Abstract: A method executed by a computing device includes identifying a contingency-action token (CAT) of an object distributed ledger that meets minimum CAT requirements. The method further includes determining to select the CAT based on an evaluation of the CAT with regards to an evaluation profile. When selecting the CAT the method further includes facilitating taking control of the selected CAT of a blockchain of the object distributed ledger using a securely passing process and updating the selected CAT utilizing the secure exchange posting information for the CAT to produce an updated CAT. The method further includes causing, using the securely passing process, generation of a new block affiliated with the updated CAT via another blockchain of another object distributed ledger for a secure exchange, where the new block includes the updated CAT.

Abstract: Embodiments of the presently disclosed invention relate generally to a smoking device. In an example embodiment, the smoking device can comprise an outer shell comprising a conduit having a conduit input end. The smoking device can further comprise a frame coupled to the outer shell, a top door pivotally connected to a top portion of the frame, a heating element positioned on a bottom surface of the top door, and a front door pivotally connected to the frame and the top door. The top door and the front door can be adapted to move between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The front door can further comprise a heating chamber configured to receive a combustible smoking substance and further configured to be positioned above the conduit input end when the top door and the front door are in a closed configuration.

Abstract: Footwear, such as slides, are shown and disclosed. In some embodiments, the footwear may include an insole having an insole base and at least one strap formed with the insole base. The footwear may additionally include a midsole having an elongate midsole base. The midsole may be separate and distinct from the insole. The midsole base may have an elongate cavity that receives the insole base.

Abstract: Macroparticulates may be formed through at least partial self-assembly by reacting an epoxide-containing (meth)acrylic polymer or copolymer with a compound bearing a nitrogen nucleophile. An internal cavity may be formed when functionalizing the (meth)acrylic polymer or copolymer in the presence of a hindered amine base. When appropriately functionalized, the macroparticulates may be used to sequester a contaminant from a substance in need of contaminant remediation, such as produced water or flowback water from a wellbore job site. Reclaimed water obtained from the macroparticulates may be utilized to form a treatment fluid. The macroparticulates may be located within a continuous flow line, particularly within a removable cartridge, to promote removal of at least one contaminant from a substance in need of contaminant remediation.

Abstract: A shuttle assembly for use with a saw guide track is provided. The shuttle assembly includes a base plate to which a saw is mounted. An alignment spacer extends laterally outward from the base plate and provides an abutment for locating a saw blade of the saw while the saw is being secured to the shuttle assembly.

Abstract: An REPP may include a renewable energy source (RES), a first meter associated with a first load, a second meter associated with a second load, a first ESS electrically coupled to the RES and the first meter, a second ESS electrically coupled to the RES and the first meter through a switch, and a controller configured to set a first charge/discharge for the first ESS and a second charge/discharge for the second ESS such that the REPP delivers power to the first load longer than the RES produces power, in response to a trigger condition, actuate the switch such that the second ESS is electrically coupled to the second meter, and set a fourth charge/discharge for the second ESS such that the second ESS maintains a portion of its charge in reserve for the second load.

Abstract: In some examples, matrix based bot implementation may include obtaining, for a plurality of bots that are used to respond to a query, a matrix that includes entries including a plurality of scenarios, a plurality of questions corresponding to the plurality of scenarios, and a plurality of responses. Each response may correspond to a specified question. A plurality of scripts may be generated based on an analysis of the matrix. Each script may include at least one question followed by at least one response, and further followed by at least one scenario. For each script, a closest pre-existing script may be identified based on a comparison of the script to pre-existing scripts. For each script, a modification to the matrix may be generated based on a difference in the script from the closest pre-existing script. The bots may be utilized to respond to the query based on the modified matrix.

Abstract: A method executed by a computing device includes identifying a set of contingency-action tokens (CATs) of an object distributed ledger that meets minimum CAT requirements. The method further includes determining to update the set of CATs based on an evaluation of each CAT. The method further includes determining reassignment information for each CAT and facilitating taking control of each CAT of a blockchain of the object distributed ledger using a securely passing process. The method further includes updating each CAT to include the reassignment information to produce an updated CAT. The method further includes causing generation of a new block affiliated with each corresponding updated CAT via the blockchain of the object distributed ledger using the securely passing process, where the new block includes the corresponding updated CAT.

Abstract: Presented are electric motors and apparatuses thereof for discharging an electric charge buildup on the rotor. In an embodiment, an electric motor apparatus includes a case, a stator arranged within the case, a rotor, a motor shaft extending longitudinally through the rotor to include an axial end, a grounding brush having an outer surface and an elliptical surface, and a spring including one portion maintaining slidable contact with the case and another portion coupled to an outer surface of the brush, the elliptical surface attached to the axial end of the motor shaft for causing a current flow via the brush through the case, which can act as system ground, for discharging an electric charge buildup on the stator due to a parasitic capacitance between the stator and rotor.

Abstract: A method executed by a computing device includes identifying a set of securitized contingency-action tokens (CATs) of an object distributed ledger that meets minimum CAT requirements. The method further includes determining to update the securitized set of CATs based on an evaluation. The method further includes identifying an incremental CAT, determining reassignment information for the incremental CAT, and facilitating taking control of the incremental CAT of a blockchain of the object distributed ledger using a securely passing process. The method further includes updating the incremental CAT to include the reassignment information to produce an updated incremental CAT. The method further includes causing generation of a new block affiliated with the incremental CAT via the blockchain of the object distributed ledger using the securely passing process, where the new block includes the corresponding updated incremental CAT.

Abstract: A method includes detecting multiple users, receiving a first query issued by a first user, the first query including a command for a digital assistant to perform a first action, and enabling a round robin mode to control performance of actions commanded by queries. The method also includes, while performing the first action, receiving audio data corresponding to a second query including a command to perform a second action, performing speaker identification on the audio data, determining that the second query was spoken by the first user, preventing performing the second action, and prompting at least another user to issue a query. The method further includes receiving a third query issued by a second user, the third query including a command for the digital assistant to perform a third action, and when the digital assistant completes performing the first action, executing performance of the third action.

Abstract: A control system may include a direct-current (DC) power bus for charging (e.g., trickle charging) internal energy storage elements in control devices of the control system. For example, the control devices may be motorized window treatments configured to adjust a position of a covering material to control the amount of daylight entering a space. The system may include a DC power supply that may generate a DC voltage on the DC power bus. For example, the DC power bus may extend from the DC power supply around the perimeter of a floor of the building and may be connected to all of the motorized window treatments on the floor (e.g., in a daisy-chain configuration). Wiring the DC power bus in such a manner may dramatically reduce the installation labor and wiring costs of an installation, as well as decreasing the chance of a miswire.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include methods and apparatuses for video coding. One of the apparatuses includes processing circuitry that receives a bitstream of a current block in a current picture. The current block is coded with a directional nearest neighbor prediction (DNNP) mode. The processing circuitry selects a prediction value for a sample in the current block from a top-left value, a top value, or a left value based on one or more difference values between respective paired values of (i) the top-left value associated with a top-left reference sample that is a top-left neighbor of the current block, (ii) the top value associated with a top reference sample that is a top neighbor of the sample in the current block, and (iii) the left value associated with a left reference sample that is a left neighbor of the sample in the current block. The processing circuitry reconstructs the current block using the selected prediction value for the sample in the current block.

Abstract: An energy storage system including: an energy storage device including a battery core and outer casing; and a heating device at least partially surrounding an outer periphery of the battery core. The heating device includes: a first compartment having a heating pyrotechnic material disposed therein; and a second compartment having a phase changing material disposed therein. Where the first compartment has a first surface that contacts at least a portion of a second surface of the second compartment.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for supplying power to an implantable blood pump are provided. A system includes a base module and a plurality of energy storage devices. A first energy storage device is operatively coupled to the base module. A second energy storage device is operatively coupled to the first modular energy storage device. The energy storage devices are mechanically coupled in series, electrically coupled in parallel, and configured to provide redundant sources of power to drive an implantable blood pump.

Abstract: A pressurizable assembly which comprises first and second assemblies. The first assembly has a plurality of cam grooves while the second assembly is size and shaped to intimately receive and mate with the first assembly. The second assembly has a connection member a plurality of radially mounted locking pin mechanisms for interacting with one of the plurality of spaced apart cam grooves. Axial movement of the second assembly, toward and away from the first assembly, causes the plurality of locking pin mechanisms to follow along the cam grooves to an intermediate locking position which locks the second assembly with the first assembly, while a subsequent axial movement of the second assembly, toward and away from the first assembly, causes the plurality of locking pin mechanisms to follow along the plurality of cam grooves and disengage the second assembly from the first assembly.

Abstract: A remote control device may control electrical loads and/or load control devices of a load control system without accessing electrical wiring. The remote control device may be configured to be mounted over an installed mechanical switch having a paddle actuator and may include a base and a control unit that is configured to be removably attached to the base. The base may include a frame, a clamp arm, a screw, and/or a sleeve. The clamp arm may be configured to secure the base to a protruding portion of the paddle actuator. The clamp arm may be attached to the frame at a pivot joint. The clamp arm may be configured to pivot about the pivot joint. The pivot joint may be located proximate to an endpoint or a midpoint of the frame.

Abstract: Formulations of substances comprising at least one RNA stabilizing substance and at least one substance comprising extracellular RNA or based on RNA and methods of using the formulations to improve the storage and use stability of substances comprising extracellular RNA or based on RNA at temperatures of 4° C. and above in solution without lyophilization.

Abstract: A package transfer system is configured to facilitate transfer of an autonomous vehicle into and/or out of a room in a vehicle station and associated with transfer of a package relative to the vehicle station and another room in a customer building. The package transfer system is operable to selectively provide a path into and/or out of the vehicle station room for vehicle transfer, and the autonomous vehicle is configured to be advanced into and/or out of the customer building room along another path to facilitate package transfer.

Abstract: Various arrangements for short-range wireless communication are presented herein. An earbud of a pair of true wireless earbuds can receive an audio packet addressed to the other earbud of the pair. A single connected isochronous stream (CIS) within a connected isochronous group (CIG) may be present between the pair of true wireless earbuds and an audio source which transmitted the audio packet. The earbud can transmit a cross-acknowledgement indicating receipt of the audio packet to the other earbud. The earbud can also transmit audio data from the audio packet to the other earbud after the cross acknowledgement.