Abstract: Apparatus and methods for repeater/extender operation of a wireless-enabled device, including for extending the range or coverage in a wireless network subject to poor signal propagation or obstructions. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods leverage use of a CPE (consumer premises equipment) configured as a 5G mmWave extender to extend RF signals from one or more base stations (e.g., a NodeB) to one or more other premises. In one variant, the CPE includes (i) a internal unit configured to provide 5G and Wi-Fi services to local UE, as well as other standard CPE functions; (ii) a donor apparatus configured to receive/transmit 5G signals to/from the one or more base stations; and (iii) a service apparatus configured to radiate 5G signals to UE/CPE with weak or no NodeB connectivity. The CPE is configured to create and dynamically update a weighted beam matrix used to select beams.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a laser ablation system can include a laser ablation cell and at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces. The laser ablation cell can be configured for ablating a sample or another material, and the laser ablation cell can include a laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to gather an ablated sample and direct the ablated sample to an analysis unit. A selected particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interface can be received by the laser ablation cell directly above the laser unit. The at least a pair of particle-collection-to-transport-tubing interfaces can be configured to be interchangeable with one another.

Abstract: A modular pavement slab including a paving material set around a plurality of forming tools and defining a side face and a top surface. Each of the forming tools includes an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a sidewall exterior surface configured for removal of the elongate body through the side face. Each of the forming tools also includes a riser releasably coupled to the elongate body and extending in a direction noncollinear to the corresponding longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Described herein are examples of orthopedic drill bits and methods of preparing a bone of a living being for fixation. An example method includes coupling a drive attachment of a drill bit to a mounting attachment of a driver, and placing a guide at a desired location on the bone. The guide has an opening corresponding to an area of bone to be removed. The guide provides proper positioning and alignment for drilling a hole. With the guide in place, the method further includes aligning the drill bit with the opening on the guide and drilling a hole in the bone. Once the hole is drilled, the method includes de-coupling the drill bit from the driver, and bending the drill bit at the drive attachment while the drill bit is still in the bone. In some examples, additional method steps follow preparation of the hole.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a computing device, electronic information about pressure. The method further includes determining, by the computing device, the pressure is at a particular threshold. The method further includes sending, by the computing device, a communication to close a particular valve and prevent gas flow from a first tank. The method further includes sending, by the computing device, another communication to open another valve and allow gas flow from a second tank.

Abstract: Methods and systems for audio-based polling during a conference call discussion are provided. During a conference call, a user selection of an element on a client device is detected. The element is designated to initiate audio-based polling of participants of the conference call. In response to the detection of the user selection of the element on the client device, a verbal statement provided by a first participant of the conference call is recorded. A determination is made of whether the recorded verbal statement includes a question that is to be used for audio-based polling of one or more second participants of the conference call. Responsive to a determination that the verbal statement includes the question that is to be used for audio-based polling, audio-based polling of the one or more second participants is initiated.

Abstract: Example implementations are provided for an arrangement of co-aligned rotating sensors. One example device includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter that emits light pulses toward a scene according to a pointing direction of the device. The device also includes a LIDAR receiver that detects reflections of the emitted light pulses reflecting from the scene. The device also includes an image sensor that captures an image of the scene based on at least external light originating from one or more external light sources. The device also includes a platform that supports the LIDAR transmitter, the LIDAR receiver, and the image sensor in a particular relative arrangement. The device also includes an actuator that rotates the platform about an axis to adjust the pointing direction of the device.

Abstract: A wireless device receives configuration parameters of a plurality uplink grants of a cell. The wireless device determines, for transmission of a transport block (TB), a first hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process associated with a first uplink grant of the plurality uplink grants. The wireless device determines that a listen before talk (LBT) process for transmission of the TB via the first uplink grant indicates a busy channel. In response to the LBT process indicating the busy channel, the TB is transmitted via a second uplink grant, of the plurality uplink grants of the cell, associated with a second HARQ process.

Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to a method for estimation of an object state from image data. The method can include obtaining two-dimensional image data depicting an object. The method can include processing, with an estimation portion of a machine-learned object state estimation model, the two-dimensional image data to obtain an initial estimated state of the object. The method can include, for each of one or more refinement iterations, obtaining a previous loss value associated with a previous estimated state for the object, processing the previous loss value to obtain a current estimated state of the object, and evaluating a loss function to determine a loss value associated with the current estimated state of the object. The method can include providing a final estimated state for the object.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for using comfort scales to assess the performance of autonomous vehicles. One of the methods includes receiving data representing a traffic encounter between a vehicle and a pedestrian. A plurality of comfort scale ratings of the encounter assigned by a rater belonging to a first rater pool are received. An input element is generated for a rating transformation model configured to predict how comfort scale ratings assigned by a particular rater pool would have been assigned by a representative rater belonging to a reference rater pool. An inference pass is performed over the rating transformation model using the input element to obtain a plurality of transformed comfort scale ratings for the reference rater pool.

Abstract: Provided are approaches for providing multiple user accounts in a same transaction card assembly. The transaction card assembly may include a first card including a first card first side opposite a first card second side, the first card first side including a first pair of magnetic stripes and the first card second side including a first pair of identification chips. The transaction card assembly may further include a second card coupled to the first card, the second card including a second card first side opposite a second card second side, the second card first side including a second pair of magnetic stripes, and the second card second side including a second pair of identification chips. The first and second cards are slidable relative to one another between multiple positions to selectively expose and cover each identification chip of the first and second pairs of identification chips.

Abstract: A C-RAN includes a plurality of remote units; and a central unit communicatively coupled to the remote units via a fronthaul network. The central unit is configured to determine sets of data to be sent to respective subsets of remote units across the fronthaul network. The central unit is also configured to determine a mapping of each of the sets of data to a respective one of the subsets of remote units. The central unit is also configured to, for each of the sets of data, if at least one of the multicast groups wholly contains the respective subset of remote units mapped to that set of data, transmit that set of data to the respective subset of remote units over the fronthaul network by multicasting that set of data to the multicast group that best matches the respective subset of remote units mapped to that set of data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating images from an autonomous vehicle ride. Systems and methods are provided for determining whether a vehicle route passes a photogenic location and, if so, capturing an image at the photogenic location. The user can be provided with an option to take a detour to a nearby photogenic location. Additionally, a route can be selected based on one or more photogenic locations along the route. Captured images are provided to the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for intermodulation product (IMP) cancellation. In one embodiment, the method comprises: acquiring copies of source signals that create IMPs in a passband of interest; creating copies of the IMPs for use as IMP cancellation signals by either multiplying the source signals together as a series of digital samples such that the multiplied signals create a near real and continuous time copy of the IMPs or creating a sum of the source signals in near real and continuous time and convolving the sum of the source signals with a mathematical model to effectively multiply the signals together to create a copy of the IMPs; adjusting one or both of phase and amplitude of the copies; and using the copies to cancel the IMPs inband of the passband of interest.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed for robust scalable topological quantum computing. Quantum dots are fabricated as van der Waals heterostructures, supporting localized topological phases and non-Abelian anyons (quasiparticles). Large bandgaps provide noise immunity. Three-dot structures include an intermediate quantum dot between two computational quantum dots. With the intermediate quantum dot in an OFF state, quasiparticles at the computational quantum dots can be isolated, with long lifetimes. Alternatively, the intermediate quantum dot can be controlled to decrease the quasiparticle tunneling barrier, enabling fast computing operations. A computationally universal suite of operations includes quasiparticle initialization, braiding, fusion, and readout of fused quasiparticle states, with, optionally, transport or tunable interactions—all topologically protected. Robust qubits can be operated without error correction.

Abstract: A dynamic data extraction, distillation, and enhancement system is disclosed that includes a dynamic extraction, distillation, and enhancement framework. The framework includes an allocator, extractor, and deconstructor stored in a non-transitory memory that, when executed by a processor, receive files in different formats from data sources, determine a native format of each file, identify and extract an embedded object from a file, deconstruct the file into components, assign each file to one of a plurality of streams based on the native format of the file, assign the embedded object to a stream based on a format of the embedded object, and assign a deconstructed component to a stream based on a format of the deconstructed component. The native format includes one of text, video, image, or audio. Each stream corresponds to one native format. The streams include a text stream, an audio stream, a video stream, and an image stream.

Abstract: A bat swing training device has a base assembly, an arm assembly adjustably connected to the base assembly, and a suction assembly that extends through and out of the arm assembly to hold a ball in a stationary position. The suction assembly includes a coil hose connected to a pump, and an upper hose connected to the coil hose at one end, and removably connected to a nozzle assembly at an opposite end.

Abstract: A garment is provided to be worn post-surgery during recovery from urological surgical procedure. The garment is in the form of men's underwear or brief, with features provided to assist in recovery and comfort of the user. The garment includes a center flap that can be opened to provide access to a center pocket that is aligned with the user's crotch. The center pocket contains a moldable body that can be molded to a particular shape to support and hold the user's penis in a pre-determined orientation to facilitate the recovery process. The flap also includes a pocket that can contain a heating/cooling pack that is arranged to apply heat/cooling to the surgical site. The garment is also configured to accept and support a medical drainage tube to drain the surgical wound, and a drainage pump as needed.

Abstract: This disclosure describes methods and compositions for protein and peptide sequencing.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing, organizing and displaying picks for a stringed musical instrument includes a disc having a top, bottom, center and a circumference, and a plurality of slots extending radially between the center and circumference. Each slot is configured to receive and securely hold a musical instrument pick through the top of the disc, and a protrusion at the center of the top of the disc is configured to be pushed by a finger of a user of the apparatus to retrieve a pick from each of the plurality of slots.