Abstract: A catalytic resin is formed by mixing a resin and either homogeneous or heterogeneous catalytic particles, the resin infused into a woven glass fabric to form an A-stage pre-preg, the A-stage pre-preg cured into a B-stage pre-preg, thereafter held in a vacuum and between pressure plates at a gel point temperature for a duration of time sufficient for the catalytic particles to migrate away from the resin rich surfaces of the pre-preg, thereby forming a C-stage pre-preg after cooling. The C-stage pre-preg subsequently has trenches formed by removing the resin rich surface, the trenches extending into the depth of the catalytic particles, optionally including drilled holes to form vias, and the C-stage pre-preg with trenches and holes placed in an electroless bath, whereby traces form in the trenches and holes where the surface of the cured pre-preg has been removed.

Abstract: The present inventors have recognized that hydraulic cylinders for raising and lowering “work units” of an agricultural implement used for engaging the ground can be improved by replacing one or more electronically controlled (electrohydraulic) proportional valves associated with a rod port of the cylinder with a simplified, flow control device, such as a pressure regulator, while still using the electronically controlled proportional valves associated with a base port of the cylinder. Due to the weight of the implement being associated with the rod side, which tends to force retraction of the rod when not opposed by the base side, complex proportional valves associated with the rod side can be replaced with such simplified devices providing a relatively low pressure sufficient to move hydraulic fluid with respect to the rod side.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV773381. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV773381, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV773381 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV773381 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV773381.

Abstract: A notification system is provided that provides notification of patient events such as movement and/or incontinence. The notification system provides for a plurality of different pressure sensor pads as well as an incontinence pad to be used in association with a single monitor.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a system for enhanced accent lighting within a vehicle interior, the system including: a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the processor to carry out the following steps: capturing an image of a user; and producing accent lighting in the vehicle interior based on the image.

Abstract: Vehicle safety devices, heat shields used in such devices and related methods are provided. The heat shield for use in vehicle airbags can include a woven base substrate and a needlepunched nonwoven substrate comprising silicon-containing fibers. The needlepunched nonwoven can be needlepunched to the woven base substrate such that, when the heat shield is positioned within an interior space of an airbag, the needlepunched nonwoven substrate faces apertures of an inflator within the airbag.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for electrically-assisted engine braking. In one example, a method may include operating a turbocharger by an electric motor during engine braking to increase air flow to an engine intake. The enhanced air flow into the engine intake increases an exhaust manifold pressure, thus increased a braking force provided by engine braking.

Abstract: A low VOC, low vapor pressure, low flash point and nonfoaming fertilizer stabilizer composition comprises: (A) two or more glycol ethers of Formula 1 Each of R1 and R3 are independently hydrogen or phenyl with the proviso that R1 and R3 are not simultaneously hydrogen, n is an integer of 3-10, and R2 is 90 to 100% hydrogen or 0 to 10% of one or more of methyl, ethyl or phenyl; and; and at least one fertilizer stabilizer, e.g., an N-alkyl thiophosphoric triamide.

Abstract: A firearm grip with selector switch lock includes a handgrip for engaging a firearm receiver having a selector switch. A switch engagement unit is positioned within the handgrip. The switch engagement unit including a motor, piston, spring and detent for selectively engaging the selector switch of the receiver to which the handgrip is located. An RFID interrogator is positioned within the handgrip and communicates with a portable RFID chip. Upon detecting the presence of the RFID chip, the switch engagement unit moves the piston to the retracted position for manual free operation of the selector switch. Upon detecting the RFID chip is not within the proximity of the handgrip, the switch engagement unit moves the piston to the extended/SAFE position. A replacement selector switch having a torque limiter is provided.

Abstract: Techniques for comparing customer records to identify linked customer records are provided. The techniques may include a computer system identifying a pair of customer records and comparing the customer records to determine if the customer records are linked records. The computer system may analyze a first set of data values from first corresponding data fields from the pair of records to determine a first distance between the first set of data values, analyze a second set of data values from second corresponding data fields from the pair of records to determine a second distance between the second set of data values, and combine the first distance and the second distance into a combined distance value which is representative of a distance between the pair of customer records by using a combination function which provides a maximum value cap for the first distance and a weight for the first distance.

Abstract: A door stop device suitable for propping open doors that has high strength, durability, safety and convenience is described herein. The device is characterized by a convenient bar recessed between two wings. The design permits a user to safely engage the door stop over the hinge of an open door while the wings protect the user's hand and fingers and props the door open.

Abstract: Presented are systems and methods for 3D reconstruction from videos using an unsupervised learning framework for depth and normal estimation via edge-aware depth-normal consistency. In embodiments, this is accomplished by using a surface normal representation. Depths may be reconstructed in a single image by watching unlabeled videos. Depth-normal regularization constrains estimated depths to be compatible with predicted normals, thereby, yielding geometry-consistency and improving evaluation performance and training speed. In embodiments, a consistency term is solved by constructing depth-to-normal layer and normal-to-depth layers within a deep convolutional network (DCN). In embodiments, the depth-to-normal layer uses estimated depths to compute normal directions based on neighboring pixels. Given the estimated normals, the normal-to-depth layer may then output a regularized depth map. Both layers may be computed with awareness of edges within the image.

Abstract: An end cap is provided comprising a head with a tool engagement portion and a shaft with a tip, wherein the shaft comprises a threaded conical portion starting from the tip and extending in a direction to the head. The thread may be provided with a constant pitch, i.e. with a constant distance between the turns of the thread.

Abstract: A fall protection harness for being removably worn by a user having at least two leg straps, a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap. At least one of the shoulder straps has an energy absorbing element integrated therewith. The energy absorbing element may be a tubular webbing material surrounding a tearable webbing material with at least two bound webbing components configured to tear from one another when the shoulder strap is subjected to a force that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An example symbol-based watermark detection method disclosed herein includes, in response to a comparison of a first count of occurrences of a first potential symbol value corresponding to a first symbol within a watermark and a second count of occurrences of a second potential symbol value corresponding to the first symbol, (i) determining a first accumulated signal to noise ratio value corresponding to the occurrences of the first potential symbol value, (ii) determining a second accumulated signal to noise ratio value corresponding to the occurrences of the second potential symbol value, and (iii) selecting one of the first or the second potential symbol value having a greatest accumulated signal to noise ratio value as a likely symbol value for the first symbol. The example method also includes concatenating the likely symbol value with other likely symbol values corresponding to other symbols of the watermark to detect the watermark.

Abstract: During installation of a single-ply roofing membrane, the surface of the membrane can be protected from dirt, scratches and scrapes by a protective sheet which also provides other beneficial attributes that aid an installer. A roof laminate includes a roof membrane and a protective sheet is removably affixed thereto. The sheet includes at least a first layer directly secured to a second layer. The first layer provides at least one of UV protection, anti-slip, and anti-glare to the roof laminate and so aids the installer in at least one of those respects. The second layer is removably affixed to the roof membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to wall repair compounds such as joint compounds, spackling compounds, and the like used to repair imperfections in walls or fill joints between adjacent wallboard panels. Particularly, the present invention relates to such a wall repair compound that comprises a dust-reduction additive that reduces the quantity of airborne dust generated when the hardened compound is sanded. The dust-reduction additive also synergistically imparts water resistance and adhesion to the wall repair compounds to which it is added. More specifically, in one embodiment, the dust-reduction additive is an emulsion comprising colloidally-protected, wax-based microstructures comprising paraffin that is chemically encapsulated by polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: A speaker and conference call module and mobile device case combination allows a mobile device, such as a smartphone, to be retained by the mobile device case. The speaker and conference call module is configured to wirelessly connect to the mobile device to permit audio from the mobile device to be played thereupon. The speaker and conference call module further includes a microphone to permit audio pick-up by the module and deliver that audio signal to the mobile device, permitting two-way conference call features. The speaker and conference call module can produce sound via one or more exciter voice coils internally attached to the front surface thereof, where the front surface may be a material suitable for sound generation via an exciter, such as a carbon fiber material. The speaker and conference call module can be removed from and reattached to the mobile device case for convenient portability.