Abstract: Methods and system for operating a thermal storage device of a vehicle system are provided. In one example, a method comprises determining a state of charge of the thermal battery based on an accurate estimation of a melting temperature of one or more phase change materials (PCMs) at a specific aggregate pressure inside the thermal storage device. Variation in melting temperature of the PCM may be minimized by reducing pressure variation inside the thermal storage device by regulating a position of one or more pressure relief valves of the thermal storage device.

Abstract: A device, system, and method of controlling pests are disclosed. A pest control device includes a sensor having a sensor cell and a controller. A surface of the sensor cell is coated with an agent that reacts with a targeted biochemical analyte secreted by pests. The controller is coupled to the sensor and is configured to receive sensor data from the sensor cell indicative of a rate of change in sensor mass detected on the surface of the sensor cell, determine whether the rate of change in the sensor mass based on the received sensor data exceeds a predefined threshold rate, and transmit a pest detection alert notification to a server in response to a determination that the rate of change exceeds the predetermined threshold rate.

Abstract: A set-top box with interactive features and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box receives various types of set-top box data such as information about display-based interactions with the set-top box, information about a plurality of amenities on a residential property co-located with the set-top box, and information from a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device interacting with the set-top box. The set-top box may render a map view of the property based on obtained map data. The map view may include an interactive graphical representation of the residential property and be annotated with at least a portion of the set-top box data.

Abstract: System and method to reduce risk of exposure to pathogens using a system comprising transportable clinical chambers, often configured with the exterior dimensions of a shipping container. The transportable chamber can be partially or completely self-contained, and configured for rapid transport and setup. The chamber is typically equipped with suitable automatic airborne sterilizing agent generators, sensors, mechanisms, and automatic air control devices. After suitable safety checks, the system isolates the interior air from external air, and activates an air phase anti-microbial agent generator, filling at least a portion of the chamber with an air-phase anti-pathogen agent. After sterilization, the invention deactivates the generator and then restores the connection to outside sterilized air.

Abstract: A system includes a vehicle transmission shifter input device; and a computer. The computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions such that the processor is programmed to detect, via the shifter input device, a user input to shift the vehicle transmission; and generate, a haptic feedback via the shifter input device.

Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides comprising a complement factor B analog. The invention also provides various complement factor B analogs including complement factor B analogs comprising a mutation of a free cysteine amino acid and related methods, nucleic acids and vectors. These complement factor B analogs and related methods, nucleic acids and vectors can be used to modulate a complement pathway or for the study and/or treatment of various conditions or diseases related to a complement pathway.

Abstract: A system and method for sidelobe suppression in phase-encoded Doppler LIDAR to support the operation of a vehicle includes determining a sequence code that is indicative of a sequence of phases for an optical signal; modulating an optical signal based on the sequence code to produce a phase-encoded optical signal; transmitting the phase-encoded optical signal to an environment; receiving, from the environment, a returned optical signal in response to transmitting the phase-encoded optical signal; generating, based on the returned optical signal, an electrical signal; and determine a Doppler frequency shift in the returned optical signal.

Abstract: An improvement to UV sterilization and disinfection devices and methods is disclosed. An apparatus for sterilization and disinfection includes: a compact, highly effective air sterilization and disinfection apparatus, which delivers clean, pure air directly into a blower/warmer device for clean and effective management of patient body temperature.

Abstract: A filter composition effective in reacting with airborne or gaseous organic impurities, such as formaldehyde. The filter composition is formed from a filter substrate, such as for example, a fibrous web or extruded carbon block, treated with tris-(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane. The unexpected result of this combination is a longer lasting filter capable of adsorbing organic airborne impurities for a much longer period of time than an untreated filter media of the same type. The removal of formaldehyde is presented as an illustrious example.

Abstract: A hybrid drivetrain is provided. The hybrid drivetrain comprises a power source, a transmission, and a tandem axle assembly. The transmission includes a primary clutch and is drivingly engaged with the power source. The tandem axle assembly includes a first axle and a second axle and is drivingly engaged with the transmission. One of the transmission and the tandem axle assembly includes a first motor generator in electrical communication with a battery. The first motor generator and the primary clutch facilitate operating the hybrid drivetrain as a hybrid drivetrain in a plurality of operating modes. The hybrid drivetrain may further comprise second and third motor generators in electrical communication with the battery to facilitate operating the hybrid drivetrain in a plurality of operating modes.

Abstract: A method for mixed criticality user interface development includes storing at least one set of safety critical requirements along with a corresponding safety critical designation and designating an object according to the safety critical designation for deployment along with other objects in a user interface. The method further includes responding to an end user executing a request to deploy the user interface by automatically decomposing the user interface into a safety critical layer including the designated objects and a non-safety critical layer including the other objects, building the critical safety layer according to the set of safety critical requirements of the safety critical designation of the object, building the non-safety critical layer and deploying the critical safety layer and the non-safety critical layer as an overlay view in the user interface.

Abstract: Methods and system are provided for determining a system capacity. The system capacity may be determined by performing one or more capacity tests. The one or more capacity tests may produce capacity test results.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a row-level security. One of the methods includes receiving a request for one or more objects. The method includes determining that a type of the one or more requested objects is associated with an object representative of instance level security. The method includes determining access is authorized to at least some of the one or more objects. Determining access includes obtaining a first access statement associated with the type of the one or more objects, obtaining a second access statement associated with the object representative of instance level security, combining at least the first access statement and the second access statement into a third access statement, and obtaining one or more objects using the third access statement. The method also includes providing the authorized subset of objects to the user.

Abstract: Disclosed are functionalized Group IVA particles, methods of preparing the Group IVA particles, and methods of using the Group IVA particles. The Group IVA particles may be passivated with at least one layer of material covering at least a portion of the particle. The layer of material may be a covalently bonded non-dielectric layer of material. The Group IVA particles may be used in various technologies, including lithium ion batteries and photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: A plastic, hot-fillable container is provided. The container comprises a blow molded body including a neck and a base having a center portion and a plurality of spaced apart radial segments. At least a portion of each segment is tapered from an outer side to an inner side thereof. Container systems and methods of manufacturing containers are disclosed.

Abstract: A device for estimating a mechanical property of a sample is disclosed herein. The device may include a chamber configured to hold the sample; a transmitter configured to transmit a plurality of waveforms, including at least one forcing waveform; and a transducer assembly operatively connected to the transmitter and configured to transform the transmit waveforms into ultrasound waveforms. The transducer assembly can also transmit and receive ultrasound waveforms into and out of the chamber, as well as transform at least two received ultrasound waveforms into received electrical waveforms.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV796916. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV796916, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV796916 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV796916 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV796916.