Abstract: Virtual assistants intelligently emulate a representative of a service provider by providing variable responses to user queries received via the virtual assistants. These variable responses may take the context of a user's query into account both when identifying an intent of a user's query and when identifying an appropriate response to the user's query.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an electric drive train of a vehicle. In one example, a four-node planetary gear set is included in the electric drive train with a first motor coupled to a first input node and a second motor coupled to a second input node of the four-node planetary gear set. The drive train may be operated at a first mechanical point when the first electric machine is operated at a substantially zero speed, and the drive train may be operated at a second mechanical point when the second electric machine is operated at a substantially zero speed, in one or more examples. Operation at either the first mechanical point or the second mechanical point may be achieved without clutches or hydro-mechanical devices.

Abstract: Cells may be grown in a bioreactor, and the cells may be activated by an activator (e.g., a soluble activator complex). Nutrient and gas exchange capabilities of a closed, automated cell expansion system may allow cells to be seeded at reduced cell seeding densities, for example. Parameters of the cell growth environment may be manipulated to load the cells into a particular position in the bioreactor for the efficient exchange of nutrients and gases. System parameters may be adjusted to shear any cell colonies that may form during the expansion phase. Metabolic concentrations may be controlled to improve cell growth and viability. Cell residence in the bioreactor may be controlled. In embodiments, the cells may include T cells. The cells may include T cell subpopulations, including regulatory T cells (Tregs), for example.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a shift assembly for a vehicle transmission. In one example, a shift assembly for a transmission includes a first barrel cam including a first cam track; a second barrel cam arranged coaxially with the first barrel cam and including a second cam track; a first motor configured to drive the first barrel cam independent of the second barrel cam; and a second motor configured to drive the second barrel cam independent of the first barrel cam.

Abstract: A method for functionalizing a hollow-fiber membrane for cell expansion of targeted cells (e.g., natural killer cells) includes contacting a biotinylating molecule to a surface of the hollow-fiber membrane including an extracellular matrix component, the biotinylating molecule binding to the extracellular matrix component and having an affinity for the targeted cells. The biotinylated molecule may be selected from the group consisting of: cytokine, epitope, ligand, monoclonal antibody, stains, aptamer, and combinations thereof. The extracellular matrix component may be selected from the group consisting of: fibronectin, vitronectin, fibrinogen, collagen, laminin, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A container having a base and a lid is provided. The lid may be rotatable about a hinge from a closed configuration to an open configuration and may be secured, via one or more latching assemblies. The latch assembly may comprise a latch body, a locking member, a biasing member, and an activating member. The lid may have a handle that has a stowed and a carry position, where the handle may be maintained in the stowed position until acted upon by a first force greater than a threshold force to move the handle from the stowed position to the carry position. Similarly, when in the carry position, the handle may be maintained in the carry position until acted upon by a second force greater than the threshold force to move the handle from the carry position to the stowed position.

Abstract: In a method for managing a plurality of components for use in videoconferences, information about the plurality of components is received from a component manager associated with the plurality of components, wherein the information comprises component-specific and environmental information about the components. In addition, configurations for the components are determined based upon the received information.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stabilized hydrocarbon vinyl ether or hydroxy substituted hydrocarbon vinyl ether containing between 3 and 20 carbon atoms which contains between about 0.005 and about 0.75 weight % of an alkali metal salt of a C.sub.1 to C.sub.14 hydrocarbon ester.

Abstract: A wall support system for supporting a wall such as a masonry wall with respect to the ground. The wall support system includes a base with a 4.times.4 fitting and a pivotal chain lever, a wall support with a chain loop, a cement loop and a chain with a hook. The chain extends from the pivotal chain lever on the base through the cement loop, through the chain loop on the wall support and hooked to a overlapped link to bring the system into tension where the pivotal chain lever tensions the chain.

Abstract: This invention relates to alk-1-enyl etherurethanyl block prepolymers which are curable by cationically initiated radiation and which are defined by the formula ##STR1## wherein m has a value of from 1 to 25;A is C.sub.2 to C.sub.12 alkylene, C.sub.6 to C.sub.14 aryl, both groups optionally substituted with lower alkyl, halo lower alkyl, alkyleneoxy, halogen or aryl;R.sub.1 is alkylene containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;R.sub.2 is a saturated or unsaturated divalent radical containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms and is selected from the group of alkylene, alkenylene and arylene, each group optionally substituted with oxygen, halogen, lower alkyl and/or hydroxy;R.sub.3 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl;R.sub.4 is C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkylene, C.sub.6 to C.sub.14 arylene, lower alkyl substituted phenylene or xylylene andR.sub.5 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl.

Abstract: This invention relates to alk-1-enyl ether-polyester block prepolymers which are curable by cationically initiated radiation and which are defined by the formula ##STR1## wherein m has a value of from 1 to 25;A is C.sub.2 to C.sub.12 alkylene, C.sub.6 to C.sub.14 aryl, both groups optionally substituted with lower alkyl, halo lower alkyl, alkyleneoxy, halogen or aryl;R.sub.1 is alkylene containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;R.sub.2 is a saturated or unsaturated divalent radical containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms and is selected from the group of alkylene, alkenylene and arylene, each group optionally substituted with oxygen, halogen, lower alkyl and/or hydroxy;R.sub.3 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl;R.sub.4 is C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkylene, C.sub.6 to C.sub.14 arylene, lower alkyl substituted phenylene or xylylene andR.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are independently hydrogen or C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polypropenyl ether having the formula ##STR1## wherein m and s each independently have a value of from 1 to 6; R is alkyl or phenyl optionally substituted with lower alkyl or halogen; A is C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkylene, aryl or --R.sub.1 OR.sub.2 --, optionally substituted with lower alkyl, haloalkyl, halogen or phenyl; one of p and p' has a value of one and the other is zero; R.sub.3 is C.sub.1 to C.sub.20 alklylene substituted with expression indicated by n and n has a value of from 1 to 10.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polypropenyl ether having the formula ##STR1## wherein m and s each independently have a value of from 1 to 6; R is alkyl or phenyl optionally substituted with lower alkyl or halogen; A is C.sub.2 to C.sub.12 alkylene or C.sub.6 to C.sub.22 aryl, both optionally substituted with lower alkyl, haloalkyl, halogen or phenyl.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a two-stage liquid phase process wherein an alk-2-enyl glycidyl ether having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl; R' is C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 alkylene; n has a value of from 1 to 4 and n' has a value of from 0 to 4, is catalytically isomerized to the corresponding alk-1-enyl glycidyl ether in the first-stage of the reaction and the reaction mixture of the first-stage, containing the isomerization catalyst is then contacted with carbon dioxide in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst under a pressure ranging from atmospheric to about 400 psig in the second stage of the reaction.

Abstract: The method of playing a game utilizes one or more decks of cards. One card is dealt to a first player and one card is dealt to a second player. The numerical value of the first player's card is compared to the numerical value of the second player's card. If the numerical values are the same, the game is over and the deal is declared a tie. If the numerical value of the first player's hand is not the same as the value of the second player's hand, another card is dealt to the player having the lower numerical value. Again the total numerical values are compared. If a tie now exists, again the game is over and the hand is declared a tie. The dealing of cards to the hand having the lower total numerical value continues until a tie exists or until one of the hands exceeds a predetermined value. Once one of the hands exceeds the predetermined value, the other hand wins.