Abstract: Disclosed is a connector for hingedly mounting a buttstock to a receiver of a rifle having a swinging hinge portion, a buttstock side of the swinging hinge portion, an interface side of the swinging hinge portion, a threaded portion of the swinging hinge portion, a buffer hole extending from the interface side, through the swinging hinge portion, and through the threaded portion, a recess on the interface side of the swinging hinge portion, a bolt, and a base of the bolt rotationally constrained in the recess.

Abstract: A coupling for interconnecting sections of pipe. The coupling includes a first pipe element having a first coupling member in the form of a female socket, and a second pipe element having a second coupling member in the form of a male plug. The socket of the first pipe element is dimensioned to receive therein the plug of the second pipe element. The coupling also includes a seal interface to prevent passage of air or fluids through an annular gap between the socket of the first coupling member and the plug of the second coupling member. The seal interface includes a sealing element and a sealing element retainer. The sealing element retainer is positioned internally of the coupling, within a cylindrical cavity of the socket.

Abstract: Disclosed is a connector for hingedly mounting a buttstock to a receiver of a rifle having a swinging hinge portion, a buttstock side of the swinging hinge portion, an interface side of the swinging hinge portion, a threaded portion of the swinging hinge portion, a buffer hole extending from the interface side, through the swinging hinge portion, and through the threaded portion, a recess on the interface side of the swinging hinge portion, a bolt, and a base of the bolt rotationally constrained in the recess.

Abstract: Membrane materials and methods are disclosed for selectively separating or transporting ions in liquid media. In embodiments, the membranes comprise cellulose acetate polymer films having high cation, monovalent/divalent, and/or Li+/Mg2+ selectivity. Systems and methods for use of such membranes, including the direct extraction of lithium (DLE) from natural brines and other resources, also are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus can include a door. The door can be configured to couple with a side of a vehicle. The door can include a step. The door can move the step.

Abstract: A business method includes imaging documents with an imaging device placed at a location. Media usage is monitored over a cellular network. Upon the media reaching a predetermined level, workers provide additional media. Workers exist in the “gig” economy and have preplaced media. No longer do users change or swap media in media trays. Packaging materials bundle the media. For use, only a portion of the packaging materials is opened thereby revealing an end of the media. Both the packaging materials and the exposed media are inserted into a reusable media shell in a manner making the media available for picking by the imaging device. Other embodiments are envisioned.

Abstract: Deployment devices include a locking mechanism configured to secure a medical device to the deployment device. Methods of operating a deployment device include securing a medical device positioned at least partially within at least one cannula of the deployment device with a locking mechanism and releasing the medical device and securing at least a portion of the at least one cannula of the deployment device with the locking mechanism.

Abstract: In some aspects, a mask pattern is accessed. The mask pattern is for use in a lithography process that prints a pattern on a wafer. The mask pattern is applied as input to a deterministic model of the lithography process to predict a characteristic of the printed pattern. The deterministic model is deterministic, but it accounts for local stochastic variations of the characteristic in the printed pattern.

Abstract: A reusable media shell has a frame to hold sheets of media in an interior. A removable cap connects to the frame and its manipulation unveils the media for picking by an imaging device. The cap resides on a terminal end of the frame so the frame covers a majority of the media. A lift plate in the interior forces upward the sheets for picking. Two magnets on the frame magnetically secure the frame to magnets in a base of the imaging device and position the sheets in the base. Upstanding walls, a lid and bottom define the interior of the frame. Inserts attached to the walls allow adjustment to accommodate various sizes of the media.

Abstract: Systems and methods for encoding a plurality of alternative streams of video content using multiple encoders in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. An encoding system includes multiple encoders. Each of the encoders receives a source stream of video content that is divided into portions. Each of the encoders generates portions of the plurality of alternative streams from the portions of the source stream. The portions of the alternative streams generated by a particular encoder are stored in a container for the particular encoder. Each encoder also generates index information for the portion of the alternative stream generated by the encoder that is stored in a manifest for the encoder.

Abstract: A business method includes imaging documents with an imaging device placed at a location. Media usage is monitored over a cellular network. Upon the media reaching a predetermined level, workers provide additional media. Workers exist in the “gig” economy and have preplaced media. No longer do users change or swap media in media trays. Packaging materials bundle the media. For use, only a portion of the packaging materials is opened thereby revealing an end of the media. Both the packaging materials and the exposed media are inserted into a reusable media shell in a manner making the media available for picking by the imaging device. Other embodiments are envisioned.

Abstract: A mobile device can receive information blocks from one or more base stations, which can be emitted by the base stations within a particular radio band. The mobile device can identify base stations in an exclusivity state. The mobile device can establish a communication link with one of the base stations in the exclusivity state. In some cases, the mobile device can establish a communication link with the base stations that is in an exclusivity state and that matches a cell identifier stored on the mobile device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for encoding a plurality of alternative streams of video content using multiple encoders in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. An encoding system includes multiple encoders. Each of the encoders receives a source stream of video content that is divided into portions. Each of the encoders generates portions of the plurality of alternative streams from the portions of the source stream. The portions of the alternative streams generated by a particular encoder are stored in a container for the particular encoder. Each encoder also generates index information for the portion of the alternative stream generated by the encoder that is stored in a manifest for the encoder.

Abstract: A reusable media shell has a frame to hold sheets of media in an interior. A removable cap connects to the frame and its manipulation unveils the media for picking by an imaging device. The cap resides on a terminal end of the frame so the frame covers a majority of the media. A lift plate in the interior forces upward the sheets for picking. Two magnets on the frame magnetically secure the frame to magnets in a base of the imaging device and position the sheets in the base. Upstanding walls, a lid and bottom define the interior of the frame. Inserts attached to the walls allow adjustment to accommodate various sizes of the media.

Abstract: A reusable media shell has a frame to hold sheets of media in an interior. A removable cap connects to the frame and its manipulation unveils the media for picking by an imaging device. The cap resides on a terminal end of the frame so the frame covers a majority of the media. A lift plate in the interior forces upward the sheets for picking. Two magnets on the frame magnetically secure the frame to magnets in a base of the imaging device and position the sheets in the base. Upstanding walls, a lid and bottom define the interior of the frame. Inserts attached to the walls allow adjustment to accommodate various sizes of the media.

Abstract: Systems and methods for encoding a plurality of alternative streams of video content using multiple encoders in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. An encoding system includes multiple encoders. Each of the encoders receives a source stream of video content that is divided into portions. Each of the encoders generates portions of the plurality of alternative streams from the portions of the source stream. The portions of the alternative streams generated by a particular encoder are stored in a container for the particular encoder. Each encoder also generates index information for the portion of the alternative stream generated by the encoder that is stored in a manifest for the encoder.

Abstract: A system configured for identifying unpermitted data in source code receives a search query comprising particular keywords related to the unpermitted data. The system labels the source code with vulnerability factors and categories of those vulnerability factors, where the vulnerability factors indicate a security vulnerability and the categories provide information about the security vulnerability of the source code. The system performs a static analysis on the source code to identify instances of the particular keyword in a data flow and control flow of the source code. The system performs a vulnerability analysis on the source code to determine a vulnerability level of the source code, in which factor weights and category weights for each code portion of the source code are determined. The system calculates a weighted sum of the factor weights and category weights for each code portion, thereby detecting instances of unpermitted data in source code.

Abstract: Cigar holder having a punch which allows users to create a hole in the cigar to assist in air flow.

Abstract: Systems and methods for encoding a plurality of alternative streams of video content using multiple encoders in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. An encoding system includes multiple encoders. Each of the encoders receives a source stream of video content that is divided into portions. Each of the encoders generates portions of the plurality of alternative streams from the portions of the source stream. The portions of the alternative streams generated by a particular encoder are stored in a container for the particular encoder. Each encoder also generates index information for the portion of the alternative stream generated by the encoder that is stored in a manifest for the encoder.

Abstract: A reusable media shell has a frame to hold sheets of media in an interior. A removable cap connects to the frame and its manipulation unveils the media for picking by an imaging device. The cap resides on a terminal end of the frame so the frame covers a majority of the media. A lift plate in the interior forces upward the sheets for picking. Two magnets on the frame magnetically secure the frame to magnets in a base of the imaging device and position the sheets in the base. Upstanding walls, a lid and bottom define the interior of the frame. Inserts attached to the walls allow adjustment to accommodate various sizes of the media.