Abstract: Present disclosure provides a method including isolating DNA from a source, thereby providing a composition including the isolated DNA. The isolated DNA has at least first and second target regions, where the length of the second target region is greater than the length of the first target region. The method further includes quantifying a total mass of the isolated DNA, quantifying a first quantification cycle (Cq) of the first target region and a second Cq of the second target region, and calculating a Q-ratio for the isolated DNA by dividing the second Cq by the first Cq. The method further includes determining a value for a quality-mass constant (kQm), estimating a required input mass by dividing kQm by the Q-ratio, and preparing the isolated DNA for sequencing if the total mass of the isolated DNA in the composition is equal or greater than the required input mass.

Abstract: An article for performing exercise that may include an attacher piece to attach to an elevated object and an extender piece to extend a horizontal distance from the elevated object while the attacher piece is attached to the elevated object and while the extender piece is connected to the attacher piece. The article may also include a weight suspension piece to suspend a body of weight therefrom while the weight suspension piece is connected to the extension piece. The article may also include a supporter piece configured to extend from at least one of the extender piece and the weight suspension piece to apply force against the elevated object, thereby providing additional support for the suspension of the body of weight from the weight suspension piece.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for adjustment of card configurations for flight interruptions. Past flight interruptions that users experienced may be determined. Transactions conducted via the users' payment cards during the past flight interruptions may be determined. The data may be used for determining customized metrics for adjusting card configurations of the payment cards during current flight interruptions. Default metrics for adjusting card configurations of the payment cards during current flight interruptions may be determined. Current flight statuses may be monitored for the users. Current flight interruptions may be detected for the users. Card configurations of the payment cards may be adjusted during the detected current flight interruptions.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for improving the accuracy of synthetic authentication questions by analyzing third party account data. A request for access to a first account associated with a user may be received. The first account may be managed by a first organization. A transactions database might be queried for first account data. Second account data corresponding to a second account associated with the user might be received. That second account may be managed by a second organization different from the first organization. One or more second transactions, unique to the second account, may be identified. A synthetic transaction, configured to be different from transactions in the first account and the one or more second transactions, may be generated. An authentication question may be generated based on the synthetic transaction. Access to the first account might be provided based on a response to the authentication question.

Abstract: Techniques for building automated workflow sequences associated with a document review platform are provided. A method includes accessing trigger event data from a trigger event database and action data from an action database; presenting a user interface to create a workflow; adding a function block to the workflow by: detecting a selection of an add function block option; presenting a function block including at least one of (i) a user-selectable option to select a trigger event from a list of trigger events populated based on the trigger event data or (ii) a user-selectable option to select an action from a list of actions populated based on the action data; and presenting the function block including at least one of a selected trigger event or a selected action; detecting that the workflow is ready for deployment; translating the workflow into a logic-based representation of the workflow; and deploying the logic-based representation.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate comprising a first epitaxial silicon carbide layer and a second silicon carbide epitaxial layer. At least one semiconductor device is formed in or on the second silicon carbide epitaxial layer. The semiconductor substrate is formed overlying a silicon carbide substrate having a surface comprising silicon carbide and carbon. An exfoliation process is used to remove the semiconductor substrate from the silicon carbide substrate. The carbon on the surface of the silicon carbide substrate supports separation. A portion of the silicon carbide substrate on the semiconductor substrate is removed after the exfoliation process. The surface of the silicon carbide substrate is prepared for reuse in subsequent formation of semiconductor substrates.

Abstract: A household dishwasher includes a washing chamber, a control apparatus for running a washing program from a number of washing programs, a metering system having a supply unit for receiving an individual dose of a first cleaning agent and supplying the individual dose into the washing chamber at a metering point in time while running the washing program, and an automatic metering apparatus for automatically metering a plurality of metering quantities from a supply of a second cleaning agent in the form of a solid material into the washing chamber at the metering point in time, and a sensor apparatus configured to detect a state of the metering system and to emit a sensor signal depending on the detected state of the metering system. The control apparatus runs the washing program depending on the sensor signal.

Abstract: Aspects described herein may allow for authenticating a user by generating a customized set of authentication questions based on spending patterns that are automatically detected and extracted from user data. The user data may include transaction data collected over a period of time that may indicate the types of merchants that a user frequently transacts with. By automatically detecting user patterns that correspond to user behavior over a period of time, an authentication system may be able to generate authentication questions about those spending patterns that are easily answerable to an authentic user but difficult to guess or circumvent for any other user.

Abstract: Aspects discussed herein may relate to techniques for authenticating a user using transaction-based authentication questions. The transaction-based authentication questions may be provided to the user. The user may provide audible responses to the transaction-based authentication questions that may be captured by a smart device, such as an always on listening device. Authentication of the user may be based on voice analysis of the audible responses to the transaction-based authentication questions and/or based on the answers to the transaction-based authentication questions.

Abstract: A lid assembly includes a lid element having an annularly shaped peripheral portion configured to be axially aligned with and disposed between a rim of a canning container and a radially extending portion of a retainer element when the lid assembly is engaging the canning container and the retainer element is removably coupled to the canning container. An annularly shaped sealing element is disposed on the peripheral portion of the lid element and is configured to directly engage the rim of the canning container when the lid assembly is contacting the canning container. A plurality of projections is formed in the peripheral portion of the lid element with each of the projections forming a distally disposed surface of the peripheral portion with respect to an exterior axial direction of the lid element extending away from an interior of the canning container when the lid assembly is engaging the rim.

Abstract: Techniques are discussed for modifying map elements associated with map data. Map data can include three-dimensional data (e.g., LIDAR data) representing an environment, while map elements can be associated with the map data to identify locations and semantic information associated with an environment, such as regions that correspond to driving lanes or crosswalks. A trajectory associated with the map data can be updated, such as when aligning one or more trajectories in response to a loop closure, updated calibration, etc. The transformation between a trajectory and an updated trajectory can be applied to map elements to warp the map elements so that they correspond to the updated map data, thereby providing automatic and accurate techniques for updating map elements associated with map data.

Abstract: A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. The sensor pod system may include a cleaning system to clean sensing surfaces of sensor pods during operation. The sensor pod system may include sensors of different types and modalities. Sensor pods of the sensor pod system may be modularly installed on a vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle and collect and provide data of the environment during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method of breakaway clutching in a device includes an arm having a first joint and a control unit coupled to the arm. The control unit includes one or more processors. The control unit switches the first joint from a first state of the first joint to a second state of the first joint in response to an external stimulus applied to the arm exceeding a first threshold. Movement of the first joint is more restricted in the first state than in the second state. The control unit further switches the first joint from the second state to the first state in response to a speed associated with the first joint falling below a speed threshold. The first threshold is based on at least one first property of the arm. The speed threshold is based on at least one second property of the arm.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for improving computer authentication processes by analyzing user response times to authentication questions. A request for access to an account may be received. Transaction data associated with a user of that account may be retrieved, and a list of merchants may be generated based on the transaction data. A blocklist may be retrieved, and the list of merchants may be filtered based on the blocklist. An authentication question may be presented. The authentication question may relate to the list of merchants. User responses may be received, and response times for the user responses may be measured. Based on the response times and the response times for other users, an average response time for the merchants may be determined. Based on the average response time for a particular merchant exceeding a threshold, the particular merchant may be added to the blocklist.

Abstract: A system includes a dishwasher having a dishwasher cavity, a door for closing the dishwasher cavity, and a number of receptacles receiving items to be washed. A control apparatus executes a washing program from a plurality of washing programs so as to wash the items to be washed. A pivoting facility is provided to automatically pivot the door, and a movement facility automatically moves at least one of the receptacles. An ascertaining unit ascertains a loading request of a user of a number of loading requests for loading and unloading the dishwasher cavity, and a determining unit determines a movement sequence including a pivoting of the door and a movement of one of the receptacles based on the ascertained loading request. An actuation unit actuates the pivoting facility and the movement facility so as to perform the determined movement sequence.

Abstract: A lid element for use with a canning container includes a centrally disposed domed portion, an annular channel portion disposed radially outwardly of the domed portion, and an annular peripheral portion disposed radially outwardly of the channel portion. The peripheral portion is configured to be axially aligned with a rim of the canning container about a circumference of the rim when the lid element is engaging the rim. The channel portion extends away from each of the domed portion and the peripheral portion with respect to an interior axial direction corresponding to an axial direction of the lid element towards the interior of the canning container when the lid element is engaging the rim.

Abstract: A system includes a dishwasher including a washing chamber, a sensor unit designed to detect a time curve of at least one sensor signal of a washing liquor and to output the detected time curve of the at least one sensor signal, a memory unit designed to store the time curve of the at least one sensor signal, an ascertaining unit designed to ascertain a temporal functional value based on the time curve of the at least one sensor signal, and a control device designed to carry out a washing program for washing washware in the washing chamber of the dishwasher and to carry out a specified action as a function of the temporal functional value..

Abstract: Aspects discussed herein may relate to techniques for authenticating a user using transaction-based authentication questions. The transaction-based authentication questions may be provided to the user. The user may provide audible responses to the transaction-based authentication questions that may be captured by a smart device, such as an always on listening device. Authentication of the user may be based on voice analysis of the audible responses to the transaction-based authentication questions and/or based on the answers to the transaction-based authentication questions.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for improving computer authentication processes by analyzing user response times to authentication questions. A request for access to an account may be received. Transaction data associated with a user of that account may be retrieved, and a list of merchants may be generated based on the transaction data. A blocklist may be retrieved, and the list of merchants may be filtered based on the blocklist. An authentication question may be presented. The authentication question may relate to the list of merchants. User responses may be received, and response times for the user responses may be measured. Based on the response times and the response times for other users, an average response time for the merchants may be determined. Based on the average response time for a particular merchant exceeding a threshold, the particular merchant may be added to the blocklist.

Abstract: A system and method of breakaway clutching in a device includes an arm including a first joint and a control unit coupled to the arm. The control unit includes one or more processors. The control unit switches the first joint from a first state of the first joint to a second state of the first joint in response to an external stimulus applied to the arm exceeding a first threshold, wherein movement of the first joint is more restricted in the first state of the first joint than in the second state of the first joint, switches the first joint from the second state to the first state in response to a speed associated with the first joint falling below a speed threshold, and prevents the switching of the first joint from the first state to the second state when the arm is in a predetermined mode.