Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.

Abstract: Clean, safe and efficient methods, systems, and processes for utilizing thermolysis methods to processes to convert various carpet, rug, polymeric materials and other waste sources, such as solid waste, tires, manure, auto shredder residue, glass and carbon fiber composite materials, municipal solid wastes, medical wastes, waste wood and the like into a Clean Fuel Gas and Char source are disclosed. The invention processes the carpet, rug, polymeric material to effectively shred and/or grind the waste source, such as post-consumer carpet remnants and waste, and then process using thermolysis methods to destroy and/or separate halogen and other dangerous components to provide a Clean Fuel Gas and Char source. Additional waste sources, such as solid waste, tires, manure, auto shredder residue, glass and carbon fiber composite materials, municipal solid wastes, medical wastes, waste wood and the like, are suitable for the processing of the invention disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle interior system for a vehicle includes a steering wheel support assembly operable between retracted and extended positions and having a steering wheel coupled thereto, a foot pedal disposed within a foot well of the vehicle and operable between a foot pedal use position and a foot pedal stowed position, and a foot rest disposed within the foot well and operable between a foot rest use position and a foot rest stowed position. The movement of the steering wheel support assembly toward the retracted position causes the foot pedal to move toward the foot pedal stowed position and the foot rest to move toward the foot rest use position.

Abstract: Rheology-modified, additive-containing ethylenic polymer compositions are prepared in a continuously operated extruder comprising first, second and third zones by a process comprising the steps of: mixing in the second zone of the extruder an ethylenic polymer and a high-temperature decomposing peroxide at a temperature such that the half-life of the peroxide is equal to or greater than one minute and for a sufficient period of time to modify the rheology of the ethylenic polymer to produce a rheology-modified, melted ethylenic polymer for transfer to the third zone of the extruder; and adding to the third zone one or more additives to the rheology-modified, melted ethylenic polymer to produce the rheology-modified, additive-containing ethylenic polymer.

Abstract: A method including acquiring measurements representing torque applied to a connection between a first tubular and a second tubular, a rotational position of the first tubular relative to the second tubular, or both, obtaining a plurality of make-up parameters representing conditions under which the connection is fully made, generating a plurality of rules for connection evaluation based on the make-up parameters, and automatically evaluating the connection using a computer. Automatically evaluating includes applying machine learning, the plurality of rules, or a combination thereof to a dataset of the measurements. The method also includes recommending accepting or rejecting the connection based on the automatic evaluation.

Abstract: An electroplating copper layer includes bamboo-like copper crystal particles having a highly preferred orientation. The bamboo-like copper crystal particles have a long axis direction and a short axis direction, and the bamboo-like copper crystal particles have a length of 20 nm to 5 ?m in the long axis direction and a length of 20 nm to 2 ?m in the short axis direction. The bamboo-like copper crystal particles have a uniform particle size, and the electroplating copper layer has a major diffraction peak at a 2? angle of about 44°.

Abstract: A cartomizer of an electronic vaping device includes a heater circuit which is located adjacent an air passage thereof. The heater circuit includes an electrically resistive heater in electrical communication with a secondary coil. A wick extends across the air passage. The wick is configured to draw pre-vapor formulation from a reservoir toward the heater. The heater is configured to heat the pre-vapor formulation to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the pre-vapor formulation and form a vapor. The cartomizer is connectable to a power supply component which includes a power source in electrical communication with a primary coil. The power supply component is configured to induce sufficient voltage in the secondary coil of the heater circuit such that the secondary coil is configured to heat the heater and vaporize the pre-vapor formulation when the primary coil is powered by the power source.

Abstract: A fastener feeding system and method for automatically delivering fasteners to a plurality of different manufacturing cells in a manufacturing line from a single load point. The fastener feeding system includes a fastener distribution assembly and a transport assembly for selecting and delivering fasteners to the manufacturing cells. Individual fasteners are selected from a fastener reservoir by a robotic manipulator of the fastener distribution assembly, and are placed on a fastener carrier supported on conveying structure extending between the fastener distribution assembly and the manufacturing cells for movement therealong. The fastener carrier is controlled to move along the track to deliver one or more fasteners to a manufacturing cell.

Abstract: A sacrificial anode for use with a meter is provided. The sacrificial anode comprising an anode body including one or more anodic metals, the anode body being configured to be positioned in a problem area of the meter including a cathodic metal, such that the anode body corrodes in place of the cathodic metal of the problem area preserving the cathodic metal. Related meters and systems are also provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide methods, apparatuses, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like for identifying data processing activities associated with various data assets based on data discovery results. In accordance various aspects, a method is provided comprising: identifying and scanning data assets to detect a subset of the data assets, wherein each asset of the subset is associated with a particular data element used for target data; generating a prediction for each pair of data assets of the subset on the target data flowing between the pair; identifying a data flow for the target data based on the prediction generated for each pair; and identifying a data processing activity associated with handling the target data based on a correlation identified for the particular data element, the subset, and/or the data flow with a known data element, subset, and/or data flow for the data processing activity.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for generating dynamic conversational responses using two-tier machine learning models. The dynamic conversational responses may be generated in real time and reflect the likely goals and/or intents of a user. The two-tier machine learning model may include a first tier that determines an intent cluster based on a feature input, and a second tier that determines a specific intent from the cluster.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a host device configured to communicate over a network with a storage system. The host device comprises a multi-path input-output driver configured to control delivery of input-output operations from the host device to the storage system over selected ones of a plurality of paths through the network. The multi-path input-output driver is further configured to collect information characterizing input-output patterns for each of a plurality of different applications executing on the host device, and to provide the collected information to a machine learning system. The machine learning system utilizes the collected information to generate one or more application predictions based at least in part on analysis of observed input-output patterns. The collected information in some embodiments comprises statistical distributions of numbers of input-output operations having payload sizes falling into specified ranges over a given time period.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating an on-demand distributed aperture by mechanical articulation. In some aspects, a process can include steps for determining a location of an autonomous vehicle, determining whether a maneuver requires long range detections or medium range detections based on the location of the autonomous vehicle, positioning at least two articulated radars based on the determining of whether the maneuver requires long range detections or medium range detections, and enabling a mode of resolution based on the positioning of the at least two articulated radars and by utilizing a static radar. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a plurality of training data sets each associated with a respective native language and includes a plurality of respective training data samples. For each respective training data sample of each training data set in the respective native language, the method includes transliterating the corresponding transcription in the respective native script into corresponding transliterated text representing the respective native language of the corresponding audio in a target script and associating the corresponding transliterated text in the target script with the corresponding audio in the respective native language to generate a respective normalized training data sample.

Abstract: A sensing assembly includes an electronics assembly for use with a fire hydrant, the electronics assembly comprising: a sensor in fluid communication with the channel; at least one battery in electrical communication with the sensor; an antenna in electrical communication with the sensor; and a cover protecting the sensing assembly.

Abstract: Various examples are directed to livestock management systems and methods. A first user computing device may display a GUI comprising a first animal visual element. The first animal visual element may correspond to the first animal and indicate a first colostrum feeding of the first animal. When a user selects the first animal visual element, the user computing device may display a first colostrum input screen for receiving first colostrum data. The user computing device may also modify the first animal visual element to indicate the time status of the first testing action for the first animal.

Abstract: A fog service layer architecture is disclosed using hierarchical fog node deployment including the co-existence and interactions of the fog node with a cloud node. The architecture also includes a list of functions, capabilities or services that are hosted in each fog node. One or more fog management procedures may be run between fog nodes (or between fogs and the cloud) and may comprise a fog capability discovery procedure, a fog connection verification procedure, and a fog capability status report procedure. In addition, fog nodes may be configured to interact with each other to get particular services using one or more fog service procedures described herein.

Abstract: A secured exploration agent for reinforcement learning (RL) is provided. Securitizing an exploration agent includes training the exploration agent to avoid dead-end states and dead-end trajectories. During training, the exploration agent “learns” to identify and avoid dead-end states of a Markov Decision Process (MDP). The secured exploration agent is utilized to safely and efficiently explore the environment, while significantly reducing the training time, as well as the cost and safety concerns associated with conventional RL. The secured exploration agent is employed to guide the behavior of a corresponding exploitation agent. During training, a policy of the exploration agent is iteratively updated to reflect an estimated probability that a state is a dead-end state. The probability, via the exploration policy, that the exploration agent chooses an action that results in a transition to a dead-end state is reduced to reflect the estimated probability that the state is a dead-end state.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for trick play using partial video file chunks includes a processor to retrieve the selected video file from an HLS server, the video file having a plurality of video chunks, and each one of the video chunks beginning with an I-frame. The processor may determine an average size of the plurality of I-frames. The average I-frame size may be based on a bitrate speed of the video file. The processor may retrieve a portion equal to the average I-frame size of from the beginning of each one of the plurality of chunks of the video. The processor may receive a begin trick play request of the selected video and initiate trick play of the selected video. The trick play of the video includes displaying each portion of each one of the plurality of chunks of the video.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for modifying a subsection of uploaded media are presented. An instruction component receives a media file and a media enhancement instruction that includes enhancement data and media interval data for a first segment of the media file. A processing component modifies the first segment of the media file associated with the media interval data based on the enhancement data to generate an edited first segment of the media file. A finalization component generates an edited version of the media file that includes the edited first segment of the media file and at least a second segment of the media file that is not modified based on the enhancement data.