Abstract: A clutch actuation system for engaging and disengaging a clutch includes a hydraulically-actuated piston movable in response to hydraulic pressure to an apply position in which the piston is operable to engage the clutch. An electro mechanical actuator is movable in response to electric power to contact the piston at the apply position such that the clutch is maintained in an engaged state by the actuator, thereby permitting hydraulic pressure to be released. A method of controlling engagement of the clutch is also provided.

Abstract: The likelihood that a query belongs to a vertical is determined. The query is assigned to a vertical based on that likelihood. A query submitted to a main search box is assigned to verticals and processed using indices specific to those verticals. The query is assigned to verticals based on coverage adjusted log likelihood per unit (CALL) values for that query in those verticals. An offline learning component computes UNITS dictionaries and learns the distributions of query units in the main search and each of the vertical searches using query logs. An online scoring and ranking component uses the query distributions and UNITS dictionaries to determine the CALL values and a likelihood of the query belonging to any vertical. The search query is then assigned to verticals based on the likelihoods. The search query is then processed by all the verticals the query is assigned to.

Abstract: An impedance matching circuit for a radio receives antenna signals and has its matching elements, such as capacitors, progressively switched into the circuit, with the matching element configuration resulting in the highest RSSI being subsequently used until a succeeding test or antenna impedance change. The effect of the matching circuit is accounted for in the transmitter calibration routine so that the matching circuit works for both half duplex and full duplex.

Abstract: A system for reducing an alternator's load on an engine when the engine drives a second load. The system includes an alternator, a battery, a resistor, and a switch. The alternator includes a stator, a voltage regulator, a rectifier, and a field coil. The battery has a first terminal coupled to the alternator and a second terminal coupled to the alternator. The resistor has a first lead coupled to the first terminal and a second lead coupled to the field coil. The switch is coupled in parallel across the resistor, and is open when the engine drives the second load and closed when the engine is not driving the second load.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical method for detecting a target polynucleotide. An electrode comprising an electrode surface is provided. The electrode surface includes at least one probe molecule reversibly immobilized with respect to the electrode surface. A first electrochemical signal indicative of an amount of probe molecule immobilized with respect to the electrode surface is obtained. The electrode surface is contacted with a liquid comprising the target polynucleotide. Upon the contacting step, at least some of the probe molecule immobilized with respect to the electrode surface dissociates therefrom. A second electrochemical signal indicative of an amount of probe molecule immobilized with respect to the electrode surface is obtained. The presence of the target polynucleotide is determined at least partially on the basis of the first and second electrochemical signals.

Abstract: The present teachings are directed toward hexagonally patterned porous titania synthesized from a titanium isopropoxide precursor using a viscous template of surface-active agents separating nanoscopic bicontinuous channels of water and isooctane. Subsequent catalyst metal salt reduction in the aqueous nanochannels deposits well-separated catalyst metal nanoparticles on the pore surfaces. These nanocomposites exhibit significantly higher carbon monoxide oxidation efficiency than that obtained with known supports with higher specific surface area; efficiency is believed to be due to decreased mass transfer resistance provided the presently disclosed support material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for priority policing of requests with deferred determination of priority level. The method includes directing each packet in a data stream to a policer. The method also includes determining whether to allow, reject, or conditionally pass each packet through the policer based on parameters associated with the policer. The method also includes directing each packet conditionally passed by the policer to a classifier associated with the policer. The method also includes determining, by the classifier, a priority value of each packet received from the policer. The method also includes directing, by the classifier, each prioritized packet to the policer. The method also includes determining whether to allow or reject each prioritized packet through the policer based on the priority value.

Abstract: An electrically conductive article including a substrate and at least one electrically conductive layer disposed on the substrate. The conductive layer may include a thermoplastic resin and from about 1 to 30 weight percent of at least one conductive additive based on a total weight of the thermoplastic resin and the at least one conductive additive. The conductive article may have a surface resistance between 0.001 to 20? at a test distance of 2.54 cm (1 inch).

Abstract: A passive alignment structure is provided that includes at least one rigid post being coupled to a top surface and a bottom surface. At least one in-plane clamp is associated with a respective at least one rigid post. The at least one in-plane clamp receives a clamping force to lock the respective at least one rigid post. A plurality of pins allows the top surface to align to the bottom surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for attributing return, risk, and risk-adjusted performance for an investment portfolio. Residual factors for the investment portfolio may be determined based on a matrix of custom factors. The residual factors may correspond to a matrix of factor exposures for the portfolio that may be obtained by orthogonalizing true factors for the portfolio to the matrix of custom factors. The return of the portfolio may be attributed to the custom factors, the residual factors, and idiosyncratic effects. The risk of the portfolio may be attributed to the custom factors, the residual factors, and the idiosyncratic effects. The risk-adjusted performance may be attributed to the custom factors, the residual factors, and idiosyncratic effects based on the return attributions and the risk attributions. The return attribution, risk attribution and risk-adjusted performance attribution for each of the custom factors, the residual factors, and the idiosyncratic effects may be stored.

Abstract: A working end of a catheter includes at least one therapeutic element, such as a resistive heating element, usable to deliver energy for ligating, or reducing the diameter of, a hollow anatomical structure. In certain examples, the catheter includes a lumen to accommodate a guide wire or to allow fluid delivery. In certain embodiments, a balloon is inflated to place resistive element(s) into apposition with a hollow anatomical structure and to occlude the structure. Indexing devices and methods are also disclosed for successively treating portions of the hollow anatomical structure. In certain examples, marks along the catheter shaft provide visual verification to the physician of the relative position of the therapeutic element of the catheter. Embodiments of indexing devices may include pairs of rings and/or hinged arms that move a catheter a desired indexed position between successive treatments.

Abstract: Systems and methods that permit an end device to partition a payload into payload portions for simultaneous transmission over multiple networks so as to increase the effective bandwidth available to the end device. The end device may also receive portions of a partitioned payload via multiple networks and reassemble the payload into its pre-partitioned form.

Abstract: A method for recommending improvements to advertisement campaign performance includes receiving a seed campaign insertion order (IO) having one or more campaign IO lines; computing a plurality of neighbor ad campaigns based on comparison of the seed campaign IO with a dataset of advertiser ad campaign IO lines; generating campaign IO recommendations by executing an algorithm to recommend profiles to add to the seed campaign IO from booking lines corresponding to the profiles based on performance of such use by the neighbor ad campaigns being generally above average when compared with campaigns that did not use the recommended profiles; filtering the profile recommendations based on a plurality of performance-enhancing criteria of the seed campaign IO and the neighbor ad campaigns with respect to each potential profile recommendation; ranking the profile recommendations based on at least one performance metric; and displaying the ranked profile recommendations to the advertiser for selection.

Abstract: A method for making recommendations to improve advertisement campaign performance includes receiving a seed campaign insertion order (IO) having one or more campaign IO lines; computing a plurality of neighbor ad campaigns based on a comparison of the seed campaign IO with a dataset of advertiser ad campaign IO lines; generating campaign IO recommendations by executing an algorithm to recommend a campaign feature and value (FV) as a change to a line of the seed campaign IO based on success of such use by the neighbor ad campaigns; ranking the FV recommendations based on at least one performance metric; filtering the FV recommendations based on a plurality of performance-enhancing criteria of the seed campaign IO and the neighbor ad campaigns with respect to individual FV recommendations; and displaying the ranked FV recommendations to the advertiser for selection.

Abstract: Pre-distortion and memory compensation apparatuses and methods for a non-linear component are provided. The apparatus comprises an adaptive block for generating a plurality of correlation coefficients, which are used to weight a plurality of synthesis work functions to pre-distort a given signal. The adaptive block can be driven by an error signal generated from a feedback signal from the non-linear component output signal and a delayed version of the input signal. The apparatus is capable of being operated directly at radio frequency. Also provided are apparatuses and methods for generation of quadrature signals, transconductance amplification employing negative resistance, variable-gain amplification, and envelope detection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sharing a payload among mobile devices in a wireless network. A first mobile device is configured to communicate with an access device via a first wireless path and with a media gateway server via a second wireless path. One or more other mobile devices are configured to communicate with the media gateway server via the second wireless path and with the first mobile device via a third wireless path. A payload is received at the first mobile device from the access device via the first wireless path and is partitioned into portions. One portion is assigned to the first mobile device, and the remaining portions are assigned to each of the one or more other mobile devices. The assigned payload portions are sent to the media gateway server via the second wireless path. The assigned payload portions are received at the media gateway server, and the payload is reconstructed from the received payload portions. The payload is sent to a destination address via a network.

Abstract: A one-piece back support apparatus comprises a belt portion being configured to provide back and abdominal support encircling a wearer's waist and a compression pants portion. The belt portion has a front portion, a back portion, a top portion, a bottom portion and an inner surface. The compression pants portion secured to the belt is configured to provide support for the wearer's pelvis, legs, and groin area. The inner surface of the belt has one or more pack support portions with slots for receiving one or more gel packs so as to maintain contact between the gel packs and the wearer's back. Slots in the belt portion may accommodate vertically extending inserts of rigid plastic to reinforce the belt portion over the lumbar region of the wearer.

Abstract: A generator control unit (GCU) provides active damping of a synchronous generator by monitoring the speed of the synchronous generator and detecting oscillations in the monitored speed. The oscillations are indicative of torsional oscillations within the mechanical drivetrain including the synchronous generator or generators. In response to detected oscillations in the monitored speed, the GCU generates a varying set-point value that is used to control the excitation voltage provided to the synchronous generator. Varying the excitation voltage provided to the synchronous generator causes a variation in synchronous generator torque. By selectively varying the torque in the synchronous generator, the GCU provides active damping in the synchronous generator that decreases or dampens the torsional oscillations.

Abstract: A cooling mechanism for a current carrying conductor is proposed. The mechanism includes a first layer having plurality of micro fluidic channels. The first layer is thermally coupled to the current carrying conductor and configured to exchange thermal energy. A micro-pump is configured to circulate a heat exchange fluid through the micro fluidic channels to exchange thermal energy with the first layer and remove heat from the current carrying conductor. The heat exchange fluid and the current carrying conductor are electrically isolated.

Abstract: Paint film composites comprise sheet metal, a color layer, and an optional transparent protective layer. Methods of making and using the paint film composites, and shaped articles made thereby, are also disclosed.