Abstract: A conversational agent is provided for maintaining or improving the wellbeing of a user presenting with mental health needs by the delivery of a care protocol. The conversational agent comprises: a plurality of sub-dialogue units, each configured to deliver an element of the care protocol, and an orchestrator configured to present the sub-dialogue units to the user, sequentially, wherein each sub-dialogue unit and the orchestrator comprises: a natural language understanding module configured to receive an input and/or reply and determine at least one intent and, where present, at least one slot within the input and/or reply; a dialogue planning module configured to determine an output based, at least in part, on the at least one intent and/or slot associated within the input and/or reply, and a natural language generation module configured to provide the output to the user.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating an elasticized material having at least one elastic strand transversely positioned across the apparatus. The apparatus includes a first bonding module and a second bonding module positionable in proximity to the first bonding module.

Abstract: A broadcast spreader broadly comprising a frame, a hopper, an impeller, a set of wheels, and an electric hub motor. The hopper is supported by the frame and configured to hold a particulate material. The impeller is rotatably connected below the hopper and is configured to receive the particulate material from the hopper and spread the particulate material over a surface. The wheels are rotatably connected to the frame for traversing the surface. The electric hub motor is at least partially positioned in one of the wheels and configured to drivably engage the one of the wheels to propel the hopper along the surface.

Abstract: A prediction model is generated for a user using data regarding how the user responded to different positionings of items of ancillary content. The prediction model is used to determine respective positionings of a plurality of items of ancillary content. The items of ancillary content are streamed to and displayed by a user device as interstitial content using the determined respective positionings. Frames of an item of primary content may be analyzed to identify appropriate interstitial insertion points and to generate labels. The labels may be utilized by a remote system to select and stream interstitial content for the insertion points. The user's location may be determined and used to determine a maximum amount of ancillary content for a corresponding time period. Different amounts of ancillary content for a given time period may be provided to different users based on a registration state.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens incorporating an array of microlenses.

Abstract: An electronic device, such as an electrochromic ophthalmic lens, having at least one iridium tin oxide layer, at least one polycarbonate layer, and one or more additional layers between the iridium tin oxide and polycarbonate layers to act as an antireflective or index matching layer. The one or more additional layers may include one or more of silicone dioxide, zirconium dioxide, and/or iridium tin oxide.

Abstract: A pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed.

Abstract: A worksite tracking system uses sensor data associated with operations of a machine on a worksite to detect when the machine performs a dump event to dump material at the worksite, and to update tracking data that tracks machine operations and material movement at the worksite. If sensor data causes detection of a false dump event that did not actually occur, the worksite tracking system identifies the detected false dump event and suppresses corresponding information to update and correct the tracking data.

Abstract: A method of producing reaction bonded silicon carbide (RB-SiC) ceramic components containing internal channels is described. In some embodiments, methods as described herein may utilize diamond powder at the interface of two or more preformed sections.

Abstract: IL-18 participates in both innate and acquired immunity. The bioactivity of IL-18 is negatively regulated by the IL-18 binding protein (IL18BP), a naturally occurring and highly specific inhibitor. This soluble protein forms a complex with free IL-18 preventing its interaction with the IL-18 receptor, thus neutralizing and inhibiting its biological activity. The present invention discloses binding molecules, in particular antibodies or fragments thereof, which bind IL-18 and do not bind IL-18 bound to IL-18BP (IL-18/IL-18BP complex). Apart from its physiological role, IL-18 has been shown to mediate a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The binding molecules of the inventions may be used as therapeutic molecules for treating IL-18-related autoimmune and inflammatory diseases or as diagnostic tools for characterizing, detecting and/or measuring IL-18 not bound to IL-18BP as component of the total IL-18 pool.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for inspecting features of an image using an image inspection controller that includes a processor communicatively coupled to a memory is described. The method includes receiving, at the processor, an input image, performing, on the input image, one of a semantic segmentation process and an object classification process to generate an output image, and prompting a user to select between approving the displayed output image, and at least one of i) performing an additional semantic segmentation process on the displayed output image, and ii) performing an additional object classification process on the displayed output image.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods of revealing portions of outcomes of real-world wagers through interactive media by storing reserve wagers, receiving an indication a first token has been acquired by a user, determining a tracking wager associated with the first token, matching a stored reserve wager with the tracking wager, associating the matched reserve wager with the first token, and revealing at least a portion of the outcome of the matched reserve wager to the user by the user's interaction with the interactive media. By integrating real-world wager outcomes with user interactions, the system may provide an engaging user experience with interactive media. For example, a game may reveal an outcome of a real-world wager (which has already occurred), in response to in-game actions such as user actions in the game, other players' actions, game events, and/or other events.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polarization filter for ophthalmic lenses. The polarization filter comprises a mesogen layer coated onto a retardation film, either directly or through an adhesive layer. The present invention further discloses that the polarization filter formed by employing a thin film or sheet, having a defined level of retardation between the light source and the mesogen layer, for example, a cholesteric mesogen layer, the multilayered laminate structure demonstrates linear polarization of the light transmitted through the mesogen laminate structure, and, hence, can be used in ophthalmic lenses, e.g. spectacle or eyeglass lenses. The polarization filter enhances the performance by allowing transmission of the polarization filter closer to the theoretical maximum transmission.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuous operation for the production of conductors that include twisted or stranded wires or filaments includes supply payoff for providing a plurality of strands that have been work hardened. The wires or strands are annealed in line with the payoff and subsequently cooled by a chiller in line with the annealer for cooling the annealed strands output from the annealer to a predetermined temperature. A strander in line with the annealer and cooler or chiller is provided for imparting at least one twist to the annealed and cooled strands. Speed control, for example a dancer, is provided in line between the cooler and the strander for adjusting and controlling the speed or velocity of the strands moving along the line to maintain a speed compatible with the take up speed of the strander. The predetermined temperature is selected to be the ambient operating temperature of the strander for copper or aluminum cable.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuous operation for the production of conductors that include twisted or stranded wires or filaments includes supply payoff for providing a plurality of strands that have been work hardened. The wires or strands are annealed in line with the payoff and subsequently cooled by a chiller in line with the annealer for cooling the annealed strands output from the annealer to a predetermined temperature. A dancer between the supply payoff and the annealer ensures the speed at the output of the payoff is matched to the intake speed of the annealer. A strander in line with the annealer and cooler or chiller is provided for imparting at least one twist to the annealed and cooled strands. Speed control, for example an additional dancer, is provided in line between the cooler and the strander for adjusting and controlling the speed or velocity of the strands moving along the line to maintain a speed compatible with the take up speed of the strander.

Abstract: A light emitting ophthalmic lens in which a light source is incorporated into a lens. The light source may be configured to emit light within a specific wavelength, such as but not limited to a blue light having a wavelength of about 470 nanometers. The ophthalmic lens may include one or more light guiding elements for directing the light emitted from the light source onto a desired region of an eye, such as the outer areas of the retina. The light source may be attached to the ophthalmic lens or may be integrated therewith. The one or more light guiding elements may be configured to reflect, diffuse, disperse, defocus, and/or diffract the light from the light source towards the eye. A control unit may both power the light source and allow for programming various functions of the light source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polarization filter for ophthalmic lenses. The polarization filter comprises a mesogen layer coated onto a retardation film, either directly or through an adhesive layer. The present invention further discloses that the polarization filter formed by employing a thin film or sheet, having a defined level of retardation between the light source and the mesogen layer, for example, a cholesteric mesogen layer, the multilayered laminate structure demonstrates linear polarization of the light transmitted through the mesogen laminate structure, and, hence, can be used in ophthalmic lenses, e.g. spectacle or eyeglass lenses. The polarization filter enhances the performance by allowing transmission of the polarization filter closer to the theoretical maximum transmission.

Abstract: Optical devices such as eyeglass lenses and digital displays having improved optical characteristics achieved, in part, through incorporation of an index matching system between material layers having different refractive indices.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods of revealing portions of outcomes of real-world wagers through interactive media by storing reserve wagers, receiving an indication a first token has been acquired by a user, determining a tracking wager associated with the first token, matching a stored reserve wager with the tracking wager, associating the matched reserve wager with the first token, and revealing at least a portion of the outcome of the matched reserve wager to the user by the user's interaction with the interactive media. By integrating real-world wager outcomes with user interactions, the system may provide an engaging user experience with interactive media. For example, a game may reveal an outcome of a real-world wager (which has already occurred), in response to in-game actions such as user actions in the game, other players' actions, game events, and/or other events.

Abstract: An ophthalmic article having a coating system which provides antireflective and easy clean properties to the ophthalmic article. The coating system includes alternating layers of low refractive index metal oxide and high refractive index metal oxynitrides and corresponding high refractive index metal oxides. The coating system provides favorable surface energy to the ophthalmic article when at least one layer of the high refractive index metal oxynitride is encapsulated between two layers of low refractive index metal oxide.