Abstract: An electrical system includes: 1) a buck converter; 2) a battery coupled to an input of the buck converter; and 3) a load coupled to an output of the buck converter. The buck converter includes a high-side switch, a low-side switch, and regulation loop circuitry coupled to the high-side switch and the low-side switch. The regulation loop circuitry includes a comparator with preamplifier gain adjustment circuitry configured to adjust a preamplifier gain of the comparator based on an overdrive voltage.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for presenting suggestions of media content are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: determining an item of media content; determining a probability of the item of media content being watched at one or more times based on at least one of: a characteristic of a person; a characteristic of a group; and a characteristic of the item of media content; creating a user interface which suggests that the item of media content be watched at one or more times based on the determined probability; and presenting the user interface.

Abstract: A blower for a respiratory apparatus includes an impeller configured to rotate to pressurize the supply of gas. The impeller includes a shroud with a plurality of vanes extending from a surface of the shroud toward the gas inlet. Each vane radiates outwards from a hub in the shroud that is configured to receive a motor shaft. The outer diameter of the shroud varies between maximum portions with a maximum outer diameter and minimum portions with a minimum outer diameter. The maximum portions are located at the vanes and the minimum portions are located between the vanes. In addition, each vane has an intermediate point located a predetermined distance from the hub that marks the beginning of a curvature of the vane in the direction of the impeller's rotation. The curvature of the vane is located between the intermediate point and the radially outermost end of the vane.

Abstract: Computer systems and methods are provided for performing authentication of a user. A computer system receives, from a camera on an electronic device distinct from the computing system: a single captured image that includes a first facial image of a user and an image of a document that includes a second facial image of the user, and a third facial image of the user captured at a different time from the first facial image. The computer system determines whether the first facial image and the second facial image meet matching criteria. The computer system determines, using the third facial image, that the user is moving. And, in accordance with determinations that the first facial image and the second facial image meet the matching criteria and that the user is moving, the computer system transmits authorization information for the user to the electronic device.

Abstract: In order to prevent stamps or indicia from being forged and in order to bill a logistics service between different postal service providers correctly to the user, a computer-implemented method for franking postal articles is implemented. The article's progress is recorded by readers and, together with the accompanying franking identification, is stored in blocks of a blockchain as a transaction. In doing so, the assignment of the readers to a postal service provider is recorded. The logistics service provided is billed correctly to the user by analyzing the transactions stored in the blockchain that are to be allocated to at least one postal service provider.

Abstract: A multisignal encoder for encoding at least three audio signals, including: a signal preprocessor for individually preprocessing each audio signal to obtain at least three preprocessed audio signals, wherein the preprocessing is performed so that a preprocessed audio signal is whitened with respect to the signal before preprocessing; an adaptive joint signal processor for performing a processing of the at least three preprocessed audio signals to obtain at least three jointly processed signals or at least two jointly processed signals and an unprocessed signal; a signal encoder for encoding each signal to obtain one or more encoded signals; and an output interface for transmitting or storing an encoded multisignal audio signal including the one or more encoded signals, side information relating to the preprocessing and side information relating to the processing.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a pad for forming a seal forming structure against a user's skin for use with a patient interface, the pad comprising, a base layer, a fibre layer comprising a plurality of fibers for contacting a patient's skin, and a connection layer for connecting the fibers to the base material, wherein the base layer and/or the fibre layer is/are adapted to act as a reservoir for substances. Furthermore, it relates to a set of pads, a kit and a patient interface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing trehalose, comprising the steps of mixing and reacting, in any order, (i) at least one alpha-phosphorylase capable of catalyzing the production of alpha-D-glucose 1-phosphate intermediate from a saccharide raw material, and from at least one phosphorus source; (ii) at least one trehalose phosphorylase capable of catalyzing the production of trehalose from an alpha-D-glucose 1-phosphate intermediate and a glucose substrate, wherein the trehalose phosphorylase is a trehalose phosphorylase variant with an amino acid sequence which differs from the amino acid sequence of a wild type trehalose phosphorylase in at least one amino acid position, (iii) at least one saccharide raw material which produces an alpha-D-glucose 1-phosphate intermediate and a co-product by catalytic action of the alpha-phosphorylase; and (iv) at least one phosphorus source selected from the group consisting of a phosphoric acids and an inorganic salt thereof.

Abstract: A system has an input and an output. The system includes a voltage converter, including first transistor coupled to the input and to a first switching node, second transistor coupled to the first switching node and to ground, third transistor coupled to a second switching node and to the output, fourth transistor coupled to the second switching node and to ground, and an inductor having a first terminal coupled to the first switching node and a second terminal coupled to the second switching node. The system also includes a controller coupled to the voltage converter, the controller including a state machine and a plurality of drivers to control the transistors of the voltage converter. The state machine is adaptable to cause the second and fourth transistors to conduct and the first and third transistors not to conduct, in response to current through the inductor being less than a current threshold.

Abstract: A controller includes a comparator having an inverting input coupled to a voltage converter output, a non-inverting input coupled to a voltage source, and an output. The controller includes a timer having a start input coupled to the converter that indicates that current through a converter inductor is less than a threshold; a stop input coupled to the comparator output; and an output having a digital value corresponding to the time between receiving asserted signals at start input and at stop input. The controller includes a time comparator having a first input coupled to the timer output and a second input to receive a time value. The time comparator asserts one of its outputs based on the digital and time values. The controller includes an accumulator coupled to the time comparator outputs, the accumulator configured to maintain, increase, or decrease an output value based on the asserted time comparator output.

Abstract: A timed auxiliary automotive HVAC apparatus for quickly regulating vehicle temperature upon entry includes a control housing coupled within a dashboard of a vehicle. A plurality of controls is coupled to a faceplate of the control housing. A CPU is in operational communication with the plurality of controls. A blower fan is configured to be coupled within the dashboard and to be in operational communication with a battery of the vehicle and the CPU. A heating unit, a cooling unit, and a diverter solenoid are in operational communication with the blower fan and the CPU to heat or cool the vehicle through a discharge vent passing through a vent housing.

Abstract: A multi-stage anaerobic digester is designed to treat a high solids, stackable feedstock. The system may also receive a pumpable feedstock such as a slurry or sludge. In a first stage, the digestate circulates in one direction around a raceway such that the digestate may pass a feed inlet multiple times before leaving the first tank. An optional side stream loop withdraws fibrous material from near the top of the raceway and return digestate with chopped fibers, preferably lower and further along the raceway. An outlet from the raceway located near, but upstream of, the feed inlet discharges partially digested substrate to a second stage, which is operated as a stirred tank reactor. The two stages may be provided in a single tank with an internal wall separating a ring shaped outer portion from a cylindrical inner portion. The digester may be operated in a thermophilic temperature range.

Abstract: The serving of content with (e.g., on) video documents may be improved in a number of ways. For example, a system may accept information defining at least one ad spot associated with at least one instance of an video document, accept offers to have ads served in the ad spot(s), and arbitrate among competing ads, using at least the offers, to determine at least one ad to be served in that ad spot(s). As another example, a system may accept relevance information for an ad, determine at least one video document using the accepted relevance information, present information about the video document(s) to an ad provider associated with the ad, and accept, from the ad provider, an offer to have its ad served with at least one of the video document(s) accepted.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the regeneration of an adsorber. For the regeneration a liquid stream (S2) is applied which is obtained by hydrogenation of a stream (S1) comprising at least one alkane and least one olefin. The stream (S2) comprises one alkane and a reduced amount of at least one olefin compared to the amount in the stream (S1). Then the stream (S2) is converted from the liquid into the gaseous phase and the adsorber is regenerated by contact with the gaseous stream (S2).

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a decoded two-channel signal includes: an audio processor for decoding an encoded two-channel signal to obtain a first set of first spectral portions; a parametric decoder for providing parametric data for a second set of second spectral portions and a two-channel identification identifying either a first or a second different two-channel representation for the second spectral portions; and a frequency regenerator for regenerating a second spectral portion depending on a first spectral portion of the first set of first spectral portions, the parametric data for the second portion and the two-channel identification for the second portion.

Abstract: The invention refers to audio encoders, audio decoders, and audio encoding methods and audio decoding methods. In some examples, the invention refers to improved stereo coding. An encoder provides an encoded representation of an audio signal. The encoder applies a spectral whitening to a separate-channel representation of the input audio signal, to obtain a whitened separate-channel representation of the signal. The audio encoder applies a spectral whitening to a mid-side representation of the signal, to obtain a whitened mid-side representation of the signal. The audio encoder decides whether to encode the whitened separate-channel representation of the signal, to obtain the encoded representation of the signal, or to encode the whitened mid-side representation of the signal, to obtain the encoded representation of the signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for interfacing process controllers in a process automation system with one or more intelligent electrical devices (IEDs) of an electrical automation system to use process and electrical control space information to perform actions and make decisions regarding actions in a connected enterprise system to facilitate energy management goals as well as process control goals in view of electrical control space information and process control space information.

Abstract: Computer systems and methods are provided for receiving a first authentication request that includes an image of an identification document. A risk value is determined using one or more information factors that correspond to the authentication request. A validation user interface that includes the image of the identification document is displayed. A risk category that corresponds to the risk value is determined using at least a first risk threshold. In accordance with a determination that the risk value corresponds to a first risk category, a visual indication that corresponds to the first risk category is displayed. In accordance with a determination that the risk value corresponds to a second risk category, a visual indication that corresponds to the second risk category is displayed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds, salts, solvates of Formula (1), and any formulation thereof. Also disclosed are methods of eliciting hydraulic enhancement and/or increasing yield of a plant by contacting a plant with compounds, salts, solvates of Formula (1), or any formulation thereof.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to processes for producing acesulfame potassium. In one embodiment, the process comprises the step of reacting a first reaction mixture to form an amidosulfamic acid salt such as a trialkyl ammonium amidosulfamic acid salt. The first reaction mixture comprises sulfamic acid, an amine, and smaller amounts, if any, acetic acid, e.g., less than 1 wt % (10000 wppm). In terms of ranges, the first reaction mixture may comprise from 1 wppm to 1 wt % acetic acid. The process further comprises the step of reacting the amidosulfamic acid salt with diketene to form an acetoacetamide salt. In preferred embodiments, the amidosulfamic acid salt formation reaction is conducted at pH levels from 5.5 to 7.0. The process further comprises the step of deriving the acesulfame-K from the acetoacetamide salt.