Abstract: In an enterprise computing platform, a voice transaction gateway enables electronic commerce vendors to request authorization of a customer's transaction requests without requiring the customer to provide financial and other sensitive information, such as credit card number and other personal information. Customers can pre-register with a voice transaction gateway using their phone number (PH #) to establish an account for authenticating the customer's transaction requests. The vendor invokes the voice transaction gateway to confirm the first and second authentication factors to authenticate the transaction requests using the customer's voice and without the vendor's involvement. The customer benefits from not having to provide sensitive information to the vendor and the vendor benefits from not having to risk liability associated with obtaining sensitive information from the customer.

Abstract: In an enterprise computing platform, a voice transaction application enables a customer to transact business with electronic commerce vendors using a voice-initiated transaction. A transaction can be authorized using the voice transaction application to initiate transactions with the vendor. A voice transaction gateway provides an interface between the vendor and a gateway to further authorize the transaction, including authenticating the transaction using a voice imprint of the customer's voice. Authorization of the transaction, including authentication and approval of the transaction, is accomplished without requiring the customer to disclose financial and other sensitive information to the vendor. The vendor benefits from not having to risk liability associated with obtaining sensitive information from the customer.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a laser device, a build plate, and a scanning device. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam with a variable intensity. The build plate is configured to support a powdered build material. The scanning device is configured to selectively direct the laser beam across the powdered build material to generate a melt pool on the build plate. The scanning device is configured to oscillate a spatial position of the laser beam while the laser device simultaneously modulates the intensity of the laser beam to facilitate reducing spatter and to facilitate reducing a temperature of the melt pool to reduce overheating of the melt pool.

Abstract: A direct metal laser melting (DMLM) system for enhancing build parameters of a DMLM component includes a confocal optical system configured to measure at least one of a melt pool size and a melt pool temperature. The DMLM system further includes a computing device configured to receive at least one of the melt pool size or the melt pool temperature from the confocal optical system. Furthermore, the DMLM system includes a controller configured to control the operation of a laser device based on at least one build parameter.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a laser device, a build plate, and a scanning device. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam with a variable intensity. The build plate is configured to support a powdered build material. The scanning device is configured to selectively direct the laser beam across the powdered build material to generate a melt pool on the build plate. The scanning device is configured to oscillate a spatial position of the laser beam while the laser device is configured to simultaneously modulate the intensity of the laser beam to thermally control the melt pool.

Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing an article includes forming a first portion of the article by three-dimensional printing of a plurality of first layers from a first powder material cut having a first average particle size corresponding to a first feature resolution. The first layers have a first average layer thickness. The method also includes forming a second portion of the article by three-dimensional printing of a plurality of second layers from a second powder material cut having a second average particle size corresponding to a second feature resolution less than the first feature resolution. The second portion includes at least one feature. The second layers have a second average layer thickness less than the first average layer thickness. A three-dimensional printing system and an article formed from a powder material by three-dimensional printing are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for accessing a virtual personal assistant has been developed. First, a trust relationship is established between a primary smart speaker device that allows a user to access the virtual personal assistant with voice commands and a separate secondary smart speaker device. A trust relationship is established by generating a request at the secondary smart speaker device to allow access the virtual personal assistant with voice print authentication from the user and then validating the request at the primary smart speaker device to confirm the authenticity of the request. Next, a voice input is received from the user at the secondary smart speaker device requesting access to the virtual personal assistant. The identity of the user is verified using voice print identification with the secondary smart speaker device. Access for the user is then granted to the virtual personal assistant using the secondary smart speaker device.

Abstract: A turbine shroud for turbine systems are disclosed. The shrouds may include a unitary body including a support portion coupled directly to a turbine casing of the turbine system, and forward hook(s) and aft hook(s) formed integral with the support portion. The unitary body may also include an intermediate portion formed integral with and extending from the support portion. The intermediate portion may include a non-linear segment extending from the support portion, and a forward segment formed integral with the non-linear segment. The forward segment of the intermediate portion may be positioned axially upstream of the forward hook(s). Additionally the unitary body may include a seal portion formed integral with the intermediate portion, opposite the support portion. The seal portion may include a forward end formed integral with the intermediate portion. The forward end may be positioned axially upstream of the forward hook(s).

Abstract: A converter includes a buck boost converter circuit to generate an output voltage in response to an input voltage, and an inductor current compensation circuit to generate an output current compensated inductor current signal corresponding to a sensed input current. The output current compensated inductor current signal includes a voltage gap between a boost ramp valley and a buck ramp peak. The buck boost converter circuit includes a current sensor to receive the input voltage, the current sensor to sense an input current corresponding to the input voltage, an upper buck transistor coupled to the input voltage node, an upper boost transistor coupled to an output voltage node to output the output voltage, and an inductor coupled between the upper buck transistor and the upper boost transistor. The inductor current compensation circuit adjusts the voltage gap based on an offset compensation voltage corresponding to a switching frequency.

Abstract: A method for separating carbon dioxide (CO2) from a gas stream is disclosed, in which the gas stream is reacted with a lean aminosilicone solvent in an absorber, resulting in a rich aminosilicone solvent that is then treated in a desorber to release the CO2 and regenerate lean aminosilicone solvent in a desorption reaction. The regenerated solvent is directed into a steam-producing, indirect heat exchanger that is configured to supply steam to the desorber at a temperature high enough to augment the desorption reaction. Also, selected amounts of make-up water are added to the rich aminosilicone solvent at one or more process locations between the absorber and the desorber, to lower the viscosity of the solvent and to lower the temperature required for the desorption reaction.

Abstract: Integrating third-party vendors' APIs is described. A system identifies a current call from a client computing system to an API associated with a third-party vendor, the current call including a configuration file for calling the API. The system determines whether a previous call was made to the API. The system determines whether part of the configuration file in the current call matches a corresponding part of a configuration file in the previous call, in response to a determination that a previous call was made to the API. The system uses a previously parsed configuration set, associated with the part of the configuration file in the current call, to configure a request in the current call and/or a response to the current call, in response to a determination that the configuration file in the current call matches the configuration file in the previous call.

Abstract: Managing authorization tokens for calling third-party vendors is described. A system identifies a current call from a client computing system to an API associated with a third-party vendor, the call including a configuration file for calling the API. The system determines, in response to a determination that a previous call was made to the API, whether a previous call was made to the API and whether a part of the configuration file in the current call matches a corresponding configuration file in the previous call. The system enables the API to authorize the current call by sending a copy of a previous authorization token to the client computing system, in response to a determination that the part of the configuration file in the current call matches the corresponding part of the configuration file in the previous call, the previous authorization being previously received from the API for the previous call.

Abstract: A buck boost converter includes a buck boost converter circuit to generate an output voltage in response to an input voltage, and a mode control logic circuit to generate a mode control signal to control an operation mode of the buck boost converter circuit to operate in one of a buck mode, a boost mode, and a buck-boost mode. The buck boost converter circuit includes an upper buck transistor coupled to an input voltage node, the input voltage node to receive the input voltage, an upper boost transistor coupled to an output voltage node, the output voltage node to output the output voltage, and an inductor coupled between the upper buck transistor and the upper boost transistor. The mode control signal is generated based on a first duty cycle of the upper buck transistor and a second duty cycle of the upper boost transistor.

Abstract: A computing device includes a memory and one or more processors coupled to the memory.

Abstract: A method that includes additively manufacturing with an additive manufacturing (AM) system a sub-component that has a locator element. Using a control system of the AM system for positioning a first location of the locator element. Selectively placing a portion of another sub-component adjacent to the locator element, based on the positioning. Then attaching the second sub-component to the first sub-component in a region, wherein the region is based on the positioning knowledge from the control system so as to make a component. A component that comprises a first sub-component that has an AM locator element; and a second sub-component attached to the first sub-component, wherein the locator element is attached to the second sub-component within the same additive manufacturing build chamber as the first sub-component.

Abstract: A power generation system includes a power generation plant portion including a feedwater heating system configured to channel a feedwater stream and a carbon dioxide capture portion coupled in flow communication with the power generation plant portion. The carbon dioxide capture portion includes a solvent circuit configured to channel a solvent stream through at least a portion of the carbon dioxide capture portion. The carbon dioxide capture portion also includes a heat recovery system coupled in flow communication with the solvent circuit and the feedwater heating system. The heat recovery system is configured to transfer heat energy from the solvent stream to the feedwater stream and to channel the heated feedwater from the heat recovery system to the feedwater heating system.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a laser device, a build plate, and a scanning device. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam with a variable intensity. The build plate is configured to support a powdered build material. The scanning device is configured to selectively direct the laser beam across the powdered build material to generate a melt pool on the build plate. The scanning device is configured to oscillate a spatial position of the laser beam while the laser device simultaneously modulates the intensity of the laser beam to facilitate reducing spatter and to facilitate reducing a temperature of the melt pool to reduce overheating of the melt pool.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a laser device, a build plate, and a scanning device. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam with a variable intensity. The build plate is configured to support a powdered build material. The scanning device is configured to selectively direct the laser beam across the powdered build material to generate a melt pool on the build plate. The scanning device is configured to oscillate a spatial position of the laser beam while the laser device is configured to simultaneously modulate the intensity of the laser beam to thermally control the melt pool.

Abstract: Integrating third-party vendors' APIs is described. A system identifies a current call from a client computing system to an API associated with a third-party vendor, the current call including a configuration file for calling the API. The system determines whether a previous call was made to the API. The system determines whether part of the configuration file in the current call matches a corresponding part of a configuration file in the previous call, in response to a determination that a previous call was made to the API. The system uses a previously parsed configuration set, associated with the part of the configuration file in the current call, to configure a request in the current call and/or a response to the current call, in response to a determination that the configuration file in the current call matches the configuration file in the previous call.