Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a control system (2) for monitoring a movement of a trailer (3) connected to a vehicle (1). The control system comprises one or more controllers (5) and is configured to: receive image data from an image sensor (10) disposed on the vehicle; store image data corresponding to a central reference image, a current reference image and a current frame and associate an offset angle with the current reference image, and associate a correction angle with current reference image. The control system (2) is configured to compare the current reference image to the current frame to determine a change angle; determine a hitch angle in dependence on the offset angle, the change angle and the correction angle; and output the hitch angle.

Abstract: An opposed, free-piston engine includes a pair of adjacent cylinders, each extending from a first cylinder end to a second cylinder end along an elongate axis and having a first cylinder housing a first pair of opposed, free pistons including a first piston housed towards the first cylinder end and a second piston housed towards the second cylinder end; a second cylinder housing a second pair of opposed, free pistons having a third piston and a fourth piston; and a pair of link rods including a first link rod and a second link rod. The first link rod has a first link rod end and a second link rod end, the second link rod having a third link rod end and a fourth link rod end.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for capturing diagnostics data in a distributed computing environment comprising a plurality of computing devices executing a plurality of Kubernetes pods. A worker node is configured with a staging area for storing temporary diagnostics data. An agent is configured to upload the temporary diagnostics data. Each container in the worker node is assigned a directory in the staging area for writing the container's temporary diagnostics data. When a container in the worker node has written a temporary diagnostics data file to the container's directory in the staging area, the temporary diagnostics data file is uploaded to the persistent storage.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for capturing diagnostics data in a distributed computing environment comprising a plurality of computing devices executing a plurality of Kubernetes pods. A worker node is configured with a staging area for storing temporary diagnostics data. An agent is configured to upload the temporary diagnostics data. Each container in the worker node is assigned a directory in the staging area for writing the container's temporary diagnostics data. When a container in the worker node has written a temporary diagnostics data file to the container's directory in the staging area, the temporary diagnostics data file is uploaded to the persistent storage.

Abstract: An opposed, free-piston engine includes a pair of adjacent cylinders, each extending from a first cylinder end to a second cylinder end along an elongate axis and having a first cylinder housing a first pair of opposed, free pistons including a first piston housed towards the first cylinder end and a second piston housed towards the second cylinder end; a second cylinder housing a second pair of opposed, free pistons having a third piston and a fourth piston; and a pair of link rods including a first link rod and a second link rod. The first link rod has a first link rod end and a second link rod end, the second link rod having a third link rod end and a fourth link rod end.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a control system (2) for monitoring a movement of a trailer (3) connected to a vehicle (1). The control system comprises one or more controllers (5) and is configured to: receive image data from an image sensor (10) disposed on the vehicle; store image data corresponding to a central reference image, a current reference image and a current frame and associate an offset angle with the current reference image, and associate a correction angle with current reference image. The control system (2) is configured to compare the current reference image to the current frame to determine a change angle; determine a hitch angle in dependence on the offset angle, the change angle and the correction angle; and output the hitch angle.

Abstract: Methods for separating microorganisms from non-microorganism cells in a non-microorganism cell-containing sample comprise incubating the sample with particles to form particle-microorganism complexes and then separating the particle-microorganism complexes from the non-microorganism cells. These methods are used to detect the absence or presence of a microorganism in a sample that also contains non-microorganism cells. Particular reagents and combinations of reagents enhance the selective capture of microorganisms in mixed samples. Corresponding compositions and kits are also provided.

Abstract: Reconstructing in-memory data block indices in a distributed data storage system where data blocks are stored in extents and the extents are replicated across storage devices. In one aspect, based on a reboot of a storage device and a copy of an extent stored in the storage device being in an open state, appends for data blocks in the copy of the extent stored in the storage device are replayed to reconstruct an in-memory data block index for the copy of the extent. In another aspect, based on a reboot of a storage device and a copy of an extent being in a closed state, a data block index for the copy of the extent is retrieved from non-volatile storage of the storage device and the retrieved data block index stored in memory at the storage device.

Abstract: A distributed computing system that executes a set of long-lived jobs is described. During operation, each worker process performs the following operations. First, the worker process identifies a set of jobs to be executed and a set of worker processes that can execute the set of jobs. Next, the worker process sorts the set of worker processes based on unique identifiers for the worker processes. Then, the worker process assigns jobs to each worker process in the set of worker processes, wherein approximately the same number of jobs is assigned to each worker process, and jobs are assigned to the worker processes in sorted order. While assigning jobs, the worker process uses an identifier for each worker process to seed a pseudorandom number generator, and then uses the pseudorandom number generator to select jobs for each worker process to execute.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving athletic training, performance and rehabilitation. In one example, the system and method perform or include receiving, with an electronic processor, data associated with the subject; generating, with a parameter estimation algorithm, a parameter value for each of a plurality of parameters associated the subject; determining, with the electronic processor, an effect of training on a performance variable, p, associated with the subject; and determining an exercise routine based on optimizing the performance variable.

Abstract: An append-only data storage system is described that stores sets of data blocks in extents that are located in storage devices. During operation of the system, upon receiving a request to copy an extent from a source storage device to a destination storage device, the system creates a scratch extent on the destination storage device, and associates the scratch extent with a private identifier, whereby the scratch extent can only be accessed through the private identifier. The system uses the private identifier to perform a copying operation that copies the extent from the source storage device to the scratch extent on the destination storage device. After the copying operation is complete and the scratch extent is closed, the system associates the scratch extent with a public identifier, whereby the copy of the extent on the destination storage device becomes publically accessible to other entities in the data storage system.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has two exhaust valves (24, 25) per combustion chamber (21), and variable valve timing for each exhaust valve. The exhaust valves (24, 25) are associated with respective exhaust tracts (26, 27) including a turbocompounder (31) and a turbocharger (41). The turbine exhaust from one of the turbomachines is directed to turbine inlet of another of the turbomachines.

Abstract: A system that stores sets of data blocks in extents located in storage devices is described. During operation, a receiving device receives, through an RPC framework, a first call asking to transfer an extent from a sending device to the receiving device. In response, the receiving device opens a port for a data connection that operates outside the RPC framework. The receiving device makes a second call, to the sending device through the RPC framework, asking to stream the extent to the port. The receiving device subsequently receives the extent from the sending device through the port and computes a checksum for the extent. The receiving device also receives a return from the second call, including a checksum for the extent computed by the sending device. If the computed checksum matches the received checksum, the receiving device returns the first call to indicate the transfer operation completed successfully.

Abstract: A multi-stage exhaust turbocharger has parallel high pressure stages (30, 40) and a single low pressure stage in series. The high pressure stages (30, 40) have variable geometry turbines. The low pressure stage (60) has a divided scroll turbine wheel (62) with each scroll fed independently from the respective turbines of the high pressure stages. Valves V1, V2 determine flow paths to the respective turbines to ensure series, sequential operation.

Abstract: A multi-stage exhaust turbocharger has parallel high pressure stages (30, 40), and a single low pressure stage (60) in series. The low pressure stage (60) has a divided scroll turbine wheel 62 with each scroll fed independently from the respective turbines of the high pressure stage. Valves V1, V2, V3 determine flow paths to the respective turbines to ensure series sequential operation.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging gamma- and x-ray, and charged particles sources employing a three dimensional array of scintillation elements arranged surrounding an emission source. According to a preferred embodiment, each element of the array comprises a scintillator element, a solid-state photon detector, and processing electronics to output an electronic signal. The elements may be efficiently packed in both the X-Y plane and stacked in the Z-axis, to provide depth of interaction information. The elements of the array are preferably hierarchically arranged with control electronics provided together for subarray modules (e.g., an n×m×1 module), and synchronization electronics provided at a larger scale. The modules preferably communicate with a control system through a shared addressable packet switched digital communication network with a control and imaging system, and receive control information from that system through the network.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of an append-only data storage system that stores sets of data blocks in extents that are located in storage devices in the system. During operation of the system, when an extent becomes full, the system changing the extent from an open state, wherein data can be appended to the extent, to a closed state, wherein data cannot be appended to the extent. Changing the extent from the open state to the closed state includes performing the following operations at one or more storage devices that contain copies of the extent: constructing an index to facilitate accessing data blocks in a copy of the extent contained in the storage device; and appending the index to the copy of the extent in non-volatile storage in the storage device.

Abstract: Reconstructing in-memory data block indices in a distributed data storage system where data blocks are stored in extents and the extents are replicated across storage devices. In one aspect, based on a reboot of a storage device and a copy of an extent stored in the storage device being in an open state, appends for data blocks in the copy of the extent stored in the storage device are replayed to reconstruct an in-memory data block index for the copy of the extent. In another aspect, based on a reboot of a storage device and a copy of an extent being in a closed state, a data block index for the copy of the extent is retrieved from non-volatile storage of the storage device and the retrieved data block index stored in memory at the storage device.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (20) has two exhaust valves (24, 25) for each combustion chamber, to permit separation of blow-down and expulsion phases of an exhaust stroke. The separate exhaust streams are directed to different geometries of an exhaust turbocharger (30), so as to make best use thereof. Variable exhaust valve timing, and bypass passage for the exhaust streams are disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of an append-only data storage system that stores sets of data blocks in extents that are located in storage devices in the system. During operation of the system, when an extent is in an open state, the system allows data blocks to be appended to the extent, and disallows operations to be performed on the extent that are incompatible with data being concurrently appended to the extent. When the extent becomes full, the system changes the extent from the open state to a closed state. Then, while the extent is in the closed state, the system disallows data blocks to be appended to the extent, and allows operations to be performed on the extent that are incompatible with data being concurrently appended to the extent.