Abstract: An example system includes a motor/generator selectively coupled to a drive line of a vehicle, and configured to selectively modulate power transfer between an electrical load and the drive line; a battery pack; a DC/DC converter electrically interposed between the motor/generator and the electrical load, and between the battery pack and the electrical load; a covering tray positioned over a plurality of batteries of the battery pack, the covering tray comprising a connectivity layer that has a charging circuit allowing each of the plurality of batteries to be discharged individually; a plurality of battery microcontrollers, each of the plurality of battery microcontrollers associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of batteries of the battery pack; and a primary DC/DC controller configured to command operations of the DC/DC converter; wherein the plurality of battery microcontrollers are operationally coupled to the primary DC/DC controller.

Abstract: Coating compositions may combine durability and stain resistance with reduced environmental emissions and health risks. A coating composition may comprise an isocyanate component, an amine-functional resin comprising an aspartic amine, a reactive silicone component having a molecular weight of at least of 500, and TiO2 in an amount of at least 5 wt. %. The coating composition may further comprise a cure retardant in an amount of at least 5 wt. % and a solvent in an amount of up to 20 wt. %.

Abstract: A downhole tool to be positioned in a wellbore in a subsurface formation. The downhole tool comprises a first rod configured with a first cavity to obtain samples of formation fluid. The downhole tool comprises a translating member configured to shift the first rod from an open position to a closed position to obtain, via the first cavity, a first fluid sample of the formation fluid from a first location in the wellbore.

Abstract: Systems and methods of object identification based on a partial visual object identifier code at point of sale are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is performed by a POS system having a first optical sensor operable to scan visual object identifier codes disposed on objects. Each code represents one of a set of object identifiers. Further, each identifier is specific to a certain object and is represented by a series of characters. The method includes obtaining, based on a scan performed by the first optical sensor of one of the visual object identifier codes disposed on a certain object, a portion of the series of characters that represents a corresponding object identifier so that the certain object can be selected or identified based on the set of object identifiers and the portion of the series of characters that represents the corresponding object identifier.

Abstract: High bandwidth time-and-space resolved scatter phase transition microscopy systems configured to detect melt onset in a wafer being processed by laser annealing systems with ultra-short dwell times and spot size.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a liquid dispensing container and lid with a straw releasably attachable below the lid, the container with a first configuration allowing a user to sip liquid from the container at a first location when the straw is attached to the lid, and a second configuration that allows a user to pour liquid from the container, at the same first location, when the straw is not attached to the lid.

Abstract: High bandwidth time-and-space resolved phase transition microscopy systems configured to detect melt onset in a wafer being processed by laser annealing systems with ultra-short dwell times and spot size.

Abstract: A housing assembly for selectively receiving a part includes a platform and a pad fixed to the platform. The pad has a frictional surface for maintaining a position of the part relative to the pad when the part is disposed on the frictional surface. The housing assembly includes a door apparatus coupled to the platform. The door apparatus surrounds the pad. The door apparatus is movable to an open position in which the frictional surface of the pad is exposed outside of the door apparatus for receiving the part and a closed position in which the frictional surface of the pad is concealed inside of the door apparatus. A method of removing particles from a frictional surface of a pad before performing a manufacturing process has a door apparatus disposed in a closed position to present a chamber that encloses the pad.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a compacting datafiles generated by a database node using a compaction processing node with separate compute resources. The database node generates datafiles and stores the datafiles in a data store. To perform compacting of the datafiles, a snapshot of the data store is created and stored in a snapshot store separate from the data store. The compaction processing node is initiated and attached with the snapshot store. The compaction processing node generates a compacted datafile that is stored in the snapshot store. The database node replaces the data store with the snapshot store, and writes additional datafiles using the snapshot store as a new data store. The compaction processing node may be an instance of a cloud compute infrastructure that is initiated to perform the compaction to reduce compute resource usage by the database node.