Abstract: A non-volatile memory combines a hard bit and a soft bit read into a single, efficient soft sense sequence by using two sense per state level to improve read time efficiency. Rather than a standard hard bit read, where two soft bit reads are performed, offset above and below the hard bit read value, the hard bit read is shifted so that it reliable senses one state but less reliably senses the other state and soft bit data is only determined for the less reliably sensed state. This reduces the amount of soft bit data. The efficient soft sense sequence can be used as a default read mode, providing soft bit information for ECC correction without triggering a read error handling flow. Merging the soft bit and hard bit sense into one sequence can avoid extra overhead for read sequence operations.

Abstract: A prediction processing system, method, and method for doing business is disclosed. The prediction processing system can collect, process and publish event-outcome information. The prediction processing system can dynamically filter participants into groupings and iteratively optimize odds calculations over time. A proposal framework consisting of a various abstract proposal types can model and settle propositions. Game propositions can be automatically generated based on event categorization relationships. The prediction processing system can provide game players or others with access to collective intelligence, including prediction information and information derived from prediction information. The prediction processing system can create groupings of better-performing predictors and provide them with additional information not generally available. Better-performing predictors can be provided with additional stakes to increase the weight of their predictions in odds calculations.

Abstract: A shield system for installation to a toilet bowl for temporarily covering an outlet port of the toilet bowl. The shield system includes a support assembly, a membrane, and a mounting assembly. The support assembly includes a base piece defining a central aperture sized to receive the outlet port. The membrane is connected to the base piece and extends across the central aperture. The mounting assembly is configured for securing the shield system to the toilet bowl in a region of the outlet port (e.g., to a base of the toilet bowl), and can include two threaded bolts. In an installed arrangement, the membrane is secured over the outlet port in liquid tight manner, serving to prevent discharge of contained water from the toilet bowl.

Abstract: A door assembly includes a door having opposing first and second surfaces and a hole defined in the door and extending between the first and second surfaces, a cylinder lock mounted to the second surface at the hole, and a cylinder dry lock assembly mounted to the door at the hole adjacent the first surface. The cylinder dry lock assembly including a main body that defines a central orifice, a low-friction member received within the central orifice, and an actuation mechanism extending from the low-friction member and engageable with the cylinder lock. Actuating the cylinder lock rotates the actuation mechanism, and the cylinder dry lock assembly generates a sealed interface at the hole that prevents water from migrating between the first and second surfaces at the hole.

Abstract: A plant growing system, having a plant container made of flexible material, the container having a plurality of air and water exchange pores disposed throughout the flexible material and a cavity defined by the contours of the flexible material, and a volume of living horticultural media disposed inside the cavity. The distribution of the exchange pores, the nutrient profile, and the water retention profile of the living horticultural media promote desired plant growth and characteristics.

Abstract: The PEO grown metal-oxide coated electrocatalyst replaces the current carbon supported catalyst with a more robust and effective metal-oxide scaffold, which increases the lifetime and efficiency of fuel cells and electrolyzers. Using a novel method in catalyst ion and nanoparticle application to the electrocatalyst scaffold, we can increase the lifetime by reducing particle dissolution, resulting in longer acceptable efficiencies. The process also has lower infrastructure and upkeep costs to those currently employed, so savings can be passed on to the consumer.

Abstract: A uterine manipulator can include a shaft including a first end, a second end, and embodiments of a cutting head configured and arranged to receive a cervix. The cutting head can be configured and adapted to be used to cut the tissue joining the vaginal wall to the cervix and uterus to facilitate removal of the uterus in a minimally invasive manner.

Abstract: An electronic vaping device includes a housing, a planar heater, a heater support, a tank, and a wick. The housing extends in a longitudinal direction and has a tip end and a mouth-end. The tip end is closed and the mouth-end has an opening therein. The heater support supports the planar heater. The tank contains a pre-vapor formulation and is configured to slide into and out of the opening of the mouth-end of the housing. The wick extends from the tank and is configured to be in contact with the planar heater when the tank is inserted in the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus including an assembly associated with a downhole tool configured to thermally isolate a thermally sensitive component. Components of the assembly include an external isolating vessel; a passive thermal barrier encased in the external isolating vessel; at least one electronic component housed within the downhole tool for monitoring geothermal well properties; and at least one thermally sensitive electronics carrier package positioned within the passive thermal barrier comprising thermally sensitive electronic components. The passive thermal barrier ideally comprises an additively manufactured layered labyrinthine shell structure, a plurality of polarly phased centralizers between shell layers and minimal centralizing contact points on its exterior shell, to minimize known heat transfer modes associated with the external isolating vessel.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for video processing. In some examples, an apparatus for video processing includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry determines one or more parameters of a temporal filter based on video contents in an uncompressed video. The uncompressed video includes a sequence of frames. Then, the processing circuitry applies the temporal filter with the determined parameter on a first pixel in a first frame to determine a filtered value for the first pixel based on the first pixel in the first frame and second pixels in a group of reference frames for the first frame. Further, the processing circuitry encodes a filtered video that includes the filtered value for the first pixel in the first frame to generate a coded video bitstream that carries the filtered video.

Abstract: A system comprising one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computing instructions that, when executed on the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform: receiving requests for at least two pick-walks to fulfill multiple orders; mapping each of the multiple items to respective aisles within at least a single portion of the location; calculating, using core logic, a minimum distance for each one of two or more pick-walks to fulfill the multiple orders, wherein the two or more pick-walks are revised through multiple iterations; generating the at least two pick-walks based on the two or more pick-walks; and transmitting the at least two pick-walks to the at least two pickers. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for training a speech recognition model with a loss function includes receiving an audio signal including a first segment corresponding to audio spoken by a first speaker, a second segment corresponding to audio spoken by a second speaker, and an overlapping region where the first segment overlaps the second segment. The overlapping region includes a known start time and a known end time. The method also includes generating a respective masked audio embedding for each of the first and second speakers. The method also includes applying a masking loss after the known end time to the respective masked audio embedding for the first speaker when the first speaker was speaking prior to the known start time, or applying the masking loss prior to the known start time when the first speaker was speaking after the known end time.

Abstract: To provision a client application on a client device, a user may be provided with a QR code, a one-time password, or a manual entry page for starting a credential provisioning process via a credential provisioning service provided by a credential provisioning server in a secure network. The client application may include information on trusted servers operating in the secure network. The credential provisioning server may operate to perform a sequence of actions to verify user credentials and determine, based on rules applicable to the user, the client device, or a combination thereof, whether the client application is to be provisioned on a client device. If so, the credential provisioning server may operate to generate a key pair, obtain a signed certificate, encrypt them, and send them to the client device such that the client application can use them to establish a mutual secure connection with a trusted server.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a closure assembly for use with a container (e.g., an aerosol can). The closure assembly includes a skirt and a protective cap. In some embodiments, a lock feature temporarily attaches the protective cap to the container and increases a force required for a user to remove the protective cap. In some embodiments, an inner lock opening of the skirt is configured to be registered with an outer lock opening to receive a locking element therethrough. In some embodiments, a set screw is positioned in the skirt to selectively allow or inhibit relative rotation between the skirt and the protective cap. In some embodiments, a biasing element selectively allows or inhibits engagement of threads of the protective cap with the threads of the skirt depending upon application of an axial force to overcome a biasing force of the biasing element.

Abstract: A Mass Flow Sensor (MFS) is provided and includes an MFS housing, a mounting structure, having a mounting structure top and a mounting structure bottom, wherein the MFS housing is associated with the mounting structure top, a first sensor leg, wherein the first sensor leg extends away from the mounting structure bottom and includes a first temperature measurement device and a heating element. The MFS further includes a second sensor leg, wherein the second sensor leg extends away from the mounting structure and includes a second temperature measurement device and an airfoil structure, wherein the airfoil structure defines an airfoil cavity and is associated with the mounting structure bottom to contain the first sensor leg and the second sensor leg.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel Amido-Substituted Heterocycle Compounds of Formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein X, R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined herein. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising at least one Amido-Substituted Heterocycle Compound, and methods of using the Amido-Substituted Heterocycle Compounds for treating or preventing a herpesvirus infection in a patient.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for detecting a potential damage caused to a vehicle when the vehicle is placed on a transporter. The method includes obtaining a first image and a second image taken at different time instances. The first image and the second image are generated by one or more cameras placed around a vehicle on a transporter, and cover a same portion of a body of the vehicle. The method further includes detecting a change between a portion of the first image corresponding to the portion of the body of the vehicle and a portion of the second image corresponding to the portion of the body of the vehicle indicative of a collision. Moreover, the method includes flagging a potential damage to the portion of the body of the vehicle based on the detected change between the first image and the second image.

Abstract: A localized smart contract banking system, comprising: a local banking hub located at each of a plurality of individual merchant facilities, a private wireless network implemented by each of the local banking hubs and providing for communication between local banking hubs located at neighboring merchant facilities within range of the private wireless networks, a local gateway installed at specific local banking hubs providing access to a wide area network, a cloud management hub communication with the specific local banking hubs over the wide area network, and a mobile smartphone type device communicating directly with a local banking hub via the private wireless network and with the cloud management hub via the cellular interface.

Abstract: EC film stacks and different layers within the EC film stacks are disclosed. Methods of manufacturing these layers are also disclosed. In one embodiment, an EC layer comprises nanostructured EC layer. These layers may be manufactured by various methods, including, including, but not limited to glancing angle deposition, oblique angle deposition, electrophoresis, electrolyte deposition, and atomic layer deposition. The nanostructured EC layers have a high specific surface area, improved response times, and higher color efficiency.

Abstract: Techniques for video content based on multiple capture devices are described and are implementable to enable multiple video capture devices to be utilized for a video feed. Generally, the described implementations enable video content captured by multiple video capture devices to be utilized, such as to integrate different instances of video content into a merged video content stream. In at least one implementation this provides higher quality video attributes to be utilized than is provided by utilizing a single video content source.