Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for preventing or reducing symptoms or disease associated with Xylella fastidiosa or Xanthomonas axonopodis in a plant. The invention provides novel bacteriophages virulent to Xylella fastidiosa or Xanthomonas axonopodis, including XfaMija and XfaMijo, and further provides methods for treating or preventing Pierce's Disease or Citrus Canker in plants.

Abstract: Systems and processes for optimizing dialogue policy decisions for digital assistants using implicit feedback are provided. In an example process, a user utterance is received. Based on a text representation of the user utterance, one or more user intents corresponding to the user utterance are determined. A policy action is selected from a plurality of candidate policy actions based on a belief state for the one or more user intents and a policy model. The policy action is performed, including outputting results of the policy action for presentation. A success score for the policy action is determined based on whether one or more predetermined types of implicit user feedback are detected after performing the policy action. A set of parameter values of the policy model is modified using the determined success score.

Abstract: Systems and processes for operating a digital assistant using a hierarchical belief state are disclosed. In an example process, a user utterance of a dialog is received. A belief state for the dialog is determined. The belief state comprises a plurality of dialog slots. Each dialog slot of the plurality of dialog slots includes a respective marginal certainty for a concept or property represented by the respective dialog slot. A first dialog slot of the plurality of dialog slots further includes one or more joint certainties for one or more interpretations arising from the first dialog slot. Based on the marginal certainty of each dialog slot of the plurality of dialog slots and the one or more joint certainties of the first dialog slot, a policy action is selected from a plurality of candidate policy actions that correspond to the belief state. The selected policy action is performed.

Abstract: Systems and processes for operating a digital assistant using a hierarchical belief state are disclosed. In an example process, a user utterance of a dialogue is received. A belief state for the dialogue is determined. The belief state comprises a plurality of dialogue slots. Each dialogue slot of the plurality of dialogue slots includes a respective marginal certainty for a concept or property represented by the respective dialogue slot. A first dialogue slot of the plurality of dialogue slots further includes one or more joint certainties for one or more interpretations arising from the first dialogue slot. Based on the marginal certainty of each dialogue slot of the plurality of dialogue slots and the one or more joint certainties of the first dialogue slot, a policy action is selected from a plurality of candidate policy actions that correspond to the belief state. The selected policy action is performed.

Abstract: Systems and processes for optimizing dialogue policy decisions for digital assistants using implicit feedback are provided. In an example process, a user utterance is received. Based on a text representation of the user utterance, one or more user intents corresponding to the user utterance are determined. A policy action is selected from a plurality of candidate policy actions based on a belief state for the one or more user intents and a policy model. The policy action is performed, including outputting results of the policy action for presentation. A success score for the policy action is determined based on whether one or more predetermined types of implicit user feedback are detected after performing the policy action. A set of parameter values of the policy model is modified using the determined success score.

Abstract: A method and system for heating fuel for a gas turbine engine by using excess heat energy in the engine exhaust gas to heat the fuel and returning the cooled exhaust gas back to the engine exhaust gas stream upstream of an emissions sensor is disclosed. The method and system comprises providing a heat exchanger having an exhaust gas passage and a fuel passage, extracting high temperature exhaust gas from the engine exhaust gas stream and passing the high temperature exhaust gas through the exhaust gas passage. Fuel is passed through the fuel passage where excess heat energy in the high temperature exhaust gas is used to heat the fuel. The temperature of the heated fuel is controlled by controlling the flow of the high temperature exhaust gas through the exhaust gas passage.

Abstract: A method and system for heating fuel for a gas turbine engine by using excess heat energy in the engine exhaust gas to heat the fuel and returning the cooled exhaust gas back to the engine exhaust gas stream upstream of an emissions sensor is disclosed. The method and system comprises providing a heat exchanger having an exhaust gas passage and a fuel passage, extracting high temperature exhaust gas from the engine exhaust gas stream and passing the high temperature exhaust gas through the exhaust gas passage. Fuel is passed through the fuel passage where excess heat energy in the high temperature exhaust gas is used to heat the fuel. The temperature of the heated fuel is controlled by controlling the flow of the high temperature exhaust gas through the exhaust gas passage.

Abstract: The present invention is an automated testing apparatus and process for screen alignment involving a pattern generator, sensors, and an analysis computer. Two sets of patterns are displayed on the screen being tested. Sensors are used to observe patterns on the screen. An analysis computer receives the data from these observations and then compares the observed data to data from an ideal screen to determine the screen's alignment parameters.