Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices, are developed for in-situ placement of a concrete mix that can have the thixotropy to hold vertical dimension without containment, while maintaining pliability to be pumped into place and manipulated to a desired shape, and can be combined with concrete set accelerators, allowing subsequent layers of this concrete mix to be continuously stacked in place to build tall walls and such without the use of forms. Concrete without these special properties is pumped toward the point of placement where it is modified by injecting and mixing, into that line of pumped concrete, an admixture containing thixotropes, thickeners and/or set accelerators or other modifiers to provide these properties and other improvements. This method allows conventional plant batching with commonly available constituent materials for batching an economical concrete that is delivered to a jobsite and then is pumped most of the way to a point of placement.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving program content and data describing program content from a content source, and automatically identifying, based on user preferences of a first user, one or more relevant products or services displayed in the program content. Product-related metadata associated with the program content is identified. The product-related metadata including data relating to the one or more relevant products or services displayed in the program content. The program content is communicated to a display device for presentation to a first user in a first portion of the display device, and the product-related metadata is communicated to a second display device for presentation to a second user substantially simultaneously with the presentation of the program content in the first display device. A user commentary is received from the second device, the user commentary generated by the second user and associated with the program content or product-related metadata.

Abstract: An electronic device with a primary functionality and a tracking functionality can be used in a centralized tracking system. A controller configures the electronic device to operate in one of a set of: an “on” mode, an “off” mode, a first standby mode, and a tracking standby mode. While configured to operate in the “on” mode, the primary and tracking functionality of the electronic device are enabled, and while configured to operate in the “off” mode, both are disabled. While configured to operate in the first standby mode, the tracking functionality is enabled and the primary functionality is limited. While configured to operate in the tracking standby mode, the primary functionality is disabled but the tracking functionality is enabled, enabling the electronic device to be located while the primary functionality is disabled and saving power relative to the first standby mode and the “on” mode.

Abstract: A tracking device can be reconfigured after an amount of operation to preserve the battery capacity of the tracking device and to ensure that the tracking device can be operated for a pre-determined threshold period of time. The tracking device can provide diagnostic information representative of a state of the tracking device, such as a current power capacity of the tracking device's battery, to a mobile device within a threshold proximity of the tracking device. The mobile device can then provide the diagnostic information to a tracking server, which in turn can provide reconfiguration instructions to the mobile device. The mobile device can then pass on the reconfiguration instructions to the tracking device, in response to which the tracking device can reconfigure itself.

Abstract: Techniques for ensuring content output to a user conforms to a quality of the user's speech, even when a speechlet or skill ignores the speech's quality, are described. When a system receives speech, the system determines an indicator of the speech's quality (e.g., whispered, shouted, fast, slow, etc.) and persists the indicator in memory. When the system receives output content from a speechlet or skill, the system checks whether the output content is in conformity with the speech quality indicator. If the content conforms to the speech quality indicator, the system may cause the content to be output to the user without further manipulation. But, if the content does not conform to the speech quality indicator, the system may manipulate the content to render it in conformity with the speech quality indicator and output the manipulated content to the user.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software can be used to manage resource access. In some aspect, a user interface is outputted on an electronic device. The user interface includes information for resource access and a user interface object for controlling a resource access permission. A user input associated with the user interface object is received. In response to receiving the user input, the resource access permission is changed.

Abstract: A block-request streaming system provides for improvements in the user experience and bandwidth efficiency of such systems, typically using an ingestion system that generates data in a form to be served by a conventional file server (HTTP, FTP, or the like), wherein the ingestion system intakes content and prepares it as files or data elements to be served by the file server. A client device can be adapted to take advantage of the ingestion process. The client device might be configured to optimize use of resources, given the information available to it from the ingestion system. This may include configurations to determine the sequence, timing and construction of block requests based on monitoring buffer size and rate of change of buffer size, use of variable sized requests, mapping of block requests to underlying transport connections, flexible pipelining of requests, and/or use of whole file requests based on statistical considerations.

Abstract: A system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for enhancing and personalizing an interactive marketplace. The systems and methods provided herein may allow a user to receive search results that are tailored to the user's personal preferences based on social and purchasing information known about the user. In addition, the systems and methods provided herein may provide shipping updates to a buyer that include a personalized message based on location information provided by the package being shipped. In addition, the systems and methods provided herein allow merchants to provide incentives and rewards for shoppers by participating in interactive shopping games.

Abstract: An orientation control system for an agricultural implement includes a first sensor configured to emit a first output signal toward a soil surface and to receive a first return signal indicative of a first height of a first portion of a frame. The orientation control system also includes a second sensor configured to emit a second output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a second return signal indicative of a second height of a second portion of the frame. In addition, the orientation control system includes a first actuator, a second actuator, and a controller configured to control the first and second actuators such that a difference between the first height and a first target height is less than a first threshold value and a difference between the second height and a second target height is less than a second threshold value.

Abstract: A method of detecting a thermal event associated with a battery assembly of an electrified vehicle includes, among other things, obtaining a temperature reading from a sensor associated with an area of the battery assembly, assessing whether the sensor is flagged with a first identifier or a second identifier. The first identifier indicates that the temperature reading is reliable. The second identifier indicates that the temperature reading is unreliable. If the sensor is flagged with the first identifier, the method detects a thermal event associated with the battery assembly based on the temperature reading from the sensor.

Abstract: A video pass-through computing system includes a head-mounted display device including a display, a camera configured to image a physical scene according to an exposure timing, and an augmented reality control circuit configured to receive a virtual image pixel stream and composite the camera image pixel stream with the virtual image pixel stream to generate a display image pixel stream output to the display, and if a corresponding pixel of the camera image pixel stream is not in temporal synchronization with a pixel of the virtual image pixel stream adjust the exposure timing of the camera.

Abstract: System, including methods and apparatus, for identifying and picking spectrally distinct colonies. In an exemplary method, a filter may be received in an optical path extending from a light source to a grayscale image detector. The filter may be configured to increase an intensity difference between a first type of colony and a spectrally distinct second type of colony. Colonies including both types may be received in the optical path. An image of the colonies may be obtained with the grayscale image detector. At least one of the types of colony may be identified in the image. One or more colonies of the at least one type may be picked robotically.

Abstract: A drilling tool having a body, at least one blade extending from the body, and a first cutting element attached to the at least one blade. The first cutting element includes a cutting face at an opposite axial end from a base, a side surface extending from the base to the cutting face, an edge formed at the intersection between the cutting face and the side surface, and an elongated protrusion formed at the cutting face and extending between opposite sides of the edge. The elongated protrusion has a geometry including a border extending around a concave surface, a face chamfer formed around the border, and sloped surfaces extending between the border and the edge. An edge chamfer is between the face chamfer and the edge.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing adaptive bitrate streaming using alternative streams of protected content in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described. One embodiment of the invention includes a processor, and memory containing a client application. In addition, the client application configures the processor to: request a top level index file identifying a plurality of alternative streams of protected content, where each of the alternative streams of protected content are encrypted using common cryptographic information; obtain the common cryptographic information; request portions of content from at least the plurality of alternative streams of protected content; access the protected content using the common cryptographic information; and playback the content.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of determining whether a subject treated for hypertension should continue hypertension treatment. In exemplary embodiments, the method comprises measuring the level of at least two of the following in a urine sample obtained from the subject: (i) Alpha—1 microglobulin (aim); (ii) kidney injury molecule (KIM—1); and (iii) Chitinase-3-like protein (YKL-40); wherein the subject should continue the hypertension treatment, when the levels are decreased or unchanged, relative to a control level, and wherein the subject should discontinue or decrease the hypertension treatment, when the levels are increased, relative to a control level. Related methods, kits, assay systems, systems comprising machine readable instructions, computer-readable storage media, and methods implemented by a processor in a computer are furthermore provided herein.

Abstract: A system and method for childproofing and aesthetically improving a functional indoor electrical or coaxial wall outlet while retaining use of the outlet by effectively relocating the functionality of the outlet. A functional cover hides the wall outlet and moves the outlet's functionality to a desired location with an electrical cord or coaxial cable. That cord or cable extends from the cover to the desired location, supported by clips affixed to the wall and enclosing portions of the cord or cable. The clips are uniquely, strategically sized and shaped to complement or correspond to the circumferential size and shape of the cord or cable so that the cord or cable is held tightly and cannot be removed by children. The wall outlet cover, the cord or cable, and the clips have a substantially blank face and unobtrusive profile with each protruding outward from the wall less than about one inch.

Abstract: A safety assembly for use with a laser-directed energy weapon is disclosed. The assembly comprises a control system comprising a photodetector and a processing unit; and an optical device configured to attach to a target such that, when attached, the optical device provides a light beam to the photodetector. The processing unit is arranged to compare the received light beam against one or more predetermined attributes, and to permit the laser-directed energy weapon to fire only when the received light beam is determined to have the one or more attributes.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dynamic content delivery search system that can reduce one or more time lags between a user entering a search string and selecting the “enter” key to obtain search results. In example embodiments, a first keyword of a search string can be received by a search engine prior to a search query for the search string being executed. The search string comprises a plurality of keywords, which include at least the first keyword and a second keyword. During receipt of at least the portion of the second keyword and prior to executing the search query for the search string, the second keyword can be used to remove one or more results from a first set of search results identified for the first keyword received, wherein the one or more results that are removed do not match the second keyword.