Abstract: Described herein are nucleic acid detection compositions and systems comprising an internal nuclease chain reaction (NCR) for signal amplification and methods of using these NCR-containing compositions and systems.

Abstract: An example apparatus includes a multiplexer; a first memory coupled to the multiplexer; a second memory coupled to the multiplexer, the second memory including a bi-level reset indicator, a multi-level reset indicator, and a duration indicator; a memory controller coupled to the multiplexer; and waveform generation circuitry coupled to the memory controller, the waveform generation circuitry including: a first power supply configured to receive the bi-level reset indicator; a second power supply configured to receive the multi-level reset indicator; and timing circuitry configured to receive the duration indicator.

Abstract: Systems and Apparatus for micromirror designs with electrode contact. In some examples, a micromirror including a mirror, a mirror via coupled to the mirror, a hinge coupled to the mirror via, the hinge including a springtip associated with a first side of the micromirror, the springtip associated with a first terminal, and an electrode associated with the first side of the micromirror, the electrode having a dielectric coating in contact with the springtip, the electrode associated with a second terminal different than the first terminal.

Abstract: An example includes: an electrode layer including address electrodes and a hinge base; a hinge layer over the electrode layer, the hinge layer including: a torsional hinge having a longitudinal axis between opposite ends; a first single spring tip and a second single spring tip spaced from the torsional hinge; and raised electrodes spaced from the torsional hinge, from the first single spring tip, and from the second single spring tip; and a mirror over the hinge layer, the mirror having a tilt axis on a diagonal between a first corner and a second corner, the tilt axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the torsional hinge, the mirror having a first tilting corner and a second tilting corner opposing one another across the tilt axis, the first single spring tip under the first tilting corner and the second single spring tip under the second tilting corner.

Abstract: A drain for a fuel-water separator (FWS) bowl is disclosed. The drain may include a valve element configured to float in a first fluid and not in a second fluid, wherein the valve element is in a valve element chamber of the drain, wherein the valve element chamber includes an opening configured to drain the first fluid from the valve element chamber, and wherein the valve element seals the opening when the drain is in an open position and when the first fluid has been drained from the valve element chamber; and a member configured to unseal the valve element from the opening when the drain is in a closed position.

Abstract: An exhaust system for receiving exhaust gas of an engine is provided. The exhaust system comprises a cooler configured to cool at least a portion of exhaust gas, a pressure sensor configured to measure an exhaust pressure drop across the cooler, and a controller configured to determine exhaust flowrate as a function the measured pressure drop across the cooler. Also provided is a method for operating an engine. The method comprises the steps of combusting a fuel and air mixture, exhausting at least some of the combusted fuel and air mixture as exhaust gas to an exhaust system of an engine, cooling at least some of the combusted exhaust gas in a cooler, measuring pressure drop of the exhaust gas across the cooler, and determining a flowrate of the exhaust gas across the cooler as a function of pressure drop.

Abstract: A turbocharger for an engine is provided. The turbocharger has a turbine and a housing enclosing the turbine. The housing has a first annular passageway and a second annular passageway. Both of the first and second annular passageways extend to the turbine. The turbocharger also has a valve mechanism disposed within an inlet of the housing. The valve mechanism has a valve element pivotally attached to a portion of the housing. The valve element is movable between a first position at which exhaust flow through the first annular passageway is blocked and a second position at which exhaust flows through both of the first and second annular passageways. A controller controls positioning of the valve element based on a sensed operational parameter of the engine and also controls functions of the engine.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for combined billing for at least one customer on a plurality of customer accounts includes computer applications which automatically assemble and aggregate account charges, such as usage charges, fees, finance charges, discounts, rebates and rewards, for the customer on the plurality of accounts. The system also automatically formats a combined bill for the customer from the aggregated account charges and renders the combined bill to the customer. The account charges are automatically calculated by a computer application from account data for the customer's accounts, which is transmitted to the computer application from one or more storage devices, for example from vendors of energy, such as electricity and gas service, retail, such as credit cards, and communications, such as telephone and Internet service.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing a brake pad assembly for use in a disc brake assembly, comprises the following steps: providing a backing plate defining distinct shim and friction pad surfaces, the backing plate destined to carry a friction pad on the friction pad surface and comprising at least one recess on the backing plate shim surface, the recess defining an inner peripheral wall having a top rim; providing a shim defining an abutment surface; applying the shim abutment surface against the backing plate shim surface; and forcing the shim to deform locally into the recess and against the recess inner peripheral wall so that a shim lip projecting transversely away from the shim abutment surface will be forced to deform towards the recess inner peripheral wall to become pressure-fitted within the recess thereby securing the shim to the backing plate.

Abstract: A fuel injector for a fuel system is disclosed. The fuel injector has a nozzle member and a needle valve member slidingly disposed with the nozzle member. The nozzle member has a tip portion, at least one orifice disposed at the tip portion, a base portion, and a female conical seating surface disposed at the base portion. The needle valve member has a tip end configured to selectively restrict fuel flow through the at least one orifice, a base end, and a male conical seating surface disposed between the tip end and the base end. The male conical seating surface is configured to engage the female conical seating surface to restrict fuel flow through the at least one orifice and has a hydraulic surface area greater than a hydraulic surface area of the base end of the needle valve member.

Abstract: A turbocharger for a power system is provided. The turbocharger has a turbine and a housing enclosing the turbine. The housing has a first annular passageway and a second annular passageway. Both of the first and second annular passageways extend from an inlet of the housing to the turbine. The turbocharger also has a valve mechanism disposed within the inlet of the housing. The valve mechanism has a valve element pivotally attached to an outer portion of the housing. The valve element is movable between a first position at which exhaust flow through the first annular passageway is blocked and a second position at which exhaust flows through both of the first and second annular passageways.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for combined billing for at least one customer on a plurality of customer accounts includes computer applications which automatically assemble and aggregate account charges, such as usage charges, fees, finance charges, discounts, rebates and rewards, for the customer on the plurality of accounts. The system also automatically formats a combined bill for the customer from the aggregated account charges and renders the combined bill to the customer. The account charges are automatically calculated by a computer application from account data for the customer's accounts, which is transmitted to the computer application from one or more storage devices, for example from vendors of energy, such as electricity and gas service, retail, such as credit cards, and communications, such as telephone and Internet service.

Abstract: This invention relates to aerosol formulations of use in the administration of medicaments by inhalation. In particular, the formulations comprise (a) 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro-ethane or 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro-n-propane or mixtures thereof as propellant, (b) 1,1,2,2,3-pentafluoropropane as co-propellant, and (c) particulate medicament. A method of treating respiratory disorders which comprises administration by inhalation of an effective amount of the pharmaceutical aerosol formulation is also described, as well as is a canister which is suitable for delivering the pharmaceutical aerosol formulation.

Abstract: This invention relates to aerosol formulations of use in the administration of medicaments by inhalation. In particular, the formulations comprise (a) 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane or 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro-n-propane or mixtures thereof as propellant, (b) 1,1,2,2,3-pentafluoropropane as co-propellant, and (c) particulate medicament. A method of treating respiratory disorders which comprises administration by inhalation of an effective amount of the pharmaceutical aerosol formulation is also described, as well as is a canister which is suitable for delivering the pharmaceutical aerosol formulation.