Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for mitigating reverse vehicle rollback. In one example, in response to a request to shift a transmission from reverse to forward when vehicle speed is elevated, vehicle brakes are applied and the actual transmission shift is delayed until the vehicle motion in the reverse direction is sufficiently decelerated. Additionally, the engine may be stalled and restarted before the transmission shift is performed.

Abstract: The process and apparatus enables purification of a recycle hydrogen gas stream from hydroprocessing biorenewable feedstocks. The recycle gas stream is fed to a methanator reactor to hydrogenate carbon monoxide in the gas stream to water and methane. Other acid gases can be removed by scrubbing preferably upstream of the methanator. Removal of carbon monoxide omits the need for a hydrogen purge stream to avoid carbon monoxide accumulation and enables use of the hydrogen for a downstream hydroisomerization reaction.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems of reducing, treating, and/or preventing back pain in an individual, such as a pregnant or post-partum individual, that include changing the center of gravity of the individual by the methods set forth herein. In particular, the methods herein include shifting the center of gravity in the individual to a desired center of gravity. The methods include applying modifiable lifting forces to a lower abdomen of the individual using a pully system, under the belly of the individual toward the desired center of gravity; and applying one or more vector forces from an anterior side of the individual toward the desired center of gravity. Also provided are methods that include applying a lumbar support, as described herein to an individual. Also provided herein are adjustable, modular lumbar support devices that may be used to provide lumbar and/or belly support for individuals having belly weight to achieve the present methods.

Abstract: A machine has a network interface circuit for communication with a network. A processor is connected to the network interface circuit. A memory is connected to the processor and the network interface circuit. The memory stores data and instructions executed by the processor to receive a specification book detailing a construction project. Extracted text from the specification book is associated with specification book hyperlinks. Submittal log packages comprising subsets of the specification book hyperlinks are defined. Each submittal log package is associated with a subset of the construction project. The submittal requests are distributed based upon the submittal log packages. Approvals for acts performed corresponding to the submittal requests are collected. The specification book is augmented with the approvals and iterative feedback to characterize evolution of the construction project and construction project documentation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for videoconferencing in a three-dimensional virtual environment. In the method, a position and direction, a specification of an emote, and a video stream are received. The position and direction specify a location and orientation in the virtual environment and are input by a first user. The specification of the emote is also input by the first user. The video stream is captured from a camera on a device of the first user that is positioned to capture photographic images of the first user. The video stream is mapped onto a three-dimensional model of an avatar. From a perspective of a virtual camera of a second user, the virtual environment is rendering for display to the second user. The rendered environment includes the mapped three-dimensional model of the avatar located at the position and oriented at the direction and the emote attached to the video stream-mapped avatar.

Abstract: Smart device supports have a frame defining a major plane and configured to connect to a smartphone, a pair of spaced-apart vent support elements each defining a louver gap configured to removably connect to a vehicle ventilation louver, the spaced-apart vent support elements being pivotally movable between a stowed position parallel to the major plane and an extended position away from the major plane, and a second support element between the spaced-apart vent support elements and movable between a stowed position parallel to the major plane and an extended position away from the major plane. The spaced-apart vent support elements may each include a pair of extending protrusions defining a louver gap. At least one of the extending protrusions may define a hook at a free end. The spaced-apart vent support elements may pivot on a vent support axis. The second support element may pivot on a second support axis.

Abstract: An improved translation experience is provided using an auxiliary device, such as a pair of earbuds, and a wirelessly coupled mobile device. Microphones on both the auxiliary device and the mobile device simultaneously capture input from, respectively, a primary user (e.g., wearing the auxiliary device) and a secondary user (e.g., a foreign language speaker providing speech that the primary user desires to translate). Both microphones continually listen, rather than alternating between the mobile device and the auxiliary device. Each device may determine when to endpoint and send a block of speech for translation, for example based on pauses in the speech. Each device may accordingly send the received speech for translation and output, such that it is provided in a natural flow of communication.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for split exhaust engine system including a blowdown exhaust manifold coupled to an exhaust passage and a scavenge exhaust manifold coupled to an intake passage. In one example, a turbine wastegate couples a single exhaust runner out of a plurality of exhaust runners of the blowdown exhaust manifold to an exhaust passage, downstream of a turbocharger turbine. Additionally, the turbine wastegate may couple the single exhaust runner to the exhaust passage, downstream of the turbocharger turbine arranged in the exhaust passage.

Abstract: A logical unit of non-volatile data storage is provided for persistently storing metadata. The logical unit is provided by allocating RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) extents to the logical unit, and allocating logical block addresses for the logical unit from within a logical address space of the logical unit to store blocks of metadata written to the logical unit. In response to detecting that a stored indication of a last allocated logical block address for the logical unit has been lost, two RAID extents that were last allocated to the logical unit are identified, and a binary search is performed across logical block addresses within the two RAID extents that were last allocated to the logical unit to locate the last allocated logical block address for the logical unit within the logical address space of the logical unit.

Abstract: A virtual machine hosting environment executing on a physical machine is operable to instantiate a virtual machine that is capable of initiating I/O operations directed to a remote storage. The virtual machine hosting environment is operable to determine when an unavailability condition exists with respect to the remote storage and when such unavailability condition no longer exists. The virtual machine hosting environment is further operable to suspend the virtual machine based at least on the determination that the unavailability condition exists and to resume the virtual machine based at least on the determination that the unavailability condition no longer exists. The virtual machine hosting environment may be still further operable to save one or more pending I/O requests generated by the virtual machine in conjunction with pausing the virtual machine and to send the pending I/O request(s) to the remote storage in conjunction with resuming the virtual machine.

Abstract: A platform may receive a first smart contract. The first smart contract may be associated with an entity that stores a plurality of smart contracts in a distributed ledger. The platform may determine a state of the first smart contract and a state of a second smart contract and compare the state of the first smart contract and the state of the second smart contract. The platform may determine, based on the state of the first smart contract and the state of the second smart contract, that a conflict exists between the first smart contract and the second smart contract. The conflict may be determined based on at least one of the first smart contract or the second smart contract being in violation of a respective term of at least one of the first smart contract or the second smart contract.

Abstract: In some examples, a shoe pad for a grouser of a vehicle track defines a slot configured to receive a bracket that is configured to attach the shoe pad to a grouser. For example, a first arm of a bracket may be inserted into the slot and a second arm of the bracket may be configured to contact an interior side of a grouser of a vehicle track to attach the shoe pad to the grouser. In some examples, the shoe pad and the bracket may be held to the grouser with the aid of a bolt, which bolt may not extend through the grouser, but, rather, may merely engage with an exterior side of the grouser. In this way, the shoe pad may be able to be attached to a grouser without requiring one or more holes to be present in the grouser, while still providing a relatively tight fit with the grouser the shoe pad is configured to cover.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure relates to a pedal organizer. The pedal organizer may include: a first pedal retaining member including a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface opposite the top surface; at least one aperture extending through the top surface to a depth within the first pedal retaining member, the at least one aperture extending from the front surface to the rear surface; and at least one void within the front surface of the first pedal retaining member, the at least one void being open to the at least one aperture without extending through to the rear surface, wherein portions of the front surface on opposing sides of the at least one void are substantially coplanar.

Abstract: A mobile fuel cell system includes a fuel cell generator generating a stack output signal. Multiple boost converter circuits converting the stack output signal into multiple recharge signals while in a first mode. A boost converter circuit converting the stack output signal into a local signal while in a second mode. Multiple charging handles connectable to multiple electric vehicles. A switch circuit presenting the recharge signals to the charging handles, remove the recharge signals from the charging handles and present the local signal while in the second mode. An auxiliary load may be connected to the fuel cell generator and the switch circuit. A rechargeable energy storage circuit powers the auxiliary load while in the first mode and stores energy received in the local signal while in the second mode. The auxiliary load is powered with the local signal while in the second mode.

Abstract: Methods and systems for manufacturing lubrication oils are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a lubrication oil includes the steps of receiving into an adsorber unit an unconverted oil (UCO) feedstock comprising five and six ring polynuclear aromatic (PNA) compounds and contacting the UCO feedstock with an adsorbent to remove PNA compounds, thereby forming a treated UCO feedstock with a low concentration of five and six ring PNAs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a fractured bone. The method includes positioning an elongate rod in the medullary canal of the fractured bone and forming a passageway through the cortex of the bone. The passageway extends from the exterior surface of the bone to the medullary canal of the bone. The method also includes creating a bonding region on the elongate rod. The bonding region is generally aligned with the passageway of the cortex. Furthermore, the method includes positioning a fastener in the passageway of the cortex and on the bonding region of the elongate rod and thermally bonding the fastener to the bonding region of the elongate rod while the fastener is positioned in the passageway of the cortex.

Abstract: A method of assigning categories to electronic messages is performed at a computing device having one or more processors and memory. The method includes receiving an electronic message and extracting one or more syntactic pairs of words from content of the electronic message. At least one of syntactic pairs includes a verb in a first sentence and an object in the same sentence, where the verb operates on the object. The method forms a feature vector based on the extracted syntactic pairs and uses the feature vector as input to a classifier. The classifier is trained on a set of training feature vectors, and each training feature vector is associated with a respective category. The method assigns a first category to the electronic message based on output of the classifier and displays the message in a group with other messages associated with the first category.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium for automating the assessment of security vulnerabilities associated with a user module via a user module assessment operation. The user assessment operation includes receiving a request from a user module via an edge device; determining whether the request includes a persistent session cookie; determining whether the user module should be assessed to detect security vulnerabilities; resetting information contained in the persistent session cookie when the user module should be accessed to detect security vulnerabilities; redirecting the user module for assessment; and, performing an assessment of the user module to detect possible security vulnerabilities.

Abstract: A wearable animal feeder, and methods of making and using such a wearable animal feeder, whereby the wearable animal feeder includes a face shield having opposing face shield upper and lower portions, and opposing face shield front and rear faces; and a reservoir having a reservoir outlet coupled to the face shield lower portion, whereby the reservoir outlet outwardly extends from the face shield front face.

Abstract: A communication device, which is capable of presenting one or more of a plurality of virtual keyboards, may be operable to receive application content. The application content may require a user to enter particular data via one of the plurality of virtual keyboards. The plurality of virtual keyboards may comprise a system keyboard and one or more third-party keyboards. The communication device may be operable to determine whether the particular data to be entered by the user may comprise sensitive personal information associated with the user. Based on the determination of the personal information and/or based on a configuration option communicated from the user, the communication device may be operable to determine whether to cause presentation of the system keyboard for the user to enter the particular data. The communication device may cause presentation of the system keyboard by disabling the one or more third-party keyboards.