Abstract: The fuel assembly includes at least one fuel rod and an outer channel with four sidewalls surrounding the fuel rod, the outer channel having a configuration based on a position of the fuel assembly within a core of the nuclear reactor, wherein at least a first select sidewall, of the four sidewalls of the outer channel, is a reinforced sidewall, the remaining sidewalls of the outer channel, other than the at least a first select sidewall, are non-reinforced sidewalls, the at least a first select sidewall being in a controlled location that faces and is directly adjacent to a control blade that is to be utilized in the nuclear reactor, wherein an entirety of the reinforced sidewall as a whole is at least one of thicker and made from a material that is more resistant to radiation-induced deformation as compared to an entirety of the non-reinforced sidewalls.

Abstract: Battery powered quadrotors or drones have a limited operation time. To extend operation time, a powered tether can be used. This tether provides power to the drone allowing it to stay up indefinitely. Most tethered drones are captured to the base station. The tether can reel in and out as the drone moves, but the drone can't go higher or further than the maximum length of the tether. If the tether can be automatically disconnected, the drone could fly off for some remote mission, assuming the drone had an onboard power source such as rechargeable batteries. The present invention relates to a self-powered drone tether that comprises a rechargeable drone in flight which is referred to as the rechargeable drone, a drone that carries a powered tether which is referred to as the tether drone, a coupling mechanism between the rechargeable drone and the tether drone, and a base station with a powered tether and tether deployment system.

Abstract: A loudspeaker driver or tweeter (e.g., 100, 200 or 300) having a voice coil connected with a loudspeaker diaphragm (e.g., 106, 206 or 306), having a substantially circular diaphragm portion which is connected with or rests upon a voice coil attachment segment (e.g., 104, 204, 304). The diaphragm also includes a first central elliptical (non-circular-shaped) inner roll portion (e.g., 112, 212, 312) defining a central recessed area and a second, outer elliptical (non-circular-shaped) roll portion (e.g., 108, 208, 308) so the central portion and the outer roll portion that have substantially elliptical edge circumferences with substantially circular central peripheral edges to define diaphragm segments with a varying radial Chord lengths having non-uniform diameter dimensions (inside diameter to outside diameter) and when in use, the excursion of the diaphragm is controlled such that any breakup modes are minimized and the associated resonances are minimized.

Abstract: A base station may transmit, to a wireless device, one or more messages comprising configuration parameters for a primary cell and a secondary cell. The configuration parameters may indicate a deactivation timer for the secondary cell and a bandwidth part (BWP) inactivity timer for the primary cell. The base station may start the deactivation timer in response to activating the secondary cell. The base station may start the BWP inactivity timer in response to switching an active BWP of the primary cell. The base station may stop the BWP inactivity timer of the primary cell based on triggering a random-access procedure for the secondary cell. In response to the deactivation timer of the secondary cell expiring during the random-access procedure, the base station may restart the BWP inactivity timer of the primary cell.

Abstract: A connector for coupling an arrow shaft and an arrowhead to each other includes an insert configured for coupling with the arrow shaft and an outsert configured for coupling with an arrowhead.

Abstract: A method for managing a plurality of multimedia communication links in a point-to-multipoint Bluetooth network established between a source device and a plurality of sink devices, the method comprising: determining a new set of values of the configuration parameters upon: —receiving a request for adding a new sink device to the plurality of sink devices of the point-to-multipoint Bluetooth network, or —receiving a request for changing a value of a configuration parameter related to a sink device of the plurality of sink devices, or —determining an updated value of the maximum bandwidth usage parameter, wherein the new set of values is determined to allocate data rates between the plurality of multimedia communication links without exceeding the value of the maximum bandwidth usage parameter.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to generating scouting objectives in order to update map information used to control a fleet of vehicles in an autonomous driving mode. For instance, a notification from a vehicle of the fleet identifying a feature and a location of the feature may be received. A first bound for a scouting area may be identified based on the location of the feature. A second bound for the scouting area may be identified based on a lane closest to the feature. A scouting objective may be generated for the feature based on the first bound and the second bound.

Abstract: Pellet grills including a control system that implements, manages, and/or controls various ignition-based protocols and/or processes are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a cooking chamber, a burn pot, an ignitor, and a controller. The ignitor extends into the burn pot and is configured to ignite pellet fuel located within the burn pot. The controller is configured to command the ignitor to activate during a first duration. The controller is further configured to determine, following expiration of the first duration, whether a temperature of the cooking chamber has reached a threshold temperature. The controller is further configured, in response to determining that the temperature has not reached the threshold temperature, to command the ignitor to activate during a second duration.

Abstract: A robust cleaning and ventilation system for a workstation such as an office workspace, employing table geometry to create high efficiency air exchange while providing a conditioned make-up air return that completes the full ventilation process. The workstation includes a modular implementation such that the necessary equipment is not a single custom bespoke installation and can be used universally.

Abstract: Vehicle systems and methods are provided for preheating an aftertreatment system prior to engine ignition. A method involves obtaining a first measurement indicative of a current temperature associated with the aftertreatment system, obtaining a second measurement indicative of a current state of an energy source coupled to a heating element integrated with the aftertreatment system, determining an amount of electrical energy to be applied to the heating element based at least in part on a difference between the current temperature associated with the aftertreatment system and a target temperature for the aftertreatment system, and automatically enabling current flow from the energy source to the heating element prior to ignition of the engine for a duration of time in a manner that is influenced by the amount of electrical energy to be applied to the heating element and the current state of the energy source.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to method, system, and programming for responding to an image related query. Information related to each of a plurality of images is received, wherein the information represents concepts co-existing in the image. Visual semantics for each of the plurality of images are created based on the information related thereto. Representations of scenes of the plurality of images are obtained via machine learning, based on the visual semantics of the plurality of images, wherein the representations capture concepts associated with the scenes.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for reforming hydrocarbons to reduce the impact of contaminants created by non-catalyst coking. The reaction zone receives sulfur to inhibit the impact, and a control index is used to control the determine conditions with generally lower pressures. Additionally, a compression zone, pressure control zone and combustion zone operation are provided for the operation of the reaction zone at the generally lower pressures.

Abstract: A bidirectional energy transfer system includes a supply device having a vehicle port, an inverter port, a converter, and an isolation transformer. The vehicle port is configured to electrically couple the supply device to an electrified vehicle. The inverter port is configured to electrically couple the supply device to an inverter that is separate from the supply device.

Abstract: Methods are provided for isolation of immunoglobulin G (IgG) from plasma, where IgG is initially fractioned by salt precipitation, followed by successive ion exchange steps in which IgG appears in unbound, flow-through fractions of the ion exchange steps. Some embodiments employ successive anion exchange steps. Other embodiments employ an anion exchange step followed by application of flow-through of the anion exchange step to a cation exchange step, with IgG collected in flow-through fractions from the cation exchange step. IgG is collected at high yield (typically about 75% or greater) and high purity. Avoidance of binding and elution from chromatography media simplifies processing and scale up without sacrificing IgG quality or yield.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for performing a security operation. The security operation includes: monitoring an entity, the monitoring observing at least one electronically-observable data source; deriving an observable based upon the monitoring of the electronically-observable data source; identifying a security related activity, the security related activity being based upon the observable from the electronic data source; the security related activity comprising a concerning behavior, the security related activity being enacted during an activity session; associating the security related activity enacted during an activity session with a security risk persona; analyzing the security related activity, the analyzing the security related activity using the security risk persona; and, performing a security operation in response to the analyzing the security related activity.

Abstract: In order to provide improved matching of records between different sources, systems and methods include generating a data link between a stored interaction profile of the user and activity data records that identify activities performed by the user. Online interaction data associated with the user is received, including tracking data indicative of online interactions with content. The online interaction data is stored in the stored interaction profile associated with the user. An activity model is used to predict correlation parameters representing groupings of online interactions of the online interaction data with activities performed by the user, where the prediction is based on the tracking data and each activity in the interaction profile. The interaction profile is updated with the groupings and user activities are authenticated based on the interaction profile.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided. The electrochemical cell includes a positive electrode including a first lithium metal-based material, the first lithium metal-based material including one or more transition metal ions, and wherein the positive electrode has an operating voltage of 4.5 volts versus lithium metal potential or greater. The electrochemical cell also includes an electrolyte formed from ingredients comprising a solvent and lithium salt. The solvent includes at least one carbonic ester. The electrochemical cell further includes a negative electrode including a second lithium metal-based material, the second lithium metal-based material including one or more transition metal ions.

Abstract: A luminaire includes a luminaire control circuit and a disinfection light source to emit a disinfection light in an ultraviolet (UV) band for disinfecting a vicinity of a space of a target pathogen that is exposed to the disinfection light. The UV band is 200 nanometers (nm) to 230 nm wavelength. The luminaire initiates a dose cycle of a vicinity in which the disinfection light source emits the disinfection light continuously or during a plurality of periods of a dose cycle from the disinfection light source by recording a beginning time of the dose cycle. The luminaire controls, via a driver circuit, the disinfection light source over the dose cycle to emit the disinfection light continuously or during the plurality of periods for disinfecting the vicinity to substantially obtain a target pathogen UV radiation level and restrict a total UV radiation threshold exposure level by a UV radiation threshold limit.

Abstract: To provide a sound signal generation device capable of artificially generating an engine sound signal indicating a realistic engine sound linked to running of an electric vehicle even when, for example, an engine is not mounted at all. A virtual engine rotation speed generation unit that acquires accelerator opening data indicating an accelerator operation amount in the electric vehicle and running speed data indicating a vehicle running speed of the electric vehicle, calculates a virtual running speed of a virtual engine vehicle, modifies the virtual running speed on the basis of the running speed data, and calculates an engine rotation speed of a virtual engine on the basis of the modified virtual running speed, and an artificial engine sound generation unit that generates a sound signal for outputting an artificial engine sound corresponding to a running state of the electric vehicle on the basis of the accelerator operation amount.

Abstract: A thermoplastic acrylonitrile containing copolymer/lignin blend, e.g., thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer/lignin blend, is provided, whereas the blend comprises (i) an amount of thermoplastic acrylonitrile containing copolymer (e.g., acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer); (ii) an amount of lignin; (iii) an amount of compatibilizing agent, such as phthalic anhydride, capable of imparting improved ductility and impact strength to the resultant blend and (iv) optionally an amount of at least one additive to impart specific properties including, but not limited, to resistance to ultraviolet radiation, resistance to oxidation, flame retardance, color, surface friction, or surface static charge accumulation. Methods of improving impact strength and/or ductility of, for example, a thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer/lignin blend and articles made therefrom are also disclosed.