Abstract: A system including a vehicle having a motive electrical power path; a power distribution unit including a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the current protection circuit including a breaker/relay, the breaker/relay including: a fixed contact, a moveable contact, and a physical opening response portion responsive to a current value; a current source circuit electrically coupled to the breaker/relay and structured to inject a current across the fixed contact; and a voltage determination circuit electrically coupled to the breaker/relay and structured to determine at least one of an injected voltage amount and a contactor impedance value, wherein the voltage determination circuit comprises an analog hardware filter having a cutoff frequency selected in response to a frequency of the injected current.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for making good use of recently obtained biometric data, for configuring propagule capsules (e.g. containing seeds or spores with growth media and other helpful materials) for deployment via drones so that each has an improved chance of survival, and for configuring drones or piloted craft for safe fleet deployment in remote locations.

Abstract: A mobile device mounted holder includes a body portion, the body portion including a slot for receiving cards. The mobile device mounted holder further includes an attachment mechanism, integrated with the body portion, for attaching to a mobile device. The mobile device mounted holder further includes a clip end located proximate to the slot, such that the clip end prevents the cards, when located in the slot, from sliding out of the slot and the clip end is attached to a flexible arm such that the clip end has a flexed position and in the flexed position the cards are removable.

Abstract: Techniques for determining to modify a trajectory based on an object are discussed herein. A vehicle can determine a drivable area of an environment, capture sensor data representing an object in the environment, and perform a spot check to determine whether or not to modify a trajectory. Such a spot check may include processing to incorporate an actual or predicted extent of the object into the drivable area to modify the drivable area. A distance between a reference trajectory and the object can be determined at discrete points along the reference trajectory, and based on a cost, distance, or intersection associated with the trajectory and the modified area, the vehicle can modify its trajectory. One trajectory modification includes following, which may include varying a longitudinal control of the vehicle, for example, to maintain a relative distance and velocity between the vehicle and the object.

Abstract: Vapors in the fuel tank of a vehicle are collected in a carbon canister. An ejector or aspirator is used to purge the carbon canister in a pressure-charged engine in which a positive pressure exists in the intake. A compact ejector includes a substantially planar flange and a venturi tube coupled to the flange with a central axis of the venturi tube substantially parallel to the flange. By manufacturing the ejector in two pieces, dimensions within the ejector: throat, converging section, and diverging section, is more accurate than prior art manufacturing techniques thereby providing better flow characteristics throughout the boost range. By forming one of the two pieces of the ejector integrally with the air intake component in which it is coupled, decreases part count and the number of manufacturing processes.

Abstract: Techniques for determining a location of a mobile device are provided. An example of a method according to the disclosure includes determining, on the mobile device, beam identification information for one or more radio beams, transmitting, with the mobile device, the beam identification information to a network node, receiving, at the mobile device, positioning reference signal beam information for one or more positioning reference signals, generating, with the mobile device, one or more receive beams based on the positioning reference signal beam information, obtaining, with the mobile device, at least one measurement from at least one of the one or more positioning reference signals, and facilitating location determination of the mobile device at a location-capable device based at least in part on the at least one measurement.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to non-natural NKG2D receptors attached to mammalian cell surfaces wherein the non-natural receptors do not directly signal or directly activate the cell when the receptor is bound by cognate non-natural ?1-?2 domains of NKG2D ligands modified to specifically bind the non-natural NKG2D receptors. The non-natural ?1-?2 domains of NKG2D ligands may be attached to heterologous atoms or molecules including polypeptides, in some embodiments cytokines or modified cytokines, antibodies or fragments of antibodies.

Abstract: Disclosed are formulations for providing a therapeutic bioactive polypeptide to injured tissue. Formulations include mineral coated microparticles wherein a polynucleotide is adsorbed to the mineral layer. Other formulations include a carrier including mineral coated microparticles wherein mineral coated microparticles include a polynucleotide. Also disclosed are methods for sustained delivery of a bioactive polypeptide and methods for treating chronic wounds using a formulation for providing sustained delivery of the bioactive peptide.

Abstract: A method and system of converting stereo video content to multi-view video content combines an Eulerian approach with a Lagrangian approach. The method comprises generating a disparity map for each of the left and right views of a received stereoscopic frame. For each corresponding pair of left and right scanlines of the received stereoscopic frame, the method further comprises decomposing the left and right scanlines into a left sum of wavelets or other basis functions, and a right sum wavelets or other basis functions. The method further comprises establishing an initial disparity correspondence between left wavelets and right wavelets based on the generated disparity maps, and refining the initial disparity between the left wavelet and the right wavelet using a phase difference between the corresponding wavelets. The method further comprises reconstructing at least one novel view based on the left and right wavelets.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and a method for selecting index Portfolio Managers/Products and active Portfolio Managers/Products for an investment portfolio. The invention separates the performance impact of temporal market events from a Portfolio Manager's active security and/or factor selection skill. The method includes preparing data by calculating excess returns for Portfolio Managers/Products using stock market indices, extracting Active Share, and extracting raw factor data and generating composite indices for sectors. Using the skill metrics, Active Shares, and Manager 36-month return, a cross sectional rolling regression model with rolling one-month window is calibrated to forecast the probability of outperforming a benchmark over the subsequent 36-month period. To determine the efficacy of each of the forecast models, an analysis is performed to determine the overall accuracy for each one. P-values are used to measure significance of the independent variables.

Abstract: A connector arrangement for charging an electric vehicle includes a first connector disposed adjacent a slide surface and having a pin extending from the first connector. A second connector has a second connector body and is moveable along the slide surface by a linkage mechanism. A socket extends through the second connector body between two opposed openings, and at least one sensor is associated with the second connector body. The at least one sensor provides information indicative of a location of the second connector body on the slide surface to the linkage mechanism.

Abstract: A fire resistant tunnel expansion joint system for installation between substrates of a tunnel. The system includes a fire protection barrier applied at a predetermined thickness to the substrates and a fire resistant tunnel expansion joint. The tunnel expansion joint includes a core and a fire retardant infused into the core. The core is configured to define a profile to facilitate the compression of the tunnel expansion joint when installed between the substrates. The fire protection barrier and the fire resistant tunnel expansion joint are each capable of withstanding exposure to a temperature of at least about 540° C. or greater for about five minutes.

Abstract: A vending machine has an interactive customer experience. Some embodiments of the vending machine include a transparent front wall with a plurality of display units located behind the front wall. Each of the display units may contain an example of a product available for vending. Based on input received from a customer and other information, the vending machine may provide a recommendation for a product or products to select for purchase. The vending machine may highlight the recommendation by selectively illuminating the product display units that contain the recommended products.

Abstract: Graph database analysis for network anomaly detection systems, in which a data analysis device receives multiple log data entries including parameters associated with a computer network event in a computing network. The data analysis device extracts one or more parameters in real-time and generates a network event graph based on at least one of a first graph metric or a second graph metric. The first and second graph metrics are based on the one or more extracted parameters. The data analysis device detects, based on queries performed on the network event graph, at least one of an anomalous event associated with the computing network or a malicious event associated with the computing network.

Abstract: A ceramic and polymer composite including: a first continuous phase comprising a sintered porous ceramic having a solid volume of from 50 to 85 vol % and a porosity or a porous void space of from 50 to 15 vol %, based on the total volume of the composite; and a second continuous polymer phase situated in the porous void space of the sintered porous ceramic. Also disclosed is a composite article, a method of making the composite, and a method of using the composite.

Abstract: Method and system for treating a patient using a compressible, pressure-attenuating device. According to one embodiment, the system is used to treat urinary tract disorders and can include one or more of an access device, a delivery device, a pressure-attenuating device, and a removal device. The access device may be used to create a passageway to an anatomical structure, such as the patient's bladder. The delivery device may be inserted through the passageway created by the access device and may be used to deliver the pressure-attenuating device to the anatomical structure. The removal device may be inserted through the passageway created by the access device and may be used to view the bladder and/or to capture, to deflate and to remove the pressure-attenuating device.

Abstract: Disclosed are spacer fluids and methods of use in subterranean formations. Embodiments may include use of solid surfactant composites in well cementing operations.

Abstract: A wastegate assembly for a turbocharger includes a valve element having a valve body and a shaft extending away from the valve body. A spindle is coupled to the shaft for moving the valve element between a first and a second position to control the flow of exhaust gas to a turbine housing interior of the turbocharger. A washer is coupled to the shaft such that the spindle is disposed between the valve body and the washer for retaining the spindle to the shaft. A biasing member is disposed between the spindle and the washer, has a trough portion extending toward the spindle, and has a crest portion extending toward the washer. At least one of the spindle and the washer define a seating groove and the biasing member extends at least partially into the seating groove to seat and prevent rotation of the biasing member.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical housing, a power source, a processor, a communications interface, and an indicator. During operation, a functionalized coin is detected, by the apparatus, as being within a predefined distance of the apparatus. In response to detecting the presence of the functionalized coin within the predefined distance, the apparatus can cause the indicator to exhibit an indication such as vibration and/or light emission. The indicator can include a vibration motor, or a light-emitting diode (LED). The apparatus is sized to fit within a palm of a hand of a human user. The apparatus can also transmit, via the communications interface, a radio frequency beacon signal, and receive, via the communications interface, a reply to the beacon signal and, in turn, transmit a confirmation of receipt of the reply to the beacon signal, to establish a communications connection between the apparatus and the functionalized coin.

Abstract: A drive assisted storage controller system includes a first storage device that is coupled to a bus that includes a data path and a control path. The first storage device receives via the control path from a storage controller, a first peer-to-peer write command that identifies a host memory address included in a memory system, a first storage location provided in the first storage device, and a second storage location provided in a second storage device coupled to the bus. The first storage device retrieves, via the data path from the host memory address, first write data such that the first write data is not provided through the storage controller. The first storage device provides, via the control path to the second storage device, a second peer-to-peer write command that includes the second storage location. The second peer-to-peer write command causes the second storage device to retrieve the first write data from the first storage device via the data path.