Abstract: A device which, through its self-oscillation, generates a stable high voltage DC or AC output from a low voltage DC input. The device automatically maintains a desired voltage on an output capacitor, despite changes in output load or input voltage. The device is capable of dead-short operation, capacitor charging, high voltage step-up, high efficiency, and high power density. The capability to step up low voltage to high voltage in such a manner paves the way for advancement in battery-to-grid inverter technology, portable welding devices, portable medical devices, aircraft and spacecraft propulsion devices among many other areas.

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: 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: 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: 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 system includes a retrievable string for use in a completion string of a well, the completion string including an electrical stator. The retrievable string is to be disposed in the completion string, the retrievable string including a rotor for receipt within the electrical stator and to rotate in response to electromagnetic fields generated by the stator, an impeller coupled to the rotor, a housing to surround the impeller, and a recirculation isolator coupled to the housing. The recirculation isolator includes a sealing element and a locking tool, where the sealing element sealingly engages with the completion string, and the locking tool positions the retrievable string in the completion string and detachably couples the retrievable string to the completion string. The locking tool includes a rotational locking feature to engage an indexing receptacle of the completion string.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to methods and systems for determining if a fluid is present on a surface. In one example, a method comprises illuminating the surface with narrow-band light and using an image sensor comprising a narrow-bandpass filter matching the bandwidth of the narrow-band light to obtain a first image of the surface. A second image of the surface with the narrow-band light deactivated is obtained. A third image is generated by subtracting the second image from the first image. The third image is thresholded, one or more contrasting regions are detected, and the presence of fluid on the surface is determined.

Abstract: In one aspect, identical snap set creation in a sync replication environment includes creating a snap set (S-base) on a source site, marking, in a journal, valid sync replication IO journal entries at time of snap set creation, and tracking journal entries. Upon determining all marked sync replication IO journal entries are removed from the journal indicating completion of inflight IOs, an aspect further includes creating a snap set (S-base?) on the target site, creating a local snap set Sn against the source and a remote snap set against the S-base, transferring a data difference between Sn and S-base to the target site, and writing the difference to Sn? on the target site.

Abstract: Embodiments generally disclosed herein include a computer-implemented method for monitoring and correlating network traffic data associated with a primary network that is in communication with a plurality of secondary networks. The method generates a network traffic data set by monitoring network traffic between the primary network and the plurality of secondary networks. The method also determines a mapping of network connectivity by monitoring inter-network routing information between the primary network and the plurality of secondary networks. In addition, the method generates a traffic measurement data set by monitoring network utilization statistics between the primary network and the plurality of secondary networks. With the collected data sets, the method then calculates a relational network mapping between the primary network and the plurality of secondary networks by correlating the network traffic data set, the mapping of network connectivity, and the traffic measurement data set.

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: 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: 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: A method of surgically preparing a sacroiliac joint comprising: a) approaching a sacroiliac joint space with a joint preparation tool comprising a cutting element including an exterior having an asymmetric cutting band such that the first side includes a first surface having a first texture and the second side includes a second surface having a second texture, the first and second textures being different such that the first texture is substantially smoother than the second texture; and b) delivering at least a portion of the cutting element non-transversely into the sacroiliac joint space for decortication, the cutting element being oriented in the sacroiliac joint space such that the first surface opposes the generally softer sacrum and the second surface opposes the generally harder ilium in order to more aggressively prepare the surface of the ilium while not over-preparing the sacrum to provide a robust biologic environment for intra-articular fusion.

Abstract: A shelter such as a team shelter includes, for example, a frame structure having left and right frames, and a canopy. The canopy is positionable in a first position with a front portion of the canopy disposed at a first elevation between front portions of the left and right frames so that the front portion of the canopy, and front portions of the left and right frames to define a front facing opening allowing access by one or more people into the shelter and under the canopy. The canopy is positionable in a second position with the front portion of the canopy disposed at a second lower elevation relative to the left and right frames so that the canopy disposed in the second position results in the shelter being less susceptible to wind induced tip over compared to the shelter with the canopy disposed in the first position.

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: I/O storage processing behavior is controlled on a storage system based on an application instance of an I/O request. I/O storage processing behavior may be associated with application instances on a host by creating a table or other data structure that assigns identifiers to each application instance and specifies associate behavior(s) with the application instance. The table may associate behavior to application instances based on logical groupings of application instances, which may be based on existing defined groups or other logical entities, for example, a container or VM. A host may communicate the table to a storage system, and the storage system may store information from the table. An I/O request on the host may be tagged with an ID from the table, and sent to the storage system, which controls the I/O storage processing of the I/O request according to the tagged ID.

Abstract: A method is provided for collecting trace data items generated by a plurality of trace points, the method comprising: allocating a ring buffer in a first memory, the ring buffer including a plurality of trace buffers; when any of the trace points is executed, storing a trace data item generated by the trace point in one of the plurality of trace buffers that is identified by a given value of a ring pointer; retrieving the trace data item from the trace buffer based on at least one of: (i) a first timestamp that is generated when the trace data item is stored in the trace buffer, and (ii) a second timestamp indicating a time when the ring pointer was assigned the given value; and storing the retrieved trace data item in a second memory device.

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 load control device may utilize a feedback signal representative of an average magnitude of the load current conducted through an electrical load to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The feedback signal may be generated based on a sense signal that is electrically isolated from the line voltage input of the load control device. Depending on the operational characteristics of the electrical load, the feedback signal may be generated using different techniques. In one example technique, the sense signal may be integrated and filtered to derive the feedback signal. In another example technique, the sense signal may be used in conjunction with an input power of the load control device and an efficiency parameter of the load control device to derive the feedback signal. In yet another example technique, values derived from the foregoing two techniques may be blended together to obtain the feedback signal.