Abstract: Provided herein are SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins and polypeptides (e.g., SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins and polypeptide immunogens (and immunogenic fragments and immunogenic variants thereof)) comprising at least one set of amino acid substitutions, and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. Further provided herein are compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions) and vaccines comprising the same for use in e.g., the prevention, treatment, and/or amelioration of a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Abstract: Provided herein are VHH-containing polypeptides that bind CD33. Uses of the VHH-containing polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: A handheld powered pocket hole drilling system is provided. The system includes a base assembly having a plate. The plate has a drill bit opening extending through the plate. The system includes a drilling assembly and a drill bit connected to the drilling assembly. A drill guide assembly is operably connected to the base assembly and the drilling assembly. The drilling assembly is movable along the drill guide assembly to extend and retract the drill bit through the drill bit opening at an angle. An actuating assembly is operably connected to the drilling assembly. The actuating assembly is configured to move the drilling assembly and drill bit between a retracted position and an extended position. In some arrangements, the actuating assembly moves a drilling assembly and drill bit rearward and downward to the extended position and a handle of the actuating assembly is moved forward and downward.

Abstract: A weigh head apparatus (102) for cooperation with a data processing unit for use in livestock weighing. The weigh head apparatus is inexpensive, easy to upgrade and has low maintenance costs. The weight head apparatus has: a signal converting module (106) operable to convert one or more analogue load signal into a plurality of digital load values; and a data transmitting module (108) operable to transmit a stream of the digital load values over a wireless connection to the data processing unit. The stream is a real-time stream and the digital load values are raw instantaneous analogue-to-digital converter output values. A command receiving module (109) is configured to receive a transmit-stream command from the data processing unit, wherein the data transmitting module (108) is operable to transmit the stream of the digital load values in response to the received transmit-stream command.

Abstract: Customizing an application on a mobile device includes storing at least a portion of customization data in a customization server that is independent of the mobile device, a user of the mobile device accessing the customization server independently of the mobile device, receiving authorization data from the customization server that enables the mobile device to securely receive customization data from the customization server, and the mobile device using the authorization data to cause the customization server to provide the customization data to the mobile device. The authorization data may be provided by postal message, email message, an SMS text message, and/or a visual code provided on a screen of a computer used to access the customization server. The user may use a computer to provide credential information to access the customization server. Customizing the application may allow the mobile device to access a user service on behalf of the user.

Abstract: Customizing an application on a mobile device includes storing at least a portion of customization data in a customization server that is independent of the mobile device, a user of the mobile device accessing the customization server independently of the mobile device, receiving authorization data from the customization server that enables the mobile device to securely receive customization data from the customization server, and the mobile device using the authorization data to cause the customization server to provide the customization data to the mobile device. The authorization data may be provided by postal message, email message, an SMS text message, and/or a visual code provided on a screen of a computer used to access the customization server. The user may use a computer to provide credential information to access the customization server. Customizing the application may allow the mobile device to access a user service on behalf of the user.

Abstract: Confirming user consent includes prompting the user to tap a card a card reader or a computing device and confirming consent in response to the user taping the card. The user may be prompted for a response in a plurality of possible responses and only a particular one of the possible responses may require taping the card. The user may consent to installation of software on the computing device. The user may be logged in to the computing device. A login ID for the user may be cached and/or may be accessed in connection with the user tapping the card. Confirming user consent may also include obtaining a pairing code for accessing the card and confirming consent in response to the user taping the card and the pairing code allowing access to the card. The pairing code may be cached in the card reader or the computing device.

Abstract: A gaming device comprises a display, a random number generator, a processor, and a memory storing instructions. When the instructions are executed by the processor, they cause the processor to conduct a base game from which feature games and at least one composite feature game can be triggered, where the composite feature game comprises game play characteristics from a first feature game and a second feature game of the feature games, and the composite feature game comprises a combination of the different game play characteristics. The composite feature game is initiated in response to a composite feature trigger condition being met. The game instances are presented with one or more feature game icon, which are modified in presentation during the game instances in accordance with an associated game play characteristic for a particular instance.

Abstract: A weigh head apparatus (102) for cooperation with a data processing unit for use in livestock weighing. The weigh head apparatus is inexpensive, easy to upgrade and has low maintenance costs. The weight head apparatus has: a signal converting module (106) operable to convert one or more analogue load signal into a plurality of digital load values; and a data transmitting module (108) operable to transmit a stream of the digital load values over a wireless connection to the data processing unit. The stream is a real-time stream and the digital load values are raw instantaneous analogue-to-digital converter output values. A command receiving module (109) is configured to receive a transmit-stream command from the data processing unit, wherein the data transmitting module (108) is operable to transmit the stream of the digital load values in response to the received transmit-stream command.

Abstract: An apparatus, comprising a magnetically conductive conduit having a fluid entry port, a fluid impervious boundary wall and a fluid discharge port defining a fluid impervious flow path through the magnetically conductive conduit, at least one end of the conduit having a taper forming a planar surface extending from an outer to an inner surface; an electrical conductor comprising a length of an electrical conducting material having a first and second conductor lead, the electrical conductor coiled with at least one turn to form an uninterrupted coil of electrical conductor encircling a section of the outer surface of the magnetically conductive conduit; and an electrical power supply operably connected to at least one of the first and second conductor leads, wherein the at least one coiled electrical conductor is thereby energized to provide a magnetic field having lines of flux directed along a longitudinal axis of the magnetically conductive conduit.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are provided for approving a transaction through an exchange of presented user contextual approval information and approval decryption. The user contextual approval information is generated by a user during a transaction, cryptographically signed, and provided to a transaction server. The user contextual data uniquely describes the transaction to the user and can be employed to aid a user in approving or validating the transaction in a subsequent approval action. In particular, a transaction may present the contextual approval information to a user in the form of an approval challenge message. The approval challenge message may be sent to a known user device via the transaction server in the form of a text or multi-media message. The user may respond to the message with an approval or denial response.

Abstract: A method for providing magnetic fluid treatment in which at least one electrical conductor comprising at least one length of an electrical conducting material having a first conductor lead and a second conductor lead is energized. The electrical conductor is coiled with at least one turn to form at least one uninterrupted coil of electrical conductor encircling at least a section of an outer surface of a conduit. Energizing the at least one electrical conductor establishes a magnetic field having lines of flux directed along a flow path formed by the conduit and concentrated in a non-magnetically conductive region located between two magnetically conductive regions. A fluid is directed through the conduit past the non-magnetically conductive region to provide magnetic fluid treatment to the fluid.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are provided for approving a transaction through an exchange of presented user contextual approval information and approval decryption. The user contextual approval information is generated by a user during a transaction, cryptographically signed, and provided to a transaction server. The user contextual data uniquely describes the transaction to the user and can be employed to aid a user in approving or validating the transaction in a subsequent approval action. In particular, a transaction may present the contextual approval information to a user in the form of an approval challenge message. The approval challenge message may be sent to a known user device via the transaction server in the form of a text or multi-media message. The user may respond to the message with an approval or denial response.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are provided for approving a transaction through an exchange of presented user contextual approval information and approval decryption. The user contextual approval information is generated by a user during a transaction, cryptographically signed, and provided to a transaction server. The user contextual data uniquely describes the transaction to the user and can be employed to aid a user in approving or validating the transaction in a subsequent approval action. In particular, a transaction may present the contextual approval information to a user in the form of an approval challenge message. The approval challenge message may be sent to a known user device via the transaction server in the form of a text or multi-media message. The user may respond to the message with an approval or denial response.

Abstract: A method of increasing the rate by which a dissimilar material separates from an aqueous-based fluid mixture is disclosed. The method includes the step of passing an aqueous-based fluid through a magnetically conductive conduit having magnetic energy directed along the longitudinal axis of the magnetically conductive conduit and extending through at least a portion of the aqueous-based fluid mixture thereby providing a conditioned fluid medium. The conditioned fluid medium is separated into at least two distinct phases in a ceramic membrane filtration apparatus downstream of the magnetically conductive conduit, wherein at least one dissimilar material separates from the conditioned fluid medium at an increased rate as compared to a rate of separation of at least one dissimilar material from an aqueous-based fluid mixture prior to passing through the magnetically conductive conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for minimizing closing force of a door. The apparatus comprises a housing adapted to be disposed in the hinged edge of the door. A piston is slidably mounted in the bore. A button having an inner end and an outer end is disposed in the bore with the inner end of the button engaging the piston for urging the button toward a first extended position where the button extends from the edge of the door. The button is slidable in the bore relative to the housing for reciprocal movement between the extended position and a second position where the button is depressed into the bore against the force of the piston. The button is disposed so that the outer end of the button engages the door frame for slowing movement of the door in a closing direction as the button is moved into the bore to the depressed second position.

Abstract: Customizing an application on a mobile device includes storing at least a portion of customization data in a customization server that is independent of the mobile device, a user of the mobile device accessing the customization server independently of the mobile device, receiving authorization data from the customization server that enables the mobile device to securely receive customization data from the customization server, and the mobile device using the authorization data to cause the customization server to provide the customization data to the mobile device. The authorization data may be provided by postal message, email message, an SMS text message, and/or a visual code provided on a screen of a computer used to access the customization server. The user may use a computer to provide credential information to access the customization server. Customizing the application may allow the mobile device to access a user service on behalf of the user.

Abstract: A damping system comprises a door panel operably connected to a rail for movement along the rail. An apparatus is mounted to the rail for damping movement of the door along the rail at an end position. The damping apparatus comprises a base defining a chamber having a closed end and an open end, the base configured for securing the damping apparatus to the rail. A piston is slidably mounted in the chamber and extends from the open end of the base in a first position. The piston includes a cylinder, a piston head moveable within said cylinder, a piston rod connected to the piston head, and a compression spring disposed on the piston rod between the cylinder and closed end of the chamber. The damping apparatus is secured to the rail for engaging and slowing movement of the door panel in a direction along the rail at the position as the piston is moved in the direction from the first position to a second position.

Abstract: An arc shield apparatus for an electrical switching device. Arc shield apparatus includes a body having an abutting portion including a first side configured to abut against a lateral side of a contact arm of an electrical switching device, and a second side opposite from the first side, an aperture passing between the first and second side, the aperture configured to receive a spring tab of the contact arm therein, and an arc shield including a first shield portion extending from the first abutting portion, the first shield portion including a first contact surface configured to abut against a contact arm edge, and a second shield portion configured to shield at least some of the spring tab and spring hook. Shielded contact arm assemblies and methods of protecting a contact arm of an electrical switching device during an arcing event, are disclosed, as are other aspects.