Abstract: Methods of propagating Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are described that do not require the addition of, or presence of, any detectable live host plant material or live plant root material. The method comprises addition of water and optionally exposure to sunlight. It was surprisingly found that soil devoid of any detectable live host plant material, including host plant roots, is capable of supporting AMF reproduction, though it is widely believed that AMF are obligate symbionts requiring live plant roots for colonization to reproduce. Described methods optionally include active removal of living host plant material from the soil prior to AMF inoculation. Optionally, phosphorous compounds are added to the soil prior to inoculation. It was found that addition of phosphorous compounds, such as phosphite, to the soil enhances the growth of AMF spores by as much as three-fold over controls having no added phosphorous compounds.

Abstract: Various systems, methods, and apparatuses related to a firearm suppressor are provided. An example suppressor for a firearm may define a distal end and a proximal end. The suppressor may include an inner body and an external shroud. The inner body may include a muzzle attachment portion defined at or proximate the proximal end of the suppressor and a plurality of baffles each defining an opening. An expansion chamber may be defined between the muzzle attachment portion and one of the plurality of baffles. The external shroud may be configured to at least partially cover the inner body. The external shroud may be configured to permit at least a portion of propellent gas within the inner body to exit the suppressor via a secondary opening disposed at a location between one of the plurality of baffles and the proximal end of the suppressor.

Abstract: An insulating device can include a body assembly and a lid assembly where an insulating layer is connected to both the body assembly and the lid assembly. An aperture with a closure is formed between the body assembly and lid assembly to form a storage compartment. An insulating tab may be formed from a portion of the insulating layer and an inner liner of the body assembly to help insulate the closure region. In addition, a first magnetic element may be secured within the insulating tab that may engage a second magnetic element secured within the lid assembly.

Abstract: A method/system described herein addresses the intrinsic nonlinearity of electrooptic modulators and the restrictions placed on the signals dynamic range in applications such as data communication and sensing. Linear electro-optic modulation utilizing ring resonator electrooptic modulators is produced over a dramatically wider range of the input signal amplitude, which improves the dynamic range and the amount of information that is transmitted via laser light. A distributed and subranging design “folds” the large dynamic range across multiple linear subranges, with each subrange being addressed using a unique optical wavelength, or a unique optical fiber, or a unique free space path. The subrange within the wide dynamic range of the input signal is captured by the linear portion of the transfer function of a single transfer function. This enables the efficient use of optical links for the transmission and processing of analog and multilevel signals, overcoming the limitations that were hindering progress.

Abstract: Provided herein is an injectable composition including, in some embodiments, a soft-tissue augmenting agent and a vehicle for the soft-tissue augmenting agent formulated for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal. Also provided herein is a soft-tissue augmenting kit including, in some embodiments, a syringe and the injectable composition formulated for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal. Also provided herein is a method for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal including, in some embodiments, injecting the injectable composition into the one or more soft tissues of the human or animal.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes an elongate member having a cross-sectional dimension that is less than 0.00085 inch, wherein the elongate member is made from a material comprising a platinum-tungsten alloy having a percentage of tungsten that is at least 10% by weight or alternatively the implantable medical device includes an elongate member made from a material comprising an alloy containing rhenium.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture for a luggage wheel assembly are disclosed and described. An example luggage wheel assembly includes: a first portion formed to affix to luggage; a cylindrical member to movably position a wheel with respect to the first portion; and a second portion formed to secure the wheel with respect to the first portion, the second portion attached to the first portion by the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A motion detection system designed for firearms, aiming to enhance safety and security while maintaining privacy which will alert a user of movement of their firearm or firearm magazine. The present disclosure incorporates an inconspicuous motion detection device, resembling a firearm bullet, to be inserted into a firearm or firearm magazine. This device includes a first communication module, first power source, electrical switch, and first microcontroller, all housed in a bullet-like casing. The system detects motion without transmitting personal location data, using an ultra-high radio frequency and an electrical switch configured to detect a change in position or orientation to maximize battery life. The motion detection device communicates with a base station, which communicates with a secure server network, ultimately sending notifications to a user's mobile device that the firearm or firearm magazine is being moved.

Abstract: A database system is operable to generate a query operator execution flow for a query that includes a plurality of operators implementing a plurality of parallelized optimization processes configured to facilitate generating of a machine learning model. The query operator execution flow is executed in conjunction with executing the query based on executing the plurality of operators. Executing each of the plurality of parallelized optimization processes includes generating a corresponding set of candidate model coefficients of a plurality of sets of candidate model coefficients. A corresponding set of candidate model coefficients is based on processing the set of best positions generated via the second type of optimization algorithm. The machine learning model is generated in executing the query based on selection of a most favorable set of candidate model coefficients from a plurality of sets of candidate model coefficients outputted via the plurality of parallelized optimization processes.

Abstract: A breaching device includes a body having a tamping material. The body has a target surface that is configured to face a target to be breached and a backing surface that is opposite the target surface. The tamping material is formed of gel and is configured to reflect an explosive force directed way from the target surface towards the target surface.

Abstract: A portable, single-fixation, magnetic derailment mitigation device may be fixed on a rail track for measuring the deflection of the rail track. The magnetically fixing device is used for measuring vertical track deflection (sleeper voids), horizontal track deflection, ambient and rail temperature, rail angle, vibration, displacement, and location. The derailment mitigation device sends digital notifications and/or alarms during the live train and/or freight operations to help prevent derailments, rail buckles, breaks, and pull apart. The measured data and/or all events obtained from the derailment mitigation device is stored in the data storage such as cloud storage and viewed from any smart devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamic power allocation of a first maximum uplink power and a second maximum uplink power, wherein the first maximum uplink power is used by a first transmitter to communicate with a first access point and the second maximum uplink power is used by a second transmitter to communicate with a second access point (dual connectivity). Network parameters are determined based on characteristics and/or qualities of the downlink and/or uplink signals of a wireless communication session. In response to the determined network parameters, the WCD may increase a first maximum uplink power and decrease a second maximum uplink power in order to establish or maintain dual connectivity without exceeding the device's maximum total uplink power.

Abstract: This disclosure details exemplary battery pack designs for use in electrified vehicles. An exemplary battery pack may include an enclosure assembly, one or more battery arrays housed within the enclosure assembly, and one or more channel brackets for routing and retaining battery internal components (e.g., wiring harnesses, etc.) within internal channels of the battery pack. The channel brackets may include a mounting platform having a loop that is connected to the mounting platform by a tether. A clip fastener may be received through both the loop and the mounting platform for mounting the channel brackets in place. The loop of the channel bracket is configured to increase the integrity of the clip fastener joint.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a system for desalination of a liquid comprises at least one primary treatment process, at least one secondary treatment process, wherein the at least one secondary treatment process comprises at least one reactor, and at least one tertiary treatment process, wherein the at least one primary treatment process is configured to adjust a pH of the liquid to target pH level and to add at least one chemical additive to the liquid, wherein the at least one reactor is configured to heat the liquid to a temperature of at least 350° F. and to supply a pressure to the liquid to maintain the liquid in a liquid state, and wherein the dissolved salt of the liquid is configured to react with at least a portion of the at least one chemical additive to form an insoluble product within the at least one reactor.

Abstract: To replace text in a digital video image sequence, a system will process frames of the sequence to: define a region of interest (ROI) with original text in each of the frames; use the ROIs to select a reference frame from the sequence; select a target frame from the sequence; determine a transform function between the ROI of the reference frame and the ROI of the target frame; replace the original text in the ROI of the reference frame with replacement text to yield a modified reference frame ROI; and use the transform function to transform the modified reference frame ROI to a modified target frame ROI in which the original text is replaced with the replacement text. The system will then insert the modified target frame ROI into the target frame to produce a modified target frame. This process may repeat for other target frames of the sequence.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes generating a visual interaction tool that moves and extends in a three-dimensional artificial-reality environment according to hand and arm movements of a user. It may be detected that the visual interaction tool intersects a predefined region associated with a virtual item of a first type in the AR environment. The visual interaction tool may attach to the first virtual item. A first operating mode for the visual interaction tool may be selected based on the first type of the first virtual item. The first operating mode may be selected from multiple operating modes for the visual interaction tool. A first input from the user may be received while the visual interaction tool is attached to the first virtual item. First operations with the first virtual item may be performed according to the first operating mode and the first input.

Abstract: A flash controller for managing at least one MLC non-volatile memory module and at least one SLC non-volatile memory module. The flash controller is adapted to determine if a range of addresses listed by an entry and mapped to said at least one MLC non-volatile memory module fails a data integrity test. In the event of such a failure, the controller remaps said entry to an equivalent range of addresses of said at least one SLC non-volatile memory module. The flash controller is further adapted to determine which of the blocks in the MLC and SLC non-volatile memory modules are accessed most frequently and allocating those blocks that receive frequent writes to the SLC non-volatile memory module and those blocks that receive infrequent writes to the MLC non-volatile memory module.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for audio processing. In some examples, an apparatus for media processing includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry receives first six degrees of freedom (6 DoF) information associated with a media content for a scene in a media application. The first 6 DoF information includes a first spatial location and a first rotation orientation for rotation about a center at the first spatial location. The processing circuitry determines that a rendering platform for rendering the media content is a three degrees of freedom (3 DoF) platform; and calculates, a revolution orientation of the media content on a sphere centered other than the first spatial location, according to at least the first spatial location. The revolution orientation is 3 DoF information associated with the media content for rendering on the 3 DoF platform.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting, by a handler device associated with a package handler, a message to an access control system requesting access to a secure container secured by an electronic lock mechanism; determining, by the access control system, whether the package handler is authorized to access the secure container based on the received message; transmitting, by the access control system, an unlock command to the secure container in response to a determination that the package handler is authorized to access the secure container; and unlocking the electronic lock mechanism of the secure container in response to successful authentication of the unlock command.

Abstract: Tamper-evident media is provided. The tamper-evident media comprising a substrate and a plurality of die cuts in first portions of the substrate. A first side of the substrate comprising a print coating or image coating that enables the corresponding side of the substrate to be printed or imaged with custom indicia. A second side of the substrate comprising an adhesive. When the media is imaged with the custom indicia on the first side and adhered onto a surface of an item or an object using the second side. The media is incapable of being removed from the surface without damaging the media along one or more of the die cuts, which provides visible evidence that item was opened, or the object was used.