Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generating speech from text. One of the systems includes one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that when executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to implement: a sequence-to-sequence recurrent neural network configured to: receive a sequence of characters in a particular natural language, and process the sequence of characters to generate a spectrogram of a verbal utterance of the sequence of characters in the particular natural language; and a subsystem configured to: receive the sequence of characters in the particular natural language, and provide the sequence of characters as input to the sequence-to-sequence recurrent neural network to obtain as output the spectrogram of the verbal utterance of the sequence of characters in the particular natural language.

Abstract: Nanocrystals, compositions, and methods that aid particle transport in mucus are provided. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods involve making mucus-penetrating particles (MPP) without any polymeric carriers, or with minimal use of polymeric carriers. The compositions and methods may include, in some embodiments, modifying the surface coatings of particles formed of pharmaceutical agents that have a low water solubility. Such methods and compositions can be used to achieve efficient transport of particles of pharmaceutical agents though mucus barriers in the body for a wide spectrum of applications, including drug delivery, imaging, and diagnostic applications. In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition including such particles is well-suited for administration routes involving the particles passing through a mucosal barrier.

Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. Sensor data generated by the time-of-flight sensor can include returns associated with highly reflective objects that cause glare. In some examples, a depth of a sensed surface is determined from the sensor data and additional pixels at the same depth are identified. The subset of pixels at the depth are filtered by comparing a measured intensity value to a threshold intensity value for the depth. Other threshold intensity values can be applied to subsets of pixels at different depths.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a waffle slab includes providing a bottom mold separately on columns and exposing joint heads of the columns from the bottom mold; providing first sets of beam bars separately on the bottom mold to be parallel along a first direction; and providing second sets of beam bars separately on the bottom mold to be parallel along a second direction, wherein the second sets b of beam bars are configured to intersect with the first sets of beam bars without interference and together they form accommodation spaces for waffle molds.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for processing ultrasound images to identify objects for diagnostic and/or interventional use. For instance, an ultrasound image of an anatomical structure may be received from a computing device of an ultrasound imaging system. The ultrasound image may be input to a machine learning model that is trained to identify a plurality of objects in ultrasound images of the anatomical structure. The plurality of objects may include anatomical features, disruptive features, and/or instruments. A prediction of one or more objects from the plurality of objects identified in the ultrasound image may be received as output of the machine learning model. An indication of the prediction may be provided to the computing device for display on a display of the ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a precast column and a method for manufacturing the same, in which the precast column includes a base, a main structure, multiple main reinforcing bars and a concrete structure. The base includes multiple couplers disposed on a bottom mold and multiple stirrups surrounding the multiple couplers. One side of the main structure is connected to the base, and the main structure includes a hollow tube disposed inside the main structure. The multiple main reinforcing bars pass through the main structure, one end of each of which is connected to the corresponding one of the multiple couplers. The concrete structure covers the base, the main structure and the multiple main reinforcing bars.

Abstract: An architectural fiducial structure and a construction method using the same are provided. The construction method includes: providing a first fiducial structure, wherein the fiducial structure has a first portion extending along a first direction, a second portion extending along a second direction and a precasting column structure, and wherein the first direction and the second direction forms an angle; providing a first shear wall extending along the first direction and connecting a first end of the first shear wall to the first portion of the first fiducial structure; and providing a second shear wall extending along the second direction and connecting a first end of the second shear wall to the second portion of the first fiducial structure.

Abstract: Compositions for regeneration of spent dialysis fluid are disclosed. The compositions include a sorbent comprising a titanium-glyoxal complex. Sorbent cartridges comprising the sorbents, and methods and systems for using the cartridges in dialysis also are disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein are syringe caps including a plug portion and a protruding member extending from one end of the plug portion. The protruding member can extend a length greater than a depth of an accumulated component in the syringe. Also described herein, are systems including a syringe containing a composition and a syringe cap. The syringe cap can include a luer-lock with a projecting member that projects into the syringe. The projecting member can assist in creating a tunnel through the accumulated material thereby allowing degassing of the composition. The projecting member can also help to prevent accumulation of a radiopaque visualization agent or contrast agent that may accumulate along one end of the syringe.

Abstract: Technologies are described for providing safe and clean air and to prevent interchange of fluids or particulates between people in social situations through two or more distinct airflows generated and/or directed by various structures. An air safety system may receive pre-sanitized air and push through a guidance structure to create a low-velocity, clean air safe zone that prevents exchange of fluids and particulates within the zone and a high speed air shield to prevent injection of fluids and particulates from outside into the safe zone. The system may accommodate one or more persons in an open space of over a table/desk. A modular air safety system may generate a similar safe zone and air shield horizontally in a smaller scale for one or more people.

Abstract: A building system has an elevator system controlled by a controller system to move an elevator car between building floors, and a registration computer system communicatively coupled to the controller system. The registration computer system generates an activation (QR) code that a user requesting elevator service scans with a mobile communications device. The activation code encodes user information including access rights of the user in the building. A software application executable by the mobile communications device responds to the activation code by generating a graphical user interface with displayed content determined by the user information in the activation code. The software application generates an optical credential upon the user specifying the elevator service.

Abstract: A building system, such as an elevator system, a physical access control system, or a combined elevator and physical access control system, has a controller system to control the building system to perform a building action, and a credential acquisition unit to acquire a credential presented by a user. The building system includes a camera system having a thermographic camera, which generates an infrared image of a face of the user, and an image processing system. The image processing system processes the infrared image to determine if the user's face shows a temperature value that is higher than a set threshold temperature value. The controller system enables or disables the building action as a function of the acquired user credential and the result signal.

Abstract: A slide has a metal frame supporting a polymer slide portion. The slide portion has an upper slide section and a lower slide section connected to the upper slide section. The upper slide section and the lower slide section form an interface. The interface includes an interface middle section, an interface right upper extension, and an interface left upper extension. The interface middle section is offset from the interface right upper extension and the interface left upper extension. A left lengthwise interface section extends between the interface middle section and the interface left upper extension. A right lengthwise interface section extends between the interface middle section and the interface right upper extension. The left lengthwise interface section and the right lengthwise interface section are parallel to each other, but perpendicular to the interface middle section.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for compliance checking related to goods in import supply chain logistics is provided, including: adding received legality data elements into a blockchain ledger corresponding to an importation of the goods; establishing a smart contract of the blockchain ledger; adding received sensing data elements corresponding to the smart contract into the blockchain ledger; adding electronic lock (e-Lock) status data corresponding to the smart contract into the blockchain ledger; and adding one or more inspection results corresponding to the smart contract into the blockchain ledger. Furthermore, determining, by the smart contract, whether the goods are within the compliance according to the received legality data elements, the received sensing data elements, the e-Lock status data and the one or more inspection results, wherein in response to determining that the goods are within the compliance, unsealing the e-Locks by sending a control signal to the e-Locks.

Abstract: A slide has a metal frame supporting a polymer slide portion. The slide portion has an upper slide section and a lower slide section connected to the upper slide section. The upper slide section and the lower slide section form an interface. The interface includes an interface middle section, an interface right upper extension, and an interface left upper extension. The interface middle section is offset from the interface right upper extension and the interface left upper extension. A left lengthwise interface section extends between the interface middle section and the interface left upper extension. A right lengthwise interface section extends between the interface middle section and the interface right upper extension. The left lengthwise interface section and the right lengthwise interface section are parallel to each other, but perpendicular to the interface middle section.

Abstract: A hopscotch trampoline has a trampoline with a bed suspended across a trampoline frame. The bed has a bed center, a bed middle, and a bed periphery. A trampoline length is greater than a trampoline width. A hopscotch field is formed on the bed. The hopscotch field includes successive areas. The successive areas are at least partially linearly oriented. Contact sensors mounted on each area and the contact sensors are electrically connected by an electrical connection and electrically connected to a control panel harness. A middle crossbar can extend underneath the bed and connecting a right vertical post to a left vertical post.

Abstract: Example methods and systems to obtain images associated with target cells distributed in a cytology specimen have been disclosed. One example method includes obtaining a first image associated with a first region of the cytology specimen through a first object lens, determining a first subregion of the first region, obtaining a second set of one or more images associated with the first subregion through a second object lens, identifying a third image from the first image, and in response to a ratio of a second number of the target cells in the second set of one or more images to the first number of the target cells in the third image being in a predetermined range, obtaining images associated with the target cells based on the second set of images.

Abstract: A trampoline video game has a trampoline having a bed suspended across a trampoline frame. The bed has a bed center, bed middle, and bed periphery. A beam emitter is configured for operation by a first player to emit a beam. A player one target includes a sensor and a camera. The player one target is connected to a wide area network. A processor is electrically connected to the camera. The processor is configured to generate a geometric model from an image or a video of the first player. A second player terminal is configured as a wireless device with a touchscreen. The second player terminal is configured to connect to the wide area network. A first player avatar is generated on the touchscreen. The first player avatar is generated from the geometric model. Players are given incentives for jumping in the bed middle.

Abstract: Example methods and systems to obtain images associated with target cells distributed in a cytology specimen have been disclosed. One example method includes obtaining a first image associated with a first region of the cytology specimen through a first object lens, determining a first subregion of the first region, obtaining a second set of one or more images associated with the first subregion through a second object lens, identifying a third image from the first image, and in response to a ratio of a second number of the target cells in the second set of one or more images to the first number of the target cells in the third image being in a predetermined range, obtaining images associated with the target cells based on the second set of images.