Abstract: An apparatus for performing image analysis to identify human actions represented in an image, comprising: a joint-determination module configured to analyse an image depicting one or more people using a first computational neural network to determine a set of joint candidates for the one or more people depicted in the image; a pose estimation module configured to derive pose estimates from the set of joint candidates that estimate a body configuration for the one or more people depicted in the image; and an action-identification module configured to analyse a region of interest within the image identified from the derived pose estimates using a second computational neural network to identify an action performed by a person depicted in the image.

Abstract: A quick connector for making a verifiable connection with a tube is disclosed that comprises a connector housing having a socket portion on one end of a receptacle. The socket portion includes a pair of opening portions and a pair of channels extending into the socket portion from a pair of wall members located on the exterior of the connector housing. A verifier having a pair of resilient legs and a releasing member extend through a respective channel into the interior of the socket portion with each releasing member engaging an interior surface of each wall member. A retainer having claws is connected by spring bridging portions to a pair of outwardly projecting buttons with each button held in a mating fit within a respective opening portion in a preloaded position.

Abstract: A mechanized store uses a mobile device to authenticate the user. Items removed from one or more displays of the mechanized store by the user are tracked and a list of items removed by the user is updated. The list of items removed is linked with an account of the user.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and component parts of a system for the external fixation of bones. The component parts include fixation plates such as a C-shaped Plate, an N-shaped Plate, a J-shaped Plate, a K-shaped Plate, an I-shaped Plate, a Foot Plate, a Z-shaped Plate, a T-shaped Plate and an oval shaped Plate. Two or more fixation plates are configured along an axis, the two or more fixation plates; a plurality of telescoping adjustable struts that connect a first fixation plate along the axis with a second fixation plate of the plurality of fixation plates along the axis, wherein the first and second fixation plates are adjacent plates along the axis; and a plurality of posts, each post connecting two adjacent fixation plates of the plurality of fixation plates along the axis.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing integrated diagnostic test requisition and clinical decision support are disclosed. A request for diagnostic test information for a patient is received from an electronic medical records (EMR) system. Diagnostic tests appropriate for the patient are determined based on the request, and fields of a user interface for requesting the tests are populated based on test definitions corresponding to each test. Test requisitions are generated and transmitted to a test provider in a test-provider format, and results are received from the test provider and standardized. Courses of action appropriate for the patient are determined and proposed based on the standardized results and biomarker definitions related to the patient's condition.

Abstract: A market maker system associated with a diamond-backed cryptographic exchange stores for each of a plurality of diamonds, a rating of the diamond according to each of multiple properties. The system receives ratings of a target diamond for each of the multiple properties. From the stored diamond ratings, the system selects one or more diamonds with ratings within a threshold distance from a specified rating of the target diamond. A dynamic order listing the selected diamonds is generated.

Abstract: A tamperproof diamond package comprises a package body; at least one chip embedded in the package body and at least one antenna configured to enable communication with the chip; anti-counterfeiting visual impressions on the package body; a diamond pouch formed at a predetermined section within the package body; and one or more diamonds located inside the diamond pouch and an outer covering encasing the package body and configured to reveal any tampering with the one or more diamonds located in the diamond pouch. The diamond package can be credit card shaped and also contains serial number and website information and be provided in nominal dollar values. An associated diamond exchange system utilizes the diamond packages and provides a registration server which stores unique identifying information that enable interrogating the individual diamond packages and checking their authenticity with the registration server.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a charger connecting to an energy storage device, and a method of providing a user interface thereof, and the charger of one embodiment comprises a power supply part receiving electric power from any one or more supply source of a grid or an energy storage device, an interface part providing an interface for selecting any one of a charge cost method or a charge period method and an interface for setting a charge cost or a charge period, based on the selected method, a charger controller determining a charging price unit of a charge cost or a charge period depending on the sort of a supply source, and a charge part proceeding with charge based the period or cost selected at the interface part.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products to provide precision fingernail measurements. The method includes receiving first image data of a primary view of at least one fingernail and receiving second image data of a secondary view of at least one fingernail. The method also includes generating a three-dimensional (3D) digital nail model using the first and second image data. The method further includes determining a plurality of nail measurements based on the 3D digital nail model.

Abstract: A pump assembly is disclosed comprising a pump body having a first pump stage housed in the pump body including a fluid inlet and a first and a second fluid outlet. A flow feed chamber is housed in the pump body in fluid communication with the second fluid outlet. A second pump stage housed in the pump body is in fluid communication with the flow feed chamber and includes at least one fluid outlet connected to the second pump stage. A valve assembly is operable into a first position to fluidically connect the fluid inlet through the first pump stage to the first fluid outlet. The valve assembly is further operable into a second position to fluidically connect the first pump stage to the second fluid outlet and the flow feed chamber and the flow feed chamber fluidically connected to the at least one fluid outlet through the second pump stage.

Abstract: A pump assembly and method is disclosed comprising, a pump including a pump housing having a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet extending from the pump housing. A magnetic body of a brushless DC motor is submerged in the fluid and drives an impeller that moves the fluid from the fluid inlet to the at least one fluid outlet. A valve rotatably mounted between the impeller and the at least one fluid outlet selectively directs the flow of fluid through the at least one fluid outlet.

Abstract: Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analyzers use an ICP torch to generate a plasma in which a sample is atomized an ionized. Analysis of the atomic ions can be performed by atomic analysis, such as mass spectrometry (MS) or atomic emission spectrometry (AES). Particle based ICP analysis includes analysis of particles such as cells, beads, or laser ablation plumes, by atomizing and ionizing particles in an ICP torch followed by atomic analysis. In mass cytometry, mass tags of particles are analyzed by mass spectrometry, such as by ICP-MS. Systems and methods of the subject application include one or more of: a demountable ICP torch holder assembly, an external ignition device; an ICP load coil comprising an annular fin, particle suspension sample introduction fluidics, and ICP analyzers thereof.

Abstract: A process for cooling a heat generating component of a vehicle including pumping a coolant fluid from a pump having a first impeller and a second impeller, the pump switchable from a chilling mode, a heating mode, an isolated state, and a linked state; and while the pump is in the chilling mode and the isolated state, pumping the coolant fluid with the first impeller through a first loop of a heater module, and a cabin heat exchanger, and pumping the coolant fluid with the second impeller through a second loop of a component heat exchanger and a chiller module.

Abstract: It has been discovered that mixed-alcohol production can utilize the waste tail gas stream from the pressure-swing adsorption section of an industrial hydrogen plant. Some variations provide a process for producing mixed alcohols, comprising: obtaining a tail-gas stream from a methane-to-syngas unit (e.g., a steam methane reforming reactor); compressing the tail-gas stream; separating the tail-gas stream into at least a syngas stream, a CO2-rich stream, and a CH4-rich stream; introducing the syngas stream into a mixed-alcohol reactor operated at effective alcohol synthesis conditions in the presence of an alcohol-synthesis catalyst, thereby generated mixed alcohols; and purifying the mixed alcohols to generate a mixed-alcohol product.

Abstract: Some variations provide a process for producing mixed alcohols, comprising: purifying a biogas feedstock to generate a renewable natural gas stream comprising methane; introducing the renewable natural gas stream into a methane-to-syngas unit operated at effective conditions to convert the methane to a first syngas stream containing at least H2, CO, and CO2; purifying the first syngas stream, including separating the CO2 from the first syngas stream, and optionally separating some of the H2 from the first syngas stream, thereby generating a clean syngas stream; introducing the clean syngas stream into a mixed-alcohol reactor operated at effective alcohol synthesis conditions with an alcohol-synthesis catalyst, thereby generating mixed alcohols; and purifying the mixed alcohols to generate a mixed-alcohol product. The mixed-alcohol product may be blended with a hydrocarbon fuel, such as gasoline, to produce a blended fuel.

Abstract: A method for electric vehicle (EV) charging includes receiving power from at least one of a power grid and an energy storage system; performing an EV charging procedure through a charger using the received power; and performing, during the EV charging procedure, one of enabling charging the energy storage system from the power grid, and switching from discharging to charging of the energy storage system. An EV charging system includes a secondary battery for charging/discharging; an input unit receiving power from a power grid in order to charge the secondary battery; an output unit providing the power grid power to a charger for charging an electric vehicle by discharging the secondary battery; and a control unit to control a state of charge of the secondary battery when EV charging starts and a state of charge of the secondary battery when EV charging ends and to perform the EV charging procedure.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cooling a heat generating component of a vehicle comprises pumping coolant from a first pump while a first pump is in a chiller mode in a first loop comprising a component heat exchanger and a chiller module. Coolant is pumped from the first pump while the first pump is in a recirculation mode in a second loop comprising a heater module, and a cabin heat exchanger or back to said component heat exchanger. A second pump pumps coolant in the second loop while the second pump is in an isolated mode and from the second pump from the second loop into the first loop while the second pump is in a linked mode.

Abstract: A pump assembly is disclosed comprising a pump including a pump housing having a fluid inlet conveying fluid to a pump cavity At least one fluid outlet extends from the pump housing. A plurality of fluid outlet ports extend from the pump housing. An impeller driven by a motor drives the fluid in the pump cavity. In a first embodiment, a valve member rotatably mounted between the impeller and the plurality of fluid outlet ports is arranged to selectively direct the flow of fluid from the pump cavity to one or more of the plurality of fluid outlet ports. In a second embodiment, the valve member includes a first and a second wall between a first and a second opening. The first and second openings are arranged to direct the flow of fluid from the pump cavity to at least two of the plurality of fluid outlet ports.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cooling a heat generating component of a vehicle comprises a first pump switchable between a normal demand mode and a high demand mode. Coolant is pumped from the first pump through a cooling loop between a heat dissipating device and the heat generating component at a normal demand flowrate in the normal demand mode. Switching the first pump to the high demand mode diverts the coolant to a second pump. The second pump pumping the coolant through the cooling loop at a high demand flowrate.

Abstract: A power control apparatus includes an energy storage system that is connected to a power grid and includes a battery; a power conversion system (PCS) operatively connected to the power grid and the energy storage system; and a control unit configured to control a charging procedure and a discharging procedure for the battery by giving a priority to power conversion efficiency of the PCS. A control method of a power conversion apparatus includes using a power conversion unit to provide a control of transferring at least one of power of a power grid and power of an energy storage system to an electric vehicle charging system, and a management control to correspond to an optimal efficiency range with respect to power conversion by controlling charging/discharging of the energy storage system according to an electric vehicle charging speed.