Abstract: Techniques for monitoring the individual feed and water intake and pharmaceutical use and unmetabolized residual alerting in the livestock industry. Livestock have sensors installed on or in their bodies to detect consumption of feed and water for each animal in an environment where multiple animals are present. Sensors communicate data regarding the duration and timing of individual animals feeding habits. Health and efficiency status data is recorded per animal and analyzed to determine whether to issue an alert indicating problems with individual animals. The system tracks the health and efficiency data for each animal, pen or farm and generates statistical information regarding the sensor data. The system communicates with user interface to display notifications and statistical data. In addition, the pharmaceutical monitoring system alerts when any unmetabolized residual pharmaceuticals are still in the animals when the animal is being readied for shipping to a packing plant.

Abstract: A uniform enclave interface is provided for creating and operating enclaves across multiple different types of backends and system configurations. For instance, an enclave manager may be created in an untrusted environment of a host computing device. The enclave manager may include instructions for creating one or more enclaves. An enclave may be generated in memory of the host computing device using the enclave manager. One or more enclave clients of the enclave may be generated by the enclave manager such that the enclave clients configured to provide one or more entry points into the enclave. One or more trusted application instances may be created in the enclave.

Abstract: A series of sensors tags are designed to be attached to electric distribution lines and poles as well as high voltage transmission lines and towers. Each sensor tag contains an array of sensors that measure operational performance of the powerlines and supporting infrastructure and detect any anomalies in operation. The sensor tags also have wireless communication capability and communicate sensor data to a backhaul communication node. The backhaul communication node relays the sensor data, via cellular or satellite connection to a wide area network, such as the Internet. In one embodiment, performance data may be collected over a period of time and a profile established to indicate levels of normal operation and thresholds at which abnormal operation should be reported. If the sensor tag has a profile stored therein, it need only report sensor data when it exceeds some predetermined threshold defined in the profile.

Abstract: A fluid heating system for heating a production fluid using a thermal transfer fluid, the production fluid being contained in a vessel includes an electric blower configured to receive ambient air and electrical input power and to provide output source air, a combustion system configured to receive the source air from the electric blower and to receive fuel and to provide the thermal transfer fluid, a heat exchanger configured to receive the thermal transfer fluid from the combustion system and configured to provide heat exchange from the thermal transfer fluid to the production fluid, and to provide output exhaust gas, and wherein the electric fan provides a predetermined volume flow rate of the output source air at a predetermined blower efficiency such that the fluid heating system has a Bulk Heat Flux of at least about 14.7 kBTU/Hr/ft2 and a Pressure Drop of at least about 0.7 psi.

Abstract: A compressor has a rotor assembly having an impeller for generating an airflow through the compressor, a stator core assembly for causing rotation of the impeller, and a diffuser assembly for acting on the airflow generated by the impeller. The diffuser assembly has a first diffuser stage and a second diffuser stage. The first and second diffuser stages are separate components connected to one another by a fastener.

Abstract: A multi-factor user authentication framework using asymmetric key includes a host device, a user agent, a gesture system, and an authentication system. The multiple factors include a user credential as well as a user gesture that indicates that the user is present. The user interacts with the user agent via the host device in order to obtain access to something for which user authentication is needed. The authentication system maintains the user credentials, which are provided to authenticate the user in response to the authentication system determining that the user is present (which can be determined in different manners, such as using a personal identification number (PIN), biometric information regarding the user, geographic location of the gesture system, etc.). The user agent, gesture system, and authentication system can be implemented on the same device (e.g., the host device), or alternatively implemented across one or more different devices.

Abstract: A diagnostic service is selectively started at opportune times, such as when the electrical vehicle is initially plugged in. When the electrical vehicle is turned off, there may not be any messages being sent on the communication bus since most vehicle electronic controllers are disabled to conserve power. But, when someone plugs in a charger, there is a surge of bus traffic for a short period of time. The system parses through the bus traffic and looks for a particular communication bus address. The presence of this address can be used as an indicator for an opportune time to start the diagnostic service to confirm whether the electric vehicle is charging or not and to log the state of charge of the electric vehicle.

Abstract: A Li-ion battery cell, among other materials, components, and techniques, is provided that includes ion-permeable anode and cathode electrodes, an electrolyte ionically coupling the anode and the cathode, a separator electrically separating the anode and the cathode, and a sacrificial, high-capacity Li composition for providing Li to at least one of the electrodes.

Abstract: An electric machine comprising: a frame; and a rotor assembly comprising a shaft to which is mounted at least one bearing and at least one magnet; the frame comprising a bearing seat to which the bearing of the rotor assembly is mounted, and wherein the bearing seat extends axially beyond the bearing to surround the magnet, and the bearing seat comprises locating features for holding a position sensor assembly relative to the magnet.

Abstract: Devices and methods for performing a skin biopsy are discussed herein. The skin biopsy device provides for consistent depth and shape, such as by reducing or eliminating operator error or inter-operator variability by generating the same forces across multiple uses. The skin biopsy device can also eliminate puckering of wound closures by incorporating a fusiform blade (e.g., elliptical blade or a diamond-shaped blade). The skin biopsy device includes a casing, a firing pin, a retaining rod, and a blade. The retaining rod holds the blade or can attach to a punch biopsy. The firing pin generates and impacts the retaining rod with a force necessary to drive the blade a given depth into a target tissue to obtain a biological sample.

Abstract: A fluid heating system including: a pressure vessel shell com including prising a first inlet; a heat exchanger disposed in the pressure vessel shell, the heat exchanger including a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second inlet of the heat exchanger is connected to the first inlet of the pressure vessel shell; and an exhaust manifold disposed in the pressure vessel shell, the exhaust manifold including a third inlet and a third outlet, wherein the third inlet of the exhaust manifold is connected to the second outlet of the heat exchanger, wherein the third outlet of the exhaust manifold is outside of the pressure vessel shell, and wherein the exhaust manifold penetrates the pressure vessel shell.

Abstract: A method for producing a cell culture insert with at least one membrane, in particular at least one biological membrane, may include the following steps: providing at least one insert blank with at least one opening; and forming the at least one membrane in the insert blank by means of a bio-printing method.

Abstract: A fluid heating system for heating a production fluid using a thermal transfer fluid, the production fluid being contained in a vessel includes an electric blower configured to receive ambient air and electrical input power and to provide output source air, a combustion system configured to receive the source air from the electric blower and to receive fuel and to provide the thermal transfer fluid, a heat exchanger configured to receive the thermal transfer fluid from the combustion system and configured to be in thermal communication with the production fluid to provide convective heat exchange from the thermal transfer fluid to the production fluid, and to provide output exhaust gas, and wherein the electric fan provides a predetermined volume flow rate of the output source air at a predetermined blower efficiency such that the fluid heating system has a Bulk Heat Flux of at least about 14.7 kBTU/Hr/ft2 and a Pressure Drop of at least about 0.7 psi.

Abstract: Techniques for a natural language processing (NLP) system to implement more than one assistant during a dialog between one or more users and the NLP system are described. The NLP system may receive a first natural language input and associate same with a dialog identifier. The NLP system may output audio, responsive to the first natural language input, in a first NLP system assistant's voice. Thereafter, the NLP system may receive a second natural language input and associate same with the dialog identifier. The NLP system may output audio, responsive to the second natural language input, in a second NLP system assistant's voice.

Abstract: Techniques for a natural language processing (NLP) system to implement more than one assistant are described. The NLP system may receive a natural language input from a device. The NLP system may also receive one or more signals representing one or more assistants to be implemented with respect to the natural language input. The NLP system may intelligently select an assistant to be invoked with respect to the natural language input. Once the assistant is selected, the NLP system may cause content, output to a user, to have characteristics specific to the assistant.

Abstract: Techniques for a natural language processing (NLP) system to implement more than one assistant are described. The NLP system may receive a natural language input corresponding to more than one user command. The NLP system may respond to a first command, of the natural language input, using a TTS voice of a first NLP system assistant. The NLP system may respond to a second command, of the natural language input, using a TTS voice of a second NLP system assistant.

Abstract: Sensors on an aerial lift device determine the number of occupants in and occupant portion of the aerial lift device. Prior to permitting the occupant portion to rise up off the ground, the system checks the engagement of safety harnesses to verify that the number of engaged safety harnesses matches the number of occupants in the occupant portion of the aerial lift. If the number matches, operation of the aerial lift may be enabled and the occupant portion deployed. If the number does not match, an alarm is sounded and deployment of the occupant portion may be disabled. With pre-deployment safety testing, and no occupants in the occupant portion, the occupant portion may be deployed to verify all operational status of the occupant portion with no occupants. The system may further create a data log to verify the time and successful pre-deployment safety check.

Abstract: A sample vessel assembly to carry out a sorption analysis in a container provided with a cooling liquid. The sample vessel assembly includes a sample vessel configured to be suspended within the container. The sample vessel has a sample holding region at a sample end of the vessel to hold a sample to be analyzed. A wick is disposed on the sample vessel and surrounds the sample holding region. The wick extends from the sample holding region to project toward a bottom of the container and draw the cooling liquid over the sample holding region when the sample vessel is disposed in an analysis position in the container.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a position of a mobile receiver including receiving a set of satellite observations, the set of satellite observations corresponding to a set of satellites; determining a state vector at each of a plurality of filters, wherein each filter determines the respective state vector based on a unique subset of the set of satellite observations; after a convergence criterion is satisfied, determining a converged state vector based on the respective integer ambiguity hypotheses; and determining the position of the mobile resolver based on the converged state vector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining a fleet-level objective for a vehicle associated with instructing the vehicle to travel a route according to route criteria based on the fleet-level objective. The method includes receiving a ride request from a ride requestor associated with ride criteria including a pick-up location and a drop-off location. The method includes determining that the ride requestor is a passenger for the vehicle to satisfy the fleet-level objective contingent on modifications to the ride criteria. The method includes providing incentives to the ride requestor contingent on acceptance of the modifications to the ride criteria. The method includes, after receiving the acceptance of the modifications to the ride criteria, modifying the ride criteria in accordance with the route criteria. The method includes instructing the vehicle to transport the ride requestor based on the modified ride criteria so as to fulfill the fleet-level objective.