Abstract: The disclosure relates to a plasticizer for mastics, plastisols and adhesives. The plasticizer includes at least one functionalized hydrocarbon-containing cut, in particular hydroxylated. The disclosure also relates to the mastic, plastisol and adhesive compositions including the plasticizer. The present disclosure also relates to the use of the plasticizer for reducing the phenomenon of bleeding in mastics, plastisols and adhesives.

Abstract: A method of assessing a tissue sample includes the steps of: 1) splitting source electromagnetic radiation into: a) sample arm radiation directed in a Z direction toward a sample thereby illuminating the sample at a first selected XY coordinate pair of the sample, and b) reflector arm radiation directed toward a reflector so that the reflector arm radiation travels a path length; 2) interfering sample-scattered electromagnetic radiation with reflector-reflected electromagnetic radiation thereby establishing an interference pattern associated with the sample; 3) comparing the sample interference pattern to a reference interference pattern; and 4) reaching a conclusion about the sample based on the comparison.

Abstract: A transaction card is provided. The transaction card includes a card frame having a card inlay and a card housing. The transaction card also includes a magnetic stripe disposed inside the card frame between the card inlay and the card housing.

Abstract: The finding that patients with Sjögren's syndrome exhibit a statistically significant increase in expression of BMP6 in the salivary gland relative to healthy control subjects is described. Also described is the finding that overexpression of BMP6 in the salivary glands of mice results in an increase in electrical potential across the salivary gland. Thus, methods of diagnosing a subject as having Sjögren's syndrome, or at risk for developing Sjögren's syndrome, by measuring the level of BMP6 expression in a salivary gland of a subject, measuring electrical potential in a salivary gland of a subject, or both, are disclosed. Also described are methods of treating a subject with Sjögren's syndrome by administering an agent that inhibits expression of BMP6 expression or activity. Further disclosed is the use of XIST and MECP2 as diagnostic and therapeutic targets for male Sjögren's syndrome patients.

Abstract: The present invention includes a load frame test device using a plurality of levers about a common pivot point for applying combinations of tensile loading and bending on test articles at magnitudes seen in offshore applications.

Abstract: A transaction card includes a card body that may comprise a card body comprising a ceramic material, the card body including a primary surface and a first mating surface. A card backer comprises a metallic material and includes a secondary surface and a second mating surface. A portion of the first mating surface and a portion of the second mating surface are coupled together.

Abstract: Providing a financial investment fund includes receiving a plurality of individual funds corresponding to a plurality of investors respectively and aggregating the plurality of individual funds into an aggregated fund. Next, providing a financial investment fund includes purchasing a plurality of financial instruments from at least one financial institution with a first portion of the aggregated fund and placing a second portion of the aggregated fund in a transaction account. The financial investment fund may include at least the financial instruments and the transaction account. In addition, one of the at least one financial institution may use at least a portion of the first portion of the aggregated fund received in exchange for the plurality of financial instruments to perform a function of the financial institution.

Abstract: Methods of treating a dengue virus (DENV) infection in a human subject, comprising administering to the human subject a compound of Formula (I), or pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of Formula (I):A compound of Formula (I) can be administered within onset of fever to 72 hours of fever onset due to dengue infection and then every 6 to 12 hours until there is an improvement in the infection or between from about 1 day to about 10 days. The methods of the invention can be used to treat primary and secondary DENV-4 viral infections.

Abstract: A method of estimating a state of a rotary steerable drilling system comprising applying a control input to a rotary steerable drilling system, sensing an actual output of the rotary steerable drilling system, inputting the control input into a mathematical model of the rotary steerable drilling system, receiving an estimated output of the rotary steerable drilling system from the mathematical model, generating an error compensation signal based on a difference between the actual output and the estimated output, and applying the error compensation signal to the mathematical model.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for monitoring motion or other activity and using the successful completion of a goal to enable or disable functionality or features of an electronic device or applications running on a computing system. In particular, media devices and the features within can be disabled unless access availability has been determined for completion of a physical activity goal or other challenge and provided to the media device or a server controlling features of the media device.

Abstract: A method for determining data in cache memory of a cloud storage architecture and a cloud storage system using the method are disclosed. The method includes the steps of: A. recording transactions from cache memory of a cloud storage during a period of time in the past, wherein each transaction comprises a time of recording, or a time of recording and cached data been accessed during the period of time in the past; B. assigning a specific time in the future; C. calculating a time-associated confidence for every cached data from the transactions based on a reference time; D. ranking the time-associated confidences; and E. providing the cached data with higher time-associated confidence in the catch memory, and removing the cached data in the cache memory with lower time-associated confidence when the cache memory is full before the specific time in the future.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related providing city services, such as parking, are described. Methods and apparatus for providing parking rewards programs are described. The methods and apparatus can include maintaining accounts for participants in the rewards program, tracking purchases of parking and other participant activities and determining parking awards based upon the activities. The parking rewards programs can be used to incentivize behaviors that balance the use of the parking space commodity according to the needs of different stakeholders, such as the city, residents, merchants and visitors. For example, parking awards and the criteria used for earning awards can be used to encourage particular behaviors while a parking space is being utilized, such as shopping, the use of public transportation or efficient trip planning.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to reconditioned sucker rod, particularly to the sucker rods already used in the mechanical deep-pumping extraction of oil. The sucker rod comprises metal rod ends and a non-metallic body. The method of remanufacturing of reconditioned sucker rod includes subjecting used non-metallic sucker rods to a destructive pull test.

Abstract: A planning system can receive media advertising orders including flexibility attributes indicating whether the orders are flexible with regard to various different circumstances. The planning system can obtain both booked an unbooked inventory from a traffic and billing system, and determine associations or re-associations between the advertising orders and the booked and unbooked inventory based on the flexibility attributes. The planning system can then generate a non-guaranteed order including the associations or re-associations, and transmit the order to media delivery system. The planning system can obtain feedback and/or real time data that can be used to reassess existing associations, and in some cases adjust the flexibility attribute values.

Abstract: The systems and methods herein may include receiving a plurality of transactions for a plurality of consumers, wherein each respective transaction of the plurality of transactions is between a consumer of the plurality of consumers and a merchant of a plurality of merchants; automatically inputting the plurality of transactions into a neural network; automatically analyzing the plurality of transactions over a plurality of iterations, wherein an iteration of the plurality of iterations comprises cycling through a consumer transaction history associated with the consumer, wherein the consumer transaction history has a consumer transaction sequence associated with the consumer; and automatically updating over the plurality of iterations, a previous fraud detection variable associated with the consumer and/or the merchant to generate updated fraud detection variables, in response to the analyzing the plurality of transactions.

Abstract: A computing apparatus configured to verify a digital signature applied on a set of data received from a user device, including an user ID assigned by a partner system to uniquely identify a user of the user device among customers of the partner system, and a user device identifier identifying the user device. The digital signature is generated via applying a cryptographic one-way hash function on a combination of the set of data and a secret, shared between the computing apparatus and the partner system via a secure communication channel separate from a channel used to receive the set of data.

Abstract: Various embodiments include systems and methods to provide a pulsed chemical neutron source. The pulsed chemical neutron source can be used in well logging applications. Apparatus can be arranged to generate neutrons from a chemical neutron emitter and to pass the neutrons through an aperture of a neutron shield when the chemical neutron emitter aligns with the aperture such that the neutrons are substantially blocked by the neutron shield when the chemical neutron emitter is unaligned with the aperture. In various embodiments, movement of one or more of the chemical neutron emitter or the neutron shield can be controlled such that the aperture and the chemical neutron emitter operatively align with each other during a selected portion of the movement, generating pulses of neutrons output from the neutron shield. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material includes a forming station and a compression station. The forming station is configured to form a reinforcing corner assembly from first and second reinforcing panels extending from an end panel of the blank. The compression station is configured to rotate side panels and end panels of the blank to be substantially perpendicular to a bottom panel of the blank. The compression station includes a plurality of plows at least partially defining a plunger opening, and a plunger vertically movable through the plunger opening. The plurality of plows are configured to rotate the side panels and the end panels towards the interior surface of the bottom panel.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a variable frequency drive motor control apparatus. The apparatus includes a main controller having a first interface. A motor controller is coupled to and controls an electric motor, the motor controller further coupled to the main controller. A network switch is coupled to the main controller, the motor controller, and a remote controller over respective digital connections. The remote controller has a second interface. The network switches data between the first interface, the second interface, and the motor controller. A network coupler is coupled between a variable frequency drive controller and the motor controller.

Abstract: A swellable packer can include a base pipe, at least one swellable seal on the base pipe, the seal comprising a swellable material, and at least one other swellable seal on the base pipe, the other swellable seal comprising another swellable material, and the swellable materials being different materials. Another swellable packer can include at least one swellable seal, the seal comprising a swellable material, and at least one other swellable seal, the other swellable seal comprising another swellable material, and wherein one swellable seal displaces the other swellable seal into contact with a well surface, in response to contact between the one swellable seal and an activating agent.