Abstract: A computer-implemented method for prepaid card funding for sponsored purchases includes receiving a payment request for funding a sponsored purchase using a payment vehicle, deducting funds from a financial account associated with the payment vehicle, such that the financial account has a negative balance, and loading additional funds into the financial account associated with the payment vehicle, such that the financial account has a zero balance.

Abstract: A dispensing system comprises a first electronic sensor and a controller. The first electronic sensor may be configured to detect a first change from a first amount of a fluid product in a dispensing system reservoir to a second amount of the fluid product in the dispensing system reservoir. The controller may be coupled to the first electronic sensor and configured to receive a first signal from the first electronic sensor indicative of the first change. The dispensing system reservoir may be disposed in the dispensing system. A method for determining a remaining service interval for a dispensing system reservoir is also provided.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine component having a substrate; a thermal barrier coating on the substrate having a porous microstructure; and a reflective layer conforming to the porous microstructure of the thermal barrier coating, wherein the reflective layer comprises a conforming nanolaminate defined by alternating layers of platinum group metal materials selected from the group consisting of platinum group metal-based alloys, platinum group metal intermetallic compounds, mixtures of platinum group metal with metal oxides and combinations thereof. A capping layer can be added over the reflective layer. A supporting layer can be added between the reflective layer and the thermal barrier coating. A process is also disclosed.

Abstract: An asset tracking system includes a tracking device associated with a mobile asset and a centralized device management platform. The tracking device is configured via a set of device configurations. The centralized device management platform includes one or more processors in communication with the tracking device and computer-readable memory encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause the system to receive location data corresponding to a location of the tracking device; evaluate the location data to identify a zone corresponding to a physical region that includes the location of the tracking device; compare an identified zone with a set of location-based rules to identify a rule associated with the identified zone; update the set of device configurations with a device configuration that is associated with an identified rule; and sync an updated set of device configurations to the tracking device to reconfigure the tracking device based on the identified rule.

Abstract: The invention relates to wound repair and healing, particularly to dermal or cutaneous wounds including but not limited to acute and chronic wounds, burns and ulcers.

Abstract: A patient-positioning system, and surgical componentry are provided. The patient-positioning system can be used to manipulate the patient prior to, during, and after surgery to globally or regionally articulate the patient's body to facilitate stabilization of the patient's spine. And the surgical componentry can be used to locally articulate the patient's body and/or the stabilize patient's spine. Surgical methods of using the patient-positioning system, and the surgical componentry for improving patient health outcomes are also provided.

Abstract: Described herein are microorganisms, in particular yeast, which have been transformed with one or more expression construct(s) for i) the overexpression of the native genes encoding xylulose kinase (XKS1), transaldolase (TAL1), transketolase 1 (TKL1) and transketolase 2 (TKL2) and ii) the expression of a functional heterologous gene encoding a xylose isomerase (XI), where the xylose isomerase (XI) gene is derived from a microorganism selected from the group consisting of T. neapolitana, A. andensis and C. clariflavum. Also described herein are expression constructs, methods for fermenting pentose sugars using the microorganisms and methods for producing such microorganisms.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for rigging interfaces couple to winch cable terminals that protect outer surfaces of fairleads and rigging devices as connections between objects. In one example, a rigging interface may include curved surfaces adapted to nest against a fairlead. In another example, a rigging device may have one or more removable elements allowing for coupling of the device to other objects.

Abstract: A bone anchor assembly includes a bone anchor with a capture portion having a horizontal capture recess and an anchor portion opposite the capture portion, and a receiver with a central bore having a seat surface proximate a bottom opening and a channel for receiving a rod. The assembly also includes a ring retainer with a center aperture having a lower internal recess and an upper internal recess, an open sweep ring in the lower internal recess for sweeping the capture recess of bone debris when the capture portion is uploaded into the center aperture of the ring retainer, and an open capture ring in the upper internal recess for snapping into the swept capture recess of the bone anchor to capture and hold the capture portion of the bone anchor to the ring retainer. The ring retainer is positionable within the central bore of the receiver with its outer surface in frictional engagement with the seat surface to secure the captured bone anchor to the receiver.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microchannel device for preparation of sperm, the device comprising: an inlet; an extraction zone; and a channel fluidly connecting the inlet to the extraction zone; wherein the channel comprises a plurality of orienting features operable to bias a direction of sperm cell movement within the channel towards a preferred direction; and wherein the channel has a length of approximately 1 centimetre or greater. Further, the invention relates to a method of sperm preparation using the microchannel device.

Abstract: A patient support system includes independently adjustable end columns supporting a centrally hinged, jointed or breaking patient support structure. At least one column includes a powered rotation assembly. The patient support includes at least two sections. A coordinated drive system provides for both upwardly and downwardly breaking or jointed orientations of the two sections in various inclined and tilted positions. Cable, cantilevered and pull-rod systems are included.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatus, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like for identifying stale or vibrant open-source packages by training a predictive machine learning model with a labeled dataset, wherein the labeled dataset is created by generating package-basis features and version-basis features based on repository data, generating package-basis clusters based on the package-basis features, generating version-basis clusters based on the version-basis features, and generating labels for the labeled dataset based on the package-basis clusters and the version-basis clusters.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting corrosion of metal surfaces, such as carbon steel tubing, that are in contact with a fluid, such as brine in an oil and gas production fluid containing acid gases (e.g., CO2 and H2S) is accomplished by introducing a corrosion-inhibiting blend of two components into the fluid, where blend is glycolipids and quaternized amines, glycolipids and phosphate-containing compounds, quaternized amines and imidazoline-like compounds, quaternized amines and phosphate-containing compounds, or combinations of these blends. Each of the two components of the blends are present in an amount effective to synergistically inhibiting the corrosion of the metal surface when used together.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is one or more subtilisin variant useful for cleaning applications and in methods of cleaning. One embodiment is directed to one or more subtilisin variant, including one or more Bacillus sp. subtilisin polypeptide variant, and one or more cleaning composition comprising one or more such variant.

Abstract: A business poly-intelligence application enabling the secure collection, warehousing, analysis, and reporting of manually shared and publicly sourced business strategy data is presented with systems, methods, and computer-readable media with a specific focus on crowdsourced cybersecurity strategy development.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for using a stored value payment vehicle processing engine to receive a stored value processing rule defining one or more of a stored value processing filter and a transaction velocity; and to associate a stored value payment vehicle with the stored value processing rule. Once associated, an authorization request is received for payment and approval of authorization request is determined.

Abstract: Provided herein, are matrices and methods for the stabilization of proteins and nucleic acids. The stabilized proteins and nucleic acids described herein can be in a sample taken from a subject and can be subsequently stabilized and stored on the matrix. An analyte of interest can be concentrated and eluted for analysis from this sample. The stabilized proteins and nucleic acids described herein can be components of a sample preparation reagent, and the reagent is stored on the matrix and hydration of the matrix with a sample can result in a reaction occurring.

Abstract: A battery assembly base portion, comprising a base plate comprising a base plate top surface and side edges, and a siderail comprising a siderail top surface and an inner edge. A weld groove is formed in one of the inner edge of the siderail and a side edge of the base plate. The siderail is attached to the base plate by a weld bead formed along the weld groove such that the base plate top surface and the siderail top surface are flush with one another.

Abstract: Lamination systems and methods of fabricating devices are disclosed. The lamination system includes multiple processing modules for delaminating a backgrinding (BG) from a surface of the wafer and laminating a dicing tape on the surface of the wafer. The system includes a wafer receiving module which is configured to hold the wafer in place with a position chuck throughout the delamination and lamination process. By using a single positioning chuck, more efficient processing is achieved. For example, there is no need to re-lign the wafer when it is moved from one chuck to another.