Abstract: A mechanical agitation-free method of making a homogeneous mixture of polyvinyl chloride solids and at least one liquid additive and/or particulate solid additive without mechanically-agitating or melting the polyvinyl chloride solids during the making. The method comprises applying acoustic energy at a frequency of from 20 to 100 hertz to a heterogeneous mixture comprising the polyvinyl chloride solids and the liquid additive and/or particulate solid additive for a period of time sufficient to substantially intermix the polyvinyl chloride solids and the liquid additive and/or particulate solid additive, while maintaining temperature of the heterogeneous mixture above the freezing point of the liquid additive, below the melting point of the particulate solid additive, and below the melting temperature of the polyvinyl chloride solids, thereby making the homogeneous mixture without mechanically-agitating or melting the polyvinyl chloride solids.

Abstract: The present invention is a die positioning system for use in positioning mobile or fixed dies. The system includes a pair of key bars, a pair of key disc inserts, a set of key discs, and a set of disc backers. The key bars and key discs serve to offset manufacturing dies or die holders. Using key bars and/or key discs from different pairs of key bars and/or sets of key discs also allows for precise angulation of the dies or die holders. The key discs are held in place between the die and die holder, or between the die holder and key base, by the key disc inserts and angled (if feasible) by the disc backers. The key bars, located between the key disc inserts and the die or die holder allow additional offset of the die or die holder. The solid, stacked configuration of the key bars and key discs prevents the die or die holder from gradually or suddenly losing its positioning.

Abstract: The invention is an airborne infection control monitoring, condition data collection, testing and reporting system. The system includes new sensors and other equipment needed to collect HVAC data, the placement of the sensors in the HVAC system, software needed to retrieve the data, and the algorithms used in analyzing the data to the required building design specifications. The proposed method and system would collect current room condition data and apply it to a virtual ventilation, room and equipment structure to efficiently determine if the building's rooms meet the air balance and infection control requirements.

Abstract: Porous three-dimensional networks of polyurea and porous three-dimensional networks of carbon and methods of their manufacture are described. In an example, polyurea aerogels are prepared by mixing an triisocyanate with water and a triethylamine to form a sol-gel material and supercritically drying the sol-gel material to form the polyurea aerogel. Subjecting the polyurea aerogel to a step of pyrolysis may result in a three dimensional network having a carbon skeleton, yielding a carbon aerogel. The density and morphology of polyurea aerogels can be controlled by varying the amount of isocyanate monomer in the initial reaction mixture. A lower density in the aerogel gives rise to a fibrous morphology, whereas a greater density in the aerogel results in a particulate morphology. Polyurea aerogels described herein may also exhibit a reduced flammability.

Abstract: A method of operating an accessory drive system for a motor vehicle, wherein the accessory drive system includes one or more accessory components, a motor generator of the motor vehicle, and a flexible drive element configured to transmit a torque load between the one or more accessory components and the motor generator, includes determining a maximum permissible flexible drive element torque threshold, detecting an increase in torque demand on the flexible drive element, determining when the torque demand on the flexible drive element will exceed the flexible drive element torque threshold, and reducing the torque demand of one or more of the accessory components so that the flexible drive element torque threshold is not exceeded.

Abstract: Disclosed is an end-to-end delivery system that uses standard containers designed for autonomous vehicle (AV) goods delivery, a purpose-built AV cargo management system, a purpose-built robot to load and unload packages, and software to coordinate the various tasks involved. The standard containers may include a hardware locking interface for locking to a carrying robot. The cargo management system may include a programmable conveyor system installed on each floor of a multi-floor cargo space within the AV. For example, the floor may include a roller surface to allow omnidirectional routing of packages. An elevator shaft may be used for receiving and off-loading containers. The software may identify a target container anywhere within the multi-floor cargo space, and determine how to rearrange the containers within a grid in the AV so that the target container may be moved to the elevator shaft for unloading.

Abstract: A fiber carrier for retaining and organizing optical cables can include a frame structure including a base defining an open area and a cable retention station supported by the frame structure, the cable retention station being located above the open area. A method for joining fiber optic cables to fiber optic connectors can include providing a plurality of fiber optic connectors mounted to a carrier, mounting a fiber carrier to the carrier, the fiber carrier including a cable retention station, inserting fiber optic cables into the fiber optic connectors and securing the fiber optic cables to the fiber optic connectors with a curable material, and supporting each of the fiber optic cables at the fiber retentions station at least until the curable material has cured.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards methods of etherification including reducing templates of a zeolite catalyst to provide a reduced template zeolite catalyst having from 3 to 15 weight percent weight percent of templates maintained following calcination of zeolite catalyst; and contacting the reduced template zeolite catalyst with an olefin and an alcohol to produce a monoalkyl ether.

Abstract: A stator core of an electric machine is formed by a plurality of laminations stacked in an axial direction with each lamination having a plurality of teeth extending toward the inner circumference in a radial direction forming a plurality of slots between adjacent teeth. The plurality of teeth of each lamination include first teeth with a first radial length and at least one second tooth with a second radial length. The second teeth of the plurality of laminations are arranged in the axial direction to form a fluid passage between first and second ends of the stator core.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that allow vehicles to participate in a cargo marketplace. The vehicle may use their cargo space to transport items for other users. The vehicle may initiate a cargo discovery mode that may allow the vehicle to provide information about how much cargo space it currently has. This information may be provided to the system, which may also receive requests from users for vehicles that are capable of transporting certain items. The discovery mode may be automatically initiated based on a geofence or may be initiated through the driver of the vehicle using a mobile device application. The vehicle may be matched to users requesting transport of items based on the size of the cargo space of the vehicle and the size of the items that are requested to be transported.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring user sound exposure are disclosed. The system can include receiving audio data generated by an audio source, such as a mobile phone music player, and ambient sound data. Based on this received sound data, the system can determine a cumulative sound exposure for the user, compare the cumulative sound exposure to a threshold, and provide an alert to the user according to the comparison. Based on whether the user adheres to recommended safe listening standards, the system can take additional actions, including providing reports to the user or automatically controlling the volume of the sound that the user is exposed to.

Abstract: A vehicle driveline component includes a torque converter including an actuator and a clutch. The actuator includes an actuator piston slidable within an actuator chamber and dividing the actuator chamber into loosening and tightening chambers. The actuator piston moves the stator blades between a plurality of pitch positions. The clutch selectively couples the turbine to the impeller. The clutch includes a spring and clutch piston. The clutch piston at least partially defines an apply chamber and a release chamber. The apply chamber is in fluid communication with the tightening chamber via a hydrodynamic chamber. The release chamber is in fluid communication with the loosening chamber. The clutch piston is movable between an engaged position which inhibits relative rotation between the housing and the turbine and a disengaged position permitting relative rotation. The clutch spring is supported by the turbine hub and biases the clutch piston toward the disengaged position.

Abstract: A data storage system includes a storage medium including a plurality of columns of memory cells, a storage controller coupled to the storage medium, and data path circuitry including a data bus coupled to the storage controller, the data bus configured to receive a plurality of bytes of data to be written to the plurality of columns of memory cells; a block of data latches having a pitch equal to a first number of bit lines of the plurality of columns of memory cells; and column redundancy circuitry configured to pass the plurality of bytes of data to the block of data latches via the plurality of columns in accordance with a nonconsecutive mapping scheme. The nonconsecutive mapping scheme includes mapping each group of three bytes to two columns by splitting one byte of each group of three bytes into two nibbles.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides modified, transgenic, or genome edited/mutated corn plants that are semi-dwarf and have one or more improved ear traits and yield relative to a control plant, such as increased ear area, increased ear volume, increased single kernel weight, increased ear fresh weight, increased ear diameter, increased ear length, increased yield, increased kernels per ear, decreased ear tip void, and decreased ear void. The modified, transgenic, or genome edited/mutated corn plants comprise a transgene encoding one or more CONSTANS (CO) or CONSTANS-like (COL) polypeptides and a transgene encoding one or more MADS-box polypeptides, and can also have a reduced expression of one or more GA20 or GA3 oxidase genes. Also provided are methods for producing the modified, transgenic, or genome edited/mutated corn plants.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for making or assembling fiber optic connectors that allows a pre-terminated fiber optic cable to be made compatible with any number of different styles or types of fiber optic connectors or fiber optic adapters. A connector core of the system can be used as a stand-alone connector with a small form-factor adapter.

Abstract: Devices having one primary transistor, or a plurality of primary transistors in parallel, protect electrical circuits from overcurrent conditions. Optionally, the devices have only two terminals and require no auxiliary power to operate. In those devices, the voltage drop across the device provides the electrical energy to power the device. A third or fourth terminal can appear in further devices, allowing additional overcurrent and overvoltage monitoring opportunities. Autocatalytic voltage conversion allows certain devices to rapidly limit or block nascent overcurrents.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for flexible component routing design, wherein a flexible component includes a first end and a second end, includes moving the second end relative to the first end to simulate an operational motion state of the flexible component, scanning the flexible component to obtain a first set of routing data for the flexible component, changing position of the second end from a first position to a second position, moving the second end relative to the first end to simulate an operational motion state of the flexible component, scanning the flexible component to obtain a second set of routing data for the flexible component, and comparing the first set of routing data with the second set of routing data to determine a routing design for the flexible component.

Abstract: A first device comprises a multi-core processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the multi-core processor to initiate execution of operational control programming for the first device on one or more cores among a plurality of cores of the multi-core processor, initiate execution of test programming for the first device on a designated test core among the plurality of cores of the multi-core processor, wherein the designated test core is not one of the one or more cores, wherein the test programming generates test output data. and output the test output data to a second device.

Abstract: Presented is a smoking product making system as well as methods for producing a plurality of smoking products. The smoking product making system comprises a receptacle configured to releasably hold pre rolled cones, a closure device configured for closing the top end of the pre rolled cones filled with smoking material, and an ejector device configured to push the bottom end of each pre rolled cone. The smoking product making system as well as method is capable of simultaneously producing a plurality of finished smoking products (such as cigarettes) with equal precision by enabling application of equal force for closing the top ends of the pre rolled cones.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body that defines an aperture. A closure panel is coupled to the body and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The closure panel covers the aperture when the closure panel is in the closed position. A support member has a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled to the body. The second end is coupled to the closure panel. The support member is operable between a compressed position and an extended position. The extended position of the support member corresponds with the open position of the closure panel. A collapsible member is coupled to the body and the support member. The collapsible member is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The collapsible member includes a first section and a second section. The collapsible member also includes a fluid drainage system.