Abstract: According to at least one embodiment, a method for generating a mesh deformation of a facial model includes: generating a first plurality of deformation maps by applying a first plurality of neural network-trained models; extracting a first plurality of vertex offsets based on the first plurality of deformation maps; and applying the first plurality of vertex offsets to a neutral mesh of the facial model to generate the mesh deformation of the facial model.

Abstract: A portable item reporting device (PIRD) is configured to detect an individual person's use of conventional consumer eyeglasses. A PIRD includes a microprocessor, memory, one or more environmental detectors (such as optical detectors, motion detectors, cameras, and location detectors, as well as timer elements and possibly calendar elements. With the integrated electronics, the eyeglasses with PIRD may self-identify contexts in which the glasses may be lost, stolen, or misplaced. The eyeglasses with PIRD may also identify when the glasses have been covered over with papers or other objects (such as when set down on a desk), so that the owner of glasses may be at risk of losing or forgetting the glasses. A camera of the glasses may also maintain an ongoing record of user activity when the user is wearing the glasses. The record may aid the user in later identifying other personal items which the user set down and forgot to pick up again.

Abstract: The invention consists of compositions and methods using low density lipoprotein to reduce agglutination and improve the health of sex-sorted sperm cells.

Abstract: A chest may be configured to transition between an open position and a closed position, the chest including an enclosure configured to store a foldable mattress supported by a sleeping platform when the foldable mattress is in an unfolded state. The chest may include a top panel, a front panel, and side panels, the top panel configured to be manually lifted off of the chest to form a lower portion of the sleeping platform.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for forming spinal rod members for use in pedicle screw systems for spinal fixation surgery and systems. A system can include a pedicle screw having a pedicle screw head and a pedicle screw shaft, the pedicle screw head comprising an aperture for receiving and retaining a spinal rod member relative to the pedicle screw. The spinal rod member can include an elongated tubular membrane having a flexible body and a spinal rod body formed of a compound, where the spinal rod body is formed by insertion of a liquid compound into the elongated tubular membrane and a hardening of the liquid compound or other similar process for conversion of the flexible rod to a rigid rod. The pedicle screw head can include a channel configured to receive and retain the spinal rod member.

Abstract: Wireless local area network (WLAN) field coverage is analyzed in a venue. A mobile data capture device measures coverage data indicative of the WLAN field coverage from a plurality of locations in the venue, and also captures image data indicative of images of the locations in the venue. A controller correlates the measured coverage data and the captured image data at each location. An interface displays the captured image data correlated with the measured coverage data at each location. Impact score value data indicative of the WLAN field coverage may also be determined, correlated, and displayed for each location.

Abstract: A method of assembling a unibody vehicle includes securing a cab back panel of a cab back panel directly to an upturned flange of a cargo box floor. A unibody vehicle assembly according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cab back panel, a cargo box floor, and a passenger compartment floor. The cab back panel is secured directly to the cargo box floor. The cab back panel provides a back wall of a passenger cab and a front wall of a cargo area.

Abstract: Support braces and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. A support brace includes a flexible fabric substrate and an elastomeric member disposed on the surface of the flexible fabric substrate. The elastomeric member is disposed so as to apply pressure non-uniformly about a limb or joint of the wearer, in a pattern selected to divert pain and/or reduce loads on the joint. The flexible fabric substrate can include regions having different levels of elasticity, to provide different levels of compression to different parts of the joint or limb in addition to the compression provided by the elastomeric member. The elastomeric member can be deposited, screen printed, injection molded, or otherwise applied to the fabric substrate, optionally without adhesive.

Abstract: Transmission of HDR image data is satisfactorily performed between apparatuses. A transmission apparatus (synchronized apparatus) transmits the HDR image data to a reception apparatus (source apparatus) over a transmission path. At that time, the transmission apparatus transmits information on a transmission method for and/or information on gamma correction for the HDR image data to the reception apparatus over the transmission path. The reception apparatus performs processing (decoding processing, gamma correction processing, and the like) on the received HDR image data, based on the information on the transmission method and/or the information on the gamma correction that are received. For example, the transmission apparatus receives from the reception apparatus the pieces of information on the transmission method and/or the gamma correction that the reception apparatus can support, selects the method that the reception apparatus can support, and thus uses the selected method.

Abstract: Kiosk systems are used for personalizing articles. The articles may include an item to be personalized assembled with components of packaging in a pre-hooped configuration. The system may include a housing and a personalization system within the housing. The personalization system may include a plurality of system components for personalizing the article. The system may also include a conveying system within the housing. The conveying system may be used to transfer the article in the pre-hooped configuration between the system components of the personalization systems. The system may also include a control system in the housing and/or remote from the housing. The control system may receive a personalization order and in response the control system may control the system components of the personalization systems and the conveying system so that the article is personalized without human intervention once within the housing.

Abstract: This technology is directed to the preparation of doped-bismuth-silicate seed crystals through controlled crystallization (e.g. dimensionality of growth and nucleation mechanism) and the method of forming high purity single seed (particle size ranges from micrometers to millimeters) for various uses. These seed crystals have a nominal stoichiometry of Bi2-xAxSiO5, Bi2-xAxSi3O9, Bi4-xAxSi3O9, and Bi12-xAxSiO20, where A is a rare earth dopant selected from La, Ce, Nd, Pr, and/or Sm.

Abstract: A portable barrier has a pedestal assembly including (i) a plurality of legs that are movable with respect to each other, the plurality of legs include a first lateral leg and a second lateral leg, and (ii) a first limiter connected to the first lateral leg and the second lateral leg. The portable barrier further has a cover assembly including (i) a plurality of arms that are movable with respect to each other, the plurality of arms include a first lateral arm and a second lateral arm, and (ii) a covering connected to the first lateral arm and the second lateral arm. In addition, the portable barrier has a first side screen connected to the first lateral arm and the first lateral leg, the first side screen defining a side opening. The portable barrier further has a first side opening cover.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for delivery of one or more channels of programming in an IP network. An edge gateway device may retrieve segments of programming, based on information in a manifest file, and output the segments via multicast to one or more edge devices. Advertising content may be inserted, or replaced if already present, before the segments are multicast. Segments encoded at various bit rates may be available for retrieval. Segments may be selected for retrieval based in part on a quality indicator associated with each segment.

Abstract: High frame rate image data having backward compatibility is favorably transmitted. Image data of each picture of a base layer included in a base stream sent from a transmission side has been subjected to a mixing process in a linear space or a non-linear space. On a reception side, the inverse mixing process can be performed appropriately by performing in a corresponding space on the basis of processing space information indicating whether or not the mixing process is performed in the linear space or the non-linear space.

Abstract: Methods of preparing a liquid Chlorella based composition comprising pasteurization and stabilization of a low concentration of mixotrophic or non-mixotrophic Chlorella whole cells are disclosed. The liquid composition can be used to enhance at least one plant characteristic such as: seed germination rate, seed germination time, seedling emergence, seedling emergence time, seedling size, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight, utilization, fruit production, leaf production, leaf formation, thatch height, plant health, plant resistance to salt stress, plant resistance to heat stress, plant resistance to heavy-metal stress, plant resistance to drought, maturation time, yield, root length, root mass, color, insect damage, blossom end rot, softness, fruit quality, and sunburn.

Abstract: A kamado style cooking apparatus comprising a cooking chamber having a high heat capacity and a vent system, wherein the cooking chamber comprises a thickened cast metal such as aluminum capable of being drilled or tapped to allow external components to be attached thereto. The cooking chamber is defined by a base unit and a top unit disposed over the base unit that is capable of moving from an open to a closed position via a hinge component. The top and base units further comprise a tongue and grove-like sealing means for creating an at least partial seal when closed.

Abstract: A method for processing a chemical stream includes contacting a feed stream with a catalyst in a reactor portion of a reactor system that includes a reactor portion and a catalyst processing portion. The catalyst includes platinum, gallium, or both and contacting the feed stream with the catalyst causes a reaction which forms an effluent stream. The method includes separating the effluent stream from the catalyst, passing the catalyst to the catalyst processing portion, and processing the catalyst in the catalyst processing portion. Processing the catalyst includes passing the catalyst to a combustor, combusting a supplemental fuel in the combustor to heat the catalyst, treating the heated catalyst with an oxygen-containing gas to produce a reactivated catalyst, and passing the reactivated catalyst from the catalyst processing portion to the reactor portion. The supplemental fuel may include a molar ratio of hydrogen to other combustible fuels of at least 1:1.

Abstract: A method of controlling a suspension system of a vehicle includes identifying an amplitude and a frequency of at least one harmonic event in a topology of a surface to be traversed by the vehicle, and, with a controller, altering at least one response characteristic of at least one adjustable component of the suspension system based on at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the harmonic event. Systems and methods relate to controlling vehicle suspension systems.

Abstract: A unitary on-board charger and generator (OBCG) for an electric vehicle system and method is disclosed. The OBCG includes a charging circuit with a diode bridge rectifier connected to an AC power source, a power factor correction converter, and a bi-directional DC/DC converter. The OBCG also includes a generating circuit with a a three-phase inverting circuit, three inductive coils connected to each leg of the three-phase inverting circuit, and a plurality of output capacitors connected to the outputs of the three inductive coils. The OBCG also includes a bridge capacitor and a control switching element connected between the charging circuit and the generating circuit for changing between a charging and generating state.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein that are capable of selecting checkpoints of a database job. For instance, at compile time, temporal indicators associated with the query plans of the database job are determined. Each temporal indicator indicates first and second subsets of stages of the respective query plan. Values of attributes of each stage in at least each first subset are predicted using a machine learning technique. At the compile time, candidate stage(s) for each query plan are identified based on the respective candidate stage being a child of stage(s) in the corresponding second subset or not being a child of another stage in the respective query plan. The candidate stage(s) for each query plan are selectively chosen as respective checkpoint(s) based on whether the values of the attributes of each stage in at least the first subset of the stages of the respective query plan satisfy one or more criteria.