Abstract: A method includes receiving a build request containing build step instructions from a user. The build step instructions specify a usage of containers within memory hardware for building an output container. The containers include at least one private container having private contents and/or at least one public container having public contents. The method also includes authenticating the user initiating the build request and determining whether the user is authorized to access the private containers. When the user is authenticated and authorized to access the private containers, the method includes obtaining the containers specified by the build step instructions from the memory hardware, executing the build step instructions to build the output container while using the received containers, and outputting the built output container.

Abstract: A light-emitting disclosure (LED) and an LED array are disclosed. The LED includes a semiconductor junction for emitting light and an optical surface coupled to the semiconductor junction for outputting at least a portion of the light. The optical surface can include a grating structure configured to increase the portion of the light outputted by the optical surface, and/or a redirecting structure configured to redirect the portion of the light to form an output optical beam.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a rail vehicle having a track stabilization unit for use in stabilizing rails into ballast. The rail vehicle comprises a frame and a track stabilization unit coupled to the frame. The track stabilization unit includes a base and a plurality of wheels disposed about the base. The wheels are configured to bias against rails of a railroad track. At least one of the wheels is coupled to a motor through a drive shaft such that rotation of the drive shaft drives rotation of the wheel. Related methods are described.

Abstract: A poultry defeathering apparatus comprising a compression plate with a central aperture operationally associated with a hub drive shaft of a feather plucking machine, wherein the compression plate is secured to the hub drive shaft, a finger plate operationally associated with the hub drive shaft and the compression plate, the finger plate includes a central aperture, an annular abutment ring operationally associated with the central aperture, a plurality of finger apertures surrounding the central aperture, a plurality of fingers secured to the finger plate by insertion through the finger plate, with the body extending through a finger aperture, wherein the hub drive shaft is secured to the finger plate and wherein the oversized base of each finger is compressed between the compression plate and the finger plate and a mounting bolt secured on the finger plate within the mounting hole of the hub drive shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body panel coupled to a vehicle frame and having an outer surface and an inner surface, a thermal structure disposed proximate the inner surface of the body panel, wherein the thermal structure includes at least one of a heat-emitting portion and a heat-absorbing portion, wherein the thermal structure is in communication with the outer surface of the body panel to define an ambient temperature portion and a differential temperature portion, and wherein the differential portion is in communication with the thermal structure and cooperates with the thermal structure to generate a predetermined pattern. A controller having at least one of a humidity sensor and a temperature sensor is in communication with the outer surface of the body panel, wherein the controller operates the thermal structure according to data delivered to the controller from at least one of the humidity and temperature sensors.

Abstract: A server may perform server side authentication of a user device. The user device may generate a first authentication string by performing a hash function on a username, a password, and a first salt. The first authentication string may be registered with the server for subsequent login attempts. At login, the user device generates the first authentication string and transmits the first authentication string to the server. When the authentication strings match, the user device is authenticated. The user device may also update the first authentication string. The server may provide the first salt and a second salt to the user device. The user device may generate a first authentication string and a second authentication string from the first salt and the second salt, respectively. When the first authentication strings match, the server may update the user device's authentication string by replacing it with the second authentication string.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH101152. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH101152, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH101152 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH101152.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH971277. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH971277, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH971277 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH971277.

Abstract: A cardiac valve annulus may be constricted by using an apparatus to deliver a cord to the annulus, affixing the cord, and subsequently tightening that cord. In some embodiments, this apparatus includes an elongated core with a main channel, a set of first channels, and at least one second channel, all of which run through the core. The first channels accommodate pull wires for triggering the anchor launchers, and the second channels accommodate portions of the cord. Support arms extend distally beyond the core, and anchor launchers are mounted to each of these support arms. The support arms hold the distal ends of the anchor launchers at positions distributed about the annulus. The anchors are launched to affix the cord, and the cord is tightened in a subsequent procedure.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a speech input from a user and obtaining context metadata associated with the speech input. The method also includes generating a raw speech recognition result corresponding to the speech input and selecting a list of one or more denormalizers to apply to the generated raw speech recognition result based on the context metadata associated with the speech input. The generated raw speech recognition result includes normalized text. The method also includes denormalizing the generated raw speech recognition result into denormalized text by applying the list of the one or more denormalizers in sequence to the generated raw speech recognition result.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for influencing a potential customer to purchase an item. The item for targeted marketing is identified. The potential customer in a social network for the item is identified. An influencer that has an influence on the potential customer with respect to the item is identified using a hypergraph comprising objects representing people in the social network; edges connecting the object nodes for the people based on relationships between the people; and influence edges representing opinion influences on opinions about items, wherein the influence edges connect the edges to identify opinion influences between the people. An incentive directed to the influencer to influence the potential customer to purchase the item is generated. A display of the incentive in an application running on the client device for the influencer is initiated.

Abstract: A flow meter system for detecting the flow of a fluid between an inlet and an outlet. A top plate is coupled to the inlet and the outlet and a sensor is configured to detect the fluid flowing therebetween. A main module is coupled between the inlet and the outlet and has a main rotor configured to be rotated by the fluid flowing through the main module. An output shaft is coupled to the main rotor such that rotation of the main rotor causes rotation of the output shaft. A first spacer is removably coupled between the main module and the outlet. The first spacer is rotorless. The top plate defines an opening that receives the output shaft. The first spacer ensures alignment between the output shaft and the opening defined in the top plate. The sensor senses rotation of the output shaft to detect the flow of fluid.

Abstract: A urination device includes a receptacle having a cuboid shape. The receptacle further includes a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a first side, and a second side. A top opening is defined by an inner edge at the top of the receptacle. A front opening is defined by a front edge at the front of the receptacle. An elongated v-shaped channel is defined along the bottom from the front to the back. At least a portion of the elongated v-shaped channel is disposed below the top opening.

Abstract: A jet pump of a downhole tool in a wellbore, wherein the jet pump has a nozzle in fluid communication with a throat and wherein the throat is further in fluid communication with a diffuser, the jet pump further having a central channel located towards an uphole end of the downhole tool, wherein the central channel is configured to house a volume of power fluid; a first annular channel defined in the downhole tool, wherein the first annular channel is arranged around the nozzle and in fluid communication with the central channel; a volume of production fluid located towards a downhole end of the downhole tool; a second annular channel defined in the downhole tool configured to house the volume of production fluid; and a reverse channel in fluid connection with the second annular channel, wherein the reverse channel is in fluid communication with the nozzle.