Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes: receipt and accession of magnetic field data from a constellation of satellites providing global coverage over the Earth in a time span less than one day; inter-calibrating the magnetic field data from all satellites to a common standard; quantifying the global magnetic disturbance and selecting quiescent intervals at least as short as one day for evaluation of Earth's internally-generated field; calculating global maps of the mean vector magnetic field for each quiet interval from the average of all satellite measurements in angular bins; converting the time sequence of global maps of the mean fields to time series of angular harmonic coefficients via direct convolution; applying spectral and regression analysis to the harmonic coefficient time series to identify and remove artifacts in the signals; reconstructing a continuous time and spatial representation of the magnetic field continuous in time and angular position globally.

Abstract: The present invention is a food product and a method of creating the food product that satisfies the need for a homogenized dispersion that disperses throughout meat, wherein the particle size of macromolecular ingredients within the dispersion is reduced to form a more stable homogenized dispersion with increased ingredient functionality. This permeated meat offers added health benefits such as the substitution of the anti-oxidant rich olive oil for problematic animal fat.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes determining, by a server, a location of a door in an architectural drawing and a room function of a room secured by the door based on an analysis of the architectural drawing, determining, by the server, proper access control hardware to be installed on the door based on the room function, a category of access control hardware, and a predictive machine learning model associated with the category of access control hardware, and generating, by the server, a specification based on the determined proper access control hardware.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method for freeze-drying surfactant-stabilized microbubbles. The method includes: preparing vials comprising a mixture comprising microbubbles; partially submerging the vials in a chilled water bath, wherein the water bath has a sub-freezing temperature; placing the vials on a cooled shelf of a lyophilizer; freeze-drying the vials in the lyophilizer; and capping the freeze-dried vials. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for annealing surfactant-stabilized microbubbles. The method includes: preparing vials comprising a mixture comprising microbubbles; passing the vials in and out of liquid nitrogen (LN2) until the mixture is frozen; holding the vials at ?20° C.; placing the vials on a cooled shelf of a lyophilizer; freeze-drying the vials in the lyophilizer; and capping the freeze-dried vials.

Abstract: An AWP boom is coupled to a platform rotator through a novel load sensing linkage system which provides both structural support and load sensing capabilities of an attached platform support structure. The load sensing linkage system includes an upper flex plate and a lower flex plate and a single load cell for load sensing capabilities. The flex plates provide for stiffness in all directions except where necessary for load sensing.

Abstract: An adjustable illuminator for photodynamically diagnosing or treating a surface includes a plurality of first panels and at least one second panel. The plurality of first panels have wider widths and the at least one second panel has a narrower width. The narrower width is less than the wider widths. The illuminator further includes a plurality of light sources, each mounted to one of the plurality of first panels or the at least one second panel and configured to irradiate the surface with substantially uniform intensity visible light. The plurality of first panels and the at least one second panel are rotatably connected. The at least one second panel is connected on each side to one of the plurality of first panels. The second panel acts as a “lighted hinge” to reduce or eliminate optical dead spaces between adjacent panels when the illuminator is bent into a certain configuration.

Abstract: A robot generates a cell grid (e.g., occupancy grid) representation of a geographic area. The occupancy grid may include a plurality of evenly sized cells, and each cell may be assigned an occupancy status, which can be used to indicate the location of obstacles present in the geographic area. Footprints for the robot corresponding to a plurality of robot orientations and joint states may be generated and stored in a look-up table. The robot may generate a planned path for the robot to navigate within the geographic area by generating a plurality of candidate paths, each candidate path comprising a plurality of candidate robot poses. For each candidate robot pose, the robot may query the look-up table for a corresponding robot footprint to determine if a collision will occur.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semi-crystalline polyester polyol having an acid number less than 4 and derived from a saturated fatty component having a hydroxyl number less than 2, the saturated fatty component being selected from the group consisting of saturated fatty acid, saturated fatty acid ester, saturated oil, and combinations thereof, polyhydric alcohol that includes at least three hydroxyl groups, and a dibasic acid.

Abstract: A system that automatically determines ideal temporary backup targets (TBTs) to store and restore backup data. For multiple TBTs, backup data is saved with location information to restore incremental backup data from these multiple targets. Hashes of each file are stored in a Merkle tree to enable data restore workflows and minimizing an amount of storage required to hold backup data. The lowest tree level comprises hashes of the backup data chunks, and higher levels contain hashes of the next lower levels. A backup target location value is added to non-data chunk hash records in the higher levels to identify where any piece of backup data is located so that restore operations can occur when the backup data is spread across multiple backup targets.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems for and methods of playing a video game that includes providing a game character having a virtual appearance characteristic, receiving an input signal indicative of a user exercise performance level, and altering the virtual appearance characteristic in response to receiving the input signal. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.

Abstract: A mobile edge computing system, a communication network and a method of using a mobile edge computing device. The mobile edge computing system includes a communication module that establishes signal communication over numerous wireless communication protocols at least one of which uses a low power wide area network protocol. A logic device is made up of a distributed set of processing units including both a central processing unit and one or more processors configured for performing machine learning operations the latter of which include one or more of a graphical processor unit and a tensor processing unit. When the system receives event data that has been acquired by one or more of the communication module and a sensor, the system executes a trained machine learning model and conveys, using the low power wide area network protocol, an output that has been produced by the trained machine learning model.

Abstract: A network module configured to provide switched auxiliary (AUX) power for E-stop system functionality in a network system. The network module includes a switching module and a controller. The switching module is configured to control the passage of power through a switched AUX cable for E-stop functionality. The switching module is configured to receive an unswitched AUX cable and the switched AUX cable. The controller is communicatively coupled to a communications cable. The controller is configured to control the switching actions of the switching module as defined by switching instructions received via the communications cable.

Abstract: A snowguard comprises a shaft, an attachment point, a support member, and a snow catcher. The shaft has a first end and a second end. The shaft has a first body disposed between the first end and the second end. The attachment point is disposed at the first end of the shaft. The support member has a third end and a fourth end. The support member has a second body defined between the third end and the fourth end. The third end of the support member is operatively coupled to the second end of the shaft. The support member extends away from the shaft at a first angle. The snow catcher is operatively coupled to the fourth end of the support member and the first body at a point between the first end and the second end.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for generating and applying vehicle maintenance models to vehicle telematics data. A vehicle telematics analytics (VTA) computing device is configured to receive vehicle telematics data associated with operation of a subject vehicle, and apply the received vehicle telematics data to a vehicle maintenance model to determine whether the operation of the subject vehicle is better or worse than standard operation of like vehicles. The VTA computing device may adjust a maintenance cost and/or determine if a user of the vehicle is eligible for a reward based upon this determination. The VTA computing device is configured to transmit an itemized report to the user including the adjusted maintenance cost and/or the reward as well as one or more other vehicle costs.

Abstract: A 3D conversation system can facilitate 3D conversations in an augmented reality environment, allowing conversation participants to appear as if they are face-to-face. The 3D conversation system can accomplish this with a pipeline of data processing stages, which can include calibrate, capture, tag and filter, compress, decompress, reconstruct, render, and display stages. Generally, the pipeline can capture images of the sending user, create intermediate representations, transform the representations to convert from the orientation the images were taken from to a viewpoint of the receiving user, and output images of the sending user, from the viewpoint of the receiving user, in synchronization with audio captured from the sending user. Such a 3D conversation can take place between two or more sender/receiving systems and, in some implementations can be mediated by one or more server systems. In various configurations, stages of the pipeline can be customized based on a conversation context.

Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods for treating obstructive sleep apnea using an acoustic sensor configured to detect acoustic sounds generated by the heart and lungs. Sensory data from the acoustic sensor is used by an implanted stimulation system to determine when to deliver electrical stimulation to a nerve which innervates an upper airway muscle, such as the hypoglossal nerve, to treat sleep apnea.

Abstract: Chemical flashings for track assemblies and mount assemblies employed in solar power installations are disclosed. In some embodiments, a track assembly having a base, a pair of rails, a sealant receiving cavity and a round groove extending into the base from the bottom of the base, and a compressible round seal disposed within the base extending past the bottom is disclosed. In some embodiments, a mount assembly having a vertical structure, a sealant receiving cavity and a round groove extending into the base from the bottom of the base, a compressible round seal disposed within the base extending past the bottom, and an excess sealant cavity is disclosed.

Abstract: A recyclable, laminated polyolefin film structure comprises two or more film plies laminated to each other. Each of the laminated film plies comprises one or more polyolefin films. The film structure has an energy cured coating layer or a two-part coating layer disposed on the outermost outward facing surface of the film structure and a printed ink layer on an interior surface of one of the polyolefin layers. In certain embodiments, the outermost surface of the laminated polyolefin film structure has a melting temperature which is at least 100 degrees Celsius, and more preferably 150 or 180 degrees Celsius, higher than a melting temperature of the innermost surface of the laminated polyolefin film structure.

Abstract: Social media networking applications, web sites, and services creates implicit relationships between users based on their interest or participation in real-world and optionally virtual or online activities in addition to explicitly defined peer relationships. User profiles, activity entities, and expressions may be associated with metadata to assist in searching and navigation. Metadata is implicitly associated with user profiles, activity entities, expressions, or other data entities based on user behavior using metadata collector. A metadata collector is a poll, survey, list, questionnaire, census, test, game, or other type of presentation adapted to solicit user interaction. A metadata collector is associated with metadata elements. When users interact with a metadata collector, their user profiles and the data entities included in their interactions become associated with the metadata elements of the metadata collector. These metadata element associations may then be used for any purpose.

Abstract: A turbine engine includes a core having a fan section, a compressor section, combustion section, and turbine section in serial flow arrangement and defining an engine centerline. The turbine section has a set of turbine stages, having paired sets of non-rotating, circumferentially spaced vanes defining a respective nozzle, and rotating circumferentially spaced blades. A first stage turbine nozzle has a solidity that is a ratio of an axial chord length of the turbine vanes to the circumferential spacing between adjacent vanes.