Abstract: In a display assistant device, a speaker is mounted in a waveguide structure which is at least partially disposed beneath a display screen. The waveguide structure is mounted in an exterior housing which includes speaker grills distributed on a plurality of surfaces of the exterior housing, permitting sound waves from the speaker to be projected outside the exterior housing. A cover structure is disposed on top of the waveguide structure to conceal the waveguide structure and speaker within the exterior housing. The cover structure has a tilted bottom surface configured to be suspended above the waveguide structure and to be separated by a first space. Sound waves projected from an upper portion of the speaker are reflected by the tilted bottom surface and are guided through the first space to exit the device from a speaker grill portion located on a rear side of the exterior housing.

Abstract: An internal combustion gasoline engine includes an air heater coupled to an intake duct of the engine in a heat transfer relationship with air in the intake duct. A combustion pre-chamber is also formed in the head of the engine. The pre-chamber is at least partially separated from the combustion chamber by a wall. One or more apertures are formed through the wall and provide fluid communication paths from the combustion chamber to the pre-chamber, feeding a mixture of air and fuel from the combustion chamber to the pre-chamber. The apertures further define a plurality of combustion paths allowing ignited fuel and air from the pre-chamber to efficiently enter and combust the fuel and air mixture within the combustion chamber. The air heater and the combustion pre-chamber increase combustion efficiency from a first efficiency level to a second efficiency level greater than the first efficiency level.

Abstract: Genetically modified isopropylmalate synthases, processes for preparing a C7-C11 2-ketoacids utilizing genetically modified isopropylmalate synthases, and microbial organisms including genetically modified isopropylmalate synthases are described. The genetically modified isopropylmalate synthases, processes for preparing a C7-C11 2-ketoacids, and microbial organisms including genetically modified isopropylmalate synthases can be particularly useful for producing corresponding Cn_1 aldehydes, alcohols, carboxylic acids, and Cn_2 alkanes both in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a steering torque threshold for automatically stopping and starting a vehicle engine. In one example, a method may include, while the engine is running, determining a first steering torque threshold for inhibiting stop-start of the engine based on a steering wheel angle, and, while the engine is auto-stopped, determining a second steering torque threshold for inhibiting the stop-start based on the steering wheel angle and whether a static stop-start event is present or a rolling stop-start event is present. In this way, a non-linear hysteresis is provided for automatically stopping and starting the engine.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system determines a difference in time between a local time source and a time of a GPS sensor. The system determines a max limit in difference and a max recovery increment or max recovery time interval for a smooth time source recovery. The system determines that the difference between the local time source and a time of the GPS sensor to be less than the max limit. The system plans a smooth recovery of the time source to converge the local time source to a time of the GPS sensor within the max recovery time interval. The system generates a timestamp based on the recovered time source to timestamp sensor data for a sensor unit of the ADV.

Abstract: Furniture that is convertible between a seat position and a bed position is described. The furniture includes a first bed section with a first platform supporting a first cushion, and a second bed section with a second platform, a second cushion, and a partition disposed between the second platform and the second cushion. The first platform is configured to pivot relative to the second platform. The first cushion is thicker than the second cushion. When the furniture is in the bed position, a top surface of the first cushion is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the second cushion and the partition is spaced from the second platform by a first distance. In the seat position of the furniture, the distance between the partition and the second platform is less than the first distance.

Abstract: An assay cartridge for mixing a test sample and reagent for diagnostic purposes, and method of using the same. The assay cartridge includes a housing, an injection port for receiving the test sample (whole blood), a filtration membrane for separating plasma from the sample, a section for receipt of reagent, and one or more sets of valves provided in the housing. Each valve is configured for movement between an open position and a closed position. Metering chambers are provided in the housing for receiving separated plasma and the reagent therein. A port is fluidly connected to each metering chamber and uses to draw air from or deliver pressurized fluid into the housing. Mixing channels are provided in the housing and selectively connected to the metering chambers for mixing the separated plasma and reagent into a substantially homogeneous mixture. The homogeneous mixture is delivered out of the housing through output ports.

Abstract: A cocking sled for a crossbow that is easier to remove from the bowstring once the crossbow is cocked, and easier to re-engage the bowstring in an effort to de-cock the crossbow.

Abstract: A surgical tool and control system therefor is provided. The surgical tool can include an instrument mount configured to engage with a robotic manipulator assembly, which can include a gear assembly configured to be actuated by the robotic manipulator assembly. The surgical tool can include an end effector coupled to the gear assembly, which is configured to be actuated by the gear assembly. The surgical tool can include a lockout configured to transition between a first state in which the lockout is physically engaged with the gear assembly to prevent a movement thereof and a second state in which the lockout is disengaged from the gear assembly. The surgical tool can include a control circuit configured to determine whether the end effector is in an energized state or a de-energized state and in the energized state, cause the lockout to transition between the first state and the second state.

Abstract: An insulating device can include an aperture having a waterproof closure which allows access to the chamber within the insulating device. The closure can help prevent any fluid leakage into and out of the insulating device if the insulating device is overturned or in any configuration other than upright. The closure may also prevent any fluid from permeating into the chamber if the insulating device is exposed to precipitation, other fluid, or submersed under water. This construction results in an insulating chamber that is substantially impervious to water and other liquids when the closure is sealed.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include systems and methods employing a neural network to identify a tenant as the tenant walks into a management office by using facial recognition. The neural network provides a database of information related to each tenant and coupled to a given tenant's facial features. A method comprises of identifying facial features within an image of a tenant via a computer system, wherein the image is taken as the tenant enters into an office; cropping an image of a tenant; transmitting the cropped image to a convolutional neural network as an input; categorizing the input as an output; and displaying information regarding the tenant via an I/O interface of the computer system.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to compositions and methods of making and using lyophilized platelet lysates. Specifically, a method of preparing a composition suitable for therapeutic use or as a culture medium can comprise steps of concentrating platelets from a platelet source to form a platelet rich portion of the platelet source, and lysing the platelets in the platelet rich portion to form a plurality of lysates. An additional step includes lyophilizing the lysates to form lyophilized platelet lysates in a composition with released concentrations of available growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines. In one example, at 30%, by platelet count, of platelets from a platelet source can be lysed using this process.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for classifying data sets using associated functions from neural networks. In one example, a system for classifying data sets by corresponding functions includes at least one processor and at least one non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor cause the system to perform operations including: obtaining a neural network associated with a data set, the neural network being trained to generate synthetic data sets related to the data set; selecting a test set of inputs to the neural network; obtaining a corresponding set of outputs by applying the neural network to the test set of inputs; estimating one or more functions describing the test set of inputs and the corresponding set of outputs; and indexing the estimated one or more functions to the data.

Abstract: A highly adsorptive structure, includes: a substrate; and a metal-organic framework (MOF) comprising a plurality of metal atoms coordinated to a plurality of organic spacer molecules; wherein the MOF is coupled to at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the MOF is adapted for adsorbing and desorbing a refrigerant under predetermined thermodynamic conditions. The refrigerant includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: acid halides, alcohols, aldehydes, amines, chlorofluorocarbons, esters, ethers, fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, halocarbons, halogenated aldehydes, halogenated amines, halogenated hydrocarbons, halomethanes, hydrocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, hydrofluoroolefins, inorganic gases, ketones, nitrocarbon compounds, noble gases, organochlorine compounds, organofluorine compounds, organophosphorous compounds, organosilicon compounds, oxide gases, refrigerant blends and thiols.

Abstract: A system for determining whether a velocity event is fake or real is provided. The system accesses a data store of velocity events, each of which specifies a pair of addresses that share the velocity event. For each address of the velocity events, the system sets a score for that address based on the number of addresses that share a velocity event with that address. When the score for that address satisfies an originating address criterion, the system designates that address as an originating address. The system may determine that a velocity event is real when both addresses of the velocity event are originating addresses.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for irradiating a fluid containing a material to be irradiated, comprising at least one irradiation chamber having at least one inlet port and outlet port, at least one fluid cooling chamber having at least one inlet port and outlet port, one or more UV radiation sources coupled to the irradiation chamber(s); and at least one heat exchange mechanism thermally coupled to the radiation source(s) and the cooling chamber(s). At least a portion of the interior surface of the cooling chamber(s) may comprise at least a portion of the exterior surface of the irradiation chamber(s) so the cooling chamber(s) is in fluid communication with the irradiation chamber(s).

Abstract: A vehicle bus, of a vehicle, configured to provide data communication among a plurality of controllers of the vehicle. An identity controller is programmed to collect voltage samples over the vehicle bus from the plurality of controllers to create a voltage profile indicating consistent electrical aspects of the data communication between the controllers, the electrical aspects being independent of data content of the data communication, and generate a voltage fingerprint uniquely identifying the vehicle using the voltage profile.

Abstract: A method includes generating a plurality of entigen groups from a set of phrases of a statement and identifying two plausible entigen groups based on a true meaning interpretation of the statement. The method further includes identifying a related entigen group based on a phrase of the statement and interpreting each of the two plausible entigen groups in light of the related entigen group to determine whether one of the two plausible entigen groups is a more likely interpretation of the statement than the other one of the two plausible entigen groups. When the one of the two plausible entigen groups is the more likely interpretation of the statement, the method further includes updating the one of the two plausible entigen groups using the related entigen group to produce an updated entigen group and adding the statement as the updated entigen group to a knowledge database.