Abstract: A gas fueled water heater appliance having a temperature control switch is provided herein. The gas fueled water heater appliance may include a tank for storage of water for heating, a chamber wall, a gas burner, a valve, the temperature control switch, and a conductive probe. The chamber wall may define a combustion chamber. The gas burner may be positioned adjacent to the tank and within the combustion chamber to heat the water in the tank. The valve may control a flow of gaseous fuel to the gas burner. The temperature control switch may be in operable communication with the valve. The conductive probe may extend through the chamber wall from a first end positioned on the temperature control switch to a second end positioned within the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Hot water heater systems including electronic mixing valves and methods for controlling such valves are provided. An electronic mixing valve provides a flow of water in a mixed output line. A method includes monitoring an input temperature of cold water supplied to the valve, storing a value of the input temperature, and setting a position limit of the valve based on the stored value, wherein the position limit of the valve is greater than a fully closed position of the valve and less than a fully open position of the valve.

Abstract: The present set of embodiments relate to a system, method, and apparatus for an optical configuration in a flow cytometer that allows for independent adjustment of focusing for each light source. Such systems, methods, and apparatuses require a final focusing element to be moved near the beginning of the optical train and for each optical element coming after the final focusing element to be configured to accommodate converging light beams while minimizing the introduction of aberrations into those beams.

Abstract: Audio content coded for a reference speaker configuration is downmixed to downmix audio content coded for a specific speaker configuration. One or more gain adjustments are performed on individual portions of the downmix audio content coded for the specific speaker configuration. Loudness measurements are then performed on the individual portions of the downmix audio content. An audio signal that comprises the audio content coded for the reference speaker configuration and downmix loudness metadata is generated. The downmix loudness metadata is created based at least in part on the loudness measurements on the individual portions of the downmix audio content.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to detecting an optical signal and/or optical power in a ferrule-less optical fiber. In certain embodiments, one or more optical detectors are incorporated into an adapter that is configured to interface with a connectorized or non-connectorized ferrule-less optical fiber. The optical detector detects the presence or absence, and/or the optical power level, of the optical signal being transmitted through ferrule-less optical fiber and produces an electrical output representative of the detected optical signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating an encoded audio bitstream, including by including substream structure metadata (SSM) and/or program information metadata (PIM) and audio data in the bitstream. Other aspects are apparatus and methods for decoding such a bitstream, and an audio processing unit (e.g., an encoder, decoder, or post-processor) configured (e.g., programmed) to perform any embodiment of the method or which includes a buffer memory which stores at least one frame of an audio bitstream generated in accordance with any embodiment of the method.

Abstract: A system and method of exploiting an offshore oil and gas reservoir, comprising installing a drilling structure in a body of water; drilling a plurality of wells from the drilling structure; and providing a plurality of buoyant, flexible structures adjacent to the well.

Abstract: The present set of embodiments relates to systems and methods for diagnosing a fluidics system and determining data processing settings for a flow cytometer. Systems and methods for diagnosing a fluidics system require accurate measurement and interpretation of fluctuations within the fluid delivery system. Systems and methods for determining data processing settings require an accurate measurement of peak times among various channels and being able to adjust time delay settings wherein peak time is the measurement of time elapsed from the beginning of the data collection time window to the highest peak in the window.

Abstract: A guide assembly for a downhole tool and related method is disclosed. The guide assembly comprises a guide housing, flappers, and a driver. The guide housing has a passage to receive the downhole tool therethrough. The flappers are movably positionable about the passage to selectively reduce an inlet thereto. The driver comprises a translator rotationally coupled to the flappers via the rods and an actuator to rotate the translator. The flappers are rotatable between the closed and the open position by the driver whereby passage of the downhole tool into the passage is selectively permitted. The translator may be a cam, gear, or rotary driver. The actuator may axially or rotationally drive the translator.

Abstract: Method, systems and apparatus to determine the suitability of parts or protocols to perform unit operations in the context of a biological process, comprising recording of a user score associated with an instance of use of a protocol or part, wherein the context of the use is recorded along with the rating, and wherein the context is defined as the value of factors that may affect the performance of the unit operation in which the part or protocol was used. The method may be implemented as a web service.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing particle analysis through flow cytometry at comparatively high event rates and for gathering high resolution images of particles.

Abstract: A sampling system is provided. The sampling system includes a housing. Mounted to the housing is a Hall effect sensor. A probe configured to contact a sample is inserted into the housing. The probe includes an elongated portion and a restorative spring inserted onto the elongated portion of the probe. The restorative spring provides sufficient restorative force to return the probe to a relaxed position. The Hall effect sensor is configured to sense a field strength generated by the proximity of the restorative spring of the probe in the extended position.

Abstract: Audio content coded for a reference speaker configuration is downmixed to downmix audio content coded for a specific speaker configuration. One or more gain adjustments are performed on individual portions of the downmix audio content coded for the specific speaker configuration. Loudness measurements are then performed on the individual portions of the downmix audio content. An audio signal that comprises the audio content coded for the reference speaker configuration and downmix loudness metadata is generated. The downmix loudness metadata is created based at least in part on the loudness measurements on the individual portions of the downmix audio content.

Abstract: A method of determining legitimate use of a computing device for an action to be approved by a remote system is described. The following steps are carried out at the computing device. A verification method (44) is established for authenticating a user at the computing device or for verifying the integrity of the computing device in association with carrying out the action on that computing device. Cryptographic material is received from a trusted system for use in performing the action. The action is then performed (42). This may or may not comprise successful performance of the verification step. However, performing the action comprises returning information to the remote system that includes whether there was successful authentication using the verification method and parameters relating to computing device state when the action was performed. Suitable computing apparatus is also described.

Abstract: A computing device embodies a security architecture for an application (42). The security architecture has non-volatile storage (43) for storing first cryptographic material and volatile storage (51) for storing second cryptographic material. The second cryptographic material is lost on rebooting of the computing device. At least the second cryptographic material may be replenished from a source external to the computing device but accessible by a computing network. Methods of use of this architecture by the application are also described.

Abstract: A method for generating transaction credentials for a user in a transaction, comprising: storing in a mobile device, an encrypted session key, and an encrypted user authentication credential; receiving an authorisation request; initiating a user authorisation process wherein in the event that the user is an authenticated user, the method comprises: decrypting the encrypted session key and encrypted user authentication credential; generating a transaction cryptogram in dependence on the user authentication credential and the session key; transmitting the transaction cryptogram and a user authentication status to a transaction processing entity for use in a transaction

Abstract: Methods for detecting whether a rendered version of a specified seamless connection (“SSC”) at a connection point between two audio segment sequences results in an audible discontinuity, and methods for analyzing at least one SSC between audio segment sequences to determine whether a renderable version of each SSC would have an audible discontinuity at the connection point when rendered, and in appropriate cases, for a SSC having a renderable version which is determined to have an audible discontinuity when rendered, correcting at least one audio segment of at least one segment sequence to be connected in accordance with the SSC in an effort to ensure that rendering of the SSC will result in seamless connection without an audible discontinuity. Other aspects are editing systems configured to implement any of the methods, and storage media and rendering systems which store audio data generated in accordance with any of the methods.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating an encoded audio bitstream, including by including substream structure metadata (SSM) and/or program information metadata (PIM) and audio data in the bitstream. Other aspects are apparatus and methods for decoding such a bitstream, and an audio processing unit (e.g., an encoder, decoder, or post-processor) configured (e.g., programmed) to perform any embodiment of the method or which includes a buffer memory which stores at least one frame of an audio bitstream generated in accordance with any embodiment of the method.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for performing a biological process are provided, wherein the method comprises implementation of at least one unit operation, and wherein the unit operation is defined according to a standardized element structure, the element structure comprising a plurality of functional section blocks, and wherein the section blocks comprise at least one of the group consisting of: imports; parameters; data; physical inputs; requirements; setup; and execution steps.

Abstract: The present set of embodiments relate to a system, method, and apparatus for an optical configuration in a flow cytometer that allows for independent adjustment of focusing for each light source. Such systems, methods, and apparatuses require a final focusing element to be moved near the beginning of the optical train and for each optical element coming after the final focusing element to be configured to accommodate converging light beams while minimizing the introduction of aberrations into those beams.