Abstract: A plug connector for electrically and mechanically connecting a pair of electrical conductors of a line comprises an insulator and a housing receiving the insulator. The insulator receives and positions a pair of end sleeves each connected to one of the electrical conductors. The housing has a plurality of plug orientations each visually and haptically denoted by a marking in a grip region of the housing.

Abstract: A concentrated fruit juice powder obtained by a convection current vacuum freeze drying process that includes: selecting and preparing fruits by predetermined quality guideline; extracting fruit juice by inserting the fruits into a screw press juicing apparatus having a precutter and a screw press whose body surface varies non-linearly, which is configured to achieve a maximum extraction efficiency; adding probiotics into the extracted fruit juice; freezing the fruit juice mixed with the probiotics in molds using an individual quick freezer (IQF) to obtain frozen fruit juice blocks; and vacuum freezing the frozen fruit juice blocks using a convection current vacuum freeze drying apparatus.

Abstract: A contact device comprises an outer housing delimiting a first inner space, an inner housing delimiting a second inner space and arranged in the first inner space, a contact element arranged in the second inner space, a first sealing element arranged between the inner housing and the outer housing, and a second sealing element arranged between the contact element and the inner housing. The first sealing element seals the first inner space from an environment of the contact device. The second sealing device seals the second inner space from the environment.

Abstract: A concentrated coffee extract powder (instant coffee) and a system for producing the same are disclosed which includes: selecting and preparing coffee beans by a predetermined quality guideline; receiving a coffee extract by inputting the coffee beans into a high-volume coffee brewing machine a high-volume coffee brewing machine having a plurality of percolation tanks whose fluid inter-communication is controlled by a a Boolen logic performed by a proportional integral derivative controller (PIDC) after receiving time, temperature, and pressure data from the plurality of percolation tanks so that the coffee extract is qualitatively constant in each of said plurality of percolation tanks; freezing the coffee extract mixed with the probiotics in molds using an individual quick freezer (IQF) to obtain frozen coffee extract blocks; and vacuum freezing the frozen coffee extract blocks using a convection current vacuum freeze drying apparatus.

Abstract: Provided are various embodiments relating to variant IgG Fc polypeptides of companion animals having increased Protein A binding for ease of purification, decreased C1q binding for reduced complement-mediated immune responses, decreased CD16 binding (e.g., for reduced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) induction, increased stability, and/or the ability to form heterodimeric proteins. In addition, various embodiments relating to antibodies and fusion proteins comprising such variant IgG Fc polypeptides are provided. Also provided are various embodiments relating to contiguous polypeptides comprising one or more variant GLP1 polypeptide(s) having improved serum half-life. Further provided are various embodiments relating to contiguous polypeptides or heterodimeric polypeptides comprising a GLP1 polypeptide and a glucagon polypeptide as a dual GLP1 receptor and glucagon receptor agonist.

Abstract: In an approach for compressing a neural network, a processor receives a neural network, wherein the neural network has been trained on a set of training data. A processor receives a compression ratio. A processor compresses the neural network based on the compression ratio using an optimization model to solve for sparse weights. A processor re-trains the compressed neural network with the sparse weights. A processor outputs the re-trained neural network.

Abstract: A convection current vacuum freeze drying method and a computer software program for manufacturing a product are disclosed which include: selecting specific freeze drying settings from a Database for a specific product; loading the specific freeze drying settings into a controller for fully controlling of the convection current freeze drying process; performing the convection current freeze drying process using an ice condenser unit equipped with a plurality of elongate heat exchange tubes having radially arranged fins; determining whether the convection current freeze drying process is operated in accordance to the specific freeze drying settings using a plurality of sensors and the controller, if the specific freeze drying settings are not corrected, then readjusting the specific freeze drying settings using the controller, and if the specific freeze drying settings are correct then packaging product.

Abstract: Provided are various embodiments relating to anti-IL17A antibodies and IL17Ra ECD polypeptides that bind to IL17A. In various embodiments, such anti-IL17A antibodies or IL17Ra ECD polypeptides can be used in methods to treat IL17-induced conditions in subjects, such as humans or companion animals, such as canines, felines, and equines. Also provided are various embodiments relating to IgG Fc variant polypeptides having one or more amino acid substitutions for reducing binding to C1q and/or CD16. In some embodiments, the IgG Fc variants and/or polypeptides comprising the IgG Fc variants (e.g., fusion polypeptides comprising the IgG Fc variants and the anti-IL17A antibodies and/or IL17Ra ECD polypeptides described herein) may have reduced complement-mediated immune responses and/or antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a new methodology aimed at preparing highly N-doped mesoporous carbon macroscopic composites, and their use as highly efficient heterogeneous metal-free catalysts in a number of industrially relevant catalytic transformations.

Abstract: A concentrated sugarcane juice powder obtained by a convection current vacuum freeze drying process that includes: selecting and preparing sugarcane stalks by a predetermined quality guideline; extracting sugarcane juice by inserting the sugarcane stalks into a sugarcane juice extracting apparatus having a mesh pattern of micro ridges configured to achieve a maximum extraction efficiency; adding probiotics into the extracted sugarcane juice; freezing the sugarcane juice mixed with the probiotics in molds using an individual quick freezer (IQF) to obtain frozen sugarcane juice blocks; and vacuum freezing said frozen sugarcane juice blocks using a convection current vacuum freeze drying apparatus.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes connecting to a virtual session for co-experiencing digital media content with one or more other users in a virtual reality environment, where the virtual reality environment comprises a screen for displaying the digital media content, receiving relative-position information indicating relative positions between the first user and the one or more other users in the virtual reality environment, rendering the screen based on a first position of the first user in the virtual reality environment, wherein the screen and the first position of the first user have a predefined spatial relationship in the virtual reality environment, and rendering, based on the received relative-position information and the first position of the first user, a second avatar representing a second user in the virtual reality environment, wherein the second user is one of the one or more other users.

Abstract: Epigenetic methods for assessing pluripotentcy of a cell population, such as a stem cell culture are provided. For example, pluripotency can be assessed by determining DNA methylation status at the RAB25, NANOG, PTPN6, MGMT, GBP3 and/or LYST gene regions. Kits and reagents for testing cells are likewise provided.

Abstract: Provided are various embodiments relating to anti-IL31 antibodies binding to canine IL31. Such antibodies can be used in methods to treat IL31-induced conditions in companion animals, such as canines, felines, and equines.

Abstract: Provided are various embodiments relating to IL13R/IL4R contiguous polypeptides derived from companion animal species and that bind to IL13 and/or IL4. Such contiguous polypeptides can be used in methods to treat IL13 and/or IL4-induced conditions in companion animals, such as canines, felines, and equines.

Abstract: A microwave connector assembly comprises a waveguide ferrule having a receiving end receiving a dielectric waveguide, a connecting end distal to the receiving end, and a locking member, and a ferrule socket at least partially receiving the waveguide ferrule in a ferrule receptacle. The ferrule socket engages in a locking connection with the locking member. The ferrule socket has a coding member engaging a complementary coding member of the waveguide ferrule only when the waveguide ferrule is positioned relative to the ferrule socket in a single predetermined angular position or in one of two predetermined angular positions that are rotated by 180° with respect to each other.

Abstract: A convection current vacuum freeze drying apparatus is disclosed which includes a dryer chamber unit comprising a plurality of trays for depositing products to be freeze dried; a convection current condenser unit, mechanically connected to the dryer chamber unit, comprising a plurality of first elongate heat exchange tubes each having fins arranged around an outer circumference of the first elongate heat exchange tube; a refrigerator unit mechanically connected to the convection current condenser unit, operable to provide cold temperature to the plurality of elongate heat exchange tubes; a cooling tower unit mechanically connected to the convection current condenser unit; a primary vacuum pump unit, mechanically connected to the convection current condenser unit and the cooling tower unit, operable to provide a vacuum pressure to said convection current condenser unit; and a heater unit mechanically connected to provide a heat energy to both the dryer chamber unit and the convection current condenser unit.

Abstract: A contact device comprises an outer housing delimiting a first inner space, an inner housing delimiting a second inner space and arranged in the first inner space, a contact element arranged in the second inner space, a first sealing element arranged between the inner housing and the outer housing, and a second sealing element arranged between the contact element and the inner housing. The first sealing element seals the first inner space from an environment of the contact device. The second sealing device seals the second inner space from the environment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a scheduling apparatus and method. The scheduling apparatus includes a network topology configuration unit and a scheduling unit. The network topology configuration unit configures a network topology that connects nodes to which rank values have been allocated based on a sink node. The scheduling unit schedules data transmission over an uplink and a downlink in a first region and a second region defined in each slot frame based on the rank values obtained based on the sink node. The first region and the second region have different time offsets within the slot frame.

Abstract: A plug connector for electrically and mechanically connecting a pair of electrical conductors of a line comprises an insulator and a housing receiving the insulator. The insulator receives and positions a pair of end sleeves each connected to one of the electrical conductors. The housing has a plurality of plug orientations each visually and haptically denoted by a marking in a grip region of the housing.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns hyperthermic devices for treating vascular involvements related to cancer therapies, such as surgery. In specific embodiments, the device is configured to provide therapeutic heating to destroy vessel-encasing tumors while still protecting the vessel itself. In particular embodiments, the devices utilize two opposing semi-cylindrical shells that encase the vessel in need of treatment of a tumor thereon. In other devices, a flexible substrate is guided under and around the vessel and tumor thereon.