Abstract: Active materials for flow batteries can include various coordination compounds formed from transition metals. Some compositions containing coordination compounds can include a substituted catecholate ligand having a structure of in a neutral form or a salt form, in which Z is a heteroatom functional group bound to the substituted catecholate ligand at an open aromatic ring position and n is an integer ranging between 1 and 4. When more than one Z is present, each Z can be the same or different. Electrolyte solutions can include such coordination compounds, and such electrolyte solutions can be incorporated within a flow battery.

Abstract: A gaming system including an input device, at least one display device configured to display a game comprising a matrix of rotating reels, a processor, and at least one memory including computer program code. The processor and memory are configured to cause the gaming system to receive a request from the input device to initiate a spin in a first game, cause, in response to the request, causing a plurality of reels to virtually spin. Each of the plurality of reels includes a plurality of first symbols and at least one bonus symbol. The memory and processor are also configured to cause the gaming system to determine, in response to a cessation of spinning of the plurality of reels, a number of bonus symbols displayed within a reel display matrix and trigger a second game in response to the number of bonus symbols satisfying a predetermined bonus symbol threshold.

Abstract: A process for making nanoparticles of biocompatible materials is described, wherein an aqueous reaction mixture comprising cerous ion, citric acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid in a predetermined ratio, an oxidant, and water is provided along with temperature conditions to directly form, without isolation, a stable dispersion of cerium oxide nanoparticles. These biocompatible cerium oxide nanoparticles may be used to prevent and/or treat oxidative stress related diseases, such as stroke, relapse/remitting multiple sclerosis, chronic-progressive multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and ischemic reperfusion injury.

Abstract: A cover for partially covering and protecting cables plugged into a receptacle is provided. The receptacle includes a face plate with a first hole through which a first fastener secures the face plate to a face of the receptacle. The cover comprises a plurality of walls at least partially defining a hollow chamber, a slot adjacent to the chamber and configured to receive the face plate when the cover is slid over the face plate, an opening that leads to the chamber and the slot, and a first channel extending partially through the chamber and configured to provide access to the fastener.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides a method that reduces time to recover in storage systems. In one implementation, the method comprises entering an idle status, determining if there is an incomplete band update operation, invalidating a media scratch pad (MSP) by clearing headers responsive to determining there is no incomplete band update operation, performing a power cycle, reading an MSP header, and determining if an MSP header is valid. If a rude power cycle occurs and the MSP header is determined to be valid, an MSP is examined, and restored if required. If a safe power cycle occurs, an MSP restore operation is not required, reducing time to recover.

Abstract: An optical sensor measures displacement of a haptic plate that provides haptic sensation to a user. The optical sensor comprises a light source, a plurality of optical detectors, and a controller. The light source is configured to illuminate a surface of the haptic plate in which a haptic wave propagates causing displacement of portions of the haptic plate in one or more directions. The plurality of optical detectors is configured to detect light reflected from the surface of the haptic plate. At least two optical detectors of the plurality of optical detectors are positioned relative to the light source such that an amount of light received at each of the optical detectors is based at least in part on a direction of displacement of the haptic plate. The controller is configured to monitor the haptic wave using the detected light from the plurality of optical detectors.

Abstract: Methods of producing and methods of treatment using a nipple areolar complex extracellular matrix. A method for processing tissue comprises harvesting a human nipple areolar complex tissue, treating the tissue with a stabilizing medium, wherein the medium stabilizes the tissue during transport, decellularizing the tissue, and sterilizing the tissue to form a human nipple areolar complex extracellular matrix scaffold (ECMS). A method of treating an individual with a need for a nipple reconstruction comprises forming an ECMS and applying the ECMS to the individual for nipple areolar regeneration.

Abstract: A multi-functional composition of matter that is useful for injection into a flue gas stream to rapidly and efficiently remove mercury from the flue gas stream. The multi-functional composition of matter may include a fixed carbon sorbent and minerals, halogens in the form of halide salts, as well as other physical and chemical properties to enhance (1) the oxidation reaction kinetics for the oxidation of mercury species and (2) the mass diffusion kinetics of the mercury species.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle including a sensor system that outputs a sensor signal indicative of a condition of the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle also includes a communication system including a speaker. Based upon a profile of the passenger, the autonomous vehicle can determine that support is to be provided audibly to the passenger when the support is provided to the passenger. Moreover, the autonomous vehicle can detect occurrence of an event that has been identified as potentially causing discomfort to the passenger based upon the sensor signal output by the sensor system. Responsive to detecting the occurrence of the event, and in accordance with the profile of the passenger, the autonomous vehicle can cause the speaker to output an audible support message. Content of the audible support message is based on the detected event, and the audible support message solicits feedback from the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A pickup truck and tonneau cover including hard panels configured to selectively secure horizontally and vertically over a pickup truck bed, with a window in each panel, each window located to align with the other windows when the panels are oriented vertically in a fully retracted position.

Abstract: Methods and systems facilitate network communications between a wireless network-connected thermostat and a cloud-based management server in a manner that promotes reduced power usage and extended service life of an energy-storage device of the thermostat, while at the same time accomplishing timely data transfer between the thermostat and the cloud-based management server for suitable and time-appropriate control of an HVAC system. The thermostat further comprises powering circuitry configured to: extract electrical power from one or more HVAC control wires in a manner that does not require a “common” wire; supply electrical power for thermostat operation; recharge the energy-storage device (if needed) using any surplus extracted power; and discharge the energy-storage device to assist in supplying electrical power for thermostat operation during intervals in which the extracted power alone is insufficient for thermostat operation.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for reducing fraud in computer networks, the method including receiving, from each of a plurality of user devices, a request to block an ad displayed within a web browser installed on the user device, the request comprising image data and a forwarding URL associated with the ad; storing crowdsourced ad blocking data based on the received requests to block ads; receiving a request for a list of blocked ads; generating a list of blocked ads based on analyzing the crowdsourced ad blocking data, wherein analyzing the crowdsourced ad blocking data comprises identifying ads blocked by at least a threshold number of users; and sending the list of blocked ads to a first user device, the first user device comprising a browser extension configured to prevent ads within the list of blocked ads from being rendered in a browser.

Abstract: An animal waste bag includes a central pouch and one or more additional pouches formed exterior to the central pouch such that each additional pouch is successively exterior to the preceding pouch. The central and additional pouches are configured to successively retrieve and contain animal waste via their respective successive inversion.

Abstract: A tire comprising an innerliner, where the innerliner includes a rubber, a first carbon black having a statistical thickness surface area of at least 50 m2/g, and a second carbon black having a statistical thickness surface area of at most 45 m2/g.

Abstract: Optical connectors may include various portions, or structures, to provide a plurality of degrees of movement to optical ferrules. The optical ferrules may be linearly movable along one or more axes and rotationally moveable about one or more axes for alignment and coupling to corresponding optical ferrules. The optical connectors may be integrated with, or in conjunction with, other non-optical connectors such as electrical connectors, e.g., located on a drive carrier.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for training a policy neural network used to select actions to be performed by a reinforcement learning agent interacting with an environment. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining path data defining a path through the environment traversed by the agent. A consistency error is determined for the path from a combined reward, first and last soft-max state values, and a path likelihood. A value update for the current values of the policy neural network parameters is determined from at least the consistency error. The value update is used to adjust the current values of the policy neural network parameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for presenting a media program concurrently with viewer questions and live commentary about the media program is disclosed. As the media program is broadcasted, messages from the first group regarding the media program are accepted. The accepted messages are filtered to identify suitable messages of interest and to present only those messages to a second group for comment. The identified messages from the first group and comments from the second group are added to the broadcast media program concurrently or in real time.

Abstract: A light emitting device is described. The light emitting device includes a substrate and a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a light emitting layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region and has a first surface adjacent the substrate and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface of the semiconductor structure multiple cavities formed therein, which extend into at least one of the n-type region and the p-type region. The cavities are spaced apart and lined by a dielectric layer. At least a portion of the second surface is roughened to form multiple features spaced apart at a distance smaller than a distance between each of the cavities formed in the first surface to enhance extraction of light emitted from the light emitting layer. At least one contact is disposed between the first surface of the semiconductor structure and the substrate.

Abstract: Natural speech dialog system and methods are disclosed. In one example, a method includes identifying a dialog system intent associated with the speech input based on at least one predetermined intent keyword, the dialog system intent having required intent parameters, determining whether data for all required intent parameters of the dialog system are available, based on the determination, selectively initiating a parameter collection dialog associated with the dialog system intent, the parameter collection dialog being operable to collect data for the required parameters not otherwise available to the dialog system intent, and based on the dialog system intent and one or more required parameters, generating an action instruction.