Abstract: A method is presented for altering a portion of a substrate. The method includes providing a first device including an outer surface and a second device including a source of vibration energy. The method also includes forming a nip between the source of vibration energy and the outer surface. The method also includes conveying the substrate through the nip and intermittently altering the portion of the substrate in the nip to create a pattern of altered areas forming a shape. The altered areas have a pattern balance that includes one or more of: an average area of the substrate altered in the nip is within a threshold range across the portion of the substrate; and a simple area of integral areas within the altered areas is within a threshold range across the portion of the substrate.

Abstract: Software application state synchronization across computing environments to an alternate software application is provided. A user working in a first application executing at a first state on a first computing environment, changes to work at a second computing environment. The user proceeds to work in an alternate application, which executes from the same state on the second computing environment. In response to receipt of a synchronization trigger it is determined that the alternate application is installed on the second computing environment. A synchronization file including a data structure storing first application state information is received from the first computing environment. The alternate application is launched for execution on the second computing environment, and at least a portion of the state information of the first application is applied in the second computing environment for synchronizing execution of the alternate application with the state of the first application.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer-readable storage mediums are described herein for software application state synchronization across computing environments. A user working in an application at a first state may change computing environments and open the application in a second computing environment at the same state. The first instance of the software application executing on the first computing environment is locked and application specific state information including memory state information scanned from runtime memory or persistent memory, and execution state information from render commands intercepted by an operating system filter, are written to a synchronization file that is stored in the memory system. Application agnostic information is also written to the synchronization file.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for imaging an operating system (OS) by creating a new OS image from an installer OS image copy maintained in durable storage. During the OS imaging, only a subset of OS files from the installer image are fully copied into the new OS image. Placeholder files are created for other files not included in the initial subset of OS files which were determined to be critical for booting of the OS and/or a minimum set of OS functionality. The placeholder files are distinguished from sparse files and are inaccurately presented by the file system as being full copies of the underlying installer OS image. The data for the placeholder files is only copied when requested, on demand, and/or when there is available/unused processing bandwidth that is subsequently identified after rebooting the computing system with the new OS image.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for imaging an operating system (OS) by creating a new OS image from an installer OS image copy maintained in durable storage. During the OS imaging, only a subset of OS files from the installer image are fully copied into the new OS image. Placeholder files are created for other files not included in the initial subset of OS files which were determined to be critical for booting of the OS and/or a minimum set of OS functionality. The placeholder files are distinguished from sparse files and are inaccurately presented by the file system as being full copies of the underlying installer OS image. The data for the placeholder files is only copied when requested, on demand, and/or when there is available/unused processing bandwidth that is subsequently identified after rebooting the computing system with the new OS image.

Abstract: Technologies are disclosed for redirecting input/output (“I/O”) requests to virtual hard disks (“VHDs”) to improve network performance and data redundancy. More particularly, files can be encapsulated in remote VHDs and accessed in such a way that the files appear to a local operating system and any local applications to be residing locally. Furthermore, I/O requests redirected to files encapsulated in VHDs may also be redirected to one or more additional VHDs for data redundancy. The redirected I/O requests may be transmitted simultaneously but separately to the additional VHDs in a split stream.

Abstract: Technologies are disclosed for redirecting input/output (“I/O”) requests to virtual hard disks (“VHDs”) to improve network performance and data redundancy. More particularly, files can be encapsulated in remote VHDs and accessed in such a way that the files appear to a local operating system and any local applications to be residing locally. Furthermore, I/O requests redirected to files encapsulated in VHDs may also be redirected to one or more additional VHDs for data redundancy. The redirected I/O requests may be transmitted simultaneously but separately to the additional VHDs in a split stream.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade that includes: an airfoil defined between a pressure face and a suction face; a tip shroud that includes a seal rail projecting from an outboard surface and, formed thereon, a cutter tooth; and a cooling configuration that includes a cooling channel for receiving and directing a coolant through an interior of the rotor blade. The cooling channel may include fluidly connected segments, in which: a supply segment extends radially through the airfoil; a cutter tooth segment is formed within the cutter tooth of the seal rail; and branching segments formed within at least one of the tip shroud and an outboard region of the airfoil. Each of the branching segments may extend between an upstream port, which connects to the cutter tooth segment, and an outlet port, which is formed on a target surface area, so that the branching segment bisects a target interior region.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for reducing the incidence of mastitis in dairy animals, the method comprising the steps of: topically applying an antimicrobial composition onto the teats or udder of the animal, the composition comprising: a first component comprising from about 2.0% to about 20.0% by weight of the composition of an amine oxide; and a second component comprising a germicide or an oxidizing agent.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade that includes: an airfoil defined between a pressure face and a suction face; a tip shroud that includes a seal rail projecting from an outboard surface and, formed thereon, a cutter tooth; and a cooling configuration that includes a cooling channel for receiving and directing a coolant through an interior of the rotor blade. The cooling channel may include fluidly connected segments, in which: a supply segment extends radially through the airfoil; a cutter tooth segment is formed within the cutter tooth of the seal rail; and branching segments formed within at least one of the tip shroud and an outboard region of the airfoil. Each of the branching segments may extend between an upstream port, which connects to the cutter tooth segment, and an outlet port, which is formed on a target surface area, so that the branching segment bisects a target interior region.

Abstract: A proximity transducer system including an eddy current effect proximity probe, a proximity electronics module coupled to the probe, a monitoring system and a two-wire, current interface connecting the proximity electronics module to the monitoring system is disclosed. The proximity transducer system is operative for measuring position and vibration of a component to be monitored. The current interface is made up of a pair of wires, e.g., a twisted pair, and is adapted for providing power to the electronics module and an electrical signal from the proximity electronics module that is representative of (e.g., proportional to) the length of the gap between the probe and the component being monitored. That signal has a DC component that represents a steady state distance and an AC component that represents active movement of the component, such as vibration.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a turbine of a combustion turbine engine having an airfoil that includes a pressure and a suction sidewall defining an outer periphery and a tip portion defining an outer radial end. The tip portion includes a rail that defines a tip cavity. The airfoil includes an interior cooling passage configured to circulate coolant. The rotor blade further includes: a slotted portion of the rail; and at least one film cooling outlet disposed within at least one of the pressure sidewall and the suction sidewall of the airfoil. The film cooling outlet includes a position that is adjacent to the tip portion and in proximity to the slotted portion of the rail.

Abstract: Turbine bucket nominal internal core profiles and core insert external profiles are provided. In one embodiment, a turbine bucket includes an airfoil, platform, shank and dovetail. The bucket has a nominal internal core profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1 wherein the Z values are non-dimensional values from 0 to 1 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by a height of the bucket in inches, and wherein X and Y are non-dimensional values which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define internal core profile sections at each distance Z along the bucket, the profile sections at the Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form said bucket internal core profile.

Abstract: A method for mixing dairy animal teat dip from water and additives. The method includes a mixing manifold into which the water and additives are fed and mixed in a controlled manner. Mixed teat dip is automatically quality tested and monitored to provide data for controlling quantities of water and additives being fed to the manifold.

Abstract: A method for mixing dairy animal teat dip from water and additives. The method includes a mixing manifold into which the water and additives are fed and mixed in a controlled manner. Mixed teat dip is automatically quality tested and monitored to provide data for controlling quantities of water and additives being fed to the manifold.

Abstract: A turbine bucket for use with a gas turbine engine, as described herein, may include a platform, an airfoil extending from the platform, and a number of cooling circuits extending through the platform and the airfoil. One of the cooling circuits may be a serpentine cooling channel positioned within the platform.

Abstract: A turbine bucket is provided including a bucket airfoil having an airfoil shape, the bucket airfoil having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1 wherein the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values from 0% to 100% convertible to dimensional distances in inches by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a height of the airfoil in inches, and wherein X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z, the airfoil profile sections at Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.

Abstract: The present application provides a seal for use between components facing a high pressure cooling air flow and a hot gas path in a gas turbine engine. The seal may include a first surface facing the high pressure cooling air flow, a second surface with a second surface air plenum facing the hot gas path, and a number of cooling pathways extending from the first surface to the second surface air plenum of the second surface for the high pressure cooling air flow to pass therethrough.

Abstract: Bucket assemblies are provided. The bucket assembly includes a shank, and an airfoil positioned radially outward of the shank. The bucket assembly further includes a main cooling circuit defined in the airfoil and the shank, the main cooling circuit comprising seven passages, each of the seven passages fluidly connected with an adjacent one of the seven passages. A maximum rotation number in each of the seven passages is less than or equal to approximately 0.4.

Abstract: Turbine bucket nominal internal core profiles and core insert external profiles are provided. In one embodiment, a turbine bucket includes an airfoil, platform, shank and dovetail. The bucket has a nominal internal core profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1 wherein the Z values are non-dimensional values from 0 to 1 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by a height of the bucket in inches, and wherein X and Y are non-dimensional values which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define internal core profile sections at each distance Z along the bucket, the profile sections at the Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form said bucket internal core profile.