Abstract: A smoking article may include a cigarette incorporated within an electrically powered aerosol generating device that acts as a holder for that cigarette. The smoking article possesses at least one form of tobacco. The smoking article also possesses a mouth-end piece that is used by the smoker to inhale components of tobacco that are generated by the action of heat upon components of the cigarette. A representative smoking article possesses an outer housing incorporating a source of electrical power (e.g., a battery), a sensing mechanism for powering the device at least during periods of draw, and a heating device (e.g., at least one electrical resistance heating element) for forming a thermally generated aerosol that incorporates components of tobacco. During use, the cigarette is positioned within the device, and after use, the used cigarette is removed from the device and replaced with another cigarette.

Abstract: An imaging system may include a sample stage comprising a surface to support a sample container, the sample container including a sample having a plurality of sample locations; an optical stage to image the sample at the plurality of sample locations; one or more actuators physically coupled to at least one of the sample stage and the optical stage to move the sample stage relative to the optical stage to focus the optical stage onto a current sample location of the plurality of sample locations; a first light source to illuminate the current sample location; a second light source to project a pair of spots on a next sample location of the plurality of sample locations; and a controller to determine, based on an image of the pair of spots projected on the next sample location, a focus setting for the next sample location.

Abstract: Using a suction gripper cluster device is disclosed, including: causing airflows to be generated by a plurality of airflow generators of a respective plurality of suction gripper mechanisms included in a suction gripper cluster device comprising a plurality of suction gripper mechanisms, wherein the plurality of airflow generators is configured to cause the airflows to enter respective intake ports of the plurality of suction gripper mechanisms and exit respective outlet ports of the respective plurality of suction gripper mechanisms in response to receiving air at a respective air input port of the respective plurality of suction gripper mechanisms; causing a target object to be captured by the suction gripper cluster device using the airflows; activating a positioning actuator mechanism to position the suction gripper cluster device; and causing the target object to be ejected from the suction gripper cluster device.

Abstract: A dispensing container is provided, the container including an outer shell comprising a top, a bottom, sidewalls extending between the top and bottom, and two ends, at least one end being open; an inner tray, slidably received within the outer shell, comprising at least one storage compartment adapted for storage of a plurality of units of a product to be dispensed, and comprising at least one depressible detent, the detent comprising a raised surface that abuts the outer shell; wherein, in a closed configuration, the detent holds the inner tray within the outer shell, and wherein the at least one detent may be depressed by pressure to allow the inner tray to slide relative to the outer shell.

Abstract: A smoking article may include a cigarette incorporated within an electrically powered aerosol generating device that acts as a holder for that cigarette. The smoking article possesses at least one form of tobacco. The smoking article also possesses a mouth-end piece that is used by the smoker to inhale components of tobacco that are generated by the action of heat upon components of the cigarette. A representative smoking article possesses an outer housing incorporating a source of electrical power (e.g., a battery), a sensing mechanism for powering the device at least during periods of draw, and a heating device (e.g., at least one electrical resistance heating element) for forming a thermally generated aerosol that incorporates components of tobacco. During use, the cigarette is positioned within the device, and after use, the used cigarette is removed from the device and replaced with another cigarette.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to improvements in methods for efficient editing of two or more endogenous tomato genes by insertion of one or more single stranded DNA donor molecules that are not homologous to the insertion sites in the tomato genome.

Abstract: A processing module may be centralized and coupled to multiple inputs from customers, and behave deterministically, e.g., programmed to depend on state, inputs and outputs. The rapid speed of automated trading systems implementing such a centralized, deterministic module, where all users can access a central limit order object, can quickly result in an object state that does not reflect a true consensus or desirable state. Accordingly the resulting problem is a problem arising in computer systems due in part to the high speeds of computer systems. The solutions disclosed herein are, in one embodiment, implemented as automatic responses and actions by a computing system.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to improved HVAC devices and kits for HVAC devices that improve the sound attenuation associated with the device, particularly low-frequency noise. An example embodiment includes an improved furnace including a housing with a combustion air chamber, a heat exchanger chamber, and a circulation blower chamber, wherein the combustion air chamber comprises a burner assembly and a combustion air fan, the furnace also includes a sound attenuation layer including a first acoustic metamaterial layer coupled to the combustion air chamber and tuned to attenuate sound for a first frequency band, one or more housing openings fluidly connecting the combustion air chamber to an environment outside the housing, wherein the sound attenuation layer includes a discontinuous section that aligns with one or more of the housing openings.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to improved HVAC devices and kits for HVAC devices that improve the sound attenuation associated with the device, particularly low-frequency noise. An example embodiment includes an improved furnace including a housing with a combustion air chamber, a heat exchanger chamber, and a circulation blower chamber, wherein the combustion air chamber comprises a burner assembly and a combustion air fan, the furnace also includes a sound attenuation layer including a first acoustic metamaterial layer coupled to the combustion air chamber and tuned to attenuate sound for a first frequency band, one or more housing openings fluidly connecting the combustion air chamber to an environment outside the housing, wherein the sound attenuation layer includes a discontinuous section that aligns with one or more of the housing openings.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to improved HVAC devices and kits for HVAC devices that improve the sound attenuation associated with the device, particularly low-frequency noise. An example embodiment includes an improved furnace including a housing with a combustion air chamber, a heat exchanger chamber, and a circulation blower chamber, wherein the combustion air chamber comprises a burner assembly and a combustion air fan, the furnace also includes a sound attenuation layer including a first acoustic metamaterial layer coupled to the combustion air chamber and tuned to attenuate sound for a first frequency band, one or more housing openings fluidly connecting the combustion air chamber to an environment outside the housing, wherein the sound attenuation layer includes a discontinuous section that aligns with one or more of the housing openings.

Abstract: An imaging system may include a sample stage having a surface to support a sample to be scanned by the imaging system; an optical stage having an objective lens, the optical stage being positionable relative to the sample stage; an actuator physically coupled to at least one of the sample stage and the optical stage to move the sample stage relative to the optical stage; a servo circuit to control the actuator; a first set of control parameters to control the servo circuit; a second set of control parameters to control the servo circuit; and a servo control circuit to apply the first set of control parameters to the servo circuit when the imaging system is operating in a first mode of operation and to apply the second set of control parameters to the servo circuit when the imaging system is operating in a second mode of operation.

Abstract: An entangling projectile includes a pair of pellets and a tether connecting the pellets. The pellets each have a head portion and a tail portion. At least one gasket is carried by the head portion of at least one of the pellets. The gasket is operable to provide a sealed interface between the head portion of the at least one pellet and a socket within which the at least one pellet is fired from a launcher.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are dermal substitutes comprising: fibroblasts positioned in a biologically compatible matrix, the biologically compatible matrix comprising a plurality of protrusions on at least one surface; wherein the plurality of protrusions comprise a length and width sufficient to improve a dermal graft outcome. Also disclosed are methods of treating a skin wound on a subject, the method comprising: contacting a skin wound with a herein disclosed dermal substitute. Also disclosed are methods of preparing a dermal graft for transplantation, the method comprising: culturing fibroblasts positioned in a biologically compatible matrix in a scaffold comprising a plurality of protrusions on at least one surface; wherein the scaffold comprises a plurality of protrusions comprising a length and width sufficient to improve a dermal graft outcome.

Abstract: An imaging system may include a sample stage comprising a surface to support a sample container, the sample container including a sample having a plurality of sample locations; an optical stage to image the sample at the plurality of sample locations; one or more actuators physically coupled to at least one of the sample stage and the optical stage to move the sample stage relative to the optical stage to focus the optical stage onto a current sample location of the plurality of sample locations; a first light source to illuminate the current sample location; a second light source to project a pair of spots on a next sample location of the plurality of sample locations; and a controller to determine, based on an image of the pair of spots projected on the next sample location, a focus setting for the next sample location.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to creating videos. A mobile device creates a graphic user interface to capture by the camera of the device multiple photographic facial images of a user for respective multiple facial expressions of a character in the video. Using the multiple photographic facial images, the device modifies stored character images by matching facial features of the character to facial features of the user for the multiple facial expressions of the character in the video and creates the video based on the modified character images. The facial expression of the user is used to influence the facial expression of the character. This method enables replacement of certain visual style elements with a given user's own style elements.

Abstract: An entangling projectile includes a pair of pellets and a tether connecting the pellets. The pellets each have a head portion and a tail portion. At least one gasket is carried by the head portion of at least one of the pellets. The gasket is operable to provide a sealed interface between the head portion of the at least one pellet and a socket within which the at least one pellet is fired from a launcher.

Abstract: An imaging system may include a sample stage comprising a surface to support a sample container, the sample container having a plurality of sample locations; an optical stage having an objective lens, the optical stage being positionable relative to the sample stage to image samples at the sample locations; an actuator physically coupled to at least one of the sample stage and the optical stage to move the sample stage relative to the optical stage to focus the optical stage onto a current sample location; and a drive circuit to determine a focus setting for a next sample location and to provide a drive signal to the actuator before the optical stage is positioned to image a sample at the next sample location, wherein at least one parameter of the drive signal is determined using a difference between a focus setting for the current sample location and the determined focus setting for the next sample location.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to creating videos. A mobile device creates a graphic user interface to capture by the camera of the device multiple photographic facial images of a user for respective multiple facial expressions of a character in the video. Using the multiple photographic facial images, the device modifies stored character images by matching facial features of the character to facial features of the user for the multiple facial expressions of the character in the video and creates the video based on the modified character images. The facial expression of the user is used to influence the facial expression of the character. This method enables replacement of certain visual style elements with a given user's own style elements.

Abstract: An imaging system may include a sample stage having a surface to support a sample to be scanned by the imaging system; an optical stage having an objective lens, the optical stage being positionable relative to the sample stage; an actuator physically coupled to at least one of the sample stage and the optical stage to move the sample stage relative to the optical stage; a servo circuit to control the actuator; a first set of control parameters to control the servo circuit; a second set of control parameters to control the servo circuit; and a servo control circuit to apply the first set of control parameters to the servo circuit when the imaging system is operating in a first mode of operation and to apply the second set of control parameters to the servo circuit when the imaging system is operating in a second mode of operation.

Abstract: A method for calculating a cost for energy consumption is provided. The method includes receiving information regarding an energy consuming device from the energy consuming device, and determining a first charging rate for energy consumed by the energy consuming device based on the received information regarding the energy consuming device.