Abstract: An apparatus includes a display, a memory, and a processor. The memory stores events and available conversion options for a policy. The events include a conversion expiration event occurring on a conversion expiration date. Each conversion option is associated with a new policy type into which the policy is convertible prior to occurrence of the conversion expiration event. The processor presents a first page of a GUI, displaying a timeline of the events. The first page also displays a feature selectable to investigate the available conversion options. In response to receiving information associated with a selection of the feature, the processor presents a second page of the GUI, displaying the conversion options. The processor receives information associated with a selection of a first conversion option, and, in response, displays a graph illustrating the behavior of the policy upon conversion to the new policy type associated with the first conversion option.

Abstract: An edge device operates in an online mode of operation during a first period of time, wherein during the online mode of operation, the edge device obtains broadcast-related information originating from media automation applications. The edge device operates in a local mode of operation during a second period of time, wherein during the local mode of operation the edge device obtains locally stored broadcast-related information, and emulates services provided by the media automation applications. The edge device operates in a disaster recovery mode of operation during recovery from the local mode of operation, wherein during the disaster recovery mode of operation the edge device obtains stored broadcast-related information from a content recovery database.

Abstract: A device, which is part of a decentralized media playout system, is located at a destination location. The device includes a processor, memory, a network interface, and a jitter buffer implemented in the memory. The jitter buffer buffers programming content and control messages, which are received from a source location of the decentralized media playout system, before transmitting them to a mixer. A first relative timing relationship between the programming content and the control messages exists at the source location, and a second, altered relative timing relationship between the programming content and the control messages exists at the destination location. The processor restores the first relative timing relationship between the programming content and the control messages, as it existed at the source location, by instructing the jitter buffer to delay transmitting either the programming content or the control messages to the mixer.

Abstract: Road vector definitions and incident data associated with a traffic incident are obtained from a traffic data source. A determination is made, based on the road vector definitions and the incident data, that the traffic incident affects travel on a particular road. A road classification of the road affected by the traffic incident is determined based on the road vector definitions. An updated version of a previous Transport Protocol Experts Group (TPEG) traffic is generated. Generating the updated version of the previous TPEG traffic frame includes conditionally inserting changed traffic data associated with the particular road into the previous TPEG traffic frame. The changed traffic data associated with the particular road includes at least a portion of the incident data. The updated version of the previous TPEG traffic frame is transmitted to a station importer for broadcast.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method is disclosed.

Abstract: A media playout system receives a broadcast log transmitted from a media scheduling system. The broadcast log includes a restricted show, and the media playout system makes a first determination a blackout period assigned to the restricted show. The blackout period indicates a period of time associated with the restricted show during which at least one media item is prohibited from being scheduled. The media player also determines that the broadcast log indicates that the at least one media item has been improperly scheduled during the blackout period. In response to determining that the at least one media item has been improperly scheduled during the blackout period, the media playout system transmits, to the media scheduling system, a message requesting a replacement media item to replace the at least one media item that has been improperly scheduled during the blackout period.

Abstract: Methods for determining desired doping conditions for a semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube (s-SWCNT) are provided. One exemplary method includes doping each of a plurality of s-SWCNT networks under a respective set of doping conditions; determining a thermoelectric (TE) power factor as a function of a fractional bleach of an absorption spectrum for the plurality of s-SWCNT networks doped under the respective sets of doping conditions; and using the function to identify one of the TE power factors within a range of the fractional bleach of the absorption spectrum. The identified TE power factor corresponds to the desired doping conditions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a composition that includes a film having a network of randomly aligned carbon nanotubes, where the carbon nanotubes have an average diameter between about 0.6 nm and about 2.0 nm and the carbon nanotubes form bundles having an average diameter between about 3 nm and about 50 nm. In addition, the composition is characterized by a power factor ?2? between 1 ?W/mK2 and about 3500 ?W/mK2 and by ZT=?2?T/k between about 0.02 and about 2.0 over a temperature range between about 100 K and about 500 K.

Abstract: A process for producing a glass body, the process including flowing oxygen gas from a burner in a furnace at a flow rate of greater than 12.0 standard liters per minute and flowing a precursor gas mixture from the burner. The process further including oxidizing the precursor gas mixture with the oxygen gas to form glass particles and depositing the glass particles on a collection cup to form the glass body.

Abstract: A fan assembly including a base, a fan, a light-emitting unit, and a lighting effect component is provided. The fan is rotatably disposed above the base, and includes a central part and multiple blades extending outwards from the central part, and each of the blades has a top surface away from the base. The light-emitting unit is disposed on the base and located between the base and the central part of the fan. The lighting effect component is disposed on the base and surrounds the light-emitting unit. A projection of the lighting effect component projected onto the base is greater than a projection of the fan projected onto the base. A height of the lighting effect component protruding from the base is less than a distance between the top surface of one of the blades and the base. The lighting effect component includes an inclined inner surface.

Abstract: A server computer system comprises a communications module; a processor coupled with the communications module; and a memory coupled to the processor and storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to obtain a list of incentives associated with a bulk order of incentives and electronic addresses of recipients of the incentives; assign one or more of the incentives to one or more of the electronic addresses; send, via the communications module and to the one or more of the electronic addresses, the incentives; and monitor an error log to confirm successful delivery of the incentives.

Abstract: A streaming server generates a media stream, and delivers it to an end user. The streaming server receives media items and an item schedule, and assembles the media items into the media stream based on timing relationships specified by the item schedule. The media stream includes an advertising spot block including advertising media content, and an adjacent spot block including other media content. The streaming server inserts a contextual marker into the advertising spot block. The contextual marker includes information identifying the other media content in the adjacent spot bloc. The streaming server transmits the media stream to an end-user media player, which is configured to process the contextual marker.

Abstract: An edge device remotely accesses cloud-based media automation services by pointing an interface of the edge device to a cloud-based sequencer. Broadcast logs defining a broadcast schedule and media files specified in the broadcast logs are obtained from the cloud-based sequencer, and local versions are stored in a storage device locally accessible to the edge device. Availability of the cloud-based sequencer is monitored, and if the cloud-based sequencer becomes unavailable, the interface of the edge device is pointed to a local sequencer instead of the cloud-based sequencer. The local sequencer emulates one or more media automation services normally provided by the cloud-based sequencer. In response to determining that availability of the cloud-based sequencer has been restored, the edge device's interface is re-pointed to the cloud-based sequencer.

Abstract: A PIC including a plurality of optically interconnectable functional photonic blocks and a reconfigurable optical connection arrangement having a plurality of semiconductor-based optical waveguides and a plurality of controllable optical switches, at least one controllable optical switch being configurable to be in a first state allowing optical transmission or a second state preventing optical transmission. Depending on the respective first or second state of the at least one controllable optical switch, the optical connection arrangement is configured to enable at least a first set of semiconductor-based optical waveguides to provide at least one optical connection between at least two functional photonic blocks and/or a first optical access path to at least one functional photonic block. An opto-electronic system including the PIC and to a method of improved determination of an overall performance of the PIC.

Abstract: A seam guide assembly configured to maintain the longitudinal edges of a metal strip in position before welding in a welding section of a welded tube roll forming apparatus, the seam guide assembly having a front seam guide tip component, a through channel being provided in the holder, the channel having an inlet opening located on said first side of the holder, adjacent the front seam guide tip component, and an outlet opening located on a second side of the holder, the outlet opening being configured to connect to a vacuum source; a welded tube roll forming apparatus having a vacuum extraction section configured to extract solid particles produced inside the tube during the high frequency induction welding of the tube edges, and being located in the apparatus at a position where the where the edges of the roll formed tube have not yet been welded together; and related method.

Abstract: A method of producing high yield chemical cellulosic pulp includes: (a) chemically pulping wood chips to separate lignin and liberate cellulosic fibers from the wood chips to generate a cellulosic pulp; (b) washing and screening the pulp of step (a); (c) pre-treating the washed pulp with oxygen; (d) optionally washing the treated pulp of step (c); (e) bleaching the pre-treated pulp in an extended duration oxidative bleaching stage; (f) optionally washing the bleached pulp of step (e); and (g) optionally further oxidatively or reductively bleaching the bleached pulp in a shorter duration bleaching stage, wherein the bleached pulp is produced at a yield of greater than 60% based on the weight of the pulped wood chips (dry basis).

Abstract: An application programming interface (API) receives broadcast-related information from media automation applications. A traffic log is received from a first media automation application configured to generate a traffic log associated with a media station, and spot information associated with spots included in the traffic log is received from at least a second media automation application. The API stores the broadcast-related information, including the traffic log and the spot information, in one or more databases. The API also receives, from a media playout system, at least one request for the stored broadcast-related information. The media playout system is configured to insert media content into a media broadcast associated with the media station. The API provides the requested broadcast-related information to the media playout system, which inserts the media content into the media broadcast associated with the media station.

Abstract: An edge device remotely accesses cloud-based media automation services by pointing an interface of the edge device to a cloud-based sequencer. Broadcast logs defining a broadcast schedule and media files specified in the broadcast logs are obtained from the cloud-based sequencer, and local versions are stored in a storage device locally accessible to the edge device. Availability of the cloud-based sequencer is monitored, and if the cloud-based sequencer becomes unavailable, the interface of the edge device is pointed to a local sequencer instead of the cloud-based sequencer. The local sequencer emulates one or more media automation services normally provided by the cloud-based sequencer. In response to determining that availability of the cloud-based sequencer has been restored, the edge device's interface is re-pointed to the cloud-based sequencer.

Abstract: Transport Protocol Experts Group (TPEG) traffic messages, which include traffic information associated with road vector definitions, are generated. Bounding area definitions associating the road vector definitions with bounding areas are obtained, and automatically adjusted based on a time associated with broadcast of the TPEG traffic messages. TPEG traffic messages to be included in a TPEG frame associated with a particular bounding area are selected based on the bounding area definitions. The TPEG frame is generated, and transmitted for broadcast in the particular bounding area.

Abstract: A server computer system comprises a communications module; a processor coupled with the communications module; and a memory coupled to the processor and storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to receive, via the communications module and from a computing device, authentication information to access an incentive management application; determine, based on the authentication information, an access level to access the incentive management application, the access level selected from an administration access level, a provider access level, or a purchaser access level, the administration access level assigned to one or more administration accounts and providing full access to the incentive management application, the provider access level assigned to one or more provider accounts and providing access to manage and fulfill incentive orders, and the purchaser access level assigned to one or more purchaser accounts and providing access to place and tra