Abstract: A game call capable of providing a variety of sounds produced by wild game is provided. The game call includes a first end cap, a second end cap, and a collapsible member coupled to the first end cap and the second end cap wherein the collapsible member can be extended and retracted to simulate a rustling foliage sound. The game call may also include a clip member coupled to the first end cap wherein the clip member may be configured to simulate a branch breaking sound. The game call may still additionally include one or more knob members coupled to the first end cap and/or the second end cap where the one or more knob members may be configured to be scraped against a surface to simulate an antler rubbing sound.

Abstract: Synchronization of data layouts and resource utilizations at one or more remote replica sites with the workload and data access statistics at the primary site allows for an efficient and effective workload support transfer in the event of site failover from a primary site to a remote site. Relevant data access information about workload being supported at the primary site is monitored and access pattern information is generated that provides relevant information about frequency and/or rate of access of data on the primary site. The access pattern information is generated and transmitted by a host and/application running on the host. The access pattern information is exported and imported to enable independent decisions to be made a remote site, storing replicated data from the primary site, on how best to utilize its available resources to match the performance requirements currently being supported by the primary site.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a method including identifying one or more blocks in an electronic image that depicts text characters. The method includes identifying one or more text blocks among the blocks that depict the text characters. The method includes identifying an average text contrast for each of the text blocks. The method includes identifying a type for each pixel in each of the text blocks based on the average text contrast. The method includes performing local adaptive filtering on a first neighborhood of pixels around each pixel in each of the text blocks to determine a brightness for the pixel based on the identified type. The method includes storing, in at least one memory, the electronic image including the determined brightness for each pixel in each of the text blocks.

Abstract: A candidate human head is found in depth video using a head detector. A head region of light intensity video is spatially resolved with a three-dimensional location of the candidate human head in the depth video. Facial recognition is performed on the head region of the light intensity video using a face recognizer.

Abstract: A method for generating a dual-class dataset is disclosed. A single-class dataset and a context dataset are obtained. The context dataset can be labeled. A model can be trained using the combination of the single-class dataset and the labeled context dataset. The model can be run on the context dataset. The data points that are classified the same as the data points included in the single-class dataset, can be removed from the labeled context dataset and added to the single-class dataset. These steps can be repeated until no data points are classified by the model.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multipurpose adaptable work light, system, and method of use. The invention comprises a first housing member having an external connection port, a second housing member coupled to the first housing member, a lighting device coupled to the first housing member and disposed within the second housing member, a power source coupled to the lighting device, at least one magnet coupled to the first housing member, and an adaptor plate coupled to the first housing member. Each of the at least one magnet, the adaptor plate, the external connection port, and the second housing member may be utilized in various tandem and independent configurations in order to affix the work light to a suitable workplace environment surface, such as an overhead hook support, a tripod mount, a magnetically-active surface, a junction box, or to a wide variety of surfaces, including, without limitation, horizontal, vertical, angled, flat or curved surfaces.

Abstract: Individualized connectivity based request handling is disclosed. For example, a content source is accessed by a client device and a load balancer executes on a processor to receive a first request based on the client device accessing the content source. A first session variable is set to a first value in a first session and a first latency to the client device is measured. A first plurality of target nodes is selected based on the first session variable. A first plurality of messages is sent to the first plurality of target nodes. A second request is received from the client device after the first session expires, starting a second session. The first session variable is set to a different second value in the second session. A second plurality of messages is sent to a second plurality of target nodes different from the first plurality of target nodes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising at least one fluoroolefin and an effective amount of stabilizer that may be an epoxide, fluorinated epoxide or oxetane, or a mixture thereof with other stabilizers. The stabilized compositions may be useful in cooling apparatus, such as refrigeration, air-conditioning, chillers, and heat pumps, as well as in applications as foam blowing agents, solvents, aerosol propellants, fire extinguishants, and sterilants.

Abstract: Systems and methods for authenticating a user of a mobile communications device entail scanning an environment of the mobile device with a low power sensor and detecting a nearby person via the first sensor. In response, a higher power sensor is activated and the person is authenticated via the second sensor using a first authentication mechanism. A first level of access is granted to the person at this point. When the person moves to within a first threshold distance of the device, the person is authenticated using a second more secure authentication mechanism, and a second, higher, level of access is granted to the person.

Abstract: A surgical cautery device, system, and method of use may apply bipolar and/or sesquipolar electrocautery to target tissue via a pair of instruments with other primary surgical functions. The surgical cautery device and system may include first and second elements capable of forming an electrical circuit. The second element may be independently positionable with respect to the first element. The first and second elements may also include a surgical component with an independent surgical function. Exemplary surgical components include a rotary blade, a cutting tool, a grasper tool, a micro-scissors tool, a micro-grasping forceps tool, a dissector, a micro-dissector, curette, and a suction cannula. On some occasions, one of the surgical components may be interchangeable with another surgical component.

Abstract: A computer-implemented content development environment enables creation of interactive characters and other digital assets for use in various types of 3D content. In this context, 3D content generally may refer to any type of content (e.g., short films, video games, educational content, simulations, etc.), including VR content that can be consumed by viewers using one or more types of VR devices. In many instances, 3D content may be generated using visualization and/or input mechanisms that rely on VR equipment, including one or more three dimensional, computer-generated environments (either real or fantastical) that a viewer can explore using VR devices in similar fashion to how the viewer might explore the real world. For example, a viewer may use a head-mounted display (HMD) device, various motion detecting devices, and/or other devices to simulate the experience of exploring a landscape.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a shape memory polymer (SMP) foam designed to recover its original shape through exposure to a solvent. Thermo-responsive SMPs are polymers designed to maintain a programmed secondary shape until heated above their transition temperature, upon which the polymer recovers its original, or primary, shape. The thermo-responsive SMP foam is programmed to its secondary shape prior to use, typically compression of the foam to a small volume, and remains in this programmed shape until exposed to a selected solvent such as dimethyl sulfoxide or ethyl alcohol. Upon exposure to the solvent, the transition temperature of the SMP foam decreases below the temperature of the environment and the SMP foam actuates to its primary shape. The SMP foam is tailored to actuate upon exposure to specific solvents while minimizing or preventing actuation when exposed to water or other solvents.

Abstract: The present teachings disclose implementations of a UE and a method for providing a Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) network, the method including: receiving an NB-IoT downlink over a forward link; obtaining MAC configuration parameters, a transmit-timing offset and a transmit-frequency offset; pre-adjusting, to align with a return link timing and a return link frequency, a transmit-timing with the transmit-timing offset and a transmit-frequency with the transmit-frequency offset; requesting, based on the MAC configuration parameters and after the pre-adjusting, a connection with a Random-Access Preamble (RAR) over an NB-IoT uplink via the return link; and establishing the connection upon receiving a Random-Access Response (RAR), where a Round Trip-Time (RTT) from a transmitting antenna to a receiving antenna is greater than 67 microseconds (us), and both the NB-IoT downlink and the NB-IoT uplink use a mostly unchanged NB-IoT standard waveform.

Abstract: A troffer luminaire including (i) a light guide luminaire module having an optical extractor, and (ii) a reflector, where the reflector is configured to reflect light output by the optical extractor in a backward angular range toward a target surface in a forward angular range, and where a combination of the optical extractor and the first reflector is configured such that a ratio of maximum luminance to minimum luminance across the first reflector is less than a first predetermined ratio.

Abstract: A control valve monitoring system is disclosed. The control valve monitoring system includes at least one sensor connected to one of a valve stem or valve shaft, and the at least one sensor detects a change in mechanical integrity of one of the valve stem or valve shaft. A device for providing data regarding the change in mechanical integrity of one of the valve stem or valve shaft is provided, allowing maintenance of the valve shaft or valve stem to be conducted in an efficient manner.

Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing game play of a video game include detecting selection of a video game for game play at a game server. In response, an instance of the video game is executed at the game server. The execution causes the game play to be provided to a game client for rendering on a main portion of a display screen of the game client. A pre-recorded video associated with the video game is provided for rendering in a second portion of the display screen while the game play is being rendered on the main portion of the display screen. The pre-recorded video rendering in the second portion is dynamically synchronized with the game play of the video game rendering in the main portion so that a game scene rendering in the pre-recorded video matches to a game scene of the game play rendering in the main portion of the display screen.

Abstract: A material moving machine including an implement, a camera, an augmented display, and a controller. The controller is programmed to store a three-dimensional model of underground features of terrain, capture an implement image comprising the implement and terrain, generate a superimposed image by superimposing corresponding portions of the implement image and the three-dimensional model of underground features, overlay a virtual trench on the superimposed image to generate an augmented reality overlay image, generate the augmented reality overlay image, and display the augmented reality overlay image on the augmented display.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer system may determine an orientation in a 3D space based on sensor data generated by a virtual reality device. The system may generate ray footprints in the 3D space based on the determined orientation. For at least one of the ray footprints, the system may identify a corresponding number of subsamples to generate for that ray footprint and generate one or more coordinates in the ray footprint based on the corresponding number of subsamples. The system may determine visibility of one or more objects defined within the 3D space by projecting a ray from each of the one or more coordinates to test for intersection with the one or more objects. The system may generate an image of the one or more objected based on the determined visibility of the one or more objects.

Abstract: Provided are methods, systems, and apparatus for hierarchical decorrelation of multichannel audio. A hierarchical decorrelation algorithm is designed to adapt to possibly changing characteristics of an input signal, and also preserves the energy of the original signal. The algorithm is invertible in that the original signal can be retrieved if needed. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm decomposes the decorrelation process into multiple low-complexity steps. The contribution of these steps is generally in a decreasing order, and thus the complexity of the algorithm can be scaled.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for use within a wireless OFDM network that receives a first packet type in a first channel bandwidth and a second packet type in a second channel bandwidth, the first channel bandwidth being at least two times wider than the second channel bandwidth. The first packet type has a header field with two parts with each part comprising a different set of header bits. The two parts of the header field are received using two OFDM symbols. The second packet type has a header field with four parts with the first and second parts comprising the same first set of header bits and the third and the fourth part comprising the same second set of header bits. The four parts of the header field are received using four OFDM symbols. The second packet type provides more reliable reception than the first packet type.