Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by the controller, first return data detected by a first detector of a lidar device as a result of a first laser pulse or chirp; receiving, by the controller, second return data detected by a second detector of the lidar device as a result of a second laser pulse or chirp; combining, by the controller, the first return data and the second return data to form a point cloud; and controlling, by the controller, the vehicle based on the point cloud.

Abstract: An electronic device measures noise variability of background noise present in a sampled audio signal, and determines whether the measured noise variability is higher than a high threshold value or lower than a low threshold value. If the noise variability is determined to be higher than the high threshold value, the device categorizes the background noise as having a high degree of variability. If the noise variability is determined to be lower than the low threshold value, the device categorizes the background noise as having a low degree of variability. The high and low threshold values are between a high boundary point and a low boundary point. The high boundary point is based on an analysis of files including noises that exhibit a high degree of variability, and the low boundary point is based on an analysis of files including noises that exhibit a low degree of variability.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to solid-state electrolytes and methods of making the same. The method includes admixing a sulfate precursor including one or more of Li2SO4 and Li2SO4.H2O with one or more carbonaceous capacitor materials. The first admixture is calcined to form an electrolyte precursor that is admixed with one or more additional components to form the solid-state electrolyte. When a ratio of the sulfate precursor to the one or more carbonaceous capacitor materials in the first admixture is about 1:2, the electrolyte precursor consists essentially of Li2S. When a ratio of the sulfate precursor to the one or more carbonaceous capacitor materials in the first admixture is less than about 1:2, the electrolyte precursor is a composite precursor including a solid-state capacitor cluster including the one or more carbonaceous capacitor materials and a sulfide coating including Li2S disposed on one or more exposed surfaces of the solid-state capacitor cluster.

Abstract: An aerosol generating system includes a heater assembly and a manually operated pump. The pump includes a hollow member with an inlet portion and an outlet portion. The inlet portion of the hollow member is configured connectable with a liquid storage portion. The outlet portion of the hollow member is in fluid communication with a dispensing assembly. The pump is configured to dispense a liquid material onto the heater assembly. The pump is configured to pump the liquid material from the liquid storage portion via the dispensing assembly and onto the heater assembly.

Abstract: Teething devices include a flexible teething member having a hollow interior and partially defining a cavity. A swallow shield coupled with the flexible teething member has a hollow interior and partially defines the cavity. The swallow shield is configured to prevent swallowing of the teething device. A reservoir coupled with the swallow shield has a hollow interior partially defining the cavity. In some implementations an opening in the reservoir provides access to the cavity for introduction and removal of a liquid/gel therefrom, and a closure member is configured to couple with the reservoir in a liquid-tight configuration. In other implementations the cavity is permanently sealed with liquid/gel therein—the teething device including no opening to access the cavity. In implementations the flexible teething member forms a nipple shape. In other implementations it is shaped and sized to simultaneously contact all twenty deciduous teeth of an infant.

Abstract: Aqueous cathodic electrocoat compositions with improved edge protection and methods for preparing such electrocoat compositions are described herein. In an exemplary embodiment, an electrocoat composition includes water; a crosslinkable resin comprising a binder of an epoxy-amine adduct and a crosslinking agent; a neutralizing agent for neutralizing the epoxy amine adduct, wherein the neutralizing agent has a pKa value of greater than 0; and a pigment paste. The pigment paste may comprise silica, barium sulfate or silica and barium sulfate.

Abstract: A system and method of facilitating user interaction with a mobile electronic communication device is provided, for devices having a touch sensitive screen and a housing surface. The described techniques entail displaying visual matter on the touch sensitive screen, detecting a touch on the housing surface, the detected touch having a touch location and touch pressure, and modifying the appearance of the visual matter on the touch sensitive screen based on the touch location and touch pressure.

Abstract: Provided herein are lipidic furan, pyrrole, and thiophene compounds, compositions, and methods using such compounds and compositions for the treatment of atrophic vaginitis. Specifically, the invention includes administering an effective amount of a compound of Formula I, I?, or I?, or a pharmaceutically acceptable composition, salt, isotopic analog, prodrug, or combination thereof, to a subject suffering from atrophic vaginitis.

Abstract: A cleaning device for use with an atomizer that applies paint to the surface of a component in a spray booth includes an external and internal surface in which a least a portion of one or more of the surfaces are coated with a conductive coating. This conductive coating comprises one or more fluoropolymers and may be static dissipative. The cleaning device further includes an exit port that has an aperture between about 2.54-7.62 cm located in the shroud of the device opposite the opening that receives the atomizer and near a bottom corner of the shroud. A kit used to retrofit existing paint spraying systems includes a fully assembled cleaning device and optionally, a regulator assembly capable of reducing the pressure of a cleaning fluid to about 80 psi. During installation, the regulator assembly is mounted external to the spray booth.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a buffer comprising at least one chaotropic agent, at least one chelating agent and at least one non-ionic surfactant, wherein the buffer stabilizes a biological sample at about room temperature for at least about one day.

Abstract: A ground blind system is provided. The ground blind system may include a fabric panel; and a plurality of poles, wherein the plurality of poles may include a center support pole, wherein when installed the center support pole divides the fabric panel longitudinally into two smaller generally triangular shape portions of substantially the same size; and wherein in an assembled state the assembled structure of the fabric panel and plurality of poles may be configured such that the structure is self-supporting. A method of using the ground blind system may include, providing the ground blind system; installing the plurality of poles within the fabric panels to form the assembled structure; and adjusting the two smaller generally triangular shape portions to a desired angle therebetween.

Abstract: Coil nails and similar fasteners to be driven by an automatic nailing tool have at least two different visual appearances after driving. Fasteners driven from a fresh magazine have a first visual appearance, and fasteners driven thereafter from the same magazine have a second, different visual appearance. A magazine may include fasteners having three or more different appearances. Preferably, all of the different appearances are grouped together so that all of the first appearance fasteners are driven, then all of the second appearance fasteners, and so on, until the last fastener having the last appearance is driven. Visual differences may be in color, size, shape, surface texture, or another characteristic.

Abstract: A bipod firearm support has a body defining a first bore and a second bore, a first offset bore segment associated with the first bore, and angularly offset with respect to the first bore, a second offset bore segment associated with the second bore, and angularly offset with respect to the second bore, a first elongated leg adapted to be closely and removably received in the first bore for stowage, a second elongated leg closely and removably received in the second bore for stowage, each of the first and second legs having a base segment sized to be closely received in the associated offset bore segment for deployment, and each of the first and second legs having an elongated leg portion connected to the base segment by way of a connection facility that enables angular flexure of each elongated leg portion with respect to the base segment.

Abstract: A toaster includes a housing that defines one or more cooking cavities. Each cooking cavity has a lift to lower and raise a food product inside the cooking cavity depending on food product type, and heating elements to cook the food product arranged inside the cooking cavity. The toaster includes a user interface operable to control a cooking cycle inside the one or more cooking cavities. The user interface can be used to select a combination of food product, cooking mode, and doneness level, and to initiate a cooking cycle performed by the toaster.

Abstract: The invention as described herein includes a substantially nonconductive barrier assembly that includes at least one longitudinal support, a barrier and a hood. The barrier is non-exclusively composed of several barrier panels. Each panel has a planar member having a front surface and a back surface and a top edge and a bottom edge; at least one rib member extends from the back surface, and the top edge of a first panel and the bottom edge of a second panel are disposed adjacent to one another to form the barrier. The barrier may be attached to the longitudinal support to span a vertical plane. The hood has an inner surface that extends from a distal edge of the hood. The hood is disposed so that an angle formed by the inner surface of the hood and a front surface of the barrier measures about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees and a perforated ledge member extending substantially horizontally and inwardly from the distal edge of the hood to the front surface of the barrier.

Abstract: A disposable, sterile guide constructed of medically-acceptable plastic used for compartmentalizing and therefore protecting the ligament or fascia during three different orthopedic surgical procedures: ECTR, ECuTR, and EPFR. This device reduces the risk of damage to any other part of the surrounding anatomy. The device is disposable and packaged so as to be sterile and therefore readily usable by the surgeon means that it can reduce the risk of infection and is a less expensive alternative to traditional non-disposable, metal instruments that must be sterilized prior to each procedure.

Abstract: An infant care device that selectively controls the amount of visible light that is transmitted into the interior of an enclosure while allowing the transmission of light within certain wavelengths. The infant care device includes an enclosure that includes light dimmable technology that adjusts the transparency of the enclosure based upon control signals from a primary controller. The primary controller is able to cycle between day/night on a manual or automatic basis to selectively control the amount of light that reaches the infant patient. The light dimming technology used on the enclosure allows the transmission of light within a phototherapy wavelength spectrum. The controller thus controls the transparency of the enclosure to at least partially reduce or increase the light reaching the infant while allowing phototherapy.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for collecting and processing user transaction information for determining a financial profile associated with an income generating activity of a user. One exemplary method comprises: accessing email data associated with a user of an account associated with a financial service; monitoring a user financial profile by scanning the email data associated with the user and identifying email messages including transaction information associated with an income generating activity; extracting income information by determining an amount of payment to the user from the identified email messages; determining user income associated with the income generating activity within a previous period based on the extracted income information; and generating, based on the user income within the previous period, an output indicating an adjustment of at least one service term of the account of the financial service.

Abstract: A stacked assembly of semiconductor devices includes a mounting pad covering a first portion of a low-side semiconductor device, and a contact layer covering a second portion of the low-side semiconductor device. A first mounting clip electrically connected to the contact layer has a supporting portion joining the first mounting clip to a first lead frame portion. A second mounting clip attached to the mounting pad has a supporting portion joining the second mounting clip to a second lead frame portion. A high-side semiconductor device has a first terminal electrically connected to the first mounting clip and thereby to the contact layer, and a second terminal electrically connected to the second mounting clip.

Abstract: A tool holder for a minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) device includes a tool holder body, a mixing chamber, a gas passageway, and an oil passageway. The tool holder body is configured for rotation about an axis. The tool holder body has a proximal end configured to be coupled to a spindle of the MQL device and a distal end configured to support a cutting tool for rotation about the axis. The mixing chamber is disposed within the tool holder body. The gas passageway is within the tool holder body and in fluid communication with the mixing chamber. The oil passageway is within the tool holder body and in fluid communication with the mixing chamber. The oil passageway is separate from the gas passageway and configured to receive a liquid lubricant from an oil conduit of the spindle.