Abstract: In some embodiments, one or more processors receive a financial instrument via an interface. The financial instrument indicates attributes of a financial transaction. The processors determine, based on one or more of the attributes, whether the financial transaction involves a cross border exchange. If the financial transaction involves a cross border exchange, the processors flag the financial instrument accordingly, perform a currency conversion, and communicate an electronic image associated with the financial instrument to computing resources configured to complete the financial transaction electronically without having to transport a paper copy of the financial instrument between financial institutions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for time-sharing interactions using a shared artificial intelligence personality (AIP) incorporated within multiple human interaction entities (HIEs). An AIP is an understanding construct that may control a variety of communication experiences to support a sense of ongoing social connectedness. An AIP may be instantiated within two or more HIEs that interact with humans in a human, cartoon or pet-like manner. HIEs may include robots, robotic pets, toys, simple-to-use devices, and graphical user interfaces. The AIP may be periodically updated based on human interactions sensed by the HIEs as well as knowledge of historical and ongoing events. The systems may provide two or more users with intuitive machine companions that exhibit an expert knowledge base and a familiar, cumulative personality.

Abstract: In one aspect, a cordless covering may include a roller and a shade panel configured to be wound around and unwound from the roller to move the shade panel between an extended position and a retracted position. The shade panel may include a front panel, a back panel, and a plurality of vanes extending between the front and back panels. The covering may also include a roller shaft extending through the roller and a tilt adjustment mechanism coupled to the roller shaft. The tilt adjustment mechanism may be configured to rotate the roller shaft to adjust a tilt angle of the vanes between an opened position and a closed position.

Abstract: A method for determining predisposition of a subject to developing renal dysfunction (AKI), and to a kit for use in making such a determination is provided. Suitably at least one marker selected from Midkine (MK) or H-FABP present in a blood or urine sample is used in the method.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for time-sharing interactions using a shared artificial intelligence personality (AIP) incorporated within multiple human interaction entities (HIEs). An AIP is an understanding construct that may control a variety of communication experiences to support a sense of ongoing social connectedness. An AIP may be instantiated within two or more HIEs that interact with humans in a human, cartoon or pet-like manner. HIEs may include robots, robotic pets, toys, simple-to-use devices, and graphical user interfaces. The AIP may be periodically updated based on human interactions sensed by the HIEs as well as knowledge of historical and ongoing events. The systems may provide two or more users with intuitive machine companions that exhibit an expert knowledge base and a familiar, cumulative personality.

Abstract: A coating composition for a food or beverage can includes an emulsified latex polymer formed by polymerizing an ethylenically unsaturated monomer component in the presence of an aqueous dispersion of a water-dispersible emulsifying polymer.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing a naphtha stream is provided. The process comprises providing a kerosene stream to a hydrocracking reactor. The kerosene stream is hydrocracked in the presence of a hydrogen stream and a hydrocracking catalyst in the hydrocracking reactor at hydrocracking conditions comprising a hydrocracking pressure, a hydrocracking temperature, and a liquid hourly space velocity at a net conversion of at least about 90%, to provide a hydrocracked effluent stream comprising liquefied petroleum gas, heavy naphtha fraction and light naphtha fraction. One or more of the hydrocracking conditions are adjusted to maintain a ratio of the light naphtha fraction to the heavy naphtha fraction of at least about 2 by weight, suitably at least about 2.2 and preferably at least about 2.5 in the hydrocracked effluent stream while maintaining the net conversion of at least about 90%.

Abstract: In one aspect, a cordless covering may include a roller and a shade panel configured to be wound around and unwound from the roller to move the shade panel between an extended position and a retracted position. The shade panel may include a front panel, a back panel, and a plurality of vanes extending between the front and back panels. The covering may also include a roller shaft extending through the roller and a tilt adjustment mechanism coupled to the roller shaft. The tilt adjustment mechanism may be configured to rotate the roller shaft to adjust a tilt angle of the vanes between an opened position and a closed position.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for sharing an artificial intelligence personality (AIP) among multiple human interaction entities (HIEs). An AIP is an understanding construct that interacts with one or more humans in a human- or pet-like manner, implementing a variety of communication experiences to support a sense of ongoing social connectedness. HIEs may include robots, robotic pets, toys, and avatars. The system may be implemented using two or more HIEs and, optionally, one or more remote and/or distributed processors to compute AIPs and sequence telecommunications. AIPs are periodically updated primarily based on human interactions sensed by the two or more HIEs. HIEs may continue to operate without interruption in the presence of significant telecommunications delays. The systems may provide two or more users with intuitive machine companions that exhibit an integrated knowledge base and personality cumulatively acquired from all users.

Abstract: Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) may be prevented in a patient, or its occurrence reduced in a population of patients, by using an anti-VAP device or an anti-VAP material such as an anti-VAP mouthpiece that absorbs secretions. By reducing the problem of bacterial-containing secretions that otherwise build up in the airway of, and elsewhere in, the intubated patient, VAP can be prevented from occurring in intubated patients, such as patients intubated with an endotracheal tube (ETT) or a nasogastric tube. Anti-VAP mouthpieces also are useable in non-intubated patients to maintain oral hygiene.

Abstract: An aqueous coating composition is provided that is useful in coating a variety of substrates, including interior or exterior portions of food or beverage cans. The coating composition includes a resin system that includes a multi-stage latex having a global extraction result of less than 50 ppm. In some embodiments, the multi-stage latex has a metal exposure value of less than 3 mA.

Abstract: An aqueous coating composition is provided that is useful in coating a variety of substrates, including interior or exterior portions of food or beverage cans. The coating composition includes a resin system that includes a multi-stage latex. In some embodiments, the multi-stage latex is formed using a process that includes emulsion polymerizing two or more stages in the presence of an aqueous dispersion including a water-dispersible polymer. In certain preferred embodiments, the water-dispersible polymer is a polyether polymer.

Abstract: The cMethDNA method of the present invention is a novel modification of the QM-MSP method (U.S. Pat. No. 8,062,849), specifically intended to quantitatively detect tumor DNA (or other circulating DNAs) in fluids such as serum or plasma at the lowest copy number yet reported. Unique compared to any other PCR-based assay, a small number of copies of a synthetic polynucleotide standard (STDgene) is added to an aliquot of patient serum. In a standard procedure, a cocktail of standards for a plurality of genes of interest (TARGETgene) is added to a sample of serum. Once total DNA is purified and processed, a PCR (multiplex step) is performed wherein the STDgene and the TARGETgene are co-amplified with the same external primer set. In the second nested PCR step, amplicons present in a dilution of the first PCR reaction are subjected to real time PCR, and quantified for each gene in one well by two-color real-time PCR.

Abstract: The present invention relates to strategies by which one or more phenolic resins are provided in aqueous phenolic dispersions in a manner so that the resultant aqueous phenolic dispersions are more easily combined with water-based latex compositions. The principles of the present invention make it much easier to formulate water-based latex compositions in which substantial phenolic resin content can be stably dispersed for long periods of time. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of making a coating composition, comprising a) providing an inverted aqueous dispersion comprising i) at least one polymer having one or more polar, hydrophilic groups; and ii) at least one phenolic resin; b) providing a latex composition; and c) blending the latex composition with the aqueous dispersion to form the coating composition.

Abstract: In some embodiments, one or more processors receive a financial instrument via an interface. The financial instrument indicates attributes of a financial transaction. The processors determine, based on one or more of the attributes, whether the financial transaction involves a cross border exchange. If the financial transaction involves a cross border exchange, the processors flag the financial instrument accordingly, perform a currency conversion, and communicate an electronic image associated with the financial instrument to computing resources configured to complete the financial transaction electronically without having to transport a paper copy of the financial instrument between financial institutions.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing a naphtha stream is provided. The process comprises providing a kerosene stream to a hydrocracking reactor. The kerosene stream is hydrocracked in the presence of a hydrogen stream and a hydrocracking catalyst in the hydrocracking reactor at hydrocracking conditions comprising a hydrocracking pressure, a hydrocracking temperature, and a liquid hourly space velocity at a net conversion of at least about 90%, to provide a hydrocracked effluent stream comprising liquefied petroleum gas, heavy naphtha fraction and light naphtha fraction. One or more of the hydrocracking conditions are adjusted to maintain a ratio of the light naphtha fraction to the heavy naphtha fraction of at least about 2 by weight, suitably at least about 2.2 and preferably at least about 2.5 in the hydrocracked effluent stream while maintaining the net conversion of at least about 90%.

Abstract: In some embodiments, one or more processors receive a financial instrument via an interface. The financial instrument indicates attributes of a financial transaction. The processors determine, based on one or more of the attributes, whether the financial transaction involves a cross border exchange. If the financial transaction involves a cross border exchange, the processors flag the financial instrument accordingly, perform a currency conversion, and communicate an electronic image associated with the financial instrument to computing resources configured to complete the financial transaction electronically without having to transport a paper copy of the financial instrument between financial institutions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the process of constructing plant-site specific functional microbiomes to screen, identify plant and soil microbes with beneficial traits, and to apply the functional microbiome, microbe or microbial consortia for improving the growth and health of plants cultivated on normal, stressed or marginal lands and for improving soil health, the removal and/or stabilisation of organic and inorganic pollutants, and the enhancement of soil microbial ecosystem functions.