Abstract: In one aspect, the invention concerns a method of operating a chatbot to engage in a conversation with a correspondent the method comprises building a profile having plural profile variables for the correspondent; and during the conversation with the correspondent; selecting a node in the conversation data structure for processing based on the one or more profile variables, and processing the node to follow a conversation path based on the node's coded instructions and/or relationship with other nodes. In another aspect, the method comprises the steps of attempting to match the conversation data structure of the chatbot; if a matched node is found, selecting the matched node for processing; but if a matched node is not found, selecting a node for processing using a fuzzy search, or using a default procedure.

Abstract: A method begins with a processing module receiving a data retrieval request and obtaining a real-time indicator corresponding to when the data retrieval request was received. The method continues with the processing module determining a time-based data access policy based on the data retrieval request and the real-time indicator and accessing a plurality of dispersed storage (DS) units in accordance with the time-based data access policy to retrieve encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module decoding the threshold number of encoded data slices in accordance with an error coding dispersal storage function when a threshold number of the encoded data slices have been retrieved.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for encoding depth-enabled digital images in a file format, such as JPEG. In addition to compressed image data, calibration, disparity and other depth-related information can be embedded in one or more application-specific segments of a given image file.

Abstract: A slide switch for constraining a movement of a unit relative to a casing is disclosed in the present invention. The slide switch includes a buckling component, a constraining component and a latch. The buckling component includes a connection portion and an inclined structure. The constraining component includes a block portion and a guide portion. The latch includes a body, a hook portion disposed on the body, a first guide structure disposed on a top of the hook portion, and a contact portion disposed on the body. The hook portion is engaged with the connection portion to constrain the movement of a first unit. The first guide structure pushes the inclined structure to separate the first unit from the casing. The contact portion contacts the block portion to constrain the movement of a second unit, and slides relative to the guide portion to separate the second unit from the casing.

Abstract: In a non-aqueous pigment ink that includes pigment, a non-aqueous solvent, and a non-aqueous resin that functions to disperse pigment dissolved in the non-aqueous solvent, the non-aqueous solvent includes a hydrocarbon based non polar solvent at 50% by mass or more with respect to the total amount of solvent. The non-aqueous resin is an acrylic polymer having a comb shaped structure, in which alkyl groups having carbon numbers from 8 to 18 and urethane groups form side chains on a (meth)acrylate main chain. The acrylic polymer is a copolymer of an alkyl(meth)acrylate (A) having alkyl groups with a carbon number from 8 to 18, a reactive (meth)acrylate (B) having functional groups that react with amino groups, and a monomer (C) having ?-diketone groups or ?-keto acid ester groups, into which the urethane groups are introduced by reactions between the functional groups that react with amino groups, amino alcohol, and a multivalent isocyanate compound.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body arranged between the top sheet and the back sheet. An excretory orifice contact area of the liquid-permeable top sheet has an area containing a blood slipping agent. The blood slipping agent has a kinematic viscosity of 0.01-80 mm2/s at 40° C., a water hold percentage of 0.01-4.0 mass %, and a weight average molecular weight of less than 1,000. An amount of the blood slipping agent on the clothing-side surface of the top sheet is greater than an amount of the blood slipping agent on the skin-side surface of the top sheet at a location in the area containing the blood slipping agent where the surfaces overlap in the thickness direction of the absorbent article.

Abstract: Positioning precision between an image-acquisition device and an objective lens is enhanced by suppressing manufacturing errors. Provided is an endoscope image-acquisition unit equipped with an objective-lens-unit frame that holds an objective lens and an image-acquisition-device holding frame that is fitted to the objective-lens-unit frame and that holds an image-acquisition device, wherein the objective-lens-unit frame and the image-acquisition-device holding frame are attached and secured to each other by means of thermosetting resin that is applied to fitting portions therebetween and in which polar-molecule materials are mixed, and one of the objective-lens-unit frame and the image-acquisition-device holding frame, whichever one is positioned outside at the fitting portions, is formed of a material that allows microwaves to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for providing translated web content is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request from a user on a web site, the web site having a first web content in a first language, wherein the request calls for a second web content in a second language. The method further includes dividing the first web content into a plurality of translatable components and generating a unique identifier for each translatable component. The method further includes identifying a plurality of translated components of the second web content using the unique identifier of each of the plurality of translatable components of the first web content and putting the plurality of translated components of the second web content to preserve a format that corresponds to the first web content. The method further includes providing the second web content in response to the request that was received.

Abstract: Methods and systems for scalable extraction of episode rules using incremental episode tree construction in a multi-application event space comprise compiling events from multiple, different domain logs into in a universal log file, rolling domain-dependent and domain-independent windows through the universal log file to identify distinct event-pattern episodes, adding episodes to an episode tree data structure, pruning less frequent episodes from the episode tree, analyzing the episode tree to identify frequent episode rules, and applying the frequent episode rules to future interactions with users.

Abstract: A tool holder on which a nonrotational tool is mounted is mounted on a spindle of a machining center. A tool holder body of the tool holder includes a positioning pin that is inserted into the machining center and a locking mechanism. When the positioning pin is not inserted into the machining center, the locking mechanism locks the rotation of the tool holder body relative to a drive shaft. When the positioning pin is inserted into the machining center, the locking mechanism allows the rotation of the tool holder body relative to the drive shaft.

Abstract: Amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes (amino AMS), and/or amino co-AMS compounds that also comprise a mercaptosilane or a blocked mercaptosilane, are excellent adhesives for coating plated or unplated metal wire for adherence of the wire to a rubber stock. The amino AMS and/or the amino/mercaptan co-AMS adhesives can be used with all types of rubber and there is no requirement for the use of special adhesive additives to the rubber vulcanizates, such as, but not limited to, cobalt, resins and high sulfur levels. In particular, the use of amino AMS and/or amino/mercaptan co-AMS compounds as adhesives for bonding wire to rubber also improves the adherence performance of the reinforcements to obtain sufficient bonding that is resistant to degradation over the course of time, especially resistance to thermal aging and/or thermo-oxidizing aging, in particular corrosion in the presence of water.

Abstract: Methods and systems may provide for a computing system including an electrical component, a heat exchanger coupled to the electrical component, and a fan having a rotor with a plurality of blades, one or more inlet sides and one or more outlet sides disposed adjacent to the heat exchanger. The computing system may also include an obstruction disposed adjacent to at least one of the one or more inlet sides of the fan, wherein a tone to be generated by the obstruction reduces a tonal noise associated with the fan during operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods of visualizing capacitance sensing system operation. A graphical user interface for visualizing capacitance sensing system operation includes a first window. The window includes a representation of a physical layout of a plurality of sensor devices on a target apparatus. The graphical user interface is operable to accept input from a pointing device to select a selected sensor from the plurality of sensor devices. A second window is for displaying capacitive sensing data of the selected sensor.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including an image acquisition unit configured to acquire a dish image obtained by shooting a single or multiple dishes, and a first dish recognition unit configured to recognize the single or multiple dishes included in the dish image with reference to dish data selected, from dish data registered in advance, based on a condition regarding at least one of a person relating to the dish image, a shooting environment of the dish image, a shooting place of the dish image, and a shooting time of the dish image.

Abstract: A spindle motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion arranged to rotate about a central axis extending in a vertical direction with respect to the stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a stator portion including a stator core including an annular core back and a plurality of tooth portions arranged to extend radially outward from the core back, and coils wound around the plurality of tooth portions; an outside surface press fitted to an inside surface of the core back; and a fixing member arranged at least on an upper surface of the core back. Conducting wires defining the coils include passage lines each of which is arranged to join different ones of the coils to each other; and lead wires each of which is drawn out from one of the coils, and is drawn out from an upper side of upper surfaces of the tooth portions to a lower side of lower surfaces of the tooth portions.

Abstract: A cooling structure including a thermally conducting central element having a channel formed therein, the channel being configured for flow of cooling fluid there through, a first pressure plate, and a first thermally conductive resilient member disposed between the thermally conducting central element and the first pressure plate, wherein the first pressure plate, the first thermally conductive resilient member, and the thermally conducting central element form a first heat transfer path.

Abstract: In a light emitting device, one of at least one reinforcing portion is disposed on a site for joining regions of two wiring portions. The site for joining regions is provided for at least a first joining region where the first groove portion and the third groove portion join, and a second joining region where the second groove portion and the third groove portion join. A light emitting element is disposed over the third groove portion. In a plan view of the substrate member, the reinforcing portion surrounds the light emitting element. The upper surface of the reinforcing portion is lower than the upper surface of the light emitting element.

Abstract: A method for managing demand or load includes, upon receipt of a demand response signal or a load management request from a utility to change the price of electricity, determining the cost of energy from a local battery, and if the cost of energy from battery is higher than the cost of electricity from the utility, shedding power from one or more devices based on the utility price, and otherwise discharging power from the battery to reduce a net load on the grid without any actual load reduction.

Abstract: There is provided a terminal apparatus including a search unit configured to search for an apparatus group including an input apparatus or an output apparatus, the input apparatus and the output apparatus being wirelessly connectable to the terminal apparatus, a recommendation unit configured to recommend, to a user, a predetermined input apparatus or a predetermined output apparatus from the apparatus group that has been searched for by the search unit, in accordance with current time, a place in which the user is currently present, or an attribute of the user, and a setting unit configured to set the predetermined input apparatus or the predetermined output apparatus as an input unit or an output unit of the terminal apparatus, respectively, the predetermined input apparatus and the predetermined output apparatus having been recommended by the recommendation unit.