Abstract: Described is a process for producing a mutant bacterium which exhibits improved survival and/or growth under a selected growth condition, the process comprising the steps of: (a) generating a pool of mutant bacteria by transposon mutagenesis with an activating transposon (TnA), wherein the TnA comprises a promoter capable of increasing transcription of a gene at or near its insertion site; (b) growing bacteria from the mutant pool under the selected growth condition and under one or more reference conditions to produce two or more test cultures; and (c) comparing the distribution of TnA insertions between test cultures to identify a first class of genes which are disadvantageous for growth and/or survival under the selected growth condition and a second class of genes which are advantageous for growth and/or survival under the selected growth condition.

Abstract: Among other things, a server receives from a payer an indication of a payment to be made from an account of the payer to an account of a biller. The server is hosted independently of a party that maintains the account for the payer or the biller. The server receives authentication information from the payer that authenticates an association of the payer with the account of the payer. After the association has been authenticated and without requiring the payer to obtain online access to the payer's account, the server sends to the party that maintains the account for the payer a credit transfer from the account of the payer into the account of the biller.

Abstract: A welding hood for protecting an operator's face comprising a face protective shield having a rearward side configured for receiving the operator's face and a viewing opening extending through the shield. The viewing opening is located in front of the eyes of the operator while the hood is fixed to the operator's head. An eye box is located adjacent the viewing opening and extends inwardly from the rearward side of the shield to block reflective arc flashes, sunlight, and/or shop-lighting from entering the operator's field of view during welding. The welding hood includes a light mounted to the face protective shield for shining light outward from a front side of the face protective shield, a cooling fan mounted adjacent the rearward side of the shield, and a clear protective member mounted within the eye box and adjacent the operator's eyes.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for discovering candidate therapies for genetic conditions and also for screening those therapies in vitro for evidence of neurotoxicity. Where a medical condition is a consequence of a genetic target such as a mutated gene, the disclosure provides in silico methods to generate lists of candidate sequences for antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that will potentially bind to the gene or transcripts from the gene in vivo and treat the associated condition by restoring a healthy phenotype of gene expression. The invention provides in vitro methods for screening candidate ASO sequences for symptoms of neurotoxicity in vivo. For example, candidate sequences that are output by the in silico analytical pipeline can be synthesized and assayed against live cells in vitro.

Abstract: A method of generating a biometric signature of a user for use in authentication using a neural network, the method comprising: receiving (110) a plurality of biometric samples from a user; extracting at least one feature vector using the plurality of biometric samples; using the elements of the at least one feature vector as inputs for a neural network; extracting the corresponding activations from an output layer of the neural network; and generating a biometric signature of the user using the extracted activations, such that a single biometric signature represents multiple biometric samples from the user.

Abstract: A glass composition includes greater than or equal to 50 mol % and less than or equal to 70 mol % SiO2; greater than or equal to 10 mol % and less than or equal to 20 mol % Al2O3; greater than or equal to 1 mol % and less than or equal to 10 mol % B2O3; greater than or equal to 7 mol % and less than or equal to 14 mol % Li2O; greater than 0 mol % and less than or equal to 8 mol % Na2O; greater than 0 mol % and less than or equal to 1 mol % K2O; greater than or equal to 0 mol % and less than or equal to 7 mol % CaO; greater than or equal to 0 mol % and less than or equal to 8 mol % MgO; and greater than or equal to 0 mol % and less than or equal to 8 mol % ZnO. R2O+R?O is less than or equal to 25 mol %, wherein R2O is the sum of Li2O, Na2O, and K2O and R?O is the sum of CaO, MgO, and ZnO. The glass composition includes at least one of NiO+CO3O4+Cr2O3+CuO is greater than or equal to 0.001 mol %, CeO2 is greater than or equal to 0.1 mol %, and TiO2 is greater than or equal to 0.1 mol %.

Abstract: A multi-blender system for blending liquid and solid particulates together to prepare a fracturing fluid, the blender system can include a plurality of independently operable blender units each having components that can operate with either blender unit. Each component may be a modular blender component mounted to respective independent frames. The independent frames are configured to be independently removable, replaceable and movable to multiple positions in the blender system. In some aspects the multi-blender system can operate at different sand concentrations, instantaneously adjust flow rate to one or more of the components in either blender unit, provide control redundancy, and may continue to operate despite a failure of one of the major components.

Abstract: A mooring apparatus may allow for watercraft to be secured to a mooring structure. An example of a mooring apparatus includes a frame secured to a shell cover at a plurality of points, a plurality of rollers disposed within the frame, and a tension bar disposed within the frame and parallel to the plurality or rollers.

Abstract: Methods for performing endovascular procedures are described herein. The methods may comprise advancing an expandable member of a blood flow control device to a target location in a blood vessel of a patient, and rotating a circular gear positioned at least partially within a housing of a controller via the controller communicably coupled to the blood flow control device. Rotating the circular gear may translate a linear gear of a syringe pump fluidly coupled to the expandable member thereby adjusting a volume of the expandable member. Various blood flow control devices, control systems, and fluid delivery systems are also described herein. The fluid delivery systems may include a pump configured for manual or automated delivery of fluids, or configured to switch between automated and manual modes of delivery. The pump may be a syringe pump that utilizes a rack and pinion system, a motor, and a sensor to track the position and/or movement of a component of the syringe pump during fluid transfer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for data acquisition utilizing spare or unused databus capacity are provided. In one example aspect, the system includes a vehicle that includes an engine and a controller. The controller generates a data file indicative of Continuous Engine Operation Data (CEOD). The data file is transmitted over a serial databus to a bus recorder. Particularly, the data file is continuously generated by the controller and stored in a buffer. The available bandwidth of a transmission frame for the serial databus is determined. A portion of the data file is retrieved from the buffer based at least in part on the determined bandwidth. The portion of the data file is divided into relatively small transmission payloads and packed into the available bandwidth of the transmission frame. This process is repeated on a continuous basis and the bus recorder records the data. The data file is then reconstituted and decoded.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for diagnosing a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: initiating, by a processor, a recording of a noise by at least one microphone based on user selection data from a user of the vehicle; receiving, by the processor, audio signal data based on the recording; generating, by the processor, vector data based on the audio signal data; processing, by the processor, the vector data with at least one trained machine, by the processor, learning model to determine a classification of the noise; predicting, by the processor, an action to be taken based on the classification; and storing, by the processor, the audio signal data, the classification, and the action in a datastore.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for minimizing computational processing for converting user resources to resources supported by third party entities. In particular, the system may be configured to determine that a user has scanned a code projected on an entity device via a third party application present on a user device of the user, wherein the entity device is associated with an entity, establish a first connection with the entity device, establish a second connection between the user device and the entity device based on determining that the user has scanned the code, determine that the user has inserted user resources into the entity device, via the first connection, convert the user resources to resources supported by a third party entity, and display in real-time, information associated with the resources on the third party application.

Abstract: A pin member is proposed for a turbo-machine having a shroud arranged to rotate within a turbine housing. The pin member is configured to limit this rotation. It is a one-piece element comprising a cylindrical body and a limit surface for opposing motion of the shroud.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calculating hepato-renal index (HRI) values from radiofrequency (RF) data are disclosed herein. The RF data may include fundamental frequency components, harmonic frequency components, or a combination thereof. Signal intensities within regions of interest may be calculated from the RF data. The signal intensities may be averaged to arrive at an average signal intensity value for each region of interest. In some examples, some of the highest and/or lowest signal intensity values may be removed prior to averaging. The ratio of the average signal intensities from the different regions of interest may be then be taken to arrive at the HRI values.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus can include a stage configured to hold a component formed by one or more layers of resin. A support plate can be positioned above the stage. A radiant energy device can be positioned above the stage. The radiant energy device can be operable to generate and project energy in a predetermined pattern. A feed module can be configured to operably couple with a first end portion of a resin support and can be positioned upstream of the stage. A take-up module can be configured to operably couple with a second end portion of the resin support and can be positioned downstream of the stage.

Abstract: A method and system for limiting mobile device functionality when the mobile device is located in a pre-defined fixed geographic area. The mobile device may receive a local disabling signal from a disabling device, which, when detected by a Device Owner Application resident on the mobile device, limits the mobile device functionality. Alternatively, the system may use GPS based geofencing to determine that the mobile device is in a predefined geographic area, and then transmit instructions to the mobile device, where a Device Owner Application operates to restrict the mobile device functionality. Mobile device functionality may be limited by restricting the mobile device's ability to send and receive text messages, email messages and phone calls; restricting the mobile device's ability to respond to user input; restricting the mobile device's ability to utilize a web browser; and restricting the mobile device's web browser from accessing predetermined web sites.

Abstract: The disclosure provides compounds of Formula 1, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The variables in Formula 1, e.g. X1-X5, A1, A2, and R1-R4 are described herein. Such compounds are useful as prostaglandin transport (PGT) inhibitors. The disclosure further includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of Formula 1 or salt thereof and methods of using compounds of Formula 1 and salts thereof to treat diseases and disorders mediated, at least in part, by prostaglandin levels or cyclooxygenase activity. Such diseases and disorders include painful and inflammatory conditions.

Abstract: Real-time two-way communication between a user immersed in a virtual reality (VR) environment and another party who is not in the VR environment. The sequence of video frames being presented to the VR user on, e.g., a head mounted display, i.e., the VR user's “field of view” in the VR environment, is shown to a guest user on their computing device. Simultaneously, video from a camera in a guest user computing device is shown to the VR user in a window in the VR environment. Audio is also exchanged in real time between the VR user and guest user by use of a microphone and loudspeaker in both the VR system and the guest user computing device. The VR user's system can also support both rotational and translational user movement thus properly changing the VR user's apparent distance from objects displayed in the VR environment.

Abstract: A colored glass article includes greater than or equal to 50 mol % and less than or equal to 70 mol % SiO2, greater than or equal to 10 mol % and less than or equal to 17.5 mol % Al2O3, greater than or equal to 3 mol % and less than or equal to 10 mol % B2O3, greater than or equal to 8.8 mol % and less than or equal to 14 mol % Li2O, greater than or equal to 1.5 mol % and less than or equal to 8 mol % Na2O, and greater than 0 mol % and less than or equal to 2 mol % Cr2O3. R2O+RO?Al2O3 is greater than or equal to 0.5 mol % and less than or equal to 6 mol %. Al2O3+MgO+ZnO is greater than or equal to 12 mol % and less than or equal to 22 mol %.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to methods of treating autoimmune disorders in a subject comprising administering immunoglobulin-like transcript 7 (ILT7) binding proteins to a subject having elevated type I interferon gene signature (IFNGS). The present disclosure also relates to methods of reducing pDCs in tissues comprising administering an ILT7-binding protein to a subject in need thereof.