Abstract: System and methods are described for optimizing exhaust flow rate and temperature during specified operational periods warm-up and keep-warm conditions, by minimizing or maximizing heat flux during those specified operational periods.

Abstract: Features are described for efficiently and accurately identifying a user of an electronic device with limited user interaction. The features include receiving a mobile device identifier from the mobile device. The features include transmitting the mobile device identifier to a service provider associated with the mobile device. The features include receiving information identifying the user from the service provider. The features include identifying a set of candidates associated with at least a portion of the information. The features include generating a metric for the candidates included in the set of candidates. An individual metric indicates a degree of relatedness between a value for the user for the at least one data field and a value for a candidate for the at least one data field. The features include identifying the user as a specific candidate included in the set of candidates based on the metric corresponding to a threshold.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first image, receiving a motion dataset, determining a motion level, determining an initialization state, and determining a tracking level. In a first condition, the method includes generating a first image pyramid, detecting a plurality of features in the first image pyramid using a first detector threshold, and generating a first set of detected keypoints from the plurality of features. In a second condition, the method includes generating a second image pyramid, detecting the plurality of features in the second image pyramid using a second detector threshold, the second detector threshold being less restrictive than the first detector threshold, and generating a second set of detected keypoints. In a third condition, the method includes detecting the plurality of features in the first image according to the first detector threshold and generating a third set of detected keypoint.

Abstract: Techniques for performing an emissions demand response event are described. In an example, a cloud-based HVAC control server system obtains an emissions rate forecast for a predefined future time period. Using the emissions rate forecast, a future emissions rate event during the predefined future time period is identified. The future emissions rate event comprises an indication of predicted magnitude and a time period when a predicted emissions rate will be at an increased or decreased level. A confidence value indicating a certainty of the future emissions rate event occurring as predicted is determined. Based on the identified future emissions rate event and the confidence value, an emissions demand response event having a start time and an end time during the future emissions rate event is generated. The cloud-based HVAC control server system then causes a thermostat to control an HVAC system in accordance with the generated emissions demand response event.

Abstract: Techniques for performing an emissions demand response (EDR) event are described. In an example, a cloud-based HVAC control system may obtain a first emissions rate forecast and generate an EDR event with a start time and end time based on the first emissions rate forecast. The EDR event may then be transmitted to a thermostat and stored in a memory of the thermostat. At the start time, the thermostat may commence controlling an HVAC system according to the EDR event. After the start time and prior to the end time, the cloud-based HVAC control system may obtain a second emissions rate forecast and generate a modified EDR event with a modified end time. The modified EDR event may be transmitted to the thermostat before the end time and/or the modified end time whereupon the thermostat may control the HVAC system accordingly until the modified end time is reached.

Abstract: Techniques for performing an emissions demand response event are described. In an example, a cloud-based HVAC control server system receives an emissions rate forecast for a predefined future time period. Using the emissions rate forecast, a plurality of emissions differential values are created for a plurality of points in time during the predefined future time period. The emissions differential values represent a change in predicted emissions over time. Based on the plurality of emissions differential values and a predefined maximum number of emissions demand response events, an emissions demand response event is generated during the predefined future time period. The cloud-based HVAC control server system then causes a thermostat to control an HVAC system in accordance with the generated emissions demand response event.

Abstract: Techniques for performing an emissions demand response event are described. In an example, a cloud-based HVAC control server system obtains a history of emissions rates. Based on the history of emissions rates, a future time period of predicted high emissions is identified. An emission demand response event participation level of an account mapped to a thermostat is determined for the future time period of predicted high emissions. The emissions demand response event participation level may be one of a plurality of emissions demand response event participation levels. based on the emissions demand response event participation level of the account, an emissions demand response event is generated during the future time period of predicted high emissions. The cloud-based HVAC control server system then causes a thermostat to control an HVAC system in accordance with the generated emissions demand response event.

Abstract: A system and method of integrating an engine having dynamic skip fire control with an exhaust gas recirculation system in a turbocharged internal combustion engine is described. An engine control system determines an appropriate firing pattern based at least in part on a desired exhaust gas recirculation flow rate. Signals from sensors in the intake manifold and exhaust system may also be used as part of a feedback loop to determine a desired exhaust gas recirculation flow rate.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine involving (1) cylinder trapping strategies where one of several pneumatic spring types are dynamically selected for cylinders based at least partially on a predicted number of upcoming skips for each of the cylinders respectively and/or (2) staggering various valvetrain dependent operational engine strategies as operating conditions permit as the internal combustion engine warms up following a cold start.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides an engineered cell having a first chimeric antigen receptor polypeptide including a first antigen recognition domain, a first signal peptide, a first hinge region, a first transmembrane domain, a first co-stimulatory domain, and a first signaling domain; and a second chimeric antigen receptor polypeptide including a second antigen recognition domain, a second signal peptide, a second hinge region, a second transmembrane domain, a second co-stimulatory domain, and a second signaling domain; wherein the first antigen recognition domain is different than the second antigen recognition domain.

Abstract: A diagnostic system and method that (a) that uses models indicative of both successful firing and skips to determine if cylinders of a skip fire controlled internal combustion engine have successfully fired or successfully skipped and (b) uses filtered exhaust gas pressure readings for detecting faults associated with EGR systems and/or turbocharger systems.

Abstract: A method of treating endothelial dysfunction in a subject can include: identifying damage in an endothelial glycocalyx (EGX) of the subject, and administering to the subject a combination of a nitric oxide (NO) precursor and a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) precursor in an amount and at a frequency sufficient to stabilize and reverse damage in the EGX. A therapeutic composition for treating endothelial dysfunction can include a combination of a nitric oxide (NO) precursor and a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) precursor in an amount sufficient to sustain an increase of bioavailable NO for the treatment of endothelial dysfunction, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Antibody-based binding agents derived from human and camelid immunoglobulins are described, as well as strains of yeast engineered to secrete the binding agents, and methods of treating and preventing Clostridium difficile infections using the engineered strains of yeast. These binding agents recognize and bind with specificity to Clostridium difficile toxin A and/or toxin B and in some cases exhibit toxin neutralizing activity. The binding agents include camelid VHH peptide monomers, linked groups of VHH peptide monomers, VHH peptide monomers joined to antibody Fc domains, and VHH peptide monomers joined to IgG antibodies.

Abstract: A method of making an optical fiber sensor device for distributed sensing includes generating a laser beam comprising a plurality of ultrafast pulses, and focusing the laser beam into a core of an optical fiber to form a nanograting structure within the core, wherein the nanograting structure includes a plurality of spaced nanograting elements each extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of optical fiber. Also, an optical fiber sensor device for distributed sensing includes an optical fiber having a longitudinal axis, a core, and a nanograting structure within the core, wherein the nanograting structure includes a plurality of spaced nanograting elements each extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. Also, a distributed sensing method and system and an energy production system that employs such an optical fiber sensor device.

Abstract: A system and method of integrating an engine having dynamic skip fire control with an exhaust gas recirculation system in a turbocharged internal combustion engine is described. An engine control system determines an appropriate firing pattern based at least in part on a desired exhaust gas recirculation flow rate. Signals from sensors in the intake manifold and exhaust system may also be used as part of a feedback loop to determine a desired exhaust gas recirculation flow rate.

Abstract: A footwear closure system includes an article of footwear, such as a boot, having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a mid-portion that is positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion. The footwear closure system also includes a plurality of reel based closure devices that are coupled with the footwear. The plurality of reel based closure devices are configured to effect closure or tightening of the upper portion, the lower portion, and the mid-portion of the footwear. Each reel based closure device is independently operable and each reel based closure device effects closure or tightening of one of the upper portion, the lower portion, the mid-portion, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for the use of machine learning for detecting faults for cylinder intake and/or exhaust valves that do not properly open or close as commanded and for generating a flag for such faults.

Abstract: A diagnostic system and method that (a) that uses models indicative of both successful firing and skips to determine if cylinders of a skip fire controlled internal combustion engine have successfully fired or successfully skipped and (b) uses filtered exhaust gas pressure readings for detecting faults associated with EGR systems and/or turbocharger systems.

Abstract: A method of treating a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque can include identifying the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque and administering a sulfated polysaccharide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to a subject in an amount and at a frequency sufficient to stabilize and reverse a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque.

Abstract: A skip fire engine controller and method of control is described wherein during transitions from a first firing density to a second firing density, a firing density and a pumping density are separately set so as to balance the conflicting demands of (a) torque control, (b) Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH), (c) air flow through the engine and (d) air-fuel ratio.