Abstract: Methods for treating and/or preventing viral infections. In some implementations, a composition may be provided comprising a sugar alcohol, such as xylitol, xylose, and/or erythritol. The composition may further comprise an antihistamine and/or other active anti-viral compounds, such as grapefruit seed extract, preferably in a therapeutically effective amount and/or concentration for treating a viral infection in a human having such a viral infection.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating aldehyde-functionalized polymers such as GPAM, wherein progress of the aldehyde-functionalized polymer formation is monitored by measuring viscosity using an online viscometer. A method is also provided for enhancing paper strength, said method comprising generating an aldehyde-functionalized polymer, such as GPAM, according to the present disclosure, and combining said aldehyde-functionalized polymer with a fiber slurry or applying it to a paper sheet.

Abstract: Techniques for generating earthmoving flow vectors for assisting control of a construction machine are disclosed. A design elevation map of an earthmoving site may be obtained. The design elevation map may include a plurality of design elevation points of the earthmoving site. An actual elevation map of the earthmoving site may be obtained. The actual elevation map may include a plurality of actual elevation points of the earthmoving site. A dual-layer input graph may be formed based on the design elevation map and the actual elevation map. The dual-layer input graph may include a plurality of nodes related through a plurality of connections. A flow graph may be generated by solving the dual-layer input graph. The flow graph may include a set of flow vectors indicating movement of the earth within the earthmoving site.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for alleviating an allergy condition while also reducing a drying effect of an antihistamine and/or treating an infection or at least reducing the prevalence of bacteria or another infectious microorganism. In some embodiments and implementations, a composition may be provided comprising an antihistamine comprising at least one of brompheniramine, cetirizine, clemastine, diphenhydramine, fexofenadine, and loratadine, preferably in a therapeutically effective amount for treating the allergy condition in the human having the allergy condition.

Abstract: The disclosure provides AAV expression cassettes for production of AAV viral vectors, wherein the expression cassettes comprise a first inverted terminal repeat (ITR); a first promoter; a first gRNA comprising a first gRNA targeting region; a second promoter; a second gRNA comprising a second gRNA targeting region; a third promoter; a third gRNA comprising a third gRNA targeting region; and a second ITR. The disclosure also provides AAV viral vectors, including self-complimentary AAVs, comprising the expression cassettes of the disclosure. The AAVs disclosed herein may be used to treat genetic diseases, such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

Abstract: A delivery device for a active agent comprises nanoparticles based on a biopolymer such as starch. The delivery device may also be in the form of an aptamer-biopolymer-active agent conjugate wherein the aptamer targets the device for the treatment of specific disorders, such as cancer. The delivery device survives for a period of time in the body sufficient to allow for transport and uptake of the delivery device into targeted cells. The degree of crosslinking can provide a desired release profile of the active agent at, near or inside the target cells. The nanoparticles may be made by applying a high shear force in the presence of a cross linker. The particles may be predominantly in the range of 50-150 nm and form a colloidal dispersion of crosslinked hydrogel particles in water.

Abstract: A delivery device for an active agent comprises nanoparticles based on a biopolymer such as starch. The delivery device may also be in the form of an aptamer-biopolymer-active agent conjugate wherein the aptamer targets the device for the treatment of specific disorders. The nanoparticles may be made by applying a high shear force in the presence of a crosslinker. The particles may be predominantly in the range of 50-150 nm and form a colloidal dispersion of crosslinked hydrogel particles in water. The biopolymer may be functionalized. The aptamer may be conjugated directly to the cross-linked biopolymers. The active agent may be a drug useful for the treatment of cancer. The delivery device survives for a period of time in the body sufficient to allow for the sustained release of a drug and for the transportation and uptake of the conjugate into targeted cells. However, the biopolymer is biocompatible and resorbable.

Abstract: Techniques for generating earthmoving flow vectors for assisting control of a construction machine are disclosed. A design elevation map of an earthmoving site may be obtained. The design elevation map may include a plurality of design elevation points of the earthmoving site. An actual elevation map of the earthmoving site may be obtained. The actual elevation map may include a plurality of actual elevation points of the earthmoving site. A dual-layer input graph may be formed based on the design elevation map and the actual elevation map. The dual-layer input graph may include a plurality of nodes related through a plurality of connections. A flow graph may be generated by solving the dual-layer input graph. The flow graph may include a set of flow vectors indicating movement of the earth within the earthmoving site.

Abstract: The invention features a system and method for finely tuning the rate at which ad impressions are delivered to users based on various metrics used to characterize the quality of the ad opportunities. With the present invention, more relevant ads can be selected and delivered to a wide range of recipients while still compensating for the variations in the volume of Internet traffic and usage over the course of the day. The system and method of the present invention employ a plurality of bid boundaries corresponding to different volumes of ad opportunities, thereby enabling the invention to adjust the number of ad opportunities sought over the course of day while consistently targeting the mix of ad opportunities yielding the highest response rates and margin. The bid boundaries are selected in real-time based on the behavior of prior ad recipients. The behavior may include click-through rates or entry into a geo-fence, for example.

Abstract: A method of producing a composite component (10) having a thermal protection layer (24) including the steps of: providing a composite component (10) with a primary fibre material (12) and with a primer layer (16) of alternative fibre material overlying the primary fibre material (12) at an area of the composite component intended for high thermal exposure, said area defining a thermal exposure area (18); applying a metallic bonding layer (22) to the primer layer (16) of the thermal exposure area (18) to create a bonding surface at the thermal exposure area (18); and applying a ceramic thermal protection layer (24) to the bonding surface for insulating the thermal exposure area (18) and/or for reflecting external thermal energy, the thermal protection layer (24) having a higher melting point than the metallic bonding layer (22).

Abstract: Coordinated operational control of wireless charging includes receiving a notification from a first and second drone requesting charging and responsive to determining that a sufficient amount of charging resources is not available to permit charging both drones simultaneously, prioritizing charging of drones so that at least one drone is instructed to wait. The drones may be a combination of autonomous vehicles, UAVs, and UGVs. A charging corral may be used, and navigation instructions to the charging corral may be provided to a drone. Re-orientable antennas may be used to direct RF charging power in a selected direction, for example, to track the location of a drone.

Abstract: A delivery device for an active agent comprises nanoparticles based on a biopolymer such as starch. The delivery device may also be in the form of an aptamer-biopolymer-active agent conjugate wherein the aptamer targets the device for the treatment of specific disorders. The nanoparticles may be made by applying a high shear force in the presence of a crosslinker. The particles may be predominantly in the range of 50-150 nm and form a colloidal dispersion of crosslinked hydrogel particles in water. The biopolymer may be functionalized. The aptamer may be conjugated directly to the cross-linked biopolymers. The active agent may be a drug useful for the treatment of cancer. The delivery device survives for a period of time in the body sufficient to allow for the sustained release of a drug and for the transportation and uptake of the conjugate into targeted cells. However, the biopolymer is biocompatible and resorbable.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying delivery locations utilizing scout autonomous vehicles are provided. An example method can include: identifying locations associated with a plurality of delivery locations having addresses stored at a database; filtering the locations to identify a first set of delivery locations; assigning a confidence level to each of the first set of delivery locations; identifying a second set of delivery locations in high confidence landing zones using a geo-spatial data; instructing the scout autonomous vehicle to reconnoiter locations of the second set of the delivery locations having a high confidence level, wherein the scout autonomous vehicle is configured to: record still images and videos of the locations of the second set of the delivery locations; analyze the still images and videos to determine a third set of delivery locations; and suggest landing zones at locations of the third set of the delivery locations.

Abstract: A delivery device for an active agent comprises nanoparticles based on a biopolymer such as starch. The delivery device may also be in the form of an aptamer-biopolymer-active agent conjugate wherein the aptamer targets the device for the treatment of specific disorders. The nanoparticles may be made by applying a high shear force in the presence of a crosslinker. The particles may be predominantly in the range of 50-150 nm and form a colloidal dispersion of crosslinked hydrogel particles in water. The biopolymer may be functionalized. The aptamer may be conjugated directly to the cross-linked biopolymers. The active agent may be a drug useful for the treatment of cancer. The delivery device survives for a period of time in the body sufficient to allow for the sustained release of a drug and for the transportation and uptake of the conjugate into targeted cells. However, the biopolymer is biocompatible and resorbable.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for detecting music in audio speech processing by decomposing an audio signal into component signals in one or more bandwidths. The invention then detects energy levels across preselected time and frequency windows within the narrowest bandwidth components. A predetermined number of detections at predetermined detection levels will result in the likely characterization of music being present in that window.

Abstract: A method of producing a composite component (10) having a thermal protection layer (24) including the steps of: providing a composite component (10) with a primary fibre material (12) and with a primer layer (16) of alternative fibre material overlying the primary fibre material (12) at an area of the composite component intended for high thermal exposure, said area defining a thermal exposure area (18); applying a metallic bonding layer (22) to the primer layer (16) of the thermal exposure area (18) to create a bonding surface at the thermal exposure area (18); and applying a ceramic thermal protection layer (24) to the bonding surface for insulating the thermal exposure area (18) and/or for reflecting external thermal energy, the thermal protection layer (24) having a higher melting point than the metallic bonding layer (22).

Abstract: Methods for treatment of infections, such as nasal infections, sinus infections, ear infections, and/or lung infections, along with related compositions. In some implementations, a treatment method may comprise delivering a dose of the composition into a subject's nasal passage to treat the infection. The composition may comprise an antibiotic agent, such as ciprofloxacin. The composition may further comprise at least one non-hexose, sugar alcohol, such as xylitol. Preferably, the dose comprises a sub-clinical dose of the ciprofloxacin or other antibiotic agent.