Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes one or more sensors for detecting an object in an environment surrounding the autonomous vehicle and a vehicle computing system comprising one or more processors receiving canonical route data associated with at least one canonical route, and controlling travel of the autonomous vehicle based on sensor data from the one or more sensors and the canonical route data associated with the at least one canonical route. The at least one canonical route comprises at least one roadway connected with another roadway in a plurality of roadways in a geographic location that satisfies at least one route optimization function derived based on trip data associated with one or more traversals of the plurality of roadways in a geographic location by one or more autonomous vehicles.

Abstract: A semiconductor Schottky rectifier built in an epitaxial semiconductor layer over a substrate has an anode structure and a cathode structure extending from the surface of the epitaxial layer. The cathode contact structure has a trench structure near the epi-layer and a vertical sidewall surface covered with a gate oxide layer. The cathode structure further comprises a polysilicon element adjacent to the gate oxide layer.

Abstract: An electrode seal for use in a metallurgical furnace, the furnace comprising a furnace space heated by electrodes extending through an aperture into the furnace space. The electrode seal comprises at least three sets of shoes in consecutive lateral contact, each shoe having a biasing member for biasing a surface of the shoe toward one of the electrodes thereby allowing the one electrode to longitudinally move within the electrode seal while providing electrical insulation between the electrode and the aperture.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for determining predicted results for entities based on relatedness of the entities in a graph of nodes. In an embodiment, the graph of nodes is generated based on the determined relatedness of the entities. A node in the graph of nodes represents an entity, and nodes representing entities with known results are assigned those results as their respective node values. The assigned node values are then propagated between the neighboring nodes throughout the graph of nodes in the amount determined by the relatedness of the nodes. Based on the propagation, node values for entities with unknown results are determined and represent the predicted results for those entities. Additionally, various classifiers may be combined with the propagated node values to increase the accuracy of the predicted results.

Abstract: An electrode seal for use in a metallurgical furnace, the furnace comprising a furnace space heated by electrodes extending through an aperture into the furnace space. The electrode seal comprises at least three sets of shoes in consecutive lateral contact, each shoe having a biasing member for biasing a surface of the shoe toward one of the electrodes thereby allowing the one electrode to longitudinally move within the electrode seal while providing electrical insulation between the electrode and the aperture.

Abstract: An electrode seal for use in a metallurgical furnace, the furnace comprising a furnace space heated by electrodes extending through an aperture into the furnace space. The electrode seal comprises at least three sets of shoes in consecutive lateral contact, each shoe having a biasing member for biasing a surface of the shoe toward one of the electrodes thereby allowing the one electrode to longitudinally move within the electrode seal while providing electrical insulation between the electrode and the aperture.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for determining a propensity or likelihood that a person in a social network will perform a particular action. A statistical model that is trained based on multiple features of each member in a first plurality of members of a social network is stored. The multiple features include a subset pertaining to profile information provided by the first plurality of members and stored in a plurality of profiles of the first plurality of members. For each member of a second plurality of members of the social network, multiple feature values that correspond to the plurality of features are identified, the statistical model is used to generate a score for the member. The score indicates a likelihood that the member will perform the particular action.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for displaying information about entities in a social network. An analysis of profiles of multiple representatives is performed. Each representative is registered with a social network provider and represents an organization from multiple organizations. Based on the analysis, the organizations are ranked. Data about a subset of the organizations is presented, based on the ranking, through a user interface. A user selects an indicator that is associated with a particular organization of the multiple organizations. In response to the input, a subset of the representatives is identified. One or more scores that were generated for a particular representative in the subset are determined. Data about the subset of the representatives is caused to be presented through the user interface. The data identifies the one or more scores and associates the one or more scores with the particular representative.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system for processing data. During operation, the system obtains a first set of rules for assigning a first set of sales professionals to a first set of accounts, wherein the first set of rules comprises a representative load rule, a matching rule, and a balancing rule. Next, the system applies an optimization technique to the first set of rules and a first set of parameters associated with the first set of sales professionals and the first set of accounts to produce a first set of assignments of the first set of sales professionals to the first set of accounts. The system then outputs the first set of assignments for using in managing sales activity of the first set of sales professionals.

Abstract: Techniques and a system are provided for a variable analysis system that learns from input variables. The variable analysis system may be used to determine how variables relate to other variables, to develop a tool used to predict outcomes for an entity based on other entities. The variable analysis system may employ grouping, so that multiple variables are considered as one input in a given model.

Abstract: An electrode seal for use in a metallurgical furnace, the furnace comprising a furnace space heated by electrodes extending through an aperture into the furnace space. The electrode seal comprises at least three sets of shoes in consecutive lateral contact, each shoe having a biasing member for biasing a surface of the shoe toward one of the electrodes thereby allowing the one electrode to longitudinally move within the electrode seal while providing electrical insulation between the electrode and the aperture.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for determining predicted results for entities based on relatedness of the entities in a graph of nodes. In an embodiment, the graph of nodes is generated based on the determined relatedness of the entities. A node in the graph of nodes represents an entity, and nodes representing entities with known results are assigned those results as their respective node values. The assigned node values are then propagated between the neighboring nodes throughout the graph of nodes in the amount determined by the relatedness of the nodes. Based on the propagation, node values for entities with unknown results are determined and represent the predicted results for those entities. Additionally, various classifiers may be combined with the propagated node values to increase the accuracy of the predicted results.

Abstract: An electrode seal for use in a metallurgical furnace, the furnace comprising a furnace space heated by electrodes extending through an aperture into the furnace space. The electrode seal comprises at least three sets of shoes in consecutive lateral contact, each shoe having a biasing member for biasing a surface of the shoe toward one of the electrodes thereby allowing the one electrode to longitudinally move within the electrode seal while providing electrical insulation between the electrode and the aperture.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for assigning members of a group to multiple target entities. A social proximity score is generated that reflects a measure of social relatedness between a group member and a target entity. Generated social proximity scores and one or more constraints are specified or referenced by a program. The program seeks to maximize social proximity scores in light of the one or more constraints. A solver executes the program to generate a result that assigns each target entity to at least one (or no more than one) group member.

Abstract: An electrode seal for use in a metallurgical furnace, the furnace comprising a furnace space heated by electrodes extending through an aperture into the furnace space. The electrode seal comprises at least three sets of shoes in consecutive lateral contact, each shoe having a biasing member for biasing a surface of the shoe toward one of the electrodes thereby allowing the one electrode to longitudinally move within the electrode seal while providing electrical insulation between the electrode and the aperture.

Abstract: A spine and neck support device adapted to support the anatomical structures in the cervical and upper thoracic spine when the user's neck is in flexion. A cushion conforms about the user's anatomical neck structures and rests on the upper chest of the user. The cushion has a chin support area that avoids contacting the user's chin when the user's head is in a neutral position and contacts the user's chin when the user's neck is in flexion. When the user's neck is flexed and the user's chin contacts the chin support area, the cushion unloads and supports the user's neck. At least one and preferably two straps are attached to the cushion and secure it to the user. The top is sloped downwards from back to front to maximize the user's downward field of vision. A groove in the posterior surface of the cushion accommodates the user's trachea/esophagus.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a surveillance article has the step of providing a first security element comprising an electromagnetic strip. The first security element provides a first functionality of the surveillance article. The method then connects a second security element to the electromagnetic strip and the second security element provides a second functionality that is different than the first functionality. The second security element comprises a radiofrequency identification device to provide the surveillance article.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods of performing periodontal surgeries, and instruments for performing said surgeries. A method of performing periodontal surgery to correct a gingival defect of a patient according to a general embodiment comprises the steps of making an incision at or near a fornix of the patient near the gingival defect, inserting an instrument into the incision to detach a flap, advancing the flap horizontally without enlarging the incision, elevating a papilla within the flap, stretching the flap to cover the gingival defect, and pressing against the flap to promote fibrin formation. An instrument for performing periodontal surgery according to one general embodiment comprises a handle, a first shank connecting to and extending from the handle, a connector section, and a blade section.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods of performing periodontal surgeries, and instruments for performing said surgeries. A method of performing periodontal surgery to correct a gingival defect of a patient according to a general embodiment comprises the steps of making an incision at or near a fornix of the patient near the gingival defect, inserting an instrument into the incision to detach a flap, advancing the flap horizontally without enlarging the incision, elevating a papilla within the flap, stretching the flap to cover the gingival defect, and pressing against the flap to promote fibrin formation. An instrument for performing periodontal surgery according to one general embodiment comprises a handle, a first shank connecting to and extending from the handle, a connector section, and a blade section.

Abstract: Customer Edge (CE) network elements can automatically learn IPSec tunnel endpoints for other CEs connected to sites in a Virtual Private Network (VPN) so that manual configuration of IPSec tunnel endpoints is not required and so that a centralized database of IPSec tunnel endpoints is not required to be separately maintained. According to an embodiment of the invention, a BGP export route policy is set on all CEs, so that when they announce their VPN routes in the standard format, the application of this export route policy changes the announcement to replace the BGP peering point address that would ordinarily be advertised with the IPSec tunnel endpoint address. When any given site receives a VPN route update formatted in this manner, it processes the VPN route update and learns from the update the IPSec tunnel endpoint as well as the associated VPN routes.