Abstract: A system comprises: first and second mass spectrometers; at least one liquid chromatograph configured to simultaneously supply a first stream of chromatographic eluate derived from a sample to the first mass spectrometer and a second stream of chromatographic eluate to the second mass spectrometer; and a computer or electronic controller electronically coupled to both of the first and second mass spectrometers and comprising computer-readable instructions operable to: input a mass spectrometric analysis of a chromatographic fraction of the sample obtained by the first mass spectrometer; determine whether an additional mass spectrometric analysis of the chromatographic fraction of the sample is required, based on the mass spectrometric analysis of the chromatographic fraction obtained by the first mass spectrometer; and, if the determination is affirmative, cause the second mass spectrometer to perform, after a time delay, the additional mass spectrometric analysis of the chromatographic fraction of the sample

Abstract: The present invention provides a special effects device for simulating sparks generated by combustion, electricity, or other means. The device may include light-emitting devices mechanically connected to extendable structures that are spatially dispersed by an actuator during the operation of the special effects device. The special effects device may be coordinated with a device for simulating combustion to give the impression of sparks generated by a combustion source.

Abstract: A golf bunker cleaning device includes a base having an open top end and an open bottom end defining an interior open space therebetween and the base configured to be buried below a ground surface of a golf bunker without filling in the interior open space. An extension collar is configured to be removably secured over the open top end of the base to increase a height of the interior open space to above the ground surface of the golf bunker, and a lid is configured to be removably secured over either the top end of the base or over the extension collar to enclose the interior open space. The extension collar comprises a plurality of collar latches each extending to a respective free end, and the base comprises a plurality of base locking apertures configured to releasable engage the respective free end of the plurality of collar latches.

Abstract: A method performed at a computer system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs executed by the one or more processors is described. The method includes concurrently displaying at least a portion of a document and a document operation search region for receiving one or more search terms. The method also includes detecting user activation of the document operation search region, and in response to detecting the activation of the document operation search region, displaying a plurality of document operation labels that includes multiple document operation labels corresponding to popular document operations. Each document operation label corresponds to a respective document operation. The method furthermore includes detecting user selection of a respective document operation label of the plurality of document operation labels, and performing the respective document operation that corresponds to the respective document operation label.

Abstract: The present application provides processes and intermediates for preparing (E)-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene and compositions which may be useful in applications including refrigerants, high-temperature heat pumps, organic Rankine cycles, as fire extinguishing/fire suppression agents, propellants, foam blowing agents, solvents, and/or cleaning fluids.

Abstract: Methods and computer systems improve a trained base deep neural network by structurally changing the base deep neural network to create an updated deep neural network, such that the updated deep neural network has no degradation in performance relative to the base deep neural network on the training data. The updated deep neural network is subsequently training. Also, an asynchronous agent for use in a machine learning system comprises a second machine learning system ML2 that is to be trained to perform some machine learning task. The asynchronous agent further comprises a learning coach LC and an optional data selector machine learning system DS. The purpose of the data selection machine learning system DS is to make the second stage machine learning system ML2 more efficient in its learning (by selecting a set of training data that is smaller but sufficient) and/or more effective (by selecting a set of training data that is focused on an important task).

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for enabling an operative coupling to a network. In use, first data is received at a first node in a first network. The first data is forwarded between the first node to a second node in a second network, using a network relay. Additionally it is determined that a specified decoupling condition is met, and subsequent to forwarding the first data and in response to determining that the decoupling condition is met, the second operative coupling is disabled while the first operative coupling remains enabled for receiving second data for forwarding.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for obtaining low-noise, high-speed captures of a photographic scene. In use, a first cell of a first pixel is in communication with a first node for storing a first sample. Further, a second cell of a second pixel is in communication with a second node for storing a second sample. Still further, the first cell and the second cell are communicatively coupled.

Abstract: Methods and systems disclosed herein may include receiving signals from a transmitter in a receiver; determine a bias of the transmitter and receiver; generating expected observations, based on the bias, corresponding to the received signals; and calculate a building height based on a power level of the received signals and a power level of the expected observations.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure extract annotations from web pages. The annotations are combined with search results and/or advertisements to allow the user to better understand the content of the search result or advertisement landing web page. A visual snapshot of the web page is taken. Visual processing extracts information from the visual representation. The HTML for the web page is also analyzed and various pieces of information extracted. The information from the visual processing is combined with the information extracted from the HTML. The combined information is evaluated and information for the annotations are selected. The annotations are then combined with the search results and/or advertisements.

Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for facilitating deduplication of operations to be performed is presented. An operation to be performed is received. A mapping function is applied to at least one parameter of the operation to produce a mapping value in a target mapping space, the target mapping space being partitioned between target servers in a set of target servers proportional to resource capacities of the target servers in the set of target servers. A target server in the set of target servers whose portion of the target mapping space includes the mapping value is identified. The operation is issued to the target server.

Abstract: Forms of interaction with an electronic system, such as for games of chance, games of skill, and combinations thereof are described herein. A system is provided for effecting defined game play and prizing structure parameters in an electronic entertainment environment. The system may include an input for receiving the parameters, a memory coupled to the input for storing the parameters, a processing system coupled to the storage for generating game play to effect the defined parameters, storage for recording information regarding particular game play events and an interface for at least presenting game play events to users of the electronic entertainment system. In one mode of operation, one or more mandated parameters are externally imposed, and variable parameters are selected such that the mandated parameters are met globally, and such that the user experience is optimized.

Abstract: A computing system that includes at least one processor and at least one memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor is disclosed. The computing system also includes at least one network interface communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to communicate with at least one vault system, each of the at least one vault system storing a respective one of N private keys or key components associated with a customer. The at least one processor is configured to receive, from each of at least one vault system, a respective private key or key component. The at least one processor is also configured to perform at least one action based on at least M of the N private keys or key components.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine with an electrically heated catalyst and an electrically driven compressor are described. In one example, the electrically driven compressor and the electrically heated catalyst are activated before an engine start so that vehicle emissions may be reduced more efficiently at engine starting and thereafter.

Abstract: A fire pit is disclosed that includes a burn chamber, a removable fire grate, and a removable ash pan. The burn chamber is defined by an inwardly facing surface and a bottom. The removable fire grate is positioned within the burn chamber and supports combustible fuel for burning. The removable fire includes a plurality of holes sized to permit passage of ash from the combustible fuel, and at least one grip feature sized and shaped to permit a user to remove the removable fire grate from the fire pit by lifting the removable fire grate vertically through the burn chamber. The removable ash pan is positioned within the burn chamber beneath the removable fire grate, and includes, a side wall, a bottom, and at least one grippable surface configured to permit the user to remove the removable ash pan from the fire pit by lifting the removable ash pan vertically through the burn chamber.

Abstract: A systems and method for providing various improvements in the computing time and accuracy for finding items using a hybrid vector space inner-product search are described.

Abstract: Amorphous propylene-ethylene copolymers are described herein that can include high amounts of ethylene and exhibit desirable softening points and needle penetrations. The desirable combinations of softening points and needle penetrations in these propylene-ethylene copolymers allow them to have a broad operating window. Due their broad operating window, the propylene-ethylene copolymers can be utilized in a wide array of applications and products, including hot melt adhesives.

Abstract: Passive optical couplers having passive optical activity indicators and methods of operating the same are disclosed. An example passive optical coupler for passively coupling first and second optical fibers includes a housing including: a first port configured to receive an end of a first optical fiber, and a second port configured to receive an end of a second optical fiber; and a passive optical activity indicator positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein a first portion of the passive optical activity indicator is exposed through the housing, and wherein the passive optical activity indicator is configured to passively illuminate in response to (i) first light propagating in the first optical fiber when the end of the first optical fiber is received in the first port, and (ii) second light propagating in the second optical fiber when the end of the second optical fiber is received in the second port.

Abstract: A lens for distribution of light predominantly toward a preferential side from a light emitter having an emitter axis. The lens has a faceted output region, a smooth output surface and at least one reflective surface which reflects light through total-internal-reflection (TIR) toward the faceted output region. The faceted output region is formed by pairs of transverse surfaces each surface of which redirects the received light to provide a composite illuminance pattern. The lens may further have faceted input surfaces at least partially defining a light-input cavity about the emitter axis. The faceted input region are formed by pairs of transverse surfaces each surface of which redirects the received light.

Abstract: A process for determining the selection of filters and input samples is provided for scalable video coding. The process provides for re-sampling using video data obtained from an encoder or decoder process of a base layer (BL) in a multi-layer system to improve quality in Scalable High Efficiency Video Coding (SHVC). In order to accommodate other applications such as interlace/progressive scalability and to increase the resolution of the alignment between layers, it is proposed that the phase offset adjustment parameters be signaled.