Abstract: Methods and systems described in this disclosure receive a request for assistance from a device associated with a user, launch a conversational virtual assistant on the device, determine at least one potential subject of the request based on information associated with the user and a tab or webpage from which the conversational virtual assistant is launched, receive a verification of the subject of the request, create a contact menu with options for receiving the assistance, and receive a selection of one of the options.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for purchasing merchandise items at a desired purchase price. In accordance with certain embodiments, systems and methods are provided for specifying a desired purchase price for a merchandise item. Embodiments of the present disclosure may also provide systems and methods for completing purchases of the merchandise item when the purchase price of the merchandise item is less than or equal to the desired purchase price. Other embodiments of the present disclosure may also provide systems and methods to determine and/or adjust the purchase price for a merchandise item and notify the customer when the adjusted purchase price is less than or equal to the desired purchase price.

Abstract: Aspects described herein may provide techniques for authenticating a user using transaction-based authentication questions that are generated based on item-level purchase data. The item-level purchase data of a transaction may include specific details of a transaction such as identification of each item purchased and corresponding prices paid for each item. Transaction-based authentication questions for a financial account may be generated based on the item-level purchase data that an authorized user of the financial account is likely to remember and that a malicious actor is unlikely to correctly guess. As a result, the authorized user of the account is likely to be correctly authenticated while the malicious actor is likely to answer the transaction-based authentication question incorrectly. Authentication can therefore effectively block malicious actors without overly burdening actual authorized users during the authentication process.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for improving computer authentication processes by generating authentication questions based on the location of a user. Transaction data indicating a plurality of transactions associated with a user account may be received. Location data indicating a plurality of locations of a user device might be received. At least a subset of the plurality of transactions may be tagged, based on the location data, with an indication that a user was present for a respective transaction. For example, a location of a merchant might be compared to a user device location indicated by the location data. A plurality of authentication questions might be generated based on the subset of the plurality of transactions. Access to the user account might be provided based on responses to the plurality of authentication questions.

Abstract: A fluid permeable heater assembly for an aerosol-generating system includes a base including an opening through the base and an electrically conductive filament arrangement over the opening. The base includes a solid aerosol-forming substrate on the base. A cartridge includes a cartridge body including a reservoir within the cartridge body. A heater assembly is arranged at one end of the cartridge body.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds suitable for enhancing cancer treatment, for example, a compound of formula (I): (I) wherein R1 is as defined herein. Also disclosed is a method of enhancing the response of cancer cells in a mammal to treatment with an apoptosis inducing ligand, a method of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells in a mammal, and a method of treating prostate cancer in mammal in need thereof comprising administration of a compound described herein.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method performed by a user device is provided. The computer-implemented method includes receiving a message including an encrypted credential from a server computer; determining a response shared secret using a private key and a server public key; decrypting the encrypted credential using the response shared secret to determine a credential; obtaining a key derivation parameter from the credential; determining a first cryptogram key using the key derivation parameter; generating a first cryptogram using the first cryptogram key; and sending the first cryptogram to a second computer.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing fraudulent credit card or debit card transactions by coupling a smart phone to the credit card or the debit card, and transmitting identification information from the smart phone to the card. The card is normally disabled such that no transaction may take place unless the card is enabled. The card receives the transmitted identification information and compares that information to corresponding information stored on the card. If the received information matches the stored information, the card is enabled thus allowing the transaction to take place.

Abstract: Refractory anchoring devices include a main body and a mounting feature for mounting to a thermal vessel. The main body includes four anchor branch segments angled with respect to each other to form an X shape with four unenclosed cell openings, including two opposite triangular side openings and two opposite triangular end openings. In some embodiments, the main body further includes extension segments extending from and angled relative to respective branch segments to define two of the opposite openings as semi-hexagonal. Some embodiments include reinforcement segments extending from branch segments into openings, voids extending through branch segments, two anchor strips inter-engaged to form the four branch segments, and/or a single stud-welding stud for the mounting feature.

Abstract: A method of operating a valve arrangement of a downhole apparatus (that includes a tubular body having first and second ports in a wall thereof) comprising operating the valve arrangement from a locked first configuration, in which the first port is closed and the second port is closed, to a locked second configuration, in which the first port is open and the second port is closed, wherein the valve arrangement includes a valve member including a first port, the first port associated with the first port of the tubular body, and a second port associated with the second port of the tubular body, wherein the valve arrangement comprises a further retaining member. The method includes operating the valve arrangement from the locked second configuration to a third configuration, in which the first port is closed and the second port is open.

Abstract: Systems and methods are configured to determine whether a particular information object is a duplicate of an object found in separate information objects. In various embodiments, the particular information object and each separate information object includes a set of data fields for storing data values that allows identical values to be stored in different fields for the objects. The data values for the particular information object are combined to form a data structure that includes a data element for each value. A determination as to whether the particular information object is an exact or partial match of a separate information object is made by performing a function on the data structure for the particular information object and a data structure for the separate information object to identify an intersection that includes data values for the particular information object that have an identical match with values for the separate information object.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatus, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like for the generation of a recommendation for one or more resource transformation actions to be performed based at least in part on an optimized resource transformation scenario. The optimized resource transformation scenario can be identified based at least in part on a hybrid resource transformation scenario that can be based at least in part on a resource priority score for a residual resource and a downgrade-only resource transformation scenario. The downgrade set of a plurality of resources can be determined based at least in part on resource transformation data associated with the plurality of resources.

Abstract: Techniques for feature-based deployment pipelines are disclosed. The feature-based deployment pipelines use a service file as well as other manifest files to set up a repository, a continuous integration service to initiate testing, and a container orchestration system to build images and establish version control over the system. The feature-based deployment pipelines invoke sequential stages to enable feature branches of an application to be fully tested before proceeding to a succeeding stage. At each stage, relevant stakeholders are able to evaluate the new features before they become part of the master image of the tested application. A variety of validation and performance tests are conducted at each stage, resulting in a fully vetted application available for a consumer.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a wireless electronic device translation system includes a translator that includes a first antenna, a second antenna, and a controlling unit coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna. The translator may be configured to receive a wireless communication signal transmitted from a first electronic device at a first frequency, interpret a communication content from the wireless communication signal using a first communication protocol, translate the first communication content to be transmitted as a wireless translated signal using a second communication protocol, and transmit the wireless translated signal at a second frequency to be received by a second electronic device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an earth-boring drill bit including a bit head and a shank. The shank includes a blank and a mandrel. The mandrel is concurrently formed by and secured to the blank by additive manufacturing. The mandrel includes a first region including a first alloy and a second region including a second alloy. The first alloy and the second alloy have a different modulus of elasticity, yield strength, resilience, ductility, hardness, fracture toughness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, or erosion resistance. The disclosure also provides a mandrel wherein the second region comprises a sensor region or a fluid passageway having a geometry that is not obtainable in a mandrel that is cast, machined, or both. The disclosure additionally provides method of manufacturing such bits and mandrels.

Abstract: In some implementations, a device may receive an indication of a code associated with granting authenticated access to a door. The device may transmit, to a user device, presentation information to cause an augmented reality image of an input pad to be displayed by the user device, wherein the augmented reality image is displayed over an area of an image of an exterior of the door via a user interface. The device may detect, via a camera device, one or more user inputs to the area of the exterior of the vehicle based on tracking a movement of a user. The device may identify an input code based on the one or more user inputs. The device may perform an action to cause the door to be unlocked based on the input code matching the code.

Abstract: A system may include a database that has a number of datasets regarding a number of commercial items. The system may also include a processor that may communicative couple to a mobile electronic device. The processor may receive an image of a commercial item from the mobile electronic device, determine an identity of the commercial item based on the image and the number of datasets in the database, and determine one or more information links relevant to the commercial item based on the identity. The one or more information links may display information regarding the commercial item. The processor may then send the one or more information links to a mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device may then display the one or more information links with the image.

Abstract: A permanent magnet electric generator for use in downhole applications has a rotor element rotatable about an axis, extending in a radial direction generally perpendicular to the axis and one or more permanent magnets attached to the rotor for generating magnetic fields. A stator element also extends in a radial direction generally perpendicular to the axis. A shaft is connected to the rotor and rotatable about the axis, the shaft extends through the stator. The linear distance along the shaft between the rotor and stator defines a gap that is variable and resistant to debris buildup.

Abstract: System and methods disclosed herein are for generating labels for dynamically received textual data based on similarity with previously-labeled datasets. The system may receive first textual data. The system may determine a first timestamp at which the first textual data was received. The system may determine a first receipt range for the first textual data based on the first timestamp. The system may retrieve a plurality of datasets. The system may select a first dataset from the plurality of datasets. The system may retrieve second textual data from the first dataset. The system may determine a first similarity metric between the first textual data and the first dataset. The system may compare the first similarity metric to a threshold similarity metric. The system may determine to assign a label for the second textual data to the first textual data.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments may use word embeddings to enhance scanning of programming code scripts for sensitive subject matter, such as confidential subject matter. The scanning may be performed by a neural network in some exemplary embodiments. The neural network initially may be trained on a corpus of programming code scripts to identify keywords relating to sensitive subject matter, such as passwords, tokens or credentials. The neural network may not only identify instances of the keywords but also may identify related terms as well. The output of the scan may be a ranked list of terms in the programming code script that may relate to sensitive subject matter.