Abstract: A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

Abstract: A humidification system can include a heater base, a humidification chamber, and a breathing circuit. A cartridge can be removably coupled to the heater base. The cartridge can include various sensors, probes, sensor wire connectors, heater wire connectors, and/or other features. The cartridge can include features configured to mate with corresponding features on the humidification chamber and the heater base. The cartridge includes a memory, such as an EEPROM, or other suitable storage device. When the cartridge is installed on the heater base, the memory is electrically connected to a processor and/or memory of the heater base. Various models of cartridges can be produced for use with different humidification chambers, breathing circuits, and/or therapies. A connector can be configured to couple an inspiratory conduit to an outlet port of the humidification chamber. The connector can provide a pneumatic connection to the outlet port and an electrical connection to the cartridge.

Abstract: A circuit connector for a humidification system, the system comprising a base unit configured to be engaged by a humidification chamber. The circuit connector comprises an inlet to fluidly connect to an outlet of the humidification chamber to receive humidified gases therefrom, an outlet to sealably connect to or integral with a conduit for directing the humidified gases to a user, and an electrical terminal for electrically coupling the circuit connector to an electrical terminal associated with the base unit. The circuit connector may be releasably and lockably connectable to the outlet of the humidification chamber and/or orientation features may control orientation of component parts of the system as they are assembled.

Abstract: The present systems, devices, and methods relate to managing shared vehicle access. Vehicle access can be provided to a candidate user based on whether the user is included in a list of at least one user associated with a respective virtual key. Virtual keys can be created, or lists of at least one user can be updated to include the candidate user, to in turn provide vehicle access. Virtual keys can be stored in a plurality of virtual key slots, with vehicle access being provided based on a virtual key stored in an active key slot. Status reports can be sent to a reservation management device, for updating virtual keys or lists of at least one user.

Abstract: Described is a method of forming a biodegradable and/or edible tableware that has a three dimensional shape in a two-step cooking process by first partially cooking a dough, that contains at least a flour and gelling agent, in a mould (subject to pressure and heat) and then baking the moulded tableware. The dough may include a sugar, and if present, is present at a ratio of the gelling agent to the sugar from 0.8:1 to 1:0.8. The dough may include a vegetable oil as the gelling agent and if the gelling agent is a vegetable oil, the dough includes the addition of water.

Abstract: Time and value ordering may be applied for items stored in data backups. A change log that persists changes to a data set may be updated with changes and used to update an in-memory table for the data set, which describes changes to items up to a current time. An event may be detected to seal the in-memory table from subsequent updates and a persistent data object that orders the items in the in-memory according to both keys of the respective items and the respective time values of the items, as stored in the change log, may be generated and stored as part of a backup for the data set.

Abstract: The systems and methods described here can reduce the storage space required (memory and/or disk) to store certain types of data, provide efficient (fast) creation, modification and retrieval of such data, and support such data within the framework of a multi-version database. In some embodiments, the systems and methods can store each field of a set of records as a vector of values, e.g., a data vector. A set of records can be represented using a vector id vector, or “vid” vector, wherein each element of the vid vector contains a reference to the memory location of a data vector. A header table can store associations between labels and “vid” vectors that pertain to those labels. Identical data vectors can be re-used between different record sets or vid vectors needing that vector, thus saving space.

Abstract: A system for providing discharge monitoring of a firearm includes a first sensor, a trigger pull sensor assembly, an event detection module and a display. The first sensor senses a first acceleration along a first axis and sends a first input signal. The trigger pull sensor assembly senses mechanical movement of a trigger of the firearm, and communicates a second input signal corresponding to a position of the trigger. The event detection module receives the first input signal and compares the first acceleration to an acceleration threshold indicative of a shot; receives the second input signal and determines whether the second input signal is satisfies a second threshold indicative of a shot; determines whether a discharge has occurred based on both the first signal satisfying the acceleration threshold and the second input signal satisfying the second threshold; and generates an event detection signal based on the determination.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and systems for determining an emotional fitness metrics for users. A physiological parameter of the user is measured during a group activity using at least one biosensor to acquire a measured signal. The measured signal of the user is compared to a measured signal for the physiological parameter of one or more additional users as measured when the one or more additional users perform the group activity. An emotional connectivity may be calculated based on a synchronicity of the measured signal of the user with the measured signal of the one or more additional users, as well as a cognitive appraisal metric, a resilience metric and an emotional fitness metric. Connectivity values for user pairings for a group activity can be computed based a synchronicity in a time-series correlation for the physiological parameters for permutations of the user pairings for the group activity.

Abstract: A unit-dose dentifrice composition includes a soluble fibrous composition and a nonfibrous composition. The soluble fibrous composition includes web forming material and tin ion source. The nonfibrous composition includes abrasive. The abrasive and the tin ion source are in separate locations within the unit-dose dentifrice composition.

Abstract: The present systems, devices, and methods relate to managing shared vehicle access. Vehicle access can be provided to a candidate user based on whether the user is included in a list of at least one user associated with a respective virtual key. Virtual keys can be created, or lists of at least one user can be updated to include the candidate user, to in turn provide vehicle access. Virtual keys can be stored in a plurality of virtual key slots, with vehicle access being provided based on a virtual key stored in an active key slot. Status reports can be sent to a reservation management device, for updating virtual keys or lists of at least one user.

Abstract: Techniques for obfuscating and deploying digital assets (e.g., mobile applications) are provided to mitigate the risk of unauthorized disclosure. An asset can be received that is to be deployed to a plurality of mobile devices, each of the mobile devices associated with a corresponding account having account attributes. A deployment group of one or more mobile devices for deploying the asset can be identified based on a set of one or more obfuscation parameters, comprising account attributes shared among the one or more mobile devices within the deployment group. A customized obfuscation scheme to be applied to the asset can be determined based at least in part on the set of obfuscation parameters. The customized obfuscation scheme can be applied to the asset to generate an obfuscated asset. The obfuscated asset can be transmitted and/or updated over a network to the one or more mobile devices within the deployment group.

Abstract: Methods for transforming monocot leaf explants are provided.

Abstract: A satellite system may have a constellation of communications satellites. Satellite terminal equipment may be used to communicate with the satellite constellation. The satellite terminal equipment may have indoor and outdoor equipment that can communicate wirelessly. Power may be conveyed wirelessly between the indoor equipment and the outdoor equipment. The indoor equipment may include communications circuitry for supporting communications with electronic devices. The outdoor equipment may include satellite communications circuitry. The satellite communications circuitry may include antennas, satellite transceiver circuitry, and modems. Wireless communications between the indoor and outdoor equipment may be supported using radio-frequency wireless communications circuits or optical communications circuits.

Abstract: The systems and methods described here can reduce the storage space required (memory and/or disk) to store certain types of data, provide efficient (fast) creation, modification and retrieval of such data, and support such data within the framework of a multi-version database. In some embodiments, the systems and methods can store each field of a set of records as a vector of values, e.g., a data vector. A set of records can be represented using a vector id vector, or “vid” vector, wherein each element of the vid vector contains a reference to the memory location of a data vector. A header table can store associations between labels and “vid” vectors that pertain to those labels. Identical data vectors can be re-used between different record sets or vid vectors needing that vector, thus saving space.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the transient expression and activity of site-specific DNA modifying agent, morphogenic factors or developmental genes, either alone or in combination for eukaryotic cells. The morphogenic factor and DNA modifying agent may be provided to the same cell or to a different cell than that which was originally transformed. The morphogenic factor, or the double-strand-break-inducing agent, may further comprise a cell penetrating peptide. Exogenously provided DNA modifying agents and/or morphogenic factors need not be segregated away in future generations due to transient activities in the desired cell.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor die includes a polycrystalline semiconductor resistor structure (poly resistor structure). The poly resistor structure includes a resistive path between a first terminal and a second terminal. The poly resistor structure includes a first region having a net first conductivity type dopant concentration located in the resistance path and a second region having a net second conductivity type dopant concentration located in the resistance path. A silicide structure is located on both a first portion of the first region and a first portion of the second region to electrically connect the first portion of the first region and the first portion of the second region. In some embodiments, poly resistor structures with different conductivity type regions can be connected together.

Abstract: An ostomy armor includes a rigid base plate that covers a stoma of a patient and at least a portion of a waste collection bag attached to the stoma. The ostomy armor further includes a plate pad attached to the back surface of the rigid base plate. The ostomy armor also includes a belt that to hold the ostomy armor on the patient.

Abstract: A system for providing discharge monitoring of a firearm includes an event detection module, a signal processing module and a trigger pull sensor assembly. The event detection module has at least one sensor that senses an acceleration and generates an acceleration signal. The signal processing module receives the acceleration signal. The signal processing module is configured to determine whether the acceleration signal is a discharge event and generate an event detection signal based on the determination and is configured to maintain a shot count of the firearm based on the determination that the event detection signal is a discharge event. The trigger pull sensor assembly senses mechanical movement of a trigger of the firearm and communicates a trigger actuation signal to the signal processing module corresponding to a position of the trigger. The event detection signal is further based on the trigger actuation signal.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the introduction and the regulated expression of genes in plants. Compositions include promoter constructs that provide a level of activity useful for the regulated expression of site-specific recombinases, while avoiding premature excision. Further provided are isolated polynucleotides encoding novel babyboom polypeptides, expression cassettes, and plants comprising the same. Methods for the introduction of genes into plants are provided, including methods for plastid transformation and methods for the transformation of tissues from mature seeds and leaves.