Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which determine, to a desired level of certainty, the identities of each individual granted access to an area, room, container, and/or good or service using biometric data. A plurality of access points may be networked to provide access control and/or access record generation on a real time basis. Biometric scanners, electronic locks, and control devices are preferably disposed throughout a hierarchical access facility, such as a hotel, to provide access to areas, rooms, and containers, to acquire information with respect individuals' access thereto, and/or to identify individuals for providing access to goods and services. Such devices may be in communication with one another and/or host systems, such as local hosts and facility servers, via wireline communication, wireless communication, and combinations thereof to thereby provide a pervasive access and access record management system.

Abstract: A molten metal alloy, such as bismuth and tin, is injected into a die block to form a tightly packed rectangular array of shot pellets. The ratio of waste sprue to shot pellets is minimized and the shot pellet yield per casting is maximized by allowing the shot pellets in the rectangular shot array to touch other shot pellets in adjoining rows and columns through small interconnecting vias. The interconnecting vias allows the molten metal to flow between shot pellets, as well as from the sprue into the shot pellets. This allows the molten metal to bypass blockages that reduce the shot pellet count per casting. The flow of the molten metal through the die block is also improved by machining away a small amount of metal from the face of the die in order to form a flashing between the shot pellets.