Abstract: A dump block assembly for a dragline bucket rigging assembly including a frame assembly having a first side frame and a second side frame attached to and parallel to the first side frame. The first side frame includes a first attachment portion having a first upper connection portion, a first lower connection portion opposite the first upper connection portion, and a first central connection portion spaced apart from and in between the first upper connection portion and the first lower connection portion. The second side frame includes a second attachment portion having a second upper connection portion, a second lower connection portion opposite the second upper connection portion, and a second central connection portion spaced apart from and in between the second upper connection portion and the second lower connection portion.

Abstract: A modular barrier device for partitioning a room into two separate living spaces comprising: a plurality of storage modules, said storage modules arranged in a side-by-side as a well as a back-to-back fashion, and adjacent to a door module, to create a closet module to define the two separate living spaces in the room; at least one door rail attached to the closet module; at least one barn-style door slidably attached to the at least one door rail to provide user access to at least one of the two separate living spaces; and an adjustable valence system, said adjustable valence system capable of attaching to the closet module and further capable of expanding to fill any gap between the top of the closet module and a room ceiling.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring battery swelling includes a conductive layer adhered to a battery pack, a surface opposite the battery pack, a flex layer adhered to the bottom of the surface, and a resistance measurement circuit. The conductive layer includes one or more conductive strips. The flex layer includes a resistive pattern with one or more serially connected resistive segments. Each resistive segment is aligned to a respective conductive strip. The surface is positioned over the battery pack so that initially the resistive pattern is not in contact with and is electrically separated from the conductive layer. The resistance measurement circuit is connected to the resistive pattern to detect changes in resistance of the resistive pattern. When the battery pack swells, the resistive pattern comes in contact with the conductive layer, thereby shorting a resistive segment, and causes the resistance measurement circuit to detect the change in the resistance.

Abstract: Configuring virtual machines for garbage collection in a deduplication backup system executed on a server computer in a cloud computing network, by configuring at least one virtual machine (VM) of a plurality of virtual machines in a VM cluster to be data protection virtual machines (DP VMs), by enabling only read and write operations to/from the DP VMs, interconnecting a garbage collection VM (GC VM) of the VM cluster to the DP VMs, configuring the GC VM to perform only garbage collection tasks for the DP VMs, and providing data access credentials from each DP VM to the GC VM to facilitate the garbage collection tasks.

Abstract: A wireless damper control and test system comprising a wireless controller for communicating with a wireless interface using an identifier whereby actuation timing of a damper actuator is transmitted by signal, the wireless interface connected to a damper to be controlled or tested using the transmitted signal, the wireless controller transmits the signals to the wireless interface for operational verification of the damper and damper actuator, and the wireless interface detects a damper state by contacts mounted on the damper and communicates the damper state to the wireless controller.

Abstract: A circuit includes a first amplifier having first and second inputs and first and second output, first and second input capacitors, a first feedback capacitor selectively coupled between the first input and the first output, and a second feedback capacitor selectively coupled between the second input and the second output. During a second phase of operation, the first and second feedback capacitors are decoupled from the output and the first amplifier is configured to sample an input common mode voltage, an output common mode voltage, and an input offset voltage of the first amplifier on the first and second input capacitors. During a first phase of operation, the first feedback capacitor is coupled between the input and the output, the second feedback capacitor is coupled between the input and the output, and the first amplifier is configured to amplify a differential input signal provided across the first and second inputs.

Abstract: For switching between packet duplication operating modes, methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed. One apparatus includes a processor and a transceiver that communicates with a mobile communication network via a radio bearer. The processor determines whether PDCP packet duplication associated with the PDCP protocol entity is to be activated and, if so, communicates with a mobile communication network according to a packet duplication mode of operation. Otherwise, the processor determines whether a split threshold value of the PDCP protocol entity is set to a predefined value, communicates with the mobile communication network according to a first split bearer mode of operation in response to determining that the split threshold value is set to the predefined value, and communicates with the mobile communication network according to a second split bearer mode of operation in response to determining that the split threshold value is not set to the predefined value.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for dynamically adjusting nodes in a mesh network embedded in objects. The nodes, which are individually capable of sensing and/or transmitting data, are paired together such that when one node is active, the other node is collecting energy via solar, wind, or other energy collecting means. When a node reaches a certain energy level, the nodes can switch status, such that the passive node becomes active and vice versa. Exemplary objects in which the systems can be embedded include benches, receptacles, and light fixtures.

Abstract: Disclosed are materials that possess both low adhesion and the ability to absorb water. The material passively absorbs water from the atmosphere and then expels this water upon impact with debris, to create a self-cleaning layer. The lubrication reduces friction and surface adhesion of the debris (such as an insect), which may then slide off the surface. The invention provides a material comprising a continuous matrix including a polymer having a low surface energy (less than 50 mJ/m2) and a plurality of inclusions, dispersed within the matrix, each comprising a hygroscopic material. The continuous matrix and the inclusions form a lubricating surface layer in the presence of humidity. The material optionally contains porous nanostructures that inject water back onto the surface after an impact, absorbing water under pressure and then releasing water when the pressure is removed. The material may be a coating or a surface, for example.

Abstract: A kiosk for selling frozen confections such as shaved ice or ice cream may include with a liquid-topping dispenser assembly having liquid-dispensing faucets which are operable by a customer outside the kiosk to dispense liquid toppings onto the frozen confections.

Abstract: Described is a low power system for mobile devices that provides continuous, behavior-based security validation of mobile device applications using neuromorphic hardware. A mobile device comprises a neuromorphic hardware component that runs on the mobile device for continuously monitoring time series related to individual mobile device application behaviors, detecting and classifying pattern anomalies associated with a known malware threat in the time series related to individual mobile device application behaviors, and generating an alert related to the known malware threat. The mobile device identifies pattern anomalies in dependency relationships of mobile device inter-application and intra-applications communications, detects pattern anomalies associated with new malware threats, and isolates a mobile device application having a risk of malware above a predetermined threshold relative to a risk management policy.

Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a pre-determined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying a user in a multi-user environment. One of the methods includes receiving, by a first user device, an audio signal encoding an utterance, obtaining, by the first user device, a first speaker model for a first user of the first user device, obtaining, by the first user device for a second user of a second user device that is co-located with the first user device, a second speaker model for the second user or a second score that indicates a respective likelihood that the utterance was spoken by the second user, and determining, by the first user device, that the utterance was spoken by the first user using (i) the first speaker model and the second speaker model or (ii) the first speaker model and the second score.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining a generating a user interface based upon a location and an orientation of a smart device supported by an Agent in a structure. The interface may include “as built features” of the structure. A location of the Agent may be determined via wireless communications and a direction of interest based upon a directional sensor.

Abstract: Light trapping pixels, devices incorporating such pixels, and various associated methods are provided. In one aspect, for example, a light trapping pixel device can include a light sensitive pixel having a light incident surface, a backside surface opposite the light incident surface, and a peripheral sidewall disposed into at least a portion of the pixel and extending at least substantially around the pixel periphery. The pixel can also include a backside light trapping material substantially covering the backside surface and a peripheral light trapping material substantially covering the peripheral sidewall. The light contacting the backside light trapping material or the peripheral light trapping material is thus reflected back toward the pixel.

Abstract: An electromagnetic launcher with a curved or spiral-shaped, open-ended guideway and conductors for launching a projectile. The projectile, movably retained on or within the guideway, is accelerated along the guideway using electromagnetic forces until it reaches an end of the guideway, then the projectile is launched in a desired direction. The direction of the launch of the projectile is determined by orienting the guideway in the desired direction using an actuator.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for automatically generating input grammars for grammar-based fuzzing by utilizing machine-learning techniques and sample inputs. Neural-network-based statistical learning techniques are used for the automatic generation of input grammars. Recurrent neural networks are used for learning a statistical input model that is also generative in that the model is used to generate new inputs based on the probability distribution of the learnt model.

Abstract: An example method may include receiving a wireless packet from a sender node at a receiver node that includes a PHY and a MAC. The wireless packet may include multiple codewords. The method may include error checking the codewords at the PHY of the receiver node for codeword-level errors. The method may include generating multiple MPDUs from the codewords. The method may include error checking the MPDUs at the MAC of the receiver node for MPDU-level errors. The method may include generating two-tier feedback based on the error checking at the PHY and the MAC of the receiver node. The method may include sending the two-tier feedback to the sender node.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a vent monitoring system that includes a first sensor configured to provide feedback indicative of an amount of a substance accumulated in the vent, a second sensor configured to provide feedback indicative of a temperature in the vent, and a control system communicatively coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, where the control system is configured to generate a notification when the feedback from the first sensor exceeds a first target level and when the feedback from the second sensor exceeds a second target level.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mitigating vibration in downhole strings are described. The methods include obtaining first and second load measurements of first and second loads during a drilling operation and creating first and second load measurement data, with first and second load sensors separated by a sensor distance. First and/or second representative values of the first and second loads are determined form the first and second load measurement data and the sensor distance. The determined representative value(s) are compared against respective load limit(s) and a vibration mitigation operation is performed in response to the determined representative value(s) equaling or exceeding the respective load limit.