Abstract: An imaging agent for detecting analytes in a biological environment includes functionalized, silicon vacancy center-containing nanodiamonds. Individual nanodiamonds of the imaging agent include at least one silicon vacancy center. The at least one silicon vacancy center can emit light having a wavelength in a narrow band in response to illumination having any wavelength in a wide range of wavelengths. The nanodiamonds are functionalized to selectively interact with an analyte of interest. The nanodiamonds can additionally include other color centers, and the imaging agent can include a plurality of sets of nanodiamonds having detectably unique ratios of silicon vacancy centers to other color centers. The silicon vacancy centers in the nanodiamonds can have a preferred orientation enabling orientation tracking of individual nanodiamonds or other applications. A method for detecting properties of the analyte of interest by interacting with the imaging agent is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus, system and method for use of an offshore hose loading station comprising multiple modular reel assemblies that may be selectively configured to a frame attached to a ship and or vessel wherein the reel assemblies may be powered by one motor and engaged for rotation by one shaft and provides a jumper shaft for when a module is taken out of line.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating, concentrating and/or detecting molecules based on differences in binding affinity to a probe are provided. The molecules may be differentially modified. The molecules may be differentially methylated nucleic acids. The methods can be used in fields such as epigenetics or oncology to selectively concentrate or detect the presence of specific biomolecules or differentially modified biomolecules, to provide diagnostics for disorders such as fetal genetic disorders, to detect biomarkers in cancer, organ failure, disease states, infection or the like.

Abstract: A system for measuring and/or monitoring an analyte present in interstitial fluid in skin is provided. The system includes a substrate that may be implanted into the skin and a reader device. The substrate includes a sensor comprising aptamer conjugates and is configured to obtain one or more measurements related to at least one analyte in interstitial fluid. The reader device is configured to detect the analyte in interstitial fluid via interaction with the substrate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating, concentrating and/or detecting molecules based on differences in binding affinity to a probe are provided. The molecules may be differentially modified. The molecules may be differentially methylated nucleic acids. The methods can be used in fields such as epigenetics or oncology to selectively concentrate or detect the presence of specific biomolecules or differentially modified biomolecules, to provide diagnostics for disorders such as fetal genetic disorders, to detect biomarkers in cancer, organ failure, disease states, infection or the like.

Abstract: An imaging agent for detecting analytes in an environment includes functionalized nanodiamonds and functionalized magnetic particles that can selectively interact with an analyte. Each functionalized nanodiamond contains at least one color center configured emit light in response to illumination. At least one property of the light emitted by the color centers is related to the proximity of the functionalized magnetic particles to the color centers. This property can be detected to determine that the functionalized nanodiamonds are proximate to the functionalized magnetic particles, to determine that the functionalized nanodiamonds and the functionalized magnetic particles are interacting with the analyte, or other applications. Devices and methods for detecting properties of the analyte by interacting with the functionalized nanodiamonds and functionalized magnetic particles are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards dynamic semantic models having multiple indices. Source data may be provided to a network computer from at least one separate data source. A raw data graph may be generated from the source data such that the structure of the raw data graph may be based on the structure of the source data. Elements of the raw data graph may be mapped to a concept graph. Concept instances may be generated based on the concept graph, the raw data graph, and the source data. Model-identifiers (MIDs) that correspond to the concept instances may be generated to include at least a path in the concept graph The MID values may be indexed into a plurality of indices based on a content-type of the data associated with the MIDs. In response to a query, a result set may be generated that includes result MIDs.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting the flow of blood or other fluids in biological tissue by illuminating the biological tissue with two or more beams of coherent light and detecting responsively emitted light. A difference in wavelength, coherence length, beam divergence, or some other property of the beams of illumination causes the beams to preferentially scatter from, be absorbed by, or otherwise interact with respective elements of the biological tissue. Flow properties in one or more regions of the biological tissue (e.g., a region with which both beams of light preferentially interact, a region with which only one of the beams preferentially interacts) could be determined based on detected responsively emitted light from the biological tissue. Variations in speckle patterns over time and/or space, Doppler shifts, or some other properties of the detected light could be used to determine the flow properties.

Abstract: Wearable devices are described herein including at least two photodetectors and a mount configured to mount the at least two photodetectors to an external surface of a wearer. The at least two photodetectors are configured to detect alignment between the wearable device and a target on or in the body of the wearer (e.g., to detect the location of vasculature within the body of the wearer relative to the at least two photodetectors). Alignment of the at least two photodetectors relative to the target could enable detection of one or more physiological properties of the wearer. For example, the wearable device could include a sensor configured to detect a property of the target when the sensor is above the target, and alignment of the target relative to the at least two photodetectors could include the sensor being located above the target.

Abstract: Optical measurement of physiological parameters with wearable devices often includes measuring signals in the presence of significant noise sources. These noise sources include, but are not limited to, noise associated with: variable optical coupling to skin or tissue, variations in tissue optical properties with time due to changes in humidity, temperature, hydration, variations in tissue optical properties between individuals, variable coupling of ambient light sources into detectors, and instrument and detector noise, including electrical noise, radio frequency or magnetic interference, or noise caused by mechanical movement of the detector or its components. The present disclosure includes devices and methods configured to produce representations of the raw data in which noise, broadly defined, is separated from the data of interest. The disclosed devices and methods may include subtracting or calibrating out these noise sources and other spurious fluctuations in wearable devices with optical sensors.

Abstract: An imaging agent for detecting analytes in an environment includes functionalized nanodiamonds and functionalized magnetic particles that can selectively interact with an analyte. Each functionalized nanodiamond contains at least one color center configured emit light in response to illumination. At least one property of the light emitted by the color centers is related to the proximity of the functionalized magnetic particles to the color centers. This property can be detected to determine that the functionalized nanodiamonds are proximate to the functionalized magnetic particles, to determine that the functionalized nanodiamonds and the functionalized magnetic particles are interacting with the analyte, or other applications. Devices and methods for detecting properties of the analyte by interacting with the functionalized nanodiamonds and functionalized magnetic particles are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards dynamic semantic models having multiple indices. Source data may be provided to a network computer from at least one separate data source. A raw data graph may be generated from the source data such that the structure of the raw data graph may be based on the structure of the source data. Elements of the raw data graph may be mapped to a concept graph. Concept instances may be generated based on the concept graph, the raw data graph, and the source data. Model-identifiers (MIDs) that correspond to the concept instances may be generated to include at least a path in the concept graph The MID values may be indexed into a plurality of indices based on a content-type of the data associated with the MIDs. In response to a query, a result set may be generated that includes result MIDs.

Abstract: An imaging agent for detecting analytes in a biological environment includes functionalized, silicon vacancy center-containing nanodiamonds. Individual nanodiamonds of the imaging agent include at least one silicon vacancy center. The at least one silicon vacancy center can emit light having a wavelength in a narrow band in response to illumination having any wavelength in a wide range of wavelengths. The nanodiamonds are functionalized to selectively interact with an analyte of interest. The nanodiamonds can additionally include other color centers, and the imaging agent can include a plurality of sets of nanodiamonds having detectably unique ratios of silicon vacancy centers to other color centers. The silicon vacancy centers in the nanodiamonds can have a preferred orientation enabling orientation tracking of individual nanodiamonds or other applications. A method for detecting properties of the analyte of interest by interacting with the imaging agent is also provided.

Abstract: The method of mechanically controlling the rotation of a spool comprising a clutch providing a first position in which a first motive force is applied to the spool through the clutch, providing a second position in which a second motive force is applied to the spool through the clutch, providing third position intermediate to the first position and the second position in which both the first motive force and the second motive forces are applied to the spool through the clutch, such that there during the movement between the first position, the third position, and the second position there is no time at which at least one of the first motive force or the second motive force is not applied to the spool.

Abstract: Particles of interest such as DNA, RNA may be detected in trace quantities by subjecting the particles to concentration by scodaphoresis, detecting a signal indicative of the presence of the particles in a scodaphoresis focus spot and performing phase-sensitive detection on the signal using a reference signal tied to the scodaphoresis fields. Specificity may be enhanced by using a medium having high affinity for the particles and/or markers having specific affinity for the target particles. In some embodiments a fluorescence signal is detected and subjected to phase-sensitive analysis. The signal may be detected by a camera or other imaging system.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for easy removal of potted and trained plants from a plant container. The apparatus includes an elongated support member configured to assist plant training, and an elliptical-shaped support base connected to the elongated support member and configured to removably support a plant. Embodiments of the apparatus include support arms asymmetrically disposed on the elongated support member to upwardly support a plant.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating, concentrating and/or detecting molecules based on differences in binding affinity to a probe are provided. The molecules may be differentially modified. The molecules may be differentially methylated nucleic acids. The methods can be used in fields such as epigenetics or oncology to selectively concentrate or detect the presence of specific biomolecules or differentially modified biomolecules, to provide diagnostics for disorders such as fetal genetic disorders, to detect biomarkers in cancer, organ failure, disease states, infection or the like.

Abstract: An interactive recommendation system generates one or more recommendations (e.g., recommended products, travel destinations, etc.) for a user based on a recommendation model. The recommendation model includes one or more criteria that are used to analyze a datastore of user characteristics (e.g., a user's age, location, past online behavior, etc.) and generate one or more recommendations based thereon. The interactive recommendation system further presents a user interface that allows the user to interactively modify the criteria of the recommendation model and to apply the modified recommendation model to the datastore in order to generate one or more modified recommendations. In this manner, for example, the user can customize the recommendations he or she receives by interacting with the recommendation system to modify the recommendation model used to generate such recommendations.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for easy removal of potted and trained plants from a plant container. The apparatus includes an elongated support member configured to assist plant training, and an elliptical-shaped support base connected to the elongated support member and configured to removably support a plant. Embodiments of the apparatus include support arms asymmetrically disposed on the elongated support member to upwardly support a plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly reliable and scalable architecture for data centers. Work to be performed is divided into discrete work units. The work units are maintained in a pool of work units that may be processed by any number of different servers. A server may extract an eligible work unit and attempt to process it. If the processing of the work unit succeeds, the work unit is tagged as executed and becomes ineligible for other servers. If the server fails to execute the work unit for some reason, the work unit becomes eligible again and another server may extract and execute it. A server extracts and executes work units when they have available resources. This leads to the automatic load balancing of the data center.