Abstract: Disclosed are dosing methods for mitigating the deleterious effect of clays, which are born or conveyed by sand aggregates, crushed rock, gravel, and other aggregates used in the manufacture of concrete, upon the dosage efficiency of cement dispersants added into concrete. Instead of introducing the entire clay mitigation agent (CMA) into the aggregate material before or during batching in the cement batch plant in a singular, upfront dose, the present invention comprises administering CMA doses on at least two instances in a rotatable truck-mounted mixer drum, wherein at least 21%-100% of the total CMA added into the concrete is added after initial batching of water, cement binder, and clay-bearing aggregates in the rotatable truck-mounted mixer drum during the transit portion of the delivery between initial batching at the cement batch plant and the pour event at the job site.

Abstract: A gelled anode for an alkaline electrochemical cell contains zinc-based particles, an alkaline electrolyte, a gelling agent, and two or more additives selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal hydroxide, an organic phosphate ester surfactant, a metal oxide, and tin, which as reduced cell gassing properties relative to cells lacking such additives.

Abstract: A gateway device includes a first communication system, a second communication system and a network processor. The first communication system and the network processor communicate first network signals therebetween. The first network signals comprising first higher priority network signals and first lower priority network signals. The second communicate system and the network processor communicating second network signals therebetween. The second network signals comprising second higher priority network signals and second lower priority network signals. The network processor communicates a first congestion notification request signal to the first communication system. The first communication system modifies the first lower priority network signals at the first communication system in response to the first congestion notification signal to form first modified network signals and communicates the first modified network signals from the gateway device.

Abstract: A ceiling inlet unit that assists in bringing air into the interior room of a building. The unit has a housing providing an opening to the attic of the building, the housing having movable blades with brush borders on the ends, pivotally mounted with a continuous hinge in the housing with seals to minimize air leakage when the blades are closed. The housing is designed in such a way to provide optimal air mixing situations through available cross-sectional area at different ventilation stages. The blades are designed to maximize air jet throw during lower ventilation stages, and provide superior total airflow during maximum ventilation stages.

Abstract: The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 18R419B3XF. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 18R419B3XF. Also provided by the invention are methods of using cotton variety 18R419B3XF and products derived therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 18R419B3XF with itself or another cotton variety and plants and seeds produced by such methods.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving a request to reconfigure a data array that currently includes N data drives and P parity drives to include N data drives and P+1 parity drives; confirming the availability of the P+1 parity drive; and distributing a plurality of new parity portions across the N data drives and P+1 parity drives.

Abstract: A stacked-die image sensor may be provided with an array of image pixels. The stacked-die image sensor may include at least first and second integrated circuit dies stacked on top of one another. Some of the pixel circuitry in each pixel may be formed in the first integrated circuit die and some of the pixel circuitry in each pixel may be formed in the second integrated circuit die. Coupling structures such as conductive pads may electrically couple the pixel circuitry in the first integrated circuit die to the pixel circuitry in the second integrated circuit die. A shielding structure may partially or completely surround each conductive pad to reduce parasitic capacitive coupling between adjacent conductive pads. The shielding structure may be a metal wire coupled to a ground voltage. The shielding structure may extend between columns of image pixels and/or between rows of image pixels.

Abstract: A computer system for allowing user to communicate with text enhanced with emotional preset having attributes and kinetics including computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the steps of: receiving a set of text characters, receiving an emotional preset selection information, creating a unlined animated text message or unlined social message, transmitting the unlined messages to a recipient using CMC or social media to receive the message to convey to the recipient the emotional communications selected by the sender.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to the distribution of routes in a telecommunications network. A networking device may receive a plurality of routing information from the plurality of edge devices of a telecommunications network, each of the plurality of routing information comprising a local preferred route for a corresponding edge device. The networking device may generate a plurality of routing tables, each of the plurality of routing tables associated with a corresponding edge device of the plurality of edge devices and comprising the local preferred route for the corresponding edge device. The networking device may update the local preferred route of a first routing table of the plurality of routing tables with the local preferred route of a second routing table of the plurality of routing tables.

Abstract: The life cycle of one or more containers related to one or more containerized applications is managed by determining that a predefined retention time for a first container of a plurality of containers has elapsed; in response to the determining, suspending new session traffic to the first container; and waiting for a predefined session dilution time before terminating the first container and/or changing a role of the first container. In some embodiments, the session dilution time allows existing sessions to complete before the first container is disconnected from a service platform.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic check valves, as well as fluidic cartridges including such check valves. In particular examples, the check valve includes a pre-stressed spring formed from a planar substrate. Various characteristics of the valves, such as size, profile, opening pressure, etc., can be tuned to provide desired performance when employed within a fluidic cartridge.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for capturing an image rendered by a target application. One general aspect includes a computer-implemented method for capturing an image, the method including: intercepting API calls made by a target application to a graphics display driver, where the API calls made to the graphics display driver by the target application are made using a graphics rendering API library; and using the intercepted API calls to construct a copy of a frame buffer of the image, where the copy of the frame buffer is constructed independent of the graphics display driver. Certain embodiments may include corresponding stand-alone and/or network computer systems, apparatus, and computer programs recorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured to perform one or more of these actions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reconstructing images from measurement data using one or more deep neural networks according to a decimation strategy. In one embodiment, a method for reconstructing an image using measurement data comprises, receiving measurement data acquired by an imaging device, selecting a decimation strategy, producing a reconstructed image from the measurement data using the decimation strategy and one or more deep neural networks, and displaying the reconstructed image via a display device. By decimating measurement data to form one or more decimated measurement data arrays, a computational complexity of mapping the measurement data to image data may be reduced from O(N4), where N is the size of the measurement data, to O(M4), where M is the size of an individual decimated measurement data array, wherein M<N.

Abstract: An expandable canopy tent frame includes two sets of four-bar linkage with overlapping and staggered central axial lines. The central axial hinge point and the side edge hinge point of the two linkage sets are aligned. The central axial hinge points have a lateral bar. The two ends of the lateral bar pass through the slide bushings on the side edge hinge points, and the slide bushings form the support with both sides of the lateral bar. The main structure has at least one fixed end and can be fixed on objects by utilizing that fixed end.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods that can determine an amount of force on a tissue. An apparatus can include an optical fiber including a first end and a second end. An electronics module of the apparatus is coupled to the first end of the optical fiber. The electronics module can include a light emitter that can transmit light to the tissue over the optical fiber and a light sensor that can receive light over the optical fiber. The received light includes a component of the transmitted light reflected by the tissue. The electronics module can include a processor that can determine the amount of force on the tissue based on characteristic(s) of the reflected light. The apparatus can also include an end cap coupled to the second end of the optical fiber. The end cap can introduce the transmitted light into the tissue and receive the reflected light.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium for mitigating security breaches associated with dissemination of protected data. In certain embodiments, the method includes receiving information communicated to a secured network from a source external to the secured network and determining whether the received information includes protected data. If the received information includes protected data, a determination is made as to whether the receipt of the protected data is anomalous. If the receipt of the protected data is anomalous, one or more sources of egress of the protected data from the secured network are identified. By identifying the sources of egress, actions may be taken to prevent future egress of the protected data.

Abstract: A sports towel system has been described that includes a towel, a universal coupling device, and a universal coupler. The towel is coupled to the universal coupling device. The universal coupling device is removably coupled to the universal coupler. The universal coupler includes a pouch that holds a magnet. The magnet is used to removably couple the universal coupler and the towel to a metal surface. The sports towel system can be used by golfers and can be magnetically coupled to a golf cart or a golf club, for example. The universal coupler has a first and a second flap coupled to the pouch. The first flap has a first flap coupling element and the second flap has a second flap coupling element. The flap coupling elements are used to removably couple the universal coupler to the universal coupling device to attach the towel to the universal coupler.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed of an airflow cooling solution for a battery backup unit (BBU) using a crossflow cooling module. The cooling module includes a housing with a module inlet and a module outlet positioned at a non-zero angle relative to each other. The module outlet has an area greater than the module inlet. A crossflow fan package is positioned in the cooling module housing. The crossflow fan package includes a fan housing having a fan inlet and a fan outlet; the fan inlet is fluidly coupled to the module inlet, and the fan outlet is fluidly coupled to the module outlet. One or more inlet air baffles form an inlet air channel between the module inlet and the fan inlet, and one or more outlet air baffles form a diverging outlet air channel between the fan outlet and the module outlet. The cooling module can distribute the airflow to a much wider area to the BBU module. Then a rack level crossflow air cooling configuration is proposed.

Abstract: The invention provides populations of isolated peptides useful for the detection of antibodies that bind to Anaplasma antigens. The peptide populations comprise peptides derived from immunogenic fragments of the Anaplasma Outer Membrane Protein proteins. The invention also provides devices, methods, and kits comprising the populations of isolated peptides useful for the detection of antibodies that bind to Anaplasma antigens and the diagnosis of anaplasmosis. Methods of identifying the particular Anaplasma species infecting a subject using the peptide populations of the invention are also disclosed.