Abstract: Compositions and methods for conferring hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) herbicide resistance or tolerance to plants are provided. Compositions include amino acid sequences, and variants and fragments thereof, for mutant HPPD polypeptides. Nucleic acids that encode the mutant HPPD polypeptides are also provided. Methods for conferring herbicide resistance or tolerance, particularly resistance or tolerance to certain classes of herbicides that inhibit HPPD, in plants are further provided. Methods are also provided for selectively controlling weeds in a field at a crop locus and for the assay, characterization, identification and selection of the mutant HPPDs of the current invention that provide herbicide tolerance.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for conferring hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) herbicide resistance or tolerance to plants are provided. Compositions include amino acid sequences, and variants and fragments thereof, for mutant HPPD polypeptides. Nucleic acids that encode the mutant HPPD polypeptides are also provided. Methods for conferring herbicide resistance or tolerance, particularly resistance or tolerance to certain classes of herbicides that inhibit HPPD, in plants are further provided. Methods are also provided for selectively controlling weeds in a field at a crop locus and for the assay, characterization, identification and selection of the mutant HPPDs of the current invention that provide herbicide tolerance.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for conferring hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) herbicide resistance or tolerance to plants are provided. Compositions include amino acid sequences, and variants and fragments thereof, for mutant HPPD polypeptides. Nucleic acids that encode the mutant HPPD polypeptides are also provided. Methods for conferring herbicide resistance or tolerance, particularly resistance or tolerance to certain classes of herbicides that inhibit HPPD, in plants are further provided. Methods are also provided for selectively controlling weeds in a field at a crop locus and for the assay, characterization, identification and selection of the mutant HPPDs of the current invention that provide herbicide tolerance.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing collaborative quality of service (“QoS”) for service-oriented architectures are described. The application services in the service-oriented architecture implement a QoS application-programming interface (“API”) in addition to the traditional service API. The QoS API may include a QoS reporting interface for reporting values of QoS metrics of the application service, a QoS mechanism interface that exposes details of dependability mechanisms utilized by the application service, and/or a QoS negotiation interface that allows dynamic negotiation of what QoS properties the application service provides and how the QoS properties are provided. Service consumers may utilize the QoS API of the various application services in the service-oriented architecture to collect dependability information regarding the application services and make service provider selection decisions during discovery and dynamic binding.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to dynamically allocating multitier applications based upon performance and reliability of resources. A controller analyzes resources and applications hosted by the resources, and collects operational data relating to the applications and resources. The controller is configured to determine an allocation scheme for allocating or reallocating the applications upon failure of a resource and/or upon rollout or distribution of a new application. The controller generates configuration data that describes steps for implementing the allocation scheme. The resources are monitored, in some embodiments, by monitoring devices. The monitoring devices collect and report the operational information and generate alarms if resources fail.

Abstract: An improvement to a lighted drinking container is provided. A problem exists with prior art illuminated drinking containers wherein glare hits the users' eyes upon use of the container (or upon tilting the glass towards the face to drink the liquid therein). The improvement disclosed herein provides an opaque or translucent barrier to allow for light to scatter away from the eye of the user, thus making the use of the container more comfortable while maintaining the illumination features thereof.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems of communicating with smart appliances through a smart grid and smart meter infrastructure.

Abstract: A clamp and handle is designed exclusively for holding purchased containers of rub on and roll on pain killers, deodorants and any other substance that is in a container with a built in applicator. The handle is for applying these substances to hard or impossible places to reach due to anatomy or injury. The clamp, handle and knob are constructed from PVC that has a smooth glossy finish for the purpose of not causing any injury. The PVC can move smoothly over skin. The knob is flower shaped to make it easier to grip. The knob and clamp body prevent the stainless steel screw from scratching any skin. The screw will never rust.

Abstract: A device enclosure includes a clad metal shell having a plurality of mounting structures attached thereto. Methods for manufacturing the device enclosure are also disclosed. In a particular method, the mounting structures are formed on a surface of the clad metal shell by nano molding technology. Alternatively, the mounting structures are formed by molding before being attached to the clad metal shell by an adhesive.

Abstract: A clamp and handle is designed exclusively for holding purchased containers of rub on and roll on pain killers, deodorants and any other substance that is in a container with a built in applicator. The handle is for applying these substances to hard or impossible places to reach due to anatomy or injury. The clamp, handle and knob are constructed from PVC that has a smooth glossy finish for the purpose of not causing any injury. The PVC can move smoothly over skin. The knob is flower shaped to make it easier to grip. The knob and clamp body prevent the stainless steel screw from scratching any skin. The screw will never rust.

Abstract: An apparatus for atomic layer deposition of a material on a moving substrate comprises a conveying arrangement for moving a substrate along a predetermined planar or curved path of travel and a coating bar having at least one precursor delivery channel. The precursor delivery channel conducts a fluid containing a material to be deposited on a substrate toward the path of travel. When in use, a substrate movable along the path of travel defines a gap between the outlet end of the precursor delivery channel and the substrate. The gap defines an impedance Zg to a flow of fluid from the precursor delivery channel. A flow restrictor is disposed within the precursor delivery channel that presents a predetermined impedance Zfc to the flow therethrough. The restrictor is sized such that the impedance Zfc is at least five (5) times, and more preferably at least fifteen (15) times, the impedance Zg. The impedance Zfc has a friction factor f.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for conferring hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) herbicide resistance or tolerance to plants are provided. Compositions include amino acid sequences, and variants and fragments thereof, for mutant HPPD polypeptides. Nucleic acids that encode the mutant HPPD polypeptides are also provided. Methods for conferring herbicide resistance or tolerance, particularly resistance or tolerance to certain classes of herbicides that inhibit HPPD, in plants are further provided. Methods are also provided for selectively controlling weeds in a field at a crop locus and for the assay, characterization, identification and selection of the mutant HPPDs of the current invention that provide herbicide tolerance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a method of making a mineral product. The method includes contacting a carboxylic acid and an inorganic mineral compound sufficient to form a solution, reacting the solution over a period of time sufficient to provide a mineral chelated compound, transferring the mineral chelated compound to one or more molds prior to the compound substantially solidifying and reducing the size of the mineral chelated compound sufficient to provide a rapidly soluble mineral chelated product.

Abstract: Embodiments provide inorganic mineral chelated compositions, cobalt compounds and compositions, and treatment compositions, and methods of making and using them. Mineral chelated compositions and cobalt compounds have been shown to improve plant health, plant emergence, crop yield, and plant resistance to disease and drought. The compositions described herein can be applied directly to seeds, soil, or plants, or they can be incorporated with existing agricultural treatments and processes, reducing cost and time for farmers to implement the methods described herein. Accordingly, the compositions can be used as a seed treatment, or they can be broadcast on soil, tilled in soil, placed in-furrow, mixed with other fertilizers or chemicals, side-dressed in the field, used as foliar treatments, or combinations thereof. Such methods provide valuable micronutrients in a highly bioavailable form to plants and soil.

Abstract: Methods and systems for use in troubleshooting installations of electronic devices are provided. In one example system for use in troubleshooting a plurality of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), the system includes a computing device communicatively interfaced with a plurality of IEDs. The computing device includes a first communication interface to receive data from at least one IED and a processor coupled to the first communication interface. The processor is programmed to receive data from the at least one IED via the first communication interface and determine, based at least in part on the received data from the at least one IED, whether or not the plurality of IEDs is functioning properly.

Abstract: A method for delivering energy to an electric vehicle is provided, wherein the electric vehicle is associated with a customer account. The method includes identifying the electric vehicle at an energy delivery point, and determining a current balance of the customer account, wherein the current balance includes at least a portion of a prepayment amount based on a predetermined amount of energy to be delivered to the electric vehicle at the energy delivery point. The method also includes delivering energy to the electric vehicle, metering an actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle, and determining a transaction amount based on the actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle at the energy delivery point.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to dynamically allocating multitier applications based upon performance and reliability of resources. A controller analyzes resources and applications hosted by the resources, and collects operational data relating to the applications and resources. The controller is configured to determine an allocation scheme for allocating or reallocating the applications upon failure of a resource and/or upon rollout or distribution of a new application. The controller generates configuration data that describes steps for implementing the allocation scheme. The resources are monitored, in some embodiments, by monitoring devices. The monitoring devices collect and report the operational information and generate alarms if resources fail.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a method of making a mineral product. The method includes contacting a carboxylic acid and an inorganic mineral compound sufficient to form a solution, reacting the solution over a period of time sufficient to provide a mineral chelated compound, transferring the mineral chelated compound to one or more molds prior to the compound substantially solidifying and reducing the size of the mineral chelated compound sufficient to provide a rapidly soluble mineral chelated product.

Abstract: A cassette for supporting a film during a gaseous vapor deposition process includes a central shaft having first and second end plates. A rib on each end plate forms a spiral groove able to accept an edge of a film. Each rib has a cross sectional configuration having substantially linear major edges, a predetermined width dimension and a predetermined average thickness dimension, and a width-to-thickness aspect ratio of at least 2:1. The rib could be substantially rectangular with an optional flow spoiler at the free end or substantially wedge-shaped. The interspoke spacing between end plates is at least three hundred millimeters (300 mm) and is also greater than the width dimension of a film substrate at a gaseous deposition temperature. The width dimension of each rib is between about 0.5% to about 2.0% of the interspoke spacing.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for loading a film cassette for gaseous vapor deposition. The invention comprises careful alignment of a film cassette and a supply roll such that film can be transferred from the supply roll to the cassette while minimizing touching, ceasing or cracking the film.