Abstract: An aerosol-generating device includes a vapor generation unit, at least one reservoir configured to store an aerosol forming material, and a filter disposed so as to remove particles from the aerosol forming material passing from the at least one reservoir to the vapor generation unit, the vapor generation unit including a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS). The aerosol-generating device is configured to heat the filter so as to heat the aerosol forming material passing through it.

Abstract: A lighting device may include one or more light sources, a load control circuit configured to control an amount of power delivered to each of the one or more light sources, and a control circuit for controlling the load control circuit to control an intensity level and a color of the cumulative light emitted by the one or more light sources. The control circuit may be configured to generate a show. For example, the control circuit may be configured to receive, via the communication circuit, show information and auxiliary information from a computing device in one or more messages. The control circuit may be configured to store the show information and the auxiliary information in memory of the lighting device. The control circuit may be configured to receive, via the communication circuit, a command to execute a show in a message, and in response, generate the show.

Abstract: Techniques described herein are used to support cross-platform data sharing, access, and management between a communication process flow management platform and a communication platform. Specifically, techniques described herein support a communication process flow management platform detecting an event associated with a communication process flow that control electronic communications between a tenant and a set of users. The platform may generate a data object corresponding to the event. The data object may include metadata associated with the event. The platform may transmit, to a communication platform, a request that includes the data object. The request may be configured to cause an entry associated with the event to be posted into the communication platform.

Abstract: Technologies are described for cost based management of cache entries stored in a computer memory. In one example, a plurality of cache entries may be stored at a cache in a computer memory and the cache entries may have a cost measure associated with individual cache entries. A cost measure may represent a computing cost of an application to generate a cache entry. An incoming cache entry may be received at the cache, where the incoming cache entry has a cost measure associated with the incoming cache entry. In response to receiving the incoming cache entry, a cache entry that has a lower cost measure than the cost measure for other cache entries may be identified for eviction from the cache. The cache entry identified for eviction may be evicted from the cache, and the incoming cache entry may be written into the cache stored in the computer memory.

Abstract: A liquid lens with flexible transparent active layers on both sides of a fluid is transformed along two distinct deformation axes. The flexible transparent active layers include piezoelectric materials that actuate the lens in response to applied voltage(s). The piezoelectric properties and actuation mechanism of the transparent layers are arranged to deform the lens cylindrically along different axes resulting in a net spherical deformation or a combination of spherical and cylindrical deformation with substantially less distortion than spherically deforming layers. The piezoelectric active layers may be polymer or ceramic with isotropic or anisotropic mechanical stiffness. Alternatively, a pair of transparent, internal layers are positioned between the front and rear surfaces. The active layers, front and/or rear, are dual layers affixed together with an adhesive or single layers.

Abstract: A hand held spray dispenser in which air and liquid are pressurised towards a mixing chamber by energy generated by a manual activation element that is rotated with a unidirectional twist to energise one or more energy storage bodies, energy from which is released to generate sufficient air pressure and air flow and sufficient liquid flow for a spray to be formed from the air-liquid mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems and GUIs for providing situational awareness about emergency incidents to emergency service providers (ESPs), for example, between different Public Safety Answering Points. In particular, the use of data indicators, notifications and banners can be used to provide a GUI rich in situational awareness for efficient emergency response.

Abstract: Methods for assessing the stability of asphaltene by measuring the field strength of the production fluid of asphaltene containing hydrocarbon stream have been developed. These methods can be used for monitoring of asphaltene control chemical application effectiveness during crude oil production and refinement.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for the direct sharing and use of transaction data separately from transaction authorization processes. Transaction metadata associated with a transaction may be received and validated. Authorization information corresponding to the transaction may be received. The degree to which the transaction metadata is tested may be based on a predicted time of receipt of the authorization information. The transaction metadata and authorization information may be correlated. A computing device may determine whether to authorize the financial transaction based on the authorization information and the correlated transaction metadata. All or portions of the transaction metadata may be provided to one or more users after the transaction has been authorized or denied.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for the direct sharing and use of transaction data separately from transaction authorization processes. Transaction metadata associated with a transaction may be received and validated. Authorization information corresponding to the transaction may be received. The degree to which the transaction metadata is tested may be based on a predicted time of receipt of the authorization information. The transaction metadata and authorization information may be correlated. A computing device may determine whether to authorize the financial transaction based on the authorization information and the correlated transaction metadata. All or portions of the transaction metadata may be provided to one or more users after the transaction has been authorized or denied.

Abstract: An equipment security system includes one or more sensors or optical recording devices disposed on or inside a cargo container. A computing device receives data from the one or more sensors or optical recording devices, determines whether an event has occurred at the cargo container, determines a geofence associated with the cargo container, and selects or configures a dynamic script including instructions that specify whether to begin recording an event occurring at or inside the cargo container, whether to record the event in an overwritable, local memory associated with at least one of the one or more sensors or optical recording devices or the computing device, parameters that govern how data associated with the event will be recorded, and whether to upload the data from the local memory to a remote server.

Abstract: A consumer is identified at a transaction terminal. A natural-language voice chatbot is initiated for the transaction. The chatbot is configured with store information for a store associated with the terminal and, optionally, with preferences registered to the consumer. A natural language voice dialogue using, at least the store information, is initiated between the chatbot and the consumer while the consumer is at the terminal and during the transaction. The consumer may order store items from the store and pay for the items through the dialogue. In an embodiment, the items ordered are delivered to the terminal where the consumer is located.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for memory management are described. For example, these may include a first memory level including memory pages in a memory array, a second memory level including a cache, a pre-fetch buffer, or both, and a memory controller that determines state information associated with a memory page in the memory array targeted by a memory access request. The state information may include a first parameter indicative of a current activation state of the memory page and a second parameter indicative of statistical likelihood (e.g., confidence) that a subsequent memory access request will target the memory page. The memory controller may disable storage of data associated with the memory page in the second memory level when the first parameter associated with the memory page indicates that the memory page is activated and the second parameter associated with the memory page is greater than or equal to a threshold.

Abstract: The present document relates to methods and apparatus for rendering input audio for playback in a playback environment. The input audio includes at least one audio object and associated metadata, and the associated metadata indicates at least a location of the audio object. A method for rendering input audio including divergence metadata for playback in a playback environment comprises creating two additional audio objects associated with the audio object such that respective locations of the two additional audio objects are evenly spaced from the location of the audio object, on opposite sides of the location of the audio object when seen from an intended listener's position in the playback environment, determining respective weight factors for application to the audio object and the two additional audio objects, and rendering the audio object and the two additional audio objects to one or more speaker feeds in accordance with the determined weight factors.

Abstract: The invention provides a neck-worn sensor (referred to herein as the ‘necklace’) that is a single, body-worn system that measures the following parameters from an ambulatory patient: heart rate, pulse rate, pulse oximetry, respiratory rate, temperature, thoracic fluid levels, stroke volume, cardiac output, and a parameter sensitive to blood pressure called pulse transit time. From stroke volume, a first algorithm employing a linear model can estimate the patient's pulse pressure. And from pulse pressure and pulse transit time, a second algorithm, also employing a linear algorithm, can estimate systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Thus, the necklace can measure all five vital signs along with hemodynamic parameters. It also includes a motion-detecting accelerometer, from which it can determine motion-related parameters such as posture, degree of motion, activity level, respiratory-induced heaving of the chest, and falls.

Abstract: A mechanically and piezoelectrically anisotropic polymer article is formed from a crystallizable fluoropolymer and a nucleating agent. The polymer article may be a thin film or a fiber, for example. A crystalline phase may constitute at least approximately 50% of the polymer article. In certain examples, a fluoropolymer may include vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinyl fluoride. The polymer article may include up to approximately 10 wt. % of the nucleating agent. Such a polymer article is optically transparent, has an elastic modulus of at least approximately 3 GPa, and an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least approximately 0.15.

Abstract: A downhole energy harvesting system includes a housing subjected to periodic oscillations. An energy harvesting device is on, in, or otherwise connected to the housing and positioned to generate electricity based on the periodic oscillations. The energy harvesting device is coupled to at least one of a powered component or an energy storage device in order to use or store the harvested energy.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, devices, and apparatuses for synchronized mode transitions are presented. A first device configured to be worn at an ear includes a processor configured to, in a first contextual mode, receive a first mode change request from a second device to transition at a first time to a second contextual mode. The first mode change request is based on detection of a trigger condition. The processor is further configured to, at the first time, transition from the first contextual mode to the second contextual mode based on the first mode change request.

Abstract: A blade for a turbine engine with a wall separating a cooling fluid flow and a hot gas fluid flow and having a heated surface along which the hot gas fluid flow flows and a cooled surface facing the cooling fluid flow. A plurality of cooling holes each having a passage extending between an inlet at the cooled surface and an outlet at the heated surface. The outlet extending between an upstream end and a downstream end with respect to the hot gas fluid flow to define a distance, the passage defining a centerline forming a first angle (?) with the heated surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for use with an electronic design. Embodiments may include simulating a processor model and a hardware model, each executed with a corresponding simulator thread on a simulation platform. Embodiments may also include simulating embedded software using the processor model. The simulating may include updating a given register of the processor model that stores a value that changes in response to switching between processes within the embedded software. Embodiments may further include setting a simulator breakpoint and a software breakpoint and enabling debugging of both non-virtual and virtual addresses at the software breakpoint without leaving the software breakpoint.