Abstract: Seating assemblies and methods are disclosed. A seating assembly can comprise a seat, a back support, and a frame component. The frame component can extend from a bottom portion, positioned near an underside of the seat, to a top portion, configured to maintain the back support at a position above the seat. The back support can laterally extend from a left edge portion to a right edge portion and can include a spring member at or near each of the left and right edge portions. The spring member can include at least one undulation or are providing integrated compression adaptation to a user. The seating assembly can further comprise a tilt mechanism, engaged with the frame component, including one or more leaf springs and a spring contact assembly. The spring contact assembly can be positioned on a top side of the one or more leaf springs.

Abstract: A method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailer assembly comprises initiating a backing system mode with an electronic control unit (ECU) for the backing system when a start system input is received from a control device. At least one input is received by the ECU from the control device which includes information about a desired vehicle action. The ECU interprets from the at least one input the desired vehicle action and calculates a required vehicle response to achieve the desired vehicle action. The ECU then sends a request to at least one vehicle system to perform the calculated vehicle response.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of predicting cancer patient response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, e.g., an antibody drug blocking ligand activation of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or CTLA4. The method includes obtaining mass spectrometry data from a blood-based sample of the patient, obtaining integrated intensity values in the mass spectrometry data of a multitude of pre-determined mass-spectral features; and operating on the mass spectral data with a programmed computer implementing a classifier. The classifier compares the integrated intensity values with feature values of a training set of class-labeled mass spectral data obtained from a multitude of melanoma patients with a classification algorithm and generates a class label for the sample. A class label “early” or the equivalent predicts the patient is likely to obtain relatively less benefit from the antibody drug and the class label “late” or the equivalent indicates the patient is likely to obtain relatively greater benefit from the antibody drug.

Abstract: Seating assemblies and methods are disclosed. A seating assembly can comprise a seat, a back support, and a frame component. The frame component can extend from a bottom portion, positioned near an underside of the seat, to a top portion, configured to maintain the back support at a position above the seat. The back support can laterally extend from a left edge portion to a right edge portion and can include a spring member at or near each of the left and right edge portions. The spring member can include at least one undulation or are providing integrated compression adaptation to a user. The seating assembly can further comprise a tilt mechanism, engaged with the frame component, including one or more leaf springs and a spring contact assembly. The spring contact assembly can be positioned on a top side of the one or more leaf springs.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of predicting cancer patient response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, e.g., an antibody drug blocking ligand activation of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or CTLA4. The method includes obtaining mass spectrometry data from a blood-based sample of the patient, obtaining integrated intensity values in the mass spectrometry data of a multitude of pre-determined mass-spectral features; and operating on the mass spectral data with a programmed computer implementing a classifier. The classifier compares the integrated intensity values with feature values of a training set of class-labeled mass spectral data obtained from a multitude of melanoma patients with a classification algorithm and generates a class label for the sample. A class label “early” or the equivalent predicts the patient is likely to obtain relatively less benefit from the antibody drug and the class label “late” or the equivalent indicates the patient is likely to obtain relatively greater benefit from the antibody drug.

Abstract: Seating assemblies and methods are disclosed. A seating assembly (100) can comprise a seat, a back support (114), and a frame component (110). The frame component can extend from a bottom portion (118), positioned near an underside of the seat, to a top portion (120), configured to maintain the back support at a position above the seat. The back support can laterally extend from a left edge portion (1670) to a right edge portion (1672) and can include a spring member (122) at or near each of the left and right edge portions. The spring member can include at least one undulation or arc (1674) providing integrated rated compression adaptation to a user. The seating assembly can further comprise a tilt mechanism (408), engaged with the frame component, including one or more leaf springs (424) and a spring contact assembly. The spring contact assembly (426) can be positioned on a top side of the one or more leaf springs.

Abstract: A method of controlling a backing system for a vehicle and trailer assembly comprises initiating a backing system mode with an electronic control unit (ECU) for the backing system when a start system input is received from a control device. At least one input is received by the ECU from the control device which includes information about a desired vehicle action. The ECU interprets from the at least one input the desired vehicle action and calculates a required vehicle response to achieve the desired vehicle action. The ECU then sends a request to at least one vehicle system to perform the calculated vehicle response.

Abstract: Seating assemblies and methods are disclosed. A seating assembly (100) can comprise a seat, a back support (114), and a frame component (110). The frame component can extend from a bottom portion (118), positioned near an underside of the seat, to a top portion (120), configured to maintain the back support at a position above the seat. The back support can laterally extend from a left edge portion (1670) to a right edge portion (1672) and can include a spring member (122) at or near each of the left and right edge portions. The spring member can include at least one undulation or arc (1674) providing integrated rated compression adaptation to a user. The seating assembly can further comprise a tilt mechanism (408), engaged with the frame component, including one or more leaf springs (424) and a spring contact assembly. The spring contact assembly (426) can be positioned on a top side of the one or more leaf springs.

Abstract: Automated tax return preparation is provided using a relationship-based interview process coupled with universal data import. Information is collected through a process called the interview, during which a taxpayer is asked various questions about her background and relationships with financial institutions. The taxpayer provides to the tax planning software a list of financial institutions with which the taxpayer has a relationship, and the tax software retrieves tax data directly from the financial institutions. The combination of the interview, universal data import, and existing stored data enables an automated tax return system to prepare tax returns in advance with minimal user assistance.

Abstract: A suspended pixelated seating structure provides ergonomic, adaptable seating support. The suspended pixelated seating structure includes multiple cooperative layers to maximize global comfort and support while enhancing adaptation to localized variations in a load, such as in the load applied when a person sits in a chair. The cooperative layers each use independent elements such as pixels, springs, support rails, and other elements to provide this adaptable comfort and support. The suspended pixelated seating structure also uses aligned material to provide a flexible yet durable suspended seating structure. Accordingly, the suspended pixelated seating structure provides maximum comfort for a wide range of body shapes and sizes.

Abstract: Disclosed are strategies for the economical microbial generation of hydrogen, useful as an alternative energy source, from hydrocarbon-rich deposits such as coal, oil and/or gas formations, oil shale, bitumen, tar sands, carbonaceous shale, peat deposits and sediments rich in organic matter through the management of the metabolism of microbial consortia.

Abstract: Support elements and support structures form the basis of ergonomic body supports for chairs, mattresses and other structures. The support elements may be individually designed according to their location and body support function. Thus, the structures that include the support elements may provide point-tailored support for any part of the body to enhance comfort, fit, and proper anatomical support.

Abstract: A polygonal shaped container is provided which includes a wrapper surrounding a food product. The shape of the container is defined by either a frame containing a food product or rigid material incorporated with the wrapper. Access to contents in the container is provided by withdrawing a resealable sealing layer sealed to the top or side surface of the container and withdrawing the sealing layer from the container or by pivoting a rigid lid away from the top of the container.

Abstract: A method and system for relief of heat exhaustion symptoms through evaporative and conductive cooling is provided, and, more particularly, involves a rapidly deployable mobile fogging system suitably designed for relief of heat exhaustion symptoms, including a mobile platform for transporting the rapidly deployable mobile fogging system to locations where relief of heat exhaustion symptoms is needed, one or more fogging nozzles disposed on the mobile platform and oriented for dispensing a cooling pocket area of fog adjacent to the mobile platform, a coolant delivery system fluidly connected to the one or more fogging nozzles, and one or more controls for regulating the dispensing of the cooling pocket area of fog. In one embodiment, the rapidly deployable mobile fogging system comprises an emergency response vehicle. In one embodiment, the emergency response vehicle comprises a fire truck.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for predicting responsiveness of a subject to therapy with a CTLA-4 blocking agent. The methods involve assaying for at least one CTLA-4 polymorphism in the subject and predicting responsiveness of the subject to therapy with a CTLA-4 blocking agent based on presence or absence of a CTLA-4 polymorphic allele in the subject. The methods can further comprise selecting a treatment regimen with a CTLA-4 blocking agent in a subject based upon presence or absence of a CTLA-4 polymorphic allele in the subject. The methods can further comprise administering a CTLA-4 blocking agent to the subject according to the selected treatment regimen. Kits comprising a CTLA-4 blocking agent and means for assaying one or more CTLA-4 polymorphisms, optionally including a vaccine, are also provided.

Abstract: A phone synchronization device and method of synchronizing electronic address book data between multiple phone devices is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the phone synchronization device includes a housing having a support base, a first phone device reception slot, and a second phone device reception slot. The first phone device reception slot includes a first data synchronization port configured to receive and transmit data with respect to a first phone device when the first phone device is disposed within the first phone device reception slot and is in electrical contact with the first data synchronization port. The second phone device reception slot includes a second data synchronization port configured to receive and transmit data with respect to a second phone device when the second phone device is disposed within the second phone device reception slot and is in electrical contact with the second data synchronization port.

Abstract: A system for defining a plurality of work zones within an otherwise open area is provided. The system includes a rigid spine extending upward from a base surface. At least one worksurface is connected to the spine and extends outward therefrom. A support structure for the worksurface is connected to the spine and the worksurface. The support structure is capable of being adjusted in size to support worksurfaces of different sizes.

Abstract: Support elements and support structures form the basis of ergonomic body supports for chairs, mattresses and other structures. The support elements may be individually designed according to their location and body support function. Thus, the structures that include the support elements may provide point-tailored support for any part of the body to enhance comfort, fit, and proper anatomical support.