Abstract: Processes for co-processing a naphtha stream with a light cycle oil stream are disclosed. The processes include hydrocracking the light cycle oil stream under hydrocracking conditions to provide a hydrocracked effluent stream. A naphtha stream is hydrotreated under hydrotreating conditions to provide a hydrotreated effluent stream. The hydrocracked effluent stream and the hydrotreated effluent stream may be passed to a stripping column to recover a stripping bottom stream. The stripping bottom stream may be passed to a main fractionation column to recover an intermediate naphtha stream.

Abstract: An initiated chemical vapor deposition (i-CVD) method for forming a nanovoided polymeric material may include heating a mixture including a gaseous monomer, a gaseous polymerization initiator, and a solvent to form a polymeric thin film including the solvent and removing the solvent from the polymeric thin film to form a nanovoided thin film. Devices, including dielectric elastomer actuators, may be formed using the nanovoided polymeric material. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method involving lighting fixtures, a control network, a controller and other devices such as light sensors, input devices and network adapters for coordinating precise brightness and color schedules among the lighting fixtures while maintaining a high color reliability including provisions for managing a plurality of lighting fixtures. The lighting fixtures contain lighting elements selected such that when controlled properly, operating along a daytime locus, the resultant light output closely resembles sunlight on a cloudless day in spectral characteristics, and wherein the total flux of blue light can be adjusted from a relative level of 1-100% the maximum blue flux of the lighting fixture by controlling individual lighting elements.

Abstract: One example method includes performing a machine learning process that involves performing an assessment of a state of a computing system, and the assessment includes analyzing information generated by an IoT edge sensor in response to a sensed physical condition in the computing system, and identifying an entity in the computing system potentially impacted by an event associated with the physical condition.

Abstract: Methods of making a composite article, such as a motor housing, are provided herein. The method can include applying a resin-fiber material to a shaped surface to form an intermediate article. The resin-fiber material includes an uncured resin composition and a fiber substrate material. The method further includes solidifying the uncured resin composition present in the intermediate article to form the composite article. Solidifying can be accomplished by applying heat to the intermediate article to initiate an exothermic reaction comprising polymerization, cross-linking, or both of the uncured resin composition. Application of the heat from the heat source can be ceased after initiation of the exothermic reaction, but polymerization, cross-linking or both of remaining uncured resin composition can continue in one or more of a radial, circumferential, or axial direction through a thickness of the resin-fiber material in the absence of heat from the heat source to form the composite article.

Abstract: Exemplary light control devices and methods provide a regional variation of visual information and sampling (“V-VIS”) of an ocular field of view that improves or stabilizes vision, ameliorates a visual symptom, reduces the rate of vision loss, or reduces the progression of an ophthalmic or neurologic condition, disease, injury or disorder. The V-VIS devices and methods generate a moving aperture effect anterior to a retina that samples and delivers to the retina environmental light from an ocular field of view at a sampling rate between 50 hertz and 50 kilohertz. Certain of these V-VIS devices and methods may be combined with augmented or virtual reality, vision measurement, vision monitoring, or other therapies including, but not limited to, pharmacological, gene, retinal replacement and stem cell therapies.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing de-icing a heat pump exchanger and heating a vehicle cabin are presented. In one example, a climate control system that experiences icing of the exterior heat exchanger may be operated in a first mode where thermal energy from the energy storage device is used to de-ice and also heat the cabin.

Abstract: Storage management techniques involve determining a set of association degrees associated with a set of storage disks, the set of storage disks forming a set of Redundant Arrays of Independent Disks (RAIDs), and an association degree of the set of association degrees indicating a coupling degree of a pair of storage disks in the set of storage disks, the coupling degree being determined based on a number of RAIDs associated with the pair of storage disks. Such techniques further involve determining a first number of pairs of storage disks, wherein the coupling degree of each pair of storage disks is less than a predetermined coupling threshold; and in response to determining that a ratio of the first number to a total number of pairs of storage disks of the set of storage disks is greater than a predetermined ratio threshold, reorganizing at least one RAID in the set of RAIDs.

Abstract: A lightweight spherical baseball like training ball has a hollow core adhered to a stitched white colored synthetic leather cover with a thin layer of adhesive. The lightweight ball has raised seams and measures in circumference similar to the ball circumference size mandated by Major League Baseball rules whereby the ball is suitable for baseball and softball training and playing variations of the game of baseball or softball in confined areas.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related to an underbody support for supporting a body of a being, such as during surgery to prevent contact pressure injuries. In certain embodiments, the underbody support may include one or more inflatable chambers enclosing a volume. At least one of the inflatable chambers may include one or more compression sensitive switches for monitoring the volume of the inflatable chamber, and the one or more compression sensitive switches may be located within the inflatable chamber. In some embodiments the one or more compression sensitive switches are sized to close when the said inflatable chamber is deflated to a desired residual volume.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a CATV & MoCA® device, such as a RF signal amplifier. The RF signal amplifier includes a RF input port to receive signals from, and transmit signals to, a service provider. The RF input port is connected to an active communication path with a downstream signal amplifier leading to an input of a resistive splitter network. The resistive splitter network has plural interconnected resistors, which split the amplified signal received at the input of the resistive splitter network and provide the signal to plural “CATV & MoCA®” output ports. Upstream CATV signals received by the “CATV & MoCA®” output ports are combined by the resistive splitter network and sent to the RF input port to be transmitted to the service provider. MoCA® signals received by any one of the “CATV & MoCA®” output ports are carried by the resistive splitter network to the other “CATV & MoCA®” output ports, and potentially to other “MoCA® only” ports of the RF signal amplifier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a base station antenna, comprising: a plurality of first radiating elements that are arranged as a first vertically-extending array; a plurality of second radiating elements that are arranged as a second vertically-extending array, where the second radiating elements are staggered in the vertical direction with respect to the first radiating elements; wherein phase centers in an azimuth plane for first sub-arrays of the first radiating elements are substantially the same as phase centers in the azimuth plane for respective third sub-arrays of the second radiating elements, and wherein the first sub-arrays each have a first number of first radiating elements and the third sub-arrays each have a second number of second radiating elements, the first number being different than the second number. This can effectively improve the pattern of the base station antenna.

Abstract: Dresser includes a frame having a wall section forming at least part of a rear wall, and an upper panel that covers an accessible space. A bracket is attached to a vertical support, a first connector is attached to the bracket, a second connector is attached to the frame in a position to be in the space and removably engages with the first connector when present in the space under the upper panel. The first and/or second connector is length adjustable relative to its supporting structure, i.e., relative to the bracket in the case of the first connector or relative to the frame in the case of the second connector to enable a distance between the frame and the vertical support to be reduced. A reduction in distance between the frame and the vertical support and engagement between the first and second connectors prevents tipping of the piece of furniture.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise methods and apparatus for error detection in an imaging system. The method and apparatus may comprise pixels arranged in rows and columns and an error detection circuit receiving pixel data generated by the pixels. The error detection circuit may detect errors and generate an error condition and/or signal, for example if one or more image frames are the same and/or a readout error has occurred.

Abstract: A pressure reducing valve includes a valve housing, plunger, pressure sensing cavity, and biasing member. The valve housing includes a valve inlet and valve outlet in selective fluid communication with each other. The plunger is in the valve housing and movable between a closed position and open position. The plunger is positioned downstream from the valve inlet and upstream from the valve outlet. The plunger includes a venturi and a channel. The venturi is within the plunger and has a venturi inlet and venturi outlet. The channel is within the plunger and is in fluid communication with the venturi. The pressure sensing cavity is in fluid communication with the channel. The biasing member exerts a biasing force on the plunger toward the open position. The channel is in fluid communication with the pressure sensing cavity to provide a fluid pressure that is lower than the outlet pressure during flow.

Abstract: An exemplary credential input device includes a mounting plate, a pivot pad, a sensor, an input device, and a controller. The pivot pad is pivotably mounted to the mounting plate, is biased to a home position, and is operable to pivot to each of a plurality of pivoted positions. The sensor is mounted to the pivot pad such that the sensor moves with the pivot pad, and is configured to generate information relating to an orientation of the sensor. The input device operable to move the pivot pad from the home position to each of the plurality of pivoted positions, thereby altering the orientation of the sensor. The controller is in communication with the sensor, and is configured to determine an inputted code based upon information received from the sensor, to compare the inputted code to an authorized code, and to issue a command in response to the comparing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition that synergistically prevents proteolysis or modification of peptides in sampled biological fluids using sulfonyl fluoride family protease inhibitors at high concentrations combined with at least one additional protease inhibitor of a different type, preferably a broad spectrum protease inhibitor, and a chelator. A preferred embodiment uses AEBSF at 10 mM, Benzamidine at 20 mM and EDTA as the chelator. The disclosed composition may be combined with other protease inhibitors to further modulate its specificity, for instance to additionally target acidic proteases. Additional protease inhibitors, reducing agents, stabilizers and buffering agents may be combined with the disclosed compositions in devices for sampling or testing biological fluids for levels of peptides of interest, or methods therefore. The disclosed devices, compositions and methods are of particular use in sampling and testing for the level of natriuretic peptides.

Abstract: In a method for handling a plurality of heuristics for task selection in a genetic algorithm, a task scheduling engine generates a population of tasks associated with an overall objective, identifies multiple jobs associated with an overall objective, compiles the multiple jobs into a genome, and assigns one or more tasks to each job of the multiple jobs. The task scheduling engine also assigns a task heuristic byte defining multiple task heuristics that can be applied to the each job of the genome, randomly assigns a task heuristic from the multiple task heuristics to the each job, and determines a value score for the genome.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for preparing an energy receiving apparatus of a vehicle for receiving an increase in a level of energy storage prior to a vehicle reaching an energy replenishment station for receiving the increase. In one example, a method comprises via a controller, requesting a confirmation as to whether a vehicle operator intends to stop at a particular energy replenishment station, and when confirmation is received, commanding one or more actions to prepare the energy receiving apparatus for accepting the energy level increase. In this way, a time-frame for accepting the energy level increase may be reduced as compared to situations where the one or more actions are not undertaken.

Abstract: A door latch for a motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a pawl, a release lever, and a clutch selectively engaged by a magnetic field. Further, when the clutch is engaged, motion of the release lever is transmitted to the pawl via the clutch. A method is also disclosed.