Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media related to: training an encoder model that can be utilized to determine semantic similarity of a natural language textual string to each of one or more additional natural language textual strings (directly and/or indirectly); and/or using a trained encoder model to determine one or more responsive actions to perform in response to a natural language query. The encoder model is a machine learning model, such as a neural network model. In some implementations of training the encoder model, the encoder model is trained as part of a larger network architecture trained based on one or more tasks that are distinct from a “semantic textual similarity” task for which the encoder model can be used.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to communicating with and controlling operation of electronically-controlled appliances. In one scenario, a computer system receives a first input from a computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with a cloud computing platform. The computer system generates a notification that is to be sent to a software application, where the software application is configured to control functions of the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system transmits the generated notification to the software application, where the generated notification indicates that the cloud computing platform is communicably connected to the electronically-controlled appliance.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH101574. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH101574, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH101574 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 CH101574.

Abstract: Illumination devices characterized in that they include one or more light sources disposed within a housing attached to a clip adapted to receive a portion of a wearer's headdress, for example a chin strap or bill of a cap. An upper surface of the clip may be shaped to be worn under the wearer's chin and may also include a groove adapted to facilitate attachment of the illumination device to nylon or other strap-like webbing. One or more of the light sources is operable by a switch mounted on an opposite side of the housing from the clip when the clip is in a closed position, that is, when the clip rests on an upper surface of the housing. In addition to light sources, the illumination device may further include one or more imaging devices, e.g., a camera, and/or audio communication devices, e.g., a microphone.

Abstract: A lottery system is provided. Lottery tickets may be purchased using a communication device, such as a mobile device. Sales commissions, or other credit, for the purchased tickets may be determined for one or more retailers based at least partially on the location of the communication device, for example, when the purchase is made.

Abstract: A fluid chiller includes a tubular coil enclosed within a vacuum housing which is partially filled with a coolant and an atmosphere with the vacuum housing connected to a vacuum source. A valve selectively connects the vacuum source to the vacuum housing to allow selective reduction of the pressure within the vacuum housing to obtain a reduction of temperature of the coolant therein. A conventional, compressor type refrigeration system may be connected to the vacuum housing for chilling the vacuum housing and the atmosphere and coolant therein to an initial temperature, prior to applying a vacuum to the vacuum housing for further temperature reduction. A fluid, which may be a secondary coolant, flows through the tubular coil at least partially immersed in the coolant to cool the secondary coolant. The secondary coolant is used to cool a heat load.

Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatus includes a pair of permanent magnets spaced apart from each other and defining a sample space, the permanent magnets providing a magnetic field in the sample space, an array of magnetic field sensors arranged relative to the sample space to provide, during operation, information about a homogeneity of the magnetic field, an array of magnetic coils arranged relative to the sample space so that each magnetic coil, during operation, generates a magnetic field that changes the magnetic field in the sample space, and an electronic controller programmed to receive information about the magnetic field from the array of magnetic field sensors and to variably energize the magnetic coils in the array of magnetic coils so that the magnetic fields generated by the array of magnetic coils reduces inhomogeneities of the magnetic field.

Abstract: A vehicle air register includes an airflow damper disposed within a register housing. A rotationally-operable control is coupled to the airflow damper and the register housing. A ride plate is disposed within the register housing and that slidably receives the control to define open and closed positions of the airflow damper. The control includes a biased pin that engages the ride plate. The ride plate is made of a different material than the housing. A method for forming a vehicle register includes forming a ride plate that is made of a first material, forming a register housing made of a second material, and having a plate receptacle defined therein, disposing the ride plate within the plate receptacle, and disposing a damper and damper control within the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are new heterocyclic compounds and compositions and their application as pharmaceuticals for the treatment of disease. Methods of inhibiting PAS Kinase (PASK) activity in a human or animal subject are also provided for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: A tubular includes an outer surface, an inner surface defining a passage, and a plurality of openings extending through the outer surface and the inner surface. A sleeve is positioned within the passage. The sleeve includes an outer surface portion having at least one recess. At least one release member extends from the inner surface into the at least one recess. The at least one release member maintains the sleeve in a first configuration relative to the plurality of openings. At least one of the inner surface and the outer surface portion includes a self-holding connection that establishes one of a reduced diameter portion of the passage and an increased diameter portion of the sleeve. The self-holding connection is configured to maintain the sleeve in a second configuration axially shifted relative to the first configuration.

Abstract: A door closure assembly and a method of moving a door is disclosed. The door closure assembly includes a cabinet attachment member attachable to a cabinet, a door attachment member attachable to a door, and first and second arms hingedly attached to the cabinet attachment member and the door attachment member. In some embodiments, the cabinet attachment member is attached to a central portion of the door and the door attachment member is attached to an end portion of the door.

Abstract: A method includes accessing at least three storage devices each including a first and a second logical unit stored therein. The method also includes grouping the respective first and second logical units of each of the at least three storage devices into a first striped scheme. The method also includes grouping the respective first logical unit of each of the at least three storage devices into a second striped scheme with parity.

Abstract: A network resource and a user device include secure connection applications that share one or more keys and a key selection criterion. A communication is received from the user utilizing a key selected from the one or more keys. The network resource selects a key based on the key selection criterion. If the keys match, then the user device is authorized and the user is allowed to access data of the network resource. The keys may further be selected and used to encrypt and decrypt data. Different key selections provide security to communications.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a modular flooring assembly including a flooring component adhered to a first tray substrate and a second tray substrate which are interconnected to form an assembled tray substrate. The assembled tray substrate may be interconnected with additional assembled tray substrates to form a modular floor suitable for most flooring applications. The flooring component may be tile or wood or other materials commonly used in flooring applications. Convention fill-in grout or a snap-in grout may be used with the modular flooring assemblies.

Abstract: The disclosed technology is generally directed to data security. In one example of the technology, data is stored in a memory. The memory includes a plurality of memory banks including a first memory bank and a second memory bank. At least a portion of the data is interleaved amongst at least two of the plurality of memory banks. Access is caused to be prevented to at least one of the plurality of memory banks while a debug mode or recovery mode is occurring. Also, access is caused to be prevented to the at least one of the plurality of memory banks starting with initial boot until a verification by a security complex is successful. The verification by the security complex includes the security complex verifying a signature.

Abstract: A method at a first electronic device of a local group of connected electronic devices includes: receiving a first voice command including a request for a first operation; determining a first target device for the first operation from among the local group; establishing a focus session with respect to the first target device; causing the first operation to be performed by the first target device; receiving a second voice command including a request for a second operation; determining that the second voice command does not include an explicit designation of a second target device; determining that the second operation can be performed by the first target device; determining whether the second voice command satisfies one or more focus session maintenance criteria; and if the second voice command satisfies the focus session maintenance criteria, causing the second operation to be performed by the first target device.

Abstract: A recording surface of a magnetic disk is divided into first and second zones. A first head of a first actuator arm assembly reads from and/or writes to the first zone exclusively. A second head of a second actuator arm assembly reads from and/or writes to the second zone exclusively. The first and second head are capable of simultaneously reading from and writing to the recording surface.

Abstract: An overtube for use with an endoscope includes a tube body defining a longitudinal axis, a central channel defined in the tube body and extending along or parallel to the longitudinal axis between proximal and distal end portions of the tube body, and first and second side channels defined in the tube body and extending along or parallel to the longitudinal axis between the proximal and the distal end portions of the tube body. The central channel is sized and configured to receive an endoscope. The first and second side channels are circumferentially spaced part from each other and disposed between the central channel and an outer surface of the tube body. Each of the first and second side channels is sized and configured to receive a retraction device, and each has an elongated arcuate cross section or perimeter at the distal end portion of the tube body.

Abstract: Laundry, industrial or food processing wastewater is purified to the degree that it can be reused. Water quality is ensured through the final process of reverse osmosis (“RO”) which removes dissolved contaminants such as mineral hardness, soils and residual detergents. The process combines a ceramic tubular cross-flow membrane filter to remove the suspended solids, oils and greases ahead of the RO. The RO process employs high temperature, low fouling membranes. This enables the RO process to operate sustainably, i.e. without fouling, plugging or membrane degradation.

Abstract: A system and method for processing long scan data from a mass spectrometer is described. The long scan data is broken into multiple discrete subsets and each of the multiple subsets are padded by adding additional strings of data on either end of the subset. Each of the multiple subsets is deconvolved and overhang errors are corrected for on each deconvolved subset. A deconvolved full data set is then assembled from the deconvolved subsets.