Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to identify media that has been pitch shifted, time shifted, and/or resampled. An example apparatus includes: memory; instructions in the apparatus; and processor circuitry to execute the instructions to: transmit a fingerprint of an audio signal and adjusting instructions to a central facility to facilitate a query, the adjusting instructions identifying at least one of a pitch shift, a time shift, or a resample ratio; obtain a response including an identifier for the audio signal and information corresponding to how the audio signal was adjusted; and change the adjusting instructions based on the information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protective covering for grapevines to mitigate smoke taint by filtering particles that may affect the grapes. The protective covering: comprises a microporous activated carbon material that is capable of being arranged by a user to cover at least a portion of the grapevine; and an attachment means for securing the activated carbon material to, or about, at least the portion of the grapevine.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkene comprising steps of: a) supplying a gas composition to an alkylene oxide absorber through a gas inlet, the absorber comprising an absorption section and a sump, and allowing the gas composition to pass upwards; b) supplying a lean absorbent to the top of the absorption section and allowing the lean absorbent to pass downwards; c) intimately contacting the gas composition with lean absorbent in the absorption section in the presence of one or more catalysts that promote carboxylation and hydrolysis; and d) withdrawing fat absorbent from the absorption section and passing the fat absorbent and any liquid condensate through the sump, wherein the sump comprises one or more baffles that define a flow pathway from a sump inlet to a sump outlet between the one or more baffles.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to identify media. An example method includes: in response to a query, generating an adjusted sample media fingerprint by applying an adjustment to a sample media fingerprint; comparing the adjusted sample media fingerprint to a reference media fingerprint; and in response to the adjusted sample media fingerprint matching the reference media fingerprint, transmitting information associated with the reference media fingerprint and the adjustment.

Abstract: A shieldable needle device (12) with a needle cannula (28), a hub (44) supporting the needle cannula, and a tip guard (24) axially movable along the needle cannula where, upon transition, the tip guard protectively surrounds the distal end (42) of the needle cannula. The needle device includes a pair of wings (60) extending laterally from opposing sides of the tip guard and connected to the hub. The pair of wings are transitionable between a first position and a second position, wherein transition of the pair of wings advances the tip guard from a proximal position to a shielding distal position. The wings include protrusions (66) which cause the longitudinal axis of the needle cannula to become offset from the opening (52) of the tip guard during advancement of the tip guard preventing the needle cannula from being reinserted through the tip guard after the tip guard has been transitioned to the distal position.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a stabilization feature configured to be coupled to an ultrasound probe, or similar medical device and grasped by one or more fingers of a user. The user can then manipulate the stabilization feature and probe assembly without requiring any opposing pressure to be applied by the thumb. As such a user is free to use the thumb to operate controls disposed on the probe, or stabilize a skin surface, or the like. The stabilization feature can include a first portion configured to be grasped by one or more fingers, and a second portion configured to engage the probe. Further, the second portion can engage the probe through a sheath to maintain a sterile barrier therebetween. Alternatively, the first portion can be grasped by one or more fingers through a sheath to maintain a sterile barrier therebetween.

Abstract: A method for tracking an item in a distributed environment is provided. At least one node in a network adds a new block to a first cryptographically verifiable ledger represented by a first sequence of blocks that is stored in one or more non-transitory computer-readable media. The new block added to the first cryptographically verifiable ledger contains a component identifier and a hash of a previous block in the first sequence of blocks. The at least one node in the network adds a new block to a second cryptographically verifiable ledger represented by a second sequence of blocks that is stored in the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media. The new block added to the second cryptographically verifiable ledger contains a destination identifier, the first sequence of blocks, and a hash of a previous block in the second sequence of blocks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an erosion control apparatus and methods of using and installing the apparatus. The apparatus is constructed to prevent erosion of soil during typical weather or tidal conditions and adverse weather events. The apparatus can include a plurality of anchored rolls and soil lifts operative to stabilize the shoreline.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides autonomous vehicle systems and methods that include or otherwise leverage a motion planning system that generates constraints as part of determining a motion plan for an autonomous vehicle (AV). In particular, a scenario generator within a motion planning system can generate constraints based on where objects of interest are predicted to be relative to an autonomous vehicle. A constraint solver can identify navigation decisions for each of the constraints that provide a consistent solution across all constraints. The solution provided by the constraint solver can be in the form of a trajectory path determined relative to constraint areas for all objects of interest. The trajectory path represents a set of navigation decisions such that a navigation decision relative to one constraint doesn't sacrifice an ability to satisfy a different navigation decision relative to one or more other constraints.

Abstract: Example methods and systems for indexing fingerprints are described. Fingerprints may be made up of sub-fingerprints, each of which corresponds to a frame of the media, which is a smaller unit of time than the fingerprint. In some example embodiments, multiple passes are performed. For example, a first pass may be performed that compares the sub-fingerprints of the query fingerprint with every thirty-second sub-fingerprint of the reference material to identify likely matches. In this example, a second pass is performed that compares the sub-fingerprints of the query fingerprint with every fourth sub-fingerprint of the likely matches to provide a greater degree of confidence. A third pass may be performed that uses every sub-fingerprint of the most likely matches, to help distinguish between similar references or to identify with greater precision the timing of the match. Each of these passes is amenable to parallelization.

Abstract: Provided are proteins comprising a variant IgG Fc region, wherein the proteins exhibit significantly reduced binding to human Fc?RI when compared with a reference protein comprising the amino acid substitutions L234A/L235A/P329G. Also provided are compositions, methods of treatment and methods to reduce Fc-induced effector functions in a parent protein.

Abstract: A pillow configured to accommodate a first user and a second user wherein the users are positioned in a lateral recumbent position. The body of the pillow includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion has an upper surface that is higher than that of the upper surface of the lower portion. The lower portion includes a first section and a second section that are contiguously formed. The first section and second section are laterally adjacent and are configured to permit the second user to lay in a left lateral recumbent position and a right lateral recumbent position. The lower surface of the body includes a passage formed therein. The passage is concave in form and includes a bottom portion and a top portion having a first branch and a second branch. The passage bifurcates proximate the lower edge of the upper portion to create a y-shape.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for producing transgenic plants and other organisms that exhibit increased production of mogroside compounds, in particular mogroside V, and the mogroside compounds, plants and plant parts so produced.

Abstract: A flushing system includes a recirculating unit having a pump, filter, and flow manifold. The manifold includes a first conduit delivering water to the filter utilizing the pump. A first valve divides the first conduit into first and second portions. A second conduit receives water from the filter. A second valve divides the second conduit into first and second portions. A first reverse conduit having a third valve couples the first portion of the first conduit with the second portion of the second conduit. A second reverse conduit having a fourth valve couples the second portion of the first conduit with the first portion of the second conduit. When the first and second valves are open and third and fourth valves are closed, water flows in a forward direction. When the first and second valves are closed and third and fourth valves are open, water flows in a reverse direction.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable and executable instructions are provided for providing a device agnostic active/active data center. Providing a device agnostic active/active data center can include receiving user communication assigned from a content delivery network (CDN) provider. In addition, providing a device agnostic active/active data center can include determining a designated database for the user communication. Furthermore, providing a device agnostic active/active data center can include assigning a destination address to the designated database for the user communication.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for efficiently maintaining a transaction sequence witness service to ensure that requests to read data provide consistent results across all storage nodes in a distributed system. Each storage node that stores data in response to a particular update event may first update the transaction sequence witness service with the sequence number for the update event. Thus, any other storage node that services a subsequent request for the data will be able to see, via the transaction sequence witness service, the sequence number that must be available on the storage node to respond to the request.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to fingerprint an audio signal via exponential normalization. An example apparatus includes an audio segmenter to divide an audio signal into a plurality of audio segments including a first audio segment and a second audio segment, the first audio segment including a first time-frequency bin, the second audio segment including a second time-frequency bin, a mean calculator to determine a first exponential mean value associated with the first time frequency bin based on a first magnitude of the audio signal associated with the first time frequency bin and a second exponential mean value associated with the second time frequency bin based on a second magnitude of the audio signal associated with the second time frequency bin and the first exponential mean value.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, methods, and machine-readable media for concurrent communication. One method includes displaying an interactive application on a first device of a user during a break in an entertainment segment displayed on a second device, sending a request for interaction from the user through the interactive application, pausing the interactive application when the break in the entertainment segment is over, and notifying the user when an additional break begins so the user can commence interacting with the interactive application.