Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved ball tossing device that is portable and adjustable to accommodate a variety of different balls and lobbing preferences. This may be achieved through various features including some or all of the following: a ball feeding mechanism using a rotating disk with an offset feed channel to deliver balls to the ball tossing queue; a catapult arm that uses a motor/spring mechanism to toss balls in the queue out of the machine; an indexer feature for isolating the ball to be tossed from the other balls in the queue; and adjustable features that allow users to vary ball trajectory of the ball being tossed.

Abstract: A beverage brewing device is configured for use with a beverage brewer having a plurality of inlet probes for dispensing water and an outlet probe positioned in a holster. A reusable cartridge includes a cup including a sidewall and a bottom wall, the bottom wall defining an outlet probe receptacle. A lid selectively secures to an upper rim of the sidewall with a twist lock mechanism. A cylinder on the lid includes inwardly extending tabs that seat within grooves on the upper rim and slide into circumferential grooves in the sidewall. The lid may include a central inlet probe receptacle and a plurality of perimeter inlet probe receptacles distributed around the central inlet probe receptacle.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to techniques for inducing physiological perturbations in a subject via neuromodulation, e.g., peripheral neuromodulation of a region of interest of an organ. The nature and degree of the perturbations may be related to the subject's clinical condition. Accordingly, an assessment of one or more characteristics of the perturbations may be used to determine a clinical condition of the subject.

Abstract: The invention includes sample preparation cartridges and apparatuses. The invention provides means for lysing and optionally selectively capturing at least one compound in a sample to purify, concentrate, and/or select for the at least one compound. The invention can be used in conjunction with a sample processing instrument to create a fully-automated or near-fully-automated sample workflow.

Abstract: A process for reducing an organic material to produce methane and/or hydrogen is disclosed. The process includes: (a) contacting the organic material with an excess amount of hydrogen gas in an enclosed reduction chamber at ambient temperature, where the reduction chamber is substantially free of oxygen, and heating the reduction chamber to cause a temperature increase in the organic material from ambient temperature to up to 425° C. at a rate of up to about 8° C. per minute, under positive pressure, to form a first gaseous mixture comprising methane, hydrogen, acid, and partially reduced volatile organic molecules; (b) heating the first gaseous mixture to a temperature of about 675° C. to about 875° C. in the presence of an excess amount of hydrogen gas to form a second gaseous mixture comprising methane, hydrogen, and acid; and (c) neutralizing the second gaseous mixture with a base.

Abstract: In an example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a mouse system comprising a plurality of temperature sensors, a thermoelectric device, and a processor. The processor receives a first input and second input from a first temperature sensor and second temperature sensor respectively. The first temperature sensor is in proximity to a users fingers, and the second temperature sensor is in proximity to a users palm. The processor activates the thermoelectric device based on the received first and second inputs. The processor receives a feedback from a user response and the feedback, the first input and second input are provided as input to a machine learning model.

Abstract: A projection system and method therefor comprises a first light source configured to emit a first-eye light, wherein the first-eye light includes a first set of wavelengths; a second light source configured to emit a second-eye light, wherein the second-eye light includes a second set of wavelengths; a first projector including first projection optics configured to receive a first input light; and an optical switch configured to be switched between an a first mode and a second mode, wherein the optical switch is configured to, in the first mode, combine the first-eye light and the second-eye light into a combined light and direct the combined light to the first projection optics as the first input light.

Abstract: The subject matter of the present disclosure generally relates to techniques for following a treatment protocol having one or more treatment parameters to cause a targeted physiological outcome at a distal site, assessing an expression level of a gene in a region of interest after completing the treatment protocol, and modifying the one or more treatment parameters based on the expression level of the gene. The treatment protocol may include one or more ultrasound energy treatments to the region of interest.

Abstract: Techniques for providing decision rationales for machine-learning guided processes are described herein. In some embodiments, the techniques described herein include processing queries for an explanation of an outcome of a set of one or more decisions guided by one or more machine-learning processes with supervision by at least one human operator. Responsive to receiving the query, a system determines, based on a set of one or more rationale data structures, whether the outcome was caused by human operator error or the one or more machine-learning processes. The system then generates a query response indicating whether the outcome was caused by the human operator error or the one or more machine-learning processes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for secure collaboration of intellectual property are provided. By way of introductory example, a cloud environment may store a session descriptor indicative of an executable, an input parameter for the executable, and a target recipient. The cloud environment may receive a first and second authorization of the session descriptor from the respective proprietors of the input parameter and the executable. The cloud environment may verify, based on the first authorization and the second authorization, the session descriptor is authorized. The cloud environment may generate, in response to the session descriptor being authorized, a collaboration result based on the executable and the input parameter. The cloud environment may control access to the collaboration result based on the target recipient.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining levels of a target analyte in a biological sample. A transdermal sampling and analysis device may include a substrate, at least one disruptor mounted on the substrate, a reservoir configured to collect and contain a biological sample, at least two electrodes, and an electrochemical bioassay configured to determine levels of a target analyte in the biological sample. The at least one disruptor of the transdermal sampling and analysis device may be configured to generate a localized heat capable of altering permeability characteristics of a stratum corneum layer of skin of an organism.

Abstract: A method for reducing slack in a linkage chain of a vehicle truck assembly is provided. In one example, the method includes responding to a request to de-lift a lift mechanism by reducing pressure in an actuator coupled to the lift mechanism, where the lift mechanism is configured to transfer a load from a first axle to a second axle of the vehicle during the de-lift, and during the de-lift, maintaining the pressure in the actuator at or above a threshold pressure to maintain tension in a weight transfer device of the lift mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope; an aft balloon secured to the sleeve; an inflation/deflation tube carried by the sleeve and in fluid communication with the interior of the aft balloon; a pair of hollow push tubes slidably mounted to the sleeve, the pair of hollow push tubes being connected to one another at their distal ends with a raised push tube bridge, the raised push tube bridge being configured to nest an endoscope therein; and a fore balloon secured to the distal ends of the pair of hollow push tubes, the interior of the fore balloon being in fluid communication with the interiors of the pair of hollow push tubes, wherein the fore balloon is capable of assuming a deflated condition and an inflated condition, and further wherein (i) when the fore balloon is in its deflated condition, an axial opening extends therethrough, the axial opening being sized to receive the endoscope therein, and (ii) when the fore balloon is in its inflated condition, the ax

Abstract: The subject matter of the present disclosure generally relates to techniques for neuromodulation that include applying energy (e.g., ultrasound energy) into the tissue to cause a change in a glucose transporter pathway molecule and/or an incretin pathway molecule. In one embodiment, the neuromodulation is performed as a treatment of a metabolic disorder.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining an optical bypass for an inter-regional wide area network (WAN) for regions of server facilities of a cloud service provider. In particular, the optical bypass connects non-adjacent regional server centers of the WAN by eliminating needs of data conversions at intermediate regional server centers. The determining the optical bypass includes receiving a WAN topology data, capacity and demand information about the WAN. The determining includes an objective function to maximize a number of network resources to free up by determining a revised data flow and bandwidth allocations by introducing the optical bypass in the WAN. The disclosed technology transmits the determined data traffic flow and resource allocation information of the optical bypass, causing a network traffic enforcers to reconfigure the WAN.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a protecting group for protecting the thiol side chain of a cysteine residue, the protecting group comprising a Diels-Alder cycloadduct of a furan and a maleimide, and optionally, a linker interposed between the thiol side chain and the Diels-Alder cycloadduct.

Abstract: The subject matter of the present disclosure generally relates to techniques for following a treatment protocol having one or more treatment parameters to cause a targeted physiological outcome at a distal site, assessing an expression level of a gene in a region of interest after completing the treatment protocol, and modifying the one or more treatment parameters based on the expression level of the gene. The treatment protocol may include one or more ultrasound energy treatments to the region of interest.

Abstract: An example modular meal system includes two or more modular meal components. Example modular meal components include a tray, a meal component disposed within the tray, and a sauce component disposed within the tray. The meal component is selected from a protein component, a starch component, a vegetable component, an appetizer component, and a dessert component. Each modular meal component is configured and/or formulated to reach at least 165° F. or at least 167° F. when heated from frozen for a heating time period within the range of from about 20 minutes to about 60 minutes and at a heating temperature within the range of about 350° F. to about 450° F.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for dynamically injecting secrets in a pipeline integration system. One of the methods includes receiving, by a pipeline controller, a job identifying a pipeline for executing a plurality of tasks. A preparatory task is invoked for the pipeline that obtains one or more original task definitions for the identified pipeline and generates one or more modified task definitions for the pipeline, wherein each modified task definition references one or more variablized secret names specified as the value of the reserved variable of the one or more configuration files. One or more subsequent execution tasks are invoked using each respective modified task definition. One or more retrieved secrets are injected into an execution environment for each particular execution task.