Abstract: Systems and methods for laser beam welding in a vacuum and for controlling laser beam welding processes, such as for use in manufacturing aerospace parts, are described herein. In some embodiments, a laser beam welding system can include an optical head movably positioned within a vacuum chamber. The optical head can be configured to direct a laser beam toward a part positioned within the vacuum chamber to melt and fuse the part.

Abstract: A computing device positioned in a vehicle for streaming data from the vehicle to a monitoring node. The computing device includes communications circuitry and processing circuitry operatively connected to the communications circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to: establish a secure communication tunnel with the monitoring node while the vehicle is moving; obtain data to be streamed to the monitoring node; translate the data into a message using a publish-and-subscribe protocol; initiate a communication session with the monitoring node; and transmit the message from the vehicle to the monitoring node via the secure communication tunnel.

Abstract: A computerized system and method for user interface management provides an augmented reality-based experience that delivers real-time visual cues to a cognitively impaired person, that monitors visual recognition performance, and that provides visual recognition training based on observed visual recognition performance. The system uses image/facial recognition to identify persons/places/objects encountered by a person/dementia sufferer and captured by a camera of a computing device, retrieves information associated with identified person/place/object, and displays retrieved information associated with identified person/place/object to the person/dementia sufferer via the device, e.g., in an augmented reality overlay to an image captured by the camera. The information may identify the identified person's relationship with dementia sufferer and other pertinent details. Accordingly, for example, a person with cognitive impairment can quickly assess who is approaching them, based on facial recognition.

Abstract: The present invention relates conotoxin peptides that are analogs of the ?-conotoxin peptide RgIA. These conotoxin peptides block the ?9?10 subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and can be used for treating pain, such as neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain, inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatic diseases, and in the treatment of breast cancer.

Abstract: A method for providing an assured currency exchange rate includes: storing, in an account database, an account profile, wherein the account profile includes data related to a payment account including at least an account identifier, a conversion rule, and a period of time; receiving, by a receiving device, an authorization request for a payment transaction, wherein the authorization request includes at least the account identifier, a transaction amount in a first currency, and a transaction time and/or date that is within the period of time; calculating, by a processing device, a new transaction amount in a second currency based on application of the conversion rule to the transaction amount in the first currency; updating, by the processing device, the authorization request to include the calculated new transaction amount in the second currency; and forwarding, by a transmitting device, the updated authorization request.

Abstract: The present invention relates conotoxin peptides that are analogs of the ?-contoxin peptide RgIA. These conotoxin peptides block the ?9?10 subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and can be used for treating pain, such as neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain, inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatic diseases, and in the treatment of breast cancer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods, kits and compositions using specially designed nucleic acid components for efficient assembly of a DNA construct. The method involves a) incubating a support with a first form of nucleic acid components under conditions to form support-bound nucleic acid component complexes; b) removing unbound first form nucleic acid components; c) incubating the support-bound first form nucleic acid component complexes with a second form of nucleic acid components under conditions to anneal and link the second form to the first form; d) removing unbound second form nucleic acid components; e) repeating steps c) and d) until the DNA construct is generated; and f) eluting the DNA construct from the support. The first and second forms of the nucleic acid component comprise sticky ends such that each form cannot link to itself but can link to each other to form an alternating head to tail sequence.

Abstract: A computer system includes an object oriented framework that provides a set of application integration interfaces that support programmatic updating operations for maintaining locally stored copies of resources such as hypertext document pages from remote servers on a computer network. The updating operations continually check for updates to the data at the remote server and download updated versions of the resources to maintain concurrency of the locally stored copy. The updating operations are performed while a connection to the remote network is left idle, to maximize usage of on-line connection time. The updating operations also can be programmatically scheduled by a client program of the updating operations. The updating operations include updating the contents of a folder or directory in a local file system as specified in a file at a remote server on the network, and providing automatically updating and populating groups of sites or document pages organized by category.

Abstract: The invention relates to peptides (termed propeller peptides herein) and related peptides (termed peptides of the G12.2 family herein), about 60 to about 90 residues in length, which are naturally available in minute amounts in the venom of the cone snails or analogous to the naturally available peptides, and which blocks the desensitization of AMPA-type ionotropic glutamate receptors (AMPARs).

Abstract: A computer system includes an object oriented framework that provides a set of application integration interfaces that support programmatic updating operations for maintaining locally stored copies of resources such as hypertext document pages from remote servers on a computer network. The updating operations continually check for updates to the data at the remote server and download updated versions of the resources to maintain concurrency of the locally stored copy. The updating operations are performed while a connection to the remote network is left idle, to maximize usage of on-line connection time. The updating operations also can be programmatically scheduled by a client program of the updating operations. The updating operations include updating the contents of a folder or directory in a local file system as specified in a file at a remote server on the network, and providing automatically updating and populating groups of sites or document pages organized by category.

Abstract: A combiner for optical beams includes a substrate overlaid by a multi-layer dielectric film stack. The substrate is a clear material and the dielectric film stack is a series of alternating layer of high and low refractive index. This gives the combiner relatively high reflectivity across UV wavelengths and relatively high transmissivity in the visible and longer wavelengths and allows visible light to pass through the combiner while UV light is reflected. At the same time dielectric film stack has minimal absorption and scatter. This means that the intensity of visible light maintains at least 90% of its intensity as it passes through combiner and UV light retains at least 90% of its intensity as it is reflected by combiner.

Abstract: A combiner for optical beams includes a substrate overlaid by a multi-layer dielectric film stack. The substrate is a clear material and the dielectric film stack is a series of alternating layer of high and low refractive index. This gives the combiner relatively high reflectivity across UV wavelengths and relatively high transmissivity in the visible and longer wavelengths and allows visible light to pass through the combiner while UV light is reflected. At the same time dielectric film stack has minimal absorption and scatter. This means that the intensity of visible light maintains at least 90% of its intensity as it passes through combiner and UV light retains at least 90% of its intensity as it is reflected by combiner.

Abstract: A combiner for optical beams includes a substrate overlaid by a multi-layer dielectric film stack. The substrate is a clear material and the dielectric film stack is a series of alternating layer of high and low refractive index. This gives the combiner relatively high reflectivity across UV wavelengths and relatively high transmissivity in the visible and longer wavelengths and allows visible light to pass through the combiner while UV light is reflected. At the same time dielectric film stack has minimal absorption and scatter. This means that the intensity of visible light maintains at least 90% of its intensity as it passes through combiner and UV light retains at least 90% of its intensity as it is reflected by combiner.

Abstract: A polymer substrate for recombinant protein purification is provided. A process for purifying recombinant proteins is also provided. In general, the present invention is directed to a chelating composition which may be used in a self-supported purification medium for recombinant protein purification. In another embodiment, a process for removal of transition metals from environmental waste is also provided.

Abstract: A computer system includes an object oriented framework that provides a set of application integration interfaces that support programmatic updating operations for maintaining locally stored copies of resources such as hypertext document pages from remote servers on a computer network. The updating operations continually check for updates to the data at the remote server and download updated versions of the resources to maintain concurrency of the locally stored copy. The updating operations are performed while a connection to the remote network is left idle, to maximize usage of on-line connection time. The updating operations also can be programmatically scheduled by a client program of the updating operations. The updating operations include updating the contents of a folder or directory in a local file system as specified in a file at a remote server on the network, and providing automatically updating and populating groups of sites or document pages organized by category.

Abstract: A computer system includes an object oriented framework that provides a set of application integration interfaces that support programmatic updating operations for maintaining locally stored copies of resources such as hypertext document pages from remote servers on a computer network. The updating operations continually check for updates to the data at the remote server and download updated versions of the resources to maintain concurrency of the locally stored copy. The updating operations are performed while a connection to the remote network is left idle, to maximize usage of on-line connection time. The updating operations also can be programmatically scheduled by a client program of the updating operations. The updating operations include updating the contents of a folder or directory in a local file system as specified in a file at a remote server on the network, and providing automatically updating and populating groups of sites or document pages organized by category.

Abstract: A combiner for optical beams includes a substrate overlaid by a multi-layer dielectric film stack. The substrate is a clear material and the dielectric film stack is a series of alternating layer of high and low refractive index. This gives the combiner relatively high reflectivity across UV wavelengths and relatively high transmissivity in the visible and longer wavelengths and allows visible light to pass through the combiner while UV light is reflected. At the same time dielectric film stack has minimal absorption and scatter. This means that the intensity of visible light maintains at least 90% of its intensity as it passes through combiner and UV light retains at least 90% of its intensity as it is reflected by combiner.

Abstract: A rotary valve assembly comprising a housing defining a bore and a valve member mounted for rotation therewithin. The housing defines an opening and the valve member has a port which comes into and out of registration as the member rotates. Lubricant is supplied between the two members and sealing means are provided around the opening in the housing to effect a seal with the valve member. The sealing means includes a sealing element disposed in at least one groove formed in the housing parallel to the axis of the bore, the element being urged into contact with the valve member.

Abstract: A valve for controlling the flow of gases, or fluids, which comprises a stationary valve housing having an opening in its face and a movable valve member having a face rotatable, or slidable, over the face of the valve housing and having a port or ports in the face which comes into and out of communication with the opening, there being means to supply liquid lubricant between the valve and housing faces and means capable of reducing the lubricant film thickness between the valve and housing faces in the region of the valve port and its opening into the combustion chamber to from 40 to 50.mu. inches.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a rotary valve for controlling the inlet of fuel and exhaust of combustion products from the engine arranged to supply copious lubrication to the valve face and to remove excess lubricant before the valve registers with the combustion chamber inlet to leave a lubricant film of thickness not exceeding 40 to 50.mu. inches, the lubricant flowing through a series of concentric sealing rings, or a spiral groove in the valve housing or the valve surrounding the area of register of the valve opening into the combustion chamber.