Abstract: Methods for marking a seat belt webbing with an infrared compound are described herein. The methods comprise ablating a surface of the seat belt webbing by directing one or more laser pulses toward the seat belt webbing; and coating the ablated surface of the seat belt webbing with the infrared compound, wherein the infrared compound increases absorptivity or reflectivity of the seat belt webbing to infrared radiation. Methods for optically monitoring operation of the seat belt webbing in a vehicle and distinguishing between proper positioning and improper positioning of the seat belt webbing are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are high-throughput vessel receiving systems and methods of receiving sample vessels, such as samples stored in test tubes. A system for receiving a plurality of individual vessels that each contains a sample, and systems and apparatus for guiding, reorienting, collecting, and transporting a plurality of articles, including vessels, are disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated microstrip circulator comprises a dielectric substrate having an aperture, a ferrite disc secured within the aperture in the dielectric substrate, metallization on upper surfaces of the dielectric substrate and the ferrite disc, and surface mount contacts disposed on lower surfaces of the dielectric substrate and the ferrite disc and in electrical communication with the metallization on the upper surfaces of the dielectric substrate and the ferrite disc.

Abstract: Disclosed are high-throughput vessel sorting systems and methods of sorting sample vessels, such as samples stored in test tubes. A system for sorting a plurality of individual vessels that each contains a sample is disclosed.

Abstract: Synthetic, biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulating at least one of a signal 1 protein, a signal 2 protein, and/or a signal 3 protein are disclosed, which, when transfected into one or more a cancer cells, reprogram the one or more cancer cells into “tumor-derived APCs” in vivo to activate T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells for systemic tumor rejection. The NPs can be used for treating cancers, in particular metastatic cancers.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure may relate generally to a dynamic graphical user interface (GUI) architecture that helps provide a user-friendly and flexible capability for software users to create and manage software application rules. These rules may help with processing by a software service or software platform. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a heating operation on a component by a flame torch, including the steps of producing a flame with the flame torch, rotating the component with respect to the flame so that a circular weld is created on the component, and providing a first sensor that is operatively engaged with the component so that the first sensor monitors rotation or non-rotation of the components.

Abstract: Machine learning may be used to forecast an estimated time of restoration (ETR) during a service interruption. To forecast an ETR, the collection of information from the multiple sources may be provided as inputs to a machine learning model, such as a deep long-short term memory recurrent neural network, a predictive model, and/or the like. The machine learning model may be trained to optimize the temporal cost function of sustained service interruptions and forecast ETRs for service interruptions (in minutes). The machine learning model may process data/information in real-time and provide an ETR when inputs are not yet available in the repair/resolution process, and update (reforecast) the ETR in real-time as the inputs late become available.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for grading coronary calcium, including an example apparatus that includes a set of logics and a memory that stores a set of radiographic images. The set of logics includes an image acquisition logic that acquires a set of radiographic images of a region of tissue, the set of radiographic images including a low-energy reference x-ray image and a higher-energy floating x-ray image, a registration logic that produces a set of registered images from a plurality of members of the set of radiographic images, an enhancement logic that produces a set of calcium-enhanced images from the set of registered images, a post-enhancement logic that produces a bone image from the set of calcium-enhanced images, and a grading logic that computes a coronary heart disease prediction score based, at least in part, on the bone image and a set of features extracted from the bone image.

Abstract: The present invention, in some embodiments, generally relates to methods of determining a treatment protocol for and/or a prognosis of a patient's recovery from a brain injury. In some embodiments, the brain injury results from a hypoxic event. In some embodiments, methods are provided for determining a measure of the concentration of tau protein in a patient sample containing or suspected of containing tau protein.

Abstract: A system for determining particle size of a quantity of a sample material contained in a sample material holder is disclosed, where the sample material is made up a plurality of the particles. The system may incorporate a pressure regulating subsystem for receiving a first pressurized airflow signal and regulating the first pressurized airflow signal to a second pressurized airflow signal having a pressure lower than the first pressurized airflow signal, the second pressurized airflow signal configured to be input to a first end of the sample material holder. A mass airflow transducer may be incorporated for determining a flow rate representing an air flow value entering the sample material holder. A control module uses the air flow value in combination with the pressure differential value and mathematically determining a dimension of the particles making up the sample material.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems, and methods relate to an automated hitch and various alternative devices to adjust the orientation of an agricultural implement and component parts thereof, including but not limited to a planter toolbar and/or planter row units relative to the soil surface to ensure the implement/components parts thereof maintain a position parallel to the soil surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions, e.g., kits, for assessing or detecting SARS-CoV-2 antigen(s), e.g., SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N-protein), in a sample or a blood sample, e.g., serum, plasma, dried blood spots (DBS) and/or a saliva sample. Certain applications and uses of the present methods and compositions, e.g., kits, are also provided.

Abstract: A power backup method for use in a communication network monitoring device and a communication network monitoring device are provided. The method includes detecting an external power failure to a communication network monitoring device; switching to a backup power source internal to the communication network monitoring device upon detecting the external power failure: and while powered by the backup power source: generating an issue report recording the detected external power failure; communicating the issue report; shutting down operation of the communication network monitoring device after communicating the issue report.

Abstract: Disclosed are high-throughput vessel supply systems and methods of supplying sample vessels, such as samples stored in test tubes. A system for supplying a plurality of individual vessels that each contains a sample is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for high-throughput testing of pathogens, and in some instances, testing for SARS-CoV-2. For example, disclosed is a method for intelligently selecting samples to perform a pooled testing for a pathogen including the steps of obtaining samples from multiple regions/populations, determining a prevalence of the pathogen in the samples from each region/population, determining an optimal selection plan to perform the pooled testing, selecting and combining samples based on the optimal selection plan, aliquoting the samples in the combined sample set based on the optimal selection plan, pooling and testing the samples in the combined sample set based on the optimal pooling design to determine a presence or absence of a detectable amount of the pathogen in each of the pooled samples, and determining whether at least one individual sample comprises the detectable amount of the pathogen.

Abstract: A system may learn what parameters are required for an item in order to compute tax for the item based on preliminary data regarding the item and/or the transaction. The system may determine a classification code based on such preliminary data and use that classification code to search or query a database storing information indicative of parameters required to compute tax for items having such a classification code. The system may map the received preliminary data into the learned required parameters and determine whether there are any required parameters for which there has not been any preliminary data mapped into them. The system may prompt the customer (e.g., seller of the item) or other user for data values of such missing required parameters or otherwise obtain data values of such parameters in order to compute the tax for the item.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to engaging with a virtual assistant via ancillary input are provided. Ancillary input may refer to non-verbal, non-tactile input based on eye-gaze data and/or eye-gaze attributes, including but not limited to, facial recognition data, motion or gesture detection, eye-contact data, head-pose or head-position data, and the like. Thus, to initiate and/or maintain interaction with a virtual assistant, a user need not articulate an attention word or words. Rather the user may initiate and/or maintain interaction with a virtual assistant more naturally and may even include the virtual assistant in a human conversation with multiple speakers. The virtual assistant engagement system may utilize at least one machine-learning algorithm to more accurately determine whether a user desires to engage with and/or maintain interaction with a virtual assistant. Various hardware configurations associated with a virtual assistant device may allow for both near-field and/or far-field engagement.

Abstract: A program for running on a processor of a portable payment device is adapted for carrying out a payment interaction and permitting ticket storage in a memory of the portable payment device. The program is configured to interact with an access point and includes a set of instructions, a first code portion and a second code portion. The set of instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the portable payment device to perform the steps of: responsive to a first message from said access point, executing the first code portion; and responsive to a second message from the access point, executing the second code portion. The first code portion includes first instructions corresponding to the payment interaction. The second code portion includes instructions corresponding to the payment interaction and second instructions corresponding to the ticket interaction.