Abstract: A vehicle accessory mount system is provided that includes a ball-and-socket joint. The socket portion includes a non-metallic material, and the ball portion includes a metallic material whereby the non-metallic material exhibits elasticity to allow a surface of the socket portion to temporarily deform in order to conform to imperfections in the surface of the ball portion as the ball portion inserts into the socket portion under pressure. As the ball portion is caused to rotate within the socket portion under pressure, the elasticity of the socket portion allows a surface of the socket portion to adapt and conform to the changing locations of the imperfections of the ball portion in relation to the socket portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to compositions that include antibodies, e.g., monoclonal, chimeric, humanized antibodies, antibody fragments, etc., that specifically bind on or more epitopes within a Sortilin protein, e.g., human Sortilin or a mammalian Sortilin, and use of such compostions in preventing, reducing risk, or treating an individual in need thereof.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system includes a main body, a cartridge, and a connecting component. The main body includes a main body housing enclosing a power supply. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing enclosing a reservoir of liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The cartridge is releasably connectable to the main body by the connecting component. The connecting component is fixed to the main body housing and is less stiff in at least one direction than the main body housing. The connecting component that is less stiff the main body housing and the cartridge housing can act as a shock absorber when the aerosol-generating system experiences a significant impact, such as when dropped on a surface. This reduces damage to other components of the system and, in particular, may prevent leaks of liquid resulting from damage to the liquid reservoir.

Abstract: A method that includes performing a battery module functionality test on battery cell arrays within the battery module to obtain battery test data for each of the battery cell arrays. The battery test data is used to determine if a measured parameter for one of the battery cell arrays deviates from a predetermined threshold for the measured parameter. A focused secondary battery test is performed on each of the battery cell arrays having the measured parameter that deviates from the predetermined threshold. The battery module is then qualified based on at least one of the battery test data and the focused secondary battery test.

Abstract: An example may include detecting, via a controller, one or more microphones and one or more speakers in an area, measuring, via the one or more microphones, an initial frequency response of an audio signal generated by the one or more speakers inside the area and generating an initial room performance rating, comparing the initial frequency response to a target frequency response, creating audio compensation values to apply to the one or more speakers based on the comparison, and applying the audio compensation values to the one or more speakers.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a first user device potentially associated with a biohazard and identifying a geographic area associated with the biohazard based on previous location information of the first user device. The method further includes identifying another user device potentially associated with the biohazard based on the geographic area associated with the biohazard and previous location information of the other user device. The method further includes issuing a safety notification to the other user device, where the safety notification includes one or more of the geographic area associated with the biohazard, a safety status request, a safety status level of the first user device, a subset of the previous location information of the first user device, and a subset of the previous location information of the other user device.

Abstract: The invention is a delivery system device and method for implantation of pharmaceuticals, such as hormones, including testosterone for military forces to increase stamina and aid in wound recovery, for timed release into a patient to be determined by a medical professional. This timed-release device will consist of an axially containing and longitudinally flexible elongated member having an axial wall of varying material, that wall consisting of a polymer dissolving according to a pre-determined schedule regulated by the dissolution rate of the polymer or polymer blend. The delivery system and method further prevents the extrusion or migration of the pellets from the site of implantation and allows for easier removal after the time of implant if necessary.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and method for using a cellular communication chain integrated with RFID wireless communication to communicate with an external RFID tag and a cellular wireless base station. A front end circuit can receive a first RF signal as input and can provide, as output, a processed first RF signal for wireless communication via a cellular network and be a low-band signal. An RFID circuit can generate a second RF signal for wireless communication with an RF identifier tag. A switch circuit or one or more toggle switches can be configured to route the processed first RF signal for transmission via an antenna for the wireless communication via the cellular network and route the second RF signal for transmission via the antenna for the wireless communication with the RF identifier tag.

Abstract: The behavior of gelled drilling fluids can be predicted with a low number of input parameters using an empirically derived equation that expresses the breakage of gelled drilling fluids as a function of the total strain applied to the gelled drilling fluids. Using correlative systems and lab-scale experiments, a predictive model correlates the various test input parameters with an anticipated time for breaking the gelled drilling fluid under known strain rate. Applying actual input parameters to the predictive model for a given well drilling operation produces a prescribed gel breaking procedure. The systems and methods disclosed herein provide an operator with accurate predictions of the time necessary to break a given gelled drilling fluid. The models and methods disclosed herein can be incorporated into a control system so the drilling rig can automatically adjust its operation to most effectively break the gelled drilling fluid following a pump-off event.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a fault close to a grounding circuit in a high voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission system. The HVDC power transmission system includes a first converter device having a first terminal and a second terminal, a second converter device having a third terminal and a fourth terminal, a transmission cable connecting the first terminal with the third terminal, and a neutral line connecting the second terminal with the fourth terminal. The method includes generating an alternating current signal by a source converter device, such that a major portion of the generated alternating current signal flows through a direct current circuit (DC, circuit) including a stray capacitance associated with the transmission cable and a return path. The method further includes measuring current at a number of points in the power transmission system and detecting a fault electrically close to the grounding circuit.

Abstract: A system and method are presented that scans a vector graphics file for image elements that appear over a background image. The image elements represent individual objects and movement or actions for those objects. The image elements, each possibly represented by multiple shapes, arrows, lines, or shading, are identified and parsed into a standard class definition. In one embodiment, the class definitions and the rule set applied to perform this parsing are pre-defined according to the content of the SVG file. The image elements are then redrawn over a new background image, which has multiple segments that correspond to the original background image but where each segment has a different segment transformation that defines translation and/or scaling required to move between the image segments. The image elements are then scaled and translated according to the multiple segment transformations, and then are presented over the new background image.

Abstract: The technology relates to methods and systems for performing two-stage suppression of bounding boxes generated during object detection techniques for digital images. The two-stage suppression includes a per-class suppression stage and a class-agnostic suppression stage. In an example method, preliminary bounding boxes are generated for multiple objects in a digital image. A first subset of bounding boxes is selected by performing a per-class suppression of the preliminary bounding boxes. A second subset of bounding boxes is selected by performing a class-agnostic suppression of the first subset of bounding boxes. Based on the second subset of bounding boxes, at least one of an enriched image or a video index is generated.

Abstract: An AV may detect degraded states of other AVs. For instance, the AV may use its sensors to detect one or more other vehicles in the local area. The AV may determine whether any of these vehicles is a peer of the AV based on features of these vehicles captured by its sensors. Alternatively, the AV may determine if any vehicle is a peer based on encrypted communication with the vehicle. The AV may also determine whether any peer AV has a state that deviates from an expected or desirable state. The AV may communicate with an online system and request the online system to provide information for identifying the vehicle or detecting degraded states. The AV may also report degradations in peer AVs to the online system. The online system may recover the degraded AV or dispatch another AV to complete a task assigned to the degraded AV.

Abstract: A wireless device receives an uplink grant via a monitoring occasion associated with a synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel block (SSB). The SSB is determined by a most recent of: an activation command of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state; a random access procedure; or a configured-grant based uplink transmission in a radio resource control (RRC) inactive state. The wireless device transmits an uplink transmission based on the uplink grant.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives a list of ranked entities for playback. The list of ranked entities being ranked in a first order based on information for a user account. The method uses at least a portion of the list of ranked entities to determine corresponding channels that are playing the at least the portion of the list of ranked entities. The at least the portion of the list of ranked entities are displayed in an electronic programming guide in a first time range based on the first order. The method uses the channels associated with the at least the portion of the list of ranked entities to display second entities from the channels in a second time range.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to a target system. The target system may include a locking plate having a first aperture and a second aperture. In one embodiment, the first aperture may be wider than the second aperture. The target system further includes a target face. The target face may be implemented with a target stem, a locking support, and a locking retainer. In one embodiment, the locking retainer may be wider than the second aperture. Similarly, a target is disclosed which includes a locking plate. The locking plate includes a pass-through portion and a locking portion. In certain embodiments, the locking portion may be wider than the pass-through portion. The target system further includes a target face. The target face may be implemented with an elongated portion, a locking support portion, and a locking retainer portion. In one embodiment, the locking retainer portion is wider than the locking portion.

Abstract: Safety devices and methods of using a safety device are described. An example safety device includes a storage member and a retention device. The storage member has a first portion, a second portion, and defines a first chamber. The second portion is moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration the second portion is releasably attached to the first portion such that the first portion and the second portion cooperatively define the chamber. In the second configuration the second portion is free of attachment to the first portion. The retention device is disposed within the chamber and has a retaining arm.

Abstract: A method for firmware access on a computing device includes, at a firmware access agent of the computing device, receiving a read request for firmware instructions from a hardware logic component of the computing device. The read request is generated as part of a boot sequence of the hardware logic component, and is received via a data interface communicatively coupling the hardware logic device and the firmware access agent. The firmware access agent retrieves the firmware instructions over a computer network from a remote firmware storage system separate from the computing device. The firmware instructions are provided to the hardware logic component via the data interface, such that the hardware logic component executes the firmware instructions and continues the boot sequence.

Abstract: An oral tobacco product includes a body that is wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a mouth-stable polymer matrix and tobacco fibers embedded in the mouth-stable polymer matrix. The oral tobacco product can be formed by extruding a mixture of mouth-stable polymer and tobacco fibers.

Abstract: Percutaneous heart pump that has centrifugal flow and valve conduit allowing flow in one direction. The present invention is a miniaturized percutaneous endovascular centrifugal pump that incorporates an expandable uniflow valve conduit with valves, a centrifugal impeller, a shaft, a guidewire, a deliverable sheath and extracorporeal couplings to an infusion pump and motor.