Abstract: A Time Domain Return measurement system for measuring liquid level, linear movement or other measurements which includes a first and second electrode, the second electrode spaced from the first electrode to define a gap, and an electronics assembly connected to the first and second electrodes equipped with a generator for transmitting an electromagnetic signal for propagation along the electrodes. The signal generator has a first analog timing circuit for actuating a slow-rising function of voltage versus time, a second analog timing circuit associated with the first analog timing circuit for actuating a fast-rising function of voltage versus time, and a receive circuit electrically connected to the electrodes, the receive circuit being activated for receiving return echo data associated with the electromagnetic signal transmitted when the fast-rising function is equal or greater than the slow-rising function to determine the position of the second medium with respect to the electrodes.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell generator, a rechargeable energy storage circuit, an auxiliary load, a converter circuit, and a switch circuit. The fuel cell generator is operable to generate electrical power in a stack output signal. The auxiliary load is powered by the rechargeable energy storage circuit while in a first mode, and powered by a local signal while in a second mode. The converter circuit is operable to convert the stack output signal into a plurality of recharge signals while in the first mode and in the second mode, and convert the stack output signal into the local signal while in the second mode. The switch circuit is operable switch the plurality of recharge signals to one or more electric vehicles, and switch the local signal to the auxiliary load while in the second mode.

Abstract: A channel graphical user interface (GUI) of a content sharing platform is provided for presentation to a channel owner. A request is received, via the channel GUI, to enable an online community option that (i) facilitates an online conversation between the channel owner and a subset of viewers of the channel of the channel owner on the content sharing platform, and (ii) allows the channel owner to control viewer responses that are permitted during the online conversation. In response to the request of the channel owner to enable the online community option, the online community option is associated with the channel in a data store, and the channel GUI is modified, the modified channel GUI presenting an online community GUI element representing the online community option.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing vehicle components or components for use with vehicles or in other non-vehicle applications allow an end user to select and produce at a local job site, or optionally elsewhere as desired. The system and method can allow a manufacturer or designer to send a design for a component to a consumer for the consumer to produce. The consumer can then use one of a variety of methods, such as three dimensional printing or machining, to produce the component. The consumer can produce a component from a stock data file or can customize the component before production.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improved security authentication are disclosed. In some embodiments, an improved system for security authentication may include a plurality of computing devices, and a server system communicatively coupled to the plurality of computing devices. The server system may be configured to receive a request for security authentication, determine an authorization providing computing device from among the plurality of computer devices based on authentication preferences stored in a database communicatively coupled to the server system, generate and transmit authentication information to the determined authorization providing computing device, receive, from an initiating computing device an authentication input, determine whether the received authentication input matches the transmitted authentication information, and complete the request for security authentication when the received authentication input matches the generated and transmitted authentication information.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the presently disclosed inventive concepts, a metal aerogel includes a plurality of metal nanowires formed into a porous three-dimensional structure, where pores in the structure are anisotropic.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method, an electronic device, and a computer program product for using a virtual desktop. A method in one embodiment includes receiving, at a first edge node in a plurality of edge nodes, an instruction from a first set of input devices in a plurality of peripheral devices. The instruction is for use of a first virtual desktop deployed on the first edge node. The method further includes: using the first virtual desktop based on the instruction by using resources at the first edge node. The method further includes: sending data to an output device in the plurality of peripheral devices, wherein the data is associated with the use of the first virtual desktop. The solution for using a virtual desktop of the present application enables the use of a virtual desktop using resources at an edge node without requiring a client.

Abstract: A cargo bed divider system for a pickup truck includes a first guide rail connectable to a first lateral side of a cargo bed, a second guide rail connectable to a second lateral side of the cargo bed, a cargo bed divider supported between the first guide rail and the second guide rail, and an adjustment mechanism connectable to a forward end of the cargo bed and the cargo bed divider. The adjustment mechanism selectively moves the cargo bed divider between a first position adjacent the forward end of the cargo bed and a second position adjacent to a rear end of the cargo bed.

Abstract: An embodiment of a mind-view communication apparatus includes a first portable unit and a second portable unit. The first portable unit includes an eyeglass frame, at least one first optical unit disposed on the eyeglass frame for capturing at least one scene image corresponding to a field of view of a user, and at least one second optical unit disposed on the eyeglass frame for capturing at least one eye image corresponding to at least a portion of at least one eye of the user. The second portable unit is in communication with the first portable unit and includes at least one processor configured for receiving the at least one scene image and the at least one eye image, determining a direction within the field of view to which the at least one eye is directed based upon the at least one eye image, and generating a subset of the at least one scene image based on the determined direction.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for generating search results based on contextual information are provided. In some implementations, a method for presenting search results is provided, the method comprising: receiving, using a hardware processor, a query related to media that is currently being presented; identifying a program that is currently being presented; identifying a plurality of keywords associated with the identified program; determining one or more of the plurality of keywords that are contextually relevant to the query; obtaining a plurality of search results based on the query and the one or more contextually relevant keywords; and causing at least one of the plurality of search results to be presented to the user.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments pertain to provisioning a virtual payment card for an authorized user in a browser. A primary cardholder can request the addition of an individual as an authorized user on the primary cardholder's account. Further information regarding the individual can be solicited and utilized to compute a risk score associated with adding the individual as an authorized user. Further processing of the request, including whether to terminate or continue, can be based on comparing the risk score to a predetermined threshold. If processing is continued, a virtual payment card linked to the primary cardholder account is generated. Next, the virtual card can be added as a payment method to a browser profile of the individual on a network-accessible computing resource. Subsequently, the authorized user can access the virtual card to make online shopping payments with a web browser personalized with the browser profile.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of polymeric particles comprising an emulsion polymer and a polyalkylene oxide with a weight average molecular weight in the range of 450 to 1,500 g/mole, and an aqueous coating composition with low VOCs comprising the aqueous dispersion and providing coatings made therefrom with improved water whitening resistance and hardness.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous electrolyte for use in rechargeable zinc-halide storage batteries that possesses improved stability and durability and improves zinc-halide battery performance (e.g., energy efficiency, Coulombic efficiency, and/or the like). One aspect of the present invention provides an electrolyte for use in a secondary zinc bromine electrochemical cell comprising from about 30 wt % to about 40 wt % of ZnBr2 by weight of the electrolyte; from about 5 wt % to about 15 wt % of KBr; from about 5 wt % to about 15 wt % of KCl; and one or more quaternary ammonium agents, wherein the electrolyte comprises from about 0.5 wt % to about 10 wt % of the one or more quaternary ammonium agents.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is described. The method includes a computing system receiving an item of digital content from a user device. The computing system generates one or more labels that indicate attributes of the item of digital content. The computing system also generates one or more conversational replies to the item of digital content based on the one or more labels that indicate attributes of the item of digital content. The method also includes the computing system selecting a conversational reply from among the one or more conversational replies and providing the conversational reply for output to the user device.

Abstract: Systems and methods can enable the control the motion of an animated character based on imagery (e.g., captured by an image capture device such as a web camera or “webcam”) which shows a person in motion. Specifically, the animated character can be automatically rendered to have the same motion as the entity shown in the imagery (e.g., in real time). According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the animated character can be rendered by iteratively transforming (e.g., including deforming the actual geometry of) a vector-based surface illustration. Specifically, the systems and methods present disclosure can leverage the scalable and transformable nature of a vector-based surface illustration to provide more realistic motion-controlled animation, in which the underlying geometry of the animated character is able to be adjusted to imitate human motion more realistically (e.g., as opposed to basic rotations of fixed character geometry).

Abstract: A projectile for firearms comprises a body defining a generally cylindrical base portion opposite an ogive. The body further defines a longitudinal axis. A plurality of pairs of adjacent flutes are defined in the ogive. Each flute has a radius of curvature which decreases along the longitudinal axis from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the flute. The adjacent flutes of each pair define and are substantially symmetrical about a central ridge. Each ridge is coplanar with the longitudinal axis and has a lesser depth than a bottom surface of each flute relative to a curved outer surface of the ogive. Each ridge has a radius of curvature which decreases along the longitudinal axis from an origin to a terminus of the ridge. The decreasing radius of curvature of the flutes prevents the projectile from over penetrating human-sized soft tissue targets without sacrificing energy transfer to such targets.

Abstract: A control system provides steering control commands to a steering actuator of a steering device on a piece of towed marine equipment. A memory in the control system stores setpoint data including positional values for a desired position of the piece of towed marine equipment. A control module is configured to receive the setpoint data, receive process data representing a calculated actual position of the piece of towed marine equipment; and calculate a control command for the steering actuator of the steering device based upon the setpoint data and the process data. A disturbance adjustment calculation module is configured to combine a disturbance value based upon a measured disturbance with a value of the process data and output a disturbance adjustment value. A correction calculator module adds the disturbance adjustment value to the control command to create an adjusted control command for transmission to the steering actuator.

Abstract: A carbonized water dispensing device is provided with a carbonized water conditioning chamber, which conditioning chamber is provided downstream of the carbonator and upstream of the carbonized water dispensing outlet, for receiving a mixture of carbonized water mixed with unresolved CO2. The conditioning chamber is dimensioned to hold a single serve of carbonized water with a headspace, and which carbonized water conditioning chamber is provided with an outlet valve and a gas outlet. The carbonized water dispensing device is configured to, upon receiving a beverage dispensing order, provide the empty carbonized water conditioning chamber with a single serve volume of carbonized water, and hold the single serve of carbonized water prior to dispensing the single serve volume of carbonized water.