Abstract: A device to assemble a skin and a frame of an aircraft fuselage. The device includes first and second brace members that extend along opposing sides of a gap. Arches are spaced apart and fixedly connected to the first and second brace members and that extend across the gap. A strongback is attached to and movable along the first and second brace members with the strongback having a curved shape that matches the plurality of arches. The strongback includes clamps configured to engage with the frame. First and second tension devices apply tension to the skin at the strongback.

Abstract: A compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the upper esophageal sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective upper esophageal sphincter anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the compression device is used in conjunction with an external pressure sensing device to determine the external pressure that is to be applied to the cricoid for a specific patient. The compression device can be a means for the management and/or treatment of abnormal upper esophageal sphincter functionality, or a means for strengthening an esophageal sphincter of a subject, or a means for curing esophageal reflux disease of a subject, or a means for improving vocal function in a subject, or a means for managing lung aspiration, or a means for applying cricoid pressure during anesthesia intubation, or a means for stabilizing body structures such as during medical imaging or radiation treatment.

Abstract: Systems for plant culture include a chamber featuring one or more walls enclosing a spatial volume internal to the chamber, where the one or more walls include a surface for supporting a plant within the enclosed spatial volume, a gas delivery apparatus with at least one gas source, a nutrient delivery apparatus with a reservoir, a sampling apparatus connected to a port formed in the one or more walls, and a controller configured so that during operation of the system, the controller activates the nutrient delivery apparatus to deliver an aqueous growth medium to the plant, and activates the gas delivery apparatus to deliver into the enclosed spatial volume a mixture of isotopically-substituted gases. Also provided are methods of use of the system for measuring nitrogen in a plant and for identifying microbes capable of providing fixed nitrogen to a plant.

Abstract: A compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the upper esophageal sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective upper esophageal sphincter anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the compression device is used in conjunction with an external pressure sensing device to determine the external pressure that is to be applied to the cricoid for a specific patient. The compression device can be a means for the management and/or treatment of abnormal upper esophageal sphincter functionality, or a means for strengthening an esophageal sphincter of a subject, or a means for curing esophageal reflux disease of a subject, or a means for improving vocal function in a subject, or a means for managing lung aspiration, or a means for applying cricoid pressure during anesthesia intubation, or a means for stabilizing body structures such as during medical imaging or radiation treatment.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a conveyor system has first and second conveyors. The first conveyor has inner and outer sides and a first conveyor surface between the inner and outer sides that is configured to carry payloads between first and second conveyor ends along a first direction. The second conveyor has inner and outer sides and a second conveyor surface between the inner and outer sides of the second conveyor that is configured to carry payloads between the first and second conveyor ends along the first direction. The first and second conveyors are coupled to one another such that the inner sides are spaced closer to one another than the outer sides and the first and second conveyors are angularly offset from one another. The conveyor system is configured to rotate between a first orientation and a second orientation about an axis that extends along the first direction.

Abstract: A compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the upper esophageal sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective upper esophageal sphincter anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the compression device is used in conjunction with an external pressure sensing device to determine the external pressure that is to be applied to the cricoid for a specific patient. The compression device can be a means for the management and/or treatment of abnormal upper esophageal sphincter functionality, or a means for strengthening an esophageal sphincter of a subject, or a means for curing esophageal reflux disease of a subject, or a means for improving vocal function in a subject, or a means for managing lung aspiration, or a means for applying cricoid pressure during anesthesia intubation, or a means for stabilizing body structures such as during medical imaging or radiation treatment.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transfer system has a conveyor system with first and second conveyors. The first conveyor has inner and outer sides and a first conveyor surface between the inner and outer sides that is configured to carry payloads along a first direction. The second conveyor has inner and outer sides and a second conveyor surface between the inner and outer sides of the second conveyor that is configured to carry payloads along the first direction. The first and second conveyors are coupled to one another such that the inner sides are spaced closer to one another than the outer sides and the first and second conveyors are angularly offset from one another. The transfer system also has a movement system that moves the conveyor system along at least one of a vertical direction, and a second direction so as to align the conveyor system with another conveyor system.

Abstract: A compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the upper esophageal sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective upper esophageal sphincter anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the compression device is used in conjunction with an external pressure sensing device to determine the external pressure that is to be applied to the cricoid for a specific patient. The compression device can be a means for the management and/or treatment of abnormal upper esophageal sphincter functionality, or a means for strengthening an esophageal sphincter of a subject, or a means for curing esophageal reflux disease of a subject, or a means for improving vocal function in a subject, or a means for managing lung aspiration, or a means for applying cricoid pressure during anesthesia intubation, or a means for stabilizing body structures such as during medical imaging or radiation treatment.

Abstract: A compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the upper esophageal sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective upper esophageal sphincter anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the compression device is used in conjunction with an external pressure sensing device to determine the external pressure that is to be applied to the cricoid for a specific patient. The compression device can be a means for the management and/or treatment of abnormal upper esophageal sphincter functionality, or a means for strengthening an esophageal sphincter of a subject, or a means for curing esophageal reflux disease of a subject, or a means for improving vocal function in a subject, or a means for managing lung aspiration, or a means for applying cricoid pressure during anesthesia intubation, or a means for stabilizing body structures such as during medical imaging or radiation treatment.