Abstract: Compositions and methods in which aragonite, and especially oolitic aragonite particles are used as infill material in an artificial turf structure or as sub-growth substrate for natural grass. Advantageously, oolitic aragonite particles provide: a superior microporous surface for effective water saturation to impart thermal control and environmental compatibility; ammonia neutralization of urine by reducing urea hydrolysis with the free calcium presented in the aragonite particles; and aragonite particle uniformity allowing for reduced compaction and desirable water draining.

Abstract: A vent is disclosed that is particularly suited to use in ventilating attic spaces beneath a hip roof. The vent is configured to be installed along a hip of the roof overlying and covering a ventilation slot formed through the roof deck along the hip. The vent includes an elongated laterally flexible top panel from which baffle arrays depend. The baffle arrays are formed of a plurality of depending arcuately curved vanes that arc away from the vent. The vanes are aerodynamically shaped to redirect wind-blown rain and snow away from the vent and are configured to block the migration of rain and snow through the vent. A pair of spongy conformable filler strips is attached beneath the edge portions of the vent. The filler strips conform to the shapes of underlying shingles when the vent is installed to fill any gaps that otherwise might be formed between the vent and the shingles.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments for replacing database table join keys with index keys. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising: receiving, by a processor, annotation data, the annotation data comprising a set of rows; retrieving, by the processor, a root dataset, the root dataset stored in one or more files; generating, by the processor, a row identifier for each row in the set of rows, the row identifier storing a plurality of fields enabling alignment of a respective row in the annotation data to a corresponding row in the root dataset; generating, by the processor, an annotation dataset, the annotation dataset comprising the set of rows and corresponding row identifiers; and writing, by the processor, the annotation dataset to at least one file, the at least one file separate from the one or more files.

Abstract: A support device having an elongated support member for providing protection to an underside of a vehicle. The vehicle can have one or more pinch welds, such as a vehicle with a unibody chassis. The support device can serve as a rock rail to distribute a point load from an external object, such as a rock or a boulder, to a larger area of the vehicle to minimize high loading forces to a single point. The support device can alternatively be a running board.

Abstract: A method of quenching a press hardenable steel (PHS) is provided. The method includes preparing a die having a material with a thermal conductivity of at least 40W/(m·K) and placing a blank within the die and simultaneously hot stamping and quenching the blank at a heat transfer coefficient of at least 2,950W/(m2·K). In one form, the step of hot stamping the blank is carried out with greater than 20 MPa of contact pressure between the die and the blank. In another form, the step of hot stamping the blank is carried out with 31 MPa of contact pressure between the die and the blank.

Abstract: A quick hitch attachment device for coupling the attachment element of a truck bed type system to a quick hitch. The attachment device includes a mounting member tube, a ball hitch assembly and two or more coupling members adapted to mount a mounting member to the quick hitch. The ball hitch assembly includes a stem configured to be slidably received in the tube.

Abstract: A device includes a first polarized image sensor configured to capture first image data relating to an object from a first perspective. The device also includes a second polarized image sensor configured to capture second image data relating to the object from a second perspective different from the first perspective. The device further includes a processor configured to obtain at least one of polarization information or depth information of the object based on at least one of the first image data or the second image data, and to extract a feature of the object based on the at least one of the polarization information or the depth information.

Abstract: Systems and methods of facilitating transactions related to targeted or customized commercial offerings based on derived sentiment states are provided. The sentiment states are derived from digital representations such as images, videos and sound recordings.

Abstract: An LED light strip includes a plurality of LEDs provided at regularly spaced intervals on a printed circuit board (PCB), and a screw-in terminal connector with at least two ports provided at opposite ends of the PCB and electrically connected to the plurality of LEDs for allowing the LED light strip to be connected to a power source, a data source, additional LED light strips, as well as other DC powered components via wire conductors.

Abstract: Methods and systems for packaging, transcoding, and fragmenting files (e.g., video content are described. Video content may be transcoded into fix size, variable duration fragments files that satisfy a target fragment file size. Those fragment files may be received, decoded to recover original frames of the underlying video, and then repackaged as new fragment files that are grouped based on overall file size. As a result, the new fragments may have different playback durations, but their overall file sizes may be the same and/or within a target fragment file size (TFS).

Abstract: This document describes techniques (400, 500, 600) and apparatuses (100, 700) for implementing sensor-based near-field communication (NFC) authentication. These techniques (400, 500, 600) and apparatuses (100, 700) enable a computing device (102) to detect, in a low-power state, environmental variances indicating proximity with an NFC-enabled device (104) with which to authenticate. In some embodiments, various components of a computing device (102) in a sleep state are activated to process environmental variance(s), perform authentication operations, and/or an indicate initiation of authentication operations to a user.

Abstract: Embodiments include a lighting device that includes a first illumination source comprising a light-emitting diode (LED) of a first color that generates a first light output with a first melanopic ratio of 0.4 to 1.2, and a second illumination source comprising an LED of a second color that generates a second light output with a second melanopic ratio that is less than the first melanopic ratio. The lighting device also includes a light distribution unit for directing and distributing illumination generated by the first and second illumination sources, where at least one of the first illumination source and the second illumination source is affixed to the light distribution unit, and where the first and second illumination sources are oriented relative to one another such that their respective light outputs are directed in different directions.

Abstract: A reusable mechanism is disclosed for coupling two robotic appendages, such that an unintended force acting against a side of one of the appendages may decouple the appendages. The mechanism includes a revolved male dovetail mated to a revolved female dovetail. The mechanism may further include a channel within the male dovetail and a detent that inhibits rotation of the male dovetail in relation to the female dovetail.

Abstract: A table apparatus includes a table device and a table support structure that is connected to the table device. The table support structure includes a carrier structure and a table support linkage. The carrier structure is connected to the table support linkage via a single pivot connection. The table device is pivotable about only the single pivot connection.

Abstract: A remote pulse TDR liquid level measurement system and method may include inserting a probe into a body of water. The probe has a probe/air interface, and the body of water includes an air/water interface. A narrow pulse is remotely transmitted to the probe via a coaxial cable. A first impedance mismatch is received from the probe/air interface in a form of a positive reflected pulse, and a second impedance mismatch is received from the air/water interface in a form of a negative reflected pulse. A time between the positive reflected pulse and the negative reflected pulse is calculated, and the time is converted to a distance, the distance being indicative of the water level.

Abstract: A storage system in one embodiment comprises multiple storage nodes each comprising at least one storage device. Each of the storage nodes further comprises a set of processing modules configured to communicate over one or more networks with corresponding sets of processing modules on other ones of the storage nodes. The sets of processing modules of the storage nodes each comprise at least one control module. The storage system is configured to assign portions of a logical address space of the storage system to respective ones of the control modules, to receive a plurality of tracks of data records in a count-key-data format, and to store the tracks in respective ones of the portions of the logical address space assigned to respective ones of the control modules. Each of the tracks is stored in its entirety in the portion of the logical address space assigned to a corresponding one of the control modules.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising the reaction product of an aliphatic diisocyanate, and a reactive intermediate made from one selected from the group consisting of oxazolidinones, benzoic sulfimides (saccharins), 1H-indole-2,3-diones (isatins), succinamides, N-hydroxysuccinamides, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehydes (vanillins), ?-ketoamides, piperazines, benzofuranones, 3,4-dihydroxycyclobut-3-ene-1,2-diones (squaric acids), squaric acid esters, ?-ketoamides, anilines, and ?-ketoamide, phenols. The aliphatic diisocyanate comprises one selected from the group consisting of isocyanurates, biurets, iminooxadiazine diones, urethanes, uretdiones, carbodiimides, and allophanates. The resulting compositions may be useful in producing coatings, adhesives, sealants, castings, composites and films having durability, color stability, high gloss, and chemical resistance properties similar to those made from polyurethane.

Abstract: To allow more daylighting and protect against direct solar radiation, the system may include a window shading system that impacts an area (or area of interest). The system may adjust different window shades in different ways and for different periods of time to protect against a direct solar radiation onto an area of interest. The system may provide targeted shadows onto the area of interest. The system may also analyze or predict angles of solar rays that comprise the direct solar radiation and determine an impact of the solar rays on the area of interest, wherein the adjusting of window shades is based on the determining.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method, a device, and a computer program product for determining an execution progress of tasks. The method includes determining, according to a determination that a task is executed, whether historical execution information of the task is available. The method further includes determining the expected execution duration of the task based on the historical execution information of the task according to a determination that the historical execution information of the task is available. The method further includes determining the duration of completed execution for the task based on the time point at which execution of the task begins and the current time point. The method further includes determining the execution progress of the task based on the expected execution duration and the completed execution duration.

Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer comprises a gimbal having a support frame and enclosure configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, one or more bearings for rotatably mounting the flywheel inside the enclosure, a motor for rotating the flywheel, and bearing cooling system for cooling the bearings supporting the flywheel. The bearing cooling system enables heat generated by the bearings to be transferred through the flywheel shaft to a heat sink disposed within a cavity in the end of the flywheel shaft, or to a liquid coolant circulating within the cavity.