Abstract: A tower closing apparatus is provided that is configured to simplify the closing of a multi-piece, hinged hydroponic tower. The hydroponic tower closing apparatus utilizes a collection of static and continuously moving components (e.g., motor driven drive rollers, alignment rollers, tower body alignment rollers, face plate manipulation rollers, face closing rollers, etc.) to close a hydroponic tower as it passes through the apparatus. In particular, as the tower is driven through the closing apparatus, a series of face plate manipulation rollers gradually rotate the face plate(s) relative to the tower body, moving the face plate(s) from a fully open position to a partially closed position. Next a series of face closing rollers continue to rotate the face plate(s) from the partially closed position to the fully closed position, forcing the fasteners to latch the face plate(s) into position.

Abstract: A method for delivering antimicrobial compounds to a locus in a controlled manner by adding to the locus a compound having formula (I) wherein X is O or NH; R is an acrylic polymer, a saturated polyester, an alkyd resin, a polyether or a polycarbonate and R optionally has additional XC(O)NHCHR?R? substituents; R? is hydroxyl or NHC(O)XR; and R? is an organic substituent group having from one to twenty carbon atoms and which optionally has additional CHR?NHC(O)XR substituents.

Abstract: A method implemented via execution of computing instructions configured to run at one or more processors and stored at non-transitory computer-readable media. The method can include receiving a respective weighting vector for each of a plurality of users, applying categorization rules on the respective weighting vectors for the plurality of users to categorize the plurality of users into a plurality of subgroups, generating a profile weighting vector for a first subgroup of the plurality of subgroups, and selecting, for the first subgroup, one or more first items from among a plurality of items in a category of items based at least in part on: (a) profile weights of the profile weighting vector for the first subgroup, and (b) sentiment data for features of the plurality of items. The method additionally can include displaying the one or more first items for the first subgroup of the plurality of subgroups. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A communication system is provided. The communication system includes a at least one baseband controller configured to process signals in a baseband frequency band. The communication system also includes at least one radio unit that is physically remote from the at least one baseband controller. Each radio unit includes a plurality of virtual radio units (VRUs) in a physical housing of the respective radio unit. Each radio unit also includes a fronthaul interface configured to communicate with the at least one baseband controller using a packet-based protocol on behalf of each VRU. Each radio unit also includes at least one radio frequency front end unit configured to transmit from and receive on behalf of each of the VRUs.

Abstract: An easy-opening end closure that may also be reclosed, suitable for joining to a container. A cover panel is bonded around its perimeter to an end panel with a rotatable lever interposed between them. To open the closure, a user applies force to the rotating lever to move it axially around an attachment point and progressively debond the seal perimeter. In this process, latching mechanisms ensure uni-directional movement of the lever relative to the shutter and joining of the two components at the end of the rotational sweep.

Abstract: An assembly comprising a structural element with a bayonet having a universal blade fitting inserted into the interior of a tube and an electrical source pod is disclosed. The tube is releasably attached to a handle and a blade is attached to the universal blade fitting to form a terminal configuration, such as a surgical scalpel. The support element provides stability and support for pressure placed on the blade to minimize or prevent breakage of the bayonet during cutting. The support element also provides a lever support and function for the tube it is attached to and the handle that attaches to it. Finally, the support element also serves as a guide rail for all assembly components to adhere to and along upon assembly of all components such as tube, electrical source pod and battery cartridge.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for reclaiming heat from a fluid, the method having the steps of contacting the fluid to a phase change material for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the material and or liquefy some of it; and contacting the material to a second fluid for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the second fluid and to decrease the temperature of the material or to solidify some of it.

Abstract: A method includes acquiring a current picture segmented into a plurality of units and divided into a plurality of tiles, each unit divided into a plurality of blocks, the plurality of blocks in each unit being arranged as a first grid, and the plurality of units being arranged as a second grid in each tile. The method includes decoding, for one of the units in a first tile, a first current block from the plurality of blocks using an entry from a first HMVP buffer associated with the first tile. The method includes updating the first HMVP buffer with a motion vector of the decoded first current block. The method includes in response to determining that the first current block is located in a first column and a first row of a first unit of a row in the second grid of the first tile, resetting the first HMVP buffer.

Abstract: An insole which generates an air flow during use, which assists in cooling or warming the foot of a user is disclosed. In a first embodiment, air flow facilitated by said insole provides for convective heat transfer away from the plantar surface of the foot. The insole is intended for insertion into a shoe which is ventilated, preferably an athletic shoe with a ventilated upper. The bottom layer defines a plurality of ridges and channel lining portions which together define a plurality of air channels. The bottom layer defines a heel recess in which a heel pad is situated. In a second embodiment, an insole which collects, retains, and heats a user's foot is disclosed. Said insole further comprises a middle layer of thermal reflective material secured to and coextensive with a top layer and a bottom layer secured to said middle layer.

Abstract: The use of oral colchicine solutions in combination with other therapeutics, while minimizing toxic drug to drug interactions are described herein. Related compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A method of controlling a change in net axle torque on a vehicle comprises receiving a request for a desired net axle torque that is different than a current net axle torque, determining whether a lash zone exists between the current net axle torque and the desired net axle torque, determining a progression of constant rates of change of the front axle torque and a progression of constant rates of change of the rear axle torque that will result in a constant rate of change of the net axle torque from the current net axle torque to the desired net axle torque, and commanding the progression of constant rates of change of the front axle torque and the progression of constant rates of change of the rear axle torque if the lash zone exists between the current net axle torque and the desired net axle torque.

Abstract: Lighting control systems may be commissioned for programming and/or control with the aid of an autonomous mobile device. Design software may be used to create a floor plan of how the lighting control system may be designed. The design software may generate floor plan identifiers for each lighting fixture, or group of lighting fixtures. During commissioning of the lighting control system, the autonomous mobile device may be used to help identify the lighting devices that have been installed in the physical space. The autonomous mobile device may receive a communication from each lighting control device that indicates a unique identifier of the lighting control device. The unique identifier may be communicated by visible light communication (VLC) or RF communication. The unique identifier may be associated with the floor plan identifier for communication of digital messages to lighting fixtures installed in the locations indicated in the floor plan identifier.

Abstract: In one aspect, performance optimization for data persistency in asynchronous replication setups includes creating at a source site of a data replication system, a snapshot (snapshot N) of input/output (IO) requests as part of a replication cycle, computing a delta of snapshot N and a previously created snapshot (snapshot N?1), and transmitting the delta to a target site of the data replication storage system. An aspect further includes storing, at the target site, snapshot N?1 during transmission of the delta, and caching the delta to a non-persistent storage device. Upon determining an occurrence of a loss event at the target site, a further aspect includes transmitting, by the target site, a request to retransmit the delta, retransmitting, by the source site, the delta to the target site, caching the delta to the non-persistent storage device until successful transmission of the delta, and committing the transmitted delta to permanent storage.

Abstract: Reinforced concrete structures and assemblies, building systems, and methods of fabrication.

Abstract: An easy-opening end closure that may also be reclosed, suitable for joining to a container. A cover panel is bonded around its perimeter to an end panel with a rotatable lever interposed between them. To open the closure, a user applies force to the rotating lever to move it axially around an attachment point thereby engaging integrated mechanisms to progressively debond segments of the perimeter seal.

Abstract: Offload processing may be provided that is not dedicated to a primary processor or a subset of primary processors. A system may have one or more offload processors, for example, GPUs, coupled to data storage slots of the system, which can be shared by multiple primary processors of the system. The offload processor(s) may be housed within a device configured to be coupled to a storage slot, for example, as if the device were a storage drive. The one or more offload processors may be housed within a device that includes an interface in conformance with a version of an NVMe specification and may have a form factor in accordance with the U.2 specification. Offload processing devices may be communicatively coupled to one or more primary processors by switching fabric disposed between the one or more primary processors and the storage slot to which the offload processing device is connected.

Abstract: A mobile offshore drilling unit is converted to provide drilling, completion and workover access to multiple dry tree wells from a drilling derrick to allow production and export of oil and gas from high pressure, high temperature reservoirs in deep offshore waters. Existing practice has been for the drilling derrick on a production platform supporting dry tree wells to be moved over a fixed well slot. The present invention provides a movable wellbay that supports multiple top-tensioned subsea well tieback risers, which may be positioned directly below the derrick's rotary table and/or beneath another operating device. The use of top-tensioned subsea well tieback risers supported by the movable wellbay allows the converted facility to drill, complete, maintain, improve and produce from subsea wells through dry trees.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method and an apparatus for video coding. In some examples, the apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry decodes prediction information of a current block in a current picture from a coded video bitstream and the prediction information is indicative of inter prediction. The processing circuitry determines, for the current block, motion information including a first motion vector (MV) that has a x component and a y component where each of the x and y components has a fractional MV precision that is 2?N of a sample size in the current block and has one of 2L+1 MV values with the fractional MV precision. N is an integer larger than 2 and L is a positive integer. The processing circuitry reconstructs at least one sample of the current block based on the motion information.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural vehicle including a header frame, and at least one row unit supported by the header frame. The at least one row unit including a pair of gatherers configured for conveying a crop material. Each gatherer including a chain and a plurality of plates connected to the chain. The plurality of plates at least partially overlap to define a conveying floor that has a continuous upper portion for receiving and transporting a dislodged crop material and an outer periphery for gathering the crop material.

Abstract: A method is provided for cryptographically authenticating a cardholder in an online transaction by sending an authentication request to the issuing bank that is intercepted by a service worker and handled within the cardholder's computing device. The service worker signs a description of the transaction with a private key or forwards the request to a bank app that authenticates the cardholder biometrically in addition to signing the transaction.