Abstract: A system for recharging a railcar air-brake system for a road-rail vehicle, including a rail-capable material handler, adapted or modified for transporting an at least one railcar that permits an air compression system to provide a near-constant low-volume airflow to recharge the respective air-brake systems without requiring the road-rail vehicle to be driven. The system can generally comprise a hydraulic pump, an air compressor, and at least one railcar air-brake system. The system can be adapted for recharging railcar air-brake systems for a road-rail vehicle adapted for transporting at least two railcars that does not significantly diminish the utility of the road-rail vehicle.

Abstract: A golf divot repair tool includes an elongated body having a front side, a back side, a right side, a left side, a bottom side and a top side. The elongated body has a longitudinal axis. A first tee receiver is disposed along the right side. A second tee receiver is disposed along the left side. A ball marker receiver is disposed in the body. A tool extension extends from a bottom side of the body.

Abstract: A method and composition are provided for backfilling the annular gap created as a tunnel boring machine advances through the ground. The fill material is comprised of two components that are combined and mixed together just prior to entering the annular gap. The first component is non-cement slurry consisting of a fluidized bed combustion ash such as coal ash. The second component consists of an alkali silicate such as sodium silicate. Additionally, ordinary Portland cement and/or metakaolin can be added to the grout composition.

Abstract: A testing system for testing a missile component having a sense axis includes a centrifuge, a support arm, an orientation assembly, and a controller. The centrifuge rotates the orientation assembly about a vertical axis in a substantially horizontal plane. The orientation assembly includes a first motor, a first gimbal, and a gimballed support. The first motor has a first rotatable shaft defining a first gimbal axis. The first gimbal is coupled with the first rotatable shaft to rotate about the first gimbal axis while the centrifuge rotates the orientation assembly about the vertical axis such that missile component is simultaneously rotated about both the vertical axis and the first gimbal axis to simulate a missile launch of the missile component. The gimballed support is coupled with the first gimbal for supporting the missile component such that the sense axis of the missile component is not parallel to the substantially horizontal plane.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for treating a cancer comprising: a. administering a Btk inhibitor to a subject sufficient to result in an increase or appearance in the blood of a subpopulation of lymphocytes defined by immunophenotyping; b. determining the expression profile of one or more biomarkers from one or more subpopulation of lymphocytes; and c. administering a second agent based on the determined expression profile.

Abstract: Systems for an electric drive axle of a vehicle are provided. In one example, an electric drive axle system includes a gear box including a plurality of gear ratios. The plurality of gear ratios includes a fixed center distance measured from a carrier to an axle on which a plurality of gears or a plurality of pinions is arranged. Each pinion of the plurality of pinions is differently sized, wherein all pinions except for a largest pinion include a pinion baffle. Each gear of the plurality of gears is differently sized, wherein all gears except for a largest gear include a gear baffle.

Abstract: Mineral wool insulation products are provided. The mineral wool insulation includes a plurality of mineral wool fibers and a wax emulsion applied to the mineral wool fibers. The wax emulsion imparts excellent water resistance and thermal performance properties to the mineral wool insulation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for optimizing a controller of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) includes obtaining several samples, each sample having a set of parameters, iteratively performing, until a predetermined condition is satisfied: determining, for each sample, a score according to a configuration of the controller based on the set of parameters of the sample, applying a machine learning model to the samples and corresponding scores to determine a mean function and a variance function, producing a new sample as a minimum of a function of the mean function and the variance function with respect to an input space of the set of parameters, adding the new sample to the several samples, and outputting the new sample as an optimal sample, where parameters of the optimal sample are utilized to configure the controller to autonomously drive the ADV.

Abstract: A method for distributing video content from a server to a plurality of media devices is provided allowing adaptive bit rate encoding to better utilize bandwidth. The method includes: determining, by the server, the bandwidth to allocate to each of the plurality of media devices using a hypertext transfer protocol-based live streaming client model or a need parameter vector, refining this determination by utilizing client feedback regarding client buffer level and playback state, client hardware capabilities, and client internally measured download rate, and providing the allocated bandwidth to each of the plurality of media devices; wherein the video content is transmitted in a plurality of segments from the server, and wherein each segment is transmitted at a bitrate that may vary from segment to segment.

Abstract: A passive optical network includes one or more multi-service terminals each having a housing and a plurality of ruggedized plug-receiving distribution ports accessible from outside the housing. The multi-service terminals also each include an optical power splitter or wave division multiplexer for splitting an optical signal and directing the split signal to the plug-receiving distribution ports. Some of the multi-service terminals provide a different power split ratio from others of the multi-service terminals.

Abstract: A container lid can include: a body having an opening formed therethrough; a sipping member rotatably coupled to the body, a passageway formed through an interior of the sipping member so as to extend from a proximal end of the sipping member to a distal end of the sipping member, the sipping member configured to rotate between a stowed position in which the passageway and the opening are misaligned, such that the opening is sealed, and a released position in which the passageway and the opening are aligned; and a flexible handle connected at a first end to the sipping member and rotatably coupled at a second end to the body via a pivot pin. The handle can be configured such that a substantially downward force exerted on the handle causes rotation of the sipping member toward the released position.

Abstract: Unintended current flow or plasma discharge has been observed in known illuminated electrosurgical devices having a metallic tubular heat sink surrounding a conductive electrode and an illumination element, and having a distal outer edge that abuts against the light emitting element. An insulating, shielding or other isolating element that prevents or discourages unintended plasma formation between the distal outer edge and nearby patient tissue can reduce the potential for tissue damage to a patient or injury to a surgeon.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for affiliate interrupt detection. An example method disclosed herein includes determining whether a first time period of a first audio signal corresponds to a first affiliate interrupt period based on whether (1) a first type of watermark is detected in the first time period of the first audio signal, and (2) a second type of watermark is detected in the first audio signal outside the first time period but not in the first time period of the first audio signal, and determining whether the first time period of the first audio signal corresponds to the first affiliate interrupt period when watermarks are not detected in the first time period of the first audio signal based on comparison of first signatures with second signatures representing a corresponding first time period of a reference audio signal.

Abstract: A light-emitting device comprising VCSELs formed in a die. The VCSEL distribution is characterized by an essentially linear decrease in VCSEL density over the die from a highest VCSEL density in a first die region to a lowest VCSEL density in another die region. The VCSELs share a common anode and a common cathode for collective switching of the plurality of VCSELs. A method of manufacturing such a VCSEL die is also described.

Abstract: Hybrid energy harvesting devices that harvest vibrational energy over a broad frequency spectrum using several different energy harvesting mechanisms that are operable over different frequency ranges. In one embodiment, a device uses an inductive current generator to convert vibrational energy at lower frequencies to electrical energy, and also uses one or more piezoelectric charge generators to convert vibrational energy at higher frequencies to electrical energy. The electrical energy produced by these different mechanisms is provided to a controller which processes the input energy and generates an output which is applied to an energy store such as a battery. The energy stored in the battery can then be drawn by a wireless sensor or other device. The energy harvesting device may have the same form factor as a conventional battery to allow installation in battery-powered equipment without modification.

Abstract: An explosive device is described herein, wherein the explosive device includes a substrate that has a surface, wherein surface energy of a portion of the surface of the substrate has been modified in a vacuum chamber from a first surface energy to a second surface energy. The explosive device additionally includes explosive material that has been deposited on the surface of the substrate in the vacuum chamber by way of physical vapor deposition (PVD), wherein the explosive material is deposited on the portion of the surface of the substrate subsequent to the surface energy of the portion of the surface of the substrate being modified from the first surface energy to the second surface energy.

Abstract: A server system comprising: a respective storage area for each of a plurality of respective parties including a first party and a second party, and a manager function for managing the storage. Each of at least some of the storage areas stores a primary instance of one or more data resources of the respective party. The manager function is configured so as, in response to the second party forming a relationship with one of the resources of the first party, to establish a secondary copy of that one of the resources of the first party in the respective storage area of the second party. In the secondary copy, the manager function also includes personal metadata describing one or more attributes of the relationship between the second party and the resource.

Abstract: A portable barrier includes a junction assembly having a first junction support, a second junction support, and a third junction support, a first fastener, and a second fastener. The first junction support is spaced apart from the second junction support to define a first junction space. The second junction support is spaced apart from the third junction support to define a second junction space. The first fastener defines a first axis and extends through the first junction support, the second junction support, and the third junction support. The second fastener defines a second axis and extends through the first junction support, the second junction support, and the third junction support. And the first axis is spaced apart from the second axis. The portable barrier further includes a pedestal assembly including a plurality of legs that are movable with respect to each other. The plurality of legs includes a first leg and a second leg.

Abstract: Scalable coding concepts are described. One aspect improves parallel decoding of inter-dependent layers of a multi-layer video data stream by introducing a long-term syntax element structure for guaranteeing that during a predetermined time period the pictures of the dependent layer are subdivided so that borders of the spatial segments of the pictures of the second layer and the spatial segments of the first layer overlay. Another aspect concerns upsampling from base layer to enhancement layer. Another aspect introduces a long-term syntax element structure allowing the decoder to determine the inter-layer offset for a predetermined time period. Another aspect introduces a type indicator field changing a way a layer indicator field within the NAL unit headers is to be interpreted. Another aspect allows different codecs/standards to be used for the different layers. Another aspect concerns a syntax element structure which indicates the inter-layer offset in units of the base layer blocks.

Abstract: A load control device for regulating an average magnitude of a load current conducted through an electrical load may operate in different modes. The load control device may comprise a control circuit configured to activate an inverter circuit during an active state period and deactivate the inverter circuit during an inactive state period. In one mode, the control circuit may adjust the average magnitude of the load current by adjusting the inactive state period while keeping the active state period constant. In another mode, the control circuit may adjust the average magnitude of the load current by adjusting the active state period while keeping the inactive state period constant. In yet another mode, the control circuit may keep a duty cycle of the inverter circuit constant and regulate the average magnitude of the load current by adjusting a target load current conducted through the electrical load.