Abstract: A system for providing hearing accessibility for an occupant in a vehicle includes at least one display unit operatively connected to the vehicle. The at least one display unit has multiple sections, including a media screen adapted to display video content and a plurality of text boxes. A controller is in electronic communication with the at least one display unit, the controller being adapted to selectively execute a dictation engine. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The controller is adapted to receive audio input data from a plurality of sources. The controller is adapted to generate respective transcribed data from the audio input data, via the dictation engine. The respective transcribed data is displayed in the plurality of text boxes.

Abstract: An integrated system for indirect cycle steam heating comprising a nuclear power module configured to output first steam; a turbine generator configured to receive the first steam and output second steam; a heat exchanger configured to receive water, receive at least one of first steam, second steam, and transfer heat from the at least one of first steam and second steam into the water to create third steam a peaking heater configured to receive the third steam, transfer augmenting heat into the third steam, and heat, based at least in part on the transfer, the third steam to have a temperature above a threshold temperature an auxiliary heater configured to receive the third steam; and a chemical processing plant configured to receive the third steam and transfer heat from the third steam into a chemical.

Abstract: Surgical systems and methods to facilitate surgical navigation involve a scanner to produce a scan of a vessel on a bone and a camera configured to detect markers coupled to the bone. Controller(s) track the bone based on detection of the markers by the camera and determine, based on the scan, one or more characteristics of the vessel on the bone. The controller(s) obtain imaging data of the bone and register the imaging data and the one or more characteristics of the vessel to the bone.

Abstract: A method of planning a path for a vehicle is disclosed herein. The method includes receiving a plurality of perception images. At least one perception task is detected from the plurality of perception images including identifying a neighboring vehicle. A plurality of vehicle descriptors of the neighboring vehicle is recognized, and a plurality of predetermined vehicle descriptor sets are associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of cluster values with each cluster value being associated with a risk factor. The risk factor is determined based on mapping the plurality of vehicle descriptors recognized for the neighboring vehicle onto one of the plurality of predetermined vehicle descriptor sets and assigning the risk factor associated with the cluster value to the neighboring vehicle. The path for the vehicle is planned based on the at least one perception task and the risk factor and the path is executed for the vehicle.

Abstract: A crawler frame plow for removing dirt and debris from a crawler frame of machinery having a rotating cab portion. The crawler frame plow includes an arm portion for securing the crawler frame plow to the machinery, a leg portion extending from a proximal end to a distal end with the arm portion secured to the leg portion between the proximal end and the distal end, a plow portion disposed adjacent the distal end of the leg portion. When the crawler frame plow is secured to the machinery, rotation of a cab portion of the machinery causes a corresponding rotation of the plow portion such that the plow portion is configured to remove dirt and debris from the crawler frame during operation of the excavator.

Abstract: A system for completing a well, including a generator, and a plurality of electric load components, each electric load component powered by the generator. The system further includes a load shedding control panel that monitors the generator and, if the generator loses functionality, is capable of deactivating one or more of the plurality of electric load components to reduce the electric load.

Abstract: A packaging container is provided. The packaging container includes a body defining a volume. The body including a neck extending from an opening of the body. The neck including a proximal surface and a circumferential projection defining at least one gap. The neck further including at least one axial support disposed in the gap. A closure is engageable with the proximal surface, and a sleeve is conformable to an outer surface of the closure and the neck. In some embodiments, container systems and methods of manufacturing containers are disclosed.

Abstract: In one implementation, a system for space-based aircraft monitoring includes a ground segment, multiple aircraft monitoring payloads on board corresponding satellites, and a resource scheduling system. Individual payloads include antenna systems configured to provide multiple beams for receiving ADS-B messages and two or more receivers configured to process received ADS-B messages that are implemented, at least in part, by reconfigurable FPGAs. In addition, individual payloads are configured to initiate transmission of ADS-B messages processed by one or more of their receivers to the ground segment. Meanwhile, the ground segment is configured to receive such messages and to route them to one or more destinations for aircraft monitoring. The resource scheduling system is configured to control the antenna systems of individual payloads to dynamically adjust the beams for receiving ADS-B messages of the individual antenna systems.

Abstract: A hybrid magnetic substrate manufacturing method through spin-spraying ferrite coating solutions is disclosed, wafers of various schematic slit patterns using spin-spray ferrite coating generate magnetic hybrid substrates. A ferrite via-based inductor or transformer using spin-spray manufacturing method produces quality factors greater than 625 at 50˜300 MHz. Integrated ferrite inductors of I-shaped and U-shaped copper patterns with various ferrite loops that have quality factors bigger than 700 at 50˜300 MHz are manufactured.

Abstract: In an inertial containment fusion (ICF) system which uses a KrF laser, it is beneficial to perform pulse compression of the laser output to produce a higher-power, higher-intensity laser pulse at the target. Such pulse compression involves counter-propagating laser pump and seed beams. A short-pulse seed beam is amplified as energy is extracted from a long-pulse pump beam. Because such energy extraction is invariably incomplete, a fraction of the pump energy will exit the compression cell in the same direction as the optics used to create the seed beam. The invention involves a gas consisting of a noble gas such as neon or argon which may be excited by an electron beam to enhance absorption. By proper choice of gas, cell length, electron-beam excitation, and time delay, the residual pump beam may be absorbed almost entirely with less than 0.01% transmitted laser energy through the invention.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for preventing biomineralization in brain tissue or neuronal tissue in vivo or in vitro by inhibiting the deposition of hydroxyapatite therein. Also provided are methods for delaying the progression or onset of Alzheimer's disease in a subject and for preventing the development of Alzheimer's disease in a post-traumatic brain injury subject. Contacting the brain tissue or neuronal tissue with or administering to a subject the drugs Levamisole and/or Foscarnet and/or a bisphosphonate inhibits or decreases levels of alkaline phosphatase and calcium and counteracts alpha-glycerophosphate therein to inhibit the activation of spontaneous biomineralization within a brain tissue to decrease or prevent ectopic biomineralization.

Abstract: A system comprising an arm configured to be mounted to an edifice, wherein the arm is configured to move between an open position and a closed position, a dispenser assembly mounted to the arm, and one or more tubes configured to span a length of the arm and terminate at the dispenser assembly, wherein the one or more tubes are configured to transport fluid along the length of the arm to the dispenser assembly.

Abstract: A seal bar for sealing a pouch is provided, wherein the seal bar may comprise a face, wherein the face may be configured to apply heat to seal the pouch, a cavity, wherein the cavity may be configured to form a nozzle shape in the pouch, a seal dot, wherein the seal dot may be configured to apply heat to the pouch, and a heating element, wherein the heating element may be configured to heat the face.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising computer code configured to cause a processor or processors to obtain, from a bitstream, a mesh representing an encoded volumetric data of at least one three-dimensional (3D) visual content, and decode the encoded volumetric data based on displacement vectors of vertices of the mesh, and the displacement vectors are based on a square root of three subdivision in which faces of the mesh are iteratively subdivided in a manner in which a number of subdivided faces resulting from subdividing the mesh in an iteration is less than four times a number of faces from before subdividing the mesh in the iteration.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments may use a contactless card as a secondary form of authentication in a multi-factor authentication for a secure messaging service. The recipient party of a request to initiate a messaging service session (such as a server computing device) may be programmed to use the phone number of the originating device to look up records regarding an identity of a party and their associated phone number as a primary credential and then may require an authentication credential originating from the contactless card as a secondary credential for the initiating party. In some instances, the credential originating from the contactless card is a onetime password that is valid only for a period of time. The recipient party determines whether the onetime password is valid. If both credentials are valid, a secure messaging session may be initiated with the initiating party.

Abstract: A firearm trigger assembly has a frame, a hammer pivotally connected to the frame, a trigger element pivotally connected to the frame and operable to selectively restrain and release the hammer in response to movement of the trigger element between a restraint position and a release position, a trigger lever movably connected to the trigger element and movable with respect to the trigger element between a first unactuated position and a second actuated position, and the trigger element being configured to remain in the restraint position when the trigger lever is in the first unactuated position, in any of a range of positions intermediate the first unactuated position and the second actuated position, and when in the second actuated position with an application of force to the trigger lever below a selected force threshold.

Abstract: A method and related system of operations include providing a set of feature values to determine a first reward value to a prediction model configured with a set of model parameters and obtaining a set of feature weights for features of the set of feature values by performing a local explainability operation that comprises providing the prediction model with a set of test inputs to determine a set of feature weights. The method also includes selecting a subset of feature weights of the set of feature weights based on a feature subset of the features indicated by a policy parameter of the prediction model, determining a reward modification value based on the subset of feature weights, and determining a second reward value based on the first reward value and the reward modification value. The method also includes updating the set of model parameters based on the second reward value.

Abstract: A volunteering platform facilitates voluntary activities associated with AV rides. The platform may receive a request for AV service from a first user and an offer to assist other users from a second user. The platform may determine whether an assistance to be provided by the second user can facilitate the service to be received by the first user. After determining that the assistance to be provided by the second user can facilitate the service to be received by the first user, the platform may pair the first user with the second user. The platform may select an AV from a fleet of AVs to serve the request from the first user with the assistance from the second user. The platform may plan an operation of the AV based on the request from the first user and the offer from the second user. The platform can dispatch the AV.

Abstract: An e-vapor apparatus may include a pod assembly including a pre-vapor formulation compartment, a first electrical connector, a vapor channel traversing the pre-vapor formulation compartment, and a vaporizer, the pre-vapor formulation compartment configured to hold a pre-vapor formulation therein and in fluidic communication with the vaporizer during an operation of the e-vapor apparatus, the first electrical connector including first and second power electrodes, the first power electrode including a first contact portion on an exterior of the first electrical connector and a first extended portion configured to contact an anode portion of the vaporizer, the second power electrode including a second contact portion on the exterior of the first electrical connector and a second extended portion configured to contact a cathode portion of the vaporizer. The e-vapor apparatus may further include a dispensing body including a second electrical connector configured to connect to the first electrical connector.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides desensitized fertilizer compositions that are resistant to detonation. The desensitized fertilizer compositions of the present disclosure are formed, under heat, from a reaction product of a base fertilizer material, such as ammonium nitrate, and a phosphate-based additive, such as ammonium polyphosphate. The resulting compositions include monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), and polyphosphate crystals distributed throughout the crystalline fertilizer material. The presence of the distributed MAP and DAP crystals is believed to stabilize the base fertilizer material and reduce or eliminate the detonation potential of the fertilizer material.