Abstract: Disclosed herein are interferometric measurement systems and methods. In one exemplary embodiment an interferometric measuring system for measuring the distance to or displacement of an object includes: a light source; an interferometer with a measuring arm and a reference arm; a dispersive medium; and a detector. The interferometer is disposed between the light source and the object. The dispersive medium is arranged to unbalance the dispersion between the measurement arm and the reference arm. The detector is arranged to detect spectrum interference from the interferometer. In one example, the dispersive medium is a chirped fiber Bragg grating. In another example, the dispersive medium is a highly dispersive optical fiber. In one example, the light source is a broadband light source, and the detector includes a spectrometer. In another example, the light source is a wavelength swept laser, and the detector includes a photodetector or a balanced photodetector.

Abstract: An architecture and processes enable computer learning and developing an understanding of arbitrary natural language text through collaboration with humans in the context of joint problem solving. The architecture ingests the text and then syntactically and semantically processes the text to infer an initial understanding of the text. The initial understanding is captured in a story model of semantic and frame structures. The story model is then tested through computer generated questions that are posed to humans through interactive dialog sessions. The knowledge gleaned from the humans is used to update the story model as well as the computing system's current world model of understanding. The process is repeated for multiple stories over time, enabling the computing system to grow in knowledge and thereby understand stories of increasingly higher reading comprehension levels.

Abstract: An architecture and processes enable computer learning and developing an understanding of arbitrary natural language text through collaboration with humans in the context of joint problem solving. The architecture ingests the text and then syntactically and semantically processes the text to infer an initial understanding of the text. The initial understanding is captured in a story model of semantic and frame structures. The story model is then tested through computer generated questions that are posed to humans through interactive dialog sessions. The knowledge gleaned from the humans is used to update the story model as well as the computing system's current world model of understanding. The process is repeated for multiple stories over time, enabling the computing system to grow in knowledge and thereby understand stories of increasingly higher reading comprehension levels.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for an audio accessory that includes earbuds or earphones, an input device, and a processor. The input device includes a first button and optionally includes additional buttons or touch sensors. The processor is configured to initiate an action when a first input is received at the first button, provide audio updates when a second input is received at the first button, and prepare the input device to receive audio input when a third input is received at the first button. Also, the processor is configured to silence a currently playing audio message and initiate playing a next audio message when a fourth input is received at one of the buttons or the touch sensors, and silence and mark the currently playing audio message for no further playback when a fifth input is received at one of the buttons or the touch sensors.

Abstract: Herein provided is a method and system to determine a sound source direction using a microphone array comprising at least four microphones by analysis of the complex coherence between at least two microphones. The method includes determining the relative angle of incidence of the sound source and communicating directional data to a secondary device, and adjusting at least one parameter of the device in view of the directional data. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure describes compositions containing PEGylated compounds using linkers, bivalent polysaccharide covalent PEG compounds, and methods of bivalent polysaccharide-PEG compounds in the development of multivalent vaccines. PEGylated conjugation of capsular polysaccharides to carrier proteins is carried out using homo-bifunctional and/or hetero-bifunctional linkers of specific lengths. Incorporation of bifunctional PEG linkers induces higher titers of functional antibodies with high avidity, eliciting higher immunologic memory, and reduced carrier protein effect. This provides immunochemically cross-reactive capsular polysaccharides wherein one or more cross-reactive capsular polysaccharides are covalently PEG compounded sequentially or concurrently to carrier protein using bifunctional linkers bearing the same or different functional groups.

Abstract: A sterilization cabinet, comprising a top panel, at least two side panels, and a floor panel forming a part of a chamber of the sterilization cabinet; at least one door connected to at least one of the at least two side panels of the sterilization cabinet; a vent formed in at least one of the two side panels; at least one first filter covering the vent and a filter cover configured to hold the first filter against the vent; a drain positioned in the floor panel, wherein the floor panel has a slope configured to cause condensate within the chamber to flow into the drain and wherein the drain is the only outlet for the condensate along the floor panel; and a second filter covering the drain such that condensate flowing into the drain passes through the second filter.

Abstract: An object seat including a seat host having a seal bore therein, a seat body dimensioned to be receivable in the seal bore, the seat body having an object receptor. A method for carrying out a pressure operation in a borehole including seating an object on an object receptor of a seat body, the seat body disposed in a seat host, the seat host disposed in the borehole, pressuring against the object, and moving the seat body along an interface between the seat body and the seat host to create a fluid flow pathway through the seat body and seat host interface. A borehole system including a borehole in a formation, an object seat as in any prior embodiment disposed in the borehole.

Abstract: We disclose a novel family of mechanical bi-directional speed sensing clutches that use Reactive Intermediate Elements with interlocking wedging ramps, in a first element, corresponding to similarly shaped interlocking wedging ramps in a second element. Such that when said first and second elements are counter-rotated compression or expansion occurs to provide torque-transfer.

Abstract: Transferring data between a first storage device coupled to a host computing system and a second storage device coupled to the first storage device includes the first storage device receiving a command from the host computing system, the first storage device determining if the command is an out-of-band (OOB) storage command, and, if the command is an OOB storage command, the first storage device sending a command to the second storage device to cause data to be transferred directly between the first storage device and the second storage device independent of the host computing system. Transferring data between a first storage device coupled to a host computing system and a second storage device coupled to the first storage device may also include the first storage device emulating a host computing system in connection with communicating with the second storage device. The second storage device may be a tape emulation unit.

Abstract: Clearcoat compositions and methods for forming a clearcoat compositions are provided. In one example, a clearcoat composition includes a binder portion A that includes a polyaspartic ester resin. An activator portion B includes a polyol-modified isocyanate that is a reaction product of a polyisocyanate component and a polyol component. The polyol component includes polycaprolactone polyol.

Abstract: A technique for use in managing mapped RAID extents is disclosed. A neighborhood matrix denoting a distribution of neighboring physical storage portions across the N physical storage devices of the pool is created and initialized. A disk extent consumed array denoting a disk consumption metric is created and initialized. Disks in an extent pool are analyzed to identify a least consumed disk in the extent pool and a disk extent is allocated from the identified disk. The allocated disk extent is configured as a first disk extent for a first RAID extent. The neighborhood matrix and disk extent consumed array are updated appropriately. All the disks in the extent pool are analyzed to identify a valid disk extent that will result in the lowest variance value in the neighborhood matrix. The identified valid disk extent is allocated and the neighborhood matrix and disk extent consumed array are again updated.

Abstract: An architecture and processes enable computer learning and developing an understanding of arbitrary natural language text through collaboration with humans in the context of joint problem solving. The architecture ingests the text and then syntactically and semantically processes the text to infer an initial understanding of the text. The initial understanding is captured in a story model of semantic and frame structures. The story model is then tested through computer generated questions that are posed to humans through interactive dialog sessions. The knowledge gleaned from the humans is used to update the story model as well as the computing system's current world model of understanding. The process is repeated for multiple stories over time, enabling the computing system to grow in knowledge and thereby understand stories of increasingly higher reading comprehension levels.

Abstract: A plastic container capable of assuming a loading state, an initially sealed state and an opened state comprises a lid including a lid rim and a base having a base rim. The lid rim sealingly engages with the base rim. A projecting portion has an accordiated section and a pull tab that projects outwardly from the lid. The accordiated section has at least one pleat. The projecting portion includes a frangible bridge. When the plastic food container is in the initially sealed state, the accordiated section has a first length and a first orientation relative to the projecting portion. When the container is in the initially sealed state and a first pulling force is applied to the pull tab, the frangible bridge ruptures. When the frangible bridge ruptures and before the lid is separated from the base, the container is in a tab-employed state in which the accordiated section springs outward and has a second length visibly longer than the first length.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds having the formula: where R1-R6, a, b, and X are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These compounds have neprilysin inhibition activity. In another aspect, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds.

Abstract: A Fiber-fed Pulsed Plasma Thruster (FPPT) utilizes a motor to feed PTFE fiber to its discharge region, enabling high PPT propellant throughput and variable exposed fuel area. A highly parallel ceramic capacitor bank lowers system specific mass. Impulse bits (I-bits) from 0.057-0.241 mN-s have been measured on a thrust stand with a specific impulse (Isp) of 900-2400 s, representing an enhancement from state-of-the-art PPT technology. A 1U (10 cm×10 cm×10 cm, or 1 liter) volume FPPT thruster package will provide 2900-7700 N-s total impulse, enabling 0.6-1.6 km/s delta-V for a 5 kg CubeSat. A 1U design variation with 590 g propellant enables as much as ˜10,000 N-s and a delta-V of 2 km/s for a 5 kg CubeSat. Increasing the form factor to 2U increases propellant mass to 1.4 kg and delta-V to 10.7 km/s for an 8 kg CubeSat.

Abstract: Techniques for processing I/O operations may include: receiving an I/O having an associated expected execution time (EET) and I/O service level; selecting, in accordance with the EET and service level of the I/O, a first I/O queue from multiple pending I/O queues; inserting the I/O into the first I/O queue; and performing I/O shifting. I/O shifting may include shifting I/Os from one pending I/O queue to another that is ranked immediately higher than the one pending I/O queue. The multiple I/O queues may be ranked from a highest priority queue to a lowest priority queue. I/O shifting may shift I/Os from the highest priority queue to execution and shifting I/Os from another queue into the highest priority queue. I/O shifting is subject to remaining credits available of the multiple I/O queues and time distance between source and target queues.

Abstract: Oxygenated beverages are described herein and methods for production of same. In an embodiment, a beverage delivery system is described including a container and an oxygen-containing aqueous liquid wherein the dissolved oxygen content is from about 25 ppm to about 50 ppm, where the liquid and a gas comprising oxygen within the container provide a pressure force of about 20 PSI to about 35 PSI on the interior surfaces of the container, and wherein the nitrogen content is very low causing a force of less than 17 PSI on the interior surfaces of the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a restraint system (11) for an aircraft seat (10), comprising a restraint belt (3) and a belt retractor (2) for winding up the restraint belt (3) and allowing the restraint belt (3) to be extracted, further comprising a blocking device (1) for blocking the belt retractor (2) such that the restraint belt (3) cannot be extracted, wherein the blocking device is connectable to a signal (S) used to issue audible and/or visual output (6) inviting passengers to fasten seat belts (3), wherein the blocking device (1) is configured to interact with the seat belt retractor (2) such that the seat belt retractor (2) prevents further extraction of the seat belt (3) while the signal (S) is active. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a restraint system.

Abstract: To prevent spreadsheet errors, a solution is disclosed that provides a multiple-region spreadsheet including additional representations, providing readily usable creation and editing of computational structure operations, without altering the conventional grid representation of a spreadsheet or its formula syntax. The multiple-region spreadsheet may include a traditional row-column arrangement of cells in a grid format, along with a calculation view pane intended to display underlying formulas used in the grid along with truncated cell assignments.