Abstract: A method includes, while a user is wearing stereo headphones in an environment, obtaining, from a target digital assistant, a response to a query issued by the user, and obtaining spatial audio preferences of the user. Based on the spatial audio preferences of the user, the method also includes determining a spatially disposed location within a playback sound-field for the user to perceive as a sound-source of the response to the query. The method further includes rendering output audio signals characterizing the response to the query through the stereo headphones to produce the playback sound-field. Here, the user perceives the response to the query as emanating from the sound-source at the spatially disposed location within the playback sound-field.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for managing blackout restrictions. A user device may retrieve a blackout condition from a blackout device. The blackout device may be a node in plurality of blackout nodes. Each of the blackout nodes may store blackout conditions for different corresponding content. The user device may retrieve the blackout condition from a blackout device associated with content in response to a request for the content. The user device may determine whether information associated with the user device satisfies the blackout condition. If the information satisfies the blackout condition, the requested content may be blocked. Alternative content may be output instead of the requested content.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating chronic piriformis muscle inflammation, commonly referred to as piriformis syndrome. The method includes percutaneous advancing an electrocautery probe through an incision at the back of the buttock, and navigating the probe under medical imaging toward a proximal end of a femur bone adjacent the greater trochanter. The probe is activated to cut the piriformis muscle or piriformis muscle insertion tendon at or adjacent the greater trochanter of the proximal femur to free the muscle and permanently alleviate muscle pain and tenderness.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a memory controller for asymmetric non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, and related host and memory system architectures. The memory controller is configured to automatically generate and transmit redundancy information to a destination, e.g., a host or another memory drive, to provide for cross-drive redundancy. This redundancy information can be error correction (EC) information, which is linearly combined with similar information from other drives to create “superparity.” If EC information is lost for one drive, it can be rebuilt by retrieving the superparity, retrieving or newly generating EC information for uncompromised drives, and linearly combining these values. In one embodiment, multiple error correction schemes are used, including a first intra-drive scheme to permit recovery of up to x structure-based failures, and the just-described redundancy scheme, to provide enhanced security for greater than x structure-based failures.

Abstract: The present invention provides engineered glycosyltransferase (GT) enzymes, polypeptides having GT activity, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, as well as vectors and host cells comprising these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The present invention provides engineered sucrose synthase (SuS) enzymes, polypeptides having SuS activity, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, as well as vectors and host cells comprising these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The present invention also provides compositions comprising the GT enzymes and methods of using the engineered GT enzymes to make products with ?-glucose linkages. The present invention further provides compositions and methods for the production of rebaudiosides (e.g., rebaudioside M, rebaudioside A, rebaudioside I, and rebaudioside D). The present invention also provides compositions comprising the SuS enzymes and methods of using them. Methods for producing GT and SuS enzymes are also provided.

Abstract: An e-vaping case includes a housing, a guide structure, a cartridge receiving portion connected to the guide structure, and an electronics system in the housing. The cartridge receiving portion is configured to be moved along the guide structure between a first surface and a second surface of the housing. The electronics system includes a power supply that is configured to initiate a transfer of power to an electrical contact structure if the cartridge receiving portion is moved towards the first surface of the housing to at least a first position of the housing. The electronics system is configured to interrupt the transfer of power to the electrical contact structure if the cartridge receiving portion is moved towards the second surface of the housing. An electronic vaping device may include a cartridge detachably coupled to the cartridge receiving portion.

Abstract: Methods and systems to improve coupling and cohesion of at least one educational program are provided. In some examples, the methods and systems include at least one educational program, where the at least one educational program comprises a first application programming interface (API) that is configured to be coupled to a second API of an internet enabled electronic device in a restricted state and partially decoupled in an unrestricted state.

Abstract: A hemmed edge overhead garage door section having a face, a top rail integral with the face formed longitudinally therealong, the top rail having at least a top rail body extending rearwardly from the face and a top rail leg extending downwardly from the top rail body offset from the face, the top rail body and at least a portion of the top rail leg being thicker than the face, and a bottom rail integral with the face formed longitudinally therealong opposite of the top rail, the bottom rail comprising at least a bottom rail body extending rearwardly from the face and a bottom rail leg extending upwardly from the bottom rail body offset from the face, the bottom rail body and at least a portion of the bottom rail leg being thicker than the face.

Abstract: Heterogeneous mineral-based particulate is comminuted by exposing the particulate to a cavitation fluid. In another embodiment, two or more streams of fluids with particulate entrained therein may be directed at one another to create, in an impact zone, collisions between the particulate of the two or more streams of fluid. Exposing the particulate to the cavitation fluid may occur inside or outside the impact zone, either before, at the same time, or after the collisions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing an upstream trace operation are presented. An exemplary method may include obtaining an indication of a new service location of a passive optical network (PON); detecting a physical polyline route, within the PON, from an on-ramp facility corresponding to the new service location to a serving office of the PON, the detecting based on (i) respective geospatial locations of a plurality of optical components of the PON, and (ii) interconnections of the plurality of optical components, and the plurality of optical components including the on-ramp location, a terminal disposed at the serving office, and at least one optical fiber optically connecting the on-ramp location and the terminal; and causing optical services to be delivered from the serving office to the new service location via the detected physical polyline route.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes a step of providing an oxygen-containing gas having greater than 22 volume percent oxygen and combining the oxygen-containing gas with a fuel to form a combustible mixture. The combustible mixture is provided to an internal combustion engine wherein combustion of the combustible mixture drive the internal combustion engine. An internal combustion system executing the method is also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the application may provide a decentralized wireless cloud service system including a distributed ledger database, a consensus algorithm, an exchange wallet, a platform, a distributed cloud, software configured to integrate the exchange wallet, the platform, and even the distributed cloud into a distributed ledger database to create a decentralized wireless cloud system, resource nodes in a decentralized wireless cloud system configured to provide a resource on a decentralized wireless cloud system, wherein a resource may include a network resource from at least some of the resource nodes; and perhaps even a reward system to owners of said resource nodes for a resource.

Abstract: An axial flux motor includes: a ring-shaped stator, a ring-shaped rotor and a planetary gear set. The ring-shaped stator includes a stator core and segments arranged on the stator core, where each of the segments includes a laminated stack and windings wrapped around the laminated stack. The ring-shaped rotor defines an inner open area and including a body and permanent magnets arranged on the body adjacent to and spaced from the segments. The planetary gear set is disposed within the inner open area and configured to receive an input torque from the rotor and provide an output torque, which is greater than the input torque.

Abstract: Devices and methods related to capturing 360 degree spherical images are provided. A computing device can capture, substantially simultaneously, a first image with the first image sensor and a second image with a second image sensor. The first image sensor can be positioned on a first side of the computing device and oriented at a first orientation with respect to an axis of rotation. The second image sensor can be positioned on a second side of the device substantially opposite the first side of the device and oriented at a second orientation that is axially rotated from the first orientation with respect to the axis of rotation. The computing device can stitch together the first image and the second image to create an output image that captures a 360 degree field of view with respect to the computing device.

Abstract: A method of enzymatically hydrolyzing pretreated lignocellulosic biomass at high solids concentration includes introducing pretreated biomass to a hydrolysis reactor, to hydrolyze the cellulose to glucose monomer and glucose oligomers, and circulating a liquid stream, from which glucose is removed to reduce glucose inhibition of cellulose hydrolysis. A surfactant may be added to the hydrolysis reactor. Heat and/or acid treatment of the glucose oligomers may be used to generate additional glucose monomer. Some variations introduce pretreated biomass to a hydrolysis reactor to hydrolyze cellulose to glucose monomer and glucose oligomers, followed by conveying a portion of the solid phase to a mechanical refiner and/or a unit under reduced pressure, to generate a refined and/or exploded solid phase; and recycling the refined and/or exploded solid phase, optionally reheated, back to an input of the hydrolysis reactor.

Abstract: A game system operates by: receiving character attribute selection data to be associated with a game character, wherein the character attribute selection data indicates a subset of a set of character attributes of a character attribute database; generating, based on the character attribute selection data, display data associated with the game character; facilitating, based on the display data associated with the game character, generation of a player token NFT associated with the game character; and preventing use of the subset of character attributes of the character attribute database in generating other game characters.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides for generating simulation training models that can be used to prepare people (i.e., building occupants, first responders) to safely and calmly respond to emergencies, such as fires in high-rise buildings. Using the training models, people can better cope with decision-making during emergencies. The disclosed technology also uses signaling devices, wearables, and other devices and sensors distributed throughout a building to provide egress or stay-in-place guidance to people located in the building during an emergency. Audio and/or visual information can be outputted to people to guide them along a safe pathway that is selected to provide safe egress for the person, including anticipating and protecting the person from changing emergency conditions within the building and in response to how the person responded to the simulation training models.

Abstract: A biomechanically optimizing mobile device use system having a mobile computer device with readable storage and a display; an orientation determination system included with the mobile device and adapted to determine a position of the mobile device; and, an operating system that, when the mobile device is powered on and upon each repositioning of the mobile device, is adapted to: determine a current position, determine a reference position relative to one of a vertical position and a face down position, determine a stress angle of the mobile device according to a difference between the current position and the reference position, and, actuate a user notification according to a determination that the stress angle exceeds a predetermined angle for a predetermined length of time.

Abstract: A shower cream chassis composition and its preparation method are disclosed.

Abstract: A satellite reception assembly may include a housing configured to support receipt and handling of a plurality of satellite signals. The housing may include circuitry incorporating integrated stacking architecture for supporting and/or providing channel and/or band stacking whereby particular channels or bands, from multiple satellite signals that are received via the satellite reception assembly, may be combined onto a single output signal that may be communicated from the satellite reception assembly to a gateway device for concurrent distribution thereby to a plurality of client devices serviced by the gateway device.