Abstract: An ice maker includes an evaporator configured to freeze water into ice as it flows vertically down a freeze plate. A distributor distributes the water along the top of the freeze plate to form ice across the width of the freeze plate as the water flows downward along the freeze plate. The distributor can be integrated into the evaporator. For example, the distributor and evaporator can have a part in common. The distributor can be formed from two pieces that come together to form the freeze plate. The distributor can have various features that aid in providing a desirable distribution of water along the width of the freeze plate. The freeze plate can be mounted in an ice maker enclosure in thermal communication with the evaporator and to slant forward.

Abstract: Glass-based articles comprise stress profiles providing improved fracture resistance. The glass-based articles herein provide high fracture resistance after multiple drops.

Abstract: A door interface system for a vehicle door includes a sensor and a visual indicator. The sensor may be a proximity sensor and may be positioned proximate to the visual indicator such that it will detect an object proximate to the proximity sensor. The visual indicator may convey the position of the sensor and/or a status of the vehicle door. The door interface system is configured to control the vehicle door based at least in part on detecting an object proximate the visual indicator.

Abstract: A system for providing chat-based customer callbacks, wherein a callback application server transmits prompts and receives requests for customer callbacks, an interaction manager determines agent availability and arranges callback handling, and a session management server initiates callbacks, and methods for providing chat-based customer callbacks using the system of the invention.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media for predicting interruptions to the use of spare cloud resources and rebalancing based on those predictions are disclosed. A computing platform collects data for customers over time. The computing platform runs a machine learning algorithm on the historical data to generate a prediction classifier. The prediction classifier relates to a time window for prediction into the future, on the order of minutes or hours. The prediction classifier is run on monitored data from ongoing activity with a cloud provider to generate a risk score. Each risk score may identify an amount of risk that a spare cloud resource related to new resource metrics data will be interrupted within the future time frame corresponding to that prediction classifier. If predicted to be interrupted, the customer may be assisted in rebalancing to other resources. As a result, interruptions can be predicted hours into the future.

Abstract: A self-lifting toilet seat system includes a toilet seat configured to be sat upon by a user. The system has a hinge configured to rotatably couple the toilet seat and a toilet bowl. The hinge is configured so that the toilet seat is transitionable from an up position to a down position. A lifting system is configured to raise the toilet seat towards the up position. A sealed hinge housing has at least a portion of a delay system therein. The delay system is configured to cause a time delay before the lifting system causes the toilet seat to self-lift towards the up position. The delay system is configured so that the time delay begins after removal of a threshold downward force on the toilet seat.

Abstract: A first valve of a manifold for a fluid distribution system (“FDS”) regulates fluid flow to a first fluid handling device (“FHD”). A second valve of the manifold may communicate with a second FHD, reservoir, or recirculation line. A target flow condition for the manifold may be determined by a manifold control system (“MCS”) based on a device setting received from the first FHD. The MCS may determine an operation of the FDS based on the target flow condition, fluid flowrate, and supply device operational state. The operation may include the MCS controlling the supply device, first valve, and/or second valve to change the flowrate. The MCS may continuously operate a valve to maintain the target flow condition once exhibited. Fluid distribution systems, systems and methods for turning over an FDS including a manifold, and systems and methods for controlling operations of an FDS including multiple manifolds are also provided.

Abstract: A computing platform is configured to: based on fiber access data associated with a coverage area and a first set of line-of-sight (LOS) data associated with the coverage area, identify a plurality of locations for first-tier nodes; and for each respective first-tier node: (i) determine a plurality of geographic areas relative to the respective first-tier node for deploying spine nodes, wherein each determined geographic area is associated with a respective spine extending from the respective first-tier node; (ii) based on a second set of LOS data associated with the coverage area, identify a set of candidate spine node infrastructure sites for spine nodes extending from the respective first-tier node; and (iii) allocate the identified set of candidate spine node infrastructure sites into one or more subsets of infrastructure sites, wherein each subset of infrastructure sites corresponds to a given one of the determined geographic areas.

Abstract: A method for processing patient data includes prompting a patient to complete a survey based on one or more of data received from an implantable medical device, a first time from an enrollment in a study related to the implantable medical device, a second time since a last survey, a medical event, or a detection of the patient in a geofenced area. The method may further include receiving input from the patient in response to the survey, and sending the input from the patient to a database.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a support plate defining a window and a resin support configured to support an uncured layer of resin. A stage is configured to hold one or more cured layers of the resin to form a component positioned opposite a support plate. A radiant energy device is positioned on an opposite side of the resin support from the stage and is operable to project radiant energy in a grid through the window. The grid and/or pixels thereof are intelligently shifted to efficiently print one or more layers of a component.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enrolling and authenticating a user in an authentication system via a camera of a computing device include capturing and storing biometric information from at least one first image and at least one second image of the user taken via the camera. Prior to use, the user answers personal questions and the answers are stored as stored answer data. Later, such as at a business, the questions are presented to the user and the user provides their personal answers via a computing device. The answers are processed and uploaded to an authentication server where a comparison occurs against the stored answer data. If a match does not occur, then the authentication/identity verification processes ends. If a match does occur, then the authentication process continues. The questions match may serve as a gate function for accessing authentication data stored in a blockchain.

Abstract: A system for moving cargo includes an in-vehicle conveyor system mounted in a vehicle cargo space, the in-vehicle conveyor system comprising one or more rails. The rails may be mounted to walls, floor, or ceiling of the vehicle cargo space. The system also includes one or more cargo storage units attached to the in-vehicle conveyor system. Each of the one or more cargo storage units is secured to the rails such that the one or more cargo storage units are raised with respect to a floor of the vehicle cargo space and define a circuit as based on a travel path of the one or more cargo storage units. Upon instruction, the cargo storage units are movable along the circuit to move a specified cargo storage unit to a predetermined location.

Abstract: Object picking optimization is disclosed, including: receiving an image of a target object; inputting the image in a machine learning model that is configured to output a pick probability heat map corresponding to the target object; selecting a pick location on the target object based at least in part on the pick probability heat map corresponding to the target object; and causing a diverting mechanism to perform a pick operation on the target object based at least in part on the pick location.

Abstract: A battery separator has performance enhancing additives or coatings, fillers with increased friability, increased ionic diffusion, decreased tortuosity, increased wettability, reduced oil content, reduced thickness, decreased electrical resistance, and/or increased porosity. The separator in a battery reduces the water loss, lowers acid stratification, lowers the voltage drop, and/or increases the CCA.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for customer specific network slicing include a virtual network operator (“VNO”) server, a first node, and a virtualized network. The VNO server instantiates a solution manager engine which identifies a Solution, communicates the Solution to the first node, and upon acceptance of the Solution by the first node, instructs the virtualized network to couple the first node with a second node in accordance with the Solution. The virtualized network may include network function virtualization infrastructure and the Solution may include a slice of the virtualized network. The slice satisfies a Service Level Requirement (SLR), such as one that specifies a maximum latency for the slice. The SLR is specified in a Need received by the VNO server from the first node. The SLR is determined based upon an application program the first Node is at least one of currently executing and expected to later execute.

Abstract: A process and related assemblies for delivering slush through a tube towards a patient. Obtaining an elongated container partially filled with slush with a port end that has a first port and a second port. Placing the first port in fluid communication with tubing for delivery of slush towards the patient. Placing the second port in fluid communication with a source of gas which may be air. Subjecting the elongated container to automated repetitive movements so that the slush in the partially filled elongated container moves against interior surfaces within the elongated container. Ideally, two different forms of repetitive motion are used to impose complex movement upon the slush within the elongated container. Applying a pressure gradient to cause slush to flow out of the first port towards the patient. The elongated container may be made from a slush bottle with a reversibly engaged cap with the two ports.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The method includes providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms and medium, wherein the microorganisms and medium form a start volume. The microorganisms and medium are cultured until the culture reaches a threshold indicator, wherein culturing comprises feeding one or more carbon sources to the culture and wherein the culture is at a threshold volume when the threshold indicator is reached. The method also includes harvesting a portion of the threshold volume to leave a residual volume that is 40% or less of the start volume and adding fresh medium to the container in an amount to return the volume of the culture to the start volume.

Abstract: A surgical method can include passing at least two adjustable loops of a flexible construct through at least the first tissue to extend from an outer surface of the first tissue opposite a tissue engaging surface facing the second tissue, and attaching the two adjustable loops to a first selected area of the second tissue. The method can further include positioning an elongated locking member within the two adjustable loops such that the locking member extends between the two adjustable loops adjacent the outer surface, engaging the locking member with the outer surface by drawing the two adjustable loops towards the outer surface, and compressing the first tissue between the locking member and the second tissue by tensioning the two adjustable loops. Related tissue fixation devices are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are beverages and throw syrups comprising Reb A, and at least one foam suppressing agent comprising Reb E, stevioside, rubusoside, Reb C, or any combination thereof.