Abstract: A payment system for facilitating a desired transaction over a social media platform includes a computer server programmed and operating to maintain a user account in a database, the user account including at least a user credential, a user computing device credential, and a user mobile credit account. The computer server maintains a merchant account in the database, the merchant account including at least a merchant mobile credit account. The computer server further operates to authenticate the user, authenticate the user computing device, and process a debit to the user mobile credit account a credit to the merchant mobile credit account.

Abstract: The present invention is a winged VTOL aircraft of novel configuration that utilizes a single-axis rotor mounted at an oblique angle within a forward-facing, bifurcating duct, that is controlled by a plurality of servo driven vanes, producing a mechanically simple, redundantly controlled vehicle that can carry cargo, people, or otherwise, directly from point to point. The configuration uses sets of vanes to produce both moments and forces referenced around the vehicle's center of gravity, thereby, allowing the vehicle to translate in a level position, or stay stationary relative to the ground while at a slight pitch or roll attitude. This feature is very important for autonomous vehicles to accurately pick up and drop off payloads on unlevel terrain or in windy conditions. Other rotor vehicles require pitch or roll attitude to translate or compensate for wind.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing sourcing Internet access requests from ISP subscribers serviced by a gateway not physically located near the subscribers. As the localization needs of all subscribers are not necessarily the same, the gateway determines an appropriate source IP address to use to ensure that the IP protocol localization features work efficiently. In addition, the gateway can help enforce rules related to the governing law of the geographic area of the subscriber and/or rules based on the content providers licensing. Through determination of the context of a request, the gateway may also determine whether localized sourcing of a request is necessary based on the type of content being requested.

Abstract: An apparatus includes bathroom accessories and a grab-bar assembly configured to be coordinated, in combination, in such a way that the bathroom accessories and the grab-bar assembly, in combination, provide a common decorative appearance.

Abstract: Devices and methods for providing feedback on breathing rate are disclosed. The device comprises: a sensor interface configured to receive an electrocardiogram ECG signal; an ECG analysis unit configured to obtain a breathing rate from the received ECG signal; a feedback output mechanism for providing feedback; and a feedback generator configured to obtain an optimal breathing rate in accordance with a desired outcome and one or more heart rate and/or breathing rate characteristics detected from the ECG signal. The feedback generator is further configured to control the feedback output mechanism to output feedback synchronised to the optimal breathing rate, and subsequently adapt the feedback in accordance with changes in the one or more heart rate and/or breathing rate characteristics while the feedback is being outputted.

Abstract: A method for producing a polymer-metal oxide composite material resistant to degradation resulting from exposure to gamma irradiation, the method comprising exposing a composite precursor comprised of a heat-resistant polymer in which metal oxide nanoparticles are incorporated to gamma irradiation of at least 1 MRad in a flowing gas atmosphere for a period of at least 12 hours. The resulting radiation-resistant composite material and shaped articles of the material are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided comprising receiving, at a first node, transactional data associated with a consumer (wherein the first node comprises a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory), receiving, at the first node, a credit approval request associated with the consumer, wherein the credit approval request is associated with a proposed transaction, determining, by the first node, whether the transactional data conforms with the proposed transaction, and at least one of approving and denying the credit approval request in response to the determination.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an enhanced eductor element that significantly increases the amount of pressure generated at the siphon tube without significantly increasing the flow resistance through the eductor. The invention further provides for breath-actuated inhalation devices comprising the enhanced eductor element as an actuation mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for detection of high-frequency heart sounds for diagnosing heart diseases. One embodiment utilizes an accelerometer-based detector that presents a light load to the chest, is sensitive to the desired high frequency range, and provides a quantitative measurement of the quality of the acquired signal. Two pairs of flexible beams, each having piezoelectric transducers on the upper and lower surfaces are supported by a lightweight mechanical structure. The beams are center-loaded so that they respond to the same mechanical energy and will produce identical electrical signals in the absence of noise. Through additional signal processing means the two signals can provide an estimate of the signal-to-noise ratio of the acquired signal. The two signals can also be combined to further improve the signal-to-noise ratio. The invention is designed to be light weight, sensitive to higher frequencies, and to be relatively immune to noise.

Abstract: A method is provided comprising receiving, at a first node, transactional data associated with a consumer (wherein the first node comprises a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory), receiving, at the first node, a credit approval request associated with the consumer, wherein the credit approval request is associated with a proposed transaction, determining, by the first node, whether the transactional data conforms with the proposed transaction, and at least one of approving and denying the credit approval request in response to the determination.

Abstract: An X-ray optical device includes a crystal containing a channel, which passes through the crystal and has multiple internal faces. A mount is configured to hold the crystal in a fixed location relative to a source of an X-ray beam and to shift the crystal automatically between two predefined dispositions: a first disposition in which the X-ray beam passes through the channel while diffracting from one or more of the internal faces, and a second disposition in which the X-ray beam passes through the channel without diffraction by the crystal.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an enhanced eductor element that significantly increases the amount of pressure generated at the siphon tube without significantly increasing the flow resistance through the eductor. The invention further provides for breath-actuated inhalation devices comprising the enhanced eductor element as an actuation mechanism.

Abstract: A tester for testing a transformer is provided. The tester comprises a primary voltmeter and a plurality of secondary voltmeters. The tester may also comprise an ammeter in series with a voltage source configured to apply voltage to the transformer. The primary voltmeter is configured to measure voltage induced across a primary winding of the transformer, while the secondary voltmeters may simultaneously measure voltage outputs at secondary windings of the transformer. The tester is configured to calculate ratios, saturation curves, and knee points for multiple winding combinations based on the measurements simultaneously obtained by the ammeter and the primary and secondary voltmeters.

Abstract: An apparatus for X-ray topography includes a source assembly, a detector assembly, a scanning assembly and a processor. The source assembly is configured to direct multiple X-ray beams so as to irradiate multiple respective regions on a sample, wherein the regions partially overlap one another along a first axis of the sample and are offset relative to one another along a second axis of the sample that is orthogonal to the first axis. The detector assembly is configured to detect the X-ray beams diffracted from the sample and to produce respective electrical signals in response to the detected X-ray beams. The scanning assembly is configured to move the sample relative to the source assembly and the detector assembly along the second axis. The processor is configured to identify defects in the sample by processing the electrical signals, which are produced by the detector assembly while the sample is moved.

Abstract: A method for heating a substrate in a printing device, the method comprises positioning at least one radiant heater along a printing path of a printing device, the at least one radiant heater includes at least two emitters; measuring a voltage and current supplied to each of the at least two emitters; determining an electrical power supplied to each of the at least two emitters; and adjusting the electrical power supplied to at least one of the at least two emitters if a difference in power supplied to each of the at least two emitters exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A printing device includes a radiant heater having at least one radiant heater includes at least two emitters; a controller that receives a voltage and current supplied to each of the at least two emitters and calculates an electrical power supplied to each of the at least two emitters; wherein the controller adjusts the electrical power supplied to at least one of the at least two emitters if a difference in power supplied to each of the at least two emitters exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A method for heating a substrate in a printing device, the method comprises positioning at least one radiant heater along a printing path of a printing device, the at least one radiant heater includes at least two emitters; measuring a voltage and current supplied to each of the at least two emitters; determining an electrical power supplied to each of the at least two emitters; and adjusting the electrical power supplied to at least one of the at least two emitters if a difference in power supplied to each of the at least two emitters exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A printing device includes a radiant heater having at least one radiant heater includes at least two emitters; a controller that receives a voltage and current supplied to each of the at least two emitters and calculates an electrical power supplied to each of the at least two emitters; wherein the controller adjusts the electrical power supplied to at least one of the at least two emitters if a difference in power supplied to each of the at least two emitters exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A device to semi-permanently attach suction cup mounts that previously lost functionality is provided. Further, the device provides attachment without marring a mounting surface, or substrate. The present invention consists of a thin barrier preferably metal foil of circular shape with a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side. An additional adhesive is provided to apply between the barrier assembly and a suction cup. This structural barrier assembly provides a cost effective way to make use of nonfunctioning suction cup mounts or mounted devices without replacing the mount or device.

Abstract: A restroom partition mounting bracket that allows vertical load to be transferred to a wall or other surface without creating tension loads on the wall fasteners from prying, thus eliminating the most common failure mode of typical restroom partition installations. The bracket will accept attachments to the wall and partition using hole locations from a previously installed, typical, bracket of varying dimension. The two-eared U-bracket has a plurality of slots that accepts fasteners at locations of existing holes. An additional connection is added to the partition to mitigate bracket rotation due to load eccentricity. The mounting bracket is used to replace previously installed, typical, attachment brackets, or it may be used to secure a partition in a new installation.