Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for configuring time synchronization in a network. The system includes a time signal source to provide a common time signal to multiple configurable communication devices and a network controller in a control plane, in communication with the multiple configurable communication devices. The network controller is configured to receive time signal source information and to receive device configuration information for a first configurable communication device. The network controller is also configured to determine settings for time signal distribution and to transmit the settings to the multiple configurable communication devices to cause the first configurable communication device to transmit the time signal from the time signal source in a data plane for consumption by the multiple configurable communication devices.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for configuring communication of a communication network in accordance with a configuration file from the hosts that are on the network. The system may include a network controller that receives a configuration file and determines a configuration of the data plane in accordance with information in the configuration file. The network controller may generate communication flows and send instructions to programmable network devices to implement communication among data consuming/producing devices in accordance with the configuration file.

Abstract: A method of producing a capacitor electrode includes forming an oxide layer on a foil. The method also includes inducing defects in the oxide layer followed by reforming the oxide layer. The oxide layer is reformed so as to generate a reformed oxide layer that is an aluminum oxide with a boehmite phase and a pseudo-boehmite phase. The amount of the boehmite phase in the reformed oxide layer is greater than the amount of the pseudo-boehmite phase in the reformed oxide layer.

Abstract: A system for categorizing, visualizing, and recommending Cannabis products based on objective data of the chemical composition of products is described. This system allows Cannabis products to be visualized and compared based on their chemical composition, even by laypeople with little or no knowledge of the underlying objective data. A recommendation system is built upon this which can recommend products for consumption, including a user interface for receiving user input, which includes at least one of demographic data, desired level of psychoactivity, or prior experience with the product, a merchant interface for receiving merchant input, including at least one of general data descriptive of the regulated product, lab data descriptive of the regulated products chemical composition, and user data descriptive of subjective effects of the regulated product on a user; and a decision engine making a recommendation of product according to correlation of the lab data with the user data.

Abstract: A building system including one or more storage devices storing instructions thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to ingest information associated with a physical asset of a building, the physical asset being an indoor air quality device. The instructions further cause the one or more processors to cause a graphical model of the building to include a heat map of one of infection risk or particulate concentration overlaid onto a floor of the graphical model based on the information. The instructions further cause the one or more processors to generate a building layout recommendation based on the heat map of the one of the infection risk or the particulate concentration. The instructions further cause the one or more processors to cause a display device of a user device to display the graphical model including the heat map and the building layout recommendation within a user interface.

Abstract: A delivery portal, which may be at a loading dock, includes a sensor configured to detect a pallet, platform or stack of goods as it passes through the portal. A computer is programmed to receive information from the sensor and to identify the pallet based upon the information. The computer is further programmed to compare the identified pallet to a database to determine if the identified pallet should be passing through the portal. For example, the computer determines whether the pallet is being loaded onto the wrong truck or onto the right truck but in the wrong sequence. The sensor for detecting the pallet may be an RFID sensor reading an RFID tag on the pallets. The portal may be a loading dock. The database may indicate a sequence for loading a plurality of pallets including the identified pallet onto a truck at the loading dock.

Abstract: A three-dimensional print head apparatus may include a securing mechanism, a hopper, a nozzle, a heating system, and a fume extraction system. The securing mechanism may be adapted to secure to a wrist joint of a robotic arm. The hopper may have a cavity and a lower aperture and may be secured to the securing mechanism. The nozzle may have an upper aperture and a lower aperture. The heating system may be positioned along the barrel.

Abstract: A multi-legged equipment support, components thereof, and associated methods. The equipment support comprises a stand and an equipment holder. The stand includes a hub and multiple legs pivotable with respect to the hub. The legs are pivotable outward from stowed positions to preset operational pivoted positions. The user can select a preset operational pivoted position in which outward pivoting of a leg will stop based on moving an actuator between preset locations.

Abstract: A surface-reinforced bitumen roofing membrane includes at least two layers, namely 1) a bitumen compound layer, and 2) a fiber mat, and can optionally include a) an optional bleed blocker layer that is located between the bitumen compound layer and the fiber mat, b) an optional liquid applied coating that partially or fully encapsulates the fiber mat, c) an optional release liner that is releasably positioned on the bottom surface of the bitumen roofing membrane, and/or d) an optional release film that is releasably positioned on the fiber mat surface.

Abstract: A fluidized reactor system includes a reactor containing a fluidized bed situated above a distributor plate arranged within the reactor, a fluidizing gas fed into the fluidized bed via the distributor plate to cause uniform fluidization of the fluidized bed and promote creation of solid polymeric granules, and a valve assembly penetrating a sidewall of the reactor to remove a mixture of the fluidizing gas and the solid polymeric granules from the fluidized bed. The valve assembly is coupled to the sidewall at a downward angle relative to the sidewall such that an upward-facing opening of the valve assembly extends into the fluidized bed.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to prosthetic valves having a frame, a frame cover, and a leaflet construct. Some aspects are directed to a diametric taper for the prosthetic valve for achieving enhanced performance of the prosthetic valve under operational conditions, enhanced compressibility and delivery characteristics, and other additional or alternative advantages. Other aspects are directed toward unique assembly and attachment methods for securing leaflet constructs to support structures. Other aspects are directed toward features for interacting with transcatheter delivery systems. Still other aspects are directed to such apparatuses, systems, and methods for valve replacement, such as cardiac valve replacement.

Abstract: A smart pan system comprising a food pan having one or more radio frequency tag coupled thereto that store a unique identifier associated with the food pan. A tag reader associated with a food preparation apparatus reads the unique identifier for linking to information relating to the food carried in the pan.

Abstract: An automated litter device having: a base; and a chamber configured for retaining a litter and rotatably supported by the support base, wherein the chamber includes: an entry opening so that an animal can enter and exit the chamber; and a waste opening generally opposing the entry opening configured so that an animal waste passes through the waste opening into the base upon rotation of the chamber; wherein the automated litter device includes one or more of: i) one or more sensors located adjacent to the entry opening which are adapted to sense the presence of the animal within the chamber, the presence of the waste in the base, a level of litter in the chamber, a position of the chamber relative to the base, or any combination thereof; ii) a filtering system configured for reducing, eliminating, and/or preventing, malodors building in the base; and/or iii) a litter dispenser in communication with the chamber to transfer some of the litter to the chamber.

Abstract: A feeder including: a) a base portion having a serving area; b) a chamber portion supported by the base portion and configured to retain a granular material within a chamber interior, c) a dispenser configured to segregate a portion of the granular material from the chamber interior and transfer the portion of the granular material from the chamber portion to the serving area, wherein the dispenser includes: i) a rocker body; and ii) one or more fins projecting from the rocker body; and wherein the feeder includes one or more of: i) the fin(s) are flexible; ii) sensing device(s) part of a sensing tower configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the chamber portion; and/or iii) sensing device(s) configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the serving area.

Abstract: A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 30 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.

Abstract: A delivery portal, which may be at a loading dock, includes a sensor configured to detect a pallet, platform or stack of goods as it passes through the portal. A computer is programmed to receive information from the sensor and to identify the pallet based upon the information. The computer is further programmed to compare the identified pallet to a database to determine if the identified pallet should be passing through the portal. For example, the computer determines whether the pallet is being loaded onto the wrong truck or onto the right truck but in the wrong sequence. The sensor for detecting the pallet may be an RFID sensor reading an RFID tag on the pallets. The portal may be a loading dock. The database may indicate a sequence for loading a plurality of pallets including the identified pallet onto a truck at the loading dock.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to automating and testing communication network topologies.

Abstract: A feeder including: a) a base portion having a serving area; b) a chamber portion supported by the base portion and configured to retain a granular material within a chamber interior; c) a dispenser configured to segregate a portion of the granular material from the chamber interior and transfer the portion of the granular material from the chamber portion to the serving area, wherein the dispenser includes: i) a rocker body; and ii) one or more fins projecting from the rocker body; and wherein the feeder includes one or more of: i) the fin(s) are flexible; ii) sensing device(s) part of a sensing tower configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the chamber portion; and/or iii) sensing device(s) configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the serving area.

Abstract: A curved expandable interbody device for placement between vertebrae having an upper structure, a lower structure, and a screw mechanism, wherein actuation of the screw mechanism moves the upper and lower structures between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. A deployment tool couples to the curved expandable interbody device for positioning the device between adjacent vertebrae and actuating the screw mechanism, wherein the deployment tool can lock to the curved expandable interbody device and pivot relative to the curved expandable interbody device.

Abstract: A litter device comprising: a) a chamber having an entry opening and configured to hold litter and to allow an animal to enter and excrete waste; b) a waste drawer in communication with the chamber and configured to receive the waste; c) an entry barrier located adjacent to and/or within the entry opening; and wherein the entry barrier is configured to automatically open to expose the entry opening, configured to automatically close to at least partially cover the entry opening, or both based upon one or more conditions.