Abstract: An amorphous silica particles, gravel, other particles and products provide a safe replacement for crystalline silica sand, gravel, or particles in consumer and industrial applications wherein dust may be produced during use or installation. The amorphous silica particles, gravel, other particles or products may comprise components that increase the density, hardness, and other properties from container glass. These components include, but are not limited to, iron oxides, aluminum oxides, and zirconium oxides.

Abstract: A storage control system receives an I/O request from a client for accessing storage resources that are logically divided into device groups, and determines a resource token request value associated with the I/O request and a target device group to which the I/O request is directed. The storage control system determines a number of allowed resource tokens to allocate to the client as a function of (i) the resource token request value, (ii) a sum total of resource tokens requested by other clients for accessing the target device group, and (iii) a total amount of resource tokens currently allocated to the target device group to which the I/O request is directed. The storage control system sends the determined number of allowed resource tokens to the client to thereby enable the client to limit a number of inflight I/O requests that the client issues to the storage control system.

Abstract: A system and method of confirming administration of medication in a clinical trial is provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving information identifying a particular medication prescription regimen in accordance with the clinical trial, determining one or more procedures for administering such prescription regimen and identifying one or more activity sequences associated with such procedures. Activity sequences of actual administration of such prescription regimen are captured and then compared to the identified activity sequences to determine differences therebetween. A notice is provided if differences are determined.

Abstract: A system to provide second generation (2G) voice services over internet protocol, the system including: a voice gateway (VGW) including a 2G stack to communicate control plane information and user plane information with a 2G user terminal (UT) via a circuit-switched network without modifications to the 2G-UT, an Iu-CS IP stack, and a relay to map the control plane information between the 2G stack and the Iu-CS IP stack, and vice-versa; a mobile switching center (MSC), connected to the VGW via the Iu-CS IP stack, to manage and establish the voice services between the 2G-UT and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) based on the mapped control plane information; and a media gateway (MGW) connected to the VGW via the Iu-CS IP stack, where the MGW communicates the user plane information between the 2G-UT and the PSTN after the MSC 2-G UT vocoder, e.g. AMBE, has established voice services.

Abstract: A system and method for accurately estimating cutaneous water loss resulting from exercise. The system comprises a component to determine the ambient temperature and a component to determine the total energy expenditure resulting from exercise. The cutaneous water loss is calculated with the equation: Cutaneous Water Loss=(m*(air temperature)+b)*(energy expenditure) where m is a function of air temperature and h is a constant.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes an absorber, a positioner, and an estimator, where the positioner and estimator are coupled to the absorber. The absorber includes absorbent material configured to capture nasal drainage. The positioner places the absorber in proximity to a person's nose. The estimator provides an indication of an amount of drainage captured by the absorber.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving turbocharger response in a boosted engine. In one example, a current turbocharger performance may be monitored, if meeting and operating in an optimum region for efficiency (e.g., on compressor and/or turbine maps), engine may be operated with a steady state exhaust valve opening (EVO) timing in an optimum position based on engine mapping (e.g., engine pumping work). Otherwise, the EVO timing may be advanced (opening earlier) to release more energy into the exhaust or retarded to release less, to move turbocharger to desired performance. By adjusting EVO timing to achieve desired turbocharger response and performance, faster response is achieved.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an immunochemistry analysing system includes a source of paramagnetic particles, a source of fluid, a cuvette configured to receive the paramagnetic particles and the fluid, a pipette configured to (i) translate so that at least a portion of the pipette is located within the cuvette and (ii) dispense at least one of the paramagnetic particles and the fluid into the cuvette so that the paramagnetic particles and the fluid can be mixed within the cuvette, a motor configured to move the pipette while located in the cuvette, and a control unit configured to vary a motor drive of the motor to cause the pipette to mix the fluid with the paramagnetic particles within the cuvette.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a social networking game that enables a game server to prioritize application to user messages. A return on investment (ROI) can be computed for each potential application to user message and the application to user messages can be delivered in an order based on the computed ROI for each message. The ROI for each message can be computed based on factors such as the value of a message's recipient and/or the importance of the message. The value of a message's recipient can be based on factors such as the amount of money that recipient has spent on the game, how many friends the recipient has, how many invitations the recipient has sent to other potential players, and any other factors that are probative as to the value of the recipient to the commercial success of the game.

Abstract: A method of implanting a hip joint prosthesis into a patient can include obtaining image data of hip joint anatomy of the patient. Physical activities that the patient desires to participate in subsequent to implanting the hip prosthesis can be determined. A size and an initial placement of the hip joint prosthesis based on the image data can be determined. A desired range of motion of the hip joint prosthesis based on the determined physical activities can be determined. A plan can be created comprising a desired implanted location of the hip joint prosthesis and based on the desired range of motion. The plan can be incorporated onto a guide. The plan can be executed with the guide thereby implanting the hip joint prosthesis into the patient at the desired implanted position.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for secure registration to enable transactions between a first user and a vendor that is facilitated by a payment server are disclosed. The method may comprise storing a form soliciting customer information including a plurality of fields, wherein at least one of the plurality of fields is associated with an attribute. The method including receiving a copy of the form including customer data in all of the plurality of fields and transmitting a first subset of the customer data based on the attribute associated with the first subset of the customer data. The method including receiving a token in response to the transmission of the first subset of customer data and transmitting the token and a second subset of the customer data, wherein the second subset is based on the attribute associated with the second subset of customer data.

Abstract: A stitchbonded washable towel made from a stitchbonded fabric having a cellulosic nonwoven sheet of cellulosic fibers, and an integrated nonwoven sheet of an outer sublayer of wood pulp fibers, and an inner layer of textile fibers substantially entangled with the wood pulp fibers, and confronting the cellulosic nonwoven sheet of cellulosic fibers. The stitchbonded fabric as uses a pattern of stitching yarns that fixes the cellulosic nonwoven sheet to the integrated nonwoven sheet. A post-treatment of the stitchbonded fabric in a heated aqueous solution containing soil release polymer gathers the fabric into the towel, and provides stain and soil re-deposition resistance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a multi-band satellite terminal are disclosed. One aspect disclosed features a method, comprising: controlling a multi-band satellite terminal capable of receiving signals on a plurality of frequency bands to receive a signal transmitted by a satellite on a first frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands; determining link conditions of the first frequency band based on the received signal; generating an estimate of link conditions of a second frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands, wherein the estimate is generated based on the link conditions of the first frequency band; selecting the second frequency band based on the estimate of the link conditions of the second frequency band; and controlling the multi-band satellite ground terminal to receive the signal transmitted by the satellite on the second frequency band.

Abstract: A micro-abrasion sandblast device having a tank for containing a supply of abrasive media and having a media outlet on a base thereof and a cabinet attached to the tank and providing a first inlet to which an external source of compressed air is connectable and a second inlet to which an external source of water is connectable. A media valve is located adjacent the base of the tank for receiving media from the media outlet and compressed air from the cabinet. A blast hose coupler connects to and extends from the media valve for receiving the media and compressed air from the media valve.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generating signed addresses. One of the methods includes receiving, by a component from a device, a plurality of first requests, each first request for a physical address and including a virtual address, determining, by the component, a first physical address using the virtual address, generating a first signature for the first physical address, and providing, to the device, a response that includes the first signature, receiving, from the device, a plurality of second requests, each second request for access to a second physical address and including a second signature, determining, by the component for each of the plurality of second requests, whether the second physical address is valid using the second signature, and for each second request for which the second physical address is determined to be valid, servicing the corresponding second request.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method and an apparatus for video coding. The apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to decode prediction information of a current block in a current picture from a coded video bitstream. The prediction information can indicate a subblock-based merge mode for a plurality of subblocks in the current block. The processing circuitry is configured to determine whether to apply decoder-side motion vector refinement (DMVR) to one of the plurality of subblocks based on at least a mode type of the subblock-based merge mode. In response to the DMVR being determined to be applied to the one of the plurality of subblocks, the processing circuitry is configured to reconstruct the one of the plurality of subblocks according to the subblock-based merge mode with the DMVR. In an example, the mode type of the subblock-based merge mode is not an affine merge mode.

Abstract: In the event of a pneumatic trailer connection failure between a tractor and trailer of, e.g., a commercial vehicle, a pressure protection valve (PPV) is provided on the air line between a double check valve that supplies air from one or more service reservoirs and a trailer parking valve without a flow restrictor, which transmits the air to the trailer connection for supplying the trailer brakes. When output pressure on the PPV drops below a predetermined closing pressure threshold due to the connection failure, the PPV closes to protect the tractor brake air supply. Upon restoration of the trailer connection and upon input pressure at the PPV exceeding a predetermined opening pressure threshold, the PPV opens and the trailer brake system is charged more quickly than can be achieved using a conventional trailer parking valve with a flow restrictor.

Abstract: An air moving system includes an air moving device including a housing member, a rotary fan assembly, and an opening for connection with an airflow duct, the housing including a plurality of air intake vents. A first volume of air can enter the housing through the opening and a second volume of air can enter the housing through the plurality of intake vents. The rotary fan assembly directs the first and second volumes of air.

Abstract: In one implementation, a system for controlling defrost of a chilled environment includes a camera configured to capture images of one or more objects located in the chilled environment and a defrost control unit. The defrost control unit is configured to: receive an image of the one or more objects from the camera, analyze the image of the one or more objects to quantify an amount of frost formation on the one or more objects, determine when to initiate a defrost cycle in the chilled environment based on the amount of frost formation on the one or more objects, and in response to determining to initiate the defrost cycle, initiating the defrost cycle by sending a defrost control signal to a defroster. The defroster is configured to perform the defrost cycle within the chilled environment in response to receiving the defrost control signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to engaging with a virtual assistant via ancillary input are provided. Ancillary input may refer to non-verbal, non-tactile input based on eye-gaze data and/or eye-gaze attributes, including but not limited to, facial recognition data, motion or gesture detection, eye-contact data, head-pose or head-position data, and the like. Thus, to initiate and/or maintain interaction with a virtual assistant, a user need not articulate an attention word or words. Rather the user may initiate and/or maintain interaction with a virtual assistant more naturally and may even include the virtual assistant in a human conversation with multiple speakers. The virtual assistant engagement system may utilize at least one machine-learning algorithm to more accurately determine whether a user desires to engage with and/or maintain interaction with a virtual assistant. Various hardware configurations associated with a virtual assistant device may allow for both near-field and/or far-field engagement.