Abstract: A portable steam generator includes a power source in a housing, a water tank in the housing, a heating element in the housing and configured to heat water in the water tank to produce steam using power from the power source, and a track on the housing configured to support the portable steam generator in an installation position and allow manual removal from the installation position. A pre-plumbed integrated bathroom panel includes a plumbing inlet configured to provide water to the panel, a water outlet connected to the plumbing inlet, a steam outlet connected to the plumbing inlet and a heating element, a sanitizing outlet connected to the plumbing inlet and an additive generator, valves for directing water from the plumbing inlet to the at least one water outlet, the at least one steam outlet, and the at least one sanitizing outlet, and a controller configured to operate at least the plurality of valves.

Abstract: A system and method for using financial instruments to provide investment incentive to fund disaster mitigation projects and/or ecosystem restoration projects triggered by real world events detected at set points by sensors and analyzed by computing devices. The detection of events results in the computational analysis and determination of a characteristics of a resilience bond or ecosystem-service bond to be issued or returned to investors. Examples involve sensors used to detect events, including flood damage mitigation, earthquake damage mitigation, or air quality improvement. In one preferred embodiment of the disclosure an investor may make an initial payment into a financial instrument being a resilience bond used to fund a mitigation project, said financial instrument pays phases to the mitigation project developer at the completion of phases of the project that occur prior to the occurrence of a disaster.

Abstract: The invention relates to constructs comprising a transmembrane protein pore subunit and a nucleic acid handling enzyme. The pore subunit is covalently attached to the enzyme such that both the subunit and enzyme retain their activity. The constructs can be used to generate transmembrane protein pores having a nucleic acid handling enzyme attached thereto. Such pores are particularly useful for sequencing nucleic acids. The enzyme handles the nucleic acid in such a way that the pore can detect its component nucleotides by stochastic sensing.

Abstract: Global transcriptional profiling of CTLs in tumors and adjacent non-tumor tissue from treatment-naïve patients with early stage lung cancer revealed molecular features associated with robustness of anti-tumor immune responses. Major differences in the transcriptional program of tumor-infiltrating CTLs were observed that are shared across tumor subtypes. Pathway analysis revealed enrichment of genes in cell cycle, T cell receptor (TCR) activation and co-stimulation pathways, indicating tumor-driven expansion of presumed tumor antigen-specific CTLs. Marked heterogeneity in the expression of molecules associated with TCR activation and immune checkpoints such as 4-1BB, PD1, TIM3, was also observed and their expression was positively correlated with the density of tumor-infiltrating CTLs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, apparatus, and business method for using financial instruments to provide investment incentive to fund disaster mitigation projects and/or ecosystem restoration projects triggered by real world events detected at set points by sensors and analyzed by computing devices. The detection of events results in the computational analysis and determination of a characteristics of a resilience bond or ecosystem-service bond to be issued or returned to investors. Examples involve sensors used to detect events, including flood damage mitigation, earthquake damage mitigation, or air quality improvement. In one preferred embodiment of the disclosure an investor may make an initial payment into a financial instrument being a resilience bond used to fund a mitigation project, said financial instrument pays phases to the mitigation project developer at the completion of phases of the project that occur prior to the occurrence of a disaster.

Abstract: Provided herein are disinfecting compositions of a biocidal agent with a polyglycerol ester having a synergistic effect which allow for a reduction in the amount of the biocidal agent necessary to be an effective disinfecting composition.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to antimicrobial skin disinfectant compositions such as hand disinfectant soaps, comprising one or more quaternary ammonium compounds, one or more surfactants and an aromatic alcohol, achieving anti-bacterial and fungicidal or yeasticidal efficacy in short contact times.

Abstract: Provided herein are preservative composition of a preservative agent with a polyglycerol ester having a synergistic effect which allow for a reduction in the amount of the preservative agent necessary to be an effective preservative in an end-use formulation.

Abstract: Provided herein are preservative compositions containing a preservative agent with an alkylene glycol ester. Also provided are method for increasing the efficacy of preservative agents and methods for reducing the minimum amount of preservative agent needed for effective preservation activity in end-use formulations.

Abstract: In an approach to improve integration workflows by automatically generating convergent data mappings for branches in an integration workflow using a computer. A branch schema for each branch is generated, wherein the branch schema represents the union of all the individual node output schemas on the branch. A common output schema for a convergence point is generated, wherein the common output schema represents an intersection of all the branch schemas and generates branch mappings from each branch node to the common output schema.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I): wherein all variables are as defined in the specification. The compounds are apelin and APJ agonists for treating cardiovascular diseases. Preferred compounds are 2-(1,1?-biphe-1H-benzo[d]imidazole derivatives. The invention further provides compositions comprising the compounds and the compounds for use in methods of medical treatment.

Abstract: An inline controller for an audio headset is provided which is able to connect to a dock. A dock is also provided which is able to connect to an inline controller for an audio headset.

Abstract: Methods of characterizing an analyte using a nanopore. One aspect features methods for characterizing a double-stranded polynucleotide using a nanopore, e.g., without using a hairpin connecting a template and a complement of the double-stranded polynucleotide. Another aspect features methods for characterizing an analyte using a tag-modified nanopore with increased sensitivity and/or higher throughput. Compositions and systems including, e.g., adaptors for attachment to double-stranded polynucleotides and tag-modified nanopores, which can be used in the methods are also provided.

Abstract: A qubit assembly includes a first superconducting loop comprising a first Josephson junction and a second Josephson junction, a second superconducting loop comprising the second Josephson junction and a third Josephson junction, and a third superconducting loop comprising the third Josephson junction and a fourth Josephson junction. A flux source is configured to provide a control flux to the second superconducting loop, such that the effective commutation relations between a first quantum operator corresponding to current in the first superconducting loop and a second quantum operator corresponding to current in the third superconducting loop can be changed by changing a magnitude of the control flux provided to the second superconducting loop by the flux source.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for sample preparation, suitable for online or offline use with multilayer samples. Ion beam technology is leveraged to provide rapid, accurate delayering with etch stops at a succession of target layers. In one aspect, a trench is milled around a region of interest (ROI), and a conductive coating is developed on an inner sidewall. Thereby, reliable conducting paths are formed between intermediate layers within the ROI and a base layer, and stray current paths extending outside the ROI are eliminated, providing better quality etch progress monitoring, during subsequent etching, from body or scattered currents. Ion beam assisted gas etching provides rapid delayering with etch stops at target polysilicon layers. Uniform etching at deep layers can be achieved. Variations and results are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of sequencing a double stranded target polynucleotide. The two strands of the double stranded target polynucleotide are linked by a bridging moiety. The two strands of the target polynucleotide are separated using a polynucleotide binding protein and the target polynucleotide is sequenced using a transmembrane pore.

Abstract: The invention relates to constructs comprising a transmembrane protein pore subunit and a nucleic acid handling enzyme. The pore subunit is covalently attached to the enzyme such that both the subunit and enzyme retain their activity. The constructs can be used to generate transmembrane protein pores having a nucleic acid handling enzyme attached thereto. Such pores are particularly useful for sequencing nucleic acids. The enzyme handles the nucleic acid in such a way that the pore can detect its component nucleotides by stochastic sensing.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for sample preparation, suitable for online or offline use with multilayer samples. Ion beam technology is leveraged to provide rapid, accurate delayering with etch stops at a succession of target layers. In one aspect, a trench is milled around a region of interest (ROI), and a conductive coating is developed on an inner sidewall. Thereby, reliable conducting paths are formed between intermediate layers within the ROI and a base layer, and stray current paths extending outside the ROI are eliminated, providing better quality etch progress monitoring, during subsequent etching, from body or scattered currents. Ion beam assisted gas etching provides rapid delayering with etch stops at target polysilicon layers. Uniform etching at deep layers can be achieved. Variations and results are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to mutant forms of CsgG. The invention also related to analyte detection and characterisation using CsgG.

Abstract: An apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a semiconductor chip that includes logic circuitry, embedded dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cells and embedded ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) cells.