Abstract: A telescopic boom system provides an extensible boom that may be used in spacecraft applications including supporting photovoltaic panels, communication antennas, instrumentation, and so forth. A stowed configuration is volumetrically compact, including the boom and actuators such as a motor. During deployment, threaded nuts for each nested section of the boom are self-aligning with respect to a leadscrew driven by the motor. Sections are staged for extension in staged sequence by a flexure arm engaging a ramp feature on a portion of the nested section. Extension failure mitigation is enhanced by allowing partial retraction of some sections during extension. Once fully extended, tension of the boom may be later adjusted, modifying the structural fundamental frequency. A ratchet may be engaged with extension of a final nested section to prevent retraction of the extended boom.

Abstract: A locking spacer assembly for filling a final spacer slot in a disk groove between platforms of adjacent rotating blades in a gas turbine engine includes a first side piece having a first outer surface, a second side piece having a second outer surface, a mid-piece disposed between and in contact with the first side piece and the second side piece. The mid-piece includes a base and a head. The base has a dovetail shape that engages with the first side piece and the second side piece. The head is flush with the first outer surface and the second outer surface. A fastener is partially disposed within the mid-piece and in contact with a surface of the disk groove.

Abstract: This system and method of for providing a tunable orbital angular momentum system for providing higher order Bessel beams comprising: an acousto-optical deflector configured to receive an input beam, deflect a first portion of the input beam a first deflection angle relative to an axis of propagation and along an optical axis and deflect a second portion of the input beam a second deflection angle relative to the optical axis; a line generator disposed along the optical angle for receiving the first portion and the second portion of the input beam and provide an elliptical Gaussian mean; a log-polar optics assembly disposed along the optical angle for receiving the elliptical Gaussian beam and wrapping the elliptical Gaussian beam with an asymmetric ring; and, a Fourier lens configured to receive the wrapped elliptical Gaussian beam.

Abstract: This system and method of for providing a tunable orbital angular momentum system for providing higher order Bessel beams comprising: an acousto-optical deflector configured to receive an input beam, deflect a first portion of the input beam a first deflection angle relative to an axis of propagation and along an optical axis and deflect a second portion of the input beam a second deflection angle relative to the optical axis; a line generator disposed along the optical angle for receiving the first portion and the second portion of the input beam and provide an elliptical Gaussian mean; a log-polar optics assembly disposed along the optical angle for receiving the elliptical Gaussian beam and wrapping the elliptical Gaussian beam with an asymmetric ring; and, a Fourier lens configured to receive the wrapped elliptical Gaussian beam.

Abstract: A coupler including a housing with a top part for attachment to an excavator arm of an excavator, and a bottom part for attachment to an accessory for the excavator, such as an excavator bucket, the bottom part including a front jaw open to a front of the coupler for receiving a first attachment pin of an accessory and a rear pin receiving area for receiving a second attachment pin of the accessory, a latching member for the rear pin receiving area, the latching member including a body, a further jaw extending below the body, a release member extending forward of the body, an attachment point for an end of an actuator and a hole through the body into which a sprung member is located, wherein the sprung member extends through and to under the body and into or partially across a mouth of the further jaw.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a request to process, against an electronic wallet, a portion of a transaction, an electronic wallet optionally comprising a sub-wallet, the transaction processed against the wallet and/or sub-wallet. The method further includes identifying one or more electronic value tokens in the e-wallet and/or sub-wallet that, when used together, will cover the portion of the transaction. The method further includes applying the electronic value tokens to the portion of the transaction.

Abstract: Fusion proteins comprising IL2 and IL2R? (e.g., CIRB), IL2, IL2R? and IL21R (e.g., CIRB21), and/or comprising IL2, IL2R?, and CD28 (e.g., CIRB28); natural killer (NK) cells that express the fusion proteins and methods of use thereof, e.g., to treat subjects with cancer; and regulatory T cells (T-regs) that express a fusion protein comprising IL2, IL2R?, and CD28 and methods of use thereof, e.g., to treat subjects with autoimmune disease or GVHD.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an isolation system, comprising a flexible, portable, disposable membrane with no rigid structures. The membrane inflates from a contracted state having a small form-factor for storage to an inflated state for use. The membrane has an opening on one side defining a chamber within, with the opening having a sealing member that when closed, seals off the chamber. The membrane includes a first port for ingress of gas into the chamber a second port for egress of exhaust gas via an associated exhaust filter assembly, with the second port intrinsically functioning as a passive pressure regulator.

Abstract: A game system for playing a game in which players launch projectiles by throwing them or striking them with a club in attempt to land the projectiles in particular zones to score points includes a platform and a plurality of containers positioned on the platform. Each container has a hole extending downwardly into the container which has a size such that each projectile is receivable alternately into each of the containers through the associated hole.

Abstract: An excavator coupler including a front jaw for receiving a first attachment pin of an accessory and a rear pin receiving area for receiving a second attachment pin of the accessory, a first closure mechanism for the rear pin receiving area, the first closure mechanism including an actuator and a movable second pin engaging surface for selectively securing the second attachment pin in the rear pin receiving area and for pulling the first attachment pin into the front jaw of the coupler, a second closure member for the front jaw for selectively retaining the front attachment pin in the front jaw, and a front latch control component for selectively controlling the second closure member between an open state and a closed state wherein the actuator includes a release member for selectively engaging a release arm on the front latch control component to activate or deactivate the front latch control component.

Abstract: A backplane connector for mating with a daughter-card connector assembly, said backplane connector having a front and rear orientation and comprising: (a) a retainer block configured for attachment to a backplane and defining a plurality of ferrule slots, each slot configured to receive a ferrule; (b) a plurality of ferrules disposed in said ferrule slots; (c) a plurality of ferrule springs to urge said plurality of ferrules forwardly; and (d) Fwafera plurality of ferrule spring retainers for retaining said ferrule springs and being mounted rearward on said retainer block, wherein each ferrule spring retainer retains springs for two or more ferrules.

Abstract: A daughter-card connector assembly comprising: (a) a housing defining a first plane configured for mounting parallel to a backplane, and a second plane for mounting parallel to a daughter card, and a plurality of parallel slots perpendicular to said first plane; and (b) one or more opto-electric cards, each of said one or more opto-electric cards disposed in one of said plurality of slots, and comprising at least, (i) a printed circuit board (PCB) defining at least a first edge and a second edge, wherein, when said opto-electric card is mounted in said slot, said first edge is parallel to said first plane and said second edge is parallel to said second plane; (ii) a blind-mate optical connector along said first edge; (iii) an electrical interface along said second edge; (iv) at least one optical component mounted on said PCB for converting between electrical and optical signals, said PCB being electrically connected to at least a portion of said electrical interface; and (v) one or more waveguides connecting

Abstract: An excavator coupler (10) comprising a housing with a top part (12) for attachment to an excavator arm of an excavator, and a bottom part (14) for attachment to an accessory for the excavator, such as an excavator bucket, the bottom part comprising a front jaw (22) open to a front of the coupler for receiving a first attachment pin (122) of an accessory and a rear pin receiving area (26) open to a bottom of the coupler for receiving a second attachment pin (134) of the accessory, the coupler further comprising a first closure mechanism (30) for the rear pin receiving area, the first closure mechanism comprising an actuator (40) and a movable second pin engaging surface for selectively securing the second attachment pin (134) in the rear pin receiving area (26) and for pulling the first attachment pin (122) into the front jaw (22) of the coupler (10), a second closure member (74) for the front jaw (22) for selectively retaining the front attachment pin (122) in the front jaw (22), and a front latch control com

Abstract: Described herein are immune cells (e.g., natural killer (NK), T cells) expressing a chimeric protein comprising IL2 and IL2R? (e.g., CIRB), a chimeric protein comprising IL2, IL2R? and IL21R (e.g., CIRB21), a chimera protein comprising IL2, IL2R?, and CD28 (e.g., CIRB28), or a combination thereof, and comprising a nucleic acid encoding a pore-forming protein, and methods of using such immune cells for treating a subject (e.g., a subject having cancer, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), or an autoimmune disease. Expression of the pore-forming protein can be induced to promote destruction of immune cells expressing CIRB, CIRB21, CIRB28, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling volumes of droplets is provided herein. In some cases, the systems comprise: a plurality of first light sources, a second light source, wherein a first light beam emitted a first light source of said plurality of first light sources is configured to intersect with a second light beam emitted from said second light source at an intersection area, wherein said system is configured to measure a characteristic of said droplet as it passes through said intersection area. Systems and methods for measuring volumes of droplets and for distinguishing between bubbles and droplets are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a bone screw formed of continuous fibers, for example. The bone screw may include a first portion having a cylindrical shape and extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, for example. In various embodiments, the first portion may include a thermoplastic material and/or be substantially formed of a thermoplastic material. In various embodiments, the bone screw may include a second portion coupled to the first portion and surrounding the first portion, at least partly, for example. In various embodiments, the second portion may include a plurality of layers, each layer comprising a continuous fiber material, for example. In various embodiments, the continuous fibers may be oriented longitudinally, diagonally, helically, radially, etc. In various embodiments, the second portion may define an exposed thread pattern and a leading tip.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to generate a base digital file for a garment and a custom digital file for the garment, which may be used in garment production. For example, a system may receive information providing various specifications for manufacturing a garment, generate a base digital file for the garment, receive a request to transform the garment from a first garment size to a second garment size, and then generate a custom digital file for the garment by applying custom user body measurements to the base digital file or by applying a grading scale.

Abstract: This system and method of for providing a tunable orbital angular momentum system for providing higher order Bessel beams comprising: an acousto-optical deflector configured to receive an input beam, deflect a first portion of the input beam a first deflection angle relative to an axis of propagation and along an optical axis and deflect a second portion of the input beam a second deflection angle relative to the optical axis; a line generator disposed along the optical angle for receiving the first portion and the second portion of the input beam and provide an elliptical Gaussian mean; a log-polar optics assembly disposed along the optical angle for receiving the elliptical Gaussian beam and wrapping the elliptical Gaussian beam with an asymmetric ring; and, a Fourier lens configured to receive the wrapped elliptical Gaussian beam.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to customize a base digital file for a garment according to a user's body measurements and generate a custom digital file for the garment, which may be used in garment production. For example, a system may receive a request to generate a custom-fit garment, customization options, and information regarding a customer's body measurements, retrieve a base digital file for the garment, identify points and edges in the base digital file of the garment, adjust the points and edges according to defined equations that take into account the user's body measurements, generate a custom digital file for the garment, and display a visual representation of the customized garment.

Abstract: This system and method of for providing a tunable orbital angular momentum system for providing higher order Bessel beams comprising: an acousto-optical deflector configured to receive an input beam, deflect a first portion of the input beam a first deflection angle relative to an axis of propagation and along an optical axis and deflect a second portion of the input beam a second deflection angle relative to the optical axis; a line generator disposed along the optical angle for receiving the first portion and the second portion of the input beam and provide an elliptical Gaussian mean; a log-polar optics assembly disposed along the optical angle for receiving the elliptical Gaussian beam and wrapping the elliptical Gaussian beam with an asymmetric ring; and, a Fourier lens configured to receive the wrapped elliptical Gaussian beam.