Abstract: Initiator/mediator chemistry for latent imaging polymers for volume Bragg gratings is provided. Light mediated chemistry including the use of nitroxides allows a first step imaging to occur, where a light induced pattern is recorded in the material, without the grating being apparent. A second bleaching/developing step completes the curing process and reveals the grating.

Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein provide a system that can identify two or more independently managed message threads and modify a user interface to enable a common user of the threads to view messages of both threads. For instance, if a user is participating in a first chat session that is displayed within a first message thread, the system can identify other threads that are related to the first thread. The related threads can be identified by a user input or by a query performed by a system. In some embodiments, the system can only search for threads that have at least one common user to the first thread. The system can provide this display of two related threads while linking the threads but not merging the messages of the threads. A data structure can be maintained to control the display of each thread.

Abstract: An example method of operation may include initializing a microphone array in a defined space to receive one or more sound instances based on a preliminary beamform tracking configuration, detecting the one or more sound instances within the defined space via the microphone array, modifying the preliminary beamform tracking configuration, based on a location of the one or more sound instances, to create a modified beamform tracking configuration, and saving the modified beamform tracking configuration in a memory of a microphone array controller.

Abstract: A device receives user rendering data for a 3-D rendering of a user. The 3-D rendering is a proportional representation of the user and the user rendering data is available via an application. The device determines user characteristics of the user. The device receives an indication that a user device has submitted a vehicle search request. The device identifies vehicles to recommend to the user based on an analysis of: the user characteristics, and vehicle characteristics for a collection of vehicles being offered via the application. The device causes vehicle description data for the vehicles to be displayed via an interface of the application. The device receives user interaction data that indicates a user selection of vehicle. The device causes, based on receiving the user interaction data, the interface of the application to display a placement of the 3-D rendering of the user into a 3-D rendering of the vehicle.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for address manipulation using indices and tags. A first index is generated from bits of a processor program counter, where the first index is used to access a branch predictor bimodal table. A first branch prediction is provided from the bimodal table, based on the first index. The first branch prediction is matched against N tables, where the tables contain prior branch histories, and where: the branch history in table T(N) is of greater length than the branch history of table T(N-1), and the branch history in table T(N-1) is of greater length than the branch history of table T(N-2). A processor address is manipulated using a greatest length of hits of branch prediction matches from the N tables, based on one or more hits occurring. The branch predictor address is manipulated using the first branch prediction from the bimodal table, based on zero hits occurring.

Abstract: An EV can be autonomously charged by using its localization and navigation capabilities. The EV determines its pose in a local area and establishes a connection with a charger coordination system. The EV requests the charger coordination system to find a charging station in the local area based on the EV's pose. The charger coordination system uses the EV's pose to find the charging station. The charger coordination system sends the location of the charging station to the EV. The EV navigates to the charger. The EV further determines its pose relative to the charging station and aligns its charge port with the charger plug of the charging station. The EV may plug itself in or request the charger coordination system to insert the charger plug into the charge port. The alignment and insertion process may be managed by using force sensors on the charger plug or charge port.

Abstract: A pallet cover suitable for use in covering at least a portion of a payload on a pallet and a kit for use in making the pallet cover. In one embodiment, the pallet cover includes a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a left side wall, and a right side wall, wherein the walls are detachably joined to one another. Each of the top wall, the front wall, the rear wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall includes a first fabric sheet and a second fabric sheet, the first and second fabric sheets being joined together to form a plurality of pockets. Each pocket may removably receive a temperature-control member containing a phase-change material. At least one of the top wall, the front wall, the rear wall, the left side wall and the right side wall may include a plurality of detachably joined portions.

Abstract: The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of the gas processing system.

Abstract: Technologies are provided for automated configuration of delivery of a product or service. The technologies include a vehicular network that can detect job requests for the delivery of a product or service, where the job requests are based on hashtags. Each vehicle in the vehicular network can include an apparatus that can receive request data from a computing system remotely located relative to the vehicle. A first portion of the request data defines a job request which can be detected by the apparatus by validating the request data. The apparatus can then update a ledger record and also can cause other vehicle in the vehicular network to update other respective ledger records. In addition, the apparatus can send a response to the job request to the computing system. The response permits implementing, or managing the implementation, of a transaction corresponding to the job request.

Abstract: A modular wash/sanitation rack assembly having a wall support, a plurality of channels, a gear rack mount, and a gear support. The plurality of channels includes at least two wall support channels.

Abstract: A check valve includes a valve body defining a valve bore extending from a first axial end to a second axial end, the valve body including an annular body and a cross member secured to and extending across the valve bore from the annular body on one side of the valve body to the annular body on an opposite side of the valve body, the valve bore at the cross member divided into more than one portion by the cross member; a position block extending from the cross member; a valve member positioned within the valve body and configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position; and a pivot pin extending from the valve member, engaged with the position block, and fixed with respect to the valve member; the valve member and the pivot pin configured to rotate together between the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: A system includes a flash tank, a first load, a second load, a first compressor, a second compressor, a first valve, and a second valve. The flash tank stores a refrigerant. The first and second loads use the refrigerant to cool first and second spaces. The first compressor compresses the refrigerant from the first load during a first mode of operation and a flash gas from the flash tank during a second mode of operation. The second compressor compresses a mixture of the refrigerant from the first and second loads during the first mode of operation. The first valve directs the flash gas from the flash tank to the first compressor during the second mode of operation. The second valve directs the compressed flash gas from the first compressor to the first load during the second mode of operation to defrost the first load.

Abstract: Loose particulate materials can be problematic in various aspects. For example, loose particulate materials may generate dust or be difficult to consolidate together. Fines in loose particulate materials may also be an issue. Coated particulates may alleviate some of the foregoing issues. Suitable coated particulates may comprise a particulate material comprising sand or a ceramic, and a polysaccharide composition coated upon the particulate material, the polysaccharide composition comprising a functionalized polysaccharide. Other particulate materials such as wood chips and animal litter particulates may be coated with functionalized polysaccharides to achieve similar advantages.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for sterile delivery of prostheses that protect refined and/or conditioned surface properties and thereby reduce aging of surface properties in prostheses. An example of the system includes a partially custom-shaped holder that also serves as an insertion tool that holds a customized dental prosthesis in a pre-defined position inside a titanium container that is hermetically sealed. Container materials serve as a getter or catalyst with respect to the osseoconductive surface. An example of the method includes laser welding to hermetically seal a metal container as packaging for a prosthesis with a metal foil, and the sterilization of the packaged and sealed prosthesis with dry heat.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode and a manual driving mode. The vehicle may include a steering system having one or more processors configured to control the orientation of the one or more wheels based on control commands. The vehicle may also include an autonomous driving control system configured to control the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode by generating the control commands and to send the control commands to the steering system. In addition, the steering system may thermally derate the steering system based on first temperature information for the steering system when the vehicle is operating in a manual drive mode, and the autonomous driving control system may thermally derate the steering system based on second temperature information for the steering system when the vehicle is operating in the autonomous driving mode.

Abstract: A power supply unit adapts based on an image to be displayed by a display panel. The power supply unit includes a controller circuit for generating a control signal, and a converter circuit for generating an output supply voltage based on the control signal. The controller circuit includes a first look-up table (LUT) storing a set of lower limit values, and a second LUT storing a set of upper limit values. Moreover, the controller circuit includes a microcontroller for receiving an on-pixel-ratio (OPR) value and identifying an entry in the first LUT and the second LUT from the received OPR value. The controller circuit further includes an output circuit for generating the control signal between a first voltage corresponding to a lower limit stored in the identified entry in the first LUT and a second voltage corresponding to an upper limit stored in the identified entry in the second LUT.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling operation of a first access node that supports operation according to a first radio access technology (RAT) but does not support dual-connectivity operation according to the first RAT and a second RAT. A system detects a high extent of occurrences of dual-connectivity-capable user equipment devices (UEs) being connected with the first access node when the dual-connectivity-capable UEs could instead connect with a second access node that supports the dual-connectivity operation. And in response, the first access node blocks dual-connectivity-capable UEs from being connected with the first access node while allowing UEs that are not dual-connectivity capable to be connected with the first access node.

Abstract: Described herein is an stain and sag resistant acoustic building panel comprising a porous body formed from building material and latex binder, wherein the building material may include fibers and filler and at one of the building materials has been pre-treated with a charge-modifying component, thereby enhancing the sag-resistance of the building panel.

Abstract: A alternating stack of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers is formed over a substrate. An array of memory opening fill structures and an array of support pillar structures are formed through the alternating stack. Backside trenches are formed through the alternating stack by performing an anisotropic etch process. The anisotropic etch process etches peripheral portions of a subset of the array of support pillar structures. The sacrificial material layers are replaced with electrically conductive layer by forming backside recesses while the support pillar structures provide mechanical support to the insulating layers.

Abstract: The disclosed techniques improve the efficiency and functionality of virtual event platforms by segmenting users that attend a virtual event. An event segmenter retrieves user data for each attending user. The user data can include interaction data from past virtual events, topic data derived from user activity, social data defining the user's social relationships, etc. The event segmenter uses the user data to identify topics of interest for each user and generate an interaction graph for each user based on the topics of interest. The event segmenter uses the interaction graphs to generate user segments for the virtual event and assign each user to a user segment based on matching topics of interest. A model optimizer collects and analyzes user activity within each user segment to train the event segmenter to modify interaction graphs. In this way, the event segmenter can improve the virtual event segmentation process over time.