Abstract: A method of making polyurethane or polyurethane urea strands containing siloxane in the polyurethane or polyurethane urea backbone including the steps of: (a) reacting a macroglycol with a diisocyanate to form a prepolymer; (b) reacting the prepolymer with a diamine to form a spinning solution; (c) spinning the spinning solution to form polyurethane or polyurethane urea strands, wherein: i. a diol-polydimethylsiloxane is reacted with the macroglycol and the diisocyanate in step (a); ii. a diamine-polydimethylsiloxane is reacted with the prepolymer prior to the reaction of the prepolymer with the diamine in step (b); or iii. a diamine-polydimethylsiloxane is reacted at the same time as the prepolymer and diamine in step (b), and wherein the polyurethane or polyurethane urea strands comprise less than or equal to 6% of siloxane by weight based on the weight of the polyurethane or polyurethane urea strands and elastic fibers made thereby.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for monitoring a localization function in an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) can use known static objects as ground truths to determine when the localization function encounter errors. The known static objects are marked on a high definition (HD) map for the real-time driving environment. When the ADV detects one or more known static objects, the ADV can use sensor data, locations of the one or more static objects, and one or more error tolerance parameters to create a localization error tolerance area surrounding a current location of the ADV. The ADV can project the tolerance area on the HD map, performs a localization operation to generate an expected location of the ADV on the HD map, and determines whether the generated location falls within the projected tolerance area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus encrypting data for use by an application includes receiving a first clear data in a security application running concurrently with the application. The security application encrypts the first clear data to generate a first encrypted package and distributes the encrypted package for use by the application or by other applications running concurrently with the application. The security application also receives and decrypts encrypted packages from the application or one of the other applications to provide clear data for use by the application. The security application may be implemented as a data entry utility that can be accessed directly by the application.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to conducting electronic transactions via a computer network. A server receives data packets carrying data identifying a merchant category, an electronic account maintained and configured on the server, and a first monetary amount of a first electronic transaction. A first device generates the data packets at the merchant to conduct the electronic transaction. A policy engine selects a first purse of a plurality of purses allocated to the electronic account based on a policy applied to the data. The first purse may be configured as a benefits purse. The server obtains the first monetary amount of the electronic transaction from the first purse. The policy engine applies a second policy to the data to determine a reimbursement amount based on the first monetary amount of the transaction, and electronically provides the reimbursement amount to a different second purse of the electronic account.

Abstract: The invention features multi-specific fusion protein complexes with one domain comprising IL-15 or a functional variant and a binding domain specific to IL-12 or IL-18.

Abstract: A system for disabling an electric vehicle during charging, including an energy storage device, the energy storage device attached to an electric vehicle. T The system including a charging port, wherein the charging port is configured to engage with a charging connector, the charging port disposed on the electric vehicle and electrically connected to the energy storage device. The system also including a presence sensor, the presence sensor communicatively connected to the charging port, the presence sensor configured to detect whether the charging connector is engaged with the charging port. Additionally, the system including an interlock component, the interlock component configured to disable the electric vehicle when the charging connector is engaged with the charging port.

Abstract: A trilobular packaging element, including at least some of a sheet extending from a first terminal end to a second terminal end and including one or more alternating ridges and grooves, wherein the length of the sheet is defined between a terminating proximal end and a terminating distal end; a first extension portion defined along a portion of the sheet; a central portion defined along a portion of the sheet, extending from the first extension portion; and a second extension portion defined along a portion of the sheet, extending from the central portion to the terminating distal end, wherein the sheet is formed to be bent or folded between the first extension portion and the central portion and between the central portion and the second extension portion such that a portion of the second extension portion overlaps a portion the first extension portion to form a deformable hollow.

Abstract: A modified API buttress threaded casing connection is disclosed for use in drilling oil and gas wells in lieu of using conventional drill pipe. The coupling threads only are modified to include a reduced thread height thread form to relieve thread stresses at axial ends of the coupling. The reduced thread height thread form may be mated with standard single tapered API buttress thread forms formed on the pin ends. The axial length of the coupling may be generally shortened to permit abutment of the mating pins at the center of the coupling.

Abstract: The disclosed optical lens assemblies may include a deformable optical element and at least one adaptive element positioned at a peripheral region of the deformable optical element. The deformable optical element may include a substantially transparent electroactive element positioned at least partially within an optical aperture of the deformable optical element. An electrical driving circuit may be configured to apply a voltage to the electroactive element to deform the electroactive element and thus change at least one optical property of the deformable optical element. The at least one adaptive element may be positioned outside of the optical aperture and may be configured to alter a physical boundary condition of the deformable optical element. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Adapting an automated assistant based on detecting: movement of a mouth of a user; and/or that a gaze of the user is directed at an assistant device that provides an automated assistant interface (graphical and/or audible) of the automated assistant. The detecting of the mouth movement and/or the directed gaze can be based on processing of vision data from one or more vision components associated with the assistant device, such as a camera incorporated in the assistant device. The mouth movement that is detected can be movement that is indicative of a user (to whom the mouth belongs) speaking.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a computer program product, a computer system, and a computer-implemented method for generating a data model that machine learns from social media postings to determine whether social media postings will gain traction.

Abstract: A liner hanger system includes a mandrel and an extension disposed radially outwardly of the mandrel at least in part. The extension is disposed to urge a seal/anchor to a set position. A running tool is disposed radially inwardly of the mandrel and a ring is resiliently engagable with the mandrel and the extension simultaneously upon being deflected radially outwardly by the running tool.

Abstract: A system includes a hole-through-middle (HTM) fender, a threaded rod passing through the fender such that the fender is configured to rotate with respect to the rod about an axis, a protective sheath surrounding the rod, and first and second mounting brackets into which the rod is threaded.

Abstract: Many embodiments can comprise a system. The system can comprise one or more processors and one or more storage devices. The one or more storage devices can be configured to store computing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to receive a plurality of images of an object, the plurality of images comprising different views of the object from around the object; iteratively align one or more images within one or more subsets of the plurality of images until the object is aligned from image to image within the one or more subsets of the plurality of images; and selectively align respective images of the one or more subsets to each other to produce a surround image. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method for automatic selection of display settings for a medical image is provided. The method includes receiving a medical image, mapping the medical image to an appearance classification cell of an appearance classification matrix using a trained deep neural network, selecting a first WW and a first WC for the medical image based on the appearance classification and a target appearance classification, adjusting the first WW and the first WC based on user preferences to produce a second WW and a second WC, and displaying the medical image with the second WW and the second WC via a display device.

Abstract: Deep reinforcement learning techniques and provenance-based simulation are employed for resource allocation in a shared computing environment.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a first controller that sends a request to enter a lower power mode, and a plurality of second controllers. The second controllers each periodically send the first controller signals indicating operation in a normal power mode while being powered by a primary power converter, and responsive to receiving the request, do not send the signals during the low power mode while being capable of powered by an auxiliary power converter that has a maximum power limit less than the primary power converter. Also, the first controller, responsive to not receiving the signals for a predetermined period of time, disconnects the first and second controllers from the primary power converter.

Abstract: A backpack for use alone or in conjunction with a hiking or book backpack where the backpack includes a plurality of storage compartments, a main storage compartment, a first side storage compartment and a second side storage compartment. A top opening of the main compartment is accessed via the opening and closing mechanism to allow the user access to the interior volume of the main storage compartment when in a horizontal orientation and a top opening of the first compartment is accessed via the opening and closing mechanism of the first compartment, which is positioned at the top of the first compartment when the flexible backpack system is positioned in the vertical position and from the side when in the horizontal position.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymer blends that can be used in a multilayer structure and to multilayer structures including one or more layers formed from such blends. In one aspect, a polymer blend includes a copolymer including ethylene and at least one of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid having an acid content greater than 4 and up to 25 weight percent based on the weight of the copolymer and having a melt index (I.sub.2) of 1 to 60 g/10 minutes, wherein the total amount of ethylene acrylic acid copolymer and ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer includes 45 to 99 weight percent of the blend based on the total weight of the blend, and a polyolefin having a density of 0.870 g/cm.sup.3 or more and having a melt index (I.sub.2) of 20 g/10 minutes or less, wherein the polyolefin includes 1 to 55 weight percent of the blend based on the total weight of the blend.

Abstract: A method for recycling molten salt from electrorefining processes, the method having the steps of collecting actinide metal using a first plurality of cathodes from an electrolyte bath, collecting rare earths metal using a second plurality of cathodes from the electrolyte bath, inserting the collected actinide metal and uranium into the bath, and chlorinating the inserted actinide metal and uranium. Also provided is a system for recycling molten salt, the system having a vessel adapted to receive and heat electrolyte salt, a first plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, a second plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, an anode positioned within the vessel so as to be coaxially aligned with the vessel, and a vehicle for inserting uranium into the salt.