Abstract: An optical fiber array assembly for high power applications includes a support structure, an optical fiber array, a plurality of end caps and a fluid conduit arrangement. The optical fiber array extends through the support structure and has a plurality of optical fibers extending in a common longitudinal direction. The plurality of end caps is arranged such that each of the end caps is attached to an end portion of one of the optical fibers. The fluidic conduit arrangement has one or more conduits extending through the support structure. The one or more conduits are configured to support a flow of fluid therein to remove heat arising from optical energy back reflected from the end caps that enters the support structure.

Abstract: A sunrise wake system includes a sunrise shade assembly that includes a sunrise shade, a blackout shade, configured over a window to block out exterior light and then produce emitted light that mimics the natural light of a sunrise. A person may set a wake time and a sunrise profile and the system will activate at the wake time and run the selected sunrise profile. A mobile phone operating a system APP may interface with the sunrise shade assembly to provide instructions to the shade controller to activate a light strip to emit light that changes in wavelength and temperature according to the sunrise profile. A light strip may include a plurality of light devices that emit different wavelengths of light including a red light device. The light strip may be extended around a portion of the blackout shade to provide a large length and area of light emission.

Abstract: A hybrid additive for use in construction materials such as asphalt and concrete is disclosed. The additive includes pellets formed of a plastic or polymer material, and one or more of fibers, pozzolans, nano-carbon tubes, glass, recycled asphalt shingles (RAS), liquid anti-strip, hydrated lime, rejuvenators, cementitious material, and ground tire rubber. Also disclosed are hybrid composite materials useful as paving and building materials, and methods of making the same. The hybrid additives were found to maintain the positive performance aspects of typical asphalt and concrete mixtures, while improving the performance of the mixtures by increasing bonding and strength within the mixture—and therefore increasing useable life and lowering costs.

Abstract: A hollow-core anti-resonant-reflecting fibre (HC-AF) includes a hollow-core region, an inner cladding region, and an outer cladding region. The hollow-core region axially extends along the HC-AF. The inner cladding region includes a plurality of anti-resonant elements (AREs) and surrounds the hollow-core region. The outer cladding region surrounds the inner cladding region. The hollow-core region and the plurality of AREs are configured to provide phase matching of higher order hollow-core modes and ARE modes in a broadband wavelength range.

Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one drive wheel, a powerplant, a clutch, and a controller. The powerplant is configured to generate and deliver power to the at least one drive wheel. The clutch is disposed between the at least one drive wheel and the powerplant. The controller is programmed to, in response to detecting the at least one drive wheel disengaging the ground during a vehicle jump, open the clutch to disconnect the at least one drive wheel from the powerplant.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for searching media content. In some implementation examples, a search system receives an input query, generates a query embedding of the input query, and generates a bias mitigation transformation associated with a sensitive attribute. Based on the query embedding and the bias mitigation transformation, the search system generates a transformed query embedding that suppresses at least a portion of the query embedding related to the sensitive attribute. Using the transformed query embedding, the search system executes a similarity search in a media embedding model to identify one or more media embeddings that are similar to the transformed query embedding and transmits the one or more media embeddings.

Abstract: A system and method for virtual block stick circuits is presented. The present disclosure implements specialized algorithms adapted to determine the true status of a virtual block based on multiple inputs from different perspectives. In one embodiment, the system can use the far house perspective of that virtual track segment and the PTC hazard for the near virtual track segment directly adjacent to the near house uses the near house perspective of that virtual track segment. For the middle virtual track segments, the near house perspectives of the middle virtual track segments are held ‘TRUE’ if they are already ‘TRUE’ when the train first enters the block, using stick circuits for the near house perspective of the middle track circuits. The vital application can then indicate the true state of the virtual track segment as occupied (FALSE), to protect the train from trains that follow.

Abstract: A controller, responsive to a request to DC fast charge a traction battery at a charge station that offers a plurality of DC fast charge rates each with a cost per unit time that increases as the rate increases, generates output, only for each of the rates that correspond to an aging parameter for the traction battery that is less than a threshold value, indicating a cost to charge the traction battery at the rate.

Abstract: A fuel cell interconnect includes fuel ribs disposed on a first side of the interconnect and a least partially defining fuel channels, and air ribs disposed on an opposing second side of the interconnect and at least partially defining air channels. The fuel channels include central fuel channels disposed in a central fuel field and peripheral fuel channels disposed in peripheral fuel fields disposed on opposing sides of the central fuel field. The air channels include central air channels disposed in a central air field and peripheral air channels disposed in peripheral air fields disposed on opposing sides of the central air field. At least one of the central fuel channels or the central air channels has at least one of a different cross-sectional area or length than at least one of the respective peripheral fuel channels or the respective peripheral air channels.

Abstract: Multifunction noise suppression and crash structures are disclosed. In one aspect of the disclosure, the multifunction structure includes a body, inlet and outlet pipes, and a plurality of walls within the body that bound resonator cells and that are configured to suppress exhaust noise passing through the resonator cells from the inlet to the outlet pipes. The structure may be positioned between crash rails at the rear of the vehicle and between the engine and bumper. The walls may be generally aligned with, or near, the predicted impact direction and they may crumple in a controlled manner during an impact. In various embodiments the structure is 3D printed to enable construction of a wide diversity of geometric topologies and to minimize mass.

Abstract: A battery pack for a vehicle electrical system includes a casing for receiving one or more battery modules. The battery modules are insertable into a casing of the battery pack. Additionally, the battery modules may include cooling plate to cool the battery module and provide coolant to another battery module in response to a triggering event. Additionally, the battery modules may include a top cover with a frangible insulating material to further thermally insulate one battery module from another battery module and allow gasses and active material to escape the battery module in response to a triggering event. The battery pack may additionally be configured with vents for venting the gases and active material, such as those generated by a battery module in a thermal runaway event. Additionally, the battery modules may include a heat shield to direct vented gases and active material away from a cabin of a vehicle.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to personal care compositions including Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract present in an effective amount to provide enhanced antioxidant power. The Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract may be in crystalline dosage form. The Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract may be initially dispersed in an aqueous solvent to provide an aqueous dosage form. The Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract may be initially dispersed in a non-aqueous anhydrous solvent to provide a non-aqueous dosage form. The personal care composition may further include a sunscreen filter. The personal care composition may further include a vitamin or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture to determine the load of a vehicle via calibrate a suspension sensor are disclosed herein. An example vehicle described herein includes a force transducer, an actuator coupled to the force transducer, memory including instructions and a processor to execute the instructions to engage the actuator to a bottom surface of a vehicle, apply a first force to the bottom surface via the actuator, determine a first displacement of a first suspension component of the vehicle, and calibrate a first sensor of the vehicle based on the first force and the first displacement.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a physical game element such as a wagering chip or a playing card may be utilized to implement a promotion scheme on an electronic game table (e.g., using RFID or optical imaging technology). During a game it may be determined whether the element is associated with special functionality (e.g., entitles the player to a payout multiplier, special payout table, bonus prize or other benefit). The special functionality may have been previously associated with the element or associated with the element during the game (e.g., dynamically and/or randomly). In accordance with some embodiments a player is not able to readily discern the special functionality by a physical inspection of the physical game element and is only notified of the special functionality once the physical game element is used in a qualifying action (e.g., during a wager at an electronic game table).

Abstract: A vehicle control system may include a first friction brake member that rotates with a wheel of the vehicle, a second friction brake member that is displaced from an initial position to initiate contact with the first friction brake member to apply braking torque to the wheel, a displacement assembly operably coupled to the second friction brake member to move the second friction brake member responsive to a brake torque request, a sensor network to measure displacement information of the displacement assembly from the initial position to a point of contact between the first and second friction brake members, and a control module operably coupled to the sensor network to record the displacement information to define recorded displacement information, and to determine tapering of the second friction brake member based on the recorded displacement information.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for generating visual and audible aids for a human that is driving a vehicle. In one example, a visual indication is provided during conditions when a wheel speed exceeds a vehicle reference speed by more than a threshold speed. In another example, an audible indication is provided during conditions when a vehicle speed exceeds a vehicle reference speed by more than a threshold speed.

Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive sensor data indicating an environment around a vehicle while the vehicle is traveling forward along a driving surface; generate a map of the environment from the sensor data, the map including at least one elevation drop; and generate a planned trajectory for the vehicle to travel in reverse and avoid the at least one elevation drop based on the map.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to personal care compositions including Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract present in an effective amount to provide enhanced antioxidant power. The Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract may be in crystalline dosage form. The Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract may be initially dispersed in an aqueous solvent to provide an aqueous dosage form. The Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract may be initially dispersed in a non-aqueous anhydrous solvent to provide a non-aqueous dosage form. The personal care composition may further include a sunscreen filter. The personal care composition may further include a vitamin or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a greaseless multi-level pressure control assembly.

Abstract: A sunscreen composition includes a sunscreen active, a carrier, and a film former polymer. The sunscreen active may be selected from organic sunscreen actives. The carrier may include an amphiphile monolayer to encapsulate a least a portion of the total amount of the sunscreen active. The film former polymer may include an acrylic film former polymer selected from C1-C30 alkyl (meth)acrylates copolymer. Notably, the sunscreen active may provide enhanced photoprotection at relatively low concentration levels when present with the carrier, including the amphiphile monolayer, and the acrylic film former polymer.