Abstract: A stabilizing process for tobacco and tobacco products includes sterilizing the tobacco by applying an electron beam treatment to the tobacco. The process may also include treating the tobacco. The treating the tobacco includes pre-conditioning the tobacco, pasteurizing the tobacco, curing the tobacco, fermenting the tobacco, or combinations thereof. The method may also include forming a smokeless tobacco product containing the tobacco.

Abstract: A method including receiving a raw image and a stored calibration, determining a lens shading correction (LSC) gain based on the stored calibration, factoring the LSC gain into a factored gain including a local tone mapping (LTM) gain and a factored LSC gain, and applying the factored gain to the raw image to generate a corrected image.

Abstract: A dynamic adaptive cruise control method for a first vehicle includes a controller disposed within the first vehicle identifying a second vehicle in a direction of travel of the first vehicle. The controller determines a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The controller determines a safe travel distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based at least in part on a set of primary factors and a set of secondary factors. The controller modifies a cruise speed of the first vehicle to maintain at least the determined safe travel distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle.

Abstract: Knife sharpener systems and methods are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a knife sharpening system can include a support structure configured to hold a knife having a handle and a blade extending therefrom, and a carriage assembly mounted on the support structure. The carriage assembly can have a sharpening element that is configured to sharpen a cutting edge of the blade. The carriage assembly can be movable relative to the knife blade to cause the sharpening element to apply a force to the cutting edge of the knife blade.

Abstract: A sterilization cabinet, comprising a top panel, at least two side panels, and a floor panel forming a part of a chamber of the sterilization cabinet; one or more dividers segmenting the chamber into sections; at least one door a plurality of doors connected to at least one of the at least two side panels of the sterilization cabinet; a vent formed in at least one of the two side panels; at least one first filter covering the vent and a filter cover configured to hold the first filter against the vent; at least one drain positioned in the floor panel, wherein the floor panel has a slope configured to cause condensate within the chamber to flow into the drain and wherein the drain is the only outlet for the condensate along the floor panel; and a second filter covering the drain such that condensate flowing into the drain passes through the second filter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fraud monitoring are disclosed, including: receiving a transaction request associated with a first instrument of a user; extracting, characteristics of the transaction request; identifying, by the first processor, user data based on the transaction request; determining a fraud severity value and notification value based on inputting the characteristics and user data into a fraud machine learning model; performing a first fraud action based on the fraud severity value; wherein the first fraud action is at least one selected from the group of locking the first instrument for a period of time, deactivating the first instrument, and electronically transmitting a first query message to a user device associated with the first instrument; and transmitting a fraud notification based on the notification value, wherein the fraud notification includes severity information associated with the fraud severity value.

Abstract: Aspects herein provide a system, media, and methods for provisioning and establishing multiple network slices for use by an application. In aspects, a particular application is able to provision a URLLC slice and an eMBB slice from a network. Based on a predefined policy associated with the application, the application communicates high priority data using a URLLC slice and non-priority data using the eMBB slice. The application can utilize unique headers on high priority data and non-priority data to implement the data prioritization schema, which the network can further use as filters. As such, the application can leverage the distinct characteristics of URLLC and eMBB to optimize the application's performance and operations at a user device and/or within the network.

Abstract: A method of processing municipal solid waste includes extracting food waste, inert materials, and ferrous and non-ferrous metals from the municipal solid waste, shredding the municipal solid waste and thereby generating a product feed comprising at least 99.7% by volume cellulose-based materials and plastic. The product feed is conveyed to a forming system and a manufacturing product is created out of the product feed with the forming system.

Abstract: A base station and/or a wireless device may communicate using a plurality of transmission beams. Multiple transmission beams may be used for transmission such that a message may be sent via different transmission beams. Multiple transmission beams may be used for sending multiple repetitions of the message or for sending different portions of the message.

Abstract: An articulated support fixture for a wind turbine blade includes a base frame with first and second bearing slide areas and first and second bearing blocks disposed to slide thereabout, each bearing block including a laterally oriented bearing. A fixture mount with a laterally oriented axle engages the laterally oriented bearings enabling the fixture mount to articulate about the lateral axle. The first and second bearing slide areas are configured to enable the first and second bearing blocks, together with the fixture mount, to slide along a generally longitudinal path, and to enable rotation of the fixture mount about a vertical axis as the first and second bearing blocks cooperatively slide upon the first and second bearing slide areas. A wind turbine blade interface is attached to the fixture mount, to enable engagement with, and support of, the wind turbine blade.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling access to wireless gaming devices and networks are provided. For example, access is controlled through one or more levels of security checks, such as a hard security check instead of or in addition to a soft security check. In a hard security check, the user employs an apparatus such as a card or other physical token that can be used to access the wireless gaming device. Such an apparatus may communicate information that identifies the user to the device or may simply be used to produce a signal without which the device is locked to users.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for energy management at a consist. In one example, a method for the energy management includes coordinating a distribution of a power demand in response to a power output of each of a fuel cell system, a battery system, and an engine system. The power output of each of the fuel cell system, the battery system, and the engine system may be selected based on a respective efficiency of each system.

Abstract: A catheter device and manufacturing process for manufacturing the catheter device, wherein the catheter device has a halo-shaped coiled portion extending away from a perpendicular stem portion through a swan neck portion. Eyelets on the halo coil portion and swan neck portion facilitate flow out of the bladder through the catheter device vertical to the catheter, rather than perpendicularly as is the case with existing catheters. The catheter device is formed by using a straight catheter tube, heating and cooling it within a formed mold to have the halo coil and swan neck, such that it can be straightened using a pusher and stylet, inserted into the body while straightened, and thereafter return to its coiled shape when the stylet is removed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel protein and biologically-active fragments and variants thereof with advantageous therapeutic and cosmetic uses. Also provided are methods of using the proteins, as well as methods of producing the proteins using a recombinant cell. Further provided are recombinant host cells transformed with a polynucleotide sequence that encodes the expression of the proteins.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis (RO) system is described that is connected to a dialysis machine and is capable of using heated purified water to clean and disinfect an external connection section or portion disposed between the RO systems and the dialysis unit (or any other external heat tolerant device) without forming a closed loop system between both systems before and during a heat forward process. This can be accomplished without the need for direct/indirect or wired/wireless communication with the dialysis unit or the need to introduce a chemical cleaner or process that would require further rinsing after chemical disinfection.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a foamable composition comprising an olefin copolymer that comprises ethylene and an ?-olefin; an unneutralized carboxylated olefin copolymer; a crosslinking agent; a blowing agent; and an activator; where a weight ratio of the activator to the unneutralized carboxylated olefin copolymer is greater than 0.3. Disclosed herein too is a method of manufacturing a foamable composition comprising blending together an olefin copolymer that comprises ethylene and an ?-olefin; an unneutralized carboxylated olefin copolymer; a crosslinking agent; a blowing agent; and an activator to form the foamable composition; where a weight ratio of the activator to the unneutralized carboxylated olefin copolymer is greater than 0.3; heating the foamable composition to activate the blowing agent to form a foam; and crosslinking the foam.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes a vehicle receiving data from an external computing device indicative of at least one other vehicle in an environment of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a sensor configured to detect the environment of the vehicle. The at least one other vehicle may include at least one sensor. The method also includes determining a likelihood of interference between the at least one sensor of the at least one other vehicle the sensor of the vehicle. The method also includes initiating an adjustment of the sensor to reduce the likelihood of interference between the sensor of the vehicle and the at least one sensor of the at least one other vehicle responsive to the determination.