Abstract: An alternative polyurethane composition is provided which comprises a reaction product of an azidated polyol and a poly(alkynyl carbamate) prepolymer, wherein reaction occurs at a temperature of from 20° C. to 200° C., optionally in the presence of a CuI-containing catalyst and wherein the poly(alkynyl carbamate) prepolymer comprises a reaction product of a polyisocyanate, an alkynol, and a glycol ether, wherein from 1 mol % to 33 mol % of isocyanate groups are reacted with glycol ether and the remaining isocyanate groups are reacted with the alkynol. The inclusion of glycol ethers into the polyisocyanate chain of the poly(alkynyl carbamate) prepolymer at a level of from 1 mol % to 33 mol %, is efficient in reducing the viscosity of the composition without compromising its performance in coatings, adhesives, sealants, films, elastomers, castings, foams, and composites made with the inventive alternative polyurethane compositions.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle which includes multiple independent control systems that provide redundancy as to specific and critical safety situations which may be encountered when the autonomous vehicle is in operation.

Abstract: A family of connectors includes a plug, receptacle and adapter with the plug incorporating beam contacts, and the receptacle and adapter incorporating interfacing arched beam contacts. A z-configuration of the port(s) within the receptacle and adapter is configured to interface with the plug, which also presents a z-configuration. The parallel, upper and lower portions of the z-configuration of the plug incorporate the beam contacts. The first beam contact of the plug is rotated 180 degrees from the second beam contact of the plug; the arched beam contacts are similarly rotated. The plug, receptacle and adapter of a small form factor that is similar or identical to the formal factor of an optical fiber LC connector. The plug and receptacle can be configured for circuit board, cable or patch cord mounting. The plug and receptacle can be utilized in a multi-plug/multi-receptacle configuration.

Abstract: Provided herein are non-naturally occurring variants of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) Core protein, the HBV polymerase N-terminal domain, and the HBV polymerase C-terminal domain, as well as immunogenic fragments thereof. Fusion proteins comprising the HBV variants fused to a herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein (gD) sequence, as well as methods of using the fusion proteins, are also provided.

Abstract: A system is configured to automatically enhance user content by dynamically generating alternative layouts given an original layout of the user content. The alternative layouts are generated based on determined roles for a number of different content elements on a canvas and/or detected semantic relationships between content elements. Once the alternative layouts are generated, the system can evaluate the alternative layouts and assign a score to each of the alternative layouts. The system can then identify recommended alternative layouts that are suitable for a particular purpose (e.g., a professional presentation, a teaching lesson, etc.), and provide the recommended alternative layouts for display on a device of a user.

Abstract: An adaptive communication system integrated into the wash functions of a carwash is provided. The adaptive communication system embodies a programmable input relay board coupled to a digital sound trigger board retrievably storing a plurality of communication events. Each wash function is adapted to transmit an output signal upon being engaged. The programmable input relay board is adapted to receive such output signals and interface with the digital sound trigger board so as to selectively activate one or more of the plurality of communication events.

Abstract: Embodiments for wirelessly programming a control system of a machine, such as a vehicle, are provided. As machines typically include an intricate collection of electronic devices that communicate to one another via a complex network, the ability to reliably program such devices over a wireless connection is extremely unreliable due to network limitations or requirements, such as defined communication protocols or standards. Embodiments relate to a machine interfacing device that can wirelessly communicate with a client device that serves as both a diagnostics and programming interface. The machine interfacing device, physically coupled to the control system, can independently convert and intelligently manage communications to and from electronic devices of the machine control system.

Abstract: An automatic dishwashing composition is provided including a builder selected from the group consisting of carbonate, bicarbonate, citrate, silicate and mixtures thereof; a nonionic surfactant; and a dispersant polymer comprising: (a) 5 to 75 wt % of structural units of itaconic acid; (b) 10 to 85 wt % of structural units having formula I wherein each R3 is independently selected from a hydrogen and a —C(O)CH3 group; and (c) 10 to 65 wt % of structural units of (meth)acrylic acid; wherein the dispersant polymer has a lactone end group and wherein the dispersant polymer has a weight average molecular weight of 1,500 to 6,000.

Abstract: A door assembly can include a core layer, a backing layer, and a façade layer. The core layer can define a façade side and a back side opposite the façade side. The core layer can include a rail and a plurality of stiles coupled to the rail. The backing layer can be adhered to the back side of the core layer. The façade layer can be adhered to the façade side of the core layer. The façade layer can include a plurality of frame segments defining an outer surface comprised of polymer and the plurality of frame segments defining a mating surface adhered to the façade side of the core layer.

Abstract: Traditionally, engineers (or developers) of a software provider may implement or maintain aspects of application services by executing jobs or joblets on computing resources of various scopes in a cloud computing environment. However, in some cases, executing certain types of engineer-initiated jobs may negatively impact customer experience and/or satisfaction with the application services. Automated policies for distributing engineer-initiated jobs increase validation testing, scope control, and deployment timing based on a dynamic risk analysis of each job. A multi-faceted approach to distributing engineer-initiated jobs ensures adequate regression testing (e.g., via ring validation and cool-down period) and facilitates controlled distribution (e.g., based on throttle, distribution timing, and deployment train position). An automatic override ensures critical customer outages can be resolved quickly and efficiently by bypassing at least some of the rules.

Abstract: A method includes generating key assignment data indicating assignment of keys to a plurality of feed receiver modules, and processing a plurality of incoming messages via the plurality of feed receiver modules based on the key assignment data. Each of the plurality of feed receiver modules receives a proper subset of the plurality of incoming messages based on the key assignment data, and maintains a queue that includes messages of the proper subset that compare favorably to a time window. Each of the plurality of feed receiver modules identifies owned ones of the proper subset of messages having keys included in an owned subset of keys based on the key assignment data, and emits only the owned ones of the proper subset of messages.

Abstract: Example embodiments of systems and methods for data transmission between a contactless card, a client device, and one or more servers are provided. The memory of the contactless card may include one or more applets and a counter. The client device may be in data communication with the contactless card and one or more servers, and the one or more servers may include an expected counter value. The client device may be configured to read the counter from the contactless card and transmit it to the one or more servers. The one or more servers may compare the counter to the expected counter value for synchronization. The contactless card and the one or more servers may resynchronize the counter, via one or more processes, based on one or more reads of the one or more applets. The one or more servers may authenticate the contactless card based on the resynchronization.

Abstract: A downhole tool for engaging a downhole tubular includes a slip assembly. The slip assembly may include a slip body; a slip insert disposed in the slip body, the slip insert comprising a dissolvable metal alloy; and a plurality of gripping elements coupled to the slip insert, the gripping element configured to engage the downhole tubular.

Abstract: Methods of feeding young animals involves mixing sensory compounds containing botanicals, essential oils or both with at least one of a milk replacer and/or starter feed and providing the feed to the young animals to reduce feed refusal or intake variation. A method of reducing feed intake variation in a group of young animals includes feeding an effective amount of sensory compounds containing licorice root in at least one of a milk replacer or a starter feed to reduce feed intake variation compared to a group of young animals fed the same diet but without the sensory compounds. Reducing feed refusal in a young livestock animal may also include feeding an effective amount of sensory compounds in one or more of a milk replacer and a starter feed such that the young animal reduces feed refusal compared to a young animal fed the same diet but without the sensory compounds.

Abstract: The present invention is a big step forward from the traditional method of drawing a tattoo on human skin, which requires a skilled artist to use the tattoo machine comprising a single needle to deposit ink single injection by single injection. The disclosed invention comprises of a customizable needle substrate, a charging unit, an image processor unit, an ink roller and may be an injection device, to print a permanent multicolor image on the human skin using an instantaneous method of injecting the ink at desired depth in a human skin, resulting in an image or tattoo on the human skin. The method also causes less pain in comparison to the traditional method of tattoo making, as the process is relatively quick. Furthermore, the disclosed invention reduces the dependency on a skilled artist to draw a tattoo on the human skin.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for interrupting streaming content provided via a manifest inviolate protocol. An intelligent streaming server or edge cache may substitute different content than that which is requested, without the client's knowledge. In some implementations, the client may request a first segment of a file or stream, and the streaming server may instead deliver a segment of an entirely different file or stream. The replacement segment may have the same length as the requested segment, and may be renamed such that the client believes that the requested segment has been properly served. Accordingly, without changing the manifest or departing from the requirements of the manifest-inviolate protocol and without changing any functionality of the client, a system may provide content switching on a per-segment basis, rather than a per-manifest basis.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a stack of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells defining a body, the body including a coolant inlet and coolant outlet, a cathode inlet and cathode outlet corresponding to a cathode, an anode inlet and an anode outlet corresponding to an anode. The fuel cell system also includes a cathode humidifier fluidly connected to the cathode inlet to provide a humidified inlet stream to the cathode inlet, an oxygen sensor positioned upstream of the cathode inlet and downstream of the cathode humidifier, and configured to measure oxygen content of the humidified inlet stream, and a controller connected to the cathode humidifier and the oxygen sensor and configured to operate the cathode humidifier based on the oxygen content of the humidified inlet stream.

Abstract: A plastic football helmet has a shell with a left earflap in a left side region and a right earflap in a right side region, each ear flap having a non-circular ear hole, and an offset area defined on a top edge by a top banked portion and on a bottom edge by a bottom banked portion, the offset area extending continuously from the right ear flap, across the rear region, to the left ear flap. The non-circular ear holes are in the offset area. Both the top edge and the bottom edge of the offset area curve upward from the right ear flap to the rear region and curve upward from the left ear flap to the rear region. The top edge and bottom edge do not meet at any point such that offset area begins at an open right end in the right earflap and ends at an open left end in the left earflap. Cheek support are attached to the earflaps to improve retention of the helmet and provide protection to the cheek area against blows.

Abstract: The present floor seat apparatus includes a base, a seat removably seatable in the base, and a tray engagable to the base. The base may be used as a seat by itself, with or without the seat and with or without the tray. The base includes a post. The seat includes a post through opening that engages the post and positions the seat in the seat receptacle of the base.