Abstract: Disclosed is a novel technique of directly isolating nucleic acids from a biological sample and use of the isolated nucleic acid complexes for various applications and assays such as biobanking and sequencing.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate autonomous vehicle selection based on the vehicle's ability to navigate autonomous transition regions along a particular route comprising at least one autonomous transition region. In context of a method, the method receives a route request comprising an origin location and a destination location and determines, based at least on the route request, one or more candidate routes. For a respective candidate route, the method analyzes the respective candidate route based upon one or more autonomous transition region parameters, and causes transmission of information relating to the respective candidate route based upon the analyzing of the respective candidate route and the one or more autonomous transition region parameters associated therewith.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for identifying and providing dynamic solutions for improvement of autonomous transition regions. In the context of a method, the method receives autonomous transition data associated with at least one autonomous transition region from at least one autonomous vehicle, and based at least on the autonomous transition data, determines one or more dynamic solutions for autonomous transitions within the at least one autonomous transition region. The method also generates a recommendation comprising at least indications of the one or more dynamic solutions and causes transmission of the recommendation to at least one external source.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for improving user experiences for autonomous driving. In context of a method, the method determines one or more autonomous transition region parameters for a respective autonomous transition region along a route. The method also, based on the one or more autonomous transition region parameters, determines whether an action is to be performed by a vehicle in accordance with user preference data associated with a user. The method also causes the vehicle to perform the action in accordance with a determination that the action is to be performed by the vehicle.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for generating a transition variability index related to autonomous driving. In this regard, a first transition variability index is calculated. The first transition variability index is indicative of a first degree of variability in relation to transition of vehicles from respective autonomous levels while traveling proximate a first spatial reference point. Furthermore, a second transition variability index is generated. The second transition variability index is indicative of a second degree of variability in relation to transition of vehicles from respective autonomous levels while traveling along proximate a second spatial reference point. Updating of transition data associated with one of the first and second spatial reference points relative to another one of the first and second spatial reference points is then prioritized based on a comparison between the first transition variability index and the second transition variability index.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for generating an automated driving capability map index. In this regard, autonomous level data and location data thereof associated with a vehicle traveling along a road segment is received. The autonomous level data is identified based on a change in an autonomous level for the vehicle. Furthermore, based on the location data, the autonomous level data is aggregated with other autonomous level data for one or more other vehicles associated with the road segment to generate aggregated autonomous level data for the road segment. The aggregated autonomous level data is also encoded in a database to facilitate an autonomous level prediction for vehicles associated with the road segment.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for generating recommendations of autonomous vehicles that satisfy a personalized autonomous transition tolerance. In context of a method, the method receives a route request associated with a user and determines a personalized vehicle recommendation of one or more autonomous vehicles for the user based upon historical data associated with the user regarding prior vehicle selections including historical data relating to an autonomous transition tolerance to changes in autonomy level of a vehicle during traversal of a route. The method also causes transmission of the personalized vehicle recommendation to a user device associated with the user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for predicting autonomous transition regions using historical information. In this regard, historical autonomous transition data is accessed. The historical autonomous transition data is associated with vehicles that transition from respective autonomous levels while traveling along one or more road segments associated with a first geographic area. Furthermore, one or more features of the historical autonomous transition data associated with the first geographic area is identified. A machine learning model is then trained based on the one or more features associated with the first geographic area.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for managing autonomous vehicles. In this regard, vehicle context data associated with an indication of a change in an autonomous level for a vehicle traveling along a road segment is determined. Furthermore, the vehicle is assigned to a queue of vehicles traveling along the road segment in response to a determination that the vehicle context data corresponds to particular vehicle context data associated with the queue of vehicles. An indication of the queue of vehicles may also be provided to the vehicle to facilitate navigation of the vehicle.

Abstract: Textured fibrous structures, and more particularly textured fibrous structures having a plurality of deformations such that the textures fibrous structures exhibit novel surface height properties compared to known fibrous structures, and methods for making such textured fibrous structures.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for identifying the reliability of objects within a mapped region for localization and facilitating autonomous control of a vehicle. Methods may include: receiving an indication of an event having event data; assigning at least one object at a location of the event an impact score based on an estimated impact of the event; and providing an indication of a reduction in autonomous vehicle capability in response to the impact score failing to satisfy a predetermined value. The impact score may include a probability that the corresponding object is reliable for localization or autonomous vehicle control. Methods may include providing the indication of a reduction in autonomous vehicle capability to at least one device associated with a vehicle in response to the at least one device associated with the vehicle having a travel path including the at least one road link.

Abstract: Articles, such as sanitary tissue products, including fibrous structures, and more particularly articles including fibrous structures having a plurality of fibrous elements wherein the article exhibits differential cellulose content throughout the thickness of the article and methods for making same are provided.

Abstract: An animal toy is provided constructed from a latex or natural rubber material and formed into a ball. The ball is formed of an aggregate of particulate material that are bound together to form a substantially non-hollow construction. Pieces of latex are joined together to form balls, and the balls may be pressed together and constructed by hand or, alternatively, pressed into molds. By constructing the balls by hand, no two balls, even balls of similar size, are identical. Each ball has irregular outer surface that forms a variety of resilient protuberances that provide beneficial oral hygiene effects when chewed or rubbed against the teeth.

Abstract: Discretizers that exhibit improved solid additive laden fluid flow emanating from the discretizers and methods of using same, particularly for making fibrous structures are provided.

Abstract: Articles, such as sanitary tissue products, including fibrous structures, and more particularly articles including fibrous structures having a plurality of fibrous elements wherein the article exhibits differential cellulose content throughout the thickness of the article and methods for making same are provided.

Abstract: The invention provides compounds of Formula (I) as described herein, along with pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutical compositions and pharmaceutical combinations containing such compounds, as well as methods to use these compounds, salts and compositions for treating viral infections, particularly infections caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), and for reducing the occurrence of serious conditions associated with HBV.

Abstract: An article of manufacture making system for making an article of manufacture containing a plurality of dry solid additives, such as fibers, that utilizes a dry solid additive delivery system with a relatively low Stokes Number for the dry solid additives.

Abstract: An approach is provided for vehicle map data update. The approach involves, for example, processing sensor data captured by a sensor of a vehicle to detect a machine-readable visual representation. The machine-readable visual representation encodes map data corresponding to a map tile of a geographic database. The approach also involves decoding the map data from the machine-readable visual representation. The approach further involves updating a local copy of the map tile stored in the vehicle based on the map data.

Abstract: An article of manufacture making system for making an article of manufacture containing a plurality of dry solid additives, such as fibers, that utilizes a dry solid additive delivery system.