Abstract: Provided herein are compositions including peptides, pharmaceutical preparations thereof, and methods of preventing photoreceptor death therewith and protecting of retinal cells, including, but not limited to, photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium, from Fas- or TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing having a grip portion with a grip circumference of smaller than or equal to approximately 120 mm; and a brushless direct-current (BLDC) motor at least partially disposed within the grip portion of the housing and configured to output a maximum power output of at least 450 watts. The motor includes a stator including a stator core and stator windings; and a rotor rotatably received within the stator and including a rotor shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and a series of permanent magnet rings mounted sequentially along the longitudinal axis and surrounding the rotor shaft, each permanent magnet including a plurality of magnetic poles.

Abstract: An embodiment of a storage device for medical products includes a cabinet defining an enclosure having a plurality of compartments. In addition, the storage device includes a plurality of storage containers, each storage container configured to be inserted into a corresponding one of the plurality of compartments. Further, the storage device includes an actuation assembly including a plurality of arms that are configured to engage the plurality of storage containers so as to secure the plurality of storage containers in the plurality of compartments. Still further, the storage device includes a release mechanism that is configured to simultaneously actuate each of the plurality of arms to release the plurality of storage containers from the plurality of compartments.

Abstract: An optoelectronic assembly includes: (i) a substrate having a cavity, (ii) an optoelectronic device, which is disposed over the cavity and includes an array of multiple emitters configured to emit a predefined number of light beams in response to receiving one or more electrical signals, and (iii) an integrated circuit (IC), which is mounted within the cavity, between the substrate and the optoelectronic device, and is configured to drive the one or more electrical signals to the optoelectronic device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing and/or processing a blockchain to maintain data security for confidential and/or personal data are provided. According to certain aspects, the disclosed data security techniques may enable access sharing functionality utilizing the blockchain. For example, access sharing may be utilized to share policy information. The policy information may be associated with a smart contract. Accordingly, the policy information may be encrypted using a public key for the smart contract and compiled into a block of the blockchain. In response to a request to provide access to the information to a particular node, the private key for the smart contract may be encrypted using the public key for the particular node and compiled into a block of the blockchain.

Abstract: An EUV light source includes a chamber that defines a plasma confinement region. A magnetic core is positioned around the chamber and is configured to generate a plasma in the plasma generation region so that the plasma converges in the plasma confinement region. A power delivery section is positioned around the magnetic core. A power supply includes a charging circuit, a pre-ionization circuit, and a solid state switching circuit having an output coupled to the magnetic core. The power supply is configured to isolate the charging circuit from the power delivery section and to generate a pre-ionization pulse through inductive coupling that causes ionization of gas in the plasma generation region. The solid state switching circuit is configured to discharge a capacitance through inductive coupling to form a plasma in the plasma generation region.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are nucleotide sequences encoding an insecticidal protein exhibiting Lepidopteran inhibitory activity, as well as novel insecticidal proteins referred to herein as a BCW 001, BCW 002, BCW 003, and BCW toxic protein-containing chimeras and BCW toxin insecticide, transgenic plants expressing the chimeras or the insecticide, and methods for detecting the presence of the nucleotide sequences or the insecticide in a biological sample.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing and/or processing a blockchain to maintain data security for confidential and/or personal data are provided. According to certain aspects, the disclosed data security techniques may enable access sharing functionality utilizing the blockchain. For example, access sharing may be utilized to file documents, share policy information, and/or comply with an audit. The data security techniques disclosed herein also enable the use of smart contracts to transfer funds associated with payment obligations and/or other forms of blockchain based payments, comply with anti-money laundering requirements, report industry data, validate interest payments and/or maintain agent sales data. Data security may be achieved through the use of public key/private key encryption techniques.

Abstract: Three dimensional nonwoven materials and methods of manufacturing such materials are disclosed. In one embodiment, a nonwoven material may comprise a plurality of fibers and may further comprise an opposing first surface and a second surface, an apertured zone comprising a plurality of nodes extending away from a base plane on the first surface, a plurality of connecting ligaments interconnecting the plurality of nodes, and a plurality of openings providing a percent open area for the apertured zone that is greater than about 15%, as determined by the Material Sample Analysis Test Method. The material may further comprise a first and second side zones with the nonwoven material having a material width and the first and second side zones having first and second side zone widths, and wherein each of the first and second side zone widths are between about 5% and about 25% of the nonwoven material width.

Abstract: An exemplary shingle includes at least one coated shingle sheet defining a headlap portion and a tab portion each having opposed upper and lower surfaces. A first line of adhesive is adhered to one of the upper surface of the headlap portion and the lower surface of the tab portion, and includes a first thermally activated adhesive material. A second line of adhesive is adhered to one of the upper surface of the headlap portion and the lower surface of the tab portion, and includes a second thermally activated adhesive material having a minimum activation temperature less than a minimum activation temperature of the first thermally activated adhesive material.

Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a chassis, a front axle, a rear axle, a vehicle component including at least one of a pump, a compressor, or an alternator, an energy storage device including a plurality of batteries, and an electromagnetic device coupled to both (a) at least one of the front axle or the rear axle and (b) the vehicle component. The electromagnetic device is powered by the energy storage device and configured to selectively provide a mechanical output to (i) the at least one of the front axle or the rear axle and (ii) the vehicle component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating light includes a chamber having a high voltage region, a low voltage region, and a plasma generation region that defines a plasma confinement region. A magnetic core is positioned around the chamber and is configured to generate a plasma in the plasma confinement region. A switched power supply includes a DC power supply and a switched resonant charging circuit that together generate a plurality of voltage pulses at the output causing a plurality of current pulses to be applied to the power delivery section around the magnetic core so that at least one plasma loop is established around the magnetic core that confines plasma in the plasma confinement region, thereby forming a magnetically confined Z-pinch plasma. Light generated by the Z-pinch plasma propagates out of a port in the light source.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for the management and control of electrolyte within confined electrochemical cells or groups (e.g. stacks) of connected electrochemical cells, for example, in an electrolyzer. Various embodiments of systems and methods provide for the elimination of parasitic conductive paths between cells, and/or precise passive control of fluid pressures within cells. In some embodiments, a fixed volume of electrolyte is substantially retained within each cell while efficiently collecting and removing produced gases or other products from the cell.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manipulating the temperature of a surface are provided. Devices of the present disclosure may include a thermal adjustment apparatus, such as a controller in electrical communication with one or more thermoelectric materials, placed adjacent to the surface of skin. The device may generate a series of thermal pulses at the surface, for providing an enhanced thermal sensation for a user. The thermal pulses may be characterized by temperature reversibility, where each pulse includes an initial temperature adjustment, followed by a return temperature adjustment, over a short period of time (e.g., less than 120 seconds). The average rate of temperature change upon initiation and upon return may be between about 0.1° C./sec and about 10.0° C./sec. In some cases, the average rate of the initial temperature adjustment is greater in magnitude than the average rate of the return temperature adjustment.

Abstract: A stator assembly for a BLDC motor includes a stator core, at least one magnet wire wound on poles of the stator core, an end insulator mounted on an end surface of the stator core, a non-conductive mount member mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the stator core, and conductive terminals mounted on the non-conductive mount member. Each conductive terminal includes: a main portion mounted on the non-conductive mount, a tang portion extending from a first longitudinal end adjacent the end insulator and folded over the main portion, and a connection tab extending angularly from a second longitudinal end. A contact portion of the magnet wire is wrapped around the tang portion and fused to make an electric connection to the conductive terminal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for network-based ultrasound imaging are provided, which can include a number of features. In some embodiments, an ultrasound imaging system images an object with three-dimensional unfocused pings and obtains digital sample sets from a plurality of receiver elements. A sub-set of the digital sample sets can be electronically transferred to a remote server, where the sub-set can be beamformed to produce a series of two-dimensional image frames. A video stream made up of the series of two-dimensional images frames can then be transferred from the remote server to a display device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a media module and a modification module included in an embedded appliance. The media module is configured to receive a first media signal associated with a first input port of the embedded appliance and a second media signal associated with a second input port of the embedded appliance. The media module is configured to identify a first set of media signal parameters based on the first media signal. The modification module is configured to receive a modification instruction associated with a session format having a second set of media signal parameters different from the first set of media signal parameters. The modification module is configured to modify the first media signal based on the first set of media signal parameters and the modification instruction to produce a first modified media signal in the session format and having the second set of media signal parameters.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to siding, for example, suitable for covering a wall surface. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a frame for a wall panel. The frame includes a support strip extending in a lateral direction across the width of the wall panel and has first and second ends. The frame also includes a row of columns extending in a first direction from the support strip. Each column includes a proximal end attached to the support strip and a free distal end. The row of columns includes a first column disposed at a first end of the row of columns and laterally offset from the first end of the support strip, and a second column disposed at a second end of the row of columns and laterally offset from the second end of the support strip.

Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that reduce the size of headphones and allow for small form-factor storage configurations are discussed. User convenience features that include synchronizing earpiece stem positions and automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.

Abstract: Identification of anomalous transaction attributes in real-time with adaptive threshold tuning is provided. A set of historical transactions conducted during a defined time period are analyzed and categorizing into defined groups. Outlier transactions are identified and removed from the set of historical transactions and a set of non-anomalous transactions are determined. When a new transaction is received, the new transaction is automatically allowed based on a determination that the subsequent transaction conforms to the set of non-anomalous transactions. Alternatively, an alert for further analysis for the new transaction is output based on a determination that the subsequent transaction does not conform to the set of non-anomalous transactions.