Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to marking compositions that are derived from environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and sustainable resources. Such compositions may be formulated in to writing and/or drawing instruments such as crayons. In various embodiments, the marking compositions include one or more of a structural component, a stiffening and/or laydown component, and a colorant. For instance, the structural component may be an ester wax composed of a diol and diacid, such as where the diols and diacids contain about 2 to about 14 carbon atoms each, such as where the structural component is present in an amount of from about 10% by weight to about 90% by weight, such as about 20% to about 80%, including about 60% of the composition. Additionally, the stiffening and/or lay down component may be a bifunctional fatty acid, such as stearic acid, which may be included in the composition, such as a stiffening agent as well as to enhance smoothness of laydown.

Abstract: A method begins with the step of preparing a drag-reducing additive by mixing a dispersion polymer with a surfactant and a solvent. The method continues with the step of forming a drag-reducing composition by combining the drag-reducing additive with an aqueous treatment fluid. The method further involves the step of injecting the drag-reducing composition into a subterranean formation, a pipeline or a gathering line.

Abstract: A shaft seal assembly may include a stator and a rotor. The rotor may be configured to rotate with a shaft, and the stator may be engaged with a housing. The stator and rotor may be configured with radial and/or axial recesses and/or radial and/or axial projections. These various features may be configured such that the stator and rotor cooperate to form a ring cavity. A cooperating ring may be positioned in the ring cavity, and the cooperating ring may be configured such that is circumferentially expandable so that the cooperating ring changes size and/or shape when it rotates as opposed to when it is not rotating.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for generating higher hydrocarbon(s) from a stream comprising compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C2+), comprising introducing methane and an oxidant (e.g., O2) into an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor. The OCM reactor reacts the methane with the oxidant to generate a first product stream comprising the C2+ compounds. The first product stream can then be directed to a separations unit that recovers at least a portion of the C2+ compounds from the first product stream to yield a second product stream comprising the at least the portion of the C2+ compounds.

Abstract: A smart communications hub can enable management of driverless and/or autonomous vehicles. Separating current wireless data from driverless vehicle sensor data can allow for quicker resolutions involving driverless vehicles. The smart communications hub can communicate to other groups such as driverless vehicle providers, service providers, vehicle management, law enforcement, etc. The smart communications hub can also process request from both mobile applications and micro-service applications.

Abstract: An ice cube tray assembly having an insulating box, a lower chamber and an upper chamber. The insulating box having a base and an upstanding structure, with a cavity. A top surface has an inner and outer perimeter, with the inner perimeter defining the opening of the cavity. The lower chamber includes an upper deck portion and container structure depending therefrom. The upper chamber includes a top wall and an inner container structure depending from the top wall. The upper and lower chambers are positioned in sealing engagement.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to articles configured as panels of artwork, methods of manufacturing the same, and methods of permanently transferring a coloring media to such articles. More particularly, the exemplary articles and methods for forming the same are configured to accept many types of coloring media on a surface thereof through use of a color-receptive layer.

Abstract: An exemplary method of making packages includes advancing a web of connected bags to a position where an opening of the bag is below an engagement device and opening the engagement device. Additionally, the exemplary method includes blowing the opening of the bag to a partially opened configuration, and reverse indexing the web of connected bags so that a portion of the engagement device is disposed inside of the bag and a portion of the engagement device is disposed outside the bag. Subsequently, the exemplary method includes closing the engagement device so that the engagement device engages the bag and moving the engagement device to a position that causes the opening of the bag to have a rectangular shape.

Abstract: A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a frame including a rail and an electrical distribution system routed at least partially through the rail. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An example lid assembly can include a lid and a slider. The lid can include a wall defining a recess. The slider can be configured to slide in the recess and can be configured to move between a closed position where the slider covers the opening to aid in preventing spilling of contents of the container and an opened position where the slider uncovers the opening such that the contents of the container can be consumed. The slider can be configured to be removable from the lid and can be replaced back on the lid. Additionally, the slider can be configured to lock into place on the recess in both the closed position and the opened position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds and methods useful for inhibiting the DNA polymerase IIIC enzyme. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising compounds of the present invention and methods of using said compositions in the treatment of Gram-positive bacterial infections.

Abstract: A window operating system moves a window sash between an open position and a closed position. A window has a top member operatively connected to a bottom member by a first side member and a second side member to form a frame. The sash is mounted to the frame for relative movement between the open and closed positions. The window operating system comprises an operator and an elongate member. The operator has a rotating member, and the elongate member provides rotational movement to the rotating member of the operator and movement of the elongate member rotates the rotating member thereby opening and closing the sash.

Abstract: A rotating machine has a stationary portion, and a rotating portion. The stationary portion and the rotating portion having a fluid passage therebetween. The stationary portion comprising a first fluid channel, a well, and a second fluid channel spaced apart from the first fluid channel. The first fluid channel fluidically is coupled to receive fluid from the fluid passage. A sensor is coupled to the stationary portion and is disposed at the well.

Abstract: A photographic payload augmentation device is provided. The photographic payload augmentation device comprises a ring including a ring body, wherein the ring body comprises a magnetic material, and wherein the ring is configured to mount onto a photographic payload device. The device further includes a plurality of weight units, wherein at least one of the plurality of weight units is magnetically mountable onto the magnetic material of the ring body. The another embodiment, the photographic payload augmentation device comprises a ring including a ring body, wherein the ring comprises a ferromagnetic metal material, and wherein the ring is configured to mount onto a photographic payload device. Further, this embodiment includes a plurality of magnetized weight units, wherein at least one of the plurality of magnetized weight units is magnetically mountable onto the magnetic material of the ring body.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein techniques for categorizing computerized messages into categories. In one embodiment, there is disclosed a method. The method comprising performing an analysis of one or more computerized messages that includes identifying a set of discriminatory tokens in the one or more computerized messages that are representative of a category and determining for each discriminatory token a respective weight by which the token describes the category. The method also comprises determining a similarity between a computerized message and the category based on the content of the computerized message, the set of discriminatory tokens and the respective weights. The method further comprises classifying the computerized message as belonging to the category upon determining that the computerized message and the category are similar.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a reconfigurable variable voltage battery. One or more variable voltage battery (VVB) modules are connected in series to form a stacked variable voltage battery (SVVB or Stacked VVB). A variable voltage battery module may comprise at least one battery cell and processor controlled switches adapted to vary the output of the variable voltage battery module. By separately configuring the switches of each VVB module, the output of the stacked VVB module can produce any voltage up to the full sum of the voltages of all the cells in the individual VVB modules. In addition, charge balancing can easily be achieved with a stacked VVB configuration, as some VVB modules can be bypassed (e.g., by setting select switches to simulate a short condition) either to prioritize the discharging of stronger VVB modules, or to prioritize the charging of weaker VVB modules.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a rotor including a channel defined between a pair of magnets and a bridge assembly within the channel. The bridge assembly includes a bridge element and a spring arranged to bias the bridge element toward a center of the rotor such that responsive to spinning of the rotor, the bridge element moves radially away from the center against a force of the spring to alter a magnetic flux pattern associated with the magnets.

Abstract: An exemplary apparatus for mitigating a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack includes a controller configured: to receive an output signal from a detector in a networked computing system, the output signal indicating a probability of a DDoS attack based at least in part on a threat level corresponding to an Autonomous System Number (ASN) associated with a source Internet Protocol address of received data packets when a volume of the received data packets exceeds a prescribed threshold value; to obtain action information correlating a specific ASN to at least one corresponding action for mitigating a DDoS attack; and to generate at least one control signal for initiating at least one action for mitigating the DDoS attack as a function of the obtained action information. The apparatus further includes at least one mitigation device for performing at least one action for mitigating the DDoS attack in response to the control signal.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for an X-ray imaging system comprising an X-ray source, an X-ray detector array having a plurality of X-ray detecting elements configured to detect X-rays passing through an object configured to be scanned, a plurality of collimator plates positioned between the object to be scanned and the X-ray detector array, wherein one or more of the plurality of collimator plates comprises at least one bend at or in a region of a bottom end of the collimator plate, the bottom end facing the X-ray detecting elements of the X-ray imaging system. The X-ray imaging system may be a CT imaging system or other imaging system that includes an X-ray source and an X-ray detector.

Abstract: Methods of preventing a disease resulting from a dengue virus (DENV) infection in a human subject, comprising administering to the human subject a compound of Formula (I), or pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of Formula (I); a compound of Formula (I) can be first administered to an asymptomatic human subject followed by subsequent doses administered at least once daily. The methods of the invention can be used to prevent a disease resulting from primary and secondary DENV 1-4 viral infections.