Abstract: Methods and materials to fabricate electrochromic including electrochemical devices are disclosed. In particular, emphasis is placed on the composition, fabrication and incorporation of electrolytic sheets in these devices. Composition, fabrication and incorporation of redox layers and sealants suitable for these devices are also disclosed. Incorporation of EC devices in insulated glass system (IGU) windows is also disclosed.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, systems and methods are provided for use by an ADV to nudge incoming objects in a self-reverse lane. In an embodiment, an ADV determines that a self-reverse lane has a predetermined width before entering the self-reverse lane. After entering the self-reverse lane, the ADV can follow a first reference line at the center of the self-reverse lane. In response to detecting an incoming object, the ADV creates an alternative lane in the self-reverse lane by temporarily modifying a high definition map. The ADV subsequently follows a second reference line in the alternative lane to nudge the incoming object. In response to detecting that the incoming object has passed and the self-reverse lane is clear, the ADV can drive back to the center of the self-reverse lane, to continue to follow the first reference line in the self-reverse lane.

Abstract: A post-extrusion extruded granular sorbent processing system having a pellet-collecting enclosure that receives pellets of granular sorbent extruded from a starch-containing admixture through a die at a discharge end of an extruder and transports the pellets in air from an air mover flowing from the enclosure through a pellet-conveying duct of a pneumatic conveyor cooling and drying the pellets. The system includes a subsystem configured for processing the pellets after extruding, cooling, and drying using a pellet processing machine configured for reducing a size of each pellet having a size greater than a size reduction setting of the machine. A preferred pellet processing machine has rotating horizontally and circumferentially corrugated rollers with a selectively variable gap between the rollers providing the size reducing setting and configuring the rotating rollers for reducing a size of the pellets passing between the rollers having a size greater than the gap between the rollers.

Abstract: A thermally conductive polysiloxane composition includes (A) a thermally conductive filler, and (B) at least one member selected from the group consisting of an alkoxysilyl group-containing compound and a dimethylpolysiloxane. The component (A) includes at least two thermally conductive fillers having different average particle diameters, and (A-1) indefinite-shaped aluminum nitride particles having an average particle diameter of 30 ?m to 150 ?m in an amount of at least 20% by mass, based on the mass of a total of the component (A).

Abstract: A ball head based lever clamping device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a novel continuous or semi-continuous process which results in the partial or total improvement of heavy oil. The improvement of the heavy oil is a result of thermally heating the oil at an interval where visbreaking occurs, thereby reducing a viscosity of the heavy oil. The core of the heating step occurs through a heating apparatus of the packed bed type including superparamagnetic, paramagnetic, and/or magnetic materials.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing an inline conversation area within a document are provided. In example embodiments, a collaboration system causes presentation of a user interface displaying a document that is being collaboratively edited by a plurality of users. The collaboration system receives an indication to present an inline conversation area within the document. In response, the inline conversation area is displayed within the document on the user interface, whereby the inline conversation area is visually distinguished from content of the document. The collaboration system receives, via the inline conversation area, input from the plurality of users. The input comprises comments being exchanged between the plurality of users and draft content. The inputs are displayed in the inline conversation area within the document on the user interface.

Abstract: A method includes: processing a request to execute a purchase transaction for a virtual asset of a video game, to transfer ownership of the virtual asset from a first user account to a second user account, to transfer an amount of virtual currency from the second user account to the first user account; responsive to the request, accessing a blockchain to perform an anti-fraud verification, including analyzing data of a prior transaction involving the virtual asset that is stored to the blockchain; responsive to the anti-fraud verification providing a result that does not indicate fraudulent activity, then generating transaction data based on an identifier for the first user account, an identifier for the second user account, an identifier for the virtual asset, and the amount of virtual currency, and submitting the transaction data to a node network, to write the transaction data to a block of the blockchain.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for generating and sending messages are described. messages are autonomously generated by at least one processor by identifying environmental context of a device, system, or user, such that minimal input is required from the user. Environmental context can include at least time, date, calendar entries, user activity, location, physical environment, message history, and relationship between users. Messages can also be generated by generating a first portion of a message, and having the user select a second portion to complete the message. Recipients for a message can be autonomously determined based on environmental context and content of a message to be sent.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of a window installed in a door of a vehicle, comprising a control module, a vehicle door configured to move upwardly from a closed position to a fully open position, a window configured to move between a first up position and a second down position in which the window is stored in the vehicle door, and a mechanism to move the window between the first up position and the second down position. The control module is configured to direct the mechanism to move the window into the second down position when the control module has received a signal indicating that action has been taken to move the vehicle door towards the fully open position.

Abstract: An artificial replacement disc includes a pair of substantially parallel plates formed to occupy a space defined by vertebral endplates, each of the plates including a plurality of spikes on a first surface and a concave trough formed on a second surface opposite of the first surface. A mobile core includes a core rim with opposing convex surfaces extending from opposite sides of the core rim, the mobile core being capable of being disposed between the pair of plates to permit the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. The spikes on each of the plates extend substantially away from the mobile core and the convex surfaces are formed to integrally fit within the concave trough of at least one of the plates. The core rim limits lateral movement of the mobile core relative to the parallel plates. One or more insertion tools for inserting and implanting the replacement disc are also described.

Abstract: A security device, such as an anti-theft device, for a transport vehicle, such as a railcar, grating hinge connector includes a plate and a cup. The hinge connector has a first portion secured to the deck surface by a fastener with a head, and a second portion coupled to the grating. The cup has a base and a wall forming a cavity sized and shaped to receive the plate. The wall forms an opening that is sized and shaped to receive the plate for insertion into the cavity. The base is positioned on the hinge connector and has another opening sized and shaped to receive the fastener with the head positioned in the cavity. The insertion of the plate in the cavity secures the head of the fastener within the anti-theft device.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided having a smart communication device having a processor configured to: receive signaling containing information about sensed data from a multiplicity of data collectors each associated with a respective piece of equipment and configured to collect the sensed data related to the respective piece of equipment when the smart communication device is moved within a predefined proximity to automatically connect with each data collector to receive the signaling during movement of the smart communication device on a programmed route having multiple pieces of equipment; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about prioritized sensed data related to each of the multiplicity of data collectors for operating an app in the processor, based upon the signaling received. The smart communication device includes an iPad, a smart phone, a laptop or a subsystem of a vehicle/robot. The apparatus may include the vehicle/robot having the subsystem.

Abstract: An Internet-based system for helping building management team members in significant ways: (i) predicting and forecasting when excessive snow load conditions present serious risks to a building's structure; (ii) receiving automatic notifications when snow load conditions are developing at specific regions on a building rooftop to warrant intervention and automated mitigation through the use of VR-guided snow removing robot systems; (iii) collecting various forms of intelligence about conditions developing on and about a building rooftop and storing such information with annotations for use in supporting intelligent decision making processes; (iv) quickly, efficiently and safely removing dangerous risk-presenting snow load conditions on a building rooftop while minimizing risk to human workers and increasing building operating efficiency; and (v) automatically removing excessive snow load conditions at specified regions on a building's rooftop.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes method comprising: receiving audio data generated by a microphone of a current computing device; identifying, based on the audio data, one or more computing devices that each emitted a respective audio signal in response to speech reception being activated at the current computing device; and selecting either the current computing device or a particular computing device from the identified one or more computing devices to satisfy a spoken utterance determined based on the audio data.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods of wirelessly communicatively coupling a wearable computing device to a host computing device are disclosed. The wearable computing device transmits a first advertisement packet via a first personal area network and a second advertisement packet via a second personal area network. The wearable computing device receives a response to one of the first advertisement packet and the second advertisement packet. Based on the response, the wearable computing device selects one of a first coupling procedure and a second coupling procedure to perform. The wearable computing device performs the selected coupling procedure with the host computing device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing a centralized customer order processing system. A customer order entry may be received by a central server. The customer order entry may be routed to a local store server at an identified store location. Upon arrival at the identified store location, a mobile device of the customer may detect a proximity signal located at the identified store location, and a mobile application may be invoked on the mobile device. An order activation signal may be transmitted to a server, the order activation signal indicating customer arrival at the identified store location. The customer order entry may be activated at the local store server. The customer may arrive at the identified store location and pick up their order. Methods and apparatus are also disclosed for implementing the centralized customer order processing system on a mobile device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for controlling smart devices are described. In one aspect a method includes receiving image data for an image captured by a camera of a mobile device of a user and determining that the image depicts at least one of a smart device or a physical control for the smart device. In response to determining that that the image depicts a smart device or a physical control for the smart device, identifying one or more user interface controls for controlling the smart device, and generating and presenting, at a display of the mobile device, the one or more user interface controls for controlling the smart device. The method can further include detecting, at the display of the mobile device, user interaction with at least one of the one or more user interface controls, and controlling the smart device based on the detected user interaction.

Abstract: Toluene disproportionation processes utilizing treated UZM-44 zeolites are described. The processes produce effluent streams comprising para-xylene and benzene. The molar ratio of benzene to xylene (Bz/X) in the effluent stream can be in a range of about 1.00 to about 1.14, the molar ratio of para-xylene to xylene (pX/X) in the effluent stream can be in a range of about 0.80 to about 1.0, and the conversion of toluene can be about 20% to about 40%.

Abstract: A light fixture for waveguided ambient light is described herein. In one embodiment, the light fixture includes an LED light source for emitting light rays, a waveguide optically coupled to the LED light source to receive and guide the emitted light rays from a proximal end of the waveguide to a distal end of the waveguide, a first indirect lighting surface configured to receive a first portion of the emitted light rays and reflect the first portion at a first distribution to produce a first ambient light source, and a second indirect lighting surface configured to receive a second portion of the emitted light rays and reflect the second portion at a second distribution to produce a second ambient light source.