluent and reactive species and electrons of a uniform steady state composition is generated in a positive column of a DC plasma proximate the substrate. A corrosion layer is formed on the substrate by adsorption of the reactive species to atoms at the surface of the substrate. The substrate is positively biased to draw electrons from the volume to the surface of the substrate and impart energy to the electrons to stimulate electron transitions in the corrosion layer species, resulting in ejection of the corrosion layer species via electron stimulation desorption (ESD). The substrate is negatively biased to repel the electrons from the surface of the substrate back to the volume, followed by a zero bias to restore the steady state composition of the volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions of peptide inhibitors of the interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R) or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate forms thereof, corresponding pharmaceutical compositions, methods and/or uses for treatment of autoimmune inflammation and related diseases and disorders.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle capable of trajectory prediction may include a first sensor, a second sensor, a processor, a trajectory planner, a low-level controller, and vehicle actuators. The first sensor may be of a first sensor type and may detect an obstacle and a goal. The second sensor may be of a second sensor type and may detect the obstacle and the goal. The processor may perform matching on the obstacle detected by the first sensor and the obstacle detected by the second sensor, model an existence probability of the obstacle based on the matching, and track the obstacle based on the existence probability and a constant velocity model. The trajectory planner may generate a trajectory for the autonomous vehicle based on the tracked obstacle, the goal, and a non-linear model predictive control (NMPC). The low-level controller may implement the trajectory for the autonomous vehicle by driving vehicle actuators.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a comprehensive trajectory planner for a person-following vehicle that includes receiving image data and LiDAR data associated with a surrounding environment of a vehicle. The system and method also include analyzing the image data and detecting the person to be followed that is within an image and analyzing the LiDAR data and detecting an obstacle that is located within a predetermined distance from the vehicle. The system and method further include executing a trajectory planning algorithm based on fused data associated with the detected person and the detected obstacle.

Abstract: A method and system for aligning a component within a turbine casing, and a related turbine casing, are disclosed. In a top-on position, a location of a reference point and another, vertically spaced reference point on the lower casing are measured. After removing at least the upper casing, the reference points' locations are measured again, and the locations of a reference point on an upper surface of the HJ flange are measured. A prediction offset value is calculated for the component support position in the top-on position based on the locations. The prediction offset value may include a vertical adjustment based, in part, on a translation of a triangular spatial relationship of a number of the reference points and/or a tilt angle, a horizontal adjustment, and a HJ flange surface distortion adjustment. The component support position is adjusted by the prediction offset value to improve alignment.

Abstract: An agent is installed on a computing device of a vehicle (e.g., an ECU); the agent receives messages from an application installed on the same computing device. The computing device is connected to a gateway computing device via a physical communication channel (e.g., CAN bus or Ethernet cable). When the gateway agent receives a message from the application, it converts the message into a different protocol based on a mapping of the protocols to physical communication channels. The message is sent to a gateway agent at the gateway device, where it is converted back to the original protocol so the message can be processed/transmitted to the internet. By using an agent, the in-vehicle application does not need to know about the vehicle's network architecture or changes to it in order to access the internet.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes stacked planar lightwave circuit (PLC) members each having a plurality of waveguides in a respective plane, to provide optical connections to two-dimensional arrays of external optical waveguides (e.g., optical fiber cores), with one array including non-coplanar groups of waveguides having group members that are alternately arranged in a lateral direction. An optical assembly may provide optical connections between array of cores having a different pitch and/or orientation to serve as a fanout interface. Methods for fabricating an optical assembly are further provided.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes stacked first and second planar lightwave circuit (PLC) members each having a plurality of waveguides in respective first and second planes, to provide optical connections between a two-dimensional array and a one-dimensional array of external optical waveguides (e.g., optical fiber cores). Inner faces of first and second PLC members are arranged facing one another and with the first and second planes (corresponding to the pluralities of first and second waveguides, respectively) being non-parallel. An optical assembly may provide optical connections between arrays of cores having a different pitch to serve as a fanout interface. Methods for fabricating an optical assembly are further provided.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to compositions comprising an antagonist of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide signaling coupled to a nanoparticle and methods of use related thereto. In certain embodiments, the nanoparticle is a poloxamer-stabilized polypropylene sulfide nanoparticle.

Abstract: An in-line valve assembly for a tubular drag conveyer system includes a first tube segment having a first end and defining a first passageway, a second tube segment having a second end and defining a second passageway, and a tubular valve body translatably disposed relative to the second tube segment and defining a valve passageway. The first end of the first tube segment is spaced apart from the second end of the second tube segment by a gap. The valve body is selectively adjustable between a closed position wherein the valve passageway spans the gap and connects the first passageway to the second passageway and an open position wherein the valve passageway is spaced apart from the first passageway by at least a portion of the gap.

Abstract: A temporal magnification spectrometer includes a dual-chirp comb source, a signal leg, a local oscillator leg, an optical detector, and a temporal magnification analyzer. The dual-chirp comb source produces optical carrier laser light. A signal comb having signal linearly chirped waveforms interacts with a sample to produce a transmitted signal comb. The local oscillator leg produces a local oscillator comb having local oscillator linearly chirped waveforms. The optical detector receives the transmitted signal and local oscillator combs and produces an RF domain signal. The analyzer receives and Fourier transforms the RF domain signal to produce an RF comb, which is sampled to produce sampled RF comb lines, which are normalized to produce temporally magnified sample frequency domain data. Intermediate sample temporal data are normalized to produce a steady-state sample spectral response.