Abstract: The disclosed threat response system(s) and method(s) provide a mean to secure an area around the clock. The system includes a plurality of microphones strategically located at various locations of the protected area, a plurality of acoustic beacons to provide navigational support one or more autonomous non-flying (ANF) drones, and a central controller. In one example each of the one or more ANF drones are equipped with an acoustic positioning system that uses beacon signals (e.g., mechanical waves) transmitted by the plurality of acoustic beacons to determine its position relative to the plurality of acoustic beacons. Once an acoustic event is detected, it is analyzed to determine whether there is a threat. When the threat is confirmed, the central controller dispatches one or more of the ANF drones to investigate and/or to engage the target.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are plant-based, molecular and diagnostic tools that can be used to block aphid transmission of poleroviruses, including stabilized proteins for expression in transgenic plants and/or in formulations for direct plant delivery. Further disclosed are proteins that can kill aphids and methods to produce these proteins. Antibodies and useful for diagnostic and therapeutic uses against poleroviruses.

Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a memory array region, a staircase region, and an intervening region between the staircase region and the memory array region. The intervening region includes first and second slabs of insulative material extending through a stack of alternating insulative and conductive levels. Bridging regions are adjacent to the slabs. First slits are along the bridging regions, and second slits extend through the slabs. First panels are within the first slits, and second panels are within the second slits. The second panels are compositionally different from the first panels. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.

Abstract: An amphibious platform vehicle-vessel to support and to move hydraulically operated and controlled earth-moving and lifting equipment, such as excavators and cranes, on solid ground, semi-solid or marshy ground, shallow water, and deeper water. The modular units can be transported to a worksite on separate trailers and assembled and reconfigured on site. Two compartmented pontoon units are mounted to an adaptive cross member that can accommodate different types of moving-lifting equipment through different mounting flanges, and to auxiliary cross members. Propulsion is provided through amphibious cleats on drive chains in chain tracks driven by dual-motor driving drums and over a tension-adjusting passive chain roller, surrounding a sealed pontoon shell internally reinforced with bulkhead partitions, beam shell-bottom stiffeners, and pressed-angle shell-bottom stiffeners. An extendable auxiliary float can be extended outward from each compartmented pontoon for increased stability in floating operations.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and devices that improve cell culture efficiency. They include the use of gas permeable culture compartments that reduce the use of space while maintaining uniform culture conditions, and are more suitable for automated liquid handling. They include the integration of gas permeable materials into the traditional multiple shelf format to resolve the problem of non-uniform culture conditions. They include culture devices that use surfaces comprised of gas permeable, plasma charged silicone and can integrate traditional attachment surfaces, such as those comprised of traditional tissue culture treated polystyrene. They include culture devices that integrate gas permeable, liquid permeable membranes. A variety of benefits accrue, including more optimal culture conditions during scale up and more efficient use of inventory space, incubator space, and disposal space. Furthermore, labor and contamination risk are reduced.

Abstract: In general, the present invention is directed to a building panel, such as a gypsum board, comprising a core having a first side and a second side opposing the first side and at least one facing material having a coating comprising at least one fungicide, at least one polymeric binder, and at least one pigment. The panel satisfies at least one of the following: the board exhibits a rating of 2 or less when tested in accordance to ASTM G21-15 or the board exhibits a rating of at least 8 when tested in accordance to ASTM D3273-16. The panel may also exhibit at least a Level 3 finish.

Abstract: In selected embodiments a recommendation generator builds a network of interrelationships between venues, reviewers and users based on attributes and reviewer and user reviews of the venues. Each interrelationship or link may be positive or negative and may accumulate with other links (or anti-links) to provide nodal links the strength of which are based on commonality of attributes among the linked nodes and/or common preferences that one node, such as a reviewer, expresses for other nodes, such as venues. The links may be first order (based on a direct relationship between, for instance, a reviewer and a venue) or higher order (based on, for instance, the fact that two venue are both liked by a given reviewer). The recommendation engine in certain embodiments determines recommended venues based on user attributes and venue preferences by aggregating the link matrices and determining the venues which are most strongly coupled to the user.

Abstract: Multiple electronic devices may be used together in a system. The electronic devices may use sensor measurements and other information to detect when an edge of a first electronic device is adjacent to an edge of a second electronic device. In response to detection of adjacency between the edges of the first and second devices, the devices may transition from an independent operating mode in which each device operates separately to a joint operating mode in which resources of the devices are shared. In the joint operating mode, images may extend across displays in the devices, speakers in the devices may be used to play different channels of an audio track, cameras and other sensors may be used in cooperation with each other, and other resources may be shared. Magnetic components may hold devices together in a variety of orientations.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for model rocketry are provided. According to some aspects, new forms of model rocket nose cones, other model rocket components, and methods for their use, are provided. A new form of reversibly-divisible nose cone is provided, including a plurality of housing sections forming an interior payload section and, in some embodiments, including a locking mechanism(s) configured to hold the plurality of housing sections together during the initial phases of flight. In some embodiments, such a locking mechanism is unlocked, and the housing sections are separated, at least in part, in an ejection phase of model rocket flight. In some embodiments, such a locking mechanism is unlocked, at least in part, by increased air resistance and tension from shock cord(s) of a model rocket. Shock cord mounting arms are provided, including eyelet(s), mounted at an angle to a trailing surface of the nose cone.

Abstract: Fullerene compounds and formulations are taught as useful in reducing oxidative stress in an organism because of their antioxidant properties and REDOX balance (homeostasis) properties.

Abstract: A configuration of a direct drive lawnmower spindle assembly to protect sensitive electric motor components is provided. A spindle shaft of the spindle assembly is supported by upper and lower bearings. An upper end of the spindle shaft is mounted to a rotor of the electric motor and a lower end of the spindle shaft extends through the clearance opening. The lower bearing is supported by a lower bearing carrier that is mounted to the bottom of the spindle housing. The lower bearing can be serviced by removing the lower bearing carrier. A clearance gap between the spindle shaft and the clearance opening is sufficiently small to limit spindle shaft tipping to a degree that will not damage the motor. The invention also provides a friction coupling system for coupling a blade with the rotating spindle shaft.

Abstract: Improved cell culture devices and related methods that overcome the limitations of prior devices and methods, by creating devices that can integrate a variety of novel attributes. These various attributes include the use of gas permeable material and medium volumes that exceed conventional devices as well as compartments that can facilitate the long term study of high density cultures with reduced disruption of the culture environment, the ability to study the migration of items of interest including substances such as chemokine, track the movement of cells, and monitor cell to cell interactions.

Abstract: A container includes a cup and a lid. The lid is adapted to mate with a brim included in the cup to close a top aperture opening into an interior liquid-storage region formed in the cup.

Abstract: An electronic device may include electrical components and other components mounted within an interior of a housing. The device may have a display on a front face of the device and may have a glass layer that forms a housing wall on a rear face of the device. The glass housing wall may be provided with regions having different appearances. The regions may be textured, may have coatings such as thin-film interference filter coatings formed from stacks of dielectric material having alternating indices of refraction, may have metal coating layers, and/or may have ink coating layers. Textured surfaces, cavities, coatings, and other decoration may be embedded in glass structures that are joined with chemical bonds at diffusion-bonding interfaces.

Abstract: The invention provides formulations for oral delivery of a therapeutic agent wherein the formulation comprises a kappa opioid receptor agonist and an absorption enhancer, the absorption enhancer includes a medium chain fatty acid or a salt of a medium chain fatty acid; and a medium chain fatty acid glyceride. The kappa opioid receptor agonist may be embedded in an oligosaccharide, such as trehalose. Also provided are capsules containing the oral formulations of the kappa opioid receptor agonists and the absorption enhancer of the invention and methods use of these formulations for the prophylaxis and treatment of variety of kappa opioid receptor-associated diseases and conditions such as pain, pruritus and inflammation; the method comprising administering to the mammal the formulation comprising the kappa opioid receptor agonist and an absorption enhancer.

Abstract: Provided herein are combination therapies for the treatment of pathological conditions, such as cancer, using MEK antagonists.

Abstract: The lubrication device delivers a lubricant to the perforating device which provides intermittently spaced cuts to a moving web, also referred to as perforations. The lubrication device includes a retaining member, a plenum, and a comb having a plurality of comb channels. The plenum and the plurality of comb channels are in fluid communication with one another and deliver a lubricant to the perforating device. Lubrication of the perforating device in this manner may improve knife life, perforation quality and web handling.

Abstract: A ceramic composite article includes a substrate including a matrix of ceramic material defining a network of interstitial regions and a transparent material occupying at least some of the interstitial regions of the substrate. The transparent material can have a melting point lower than a melting point of the ceramic material. The matrix of ceramic material can be formed by a 3D printing process.

Abstract: An electronic device including an optical component and an enclosure comprising a glass ceramic region is disclosed. The optical properties of the glass ceramic region and the positioning of the glass ceramic region with respect to the optical component can affect the performance of the optical component, the visual appearance of the optical component, or both.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates, generally, to nucleotide sequence data and, more particularly, to computer files and methods supporting forensic DNA analysis. In one illustrative embodiment, a method may comprise identifying a locus corresponding to each item of short tandem repeat (STR) profiling data stored in an existing computer file, wherein the STR profiling data stored in the existing computer file is repeat-based and/or length-based; identifying start and stop coordinates of an STR region of the corresponding locus for each item of STR profiling data stored in the existing computer file; creating an ambiguous text string corresponding to each item of STR profiling data stored in the existing computer file, wherein each ambiguous text string consists of a sequence of ambiguous characters extending from the start coordinate to the stop coordinate identified for the corresponding item of STR profiling data; and storing each ambiguous text string in a sequence-based computer file.