Abstract: A fuel cell including a catalyst layer configured to generate liquid water in response to a reactant being in contact therewith. The fuel cell includes a microporous layer having a first region with a first pore size and a second region disposed adjacent to the first region having a second pore size. The first pore size being greater than the second pore size. The microporous layer being configured to transfer the liquid water away from the catalyst layer, such that the liquid water from the catalyst layer enters the first region in response to a capillary pressure of the liquid water being greater than a first capillary pressure. The liquid water enters the second region in response to a capillary pressure of the liquid water being greater than a second capillary pressure. The first capillary pressure being different from the second capillary pressure.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for processing and/or transmitting three-dimensional (3D) data are presented. A partitioning component receives captured 3D data associated with a 3D model of an interior environment and partitions the captured 3D data into at least one data chunk associated with at least a first level of detail and a second level of detail. A data component stores 3D data including at least the first level of detail and the second level of detail for the at least one data chunk. An output component transmits a portion of data from the at least one data chunk that is associated with the first level of detail or the second level of detail to a remote client device based on information associated with the first level of detail and the second level of detail.

Abstract: A seat release system and device, the system including an interface assembly that provides actuation signaling, an actuation device that communicatively provides mechanical motion in response to the actuation signaling, a cable connected to the actuation device, and a recline release cylinder having a gas release button and a release lever at a first end, and having a cylinder piston arm in the recline release cylinder at a second end. The release lever is attached to a second end of the cable where the cable moves the release lever in response to the mechanical motion of the actuation device. The gas release button vents the recline release cylinder to atmosphere in response to being depressed as a result of the cable moving the release lever. The cylinder piston arm may move in the recline release cylinder in response to the gas release button being depressed.

Abstract: A device for generating electricity in an irrigation system includes a water turbine, a generator, and a bypass valve. The water turbine converts the flow of water in the irrigation system into rotational energy. The generator is connected to the water turbine for converting the rotational energy into electrical energy. The bypass valve assembly is in fluid communication with the water turbine and the irrigation system and is configured to regulate the flow of water through the water turbine and to direct excess water around the water turbine and back into the irrigation system. The device is configured to generate electricity while maintaining a predetermined flow rate in the irrigation system and to direct excess water around the water turbine and back into the irrigation system when the flow of water through the water turbine exceeds the predetermined flow rate.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for secondary game creation and management include a plurality of gaming machines, and a scheduler configured to initiate a secondary game in response to a request from one or more players or a schedule defined by an administrator, the secondary game including one or more games executed on the plurality of gaming machines. A controller is also provided that is configured to validate each player to participate in the secondary game on respective ones of the plurality of gaming machines and enable secondary gameplay by the validated players on the plurality of gaming machines. Further, a data analyzer is provided that is configured to receive primary game player data and secondary game player data from the plurality of gaming machines and process the primary game player data and secondary game player data to determine at least one of a progression, position, or score of a player of a secondary game.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing cardiac devices comprises an inflow and an outflow chamber, a mount for supporting a prosthetic valve, and a fluid driving device operable to vary a pressure differential of a fluid between the inflow chamber and the outflow chamber in repeating cycles. The apparatus can comprise a bypass valve to modulate pressure characteristics across the prosthetic valve, reservoirs to maintain a pressure inside the apparatus, and compliance elements to modulate pressure characteristics in the apparatus. Methods for operating the apparatus include controlling the bypass valve to control testing characteristics across the prosthetic device, and methods for monitoring the pressure inside of the apparatus.

Abstract: An embodiment seat control system includes a control board having a processing unit, wherein the processing unit has one or more processors and one or more memories, and a mainboard. The processing unit is communicatively attached to the mainboard and mainboard has a plurality of receptacles and mainboard includes one or more communication buses between at least one of the plurality of receptacles and the processing unit. The system further has one or more system modules, where each module of the one or more system modules is configured to be connected to a respective receptacle of the plurality of receptacles, where each module of the one or more system modules implements a functional capability of a seat, and where the one or more system modules are nondestructively removeable from the mainboard.

Abstract: Described herein are integrated thermochemical processes for the deliberate decomposition, extraction and conversion of coal into high-value products and goods via solvent extraction, chemical reaction and/or separation. The described systems and methods are versatile and may be used to generate a variety of intermediate, derivative and finished high value products including chemicals (aromatics, asphaltenes, naphthalenes, phenols and precursors for the production of polyamides, polyurethanes, polyesters, graphitic materials), polymer composite products (resins, paints, coatings, adhesives), agricultural materials, building materials, carbon fiber, graphene products and other materials that are substantially more valuable that the energy generated via combustion.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a motion generator comprising an effector for applying forces, moments and movements to a payload relative to a surface connected to one or more elongate rigid struts, each strut being connected at one end thereof by a first joint to the effector and being connected at its other end by a second joint to an associated rocker, the rocker having a pivot axis, such that movement of a rocker about the pivot axis leads to movement of the effector, and forces applied to an associated rocker lead to forces being applied to the effector, in which the movement of a rocker and forces applied by the rocker are controlled by an actuator, the actuator being in the form of an elongate belt, cable, rope drive, or linear motor arranged to apply a force to a point on an associated rocker away from the pivot axis of the rocker.

Abstract: In various embodiments, and apparatus may be configured to identify a software blueprint for creating a reproducible software build, wherein the software blueprint contains resource nodes that contain a manifest of named build steps and 1) a resource identifier, or 2) a single source of truth (SSOT) resource software locator; generate modeling information identifying a hierarchically controlled order or a topographically sorted order for the build steps; populate a project hierarchy based on the modeling information, wherein the project hierarchy comprises an SSOT for the reproducible software build; assemble the reproducible software build using the SSOT, including processing the build steps in the hierarchically controlled order or the topographically sorted order for the build steps. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.

Abstract: We describe methods and materials for inhibiting the growth of a microbial pathogen of a plant. The method comprises the steps of applying to the plant a combination of a dye-bearing compound which is a reactive oxygen species photosensitizer; and a copper compound, which increases the microbial lethality of the dye-bearing compound towards the microbial pathogen; and exposing the plant to light to activate the combination of the dye-bearing compound and the copper compound and inhibiting growth of a microbial pathogen of a plant. The combination of the dye-bearing compound and the copper compound may result in a synergistic ability to reduce the growth of a plant pathogen.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically flushing a toilet based on image recognition includes an image capture device having a camera, a wireless communication unit and a controller. The controller includes a machine learning model with a plurality of inferred positions corresponding to a cat defecating or urinating. The camera captures live images of a cat on a toilet, and the controller compares the live camera images to the inferred positions. Upon determining the cat is in one of the inferred positions for a predetermined period of time, a flush command is sent by the wireless communication unit. The system also includes a flush device having a linear actuator, a control switch and a controller. The shaft of the actuator is positioned adjacent to the toilet's flush handle or flush button and selectively depresses the same upon receipt of a flush command from the image device or the control switch.

Abstract: In various embodiments, and apparatus may be configured to identify a software blueprint for creating a reproducible software build, wherein the software blueprint contains resource nodes that contain a manifest of named build steps and 1) a resource identifier, or 2) a single source of truth (SSOT) resource software locator; generate modeling information identifying a hierarchically controlled order or a topographically sorted order for the build steps; populate a project hierarchy based on the modeling information, wherein the project hierarchy comprises an SSOT for the reproducible software build; assemble the reproducible software build using the SSOT, including processing the build steps in the hierarchically controlled order or the topographically sorted order for the build steps. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.

Abstract: A fuel cell system having a fuel cell includes an anode, a cathode, a membrane electrode assembly, a bipolar plate, and a microporous layer. The bipolar plate comprises an anode flow field.

Abstract: In a decanting three-phase centrifuge, the position of the paring disc within a paring pump chamber defined by a rotatable bowl is radially adjustable to provide a cut point between a heavy fluid phase and a light fluid phase of a slurry and thereby separate the two phases. At least one sensor senses a fluid parameter of the separated heavy fluid phase and/or the separated light fluid phase and outputs a fluid parameter signal representative of the sensed fluid parameter. The control unit is programmed to, on the fly; receive the fluid parameter signal; determine from the received fluid parameter signal whether the cut point is to be adjusted; and if the cut point is to be adjusted, automatically drive the actuator to radially adjust the paring disc and thereby reset the cut point on the fly while the centrifuge is operating.

Abstract: In various embodiments, and apparatus may include at least one hardware processor; and a pipeline data processor implemented on the at least one hardware processor, the pipeline data processor including at least one source module to provide at least one continuous data stream to one or more processing pipelines and at least one sink module to input data from the one or more processing pipelines; wherein the pipeline data processor comprises a plurality of different paths extending through the plurality of pipeline analytic modules; wherein the input paths are forward-only requiring that an input of one pipeline analytic module of a processing pipeline is output by another pipeline analytic module earlier in the processing pipeline or the at least one source module. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.

Abstract: A fuel cell including a catalyst layer configured to generate liquid water in response to a reactant being in contact therewith. The fuel cell includes a microporous layer having a first region with a first pore size and a second region disposed adjacent to the first region having a second pore size. The first pore size being greater than the second pore size. The microporous layer being configured to transfer the liquid water away from the catalyst layer, such that the liquid water from the catalyst layer enters the first region in response to a capillary pressure of the liquid water being greater than a first capillary pressure. The liquid water enters the second region in response to a capillary pressure of the liquid water being greater than a second capillary pressure. The first capillary pressure being different from the second capillary pressure.

Abstract: Embodiments of snout extension agricultural tools for combine heads are disclosed. Said tools assist in harvesting of crops in order to maximize yield of crops and downed crops.

Abstract: An antenna structure includes a radiator element configured for operation at a first microwave frequency range and at a second microwave frequency range that is higher than the first microwave frequency range, and a reflector including the radiator element attached thereto. The reflector includes an enclosure that houses the radiator element and a radiating aperture. The antenna structure further includes a radome assembly adjacent the radiating aperture. The radome assembly includes a flexible radome having a thickness that is less than a wavelength corresponding to the first or second microwave frequency ranges, and a tensioning member that extends along a perimeter of the flexible radome and maintains tension in a surface of the flexible radome.

Abstract: A combine header having a snout extension with a flat bottom surface base component converging toward each other, a cover arching over the base component and conforming to and at least as wide as the snout. Connecting plates on opposite sides of the snout extension tool attaching the snout extension tool to the snout.