Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for improving computer authentication processes by using physical environment information. A computing device may receive video depicting a physical environment and process that video to identify one or more first objects. The computing device may receive a request for access to an account. The computing device may send a prompt for a physical environment description and receive, in response, an indication of one or more second objects. The indication of the one or more second objects may comprise video of the physical environment, a verbal description of the physical environment, and/or text describing the physical environment. The computing device may grant the user device access to the account based on comparing the one or more first objects to the one or more second objects.

Abstract: Electroacoustic drivers that can be utilized in loudspeaker systems that utilize bidirectional force electromagnet transducers or piezoelectric transducers. The electroacoustic drivers can include motion amplifiers such as lever arms. The electroacoustic drivers can be used at all audio frequencies including frequencies below 500 Hz.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an indoor horticultural system that utilizes a wired network to control lighting. The wired interface is used to relay both analog and digital intensity control information, whereby an analog signal is used to control the intensity of all LED arrays in each lighting fixture during a first mode of operation and a digital signal is used to control the intensity of each individual LED array in each lighting fixture in a second mode of operation. Both the analog and digital signals utilize the same physical interface.

Abstract: A power coupler for transferring rotary power from a rotary power device to a load device includes a shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber that contains the STF. The power coupler further includes a drive shaft housed radially within a drive side section of the chamber and protruding outward from an end of the chamber for coupling to the rotary power device. The power coupler further includes a load shaft housed radially within a load side section of the chamber and protruding outward from another end of the chamber for coupling to the load device. The power coupler further includes a drive turbine housed radially within the drive side section and coupled to the drive shaft. The power coupler further includes a load turbine housed radially within the load side section at a fixed operational distance from the drive turbine and coupled to the load shaft.

Abstract: A session management function (SMF) receives, from a wireless device, a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request message including a parameter indicating a request for synchronization of multiple data flows. The session management function sends, to a user plane function (UPF) and based on the parameter, a user plane rule indicating that the UPF performs synchronized forwarding of packets of the multiple data flows.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing, detecting, or prognosticating a GEP-NEN based on the expression level score of biomarkers exhibiting differential expression in subjects having a GEP-NEN relative to a reference or control sample. The invention also provides compositions and kits comprising these biomarkers and methods of using these biomarkers in subsets or panels thereof to diagnose, classify, and monitor GEP-NEN and types of GEP-NEN. The methods and compositions provided herein may be used to diagnose or classify a subject as having a GEP-NEN, to distinguish between different stages of GEP-NENs, e.g., stable or progressive, to provide a measure of risk of developing a progressive GEP-NEN, and to gauge the completeness of treatments for GEP-NEN including, but not limited to surgery and somatostatin therapy.

Abstract: A fixed bed, radial flow reforming reactor having an inner catalyst zone between an inlet fluid zone and an outlet fluid zone. The catalyst zone is separated into two concentric, annular zones, a first annular zone having a first solid particle material having a first catalytic activity for reforming hydrocarbons into the catalyst zone, and, a second annular zone having a second solid particle material having a second catalytic activity for reforming hydrocarbons into the catalyst zone, wherein the second catalytic activity is different. One of the materials may be inert. A divider may be used to separate the two annular zones.

Abstract: The disclosure provides peptide products comprising a peptide covalently attached to a surfactant moiety which have improved properties, including increased duration of action and bioavailability. The peptide products are useful for treating insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases, and conditions associated therewith, such as NASH and PCOS.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to non-blocking messaging in an electronic trading venue (ETV) in which a matching engine sends groups of price-compatible contra-orders to a credit engine. Doing so may improve the ETV's efficacy and performance by eliminating the need for multiple roundtrips of messages in the case of a failed credit check, and/or by allowing the ETV to more faithfully implement its matching rules. Upon sending an order to the credit engine the matching engine marks it as ‘uncertain’ to indicate that additional requests received on it (e.g., cancels) must also be forwarded to the credit engine. When all pending requests on an order have been acknowledged by the credit engine the matching engine unmarks it as such. In addition to credit checking the credit engine may also perform computations related to advanced order types (e.g., icebergs) indicating the output of such in its acknowledgements to the matching engine.

Abstract: A vessel including a thermoplastic wall enclosing a lumen is disclosed. The wall supports an SiOx composite barrier coating or layer, for which x is from 1.8 to 2.4, between the wall and the lumen. High Resolution X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) shows the presence of an interface between the composite barrier coating or layer and the wall or substrate. In one aspect, the interface has at least 1 mol. % O3—Si—C covalent bonding, as a proportion of the O3—Si—C covalent bonding plus SiO4 bonding. In another aspect, the interface has an Si 2p chemical shift to lower binding energy (eV), compared to the binding energy of SiO4 bonding. The result is a tightly adherent composite barrier coating or layer having a high degree of adhesion to the substrate under practical use conditions. Methods of applying the composite barrier coating or layer are also disclosed.

Abstract: Drift is automatically detected in configuration of services running in a management appliance of a software-defined data center. A method of automatically detecting drift includes: in response to a notification of a change in a configuration of a first service enabled for proactive drift detection, transmitting a first request to compute drift in the configuration of the first service to a plug-in of the first service, the first request including the change in the configuration of the first service; periodically, at designated time intervals, transmitting a second request to compute drift in the configuration of a second service enabled for passive drift detection, to the plug-in of the second service, the second request including a current state of the configuration of the second service; and notifying a desired state management service of the computed drift in the configuration of the first and second services.

Abstract: Various electronic credentials comprising signal activation are disclosed. An electronic credential core comprises a controller configured to maintain an off-state until activated by a received signal during a personalization process. The electronic credential core further comprises an antenna configured to receive a first signal. The energy in the first signal is harvested by a signal interface. The signal interface generates a second signal using the harvested energy of the first signal. The second signal is provided to the controller. The controller transitions to an active state and continuously performs one or more functions until an onboard battery is depleted. By maintaining an off-state until personalization, the electronic credential can be stored without draining power from the battery, extending the shelf life of the electronic credential.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a thin, lightweight, flexible, strong multi-layer barrier fabric is provided that offers extended breakthrough time against hazardous materials. The multi-layer barrier fabric is arranged as a layer stack that includes an inner layer of facing fabric, an adsorbent layer of adsorptive fabric, a barrier layer of low-permeability fabric and an outer layer of facing fabric. The facing fabric provides tensile strength. The adsorptive fabric and the low-permeability fabric interact synergistically. The barrier layer improves capture effectiveness of the adsorbent layer by both slowing down the hazardous material to increase its residence time in the adsorbent layer and decreasing the escape probability of stray molecules of hazardous material that are not initially intercepted by the adsorptive fabric. The adsorbent layer improves barrier effectiveness of the barrier layer by reducing the concentration of hazardous material challenging the low-permeability fabric of the barrier layer.

Abstract: Various card devices and methods involving card devices are described. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to dynamically and temporarily adjusting power to an NFC reader of a computing device from a first power level to a second power level based on a feedback mechanism between a contactless card and the computing device. The contactless card may provide a message containing a checksum. The computing device may receive the message and calculate a checksum based on the received message. By comparing these two checksums, it may be determined whether the entire message has been correctly received. If not, the power to the NFC reader may be temporarily increased to allow better communication between the contactless card and the computing device.

Abstract: The invention provides novel methods for liquid-mediated delivery of pollen grains to enclosed stigmas in recipient female flowers. For example, methods for liquid-mediated pollination are provided. The methods provided include collecting pollen from a donor plant, suspending the collected pollen in a liquid solution, and introducing said solution to an enclosed stigma of a recipient flower bud on a recipient plant, thereby pollinating the flower with the pollen from the donor plant.

Abstract: A display device comprising a spatial light modulator having a display polariser arranged on one side is provided with an additional polariser arranged on the same side as the display polariser and a polar control retarder between the additional polariser and the display polariser. The polar control retarder includes a liquid crystal retarder having two surface alignment layers disposed adjacent to a layer of liquid crystal material on opposite sides. The surface alignment layers provide alignment in the adjacent liquid crystal material with a twist. The out-of-plane orientation of the twisted layer of liquid crystal material is modified across at least one region of the display device to provide a transmission function in response to the measured location of an off-axis snooper, achieving increased size of polar region for which desired uniformity of security factor, or reduced distraction across the display to the driver in an automotive application is achieved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a soft, water blown, polyurethane foam product, or microcellular elastomer using a stable, liquid, tertiary amine and tin-free polyurethane catalyst. The catalyst contains a combination of bismuth and sodium carboxylates.

Abstract: An optical filter attachment assembly for a camera is provided. The optical filter attachment assembly includes an attachment assembly configured to be threadably coupled to the camera and having an attachment frame. The attachment frame includes a first set of magnets. The optical filter attachment assembly further includes at least one filter assembly. Each filter assembly includes at least one optical filter mounted in a filter frame. The filter frame includes a second set of magnets. The first set of magnets and the second set of magnets are configured to detachably couple to each other such that the at least one optical filter is retained on the camera.