Abstract: The present disclosure relates to certain (2S)—N-[(1S)-1-cyano-2-phenylethyl]-1,4-oxazepane-2-carboxamide compounds (including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof), that inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase 1 (DPP1) activity, to their utility in treating and/or preventing clinical conditions including respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), to their use in therapy, to pharmaceutical compositions containing them and to processes for preparing such compounds.

Abstract: Systems and methods for minimally invasive procedures include a computer-assisted system comprising a manipulator assembly configured to couple to a cannula and a controller coupled to the manipulator assembly. The cannula has a lumen configured to receive a shaft of an instrument. The controller is configured to position a remote center of motion for the manipulator assembly at a first location relative to the cannula, and in response to an indication to reposition the remote center of motion relative to the cannula, reposition the remote center of motion to a second location relative to the cannula while constraining the second location to be located along the cannula. The second location is different from the first location.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable programs are provided for authentication of unencrypted message(s) transmitted between two devices of a power grid over a public communications network are provided. The authentication uses a quantum-based secret key and an initialization vector generated from a quantum random number to generate a payload for a transmission packet. The quantum-based secret key is shared between the transmitting device and the receiving device. When the receiving device receives the packet, the receiving device uses the shared quantum-based secret key and the initialization vector to verify whether the payload in the packet is authentic.

Abstract: Retrofittable satellite systems for an in-orbit host satellite comprising an enhancement module for adding a capability to the in-orbit host satellite, modifying the function of the in-orbit host satellite, and/or extending the function of the in-orbit host satellite. The in-orbit, retrofittable satellite system comprises a transfer vehicle for transferring the enhancement module from a first to a second location and a service vehicle for receiving the enhancement module from the transfer vehicle and installing the enhancement module on the in-orbit host satellite.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for producing seamless woven materials that are variable in each of their 3 dimensions. The systems and methods generally operate by altering heddle positions independently to impart three dimensional structure to a woven fabric. Weft yarn is woven into a set of warp yarns that have been individually raised or lowered along a particular cross section, essentially locking the weave into an intended 3 dimensional form.

Abstract: Facility layouts and configurations for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture. In particular implementations, the core of the facility comprises a controlled growth environment and a central processing system. The controlled growth environment includes systems for exposing crops housed in modules, such as grow towers, to controlled environmental conditions. The central processing system may include various stations and functionality both for preparing crop-bearing modules to be inserted in the controlled growth environment, for harvesting crops from the crop-bearing modules after they have been extracted from the controlled growth environment, and for cleaning or washing crop-bearing modules for re-use. The controlled growth environment may include vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers along one or more grow lines.

Abstract: An example playback device includes programming for executing functions including, while connected to both (i) a local area network and (ii) an audio playback network configured separately from the local area network and arranged for playback of media content via at least the playback device, receiving from a network device via the local area network, a request for the network device to connect to the audio playback network. The functions also include, in response to the request, transmitting to the network device via the local area network, a message indicating an identifier of the audio playback network and a password for accessing the audio playback network. The functions also include exchanging one or more messages with the network device via the audio playback network to authenticate the network device for the audio playback network and receiving an audio playback command from the network device via the audio playback network.

Abstract: Retrofittable satellite systems for an in-orbit host satellite comprising an enhancement module for adding a capability to the in-orbit host satellite, modifying the function of the in-orbit host satellite, and/or extending the function of the in-orbit host satellite. The in-orbit, retrofittable satellite system comprises a transfer vehicle for transferring the enhancement module from a first to a second location and a service vehicle for receiving the enhancement module from the transfer vehicle and installing the enhancement module on the in-orbit host satellite.

Abstract: The present teachings provide apparatuses and methods for automated handling of samples, e.g., biological or chemical samples. The apparatuses and the methods of the present teachings allow automated performance of various sample manipulation steps without manual intervention. In a preferred embodiment, the present teachings provide apparatuses and methods for automated enrichment of templated beads produced by PCR.

Abstract: A wireless detonation system having a dongle for removable connection with a computer system and for wirelessly communicating with and controlling one or more trigger devices and a trigger device for wirelessly communicating with the dongle. The dongle includes a dongle processor programmed to communicate with the computer system via the communication interface to operate the radio transceiver to wirelessly communicate with one or more trigger devices, a radio transceiver coupled to the dongle processor, a communication interface coupled to the dongle processor and one or more contact communication terminals in communication with the dongle processor.

Abstract: A method of producing vehicles comprises: in a vehicle production process, manufacturing vehicle components of different types, and assembling the vehicle components to form vehicles; creating a set of vehicle records, each being a record of one of the vehicles entering active service; performing vehicle repairs on a subset of the vehicles after they have entered active service; creating a respective record of each of the vehicle repairs, each of which comprises or indicates a vehicle age or usage value, and records a vehicle component fault identified in the vehicle repair; receiving at a data processing stage the vehicle records and vehicle repair records, wherein a predictive algorithm executed at the data processing stage processes the received records so as to, for each type of vehicle component: 1) identify a respective set of the vehicle repair records relating to that type of vehicle component, and 2) use the respective set of vehicle repair records to predict a respective number of or resource value

Abstract: A passive flow induced vibration reduction system for use in a temperature conditioning system that controls the temperature of at least one component within a lithographic apparatus. This FIV reduction system includes: a conduit that provides a flow path for a liquid through the system; a liquid filled cavity in fluid connection with the conduit, wherein the fluid connection is provided via one or more openings in the wall of the conduit; a membrane configured such that it separates the liquid in the liquid filled cavity from a gas at a substantially ambient pressure and the membrane is configured such that compliance of the membrane reduces at least low frequency flow induced vibrations in the liquid flowing through the conduit; and an end-stop located on the gas side of the membrane, wherein the end-stop is configured to limit an extent of deflection of the membrane.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for determining an azimuth of a drilling tool (304) during drilling of a borehole. The apparatus (100) comprises a rate sensor (102) configured to collect rate sensor data indicative of a component of a rate of rotation of the earth for determining the azimuth by gyrocompassing. The rate sensor (102) is further configured for communication with a surface unit (306). The apparatus (100) also comprises a drill pipe extension detector (104) configured to detect a process associated with extension of a drill pipe (312) connecting the drilling tool (304) to the surface unit (306). The rate sensor (102) is configured to transmit collected rate sensor data to the surface unit (306) based on the detected process associated with extension of the drill pipe (312).

Abstract: A nonlinear fiber interferometer is disclosed suitable for fiber sensor and other applications. A first nonlinear fiber section amplifies probe and conjugate sidebands of a pump through four-wave mixing. A second section introduces a phase shift to be measured, for example from a sensor. A third nonlinear fiber section amplifies with phase-sensitive gain to increase signal-to-noise ratio. Based on phase-sensitive output power of probe and/or conjugate components, the phase shift can be measured. Superior performance can be obtained by balancing gain between the (first and third) nonlinear sections. Non-fiber, for example photonic integrated circuit, embodiments are disclosed. Differential sensing, alternative detection schemes, sensing applications, associated methods, and other variations are disclosed.

Abstract: Retrofittable satellite systems for an in-orbit host satellite comprising an enhancement module for adding a capability to the in-orbit host satellite, modifying the function of the in-orbit host satellite, and/or extending the function of the in-orbit host satellite. The in-orbit, retrofittable satellite system comprises a transfer vehicle for transferring the enhancement module from a first to a second location and a service vehicle for receiving the enhancement module from the transfer vehicle and installing the enhancement module on the in-orbit host satellite.

Abstract: Retrofittable satellite systems for an in-orbit host satellite comprising an enhancement module for adding a capability to the in-orbit host satellite, modifying the function of the in-orbit host satellite, and/or extending the function of the in-orbit host satellite. The in-orbit, retrofittable satellite system comprises a transfer vehicle for transferring the enhancement module from a first to a second location and a service vehicle for receiving the enhancement module from the transfer vehicle and installing the enhancement module on the in-orbit host satellite.

Abstract: The present application relates to an atom interferometry method. The atom interferometry method releases atoms from an atom source into an interferometer region. Pulses of light are then directed at the atoms to place the atoms in different quantum states and to recombine the quantum states such that the recombined quantum states interfere with each other when the quantum states are overlapped spatially. The recombined quantum states creates a spatial fringe pattern with a phase. The spatial fringe pattern and the phase of the spatial fringe pattern are detected when the quantum states are overlapped spatially. The overlapped spatial fringe pattern is then used to measure physical quantities such as local gravity, the gravitational constant, the fine structure constant, the ratio of Planck's constant to the atomic mass, rotation of the atom interferometer, acceleration of the atom interferometer, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the application of an electroluminescent light system. The present invention is also directed to an electroluminescent light system prepared by the process.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to systems, methods, and processes that use thermal imaging at self-service interaction stations. In particular, embodiments may relate to a self-service station for conducting an interaction process, having a thermal imaging device configured to capture thermal images of an area, a processor configured to process the thermal images captured by the thermal imaging device, determine a temperature condition of a face identified in at least one of the captured thermal images and suspend the interaction process based on the determined temperature condition.

Abstract: A nonlinear fiber interferometer is disclosed suitable for fiber sensor and other applications. A first nonlinear fiber section amplifies probe and conjugate sidebands of a pump through four-wave mixing. A second section introduces a phase shift to be measured, for example from a sensor. A third nonlinear fiber section amplifies with phase-sensitive gain to increase signal-to-noise ratio. Based on phase-sensitive output power of probe and/or conjugate components, the phase shift can be measured. Superior performance can be obtained by balancing gain between the (first and third) nonlinear sections. Non-fiber, for example photonic integrated circuit, embodiments are disclosed. Differential sensing, alternative detection schemes, sensing applications, associated methods, and other variations are disclosed.