Abstract: A running tool having an annulus seal assembly and casing hanger attached thereto may be sent into to the wellhead to lock and preload the casing hanger in a single trip. The running tool may be rotated a first time to drop the annulus seal assembly on the casing hanger, a first pressure may be applied axially above the annulus seal assembly to set the annulus seal assembly, the running tool may be rotated a second time to close a gap between the annulus seal assembly and the wellhead, and a second pressure may be applied axially above the annulus seal assembly to preload the casing hanger.

Abstract: A running tool having an annulus seal assembly and casing hanger attached thereto may be sent into to the wellhead to lock and preload the casing hanger in a single trip. The running tool may be rotated a first time to drop the annulus seal assembly on the casing hanger, a first pressure may be applied axially above the annulus seal assembly to set the annulus seal assembly, the running tool may be rotated a second time to close a gap between the annulus seal assembly and the wellhead, and a second pressure may be applied axially above the annulus seal assembly to preload the casing hanger.

Abstract: Zero-ascend omnispecies (ZAO) attraction system includes a fish passage attraction module that can be deployed in a fishway where water flows downstream. The fish passage attraction module includes a body having a first end and an opposite second end, first adaptor adjacent the first end and second adaptor adjacent the second end. The adaptors are configured to alter water flow fields downstream of the module so as to attract fish to an entrance thereof.

Abstract: A lawn mower may include a blade housing configured to house at least a first blade and a second blade, a shaft disposed to rotate within the blade housing, a powerhead configured to selectively turn the shaft responsive to application of power from a power source, and a blade coupler configured to selectively couple the first blade and/or the second blade to the shaft to produce different cutting performance conditions based on which of the first blade and/or the second blade is operably coupled to the shaft.

Abstract: A system for dynamically controlling an echo canceler includes a processor programmed to receive audio data from an audio sensor, to determine a present type of noise in the received audio data, based on the present type of noise, to determine a number of taps to be removed from an echo canceler, and to execute the echo canceler with a reduced number of taps based on the number of taps to be removed.

Abstract: A communication system employed during wellbore operations, such as during drilling, cementing, fracturing, or other wellbore operations, which utilizes ultrasound (i.e., acoustic waves characterized by ultrasonic frequencies) to communicate sensor and/or control information from inside a riser and/or blowout preventer (BOP) to outside the riser/BOP, and/or vice versa. More specifically, the communication system may include an internal ultrasonic module (IUM) residing inside the riser/BOP and acoustically coupled to a drill string and/or a centralizer also inside the riser/BOP. The communication system may further include an external ultrasonic module (EUM) residing outside the riser/BOP and acoustically coupled to the riser/BOP.

Abstract: The present invention provides Bacillus isolates, as well as probiotic and animal feed compositions comprising said isolates, which may be included in the diet of poultry to improve growth performance with reduced energy diets. Methods of using these compositions to improve nutritional uptake or to reduce the incidence of footpad dermatitis in poultry are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure concern systems, methods, and/or compositions for cultivation of mammalian viruses, including at least human noroviruses and sapoviruses within the Caliciviridae family of viruses. The ex vivo culture systems include intestinal enteroids in combination with bile or a functionally active fraction or component thereof. In specific embodiments, the culture system is utilized to test inactivation compounds for therapeutic or environmental efficacy and to test contaminated comestibles and/or environmental entities for determination of the presence of infectious virus. Furthermore, antiviral compositions may be tested using systems of the disclosure, including drugs, small molecule inhibitors, and biologics such as neutralizing monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: A beamforming microphone array may be integrated into a wall or ceiling tile as a single unit. The beamforming microphone array includes a plurality of microphones that picks up audio input signals. In addition, the wall or ceiling tile may include an acoustically transparent outer surface on the front side of the tile, and the beamforming microphone array picks up the audio input signals through the outer surface of the tile. The beamforming microphone array may be coupled to the tile as a single unit and may be integrated into the back side of the tile.

Abstract: A beamforming microphone array may be integrated into a wall or ceiling tile as a single unit. The beamforming microphone array includes a plurality of microphones that picks up audio input signals. In addition, the wall or ceiling tile may include an acoustically transparent outer surface on the front side of the tile, and the beamforming microphone array picks up the audio input signals through the outer surface of the tile. The beamforming microphone array may be coupled to the tile as a single unit and may be integrated into the back side of the tile.

Abstract: An audio session management method for an audio environment having multiple audio devices may involve receiving, from a first device implementing a first application and by a device implementing an audio session manager, a first route initiation request to initiate a first route for a first audio session. The first route initiation request may indicate a first audio source and a first audio environment destination. The first audio environment destination may correspond with at least a first person in the audio environment, but in some instances will not indicate an audio device. The method may involve establishing a first route corresponding to the first route initiation request. Establishing the first route may involve determining a first location of at least the first person in the audio environment, determining at least one audio device for a first stage of the first audio session and initiating or scheduling the first audio session.

Abstract: This invention is directed to polymer-permeated grafts, including those which contain an active which provide for the controlled or sustained release thereof, and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, the method includes: detecting, via the one or more input devices, a request to display information for password protected accounts; and, in response to detecting the request, concurrently displaying, on the display device: a representation of a first password protected account that is associated with a credential having one or more security issues, wherein the representation of the first password protected account is visually associated with an alert indicator indicating the one or more security issues associated with the credential of the first password protected account; and a representation of a second password protected account that is associated with a credential having one or more security issues, wherein the representation of the second password protected account is visually associated with an alert indicator indicating the one or more security issues associated with the credential of the second password protected account.

Abstract: A mobile computing device, comprising: a touch-sensitive display; a processor; a memory configured to store one or more programs; and wherein the processor is configured to execute the one or more programs to cause the mobile computing device to: display a control icon; display an item preselection in a list of items; detect a contact on the touch-sensitive display; and in response to detecting a change in a position of the contact beginning anywhere on the control icon, change a position of the item preselection with respect to the list of items by an amount proportional to the change in a position of the contact; and in response to detecting a gesture on the control icon, select an item at a position of the item preselection in the list of items.

Abstract: A method of controlling a robotic floor cleaning machine includes driving, by an operator, the robotic floor cleaning machine along a transport path and a cleaning path. The transport path defines a path for transport of the robotic floor cleaning machine without active cleaning and the cleaning path defines a path for a cleaning operation. The method further includes recording the transport path and the cleaning path driven by the operator; defining, in a controller of the robotic floor cleaning machine, a route comprising the recorded transport path and the recorded cleaning path, and defining the cleaning operation. The robotic floor cleaning machine executes the defined route and the cleaning operation.

Abstract: A method of controlling a robotic floor cleaning machine includes driving, by an operator, the robotic floor cleaning machine along a transport path and a cleaning path. The transport path defines a path for transport of the robotic floor cleaning machine without active cleaning and the cleaning path defines a path for a cleaning operation. The method further includes recording the transport path and the cleaning path driven by the operator; defining, in a controller of the robotic floor cleaning machine, a route comprising the recorded transport path and the recorded cleaning path, and defining the cleaning operation. The robotic floor cleaning machine executes the defined route and the cleaning operation.

Abstract: A tool for inserting into a cavity is provided. The tool includes a plurality of segments moveably coupled to one another, each segment moveable relative to an adjacent segment between a bent position and a coupled position, the plurality of segments including a first segment, the first segment including: a core formed of a first material; and a shell formed of a second material and comprising or defining a guide feature, a drive feature, a line guide, or a combination thereof; wherein the first material defines a greater stiffness than the second material.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine may include a beam source, a process chamber, a beam column operably coupled to the process chamber and/or defining a portion of the process chamber, and a gaseous ionization detector disposed about the beam column. The gaseous ionization detector may be configured to detect elementary particles corresponding to an ionizing gas ionized by an energy beam from the beam source. A method of additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object may include determining data from a gaseous ionization detector disposed about a beam column of an additive manufacturing machine, and additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object using the additive manufacturing machine based at least in part on the data from the gaseous ionization detector.

Abstract: A robotic system for fueling or charging a vehicle having a vehicle connector, the robotic system including a robotic arm having a plurality of sequentially arranged articulated links and at least one group of operating cables extending from a proximal end of the arm to terminate at a control link, for controlling the position of that link, the cables each having a path comprising a passage in each successive more proximal link for closely receiving the cable, a flexible conduit operably connected with the robotic arm for delivering a fluid or an electrical current, respectively, to a vehicle, the conduit being connected to a source at a first end and a delivery connector at a second end, and a control system for operating the robotic arm and the hose or cable, wherein the control system directs the robotic arm to engage the vehicle connector with the delivery connector and, upon engagement of the vehicle connector and delivery connector, the control system relaxes the robotic arm to an under-constrained cond