Abstract: The combination zipper and audio player includes an audio system for playing prerecorded audio when the zipper is opened to a predetermined degree. The zipper is a conventional zipper including first and second flexible panels, first and second sets of zipper teeth secured to respective edges of the first and second flexible panels, and a zipper slider which is slidably mounted on the first and second sets of zipper teeth. The zipper slider is made from an electrically conductive material. First and second electrical contacts are respectively secured to the first and second flexible panels respectively adjacent the first and second sets of zipper teeth. An audio module is in electrical communication with the first and second electrical contacts, and a speaker is in electrical communication with the audio module. The audio module and the speaker are contained within a waterproof housing and are configured to play the prerecorded audio.

Abstract: A joint connection structure of a building framework includes a column assembly including a column and a pair of gusset plates connected to the column on opposite sides of the column and extending laterally outward from the column. A beam assembly includes a beam having upper and lower flanges and an end portion received between the gusset plates. The beam assembly is bolted to the column assembly. A channel is attached to one of the column and beam to facilitate connection of the beam assembly to the column assembly. The channel defines an elongate slot for attaching the channel to said one of the column and beam.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods apply, with a fan, a braking force to a vehicle that includes an axle. The fan is rotated at a first rotational speed based on a rotation of the axle that rotates at a second rotational speed. The first rotational speed is different from the second rotational speed. The fan applies the braking force when the fan rotates at the first rotational speed.

Abstract: In an aspect, a marker kit is provided, and includes a plurality of tip holders, a storage member, and an extension member. The tip holders each includes a tip holder body having a connecting portion, and a marker tip extending from the body. The storage member includes a base with a plurality of receptacles, each shaped to removably hold one of the tip holders with the connecting portion exposed. The extension member includes an extension member body for grasping. The extension member body has a securing portion and an actuatable member. The securing portion is releasably connectable to the connecting portion of each tip holder for removal from one of the plurality of receptacles. The actuatable member is for disconnecting the securing portion from the connecting portion of the tip holder that is secured to the extension member so as to release the tip holder back into a receptacle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for intelligent driving monitoring systems, advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous driving systems, and providing one-click driver image labeling to facilitate the assignment of drive time to a driver. Various aspects of the driver and/or passengers may be determined, which may include a driver identifier previously associated with the driver, whether the driver is wearing a facial covering, whether an image of the driver is partially occluded, whether the driver is facing in the direction of the camera, and whether an image of the driver is expected to be easily recognizable to a person tasked with assigning representative driver images to driver identifiers. These determinations may be used to improve the efficacy and ease-of-use of a visual login system.

Abstract: Methods and related devices for impinging light on tissue, for example within a body of a patient, to induce various biological effects are disclosed. Biological effects may include at least one of inactivating and/or inhibiting growth of one or more pathogens, upregulating a local immune response, stimulating enzymatic generation of nitric oxide to increase endogenous stores of nitric oxide, releasing nitric oxide from endogenous stores of nitric oxide, and inducing an anti-inflammatory effect. Wavelengths of light are selected based on intended biological effects for one or more of targeted tissue types and targeted pathogens. Light treatments may provide multiple pathogenic biological effects, either with light of a single wavelength or with light having multiple wavelengths. Devices and methods for light treatments are disclosed that provide light doses for inducing biological effects on various targeted pathogens and targeted tissues with increased efficacy and reduced cytotoxicity.

Abstract: A device and system for and methods of using an ultrasound probe housing containing ultrasound probes configured to produce images inside the body of a patient for procedures requiring needle or probe insertion. The ultrasound probe housing can be configured with a guide channel cut-out or aperture between the ambient side and body side of a patient. A needle guide assembly may be pivotally connected internal to the guide channel cut-out or aperture of the ultrasound probe housing at a pivot point such that during use the needle enters the patient through the needle guide assembly within the ultrasound probe housing so that the needle can be visualized by the ultrasonic probes in real time. The ultrasound probe housing may also provide an adhesion or suction quality to the body side of the device to facilitate aspects of the invention.

Abstract: There is a region of interest of a synthetic image depicting an object from a class of objects. A trained neural image generator, having been trained to map embeddings from a latent space to photorealistic images of objects in the class, is accessed. A first embedding is computed from the latent space, the first embedding corresponding to an image which is similar to the region of interest while maintaining photorealistic appearance. A second embedding is computed from the latent space, the second embedding corresponding to an image which matches the synthetic image. Blending of the first embedding and the second embedding is done to form a blended embedding. At least one output image is generated from the blended embedding, the output image being more photorealistic than the synthetic image.

Abstract: A robot is disclosed for cleaning the exterior of tubes of a heat exchanger. The robot comprises a lance for directing a jet of fluid into spaces between the tubes, a carriage for transporting the lance in a direction of travel parallel to axes of the tubes of the heat exchanger, and traction assemblies for engaging the tubes to enable the carriage to be advanced along the tubes, wherein the traction assemblies are each moveable relative to the carriage in a direction transverse to that of travel in order to change the track width of the robot.

Abstract: Systems and methods of path-based mapping and routing are provided. Translation information and absolute information of mobile objects in environments are determined based on a fusion of sensing data from a radar and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) including a gyroscope and an accelerometer, from which path-based maps and optimal routes can be generated.

Abstract: A system for rehabilitation is disclosed. The system for rehabilitation includes a monitoring device that includes a memory device storing instructions and a network interface card. The monitoring device is configured to detect information from a body part of a user. The system for rehabilitation further includes one or more processing devices operatively coupled to the monitoring device. The one or more processing devices are configured to execute the instructions to receive configuration information specified in a treatment plan for rehabilitating the body part of the user. The one or more processing devices are configured to execute the instructions for receiving the information from the monitoring device. The one or more processing devices are further configured to execute the instructions to transmit the configuration information and the information to a computing device controlling an electromechanical device, via the network interface card.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for compacting objects onto tools. One embodiment is a method for compacting an object onto a rigid tool. The method includes placing an object onto a surface of a rigid tool, disposing an end effector over the object, spreading linkages of the end effector, causing a scroll of material between the linkages to be disposed atop the object while surrounding the object, and applying a negative pressure to the scroll that offsets air leaks between the scroll and the object, thereby forming a suction hold that compacts the object onto the rigid tool.

Abstract: A method includes receiving information that includes elastic property information and that includes sonic data acquired via a tool disposed at a plurality of depths in a bore in a subterranean environment that includes at least one anisotropic formation; processing the information to generate processed information where the processed information includes variance information associated with the elastic property information and where the processed information includes velocity information and orientation information associated with the sonic data; performing an inversion based at least in part on the processed information; and outputting values for elastic parameters based at least in part on the inversion.

Abstract: A computer-based system to improve data transfer rates between stationary or moving remote devices having sensors and a server. A sensor data ingestion device is provided at the remote devices, having instructions therein which, when executed, receive and process data to place it in a form suitable for rapid download by a remote server. A memory buffer and a queue unit including computational circuitry configured to generate a queue status associated with triggering event data which is stored in the memory buffer. Instructions in the sensor data ingestion device may provide for a queue modification procedure, or the server may present a queue modification menu including one or more instances of a priority level choice. A queue controller may be provided. Streaming messages are downloaded by the server using a persistent WebSocket connection. Files configured to file chunks at the sensor data ingestion device, and the file chunks are downloaded by a server using a webhook.

Abstract: A method for preparing C2 to C5 paraffins includes introducing a feed stream including hydrogen gas and a carbon-containing gas selected from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof into a reaction zone of a reactor. Converting the feed stream into a product stream including C2 to C5 paraffins in the presence of a hybrid catalyst. The hybrid catalyst includes a microporous catalyst component; and a metal oxide catalyst component selected from (A) a bulk material consisting of gallium oxide, (B) gallium oxide present on a titanium dioxide support material, and (C) a mixture of gallium oxide and at least one promoter present on a support material selected from Group 4 of the IUPAC periodic table of elements.

Abstract: The disclosure provides recombinant bacterial host cells that metabolize and convert glycerol or volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) or PHBV. The disclosure further provides methods of producing PHBV using the recombinant bacteria disclosed herein.

Abstract: Endoscopic imaging systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an endoscopic imaging system can include an endoscope having a distal tip with a distal face configured to face a scene, such as a portion of a body cavity of a patient. The endoscope can further include first cameras for capturing first image data of the scene, a projector for projecting a light pattern into the scene, and second cameras for capturing second image data of the scene including the light pattern. A processor can be communicatively coupled to the first and second cameras for receiving the first and second image data. The processor can process the first and second image data to generate an image of the scene at the perspective of a virtual camera, and can vary the perspective, the aperture, the focus plane, and/or another parameter of the virtual camera without requiring the endoscope to be physically moved.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a multi-functional streetlight. In accordance with one aspect, the multi-functional streetlight includes a hexagonal shaped support structure, wherein the hexagonal shaped support structure includes an arm segment and wherein the arm segment includes a luminaire on an under side of the arm segment; and a base flange configured to couple the hexagonal shaped support structure to the ground.

Abstract: In some implementations, a system can be configured to allow remote control devices to quietly obtain status information related to various audio/video playback devices. For example, a streaming device (e.g., a user device, phone, etc.) can establish a streaming connection to a playback device. The playback device can be configured to only accept a single streaming connection (i.e., master connection). A remote control device (e.g., a user device, phone, etc.) can quietly connect (i.e., control connection) to the playback device without interrupting the master connection to obtain status information related to the playback device and or the media being streamed to the playback device. The remote control device can provide commands through the control connection to adjust the playback of the streamed media at the playback device.