Abstract: A switchable directional backlight for a privacy display comprises a waveguide with first and second opposing input ends and a turning film arranged to collect light output from the waveguide for input into a spatial light modulator. The waveguide has an array of light deflecting features arranged on one guiding surface and an opposing planar surface. Light deflecting features are arranged such that light input from the first input end is output with a narrow angular range and light input from the second input end is output with a wide angular range.

Abstract: A device receives, from a cloud computing environment, cloud instance information associated with cloud instances in the cloud computing environment, and processes the cloud instance information, with a machine learning model, to determine containers for one or more of the cloud instances and whether cloud instances should be removed from the cloud computing environment. The device causes a first subset of the cloud instances to be removed from the cloud computing environment, based on determining which of the cloud instances should be removed, and causes the containers to be created for a second subset of the cloud instances based on determining the containers. The device receives, from the cloud computing environment, cloud container information associated with the containers created in the cloud computing environment, and causes one or more of the containers to be scaled based on the cloud container information.

Abstract: A path discovery process is provided for discovering a lowest cost combination of a plurality of paths from the source node to the destination node via links between pairs of nodes along the paths. A path discovery messages from a source node is forwarded through the network. Prior to forwarding the path discovery message a node tests one or more conditions for disabling the forwarding. Upon receiving an instance of the path discovery message, this may include testing whether no other instance of the path discovery message has both smaller cost and a previous path that contains only nodes that occur also in the path of the received instance. Furthermore, this may include testing whether a destination of the path discovery message was also a node to which a preceding node along the path has a further link, and a cost of the path from the preceding node to the next node via said further link is not larger than the cost of the path from the preceding node to the next node.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus in a wireless network that allow devices, such as client devices and access points (APs), having software defined radios (SDRs) to change operating behavior depending on network RF environment conditions are disclosed. The devices may be instructed to operate according to differently defined behavior profiles that may be chosen based on RF environment conditions. The profiles may be stored in a database. A particular profile may be obtained from the database for one or more devices based on an interference level within an RF environment of the devices. The profiles may be implemented to change device operating behavior so that interference is reduced or minimized in higher levels of interference. The profiles may also be implemented to change device behavior so that interference is reduced in lower levels of interference while also freeing up resources for more efficient use in the network during lower levels of interference.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a reusable drinking straw cleaning caddy are disclosed. Such caddies maintain reusable straws in an orientation parallel to the flow of cleaning fluids and promote efficient cleaning of the straw along both the inner and outer surfaces of the straw. Such caddies may be used with commercial dishwashing trays and may include handles for ease of retrieval from the trays. Such caddies may be easily assembled using combinations of rails and channels, or protrusions, catches and pawls, that clip together. The caddy may further include a recess in the base plate to retain a lower end of the reusable straws. Such caddies may promote the use of reusable drinking straws, reducing the amount waste associated with disposable drinking straws and the associated environmental problems.

Abstract: A method of using a robotic guidance system for performing surgery on a spine is provided. The method includes utilizing a computerized tomographic scan image of a location on a spinal column of a patient, such that the computerized tomographic scan image is connected to a computer and visible on a monitor connected to the computer. The method also includes attaching a coupling component to the spinal column of the patient, coupling a marker to the coupling component, and imaging, with a fluoroscope, the view of the spinal column of the patient, wherein the fluoroscope image is transmitted to the computer and visible on the monitor and the at marker is clearly visible in the fluoroscope image.

Abstract: A recirculation system for a crude oil cargo tank barge having at least one tank includes a pump in fluid communication with at least one tank and recirculation piping in fluid communication with the pump and at least one tank. The pump pumps fluid from at least one tank to the recirculation piping. The recirculation piping then returns the pumped fluid to at least one tank.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling and diagnosing air flow through a compressor without recirculating air flow through the compressor are presented. In one example, a position of an air flow control device located within a compressor housing is adjusted responsive to a request to diagnose flow through the compressor. The diagnostic may be performed while maintaining engine torque and speed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for a storage device to, upon receiving a command from a computing host, determine whether or not the command includes location information targeting a particular portion of a NVM of the storage device, the location information having been retrieved by the computing host from a shadow map and included with the command. Upon determining that the command includes location information, the command is processed by the storage device using the included location information. Upon determining that the command does not include location information, the storage device determines the particular portion of the NVM targeted by the command based on a map stored in a memory of the storage device before processing the command.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for speech transformation and generating synthetic speech using deep generative models are disclosed. A method of the disclosure includes receiving input audio data comprising a plurality of iterations of a speech utterance from a plurality of speakers. The method includes generating an input spectrogram based on the input audio data and transmitting the input spectrogram to a neural network configured to generate an output spectrogram. The method includes receiving the output spectrogram from the neural network and, based on the output spectrogram, generating synthetic audio data comprising the speech utterance.

Abstract: A system for evaluating available channels in a multi-channel WLAN telecommunication system is provided. The system includes a wireless Access Point (AP) configured to provide communication over a plurality of Very High Throughput (VHT) channels. The system further includes a plurality of mobile stations (STAs) operating in the plurality of VHT channels. The system further includes a network monitoring device. The network monitoring device is configured and operable to capture a plurality of VHT data frames exchanged between the wireless AP and the plurality of STAs. The network monitoring device is further configured and operable to decode at least a portion of each of the captured plurality of VHT data frames to identify utilized VHT channel and extract channel allocation information associated with the identified VHT channel and to generate a quality score for the identified VHT channel based on the extracted channel allocation information.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining usage metrics for assets of an enterprise system and extracting sets of features from the obtained usage metrics, the sets of features characterizing relative importance of each of the assets for each of two or more designated time windows. The method also includes determining, utilizing the extracted features, an importance of each of the assets. The method further includes establishing a baseline behavior of the assets based on the extracted features, monitoring behavior of the assets during at least one additional time window, and modifying a configuration of a given asset responsive to detecting that the monitored behavior of the given asset during the at least one additional time window exhibits a threshold difference from the established baseline behavior of the given asset, wherein the modification is based at least in part on the importance of the given asset relative to one or more other assets.

Abstract: Provided is a method for delivering a medical fluid. The method includes delivering a fluid volume, which includes contrast and/or a flush fluid, at a preselected total volumetric flowrate during a first duration of a fluid delivery procedure. The amount of the contrast agent and the flush fluid in the fluid volume can be controllably varied during the first duration of the fluid delivery procedure so as to substantially maintain a preselected total volumetric flowrate throughout the first duration of the fluid delivery procedure. Also provided is a fluid delivery system capable of performing this method.

Abstract: A soybean cultivar designated 82051111 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 82051111, to the plants of soybean cultivar 82051111, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 82051111, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 82051111. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 82051111. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 82051111, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 82051111 with another soybean cultivar.

Abstract: Gesture detection and interaction techniques are described. Object detection used to support the gestures may be accomplished in a variety of ways, such as by using radio waves as part of a radar technique. In a first example, the techniques are implemented such that one hand of a user sets a context for a gesture that is defined by another hand of the user. In another example, a gesture recognition mode is utilized. In yet another example, detection of distance is used such that the same motions may be used to different between operations performed. In a further example, split gestures are supported. In another instance, entry into a gesture recognition mode may be implemented through touch and then recognized through three-dimensional orientation and motion of that hand or another.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus may provide for the adaptive operation of a solar power system (3). Solar energy sources (1) and photovoltaic DC-DC power converters (2) may be interconnected in serial, parallel, or combined arrangements. DC photovoltaic power conversion may be accomplished utilizing dynamically adjustable voltage output limits (8) of photovoltaic DC-DC power converters (2). A photovoltaic DC-DC power converter (2) may include at least one external state data interface (7) receptive to at least one external state parameter of a solar power system (3). A dynamically adjustable voltage output limit control (12) may be used to relationally set a dynamically adjustable voltage output limit (8) of a photovoltaic DC-DC power converter (2). Dynamically adjusting voltage output limits (8) may be done in relation to external state parameter information to achieve desired system results.

Abstract: Extended group service changes are facilitated in a data storage system. Node devices of a data storage system are identified that are merging into a cluster of the node devices. In response to the identifying, respective merge locks are caused at a group of the node devices that are sending service updates.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making an interconnect device for electronic circuits. The methods comprise: fabricating a housing as a single 3D printed part having a plurality of apertures with bend angles less than ninety degrees; inserting wires into the plurality of apertures of the housing; and establishing electrical connections respectively between (A) the wires and a plurality of first socket adaptors and (B) the wires and a plurality of second socket adaptors.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to identifying changed regions in user interfaces or other products of compiled code. Some embodiments of the present disclosure may include training a neural network to identify changed regions in a user interface by providing identified code changes to the neural network, receiving, from the neural network, a plurality of regions of a user interface predicted to be affected by the identified changes, and providing feedback to the neural network evaluating the plurality of predictions. Some embodiments of the present disclosure may include providing a trained neural network with an identified change in code for a user interface, receiving, from the trained neural network, an indicated region of the user interface predicted to be affected by the identified change, and outputting a visual representation of the indicated region of the user interface.

Abstract: Lighting fixture data hubs and systems and methods for use. An exemplary data hub comprises an annunciator configured to generate indications; a sensor configured to detect a zone comprising a plurality of parking spaces and to determine whether or not one or more vehicles and/or one or more pedestrians are present, the sensor further configured to emit one or more signals corresponding to said detection; a processor in communication with the annunciator and the sensor, the processor configured to receive the one or more signals from the sensor and operable to direct the annunciator to generate an indication in response to the signal; and a sensor unit housing having at least portions of the annunciator, the sensor, and the processor located therein, the sensor unit configured to attach to a device such that power supplied to the device is also used to supply power to the data hub.