Abstract: A lottery ticket vending machine including a housing, a ticket drawer column in the housing, the ticket drawer column including a plurality of ticket drawers, each of the ticket drawers configured to hold one or more packs of lottery tickets, and a ticket burster in the housing, the ticket burster defining a ticket inlet and a ticket outlet, the ticket burster movable to a plurality of different ticket receipt positions, each different ticket receipt position associated with and in alignment with a different one of the ticket drawers, the ticket burster including, in various embodiments, one or more or all of a ticket pack sensor, a ticket exit sensor, a barcode sensor, and a ticket drawer sensor.

Abstract: The contamination-free introduction of a sterile object from a vessel, which has been closed by means of a semipermeable cover, into a working chamber, which is surrounded by a wall, of a containment firstly comprises a portal unit having an access flange which is arranged in the wall and which forms a passage from the outside into the working chamber, and a door which sealingly closes the passage and which, in order to be opened, can be moved into the working chamber. A vessel receptacle has a repository for holding a vessel that has been introduced into the vessel receptacle, an opening for the introduction of the vessel into the repository, and a flange for interacting with the access flange. A decontamination unit is designed to decontaminate an outer surface of the cover when the door has been closed. Based on this arrangement, a method for introduction is also disclosed.

Abstract: A casting furnace for low pressure casting comprises a furnace chamber, an insert disposed within the furnace chamber, a valve in the insert, a riser to expose a much lower surface of a melt to compressed gas, and a channel for supplying and/or discharging gas into and out of the insert.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes engineering methods and polypeptide libraries that are useful for introducing non-native binding sites into polypeptides. Also provided herein are polypeptides that bind to a CD98hc or transferrin receptor (TfR) protein, methods of generating such polypeptides, and methods of using the polypeptides to target a composition across the blood-brain barrier or to a CD98hc-expressing or TfR-expressing cell.

Abstract: A method for fatigue hot spot screening includes identifying multiple static stress locations neighboring one or more fastener locations and multiple stress concentrations in a finite-element-model of a component in response to analysis results and validated assembly-level analysis results with a computer, generating a fatigue spectrum at each static stress location, generating multiple fatigue analysis control files in response to the fatigue spectrum, reducing the validated assembly-level analysis results, generating a first output file that contains multiple non-fastener stress concentration hot spots in the finite-element-model by a first fatigue analysis at multiple non-fastener stress concentration regions in response to the fatigue analysis control files, calculating one or more local peak stresses for the one or more fastener locations, and generating a second output file that contains multiple fastener hot spots in the finite-element-model by a second fatigue analysis at the fastener locations in res

Abstract: An apparatus configured to control operation of a product. The apparatus includes an integrated RFID tag embedded in the product and configured to communicate with an external user device. The integrated RFID tag stores a first working key associated with the product and is further configured to receive a second working key transmitted from the external user device. The apparatus includes control logic operatively coupled to the integrated RFID tag and configured to read the first working key and the second working key from the integrated RFID tag. The control logic determines whether the first and second working keys match and, in response to a determination that the first and second working keys match, the control logic enables a controlled functionality of the product.

Abstract: A feeding system for feeding individual animals of a herd feed, supplements, and combinations thereof. The feeding system includes one-to-many feed bin assemblies or feeding stations such that the system is able to dispense a specified mass of feed to specific animals at user-defined intervals. In this way, each animal of a herd is provided with optimal, individualized amounts of feed or feed material. Multiple feed bin assemblies in a single pasture, for example, can automatically form a network of feeders so that regardless of the specific feed bin assembly or feeding station within the feeding system that an animal visits, the specified amount and type of feed or feed material is delivered. Each feed bin assembly or feeding station can also be equipped with an access control mechanism to ensure each animal of a herd receives its individualized amounts of feed or feed material.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to composite straight wall liquid storage tanks held in persistent compression to provide superior watertightness for the life of the tank, including ACI American Concrete Institute 350 code-compliant liquid-containing composite straight wall structures with an integral full-height galvanized steel shell diaphragm fully encased in continuous shotcrete. The provided tapered composite straight wall can incorporate epoxy-bonded diaphragm sheet joints at the floor, wall, L-shaped corner posts, and T-shaped bisecting wall junction plates to support watertight connections. The external envelope and, optionally, one or more internal or bisecting walls of the structure can be provided in persistent compression by compressive post-tensioning.

Abstract: A landscape edging system forms landscape edging by connecting landscape edging units end-to-end and securing them to ground. The landscape edging system includes landscape edging units, a landscape edging end connector, and landscape spikes. The end connector has first and second legs that define lower spike receivers. The first and second landscape edging units define fitting recesses below upper spike receivers. The legs of the end connector are press-fit into the fitting recesses of adjacent landscape edging units to establish mortise-and-tenon connections between the end connector and the landscape edging units. This aligns the upper and lower spike receivers so that first and second landscape spikes can be driven through a first pair of aligned upper and lower spike receivers and a second pair of aligned upper and lower spike receivers, respectively, into the ground.

Abstract: A computer system comprises at least one processor; a communications module coupled to the at least one processor; and a memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the at least one processor to provide a bidirectional application programming interface that interfaces between at least one provider system and at least one subscriber system, the bidirectional application programming interface configured to allow the at least one provider system to make requests of the at least one subscriber system and to allow the at least one subscriber system to make requests of the at least one provider system; receive, from a subscriber system, an application programming interface request that includes a request to confirm data processing particulars; identify, based on the data processing particulars, a provider system associated with the data processing particulars; send, to the provider system, the request to con

Abstract: System for electrically ablating tissue of a patient through a plurality of electrodes includes a memory, a processor and a treatment control module stored in the memory and executable by the processor. The treatment control module generates an estimated treatment region based on the number of electrical pulses to be applied.

Abstract: A power supply unit for a local consumer load comprises an electrical power generating device (10) configured to generate power from the environment and to provide first electrical power; an electrical energy storage (20) configured to store electrical energy and to provide second electrical power; an electric buffer (30) configured to receive and to buffer said first and said second electric power, and to provide a buffer output power; and an output power regulator (40) configured to provide an output power at a nominal output voltage from said buffer output power, and to adjust said nominal output voltage based on an amount of energy stored by said electrical energy storage (20).

Abstract: A system and method for helping a user optimize time use during transition times between scheduled activities, includes the steps of maintaining a schedule database including at least first and second consecutive scheduled activities for a first system user with a transition period between the first and second consecutive scheduled activities, during the transition period subsequent to the first activity and prior to commencement of the second activity, detecting at least a first trigger set of circumstances, upon occurrence of the trigger set of circumstances, automatically identifying a secondary activities set including at least first and second secondary activities that may be initiated during the transition period, presenting the secondary activities set to the first user via at least one affordance, receiving selection from the user of at least one of the secondary activities from the activities set and facilitating the selected secondary activity via at least one affordance.

Abstract: A catalytic partial wall-flow filter suitable for use in an exhaust gas treatment system, a method of making the catalytic partial wall-flow filter, and a method of using the catalytic partial wall-flow filter to remediate engine exhaust streams are disclosed. The filter comprises a partial wall-flow filter substrate having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a plurality of porous walls forming channels from the inlet end to the outlet end, wherein some of the channels are plugged channels and some are unplugged flow-through channels. A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst is coated on the porous walls.

Abstract: Recombinant nucleic acid molecules engineered for efficient propagation of a heterologous DNA sequence (such as a heterologous viral gene) that is toxic in E. coli are described. Influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes were used as exemplary toxic heterologous DNA sequences. Plasmids that included a heterologous DNA positioned between bacterial regulatory elements (such as lac operator sequences and/or terminator sequences) exhibited decreased gene transcription in E. coli and increased stability of the heterologous DNA while also retaining the property of inducible expression in E. coli.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for intelligently optimizing supply chain is provided. In particular, the systems and methods provide the capability to configure supply chain systems so as to: balance between cost and service is optimised and profitability maximised; configure system parameters to respond to both current and future risks; ensure that variability is built into plans enabling maximised efficiency; and human error and bias are eliminated from the planning process such that pro-active rather than reactive behaviour becomes the norm.

Abstract: A debris management system for vehicle sensors includes a sensor disposed on a first side of a transparent cover, the sensor having a field of view through the transparent cover, wherein the transparent cover is configured to move across the field of view of the sensor. A solvent nozzle is disposed on a second side of the transparent cover, wherein the solvent nozzle is configured to spray solvent at a surface of the second side and into the field of view. A wiper is disposed in contact with the surface of the second side.

Abstract: A method is provided for testing for presence of a biological particulate containing an antigen, the method including collecting, in a tube of an apparatus, biological fluid that potentially contains the biological particulate. Using a plunger of the apparatus, the biological fluid is pushed through a filter that is configured to not allow passage of at least some of the biological particulate. Subsequently, while the filter is inside the tube, the presence of the biological particulate is tested for by ascertaining if any of the biological particulate was trapped by the filter. Ascertaining includes applying to the filter a releasing agent solution configured to release an antigen from the biological particulate into the releasing agent solution, and, thereafter, testing the releasing agent solution for the presence of the released antigen. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A sample cartridge for a chemical processing instrument. The sample cartridge comprises a primary reaction vessel configured to accommodate a fluid sample for processing and configured to receive a lid for closing an open top of the primary reaction vessel, and a reagent vessel configured to receive one or more fluid reagents via an open top of the reagent vessel. The reagent vessel is connected to the primary reaction vessel via a primary reagent channel with a primary reagent valve disposed in the primary reagent channel to control fluid flow through the primary reagent channel. The sample cartridge further comprises a primary pneumatic port in fluid communication with the primary reaction vessel and configured to be connected to a pneumatic module to selectively adjust a pressure within the primary reaction vessel when the lid is closed to draw the fluid contents of the reagent vessel into the primary reaction vessel.

Abstract: A configurable aircraft aisle flooring system which includes a flat floor configuration and a drop-down aisle configuration. The flat floor configuration provides floor panels positioned to span across a trough of an aircraft aisle to form a level surface between upper sections of an aircraft aisle. The drop-down aisle configuration provides floor panels positioned below the upper section of the aircraft aisle to have a drop-down step between the upper sections of the aircraft aisle.