Abstract: At least one application data set stored in a data repository is obtained. The application data set is analyzed to generate at least one metadata node. The at least one metadata node is combined with at least one other related node to form a hierarchical data structure. One or more valuation algorithms are executed against the hierarchical data structure to calculate a value for the data set represented in the hierarchical data structure.

Abstract: A method for enhancing dialog systems is disclosed herein. The method may include maintaining an online marketplace that may have a plurality of dialog system extension elements. The plurality of dialog system extension elements may include at least one of a dialog system plugin, a dialog system add-on, a dialog system update, and a dialog system upgrade. The method may further include receiving a selection of one of the plurality of dialog system extension elements from an end user. The end user may be associated with a dialog system. The method may continue with associating the one of the plurality of dialog system extension elements with the dialog system of the end user.

Abstract: A connector includes a heat spreader. The heat spreader is configured to direct heat from ports to a thermal plate that is spaced apart from the connector. A plurality of connectors can be supported and a heat spreader can be associated with each connector. One or more thermal plates can be thermally coupled to the corresponding heat spreader(s) so as to direct thermal energy away from each connector. Cold blocks can be used to thermally couple the heat spreader to the corresponding thermal plates.

Abstract: Systems and method may provide unmanned aerial system communication. A method, performed by at least one processor that implements a first server, includes obtaining a group identifier of a pair of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a controller of the UAV, or a respective group identifier for each of the pair, based on requesting a second server to create one or more groups for the pair; provisioning Quality of Service (QoS) for communication of the pair, using the group identifier of the pair or the respective group identifier for each of the pair; and triggering, based on determining that a condition of the communication does not satisfy a pre-defined QoS requirement, a third server to perform adaptation of the QoS for the pair.

Abstract: A method for platelet preservation comprising placing a composition comprising platelets in a gas mixture comprising xenon and oxygen under pressure of about 0-10 Bars at a first temperature of about 18° C.-37° C. for a first period of time, and then subsequently cooling the composition to a second temperature of about 0,1° C.-6° C., and holding the composition under the pressure and in the second temperature for a second period of time.

Abstract: Provided is a process for preparing a PVDC additive blend in which an additive is blended with PVDC under high shear blending to produce a highly uniform blend in which the additive is homogeneously distributed throughout the PVDC. It has been found that performing high shear blending in multiple successive stages in which the concentration of the additive in the blend is reduced in each successive stage helps in prove the uniformity of the PVDC additive blend. For example, the high shear blending may be carried out in 2 to 6 stages, and in particular, from 2 to 4 stages. Also provided is a PVDC additive blend having a uniform blend of PVDC and an additive, such as a blend of a PVDC copolymer of vinylidene chloride and methyl acrylate and a fluorescing agent, such as 2,2?(2,5-thiophenylendiyl)bis(5-tert-butylbenzoxazole).

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to materials and methods for capturing a target genomic region, comprising hybridizing an extension probe and a ligation probe to target sequences that flank the target genomic region; elongating the 3? end of the extension probe until the 3? end of the elongated extension probe is adjacent to the 5? end of the ligation probe; and ligating the 3? end of the elongated extension probe with the 5? end of the ligation probe to produce a ligated probe. The ligated probe can be PCR amplified to produce copies of the target genomic region that can be detected or sequenced. Certain embodiments of the invention also provide methods of producing double stranded probes suitable for capturing and analyzing both strands of a target genomic region in a double stranded genomic DNA. The invention also provides kits for performing the methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using micro accelerations as a biometric factor for multi-factor authentication, the method including receiving, filtering, and determining an identifying pattern from micro acceleration data representative of the user, storing the identifying pattern for later use in authenticating the identity of the user, and using the identifying pattern as one factor in a multi factor authentication.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions comprising immunomodulatory and oncolytic eubacterial minicells, and the use of the composition in immunomodulatory therapies for cancer. In some embodiments, the minicells are used in combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors in treating cancer.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for of determining snapshot storage space consumption in a data storage system, a snapshot being a representation of a given state of a data object comprising of direct references to data blocks for data that has been changed from a prior state and indirect references to existing direct references in the prior state for unchanged data, the method comprising the steps: for each write of data to a given snapshot of the data object, storing unique address information relating to the unique direct references for said writes, said unique address information comprising at least a count of unique direct references; upon generating a further snapshot of a prior snapshot, retaining said prior snapshot and unique address information in storage as read-only access; and determining a count of unique direct references for all snapshots relating to the data object based on the stored unique address information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable and self-contained washing and sanitizing apparatus. The apparatus finds particular application in washing small baby items such as bottles, nipples, teething rings or toys. The apparatus includes a container with a lid, the container housing the items to be washed; an accessory holder connected to the lid for holding infant accessories during washing operations; a water reservoir for storing and collecting wash water; and a housing for interconnecting the container and reservoir.

Abstract: A communication device, method and computer program product enable improved communication performance by switching or tuning antennas based on detecting touches on edge display(s) of the communication device that has at least one antenna positioned along edges of a housing assembly. A controller monitors edge display(s) of the communication device to determine portions of the edge display(s) that are touched and associates the at least one antenna that is proximate to the portions of the edge display(s) that are touched The controller configures a radio frequency front end of the communication device to switch or tune the at least one antenna in order to provide at least one of: mitigating detrimental effects to antenna performance by the at least one antenna or remaining within regulatory limits for RF transmission exposure.

Abstract: The systems and methods of aggregate signing of digital signatures on multiple messages simultaneously, comprising: receiving two or more digital messages wherein each message is signed using two or more digitally split keys from a private key and the two or more digital signatures of the message using the split key are combined to get a compressed short signature; receiving the compressed short signature for each message; receiving a public key associated with the private key for each message; aggregate signing the messages to output an aggregate signature. The aggregate signature can be further verified against any or all of the messages.

Abstract: A computing device utilizing an open invite platform determines one or more events within a user-specified distance from the computing device or from a user-specified geographic location. The computing device determines a geo-fence about a user-selected event selected from the one or more events, identifies other open-invite users present in real time within the geo-fence, and outputs a newsfeed for the user-selected event including data from the other open-invite platform users present in real time within the geo-fence.

Abstract: Composite cathode-separator laminations (CSL) include a current collector with sulfur-based host material applied thereto, a coated separator comprising an electrolyte membrane separator with a carbonaceous coating, and a porous, polymer-based interfacial layer (PBIL) forming a binding interface between the carbonaceous coating and the host material. The host material includes less than about 6% polymeric binder, and less than about 40% electrically conductive carbon, with the balance comprising one or more sulfur compounds. The PBIL can have a thickness of less than about 5 ?m and a porosity of about 5% to about 40%. The host material can comprise less than about 40% conductive carbon (e.g., graphene) and have a porosity of less than about 40%. The carbonaceous coating (e.g., graphene) can have a thickness of about 1 ?m to about 5 ?m. The CSL can be disposed with an anode within an electrolyte to form a lithium-sulfur battery cell.

Abstract: A utility rail for a vehicle, includes an inward surface with a utility void, an outward surface opposite to the inward surface, and a light void that is open to the exterior of the utility rail and that is separate from the utility void. A light is received in the light void and has an emitter from which light is emitted from the at least one light void to illuminate an area adjacent to the utility rail. The utility rail may be a one-piece metal extrusion and the light void may be a downward facing channel provided in the extruded rail.

Abstract: Machine-learning methods and apparatus are disclosed to determine frictional state or other parameters in an earthquake zone or other failing medium, using acoustic emission, seismic waves, or other detectable indicators of microscopic processes. Predictions of future failures are demonstrated in different regimes. A classifier is trained using time series of acoustic emission data along with historic data of frictional state or failure events. In disclosed examples, random forests and gradient boost trees are used, and grid-search or EGO procedures are used for hyperparameter tuning. Once trained, the classifier can be applied to testing or live data in order to assess a frictional state, assess seismic hazard, or make predictions regarding a future failure event. The technology has been developed in a double direct shear apparatus, but can be widely applied to seismic faults, other terrestrial failures, or failures in man-made structures. Variations are disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for adjusting user experiences for participants of a multiuser session by deploying vocal-characteristic models to analyze audio streams received in association with the participants are disclosed herein. The vocal-characteristic models are used to identify emotional state indicators corresponding to certain vocal properties being exhibited by individual participants. Based on the identified emotional state indicators, probability scores are generated indicating a likelihood that individual participants are experiencing a predefined emotional state. For example, a specific participant's voice may be continuously received and analyzed using a vocal-characteristic model designed to detect whether vocal properties are consistent with a predefined emotional state. Probability scores may be generated based on how strongly the detected vocal properties correlate with the vocal-characteristic model.

Abstract: Use of a NAND array architecture to realize a binary neural network (BNN) allows for matrix multiplication and accumulation to be performed within the memory array. A unit synapse for storing a weight of a BNN is stored in a pair of series connected memory cells. A binary input is applied as a pattern of voltage values on a pair of word lines connected to the unit synapse to perform the multiplication of the input with the weight by determining whether or not the unit synapse conducts. The results of such multiplications are determined by a sense amplifier, with the results accumulated by a counter. The arrangement can be extended to ternary inputs to realize a ternary-binary network (TBN) by adding a circuit to detect 0 input values and adjust the accumulated count accordingly.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method can comprise using compiled personalization logic to evaluate one or more user conditions of a user to determine one or more user segments and evaluate an experience based at least in part on the one or more user segments. In many embodiments, the method also can comprise executing the compiled personalization logic when the user visits the channel in order to facilitate display of personalized content based at least in part on the experience. Other embodiments of related methods and systems are also provided.