Abstract: Liquid antimicrobial compositions providing efficacy against microbial and viral pathogens while also providing yeasticidal activity are provided. The compositions are compatible formulations that do not leave hazy, streaky, or tacky residues on treated surfaces and do not require PPE. Methods of using the liquid antimicrobial compositions are also provided.

Abstract: According to certain aspects, a computer-implemented method for operating an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be provided. With the customer's permission, an identity of a vehicle operator may be identified and a vehicle operator profile may be retrieved. Operating data regarding autonomous operation features operating the vehicle may be received from vehicle-mounted sensors. When a request to disable an autonomous feature is received, a risk level for the autonomous feature is determined and compared with a driver behavior setting for the autonomous feature stored in the vehicle operator profile. Based upon the risk level comparison, the autonomous vehicle retains control of vehicle or the autonomous feature is disengaged depending upon which is the safer driver—the autonomous vehicle or the vehicle human occupant. As a result, unsafe disengagement of self-driving functionality for autonomous vehicles may be alleviated.

Abstract: The methods and systems relate to improvements to threat modeling systems through the use of crowdsourcing. Specifically, the methods and systems relate to generating recommendations based on crowdsourced threat modeling contributions. For example, the methods and systems automate the threat modeling process by leveraging data in order to drive consistent and measurable quality of threat models and enable threat models to provide aggregated views of risk concentration at any altitude.

Abstract: A method secures hash chains via hybrid consensus. A proximate payload for a proximate chain block for a proximate chain is obtained. A first identifier of the proximate chain and the proximate payload are hashed with a hash function to generate a second identifier of the proximate chain. The proximate chain block is added to the proximate chain. The proximate chain block includes the first identifier, the second identifier, and the proximate payload. A request to add the second identifier to a reporting chain is transmitted. A response indicating that the second identifier is incorporated into the reporting chain using the consensus mechanism is received.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit and a film heating assembly for use in the air conditioner unit, the air conditioner unit comprising a bulkhead defining an indoor portion and an outdoor portion and an indoor fan positioned within the indoor portion for selectively urging a flow of air through an indoor heat exchanger. The film heating assembly comprises a plurality of thick film heaters mounted to the bulkhead and an electrical relay system for selectively coupling the plurality of thick film heaters to an external power source.

Abstract: A method for using shareable and nested transaction on hash chains includes storing transaction data of a transaction of a hash chain. A lock block is appended to the hash chain. Appending the lock block includes setting a tail block identifier of the hash chain from a preceding tail block of a preceding transaction to the lock block. A data block is appended to the hash chain. Appending the data block includes setting the tail block identifier of the hash chain to the data block. The method further includes removing the transaction data from the transaction without invalidating the hash chain. The method further includes appending an updated data block to the hash chain to update the transaction with updated transaction data.

Abstract: An engineered stone product is made using a material that includes ceramic powder, glass sand, and a binder.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes an indoor heat exchanger assembly positioned in an indoor portion of the air conditioner unit. The indoor heat exchanger assembly includes an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The air conditioner unit also includes a heating unit. The heating unit may be positioned in the indoor portion of the air conditioner unit downstream of the indoor fan and/or at the exhaust side of the indoor fan.

Abstract: An electronic aiming system includes an electro-mechanical reticle having a plurality of electrically powered holdover indicators disposed on a primary crosshair of the reticle, the holdover indicators configured to be individually selected and energized to a visible state, a rangefinder configured to generate range data, a computing device configured to generate ballistics data; and a processor configured to receive the range data and ballistics data, select, based at least in part on either or both of the range data and ballistics data, one or more of the holdover indicators, and energize the selected holdover indicator or indicators to the visible state

Abstract: In one or more arrangements, an umbrella system includes a support pole connected to a rotating tube positioned around a center tube that extends between the support pole and a upper hub that is connected to an umbrella frame. The rotating tube has one or more helical grooves therein that are engaged by a lower hub which is connected to the umbrella frame. As the rotating tube is rotated, the lower hub is driven along the length of the rotating tube, thereby opening and closing the umbrella frame. In one or more arrangements, the system includes a rotational lock assembly configured to prevent rotation of the rotating tube when locked and permit rotation of the rotating tube when unlocked. In one or more arrangements, the system includes a counterbalance assembly that provides a counterbalance force positioned within a upper hub of the umbrella frame.

Abstract: An umbrella system includes a support pole connected to a rotating tube positioned around a center tube that extends between the support pole and a center support that is connected to an umbrella frame. The rotating tube has one or more helical grooves therein that are engaged by teeth of a hub which is connected to the umbrella frame. As the rotating tube is rotated, the hub is driven along the length of the rotating tube thereby opening and closing the umbrella frame. In one arrangement system includes a motor housing assembly including a plurality of batteries and a motor that includes a driven gear that meshes with a stationary gear which causes rotation of the rotating tube.

Abstract: Unmanned vehicles may be terrestrial, aerial, nautical, or multi-mode. Unmanned vehicles may accomplish tasks by breaking out into sub-drones, re-grouping itself, changing form, or re-orienting its sensors.

Abstract: A system and method for constructing a digital composite image of a three- dimensional biological sample. The system includes an optical system that captures images of cells and tissue presented on a specimen slide. The system systematically acquires a stack of images at different segments across the specimen slide. For each segment, the system dynamically calculates an optimal focal plane. Once an optimal focal plane is determined for each of the stacks of images, the system generates a composite image by copying the sharpest objects from each of the optimal focal planes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for treating, a wound by applying reduced or negative pressure to the wound. The apparatus can include a wound cover, a fluid collection container, a vacuum pump, an inflation pump, and one or more conduits. The wound cover can be configured to move between at least a relatively rigid, generally raised position and a relatively flexible, generally collapsed position according to a predetermined program or in response to input from a user or one or more sensors. In some embodiments, the wound cover can be configured to move between at least the relatively rigid, generally raised position and the relatively flexible, generally collapsed position by adjusting the air pressure in one or more channels in the wound cover or by adjusting the length of piezoelectric or other length changing material supported by the wound cover.

Abstract: A passive nuclear reactor control device. The passive nuclear reactor control device comprises a sealed chamber, which comprises a reservoir and a tube in fluid communication with the reservoir. A molten salt is within the sealed chamber, the molten salt being a eutectic mixture of a monovalent metal halide, and a fluoride or chloride of one or more lanthanides and/or a fluoride or chloride of hafnium. A gas is within the sealed chamber, and the gas does not react with the molten salt.

Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy apparatus can include a wound dressing, a fluid collection container, a vacuum pump comprising a pump motor, and tubing. Additionally, the apparatus can include a pressure sensor that measures a pressure in the tubing. One or more tubes can channel a fluid between the wound dressing, the fluid collection canister, and the pump. In addition, first and second control circuits can be provided for controlling the pump motor without using a processor. The first control circuit can generate a difference signal between a desired pressure input and a pressure sensor input, and can further generate a motor control signal responsive to the difference signal. Moreover, a second control circuit can provide an override signal based at least in part on the difference signal and at least one reference signal. The override signal beneficially overrides the motor control signal to prevent the pump motor from stalling.

Abstract: In one or more arrangements, a powered system for skateboards is presented which has a base plate, a drive unit, a wheel assembly, and straps. In one arrangement, the system is connected to a skateboard utilizing straps such that the system may be easily attached to and removed from the skateboard. In one arrangement, the system has a single, centrally located wheel which causes the front wheels of the skateboard to be lifted off the ground. In this arrangement, the single wheel is curved in order to allow for turning of the skateboard when utilizing the system. In one arrangement, the wheel is caused to rotate by a motor and a battery used to provide electricity to motor.

Abstract: An engineered stone product is made using a material that includes ceramic powder, glass sand, and a binder.

Abstract: A panel for attenuating noise is disclosed comprising a face skin having a first inner surface, a base skin having a second inner surface, a cellular core connected to and forming a plurality of cells between the face skin and the base skin, wherein the cellular core is defined by a cell structure having a plurality of cell walls extending between the face skin and the base skin defining each of the plurality of cells and a septum disposed within each of the plurality of cells, the septum defining an upper chamber proximate the face skin and a lower chamber proximate the base skin, wherein the face skin comprises a plurality of perforations fully through the face skin and in fluid communication with the upper chamber.

Abstract: A system and method for constructing a digital composite image of a three-dimensional biological sample. The system includes an optical system that captures images of cells and tissue presented on a specimen slide. The system systematically acquires a stack of images at different segments across the specimen slide. For each segment, the system dynamically calculates an optimal focal plane. Once an optimal focal plane is determined for each of the stacks of images, the system generates a composite image by copying the sharpest objects from each of the optimal focal planes.