Abstract: Various embodiments provide a case-handling system including multiple flap-suppressing devices that can be vertically moved independently of one another to, when processing a case, enable the case-handling system to prepare for and receive the next case to-be-processed while the case-handling system is still folding the upper major flaps of the current case, which increases throughput.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for controlling autonomous vehicles utilizing maps that include visibility information. A map is stored at a computing device associated with a vehicle. The vehicle is configured to operate in an autonomous mode that supports a plurality of driving behaviors. The map includes information about a plurality of roads, a plurality of features, and visibility information for at least a first feature in the plurality of features. The computing device queries the map for visibility information for the first feature at a first position. The computing device, in response to querying the map, receives the visibility information for the first feature at the first position. The computing device selects a driving behavior for the vehicle based on the visibility information. The computing device controls the vehicle in accordance with the selected driving behavior.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer readable media related to soliciting feedback from a user regarding one or more content parameters of a suggestion or other content provided by the automated assistant. The user's feedback may be used to influence future suggestions and/or other content subsequently provided, by the automated assistant in future dialog sessions, to the user and/or to other users. In some implementations, content is provided to a user by an automated assistant in a dialog session between the user and the automated assistant—and the automated assistant provides a prompt that solicits user feedback related to the provided content in a future dialog session between the user and the automated assistant. In some of those implementations, the prompt is provided following input from the user and/or output from the automated assistant, in the future dialog session, that is unrelated to the content provided in the previous dialog session.

Abstract: A system for providing an augmented reality, a virtual reality, and/or a mixed reality experience to a user includes a first display and a second display. The user views a real-world environment through the first display and the second display. The system includes a wearable visualization device that includes the first display and a fixed visualization device that includes the second display. The first display is configured to display a first layer of virtual features and the second display is configured to display a second layer of virtual features. The system includes a processor configured to generate the first layer of virtual features and the second layer of virtual features. The processor is configured to operatively communicate with the wearable visualization device and the fixed visualization device to coordinate presentation of the first layer of virtual features and the second layer of virtual features.

Abstract: Example apparatus disclosed herein are to send a request to a media provider that is to cause the media provider to initiate transmission of a transport stream that is to provide streaming media to a media presentation device. Disclosed example apparatus are also to extract metering metadata from a data file to be received by the media presentation device after the transmission of the transport stream is initiated by the media provider but before receipt by the media presentation device of the transport stream that is to provide the streaming media to the media presentation device, the data file associated with the transport stream. Disclosed example apparatus are further to report the metering metadata to a server in response to a detected event, and access an identification of secondary media responsive to the report of the metering metadata, the secondary media to be presented by the media presentation device.

Abstract: A method creates a banking card that may be a wireless banking card. The banking card has an antenna with an open circuit that prevents the banking card from functioning correctly until it is received by a banking customer the card is to belong to. A cavity is formed within the banking card near the open circuit and a thin wall is created between the cavity and the open circuit. The cavity is filled with a flowable electrical conductor that may be a liquid metal such as mercury or galinstan. Instruction indications are provided on the banking card indicating to a banking customer how to manipulate the banking card to cause the liquid conductor to flow and remove the open circuit and allow the banking card to function correctly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using reduced hops to generate an augmented virtual reality scene in a head mounted display. The head mounted display is used for game play via a game cloud system. The head mounted display includes a communications circuit for sending real-world media associated with a game program via a network. The real-world media is processed by the game cloud system and streamed directly from the communications circuit to the game cloud system. The head mounted display further includes a game processing circuit coupled to the communications circuit. The game processing circuit is used for decoding computer-generated interactive media received from the game cloud system via the network. The game processing circuit drives a portion of interactivity associated with the game program by superimposing the computer-generated interactive media on the real-world media. The computer-generated interactive media is generated based on the real-world media.

Abstract: A protective lens stack comprises a base layer including a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film containing a UV blocking additive and one or more removable lens layers stacked on top of the base layer. Each of the removable lens layers may include a PET film and a first adhesive disposed on a bottom surface of the PET film. Refractive indices of the base layer and the one or more removable lens layers may be matched to within 0.2. Each layer of the protective lens stack, including the base layer and each of the removable lens layer(s), may have less than 0.5% haze. The protective lens stack may be used as a face shield or may be surface mountable using a second adhesive disposed on a bottom surface of the PET film containing the UV blocking additive.

Abstract: A cross-linked nonwoven fibrous mat is disclosed comprising a core layer including a fibrous precursor mat bound with a formaldehyde-free core binder composition and a cross-linker disposed on at least one surface of the core layer, said cross-linker comprising one or more of isocyanate, polyol, and melamine functional groups. The cross-linked nonwoven mat has a hot-wet retention of at least 25%.

Abstract: A autonomous robotic golf caddy which is capable of following a portable receiver at a pre-determined distance, and which is capable of sensing a potential impending collision with an object in its path and stop prior to said potential impending collision.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and systems for encoding or decoding a 3D mesh with predictive coding of boundary geometry information. The example decoding method includes receiving a coded bitstream comprising a geometry patch for a three-dimension mesh; extracting, from the coded bitstream, a reconstructed geometry image for the geometry patch comprising a set of points corresponding to a set of geometry coordinates for a boundary vertex in the three-dimension mesh; deriving based on the set of the geometry coordinates, a 3D geometry coordinate for the boundary vertex; obtaining a prediction residue for the boundary vertex; and reconstructing, by the device, geometry information of the boundary vertex based on the derived 3D geometry coordinate and the prediction residue.

Abstract: Systems may include a processor to, in response to determining at least one segment of a field of view (FOV) of a first sensor of an autonomous vehicle that overlaps with a FOV of at least one second sensor of the autonomous vehicle, calculate a scaling factor for diagnostic coverage for the at least one segment based on a value of modality overlap (MoD) for the at least one segment, calculate, based on the scaling factor, a value of a metric of hardware failure for the first sensor, and compare the value of the metric of hardware failure to a threshold value to determine whether to increase a diagnostic coverage of the first sensor. Methods, computer program products, and autonomous vehicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A photonic device is provided. The photonic device may include an input region and a dispersive region optically coupled with the input region. The dispersive region may include a first material and a second material anisotropically distributed to form a plurality of interfaces that each correspond to a change in a refractive index of the dispersive region. The plurality of interfaces may collectively structure the dispersive region to generate an output optical signal from an input optical signal. The photonic device may also include an output region, optically coupled with the dispersive region. The plurality of interfaces may form a material interface pattern in the dispersive region that is characterized by a defect distribution to introduce one or more spectral artifacts into the output optical signal that collectively define a unique spectral signature of the photonic device.

Abstract: An anti-proliferation technique is disclosed to reduce the likelihood of nuclear proliferation due to the use fissionable fuel salts. The technique includes doping the fuel salt with one or more elements (referred to herein as activation dopants) that, upon exposure to neutrons such as would occur in the fuel salt when a reactor is in operation, undergo a nuclear reaction to, directly or indirectly, form highly active “protecting isotopes” (of the same element as the activation dopant or a different element). A sufficient mass of activation dopants is used so that the Figure of Merit (FOM) of the fuel salt is decreased to below 1.0 within some target number of days of fission. This allows the FOM of the fuel salt to be controlled so that the fuel becomes too dangerous to handle before to the creation of a significant amount of weaponizable isotopes.

Abstract: A skin treatment apparatus, such as a microdermabrasion or dermaplaning apparatus, includes a housing having a top end and a bottom end, a treatment head attached to the top end of the housing and arranged to exfoliate skin within a treatment area, and a cooling member provided on the bottom end of the housing arranged to cool skin within the treatment area.

Abstract: This specification discloses pcLEDs in which the wavelength converting structure comprises one or more layers of phosphor particles disposed on a transparent substrate at high packing density. The particles are coated with an inorganic non-absorbing layer which mechanically stabilizes the phosphor particle layers and provides a thermally conductive connection between the phosphor particles. The wavelength converting structure is attached to a semiconductor LED die with the transparent substrate of the wavelength converting structure facing away from the die by a thin glue layer that bonds a light emitting surface of the die to the phosphor particle layers. Methods for fabricating such pcLEDs are also disclosed.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions in which isolated cannabinoid receptor modulators are optionally combined with terpene blends in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Methods for treating or preventing a disease, disorder, dysfunction or condition caused by exposure to an organophosphate or carbamate acetylcholineestrate inhibitor with the inventive compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure provides various embodiments of catheters having articulable ends that can be used for various procedures. Embodiments of methods are also provided that can be performed with catheters in accordance with the present disclosure.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for server-less complex event processing (CEP). For instance, the method may include hosting a plurality of server-less functions, the plurality of server-less functions including at least a first group of server-less functions, the first group of server-less functions including a driver function and at least one lookup function including a first lookup function; receiving data streams; and processing the data streams, using the driver function and/or the at least one lookup function, to publish a CEP data stream.

Abstract: A apparatus implementable on a firearm includes a handguard assembly which is configured to at least partially surround a barrel of the firearm when the handguard is installed on the firearm. The handguard includes at least first and second physical features such that: (a) the first physical feature is configured to accommodate mounting of an accessory of the firearm on the handguard, and (b) the second physical feature is configured to secure a cable of the accessory onto the handguard.