Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for command status polling at a flash queue of a non-volatile memory device. The flash queue may be configured to perform polling on the status of flash operations without direct oversight from the data storage controller or firmware. In certain embodiments, a flash queue circuit may be configured to receive, from a data storage controller of a nonvolatile solid state memory (NVSSM) data storage device, one or more commands to access a flash memory of the NVSSM data storage device, each command of the one or more commands including one or more instructions. The flash queue circuit may execute the one or more commands to access the flash memory, evaluate a status response from the flash memory at the flash queue circuit, and re-execute a sequence of instructions of the one or more commands based on the status response.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub, and a plurality of blades supported by the hub, the blades being arranged in at least two blade rows. The impeller has a deployed configuration in which the blades extend away from the hub, and a stored configuration in which at least one of the blades is radially compressed, for example by folding the blade towards the hub. The impeller may also have an operational configuration in which at least some of the blades are deformed from the deployed configuration upon rotation of the impeller when in the deployed configuration. The outer edge of one or more blades may have a winglet, and the base of the blades may have an associated indentation to facilitate folding of the blades.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and systems are provided for performing Near Field Communication (NFC) communication with a first NFC device that includes a NFC writable component and an operating system that restricts writing to the NFC writable component and allows reading NDEF messages from a source other than the NFC writable component. A method includes receiving, by a remote server, a serial number of the NFC writable component. The method further includes generating, by the remote server, a unique ID based on the serial number. The method also includes storing, by the remote server, the unique ID with a name of the NFC writable component. The method additionally includes preparing and sending, by the remote server, a Near Field Communication Data Exchange Format (NDEF) message to the NFC device that includes the unique ID together with information to be shared with a user of the NFC device.

Abstract: A helmet for protecting a head of a wearer, such as a hockey, lacrosse, football or other sports player. The helmet includes an outer shell and an inner padding disposed between the outer shell and the wearer's head when the helmet is worn. The inner padding includes a plurality of shock absorbers and an interconnector interconnecting the shock absorbers, each shock absorber being deformable in response to a rotational impact on the helmet such that an outer part of the shock absorber moves relative to an inner part of the shock absorber in a direction tangential to an angular movement of the outer shell due to the rotational impact.

Abstract: A docking station is provided that includes at least one component configured to couple to a robot and an identification surface. The identification surface includes a first curvature that varies at a first substantially constant rate of change along a first dimension the identification includes a second curvature that varies at a second substantially constant rate of change along a second dimension. The second dimension is orthogonal to the first dimension. The identification surface includes a third curvature that varies at a third substantially constant rate of change along a third dimension. The third dimension is orthogonal to the first dimension and the second dimension.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a method and device for creating an index. For example, the embodiments of the present disclosure propose a method for creating an index, comprising: dividing a document into a plurality of regions; determining the number of times that a token appears in the plurality of regions, the token including at least one character in the document; assigning respective weights to the plurality of regions; and creating an inverted document linked list directed to the token based on the number of times that the token appears in the plurality of regions and respective weights of the plurality of regions. In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure propose a corresponding device and computer program product for creating an index.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to electric, potentially-driven shades usable with insulating glass (IG) units, IG units including such shades, and/or associated methods. In such a unit, a dynamic shade is located between the substrates defining the IG unit, and is movable between retracted and extended positions. The dynamic shade includes on-glass layers including a transparent conductor and an insulator or dielectric film, as well as a shutter. The shutter includes a resilient polymer-based layer and a conductive layer. A first voltage is applied to the transparent conductors to cause the shutter to extend to a closed position, and a second voltage is applied to a stop to electrostatically hold the shutter in the closed position. The first and second voltage levels can be reduced once the shutter is extended to the closed position, the reduction to the first voltage level being greater than the reduction to the second voltage level.

Abstract: A method for forming a thermoplastic body having regions with varied material composition and/or porosity. Powder blends comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a sacrificial porogen and an inorganic reinforcement or filler are molded to form complementary parts with closely toleranced mating surfaces. The parts are formed discretely, assembled and compression molded to provide a unitary article that is free from discernible boundaries between the assembled parts. Each part in the assembly has differences in composition and/or porosity, and the assembly has accurate physical features throughout the sections of the formed article, without distortion and nonuniformities caused by variable compaction and densification rates in methods that involve compression molding powder blends in a single step.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing acrylamide concentration in heat-processed products, and products produced by such methods and systems are provided. The baked products may be sprayed with a riboflavin solution and then irradiated with a UV light source to initiate monomer reactions of acrylamide and reduce the concentration of the acrylamide in the baked product. In addition, riboflavin may be dissolved in heat-processed products, followed by irradiation of the riboflavin-containing heat-processed products with a UV light source to initiate monomer reactions of acrylamide and reduce the concentration of the acrylamide in the baked product.

Abstract: The present invention is in the fields of medicinal chemistry, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The invention provides compositions comprising one or more collagen mimetic peptides, optionally attached to one or more therapeutic compounds or one or more imaging compounds, for use in methods of treating, preventing, ameliorating, curing and diagnosing certain diseases and physical disorders in humans and veterinary animals, as well as methods of manufacturing such composition. The invention also provides medical devices comprising one or more such compositions of the invention.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating data indicative of a friction associated with a driving surface, and for using friction data as part of controlling autonomous vehicle operations. In one example, a computing system can detect an event including at least one of an acceleration, a deceleration, or a stop associated with an autonomous vehicle and obtain, in response to detecting the event, operational data associated with the autonomous vehicle during the event. The computing system can determine, based at least in part on the operational data, data indicative of a friction associated with a surface upon which the autonomous vehicle is traveling during the event. The computing system can control the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the data indicative of the friction associated with the surface.

Abstract: A methods and system to operate hydraulic fracturing units may include utilizing hydraulic fracturing unit profiles. The system may include hydraulic fracturing units may include various components. The components may include an engine and associated local controller and sensors, a transmission connected to the engine, transmission sensors, and a pump connected to the transmission and powered by the engine via the transmission and associated local controller and sensors. A supervisory controller may control the hydraulic fracturing units. The supervisory controller may be in communication with components of each hydraulic fracturing unit. The supervisory controller may include instructions to, for each hydraulic fracturing units, obtain hydraulic fracturing unit parameters, determine a hydraulic fracturing unit health assessment, and build a hydraulic unit profile including the health assessment and parameters.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) head coil comprising an open shield. A transmit coil surrounds a phased array receive coil and comprises a resonant birdcage structure. The resonant birdcage structure comprises multiple transmit rungs spaced in a first closed path, and inter-rung spacing at one or more first locations on the first closed path is greater than at a remainder of the first closed path. The open shield surrounds the transmit coil and comprises a non-resonant birdcage structure. The non-resonant birdcage structure comprises multiple shield rungs spaced in a second closed path. The shield rungs are elongated in parallel with the transmit rungs, and inter-rung spacing at one or more second locations on the second closed path is greater than at a remainder of the second closed path. Further, the second location(s) respectively and radially border the first location(s).

Abstract: A lidar system is described herein. The lidar system includes a transmitter that is configured to emit a frequency-modulated lidar signal. The lidar system further includes processing circuitry that is configured to compute a distance between the lidar system and an object based upon the frequency-modulated lidar signal, the processing circuitry configured to compute the distance with a first resolution when the distance is at or beneath a predefined threshold, the processing circuitry configured to compute the distance with a second resolution when the distance is above the predefined threshold, wherein the first resolution is different from the second resolution.

Abstract: An integrated hydrogen generator and compressor (200) that includes a combined engine compressor (collectively 109, 110, 111) and steam-methane reformer (104) to produce high-pressure hydrogen from natural gas (methane). The reformer (104) combines methane, water, and heat under high pressure in the presence of an appropriate catalyst, to produce hydrogen utilizing waste heat from combustion cylinders of the combined engine compressor (collectively 109, 110, 111). Compression serves to pressurize two different gases (methane and hydrogen) in different compression cylinders including the compression cylinders (109a, 109b, 109c) of the combined engine compressor (collectively 109, 110, 111) alternatively and/or optionally combined with internal combustion engine (310) and/or gas compressor(s) (410) that are integrated thermally and via communication of compressed gases.

Abstract: A process for in-line extrusion of polymeric coatings onto roofing shingles during manufacturing includes moving a web of shingle substrate material in a downstream direction and extruding a liquefied coating of polymeric material onto at least one surface of the moving web to form a thin film. The liquefied coating may be a molten polymeric material that forms a thin film on a back surface of the shingle material to prevent sticking and eliminate the need for a traditional back dusting with material such as powdered stone. The polymeric film further may be applied to the substrate material in lieu of a saturation coating of asphalt, thus reducing cost and weight while providing a comparable moisture barrier and a lighter more flexible shingle.

Abstract: Exercise apparatuses are described herein. An example embodiment of an exercise apparatus includes a first shaft, a first frame, a first handle, a second frame, a second handle, a second shaft, and a third shaft. The first frame is attached to the first shaft. The first handle is rotatably attached to the first frame such that the first handle can rotate relative to the first frame. The second frame is attached to the first shaft. The second handle is rotatably attached to the second frame such that the second handle can rotate relative to the second frame. The second shaft is attached to the first frame and the third shaft is attached to the second frame.

Abstract: Described herein is a system and method for validating media integrity using asymmetric key cryptography utilizing a public/private cryptographic key pair. The private key is kept secret and is known to an originator and/or publisher of a media file. The public key is added to the media file and is used to validate integrity of the media file, that is, that content of the media file (e.g., portion(s), frame(s)) has not been altered since publication of the media file. By validating integrity of the media file, strong proof that the media file came from an owner of the keypair (e.g., had possession of the private key) can be obtained, for example, resolving issues of trust and/or authenticity common in altered content. In some embodiments, information regarding an origin of the content can further be determined.

Abstract: A system that can automatically measure, track, and/or report train emissions for complying with geographic environmental restrictions. An emissions module determines the amount of emissions emitted by a train over time. A location module tracks the location of the locomotive of the train relative geographic locations having emission regulations. A compliance module records the amount of emissions emitted by the train in the geographic location.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for routing autonomous vehicles by simulating an autonomous vehicle traversing a route on a map representing a physical area. A router flag can be generated at a specific location on the map. A router flag rule that defines a factor that caused a failure of the autonomous vehicle can then be created at the location, and the autonomous vehicle can be simulated traversing the to identify at least one other area on the map where the autonomous vehicle is likely to fail. An identifier can be applied to the other area on the map where the autonomous vehicle is likely to fail according to the router flag rule. The other area with the applied identifier can be omitted from a routable graph applied to the routing map, such that the route for the autonomous vehicle is generated in accordance with the routable graph.