Abstract: Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes: a user interface to receive a command to place a vehicle in an autonomous control mode of the vehicle; and a stuck mode controller to autonomously shift a transmission of the vehicle alternately between a reverse gear and a forward gear of the vehicle when in the autonomous control mode to autonomously rock the vehicle back and forth. A timing of the shifting of the transmission is based on a ratio of a velocity of the vehicle to an acceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein that perform automatic downhill snub braking. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an electronic powertrain controller to cause a deceleration of a vehicle in response to a first request from an electronic cruise controller, the first request responsive to a change in grade of a driving surface and an electronic brake controller to apply snub braking to the vehicle in response to a second request received from the electronic cruise controller, the second request responsive to a speed of the vehicle reaching a maximum speed.

Abstract: Terrain assist apparatus and related methods for use with vehicles are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a vehicle controller configured to determine, based on vehicle sensor data, a condition of a vehicle associated with driving on sand. The vehicle controller is also to generate, via an output device, information instructing a vehicle occupant to configure a driving mode of the vehicle that is associated with controlling vehicle speed. The vehicle controller is also to control a parameter of the vehicle based on a setting of the driving mode to resolve the condition.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for automatic calibration of electronic trailer brake gain. An example apparatus includes a trailer brake gain calibration module programmed to compare a calculated trailer brake torque to at least one of a first or second threshold, adjust a gain value based upon satisfaction of at least one of the first or second threshold, and apply a pressure to a trailer brake based on the gain value.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to perform brake sweeping procedures on vehicle brakes are described herein. An example apparatus includes a controller to determine when a vehicle has made a turn, compare an angle at which the vehicle has turned to an angle threshold, and schedule a brake sweeping procedure based on the comparison.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes: a user interface to receive a command to place a vehicle in an autonomous control mode of the vehicle; and a stuck mode controller to autonomously shift a transmission of the vehicle alternately between a reverse gear and a forward gear of the vehicle when in the autonomous control mode to autonomously rock the vehicle back and forth. A timing of the shifting of the transmission is based on a ratio of a velocity of the vehicle to an acceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a command to place a vehicle in a stuck mode. The stuck mode corresponds to an autonomous control mode of the vehicle. The method further includes autonomously controlling the vehicle in the stuck mode to attempt to extricate the vehicle from a stuck condition.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to perform brake sweeping procedures on vehicle brakes are described herein. An example apparatus includes a controller to determine when a vehicle has made a turn, compare an angle at which the vehicle has turned to an angle threshold, and schedule a brake sweeping procedure based on the comparison.

Abstract: A stop/start hybrid vehicle includes an engine configured for stopping and restarting during travel, a multiple-ratio transmission, a brake pedal, and an electronic parking brake. The transmission can be shifted into reverse gear either when the brake pedal is applied or unapplied. At least one controller is programmed to control the vehicle under these scenarios. If the engine is off and the brake pedal is applied when the transmission is shifted into reverse, the controller restarts the engine. If the engine is off and the brake pedal is unapplied when the transmission is shifted into reverse, the controller inhibits the engine from restarting until the brake pedal is applied. The controller can also be programmed to apply the electronic parking brake while the brake pedal remains unapplied after a predetermined time from the transmission being shifted into the reverse gear.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an Aspergillus niger F22 strain having a nematicidal activity against plant-parasitic nematodes; a nematicidal microorganism agent against plant-parasitic nematodes, containing, as an active ingredient, the strain, a spore, a fungal hyphal mass, or a culture liquid thereof; a method for controlling plant-parasitic nematodes, having a step of administering the microorganism agent to a crop, a crop seed, or a field; and a method for preparation of a nematicidal microorganism agent against plant-parasitic nematodes, having a step of culturing the strain.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a command to place a vehicle in a stuck mode. The stuck mode corresponds to an autonomous control mode of the vehicle. The method further includes autonomously controlling the vehicle in the stuck mode to attempt to extricate the vehicle from a stuck condition.

Abstract: A stop/start hybrid vehicle includes an engine configured for stopping and restarting during travel, a multiple-ratio transmission, a brake pedal, and an electronic parking brake. The transmission can be shifted into reverse gear either when the brake pedal is applied or unapplied. At least one controller is programmed to control the vehicle under these scenarios. If the engine is off and the brake pedal is applied when the transmission is shifted into reverse, the controller restarts the engine. If the engine is off and the brake pedal is unapplied when the transmission is shifted into reverse, the controller inhibits the engine from restarting until the brake pedal is applied. The controller can also be programmed to apply the electronic parking brake while the brake pedal remains unapplied after a predetermined time from the transmission being shifted into the reverse gear.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying a traction control ON/OFF menu at a display module in a vehicle upon detection of vehicle characteristics and conditions that may warrant a driver's desire to manually disable the traction control feature. The method and system verify traction control is enabled on the vehicle, verify the traction control ON/OFF menu is not already being displayed at a display module, a controller receives at least one signal indicating an occasion that may warrant manual deactivation of traction control and the controller initiates displaying the traction control ON/OFF menu for the convenience of the driver.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of controlling drainage of wash water remaining in a washing machine. The method includes draining wash water from a tub to an outside of the washing machine, supplying wash water into the washing machine after the draining wash water, and re-draining the wash water to the outside of the washing machine after the supplying wash water.

Abstract: Out-of-order reconstruction of a RAID storage device at a replacement storage device enables the replacement storage device to execute I/O for reconstructed regions during reconstruction of the replacement storage device. In one embodiment, the failed storage device is analyzed to find recoverable information, which is copied to the replacement storage device to reduce the need for reconstruction. In another embodiment, the priority for region's reconstruction is increased upon detection of an I/O to the region. The I/O is queued until reconstruction of the region and then executed after reconstruction of that region so that I/O at the region need not be repeated during reconstruction of the remainder of the replacement storage device.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying a traction control ON/OFF menu at a display module in a vehicle upon detection of vehicle characteristics and conditions that may warrant a driver's desire to manually disable the traction control feature. The method and system verify traction control is enabled on the vehicle, verify the traction control ON/OFF menu is not already being displayed at a display module, a controller receives at least one signal indicating an occasion that may warrant manual deactivation of traction control and the controller initiates displaying the traction control ON/OFF menu for the convenience of the driver.

Abstract: Provided are a method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a semiconductor integrated circuit device fabricated using the method. The method includes: forming a mask film, which exposes a portion of a substrate, on the substrate; forming a first buried impurity layer, which contains impurities of a first conductivity type and of a first concentration, in a surface of the exposed portion of the substrate by using the mask film; removing the mask film; forming a second buried impurity layer, which contains impurities of a second conductivity type and of a second concentration, using blank implantation; and forming an epitaxial layer on the substrate having the first and second buried impurity layers, wherein the first concentration is higher than the second concentration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cytochrome P450 protein originating from Arabidopsis thaliana which can be used for increasing seed size or storage protein content in seed or for increasing water stress resistance of plant, a gene encoding said protein, a recombinant plant expression vector comprising said gene, a method of increasing seed size or storage protein content in seed and a method of increasing water stress resistance of plant by using said vector, plants produced by said method and transgenic seed of said plants. According to the present invention, by using cytochrome P450 gene of the present invention, seed size or storage protein content in seed can be increased or water stress resistance of plant can be increased.

Abstract: Out-of-order reconstruction of a RAID storage device at a replacement storage device enables the replacement storage device to execute I/O for reconstructed regions during reconstruction of the replacement storage device. In one embodiment, the failed storage device is analyzed to find recoverable information, which is copied to the replacement storage device to reduce the need for reconstruction. In another embodiment, the priority for region's reconstruction is increased upon detection of an I/O to the region. The I/O is queued until reconstruction of the region and then executed after reconstruction of that region so that I/O at the region need not be repeated during reconstruction of the remainder of the replacement storage device.

Abstract: Provided are a method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a semiconductor integrated circuit device fabricated using the method. The method includes: forming a mask film, which exposes a portion of a substrate, on the substrate; forming a first buried impurity layer, which contains impurities of a first conductivity type and of a first concentration, in a surface of the exposed portion of the substrate by using the mask film; removing the mask film; forming a second buried impurity layer, which contains impurities of a second conductivity type and of a second concentration, using blank implantation; and forming an epitaxial layer on the substrate having the first and second buried impurity layers, wherein the first concentration is higher than the second concentration.