Abstract: Disclosed herein are a spinal fixation assembly and method to provide adequate rigidity and support for a vertebral column without requiring additional pedicle screws and spinal rods. The spinal fixation assembly includes a spinal rod loop with multiple sides configured to be attached to a vertebral body with two or more pedicle screws. Each pedicle screw is adapted to fit at various locations along the spinal rod loop.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery and a powertrain. The powertrain including at least one traction motor electrically connected to the battery such that the traction motor discharges the battery when producing positive torque to propel the vehicle and recharges the battery when producing negative torque to slow the vehicle. A vehicle controller is programmed to execute coast (lift-pedal) controls that reduce the charge rate of the battery based on a ratio of energy capacity of the battery to kinetic energy of the vehicle.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to manufacturing an insert-molded expanding projectile. Aspects of the disclosure include locating a portion of a projectile body within a converging tip mold, the projectile body including a metal jacket extending from a tail portion to a nose portion and surrounding an interior solid core. The metal jacket and nose portion may be tapered in a forward direction to an annular forward edge defining an opening to an undercut interior cavity. Melted polymer may be injected into the converging tip mold and allowed to cool thereby forming a polymer tip having a main portion forward of the opening and a tip retention portion filling the undercut interior cavity and having a shape corresponding to the undercut interior cavity to retain the polymer tip in place.

Abstract: A liquid monitoring system includes a remote measurement device located at a location of the fire hydrant that is in contact with water provided by a water main. The remote measurement device has sensors that measure characteristics of the water and a communication interface that transmits measured information to a communication network device that may be located elsewhere on the fire hydrant. The communication network device communicates with a communication network.

Abstract: A method of modulating glandular secretions by administering acoustic shock waves to a reflexology zone has been discovered. In one preferred embodiment, a treatment method achieves one or more of a) modulating blood sugar levels, b) stimulating insulin production levels or c) normalizing A1C levels by administering acoustic shock waves to a reflexology zone or region of a patient. The treatment method further has the steps of: activating acoustic shock waves of an acoustic shock wave generator to emit acoustic shock waves; subjecting the reflexology zone to acoustic shock waves stimulating the pancreas to have a modulated response wherein the modulated response is one of an adjustment in blood sugar levels or insulin production and release or normalizing A1C levels which increases low level output, decreases high level output or stabilizes erratic output; and wherein the emitted acoustic shock waves are focused or unfocused.

Abstract: Some variations provide a metal matrix nanocomposite composition comprising metal-containing microparticles and nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are chemically and/or physically disposed on surfaces of the microparticles, and wherein the nanoparticles are consolidated in a three-dimensional architecture throughout the composition. The composition may serve as an ingot for producing a metal matrix nanocomposite. Other variations provide a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite comprising a metal-matrix phase and a reinforcement phase containing nanoparticles, wherein the nanocomposite contains a gradient in concentration of the nanoparticles. This nanocomposite may be or be converted into a master alloy. Other variations provide methods of making a metal matrix nanocomposite, methods of making a functionally graded metal matrix nanocomposite, and methods of making a master alloy metal matrix nanocomposite. The metal matrix nanocomposite may have a cast microstructure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing on-site electrical power to a fracturing operation, and an electrically powered fracturing system. Natural gas can be used to drive a turbine generator in the production of electrical power. A scalable, electrically powered fracturing fleet is provided to pump fluids for the fracturing operation, obviating the need for a constant supply of diesel fuel to the site and reducing the site footprint and infrastructure required for the fracturing operation, when compared with conventional systems.

Abstract: The system and method are configured to identify cars and obtain information about the identified cars. The system and method involves a software application installed on a computing device that includes a camera configured to capture images. After the software application is installed, the user can activate the camera through the software application and point the camera at a vehicle. The software application includes an object recognition function that can recognize the vehicle in the view of the camera. After recognizing the vehicle, the software application displays information about vehicle on a screen of the computing device. The software application can be used with an event such as an auto show. In addition to identifying the cars, the identified information can be used for other purposes such as a part of a scavenger hunt or other contests. Awards can be given to participants who complete the contest.

Abstract: A pick-up truck cargo area includes a cargo floor having a forward end, a rearward end and a pair of side edges extending between the forward end and the rearward end. A pair of inflatable bedside panels extend along the pair of side edges. A pair of bed side rails extend above the cargo floor and support the pair of inflatable bedside panels.

Abstract: A method and system for air classification of a milled feed stock includes generating a feed stream by combining the milled feed stock with at least one gasflow element, wherein the milled feed stock includes a plurality of particle sizes. The method and system includes directing the feed stream across a curvilinear surface, such that the milled feed stock in the feed stream separates into a plurality of classification streams, each of the plurality of classification streams based on the particle sizes of the milled feed stock. Therein, the method and system separates the plurality of classification streams and collects each of the plurality of classification streams, thereby classifying the milled feed stock contained therein based on the particle sizes for each of the plurality of classification streams.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for creating, by a computing device, a snapshot related to a snapshot family, wherein an inheritance tree may be maintained for each snapshot family. A write to the snapshot may be received. A hash-based overwrite mapping data structure may be updated based upon, at least in part, receiving the write to the snapshot.

Abstract: A preform configured to form a container. The preform includes a finish defining an opening and a top sealing surface configured to contact a closure to seal the opening closed. A body portion extends from the finish. A bottom portion is at an end of the preform opposite to the finish. A longitudinal axis of the preform extends through an axial center of the bottom portion. An oxygen barrier layer extends along the body portion to the bottom portion and across the bottom portion. A base layer includes an outer portion and an inner portion. The oxygen barrier layer is between the outer portion and the inner portion. The oxygen barrier layer extends along the body portion and the bottom portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for managing information associated with storage containers. In accordance with some embodiments, a wireless tracking module includes a communications interface, a timer, and an indicator. The communications interface may receive instructions to track spoilage status of a perishable stored in a storage container and the timer may track a time duration associated with spoilage status of the perishable based on the received instructions. An indication may be provided by the indicator that reflects the spoilage status based on the time remaining in the tracked time duration. Further disclosed embodiments include a storage container including a wireless tracking module. Other embodiments disclose a tracking device that communicates with the wireless tracking module and includes a timer controller, a communications interface, and an alarm.

Abstract: In various embodiments, metallic alloy powders are formed at least in part by spray drying to form agglomerate particles and/or plasma densification to form composite particles.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to 3D printed articles prepared from filaments comprising an ionomer (A) prepared from a base resin (B); wherein: base resin (B) is prepared from ethylene and at least one C3 to C8 ?,? ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer; the carboxylic acid moieties of base resin (B) are 10 to 99.5 percent neutralized by zinc or lithium; the at least one C3 to C8 ?,? ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid is present from about 2 weight percent to about 30 weight percent, based on the weight of base resin (B).

Abstract: Example embodiments described herein relate to enhancing vehicle connectivity using a modular telematics control unit (TCU) that includes antennas, radios, and other components positioned internally within a housing configured to couple to a vehicle. The TCU may include a first cellular radio configured to establish a wireless connection with a first cellular network using a first cellular transmission antenna and a first cellular reception antenna and a second cellular radio configured to establish a wireless connection with a second cellular network using a second cellular transmission antenna and a second cellular reception antenna. The TCU also includes a Wi-Fi radio coupled to a set of antennas and configured to provide a Wi-Fi network for passenger devices located inside the vehicle when the housing is coupled to the vehicle and one or more Bluetooth low energy (BLE) radios coupled to an antenna.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for creating a gift in one medium of exchange from stored value in another medium of exchange. The system accesses a first account representing stored value in a first medium of exchange, and chooses an amount of the stored value from the first medium of exchange. Then the system converts the amount of the stored value to a second medium of exchange to yield a converted amount, and gives the converted amount in the second medium of exchange to a recipient as a gift, wherein the gift is associated with a recipient account for the second medium of exchange, and wherein the gift is associated with a policy monitoring transactions made using the recipient account such that the converted amount is applied to a transaction satisfying conditions of the policy.

Abstract: A method for representing an intended prosody in synthesized speech includes receiving a text utterance having at least one word, and selecting an utterance embedding for the text utterance. Each word in the text utterance has at least one syllable and each syllable has at least one phoneme. The utterance embedding represents an intended prosody. For each syllable, using the selected utterance embedding, the method also includes: predicting a duration of the syllable by encoding linguistic features of each phoneme of the syllable with a corresponding prosodic syllable embedding for the syllable; predicting a pitch contour of the syllable based on the predicted duration for the syllable; and generating a plurality of fixed-length predicted pitch frames based on the predicted duration for the syllable. Each fixed-length predicted pitch frame represents part of the predicted pitch contour of the syllable.