Abstract: A system and method for providing a customer with a number of payment scenarios is disclosed. The method receives at a payment provider computing system an inquiry about a payment scenario for a customer, the inquiry including identification information for the customer, utilizes the identification information to perform a credit prescreen, and generates, based on a result of the credit prescreen, a plurality of payment scenarios with associated terms. The plurality of payment scenarios with associated terms is then provided to the customer and the customer selects the desired payment scenario. An agreement with the associated terms of the payment scenario is generated and provided to the payment provider computing system. The mobile device provides the selected payment scenario to a retail computing system during a checkout process and the transaction is completed.

Abstract: A stabilizing process for tobacco and tobacco products includes sterilizing the tobacco by applying an electron beam treatment to the tobacco. The process may also include treating the tobacco. The treating the tobacco includes pre-conditioning the tobacco, pasteurizing the tobacco, curing the tobacco, fermenting the tobacco, or combinations thereof. The method may also include forming a smokeless tobacco product containing the tobacco.

Abstract: A laser delivery system is configured to delivery light energy to soften and realign the tissue of the eye in order to increase accommodation and treat glaucoma. The laser system can be configured to increase a circumlental space of the eye and increase movement of a posterior vitreous zonule in order to increase accommodation. The light energy may comprise wavelengths strongly absorbed by collagen of the sclera. In many embodiments a heat sink is provided to couple to the conjunctiva and the heat sink comprises a material transmissive to the light energy absorbed by collagen, for example Zinc Selenide. The heat sink can be chilled to inhibit damage to the conjunctiva of the eye. In many embodiments, one or more layers of the epithelium of the eye remain substantially intact above the zone where the eye has been treated when the heat sink has been removed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to new and improved industrial containment bags, wherein the improvement comprises integrating a non-perforated liner as a part of the bag, and wherein the integration is accomplished by a direct attachment means (e.g., by a sewing process). In certain embodiments of this invention, the improved containment bags have a top opening. In other embodiments of this invention, the improved containment bags have an end or sidewall opening.

Abstract: A credentialing method and apparatus for facility access. The apparatus can include a system that includes one or more BLE beacons located within proximity to a facility, where one or more of the beacons identifies a location or other information unique to its proximity to the facility. The apparatus can further include an eBadge used by a person seeking access to the facility. The eBadge can also in some embodiments be a BLE beacon. Interaction between the one or more BLE beacons, a credentialing provider's app operating on the person's mobile device, and the person's eBadge operate in the system to perform a method of controlled access to the facility. In some embodiments, administrators with access to the credentialing provider's app also can control, monitor, report, and observe details concerning such facility access.

Abstract: A vacuum massager includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a cup attachment arranged to be removably received on the lower portion of the housing. An air pump is disposed within the housing in fluid communication with the cup attachment for generating suction therein, such that contact of the cup attachment with a user's skin creates a vacuum within the cup attachment. A controller is disposed within the housing in electrical communication with the air pump. The vacuum massager further includes a cooling attachment interchangeable with the cup attachment and arranged to be removably received on the lower portion of the housing in electrical communication with the controller for cooling the user's skin.

Abstract: A sensing device for acquiring data from a finger. The device includes a carrier board having a stacked portion with a finger side and a canopy side. A tip wing extends from the stacked portion and wraps around the finger. Electrical components are coupled to the carrier board, including a first circuit board on the canopy side of the stacked portion, and one or more optical components electrically on the tip wing. The optical components are configured to transmit light towards the finger and to detect the light from the finger. The carrier board electrically couples the electrical components to acquire the data from the finger. A power system is positioned between the canopy side and the finger side of the carrier board, where the power system provides power to the electrical components via the carrier board. A cover secures the carrier board to the finger.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides technologies that enable users to graphically merge content displayed on a first computing device with content displayed on a second computing device by the use of a simplified gesture. For example, a user can hold a portable computer displaying content up to a screen of another computer displaying other content. The user can position the portable computer to align the rendering of the content with a rendering of the other content. Measurements of the alignment are processed to determine a location that is used to graphically merge the content of the portable computer at a specific location within the other content. A scaling factor can be used to control the size of the content that is placed within the other content. The scaling factor can be based on a user gesture, preference data, or knowledge of a computing device.

Abstract: A cowboy hat carrier compartment is defined by a substantially rigid base and cover. The cover may be opened with a zipper, buckle or latch. The hat compartment contains a rigid tray on which the hat is stored. The tray includes a frustum-shaped mandrel that is sized, shaped and positioned to fit into the dome of the hat. The tray also includes a pan for supporting the brim of the hat. The front of the pan includes a recess sized and shaped to receive a dipped front of the brim of the cowboy hat.

Abstract: A computer, including a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor to determine a vehicle six degree of freedom (DoF) pose based on an image where the six DoF pose includes x, y, and z location and roll, pitch, and yaw orientation and transform the vehicle six DoF pose into global coordinates based on a camera six DoF pose. The instructions can include further instructions to communicate to the vehicle the six DoF pose in global coordinates.

Abstract: System and methods for selecting one of the alternative streams of encoded media from a group of alternative streams of encoded media for use during start-up of playback of the encoded media in accordance with embodiments of this invention are disclosed. The systems and methods begin by determining an estimated stability period for a current bandwidth of a communicative connection between the playback device and a remote system providing the alternative streams of encoded. A test process is then performed on the streams of encoded media to select one of streams of encoded media that provides portions of said encoded media such that an underflow condition does not occur during the estimated stability period. The streaming of encoded media is then commenced by requesting the portions of encoded media be transmitted from the remote server using the selected stream.

Abstract: A reservoir refill system for an electronic vaping device includes a refill container and a reservoir. The refill container contains a pre-vapor formulation. The refill container includes a body, an opening in the body, and a first interlocking ring including at least one groove or at least one protrusion therein. The reservoir is configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation and includes a reservoir body, an opening in the reservoir body, and a second interlocking ring including at least one groove or at least one protrusion therein at an opening of the reservoir. The first interlocking ring is configured to mate with the second interlocking ring so as to release the pre-vapor formulation from the refill container to the reservoir.

Abstract: Compositions comprising extracts from marine organisms show beneficial effects on skin ailments. Fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging in skin are improved with the application of compositions with marine extracts. Production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid are increased after application of the compositions.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide methods, apparatuses, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for receiving media data. One apparatus includes processing circuitry that receives a media presentation description (MPD) file including an essential property descriptor that is associated with a session-based description (SBD) file and includes a key-value element. The processing circuitry determines a value in the SBD file corresponding to a key in the key-value element. The processing circuitry sends a request to a server based on the corresponding value.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to beam homogenization for occlusion avoidance. One embodiment includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device. The LIDAR device includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes a light emitter. The light emitter emits light that diverges along a fast-axis and a slow-axis. The transmitter also includes a fast-axis collimation (FAC) lens optically coupled to the light emitter. The FAC lens is configured to receive light emitted by the light emitter and reduce a divergence of the received light along the fast-axis of the light emitter to provide reduced-divergence light. The transmitter further includes a transmit lens optically coupled to the FAC lens. The transmit lens is configured to receive the reduced-divergence light from the FAC lens and provide transmit light. The FAC lens is positioned relative to the light emitter such that the reduced-divergence light is expanded at the transmit lens.

Abstract: Techniques for using a trip flag to detect desynchronization of trip counter values in a vehicle system. Techniques include a first electronic control unit (ECU) receiving a synchronization message including a trip counter and receiving a message from a second ECU including a trip flag. The trip flag includes a single bit of data generated by the second ECU. The first ECU compares the trip flag to a last bit of the trip counter stored at the first electronic control unit and processes the message in response to the trip flag matching the trip counter. The first ECU compares the trip counter to a previous trip counter based on the trip flag differing from the trip counter. The first ECU processes the message using the previous trip counter or increments the trip counter to process the message based on the comparison with the previous trip counter.

Abstract: One or more computing devices, systems, and/or methods for monitoring levels of activity of client devices using a cluster of servers having a decentralized network architecture are provided, where over-counting, which may be caused by an uneven distribution of requests transmitted by the client devices to the cluster of servers, may be mitigated. For example, a request may be received by a first server, of the cluster of servers, from a client device. A first counter value associated with a level of activity of the client device may be incremented by a first number. One or more data packets may be transmitted to one or more servers of the cluster of servers. Each data packet of the one or more data packets may comprise an instruction to increment a counter value associated with the client device by a second number, which may be different than the first number.

Abstract: Systems and methods for provisioning and validating a network are disclosed. One method can comprise providing a first communication tunnel between a network access point and a first tunnel endpoint. Availability of the first tunnel endpoint can be determined. If the first tunnel endpoint is determined to be available, network traffic can be routed to the first tunnel endpoint. If the first tunnel endpoint is determined to be unavailable, a second communication tunnel between the network access point and a second tunnel endpoint can be provided.

Abstract: An optimized thermocouple system and a method of optimizing a thermocouple system having a plurality of thermocouple probes and a junction box is provided and includes examining the thermocouple system to identify a first thermocouple probe of the plurality of thermocouple probes, wherein the first thermocouple probe includes a first positive leg and a first negative leg and is located electrically farthest from the junction box. The method includes calculating a first loop resistance between the first thermocouple probe and the junction box and configuring a second thermocouple probe of the plurality of thermocouple probes having a second positive leg, a second negative leg and a second loop resistance such that the second loop resistance is substantially equal to the first loop resistance.

Abstract: A microprocessor is attached to a cooling plate. The cooling plate is formed of two identical shells, each shell having a fluid chamber therein in communication with one or more fluid channels and a fluid port. The two shells are attached to each other such that the open top of each fluid cavity faces the other open top, so that the two fluid cavities form one large cavity. Fins are positioned inside the fluid cavity so as to form fluid passages between each two fins for the cooling fluid to flow and remove heat from the fins. Fluid chambers formed by the two shells are divided into multiple fluid channels among fins by the fins.