Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure an inner tube comprises an encasing configured to hold air. The encasing comprises a reinforcing structure configured such that, as the encasing is inflated, an overall major diameter of the inner tube is reduced. The inner tube also comprises an inflation valve coupled to the encasing and configured to allow inflation of the encasing. Further, the inner tube comprises a pressure valve coupled to the encasing. The pressure valve is configured to be biased closed and allow air to leave the encasing when a differential pressure between inside of the encasing and outside of the encasing reaches a threshold pressure level. In the same or alternative embodiments, the encasing also comprises a reinforcing structure configured such that, as the encasing is inflated, an overall major diameter of inner tube is reduced.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) that includes performing a pulse sequence using the MRI system, the pulse sequence including a phase-based flow encoding to collect a time-series of image data from the portion of the vasculature of the subject and identifying at least a portion of the time series of image data corresponding to a period of reduced flow through the portion of the vasculature. The portion of the time series of image data is subtracted from the time series of image data to create a time series of images of the portion of the vasculature having background tissue surrounding the portion of the vasculature substantially suppressed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a vessel support system and a method of vessel harvesting. The system can include a cutting device, a catheter adapted to be inserted into a section of the vessel in order to support the vessel as the cutting device is advanced over the vessel, and a cannula adapted to be coupled to the vessel and adapted to receive the catheter as the catheter is inserted into the section of the vessel. The method can include orienting a cutting device coaxially with the cannula and the catheter and advancing the cutting device over the cannula, the catheter, and the section of the vessel in order to core out the section of the vessel and a portion of the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems and machine readable media are disclosed herein for analyzing response data from subjects exposed to media. An example method includes obtaining first neuro-response data from a first frequency band and second neuro-response data from a second frequency band of brain activity of a subject exposed to one or more of an advertisement or entertainment, the first frequency band and the second frequency band being different. The example method also includes combining the first and second neuro-response data and data representative of a first attribute of the first advertisement or entertainment to generate selection information. In addition, the example method includes selecting a second advertisement or entertainment for presentation to the subject based on the selection information and data representative of a second attribute of the second advertisement or entertainment.

Abstract: A cloud of small to medium-sized space debris is mitigated by releasing drag-reducing particles into the cloud from a dispenser vehicle, causing the particles to collide or otherwise interact with, and thereby exchange momentum with, the debris particles, reducing the orbiting velocity of the debris to a degree sufficient to cause the debris to de-orbit, or to accelerate the de-orbiting of the debris, to Earth. Certain embodiments also include a shepherd vehicle containing systems for identifying and tracking the debris cloud and for coalescing the debris cloud to increase the particles density in the cloud.

Abstract: A flow meter is disclosed having a meter body that is enveloped by a shroud having a compliant band disposed at least partially about the meter body. The shroud protects transducers and transducer cables. The shroud forms a chamber between the shroud and meter body, and includes a releasable portion to allow access into the chamber.

Abstract: The 6-axis position and attitude of an imaging vehicle's detector assembly is measured by mounting the detector assembly on a compliant isolator and separating the main 6-axis IMU on the vehicle from a secondary IMU comprising at least inertial rate sensors for pitch and yaw on the detector assembly. The compliant isolator couples low-frequency rigid body motion of the vehicle below a resonant frequency to the isolated detector assembly while isolating the detector assembly from high-frequency attitude noise above the resonant frequency. A computer processes measurements of the 6-axis rigid body motion and the angular rate of change in yaw and pitch of the isolated detector assembly to mitigate the drift and noise error effects of the secondary inertial rate sensors and estimate the 6-axis position and attitude of the detector assembly.

Abstract: A payment device and method and system for using the payment device is described capable of utilizing a pre-authorized amount on existing infrastructure, including POS terminals or for using offline pre-paid products on this infrastructure. The updates for the pre-authorized or offline prepaid products can be sent by the issuer and applied by the card contemporaneously with the card's processing of the issuer authentication data but without requiring any additional bytes in the issuer authentication data. The updates performed by the issuer can be larger and more extensive than could be achieved by using any available space in the issuer authentication data.

Abstract: A system, method, and article for delivering an antimicrobial agent into the lumen of a trans-dermal catheter are disclosed. In an embodiment, the system comprises an elongate member configured for insertion into a lumen of a catheter, and the elongate member containing an antimicrobial. In the alternative an antimicrobial agent can be placed on an interior surface of a retaining ring.

Abstract: An electronic messaging client caches copies of a subset of electronic messages available in a remote store in a local store of a user device. When the user device is in an online state, the client provides for the blended presentation of electronic messages such that a user can concurrently view information about the electronic messages that have been cached in the local store as well as information about electronic messages that are stored only in the remote store. The client also presents a blended state associated with a container of electronic messages to a user of a user device and enables a user to execute a search of cached electronic messages stored in a local store as well as of electronic messages stored in the remote store.

Abstract: Described herein are a gaming system, method, computer server, and computer program product that utilise a first gaming table and a predefined number of tokens. The gaming table includes a number of cells that correspond to the number of tokens and each token has an associated value. The tokens are stored in the cells of the gaming table, with one token in each cell, until all of the cells are populated. The gaming system, method, and computer program product of the present disclosure compute a score for a player by utilising the values associated with the tokens.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of operating a pump in an aquaculture system including a water tank that houses aquatic life. The method includes monitoring a dissolved oxygen level in the culture tank, determining a flow rate threshold based on the dissolved oxygen level, and changing a speed of the pump to maintain a current flow rate through the culture tank above the flow rate threshold.

Abstract: A jackpot display system (10) for a gaming system, the jackpot display system comprising a display control device (14) arranged to receive jackpot data indicative of a plurality of current jackpot amounts, each jackpot amount being derived from games played on at least one gaming machine (40, 42), and a plurality of displays (16) in communication with the display control device (14). The display control device (14) is arranged to selectively associate at least some of the displays (16) with respective jackpot amounts so that during use jackpot amounts are shown on the associated displays.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for selecting targeted advertising data, the method including but not limited to determining an advertising data type for a single sign on subscriber; sending an image advertisement when the advertising data type is image; sending an audio advertisement when the advertising data type is audio; and sending a video advertisement when the advertising data type is video. A system and computer readable medium for performing the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust gas treatment device (4) and an exhaust system (1) having such an exhaust gas treatment device (4), wherein the exhaust system (1) has at least one exhaust-gas-conducting exhaust gas feed line (2, 3), which is attached to an inlet region (16) of the exhaust gas treatment device (4). Improved mixing of the exhaust gas and a space-saving configuration result if the exhaust gas treatment device (4) has at least one inlet (12, 13) which is open towards the inlet region (16) and if a mixing element (15) is provided, which connects the inlet region (16) to a through-flow region (17) by means of input openings (22, 23), wherein at least one first input opening (22) faces a first side (18) of the inlet region (16) and at least one second input opening (23) faces a second side (19) of the inlet region (16).

Abstract: The disclosure describes new forms of chip-type and other fried or baked snack-type and/or convenience food items, including sweet goods such as cookies, doughnuts, etc., which are externally coated with or which directly incorporate into their dough matrix certain starch-based compositions. Methods of using the compositions to make the food products, and the finished food products themselves are described. As external coatings, the compositions significantly increase the crispness and tensile strength of the food item after it is cooked with the coating in place, and so change the organoleptic qualities as to provide a new form of the underlying food product. On sweet goods, the coating also provides a surface barrier that stabilizes sugar icing on the outside of the product, preventing it from becoming tacky, moist, or wet, while simultaneously reducing moisture loss from the dough, adding crispness at the surface and greatly retarding staling.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to aspartic protease inhibitors. Certain aspartic protease inhibitors of the invention can be represented by the following structural formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The present invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the disclosed aspartic protease inhibitors. The present invention is further directed to methods of antagonizing one or more aspartic proteases in a subject in need thereof, and methods for treating an aspartic protease mediated disorder in a subject using the disclosed aspartic protease inhibitors.

Abstract: Food packages having features such as multiple containers in a single package and multiple pieces for a package, wherein the packages can contain multiple food products such as cereal and milk, but not necessarily cereal and milk, for consumption together in a convenient manner. One food package includes a lower container and an upper container, wherein the upper container includes an interior space that is defined by a three-dimensional bottom having at least one aperture, and sidewalls, with a reservoir formed in the three-dimensional bottom and including a volume at the bottom of the reservoir located below the at least one aperture.

Abstract: The invention relates to relatively short peptides (termed ?-conotoxins herein), about 10-30 residues in length, which are naturally available in minute amounts in the venom of the cone snails or analogous to the naturally available peptides, and which preferably include two disulfide bonds.

Abstract: An aeroponic growing system is provided. The aeroponic growing system can include a distribution pipe, multiple, different sprayers, and a plurality of plant supports. Each plant support can include a body. Each body can include an upper panel, a lower panel, and at least one opening adapted to retain a seed container formed on the upper panel. Each plant support can further comprise a liquid nutrient solution guide in fluid communication with the interior of body and extending from the lower panel of the body.