Abstract: A sports ball, for example a soccer ball, comprising a hollow shell and a pit suspended within the hollow shell by a plurality of cords. In some embodiments, the plurality of cords may comprise a first end coupled to the hollow shell at a first location, a second end coupled to the hollow shell at a second location, and a center portion coupled to the pit. In some embodiments, the pit may be suspended within the hollow shell by a plurality of cords, with each of the plurality of cords comprising a frayed end secured to the hollow shell at one of a plurality of spaced apart locations.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, methods and systems are provided for controlling steering of an autonomous vehicle. The method includes: operating, by a processor, the autonomous vehicle in a semi-automated mode; receiving, by the processor, driver input including a measured driver torque; receiving, by the processor, threat data; determining, by the processor, a steering command bias based on an impedance relation, impedance parameters, the measured driver torque, and the threat data; determining, by the processor, a reference angle based on the steering command bias and a desired angle; and generating, by the processor, control data to control the steering of the autonomous vehicle based on the reference angle.

Abstract: A method may include: receiving a notification of a triggering event, the triggering event identifying an associated product; accessing a baseline configuration for the product; transmitting a notification to a recipient responsible for maintaining the baseline configuration for the product; receiving an approved update to the baseline configuration from the recipient; generating an updated baseline configuration for the product based on the approved update; querying a database to identify an application subscriber for the triggering event for the product; and transmitting the updated baseline configuration to the identified application subscriber.

Abstract: A free-standing sports training wall is provided, the free-standing sports training wall including a frame and a substantially smooth heat-strengthened glass panel attached to the frame. The glass panel forming at least part of a rebound surface of the free-standing sports training wall.

Abstract: A sift-resistant dispensing closure is disclosed. The sift-resistant dispensing closure includes a base, a lid, and a hinge connecting the lid to the base. The base contains a circular end wall, a cylindrical skirt extending downward from the periphery of the end wall, and a sift deck elevated from the upside of the circular end wall. The sift deck contains a deck surface surrounded by a first snap bead and a first sealing surface, and pouring holes formed on the deck surface. The lid contains a second snap bead and a second sealing surface that are formed on the underside of the lid and engage with the first snap bead and first sealing surface, respectively, to form a seal around the sift deck when the lid is in a closed position.

Abstract: A photovoltaic solar concentrator comprising a non-tracking lens adapted to reach the limits of Etendue conservation for acceptance of a direct and a diffuse solar insolation and to emit a focused light onto an upper surface of a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC). The LSC comprises a crystal with an un-doped semiconductor with high luminescence efficiency in the form of a waveguide that includes a top-hat multi-layer reflector to reflect photo-luminescence within an escape cone of the crystal. A mirror attached to the bottom surface. Mirrors attached to all edges of the crystal except for one of the edges. A solar cell mounted on an un-mirrored edge, or optically connected to the un-mirrored edge of the crystal by a second waveguide, to receive the photo-luminescence trapped within the waveguide.

Abstract: Identifying words to accurately describe, with a range of specificity, an image is provided. A vector space corresponding to the image is generated using a convolutional neural network to extract a hierarchy of features ranging from broad to specific from the image. Closest vocabulary ranging from broad to specific are identified for the image using Huffman coding on the vector space. Accurate words ranging from broad to specific are identified that describe the image based on vocabulary output of the Huffman coding on the vector space. The accurate words ranging from broad to specific describing the image are output.

Abstract: A microservices-management system intercepts a request for a cloud-based microservice sent by a microservices-architecture application. The system selects an optimal cloud-service provider from a group of candidate providers capable of delivering the microservice and then forwards the request to the optimal provider. The optimal provider is selected by drawing cognitive inferences from stored blockchain records that each describe a characteristic of a previous delivery of the requested service. Each record is generated by one of the candidate providers when delivering an instance of the microservice, regardless of whether the provider is in a trusted relationship with the application owner. The providers are barred by blockchain's intrinsic security features from altering or deleting previously stored blockchain records. Upon delivery of the service, the system compares the actual quality or cost of the delivery with predicted values in order to learn how to more effectively select optimal providers.

Abstract: A new and improved hydrocyclone roping and wear management system and method for its use are provided. The system includes one or more wireless electronic roping sensors and/or one or more wireless electronic wear sensors disposed in communication with one or more hydrocyclones, along with a wireless electronic controller. The system is capable of wirelessly detecting roping and/or wear conditions within one or more hydrocyclone separators during their operation, communicating electronic data corresponding to the roping and/or wear conditions to an associated hydrocyclone control system, and causing adjustments in controlling operational parameters for the hydrocyclones. The associated method includes steps for wirelessly acquiring roping and/or wear condition data using the wireless electronic controller and delivering the data to the hydrocyclone control system.

Abstract: A microservices-management system intercepts a request for a cloud-based microservice sent by a microservices-architecture application. The system selects an optimal cloud-service provider from a group of candidate providers capable of delivering the microservice and then forwards the request to the optimal provider. The optimal provider is selected by drawing cognitive inferences from stored blockchain records that each describe a characteristic of a previous delivery of the requested service. Each record is generated by one of the candidate providers when delivering an instance of the microservice, regardless of whether the provider is in a trusted relationship with the application owner. The providers are barred by blockchain's intrinsic security features from altering or deleting previously stored blockchain records. Upon delivery of the service, the system compares the actual quality or cost of the delivery with predicted values in order to learn how to more effectively select optimal providers.

Abstract: A method may include: receiving a notification of a triggering event, the triggering event identifying an associated product; accessing a baseline configuration for the product; transmitting a notification to a recipient responsible for maintaining the baseline configuration for the product; receiving an approved update to the baseline configuration from the recipient; generating an updated baseline configuration for the product based on the approved update; querying a database to identify an application subscriber for the triggering event for the product; and transmitting the updated baseline configuration to the identified application subscriber.

Abstract: In capturing software element state changes during software application runtime, a computing device executes a software application that a set of software sensors integrated within executable code of the software application. The software sensors correspond to software elements in the software application. During runtime, a given software sensor corresponding to a given software element continuously determines whether the given software element changes state. In response to a change in state, the given software sensor captures and stores the current state of the given software element. An application control module associated with the software application obtains state data stored by the software sensors. The application control module determines commands for modifying a behavior of the software application based on an analysis of the state data and executes the commands.

Abstract: A closure striker installation jig is described herein. The jig includes a jig body including a striker opening and at least one fastener opening defined therein. The jig also includes at least one magnet embedded at least partially within the jig body. The jig further includes a handle rotatably coupled to the jig body at a hinge point. The handle includes a grip and at least one handle extension, wherein the grip is positioned on an opposite side of the hinge point as the at least one handle extension.

Abstract: A roofing shingle having a fire-retardant material added to the shingle in specific locations is provided. In one aspect a roofing system with two or more asphalt-coated substrates and a sealant material provided between the substrates is provided. The sealant material adheres an overlying and underlying shingle together and can contain a fire-retardant material. In a second aspect of the present invention, a multi-layer laminated shingle is provided with an adhesive material between one or more asphalt-coated substrates which adheres the asphalt-coated substrates together and can contain a fire-retardant material.

Abstract: In capturing software element state changes during software application runtime, a computing device executes a software application that a set of software sensors integrated within executable code of the software application. The software sensors correspond to software elements in the software application. During runtime, a given software sensor corresponding to a given software element continuously determines whether the given software element changes state. In response to a change in state, the given software sensor captures and stores the current state of the given software element. An application control module associated with the software application obtains state data stored by the software sensors. The application control module determines commands for modifying a behavior of the software application based on an analysis of the state data and executes the commands.

Abstract: A sift-resistant dispensing closure is disclosed. The sift-resistant dispensing closure includes a base, a lid, and a hinge connecting the lid to the base. The base contains a circular end wall, a cylindrical skirt extending downward from the periphery of the end wall, and a sift deck elevated from the upside of the circular end wall. The sift deck contains a deck surface surrounded by a first snap bead and a first sealing surface, and pouring holes formed on the deck surface. The lid contains a second snap bead and a second sealing surface that are formed on the underside of the lid and engage with the first snap bead and first sealing surface, respectively, to form a seal around the sift deck when the lid is in a closed position.

Abstract: Aspects predict an amount of cryptocurrency activity that is likely attributed to a vendor within blockchain data of the cryptocurrency as a function of an amount of market activity by the vendor in a conventional currency and an exchange rate between the cryptocurrency and a conventional currency; determine an amount of cryptocurrency activity attributed to the vendor within the cryptocurrency blockchain data; and determine a risk weighting for the cryptocurrency in proportion to a difference between the predicted amount of cryptocurrency activity and the determined amount of cryptocurrency activity attributed to the vendor.