Abstract: A brine concentration system may include a closed-cycle heat pump, a brine heater configured to heat brine, a flash tank to evaporate a portion of heated brine to steam, and a steam condenser in which to condense the steam to distilled water. The system may include an electric vacuum pump in connection with the flash tank and the steam condenser. The electric vacuum pump may reduce a pressure within the flash tank and the steam condenser to reduce a boiling point of the brine. The system may include a controller that dynamically adjusts operations of the closed-cycle heat pump and/or the electric vacuum pump.

Abstract: The invention provides a nucleic acid construct that is useful in directing RNA mediated gene regulation or RNA mediated gene editing. The invention further provides cells comprising the nucleic acid construct, and methods of using the same.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a weed trimmer apparatus including: a belt having: a power clip first portion, a belt power source, a plurality of second power transmission wires extending through the belt and electrically connecting the belt power source to the power clip first portion, a belt clip; a trimmer including: a trimmer base having: a motor, a trimmer power source receiver, a shaft, a debris shield, a trimmer head secured below the debris shield, a plurality of cutting swaths, a first handle portion extending orthogonally from the shaft, a second handle extending from the first handle and configured to axially rotate around the first handle; and a power source configured to secure to either the first power source receiver or the trimmer, wherein the power source, when secured to the trimmer power source receiver, is configured to provide electrical output to the motor of the trimmer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a weed trimmer apparatus including: a belt having: a power clip first portion, a belt power source, a plurality of second power transmission wires extending through the belt and electrically connecting the belt power source to the power clip first portion, a belt clip; a trimmer including: a trimmer base having: a motor, a trimmer power source receiver, a shaft, a debris shield, a trimmer head secured below the debris shield, a plurality of cutting swaths, a first handle portion extending orthogonally from the shaft, a second handle extending from the first handle and configured to axially rotate around the first handle; and a power source configured to secure to either the first power source receiver or the trimmer, wherein the power source, when secured to the trimmer power source receiver, is configured to provide electrical output to the motor of the trimmer.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade lifting device is provided, comprising a backing member adapted to contact an interior surface of a wind turbine blade; a connector rod having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end is rotatably connected to the backing member; a cover plate connected to the connector rod, wherein the cover plate includes an alignment member; a primary lifting shackle rotatably connected to a base member engaged with the connector rod; and a securing nut threadably connected to the upper end of the connector rod. One or more spacers are positioned around the connector rod between the cover plate and an exterior blade surface. The device preferably includes a holding tool connectable to the upper end of the connector rod. The cover plate preferably includes one of more secondary shackles to enable engagement with other rigging equipment.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a machine-readable storage medium that includes executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system, facilitate performance of operations which include modifying advertising content at a display responsive to a person being determined to be in a first zone relative to the display, determining a presence of a communication device of the person, wherein the second zone is closer in range to the display than the first zone, transmitting a query to the communication device, receiving from the communication device the identifying characteristic of the person, obtaining an image of the person responsive to the person being determined to be in a third zone relative to the display, wherein the third zone is closer in range to the display than the first zone and the second zone, and obtaining modified content for the person based on the identifying characteristic.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a machine-readable storage medium that includes executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system, facilitate performance of operations which include modifying advertising content at a display responsive to a person being determined to be in a first zone relative to the display, determining a presence of a communication device of the person, wherein the second zone is closer in range to the display than the first zone, transmitting a query to the communication device, receiving from the communication device the identifying characteristic of the person, obtaining an image of the person responsive to the person being determined to be in a third zone relative to the display, wherein the third zone is closer in range to the display than the first zone and the second zone, and obtaining modified content for the person based on the identifying characteristic.

Abstract: A composition includes an adeno-associated vims (AAV) vector in a lipid nanoparticle (LNP). The AAV vector can include a heterologous nucleic acid sequence, optionally an inverted terminal repeat (ITR) positioned 5? of the heterologous nucleic acid sequence and an ITR positioned 3? of the heterologous nucleic acid sequence. The AAV vector can further include expression control elements (e.g., a promoter and/or enhancer), and intron, and/or or a polyadenylation signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a machine-readable storage medium that includes executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system, facilitate performance of operations which include modifying advertising content at a display responsive to a person being determined to be in a first zone relative to the display, determining a presence of a communication device of the person, wherein the second zone is closer in range to the display than the first zone, transmitting a query to the communication device, receiving from the communication device the identifying characteristic of the person, obtaining an image of the person responsive to the person being determined to be in a third zone relative to the display, wherein the third zone is closer in range to the display than the first zone and the second zone, and obtaining modified content for the person based on the identifying characteristic.

Abstract: A method of supplying liners (4) for use within teat cups (3) to milking parlours (1) is described. The method involves collecting used liners (4) from a milking parlour (1), delivering those liners (4) to a testing station, performing a test on each of those liners (4), notifying the operator of the milking parlour (1) of a problem with the milking parlour (1) if the test indicates there is such a problem and delivering new liners to the milking parlour (1).

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a machine-readable storage medium that includes executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system, facilitate performance of operations which include modifying advertising content at a display responsive to a person being determined to be in a first zone relative to the display, determining a presence of a communication device of the person, wherein the second zone is closer in range to the display than the first zone, transmitting a query to the communication device, receiving from the communication device the identifying characteristic of the person, obtaining an image of the person responsive to the person being determined to be in a third zone relative to the display, wherein the third zone is closer in range to the display than the first zone and the second zone, and obtaining modified content for the person based on the identifying characteristic.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to real-time debugging systems and methods. In one embodiment, a system that includes a server module and a client module can be provided. The server module can be executable on a first computer and can be adapted to use a native communications format for interactive transfer of industrial automation data between the first computer and at least one industrial automation element. The client module, which can be executable on the same computer as the server module or on a different computer, can include a debugging application configured to use a universal communications format for communicatively interacting with the server module for accessing the industrial automation data and debugging one or more programming portions associated with the industrial automation data.

Abstract: An automatic filter changer that automatically inserts and removes a filter from a fluidic path. Filters are introduced into the automatic filter changer in stacks. The lead filter and each stack is removed from its respective stack one by one by a filter separator. The separated filters are deposited onto a shuttle plate which moves the filters into their respective fluidic paths. Fluid couplers connect to each filter to complete their respective fluidic paths and allow fluids to be filtered before sampling. Once collection of the samples is complete, the filters are removed from the fluidic path and discarded or saved for reuse. The shuttle path is returned to its original position to receive new filters to repeat the process again. A graphic user interface is provided to allow the user to program a specific set of instructions to automate the entire process.

Abstract: An automatic filter changer that automatically inserts and removes a filter from a fluidic path. Filters are introduced into the automatic filter changer in stacks. The lead filter and each stack is removed from its respective stack one by one by a filter separator. The separated filters are deposited onto a shuttle plate which moves the filters into their respective fluidic paths. Fluid couplers connect to each filter to complete their respective fluidic paths and allow fluids to be filtered before sampling. Once collection of the samples is complete, the filters are removed from the fluidic path and discarded or saved for reuse. The shuttle path is returned to its original position to receive new filters to repeat the process again. A graphic user interface is provided to allow the user to program a specific set of instructions to automate the entire process.

Abstract: A secure computer keyboard system utilizes a mobile device in conjunction with a keyboard device to provide secure keyboard entry in a public place. An application on the mobile device produces a mapping of characters to character codings, and displays to the user a key such as a modified keyboard showing the mapping. The keyboard device receives input keystrokes from the user representing the codings and transmits the keystrokes back to the mobile device or to a server. The mobile device or server decodes the keystrokes using the mapping.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method comprising a graphical user interface and delivered via the Internet and/or a mobile, tablet or wearable device, that articulate, establish, monitor and enforce a commitment contract between two parties by making visible the upfront/advance terms for users in a defined group to participate in and complete an action, activity and/or event, by notating agreed upon financial and/or non-financial penalties relating to such commitments, by tracking a user's adherence to such commitments, by conducting rebate/reward accounting, if applicable, and by conducting penalty accounting, if applicable. Further, the system and the method disclosed herein conduct accounting of financial and/or non-financial penalties, if applicable, that accumulate as surplus rewards as a result of non-commitment adherence by users, which then may or may not be distributed to all users in the defined group or a subset of users in the defined group based on a set of predetermined criteria.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the preparation of a foamed drink comprising the steps of: providing a capsule containing a foamable ingredient; providing a receptacle positioned to collect fluid escaping from the capsule; injecting liquid into the capsule to mix with the foamable ingredient; allowing the foamable ingredient mixed with the liquid to escape from the capsule into the receptacle; followed by injecting further liquid into the receptacle in a jet having a diameter of from about 0.5 to about 2 mm to produce foamed liquid in the receptacle. The invention also provides capsules, apparatus and systems specifically adapted for use in the method. Preferably, the food ingredient is a milk powder, and the method produces a hot foamed beverage such as a cappuccino coffee.

Abstract: A method for facilitating purchases from a point of sale device using a biometric identifier includes receiving a biometric identifier and a point of sale (POS) identifier from a point of sale device. A user is identified based on the biometric identifier. It is then determined whether the user is authorized to request a purchase at the point of sale identified by the point of sale identifier. A purchase request authorization and user preferences of the user are transmitted to the point of sale device in response to determining that the user is authorized to request a purchase at the point of sale device.

Abstract: A method for facilitating a purchase using a biometric identifier includes receiving a biometric identifier and transaction information from a point of sale device. A user is then identified using the biometric identifier. It is then determined whether the user is authorized to complete a transaction identified by the transaction information. A payment request is transmitted to a financial institution server associated with the user in response to determining that the user is authorized to complete the transaction. An approval is transmitted to the point of sale device in response to receiving a payment request approval from the financial institution server. A customer copy of an electronic receipt is transmitted to a user device designated by the user and a merchant copy of the electronic receipt is transmitted to a merchant device designated by the merchant in order to provide both parties with a record of the transaction.

Abstract: A secure computer keyboard system utilizes a mobile device in conjunction with a keyboard device to provide secure keyboard entry in a public place. An application on the mobile device produces a mapping of characters to character codings, and displays to the user a key such as a modified keyboard showing the mapping. The keyboard device receives input keystrokes from the user representing the codings and transmits the keystrokes back to the mobile device or to a server. The mobile device or server decodes the keystrokes using the mapping.