Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for implementing a free space optical backplane structure including a body and a plurality of mirrors. The body includes a chamber, a front panel, and a plurality of apertures disposed in the front panel, the plurality of apertures including a first set of apertures and a second set of apertures. The plurality of mirrors includes first and second arrays of mirrors mounted at first and second sets of heights, respectively, within the chamber, and is aligned with the first and second sets of apertures located in the front panel. The first and second arrays of mirrors are arranged to direct laser signals travelling through free space that are transmitted from or to a first device through the first set of apertures, between the first and second arrays of mirrors, and to or from a corresponding second device through the second set of apertures.

Abstract: A system may include a hybrid analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that forms a flash ADC in a first mode and a delta-sigma ADC is a second mode. The flash ADC may provide output resulting from a coarse analog-to-digital conversion. The output from the coarse analog-to-digital conversion may be used to configure the delta-sigma ADC to perform a fine analog-to-digital conversion.

Abstract: A battery cell includes a case and an electrode stack disposed within the case. The battery cell includes an anode including a first conductive tab, a cathode including a second conductive tab, and a separator. The battery cell further includes two electrical connections, each attached to one of the first conductive tab or the second conductive tab and to one of a negative terminal and a positive terminal, respectively. The anode, the cathode, and the separator each include a common perimeter including a first portion matching a shape of an interior surface of the case and a second portion including a cut-out configured to recede from the interior surface. The second portion of the anode, the cathode, and the separator are aligned and create a region between the stack and the interior surface. The tabs and electrical connections are disposed within the region.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method to enable short-range wireless communication via a webpage on a computing device includes receiving, via a web-browser executing on the computing device, from the webpage, a first request to execute a computer-executable instruction, the computer-executable instruction requests data from an enterprise server. The method also includes triggering, in response to a second request from the enterprise server to authenticate the first request, the web-browser to execute a predetermined computer program. The method also includes scanning, by the predetermined computer program a cryptogram from a contactless card to authenticate the cryptogram and cause the enterprise server to send the data. The method also includes executing, via the web-browser, the computer-executable instruction from the first request in response to receiving the data sent by the enterprise server.

Abstract: Methods and systems for user communication in an online community and/or website are provided. User profile data may be accessed to from a memory. An analysis system compares the user profile data for the user with a time-dependent goal to determine a result. The time-dependent goal may be determined based on an analysis of a set of (successful) users. A user interface system generates a representation of the result for prompting the user to initiate a communication to a different user based on the time-dependent goal. The representation may comprise a metered representation indicating an amount of progress, by the user, toward the time-dependent goal.

Abstract: A processor of a computing device may receive, from a contactless card, a uniform resource locator (URL) and a cryptogram. An operating system (OS) executing on the processor may open an application based on the URL. The application may transmit the cryptogram to an authentication server. The application may receive, based on the server verifying the cryptogram, an account number. The application may store the account number in a memory of the device.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and processes for determining vehicle reaction time performance of vehicles of at least one component of reaction time performance, such as, for example, a rollout time determining electronic device or method.

Abstract: A flow control valve including a main valve and a pilot valve for controlling a piston of the main valve. The valve maybe controlled through a control system based upon measured pressures or temperatures in a system supplied or controlled by the valve. The valve may be operated as a pressure independent control valve, using pressure measurement from a supply line and exit line or return line of a hydronic HVAC system as inputs to the control system, which is operable to maintain a constant pressure drop across the system, or the valve may be operated as a temperature independent control valve, using temperature measurements from a supply line and exit line or return line of a hydronic HVAC system as inputs to the control system which is operable to maintain a constant temperature drop across the system.

Abstract: A sulfonic acid modified polyvinyl alcohol resin including about 3 mol % to about 12 mol % of a comonomer including a sulfonic acid group, and a blockiness index ? of the sulfonic acid group of between about 0.2 to about 0.4 according to the Modified Moritani Method.

Abstract: A method and related system may analyze metadata associated with a first set of transactions to determine whether to perform a second set of transactions. The method and related system may include determining a data category based on first device-provided data of a first database transaction indicating a first record associated with a second record, and may further include obtaining, based on whether the data category satisfies a first set of criteria, an identifier and an amount based on image data using a prediction model. The method may further include querying a database based on the identifier to obtain an indication that the identifier is mapped to an object category, validating the amount based on a result indicating whether the object category satisfies a second set of criteria, and causing a second transaction that changes fields of the first and second records.

Abstract: Sampling operations enable a computer vision tool to regulate downstream tasks. The sampling operations can indicate which frames of a video sequence should be processed by different downstream tasks. For example, a computer vision tool receives encoded data for a given frame and uses the encoded data to determine inputs for machine learning models in different channels. The computer vision tool provides the inputs to the machine learning models, respectively, and fuses results from the machine learning models. In this way, the computer vision tool determines a set of event indicators for the given frame. Based at least in part on the event indicator(s) for the given frame, the computer vision tool regulates downstream tasks for the given frame (e.g., selectively performing or skipping downstream tasks for the given frame, or otherwise adjusting how and when downstream tasks are performed for the given frame).

Abstract: The present application describes a system and method for passively collecting DNS traffic data as that data is passed between a recursive DNS resolver and an authoritative DNS server. The information contained in the collected DNS traffic data is used to generate a virtual authoritative DNS server, or a zone associated with the authoritative DNS server, when it is determined that the authoritative DNS server has been compromised.

Abstract: In aspects of bi-directional packaging adhesive, a sterile package includes a bandage with a sterile pad, and the bandage adheres to an applied surface. The sterile package includes a non-stick backing that adheres to the bandage, with the non-stick backing being removable for application of the bandage. The sterile package includes packaging that encompasses the bandage and the non-stick backing, and includes a bi-directional adhesive configured to release in a first package opening direction to remove the packaging while maintaining the adherence of the non-stick backing to the bandage, and hold in a second package opening direction to remove the non-stick backing from the bandage along with removing the packaging. A portion of the non-stick backing is attached to an inside of the packaging with the bi-directional adhesive, and the attached portion peels the non-stick backing from the bandage in the second package opening direction to open the packaging.

Abstract: Procedure training apparatus, methods and systems which in one embodiment allow surgical trainees to receive expert clinical guidance during live surgery or to practice surgical skills on anatomical models in a realistic manner with an augmented reality headset which is in audio and visual communication with a remotely located trainer having a similar AR headset. A unique feature of the system includes providing live or static imaging of the surgical site to the AR headsets of the trainee and trainer wherein the imaging is provided from medical or other devices (e.g., ultrasound) through a device(s) media hub. The images are displayed in the field of view of the surgeon so that they may see their hands, the patient (or model) and the imaging simultaneously. Controls allow the imaging on the respective AR headsets to be switched on command typically by the trainer which allows the trainer to deliver the trainer's surgical site image (e.g.

Abstract: In a Fluid Catalytic Cracker (FCC) unit being operated in petrochemical mode that has an increased dry gas and LPG production that creates a bottleneck in product flow, a method for full or partial separation of light gas components from a wet gas compressor suction stream and routing it directly to an untreated fuel gas header using a parallel system to an existing wet gas compressor, which parallel system includes an auxiliary compressor and a membrane separation system.

Abstract: A smoking article has a burn portion and a mouth portion. The burn portion includes a smoking rod filled with a smokeable filler material formed almost exclusively of cellulose material. The mouth portion includes either a filter portion with or without an interface or a tip with an interface. The mouth end may include an orthonasal property and the interface may store an additive.

Abstract: A method for implementing a machine learning model to predict risk exposure can include acquiring, via a sleep detecting device associated with a user, a set of user data. The method for implementing the machine learning model can also include predicting, by at least a trained ML model, a level of risk exposure for an other activity for the user. The trained ML model can be trained utilizing data indicative of one or more sleep patterns and data indicative of the other activity to identify one or more relationships between the one or more sleep patterns and the level of risk exposure for the other activity. The method can further include generating a notification to alert the user of the level of risk exposure, as predicted, for the other activity. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a transaction instrument and method for recording vibration information associated with a transaction at a point-of-service (POS) terminal. The vibration information can be used to determine whether the POS terminal is compromised (e.g., via a skimmer).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for training a dialog system using user feedback. According to one implementation, a method includes receiving, by a dialog engine and from a computing device, a voice input; determining, by the dialog engine, that the received voice input is classified as feedback to an answer of a question; identifying, by the dialog engine, a predetermined feedback score associated with the feedback; and adjusting a confidence score associated with the question and the answer based on the predetermined feedback score.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic diffuser system incorporating a diffuser body and a wireless charging base. The diffuser body has an upper portion coupled to a lower portion. The upper portion has an inner connector and an outer connector. The lower portion has an upper connector at a top end configured to connect to the outer connector of the upper portion and defining an inner cavity having an opening at the top end. The system includes a one-time-use fragrance container configured to attach to the inner connector of the upper portion and fit into the inner cavity of the lower portion. The one-time-use fragrance container having an atomizer that is irremovably disposed within the fragrance container.