Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for the modular construction of a mixer-recorder and wireless receiving modules, where the receiving modules may be optionally attached directly to the mixer-recorder without the need for cabling between them and/or in combination with corded units placed in the vicinity of the mixer-recorder.

Abstract: Circular RNA and methods and constructs for engineering circular RNA are disclosed. In some embodiments, the circular RNA includes the following elements arranged in the following sequence: a) a 3? Group I self-splicing intron fragment, b) an internal ribosome entry site (IRES), c) a protein coding region or noncoding region, and d) a 5? Group I self-splicing intron fragment.

Abstract: It has been found that duplex monolithic parts can be manufactured in high volume at low cost by using powder metal technology to mold and sinter an inner component of the part into an outer component of the part. This technique reduces the cost of manufacturing intricate metal products by taking advantage of the attributes of powder metal technology in making the inner component of the part. The outer component of the part can be wrought machined, stamped or forged, or made by double press double sinter or forging a powder metal component of the part. In any case, this technique can beneficially be used in making a wide variety of toroid parts, such as gears, clutches, sprags, bearing races, one-way diodes, and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and constructs for engineering circular RNA Disclosed is a vector for making circular RNA, said vector comprising the following elements operably connected to each other and arranged in the following sequence: a) a 5? homology arm, b) a 3? group I intron fragment containing a 3? splice site dinucleotide, c) an optional 5? spacer sequence, d) a protein coding or noncoding region, e) an optional 3? spacer sequence, f) a 5? Group I intron fragment containing a 5? splice site dinucleotide, and g) a 3? homology arm. This vector allows production of a circular RNA that is translatable or biologically active inside eukaryotic cells. In one embodiment, the vector can comprise the 5? spacer sequence, but not the 3? spacer sequence. In yet another embodiment, the vector can also comprise the 3? spacer sequence, but not the 5? spacer sequence.

Abstract: In aspects, the invention provides novel compositions and methods for dominant inhibition of viral infection.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) having at least one sensor configured to generate a stream of usage data; and an analytical stream processing component comprising: a communication component that receives the stream of usage data; a memory configured to store at least a portion of the stream of usage data and at least one model for detecting a safety event signature, wherein the at least one model is trained based as least in part on a set of usage data generated by one or more other articles of PPE of a same type as the article of PPE; and one or more computer processors configured to: detect the safety event signature in the stream of usage data based on processing the stream of usage data with the model, and generate an output in response to detecting the safety event signature.

Abstract: A force transmission transmits forces received by three levers to an input gimbal plate having three support points. The input gimbal play may in turn transmit the force to a wrist assembly coupled to a surgical tool. The three axes of rotation for the three levers are parallel. Two of the levers may have half-cylinder surfaces at an end of the lever to receive a support point of the input gimbal plate. Two of the levers may be supported with one degree of rotational freedom orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the fulcrum. A spring may draw the second and third levers toward one another. Two levers may have stops that bear against the support points. The force transmission may include a parallelogram linkage that includes a rocker link pivotally coupled to the first lever and having a flat surface that supports the first gimbal support point.

Abstract: A method for growing nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) on Ga2O3 to provide thermal management in Ga2O3-based devices. A protective SiNx interlayer is deposited on the Ga2O3 before growth of the NCD layer to protect the Ga2O3 from damage caused during growth of the NCD layer. The presence of the NCD provides thermal management and enables improved performance of the Ga2O3-based device.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue (“micrografts”) to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and/or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and/or viability of the harvested tissue.

Abstract: A technique for selective-area diffusion doping of III-N epitaxial material layers and for fabricating power device structures utilizing this technique. Dopant species such as Mg are introduced into the III-N material layer and are diffused into the III-N material by annealing under stable or metastable conditions. The dopant species can be introduced via deposition of a metal or alloy layer containing such species using sputtering, e-beam evaporation or other technique known to those skilled in the art. The dopant material layer is capped with a thermally stable layer to prevent decomposition and out-diffusion, and then is annealed under stable or metastable conditions to diffuse the dopant into the III-N material GaN without decomposing the surface.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic composition that includes a mutant Clostridium difficile toxin A and/or a mutant Clostridium difficile toxin B. The mutant toxin may include a glucosyltransferase domain having at least one mutation and a cysteine protease domain having at least one mutation, relative to the corresponding wild-type C. difficile toxin. The mutant toxins may include at least one amino acid that is chemically crosslinked. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods and compositions for use in culturing Clostridium difficile and in producing C. difficile toxins.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for the inactivation of pathogens (e.g., bacteria, viruses, etc.) in ex vivo stored blood products, such as plasma and/or platelets, by means of directing visible light radiation from an illuminating device into blood product storage containers in order to achieve effective pathogen inactivation without the presence of an added photosensitising agent in the blood product. An exemplary apparatus includes a control unit that operates a light source that emits light in the wavelength region of about 380-500 nm which is directed onto blood product storage bags at sufficient intensity to penetrate the bag material and the opaque blood product therein in order to inactivate pathogens in the blood product but at dose levels that cause no significant detrimental effects on the blood product.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon control system includes a base device, a field device, and a mobile device. The base device includes a key generator configured to generate a temporary key. The field device is configured to restrict or allow access based on verification of a received key. The mobile device is configured to communicate with the base device to receive the temporary key when in proximity of the base device, communicate with the field device to provide the temporary key to the field device when in proximity of the field device, and exchange data with the field device in response to the field device verifying the temporary key.

Abstract: A lavalier microphone has improved dynamic range. The lavalier microphone incorporates a pair of microphone transducer elements into the same housing or attached housings, with one of the microphone transducer elements being more sensitive to acoustic input than the other. The voltage signals from the respective transducer elements are processed and combined, resulting in a digital output audio signal with improved signal to noise both at lower and higher input acoustic levels.

Abstract: A removable facial interface for a head-mountable device (HMD) is disclosed. In an example, an HMD includes a display; a facial interface frame at least partially surrounding the display; a removable facial interface attached to the facial interface frame; a first attachment mechanism attached to one of the facial interface frame or the removable facial interface; and a second attachment mechanism attached to the other of the facial interface frame or the removable facial interface, the removable facial interface being attached to the facial interface frame by the first attachment mechanism and the second attachment mechanism.

Abstract: Thermoelectric (TE) nanocomposite material that includes at least one component consisting of nanocrystals. A TE nanocomposite material in accordance with the present invention can include, but is not limited to, multiple nanocrystalline structures, nanocrystal networks or partial networks, or multi-component materials, with some components forming connected interpenetrating networks including nanocrystalline networks. The TE nanocomposite material can be in the form of a bulk solid having semiconductor nanocrystallites that form an electrically conductive network within the material.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes an instrument shaft with exit holes near a distal end of the shaft, a tool coupled to the distal end of the shaft, and a backend. The backend may include a mechanism that manipulates a drive element that extends through the shaft and couples to the tool, a fluid inlet, and a fluid channel assembly providing fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the proximal end of the shaft. Cleaning fluid is directed into the fluid inlet, through the fluid channel assembly, and into the shaft. A chassis or other structural piece of the backend may form part of the fluid channel assembly.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical instrument that is sensitive to backlash that would adversely affect the transmission of controlled torque and position to the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument is coupled to motors in a surgical instrument manipulator assembly via a mechanical interface. The combination of the mechanical interface and surgical instrument manipulator assembly have low backlash, e.g., less than 0.7 degrees. The backlash is controlled in the surgical instrument manipulator assembly. From the drive output disk in the surgical instrument manipulator assembly to the driven disk of the surgical instrument, the mechanical interface has zero backlash for torque levels used in surgical procedures.

Abstract: Activation of an automatic driving feature in a vehicle is detected by evaluating sequential vehicle operation data against subtractive and additive heuristic rules that define a likelihood of an automatic driving feature having been engaged as a function of vehicle performance. The sequential vehicle operation data, which does not include an explicit indication of whether the automatic driving feature was engaged, is provided for time intervals of a trip made by the vehicle. Automatic driving information is generated, which provides an indication of whether the automatic driving feature was engaged during a subset of the time intervals.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a core having a compressor section fluidly connected to a combustor via a primary flowpath and a turbine section connected to the combustor via the core flow path. An assembly is disposed within the gas turbine engine and includes a first part connected to a second part via a radial stack joint. The first part includes a radially inward facing surface contacting a corresponding radially outward facing surface of the second part. A fastener protrudes through the first part and the second part and is configured to maintain the relative positions of the first part and the second part. A channel is disposed on at least one of the radially inward facing surfaces and is positioned between the fastener and a circumferential edge of the first part. The channel is connected to at least one cooling air source.