Abstract: A call processing system and method for processing calls from high volume callers. A frequency of call activity is monitored for callers to determine reception of a call from a high frequency caller. When a call is received from such a caller, provided is information predicted to be requested from the caller prior to the caller being voice connected to a company representative. The retrieved information is then provided to a company representative prior to the caller being voice connected with a company representative as to expedite the call. Additionally, a customized message for the high frequency caller may be generated prior to the caller being voice connected with a company representative whereby the customized message contains information predicted to be responsive to a predicted inquiry from the determined high frequency caller to mitigate the need to connect the caller to a company representative.

Abstract: The way in which a fiber optic cable is wrapped around a casing string in a wellbore can be modeled using information from downhole sensor devices. For example, a system can include a fiber optic cable located along a length of a wellbore. The system can also include sensor devices located near the fiber optic cable at various depths to transmit acoustic signals indicating depths and orientations of segments of the fiber optic cable. The system can build a model describing how the fiber optic cable is positioned around the casing string based on the acoustic signals transmitted from the sensor devices. The system can also determine a target position for a perforating gun to perform a perforation operation through the casing string that avoids damaging the fiber optic cable. The system can output the target position for the perforating gun to an electronic device to facilitate the perforation operation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods executing a security server that perform various processes using alert elements containing various data fields indicating threats of fraud or attempts to penetrate an enterprise network. Using alert elements, the security server generate integrated alerts that are associated with customers of the system and assign a risk score for the integrated alerts, which the security server uses to store and sort the integrated alerts according to a priority, based on the relative risk scores. Analyst computers may query and fetch integrated alerts from an integrate alert database, and then present the integrate alerts to be addressed by an analyst according to the priority level of the respective integrated alerts. This allows to ensure that the right customer, is worked by the right analyst, at the right time, to maximize fraud prevention and minimize customer impact.

Abstract: A machine for filling a tertiary container with secondary containers is provided. The machine includes a frame and a tray loading station positioned to receive a plurality of streams of the secondary containers. The machine also includes a front gate at an upstream end of the tray loading station, the front gate moveable between a first position, in which the secondary containers are obstructed from passing downstream, and a second position, in which the secondary containers are not obstructed. The machine further includes a back stop proximate a downstream end of the tray loading station, the back stop moveable between a first, upstream position and a second, downstream position. The tray loading station is sized such that when a first row of secondary containers is positioned against the back stop in the first position, a portion of an upstream row of secondary containers is positioned directly above the front gate.

Abstract: A downhole turbine may include a stator disposed in a turbine housing, a rotor disposed between the stator and the turbine housing and wherein the rotor includes an outer housing, a gap that separates the stator and the rotor, wherein the gap is oil filled, and one or more blades disposed on the outer housing between the turbine housing and the rotor. The downhole turbine may further include a compressible medium attached to the outer housing between the stator and the outer housing, wherein the compressible medium is separated from the stator by the gap, and one or more magnets attached to an inner surface of the compressible medium, wherein the one or more magnets are separated from the stator by the gap.

Abstract: Techniques to improve detection and security of images, including formation and detection of matrix-based images. A histogram may be used to determine a most prevalent plurality of colors associated with an environment. A related plurality of colors may be determined based on the most prevalent plurality of colors. A matrix barcode may be generated based on the most prevalent colors, the related plurality of colors, an infrared layer, and an ultraviolet layer.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to methods and systems of password-based threshold authentication, which distributes the role of an authentication server among multiple servers. Any t servers can collectively verify passwords and generate authentication tokens, while no t?1 servers can forge a valid token or mount offline dictionary attacks.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for tamping the contents of a container are disclosed. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a tamp head for tamping the contents of the container; and a container support assembly structured and arranged to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container.

Abstract: A method includes separating a portion of a flattened tube of stock packing material to a custom length to form a pouch pre-form and closing a first end of the pouch pre-form leaving a second end of the pouch pre-form open. The method can include placing product into the pouch pre-form and closing the one open end of the pouch pre-form to form a closed pouch containing the product.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for post-acquisition assessment matching may include: receiving interaction information associated with a completed interaction involving an item acquired for a first assessment, the interaction information including an item identifier associated with the acquired item and the first assessment; in response to receiving the interaction information, determining whether the item is available for a second assessment based on the item identifier; in response to determining the second assessment for the item, comparing the first assessment with the second assessment; and in response to determining that the first assessment is higher than the second assessment based on the comparison: adjusting the first assessment based on the second assessment; determining a finalized amount for the interaction based on the adjusted first assessment for the item; and causing completion of the interaction based on the finalized amount.

Abstract: The invention features modified alphavirus or flavivirus virus-like particles (VLPs). The invention provides methods, compositions, and kits featuring the modified VLPs. The invention also features methods for enhancing production of modified VLPs for use in the prevention or treatment of alphavirus and flavivirus-mediated diseases. The invention also provides methods for delivering agents to a cell using the modified VLPs.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a portion of plant material that includes at least one active ingredient. A vaporizing unit includes a heating element configured to heat the plant material, and a sensor configured to detect an indication of airflow rate through the vaporizing unit. Control circuitry is configured to receive an indication of the airflow rate through the vaporizing unit, and, in response thereto, to determine a smoking profile that is desired by the user. The control circuitry drives the heating element to vaporize the active ingredient of the plant material by heating the plant material according to the determined smoking profile. The control circuitry dynamically updates the smoking profile in response to changes in airflow rate over the course of a smoking session. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A system for providing support in a downhole motor, the system includes a stator housing including an end, a stator contour within the stator housing, a rotor including a rotor end and lobes configured to engage with the stator contour to eccentrically rotate the rotor, and a radial support extending from the stator contour toward the end of the stator housing, and positioned radially between the rotor end of the rotor and the stator housing to support the rotor and decrease an amount of eccentric rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: An underbalanced drilling system is provided. A bottomhole assembly includes a drill bit drilling a wellbore in a formation underbalanced. The bottomhole assembly includes a telemetry sub. A telemetry component transmits signals in real-time between the telemetry sub of the bottomhole assembly and a controller on the surface. A drill string is coupled with the bottomhole assembly, and the drill string includes a plurality of drill collars. The drill collars form a channel through which drilling fluid flows from the surface to the bottomhole assembly. The drill string is inserted into the wellbore by a hydraulic work over unit. A continuous circulation component provides continuous circulation of the drilling fluid while a new drill collar is coupled to the drill string. The continuous circulation component substantially maintains a wellbore density at a predetermined density.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of preventing or treating a disease in a mammalian subject, comprising administering to the subject who is in need thereof an effective dosage of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a virus like particle (VLP) comprising: an alphavirus replicon comprising a recombinant polynucleotide, wherein the polynucleotide comprises a sequence encoding both subunits of a human class II major histocompatibility antigen, a retroviral gag protein, and a fusogenic envelope protein, wherein the VLP does not contain an alphavirus structural protein gene.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a distance threshold may be adjusted, and authentication may be performed based on the adjusted distance threshold. In some embodiments, an authentication request from a first user device associated with a user may be received. First location information of the first user device and second location information of a second user device may be obtained. A distance between the first and second user devices may be determined based on the first and second location information. A distance threshold may be adjusted based on whether such location information is obtained over the same wireless network, whether such information is obtained over a public wireless network, whether an IP address from which such location information is obtained matches a stored IP address, or other criteria. The user may be authenticated based on a comparison of the distance to the adjusted distance threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems for deploying autonomous vehicles to form a barricade in a coordinated response to an imminent threat are described. In one embodiment, a method for deploying autonomous vehicles to form a barricade is described. The method includes determining at least one location for a barricade and determining a plurality of autonomous vehicles that are available to form the barricade. The method also includes sending instructions to the plurality of autonomous vehicles to form the barricade at the at least one location. In response to the instructions, the plurality of autonomous vehicles are configured to move to the at least one location and form the barricade.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying a downhole fluid. The system may include at least one electrode station that is disposed on a non-conductive material and at least two electrodes coupled to the at least one electrode station. The system may further include at least one acquisition unit that is configured to measure a voltage across the two electrodes of the at least one electrode station and an information handling system connected to the at least one acquisition unit. The method may include injecting a current into a sensing domain with at least two electrodes disposed on at least one electrode station, measuring a voltage across the at least two electrodes at the at least one electrode station using an acquisition unit, and sending the measured voltage to an information handling system connected to the acquisition unit by at least one communication line.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to improve efficiency and effectiveness in firearms and tactical training, at least in part by selectively generating images onto external target elements. One or more portable devices are selectively mounted with respect to selected ones of the external target elements, which may be fixed in position or mobile as the application demands. Each device includes a housing accommodating and configured for optical projection of light from an array of laser sources and diffractive optical elements. A device controller directs the projection of light from one or more of the laser sources according to a programmed target stimulus arrangement. The device controller may be individually and manually programmed or commanded in some embodiments, but alternatively a master controller may be implemented to coordinate light projections from an array of devices to provide any number of desired scenarios for neurological and/or physiological stimulation of users.

Abstract: A smoking device for aerosol-generation may comprise a device housing, a surface acoustic wave-atomizer (SAW-atomizer), a supply element, and a control system. The device housing may include a storage portion for an aerosol-forming substrate. The SAW-atomizer may include an atomization region, a first transducer, and/or a second transducer. The first transducer is configured to generate first surface acoustic waves that propagate along a surface of the SAW-atomizer. The supply element is arranged to supply the aerosol-forming substrate from the storage portion to the atomization region of the SAW-atomizer. The control system is configured to operate the SAW-atomizer to atomize the aerosol-forming substrate in the atomization region to generate an aerosol. A cartridge for such a smoking device and a method for generating an aerosol in a smoking system are also provided.