Abstract: Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting edge of a cutting tool, such as a kitchen knife. A fixture secures opposing sides of a blade of the cutting tool and includes a main body and hinged first and second clamping jaws each having a clamping end adapted to compressingly engage a respective side of the blade. A guide coupled to the main body has converging support surfaces to contactingly engage a back edge (spine) of the blade opposite the cutting edge to center the blade along a central plane of the fixture. A retraction mechanism establishes a clamping force upon each of the respective sides of the blade via the clamping jaws. Further embodiments include a base assembly adapted to receive the fixture, and a swing arm style abrasive assembly to carry out a sharpening operation upon the cutting edge.

Abstract: An expandable sling bag has a shape and a shoulder strap that enable the sling bag to be worn across an individual's back, chest and/or abdomen, or side, under the individual's arm. The expandable sling bag includes an expandable receptacle that enables the sling bag to accommodate an oversized item, such as a portable computer, a sleeve for a portable computer, or the like, with dimension that exceed a height of the sling bag. More specifically, the expandable sling bag may include a receptacle with an opening at its top, an expandable base positionable within a bottom portion of the receptacle, and a bottom opening through which the expandable base may be extended to expand a length of the receptacle. Methods of using an expandable sling bag to carry oversized items are also disclosed.

Abstract: Liquid, air, or surface treatment/sterilization/disinfection using pulsed light to eliminate, reduce, degrade, render inert, or nullify physical, chemical, biological, microbiological, or non-microbiological contaminants is disclosed herein. The system also includes at least one power supply powering the light source of the reactor, an ionized wire wrapped outside the light source of the reactor, at least one digital multiplexer connected to the at least one power supply, and a controller to control the at least one digital multiplexer to power the light source to strobe the pulsed light at a predetermined fluence, a predetermined pulsed width, and a predetermined frequency or spectrum to eliminate, reduce, degrade, render inert, or nullify the physical, chemical, biological, microbiological, or non-microbiological contaminants in a liquid flow, air, or surface at a molecular level.

Abstract: A separation container for extracting a portion of a sample for use or testing and method for preparing samples for downstream use or testing are provided. The separation container may include a body defining an internal chamber. The body may define an opening, and the body may be configured to receive the sample within the internal chamber. The separation container may further include a seal disposed across the opening, such that the seal may be configured to seal the opening of the body, and a plunger movably disposed at least partially inside the internal chamber. The plunger may be configured to be actuated to open the seal and express the portion of the sample.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a system for automatically punctuating text using non-recurrent neural networks is disclosed. The system and method at least: applying a text string to a first component of a non-recurrent neural network trained to generate one or more contextualized vectors, wherein the first component determines the contextualized vectors by processing each word in the text string in parallel with one another; applying the contextualized vectors to a second component of the non-recurrent neural network trained to generate a set of probability values for each word in the text string, wherein the second component determines the set of probability values by processing the contextualized vectors in parallel with one another; and transmitting the set of probability values to a text generation engine to generate a formatted text string based on the set of probability values.

Abstract: An example apparatus includes a dependency graph generator to generate a dependency graph based on a resource request file specifying a first resource and a second resource to deploy to a resource-based service, the dependency graph representative of the first resource being dependent on a second resource, a verification controller to generate a status indicator after a determination that a time-based ordering of a first request relative to a second request satisfies the dependency graph, and a resource controller to cause transmission of the first request and the second request to the resource-based service based on the dependency graph, and, after determining that the time-based ordering of the first request relative to the second request satisfies the dependency graph, cause transmission of the status indicator to a user device.

Abstract: A set of high level test logic is configured to include a set of insertion points. The high-level test logic can be controlled to insert test conditions into a data center configuration. It can also be configured to execute remediation actions that are to be taken, and validation actions to be performed in order to determine whether the remediation action works against the test conditions. Different instances of the high-level test logic can be configured for different environments and different test conditions.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for wireless communications. A base station may receive resource status information. The base station may use the resource status information for initiating a handover procedure using resource status information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing data are disclosed. One method can comprise receiving a first request for a service, wherein the first request is associated with a first rights package. The first rights package can be processed to determine access to the service. An evaluation key can be generated, wherein the evaluation key represents the determination of access relating to the processing of the first rights package. A second request for a service can be received, wherein the second request is associated with a second rights package. The second rights package can be processed using the evaluation key.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for ultrasound imaging. In one embodiment, a method comprises acquiring, via an ultrasound probe, Doppler measurements over a plurality of cardiac cycles, evaluating a flow profile comprising the Doppler measurements to detect an abnormality in the flow profile, and displaying, via a display device, the flow profile with a reference flow profile overlaid thereon. In this way, the attention of a physician evaluating results from an ultrasound imaging examination may be directed to abnormal flow that is potentially indicative of pathologies, thereby enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis of pathologies.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for the determining whether to assign a driver to a trip. For instance, a route for a trip between a pickup location and a destination location for a passenger may be determined. Branch routes for the route may be determined based on one or more lane changes of the route. A probability of following each determined branch route may be determined. A probability of requiring assistance for each determined branch route may be determined. Whether to assign a driver to the trip may be determined based on the probabilities for each determined branch route. A vehicle of a fleet of vehicles may be assigned to the trip based on the determine of whether to assign a driver.

Abstract: A method of laundering a soiled stitchbonded nonwoven towel, to provide hygienically-clean, odor-free towels having non-durable soil release polymer agents on the fabrics and stitching is described. The method has a step of washing soiled stitchbonded nonwoven towels in a first aqueous wash solution formed from a first wash composition comprising a surfactant, a builder, an alkalinity source, and a soil release polymer, at a first alkaline pH, and at a first wash temperature sufficient to remove soil on the towels without redeposition of the soil back onto the towels or into the laundry machine once the residual wash solution is drained. The method also has a step of treating the washed towels in a treatment solution formed from a post-wash composition comprising a soil release polymer agent, at a temperature and pH sufficient to aid in exhausting soil release polymer from the treatment solution and onto the towels or fabrics.

Abstract: Systems and methods of constructing and managing virtual planograms are presented. Contemplated systems allow for construction of a virtual planogram, which can be used to present consumers virtual inventory items as being available for purchase via a display device. The display device can include an electronic billboard within an establishment, a mall for example, or include a user's smart device, a cell phone or tablet for example.

Abstract: A vehicle power module assembly including first and second power modules is provided. The first power module may include a first lock feature extending from a lower portion of a first minor side at a first central axis. The second power module may include a second lock feature at an upper portion of a second minor side at a second central axis. The lock features may be sized for interlock with one another to secure the power modules to one another. The first lock feature may be a loop element defining a through-hole and the second lock feature may be a wedge. The through-hole may be sized for the wedge to extend therein and to interlock the first power module and the second power module to one another. The first lock feature may be a flexible hook element and the second lock feature may be a slot.

Abstract: A polymeric container including a finish defining an opening of the container. A shoulder of the container is between the finish and a body of the container. A base of the container is at an end of the body opposite to the shoulder. The base is configured to support the container upright. A plurality of body ribs are at the body. A shoulder rib is between the shoulder and the body. The shoulder rib has a maximum height that is about 5 times greater than a maximum depth of the shoulder rib.

Abstract: A power system and method for powering an imaging system. The power system and method include a power distribution unit (PDU) coupled to an imaging system gantry. An input of the PDU is electrically coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source from a utility power supply. An output of the PDU is electrically coupled to the imaging system gantry. The power system and method further include an energy storage system providing peak power to an X-ray generator of the imaging system during X-ray generation.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a content fling system and method. The content fling system may support a plurality of users flinging content or media at various times including simultaneously to the same output device. The content fling system may further support users flinging from various locations. The content fling system can also support a single content item being played back on a plurality of output devices.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and software are described for providing content to a device comprising streaming content and sending content in a non-streaming manner (e.g., by downloading a file containing the content). In some aspects, switching between streaming and downloading may be performed in a dynamic manner during presentation of the content, and may be seamless to the user's viewing experience.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for controlling the operation of a residue removal device of a seed-planting implement may include a residue removal device configured to remove residue from a path of the seed-planting implement. The system may also include a sensor configured to capture data indicative of a residue characteristic associated with a portion of the field within a detection zone positioned forward of the residue removal device relative to a direction of travel of the seed-planting implement. Furthermore, the system may include a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. As such, the controller may be configured to monitor the residue characteristic associated with the portion of the field within the detection zone based on data received from the sensor. Additionally, the controller may be further configured to control the operation of the residue removal device based on the monitored residue characteristic.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body including a first frame rail and a second frame rail and a cross-brace directly connected to the first frame rail and the second frame rail. A powertrain-electrification component is supported by the cross-brace. A vehicle subframe is directly connected to the cross-brace. A vehicle-steering gear is connected to the subframe. The direct connection of the subframe to the cross-brace dampens vibration, e.g., road vibration and noise, in the subframe to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness transferred to a vehicle occupant through the vehicle-steering gear.