Abstract: Self-cleaning electrochemical cells, systems including self-cleaning electrochemical cells, and methods of operating self-cleaning electrochemical cells are disclosed. The self-cleaning electrochemical cell can include a plurality of concentric electrodes disposed in a housing, for example, a cathode and an anode, a fluid channel defined between the concentric electrodes, a separator residing between the concentric electrodes, first and second end caps coupled to respective ends of the housing, and an inlet cone. The separators may be configured to localize the electrodes and dimensioned to minimize a zone of reduced velocity occurring downstream from the separator. The end caps and inlet cone may be dimensioned to maintain fully developed flow and minimize pressure drop across the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A vaporizer device and associated methodology for providing accurate sampling through substantially efficient, complete and uniform single pass vaporization of a liquid sample by avoiding liquid pre-vaporization and downtime attributable to system damage from incomplete vaporization, particularly in the distribution, transportation, and custody transfer of natural gas. The vaporizer device includes at least one input port for receiving a liquid sample, a channel for directing the liquid to a vaporizer core and a heating assembly within the vaporizer core configured to flash vaporize the liquid sample. The vaporized sample can then be passed to an outlet for sample analysis.

Abstract: A memory appliance may be provided comprising a processor, a communication interface, a memory, and a region access unit. The memory may be configured in an address space addressable by the processor. The communication interface may be configured to provide the client access to the region of the memory via client-side memory access before initialization of all of the region. A method to create a virtual copy of memory accessible by client-side memory access is also provided. A system may be provided that memory maps at least a portion of a file to a memory region, wherein a virtual address addressable is generated, and the at least a portion of file is accessible through the memory region at the virtual address. The virtual address may be registered with the communication interface, where registration of the virtual address provides client-side memory access to the memory region.

Abstract: A server, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for ranking a plurality of data sources are provided. The server includes a network interface, a memory storage unit and a processor. The method involves receiving an input query, identifying entities of the input query using conditional random fields, generating a normalized query and applying a support vector machine to the normalized query. The non-transitory computer readable medium is encoded with programming instructions to direct a processor to carry out the method.

Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to techniques for multi-voice speech recognition commands, such as based on monitoring a telecommunications channel between first and second devices, for instance. Some embodiments are particularly directed to prompting initiation of a transaction between a first entity associated with a first device and a second entity associated with a second device based on detection of an audible request corresponding to the second entity and an audible response corresponding to the first entity.

Abstract: A zoned time-of-flight (ToF) arrangement includes a sensor and a steerable light source that produces an illumination beam having a smaller angular extent than the field of view (FoV) of the sensor. The illumination beam is steerable within the sensor's FoV to optionally move through the sensor's FoV or dwell in a particular region of interest. Steering the illumination beam and sequentially generating a depth map of the illuminated region permits advantageous operations over ToF arrangements that simultaneously illuminate the entire sensor's FoV. For example, ambient performance, maximum range, and jitter are improved. Multiple steering alternative configurations are disclosed, including mechanical, electro optical, and electrowetting solutions.

Abstract: Systems and methods may include balancing an unbalanced power cable using a transformer that has one or more phases by selecting a voltage on a tap handle; disposing a first bushing on one or more phases at a different voltage than the selected voltage; and balancing the unbalanced power cable based on the disposition of the first bushing on the one or more phases at the different voltage.

Abstract: A method for generating an image data set for a computer-implemented simulation includes reading kinematic data representative of positions of a light source, velocities of the light source, accelerations of the light source, or a combination thereof. The method further includes displacing the light source according to the kinematic data, acquiring light data of the light source, compiling the light data and the associated kinematic data to form a light data set, and training an artificial neural network using the light data set to generate a supplementary data set. The method includes generating the supplementary data set using the trained artificial neural network, and generating the image data set using a raw image data set according to the computer-implemented simulation and the supplementary data set.

Abstract: A system for identifying and determining whether a particular cookie may include personal data, in any embodiment described herein, is configured to analyze collected cookies to determine whether the collected cookies may be used to directly or indirectly identify a particular individual. The system may, for example: (1) generate one or more virtual profiles; (2) use the one or more virtual profiles to access a plurality of websites; (3) collect cookie data for the plurality of websites for the one or more virtual profiles; and (4) analyze the cookie data to determine whether a particular website of the plurality of websites utilizes one or more cookies which may potentially include personal data. The system may then generate a report of the analysis, and display the report to an administrator or other individual associated with the particular website.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for assisting users in assessing costs of transactions. For instance, method may include: determining a cost value of at least one transaction associated with a user; classifying the user into a category, based on consumer interest characteristics of the user and consumer interest characteristics associated with the category; determining a relatable product based on the consumer interest characteristics associated with the category, the relatable product being a product purchased by a plurality of persons classified in the category; determining a relatable cost value, the relatable cost value being a representation of the cost value of the at least one transaction using a quantity of the respective relatable product; and presenting the relatable cost value to the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a substantially cylindrical insert by metal injection molding by providing a primer insert injection mold to form a substantially cylindrical metal primer insert, injection molding the metal injection molding feedstock into the primer insert injection mold to form a first substantially cylindrical metal primer insert having a first size; debinding the first substantially cylindrical metal primer insert to remove the first binding agent; and sintering the first substantially cylindrical metal primer insert to remove the second binding agent and form the substantially cylindrical metal primer insert having a second size.

Abstract: Depicted embodiments are directed to an Application Specific Electronics Packaging (“ASEP”) system, which enables the manufacture of additional products using reel to reel (68a, 68b) manufacturing processes as opposed to the “batch” processes used to currently manufacture electronic products and MIDs. Through certain ASEP embodiments, it is possible to integrate connectors, sensors, LEDs, thermal management, antennas, RFID devices, microprocessors, memory, impedance control, and multi-layer functionality directly into a product.

Abstract: An internal intramedullary fixation device for the stabilization of bone in arthrodesis and fractures of the foot and hand is disclosed. During implantation in medullary canals of bones, the device grasps the edges of the canals, stabilizing the bones, internally, during a healing process. The intramedullary fixation device comprises arrow-shaped proximal and distal heads comprising tips and a pairs of wings, the heads being sized to fit within an intramedullary canal of a bone. The intramedullary fixation device also comprises a rigid body defining a longitudinal axis connecting the proximal and distal heads. The rigid body comprises an intermediate portion, a distal neck portion connecting the rigid body to the distal head, and a proximal neck portion connecting the rigid body to the proximal head, the neck portions having a cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-section area of the intermediate portion.

Abstract: A biocompatible textile and methods for its use and fabrication are disclosed. The textile may be fabricated from electrospun fibers forming windings on a mandrel, in which the windings form openings having a mesh size between adjacent windings. The textile may also be fabricated by the addition of solvent-soluble particles incorporated into the textile while the windings are formed. Such particles may be removed by exposing the textile to a solvent, thereby dissolving them. Disclosed are also replacements for animal organs composed of material including at least one layer of an electrospun fiber textile having a mesh size. Such replacements for animal organs may include biocompatible textiles treated with a surface treatment process.

Abstract: Detecting passengers traveling through a transit gate, includes transmitting a first beam from a first optical emitter on a side of the transit gate to a first plurality of optical receivers on an opposite side of the transit gate, and transmitting a second beam from a second optical emitter on the opposite side of the transit gate to a second plurality of optical receivers on the side of the transit gate in a direction opposite the direction of the first beam. Transmit intensities are adjusted based on learned patterns or drifts in the receive intensities of light beams. Detection times are reduced based on pairing additional optical receivers with a single optical emitter.

Abstract: A configurable form system for creating precast concrete panels is disclosed. The configurable form system can be used to create precast panels for both commercial tilt panels and highway noise barrier walls, among other applications. A plurality of form system sections are preferably fabricated from steel plate bent into a J-channel member. The configurable form system can be designed in sections that are quickly assembled. To suit a particular application, a section can be extended by sequentially attaching extension members to a primary member. A plurality or faces or shoring apparatuses can be coupled to the section to circumscribe or form an inner diameter of an enclosure formed by the sections. The shoring apparatuses can vary in height, allowing for fabrication of panels of variable thickness using the same forms or framework. The shoring apparatuses can be configured to removably engage ends of sections to facilitate the formation of enclosures using the sections.

Abstract: A setting tool for actuating a downhole component includes an inner tubular configured to be connected in fluid communication with a borehole string, a housing configured to define a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber isolated from the first fluid chamber and in fluid communication with the inner tubular, and a setting piston in pressure communication with the second fluid chamber. The setting tool includes a metering module coupled to the housing and disposed at an end of the first fluid chamber, the metering module including a fluid path forming a restriction therein, and an outlet connected to the fluid path. The outlet is configured to be opened to permit fluid to flow out of the first chamber at a controlled rate to generate a differential pressure between the first and second chambers that causes the setting piston to apply a gradually increasing force on the component.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for deep linking within a social media message. This is accomplished by allowing a link in the message to be wrapped by a social media server. The wrapped link is then opened in a browser embedded in a social media app, resulting in the display of a web page in the embedded browser that requests a user email address. When this email address is provided back to a server, an email message to that address is sent. The email address can directly include the deep link. When this deep link is opened in an email app, this link can directly perform a deep link into a second app since the user is now outside the embedded browser of the social media app. Alternatively, a web page accessed from the email message opens in a non-embedded browser, which then presents the deep link.

Abstract: A method for training an endpointer model includes short-form speech utterances and long-form speech utterances. The method also includes providing a short-form speech utterance as input to a shared neural network, the shared neural network configured to learn shared hidden representations suitable for both voice activity detection (VAD) and end-of-query (EOQ) detection. The method also includes generating, using a VAD classifier, a sequence of predicted VAD labels and determining a VAD loss by comparing the sequence of predicted VAD labels to a corresponding sequence of reference VAD labels. The method also includes, generating, using an EOQ classifier, a sequence of predicted EOQ labels and determining an EOQ loss by comparing the sequence of predicted EOQ labels to a corresponding sequence of reference EOQ labels. The method also includes training, using a cross-entropy criterion, the endpointer model based on the VAD loss and the EOQ loss.

Abstract: A gift card management system may include a plurality of software modules configured to facilitate the efficient, secure purchase and resale of gift cards, as well as provide comprehensive tracking of gift card status throughout the process. In some examples, the gift card management system may include risk level analysis, e.g., based on historical data. This risk level analysis may facilitate risk-related actions (e.g., automatic transaction prevention) and dynamic risk level indication in a user interface for alerting users.