Abstract: A method for cast based hybrid additive manufacturing includes receiving a three-dimensional digital model file for construction of an object utilizing an additive manufacturing device. The method also includes receiving one or more additional requirements for the object and identifying, based on the three-dimensional digital model file and the one or more additional requirements for the object, a cast for the three-dimensional digital model file for integration into hybrid additive manufacturing of the object. The method also includes instructing, a secondary manufacturing device, to dispose the cast at a position with respect to a partially constructed object by the additive manufacturing device. The method also includes resuming the hybrid additive manufacturing of the partially constructed object with the cast until the construction of the object is complete.

Abstract: Embodiments herein generally relate to polishing pads and methods of forming polishing pads. A polishing pad includes a plurality of polishing elements and a plurality of grooves disposed between the polishing elements. Each polishing element includes a plurality of individual posts. Each post includes an individual surface that forms a portion of a polishing surface of the polishing pad and one or more sidewalls extending downwardly from the individual surface. The sidewalls of the plurality of individual posts define a plurality of pores disposed between the posts.

Abstract: In an approach to safely facilitate driver responses to road traffic event alerts, computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems for reducing vehicle occupant distractions are described. The computer-implemented method includes processors configured for receiving vehicle alert data corresponding to a road traffic event, generating a user alert prompt corresponding to the vehicle alert data, transmitting the user alert prompt to a user vehicle satisfying a first condition, and receiving a user response from an occupant of the user vehicle. Responsive to receiving an affirmative user response, activating one or more vehicle activity systems to reduce vehicle cabin activity by occupants within the user vehicle.

Abstract: In an approach to safely facilitate driver responses to road traffic event alerts, computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems for reducing vehicle occupant distractions are described. The computer-implemented method includes processors configured for receiving vehicle alert data corresponding to a road traffic event, generating a user alert prompt corresponding to the vehicle alert data, transmitting the user alert prompt to a user vehicle satisfying a first condition, and receiving a user response from an occupant of the user vehicle. Responsive to receiving an affirmative user response, activating one or more vehicle activity systems to reduce vehicle cabin activity by occupants within the user vehicle.

Abstract: A processor may receive application data regarding a session on a video communication application. The processor may receive user data regarding one or more participants associated with the session. The processor may analyze application data to identify contextual features of the application data. The processor may identify that a first contextual scenario has occurred.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for providing validation of transformed electronic data. A source to target comparison service identifies testing configuration parameters and performs a comparison between source and target electronic data to identify anomalies for each transformed data item in the target automated comparison.

Abstract: An instrument such as an assessment or survey is enhanced using multi-stem definitions to allow a respondent to request alternative versions of a question. The rephrase item is formulated using a rephrase engine which accesses a bank having preexisting rephrases that are equivalent to phrases found in the instrument. The candidate selects a particular complexity level for the rephrase such as simple or elaborate. Rephrasing can be provided automatically based on a timer for answering the item. The system may set a maximum number of allowable rephrases. An analytical engine can be utilized in conjunction with the present invention to analyze requests from multiple candidates. This analysis may show that a particular item is difficult to understand, and the engine can correspondingly suggest to a moderator of the instrument that it be modified by replacing the particular item with a rephrase item.

Abstract: An instrument such as an assessment or survey is enhanced using multi-stem definitions to allow a respondent to request alternative versions of a question. The rephrase item is formulated using a rephrase engine which accesses a bank having preexisting rephrases that are equivalent to phrases found in the instrument. The candidate selects a particular complexity level for the rephrase such as simple or elaborate. Rephrasing can be provided automatically based on a timer for answering the item. The system may set a maximum number of allowable rephrases. An analytical engine can be utilized in conjunction with the present invention to analyze requests from multiple candidates. This analysis may show that a particular item is difficult to understand, and the engine can correspondingly suggest to a moderator of the instrument that it be modified by replacing the particular item with a rephrase item.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to facilitate voting in small communities. In an embodiment, a unique private identifier is generated for each voter in the community. During the voting process, a set of choices is received from each voter. The set of choices thus received are then stored along with the corresponding unique private identifier for that voter. Finally, the results of the voting are determined based on the sets of choices of all the voters in the community. According to an aspect, the results of the voting are provided as a table containing the unique private identifiers and the corresponding set of choices for each of the voters. In an embodiment, the unique private identifier is generated by hashing a corresponding unit number (of the residence) of the voter which uniquely identifies each voter.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Incoming messages may be used to modify the state (e.g., the power state or operating state) of an infrastructure device such as street lights, traffic lights, residential lights, etc. Such incoming messages may be sent from vehicles, cell phones carried by pedestrians, or other devices (e.g., drones). To detect such devices or vehicles, the infrastructure device may monitor and receive messages transmitted from the device or vehicles. After receipt, the infrastructure device may determine a device type and one or more other parameters (e.g., location, speed, direction), and based on this determination, the infrastructure device may modify its state.

Abstract: A thermoplastic biobased material-containing composition comprising chemically-modified feathers and/or dried distillers grains and a process for forming the thermoplastic biobased material-containing composition. More specifically, the thermoplastic biobased material-containing composition comprises one or more of the following chemically-modified biobased materials: (a) acylated biobased material having a % Acyl Content that is at least 3% and a % Weight Gain that is at least 1%, and; (b) etherified biobased material having a % Weight Gain that is at least 2%; and (c) graft polymerized biobased material having a % Monomer Conversion that is at least 40%, a % Grafting Efficiency that is at least 30%, and a % Grafting that is at least 10%.

Abstract: A power plant for providing electric power to a power grid includes energy sources; power conditioning units and a controller configured to cause power provided to the grid to have selected electrical characteristics. The controller is in high speed real-time communication with the power conditioning units and programmed to provide instructions to the power conditioning units.

Abstract: A power plant for providing electric power to a power grid includes energy sources; power conditioning units and a controller configured to cause power provided to the grid to have selected electrical characteristics. The controller is in high speed real-time communication with the power conditioning units and programmed to provide instructions to the power conditioning units.

Abstract: A series of new manufactured protein fibers from wheat proteins, a method and kit for production of these wheat protein fibers is provided. The method may include dissolving wheat proteins by use of at least one of an alkali, acid, alcohol, reducing agent, amino acid, chemical additive, or salt in weight ratios ranging between approximately 0.5 percent and 50 percent by weight of a single wheat protein or a combination of one or more wheat proteins. Further, the method may involve aging the dissolved wheat proteins at temperatures from approximately minus thirty degrees Celsius (?30° C.) to one hundred and fifty degrees Celsius (150° C.) for approximately one to eighty hours to obtain a spinnable solution. In addition, the method entails extruding the dissolved wheat proteins into a coagulation bath to precipitate the wheat protein fibers in which the coagulation bath includes at least one of an alkali, acid or salt.

Abstract: A method and kit for rice fiber extraction is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the method may include treating rice straw with an alkali solution such as a sodium hydroxide solution. Further, the method may include extracting coarse rice fibers from the rice straw and treating the extracted coarse rice fibers with an enzyme solution. For instance, the enzyme solution may include cellulase and a xylanase preparation. Implementation of the method results in high quality natural cellulose rice fibers which may be suitable for all textile applications that use natural cellulose fibers (e.g., cotton and linen). In addition, extracted rice fibers that are at least ten (10) millimeters in length, no more than 0.5 millimeters in width and include a generally smooth surface are disclosed. For example, textile or composite products may be produced with such rice fibers.