Abstract: An oral tobacco product includes a body that is wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a mouth-stable polymer matrix and tobacco fibers embedded in the mouth-stable polymer matrix. The oral tobacco product can be formed by extruding a mixture of mouth-stable polymer and tobacco fibers.

Abstract: Assemblies and method to extract a material from a material source may include a vacuum and material collector assembly to enhance extraction of the material from the material source. The vacuum and material collector assembly may include a material collector comprising a high volume pressure vessel having an interior and a high-pressure vacuum source pneumatically coupled to the pressure vessel. The vacuum source is operable to generate a high-pressure vacuum of a fluid flow through the interior of the pressure vessel to extract the waste material from the waste material source into the interior of the pressure vessel. The vacuum source may be connected to the pressure vessel of the material collector to form a unified vacuum and material collector assembly which may be supported on a single mobile chassis.

Abstract: A system and method for helping a user carrying a smart device to maintain safe distances from other persons during an epidemic or a pandemic. A portable smart device measures the approximate distance to persons in the vicinity of the user, and notifies the user whenever he or she is too close to other persons. The portable smart device may overlay augmented reality graphics (such as arcs, lines, text, numbers, or other graphics) over images captured by the smart device's camera, to indicate safe distances. The graphics serve to inform and/or warn the user that he or she may be getting too close to other persons.

Abstract: System, apparatus, device, method and/or computer program product are disclosed for sharing a reusable capability component among multiple web applications. A device is configured to operate a web browser to load at least a portion of a first web application and render a page of the first web application to be displayed on a display device. The page includes a placeholder to indicate a placement for a reusable capability component including a frontend component and an associated backend component. The frontend component and the backend component of the reusable capability component can form an independent web application that can be used by the first and a second web application. Upon detection of a user navigation on the placeholder, the device loads, from a server, the frontend component of the reusable capability component to be rendered and placed within the page according to the placement indicated by the placeholder.

Abstract: A cartridge for use with an aerosol generating device includes a housing defining a closed end, an open end, and an aperture between the closed end and the open end. The cartridge further includes a composition including nicotine in the housing in proximity to the closed end. The cartridge also includes a flow control apparatus in the housing. The flow control apparatus includes a proximal end, a distal end, and an internal airflow passageway between the distal end and the proximal end. A seal is formed between an exterior of the flow control apparatus and an interior of the housing. The seal is between the open end of the housing and the aperture of the housing. A channel is at least partially defined by the interior of the housing. The channel is in communication with the aperture and directs air from the aperture towards the composition including nicotine.

Abstract: A bead delivery disk, system and method of delivering flavor beads to a tobacco rod or tow including a bead source, a bead delivery disk in communication with the bead source, including a central disk portion having front and back sides and a first central thickness, an inner annular rim around the central disk portion, the inner annular rim having a second thickness less than said first thickness, a series of pockets spaced around the inner annular rim and multiple vacuum transmission apertures located on one side of the disk, each aperture communicating with at least one of the pockets.

Abstract: A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system includes a storage container containing a supply of an aerosol-forming substrate, a fluid permeable heating element positioned across an opening in the storage container, a protective cover coupled to the storage container and covering the fluid permeable heating element, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet, and an airflow path from the at least one air inlet to the at least one air outlet. The protective cover is configured such that a portion of the airflow path is between the protective cover and the fluid permeable heating element.

Abstract: A user specific tic behavior detection-based method and system of performing an authentication of video of a person in order to authorize access to a secured resource. The user provides audio and/or video data in which they exhibit one or more tic behaviors. When a person later requests access to the user's account, the system and method are configured to capture a video and/or audio recording of the person requesting access. The data is evaluated to determine whether the previously detected tic behavior is present. If the tic behavior is present, the system determines the image or voice is authentic and can verify an identity of the person. In some cases, the system can further be configured to automatically grant the person access to one or more services, features, or information for which he or she is authorized.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to a cloud computing infrastructure and method of operating the same including at least: receiving a configuration file from a configuration repository; receiving a request from a first device to configure an application rule set of one or more nodes based on the configuration file; transmitting the request to a receiver node selected from the one or more nodes; generating a notification alerting the one or more nodes that the request is stored on a database; distributing the configuration file to a subset of the one or more nodes based on receipt of an access request from the one or more nodes; and updating the application rule set of the subset of the one or more nodes based on the configuration file.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining an actual cost of ownership of a purchase product may include determining a baseline value of the purchase product, and receiving usage information representative of usage of a user product from a computing device in communication with the user product. The purchase product and the user product may belong to a same class of products. The method also may include determining a user cost component based on the received usage information, and determining an actual cost of ownership of the purchase product based on at least the baseline value and the user cost component.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging of loose product includes a loading station, a box forming station and an uploading station. The loading station includes moveable chutes in spaced apart relation. Each chute has an open top, an open upstream end, and an open downstream end. The open top is configured to receive loose product while moving along a first feed path. The box forming station is operable to partially erect boxes in spaced apart relation with first and second open sides and align the first open side of each box with the downstream end of a corresponding chute while moving along a second feed path. The unloading station includes a stationary vacuum head in communication with the second open side of each box. The vacuum head provides a continuous vacuum source along the second feed path operable to move loose product from the chute into the boxes.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium are described that reduce overlapping portions of data object instances. The data object instances may include requests for identifying locations of stored documents. By comparing a second data object instance to one or more first data object instances, one or more overlapping portions may be removed from the second data object instance. Once the second data object instance is returned with locations of newly identified locations of documents, the removed portions of the second data object instance may be added back with previously identified locations of the documents.

Abstract: The method includes defining a cavity within a housing of a vapor-generating article, the vapor-generating article having a first end, a second end and a middle section, first inserting at least one portion of a retention medium within the housing between the first end and the middle section, and second inserting a first frangible capsule to be near or at least partially within the retention medium, the first frangible capsule including a first volatile substrate.

Abstract: Formation testing apparatus including a downhole testing tool for subterranean formation testing within a borehole of a well, the tool including a downhole sampling device having: a test tool body having an outer surface; and assembly extendable out of and retractable into an opening in the outer surface. The assembly includes a seal pad at a first end of the formation probe sampling assembly, the seal pad operable to contact a formation wall of the borehole when the seal pad is extended past the outer surface to thereby define a seal space between the borehole and the seal pad. The seal pad includes at the first end includes a metal plate with a trough therein, the trough defining a closed track in the metal plate, the trough having dimensions to hold a portion of an inflatable elastomeric ring shaped to fit in the trough. Methods of assembly and testing are disclosed.

Abstract: A cleaner assembly for an apparatus for making pouch products includes a cleaner roller and a poker roller. The cleaner roller may counter rotate with a rotatable drum of the apparatus, in contact with an upper surface of a first elastic layer on the rotatable drum, and at a greater tangential speed than at least one surface of an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum or an upper surface of the first elastic layer. The poker roller includes projections that are each configured to extend into one or more divots of the rotatable drum. The poker roller may counter rotate with the rotatable drum and at a same tangential speed as the at least one surface such that the projections extend into and out of separate, respective divots of the rotatable drum based on the counter rotation of the poker roller and the rotatable drum.

Abstract: A set of lift controls may be configured to determine the load on the motor (112) by a vehicle of an unknown weight during operation at a standard lift speed and use such information to determine a potential speed that the motor may raise the vehicle at while staying within safe operational levels for the motor. One or more of a magnitude of electrical power drawn, a pressure generating by a hydraulic lifting, or a sensed vehicle weight may be used to provide an indication of load on the motor and/or a higher potential speed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method comprises receiving, by a processing network computer, a plurality of clearing files from a plurality of transport computers. The processing network computer may then generate, based on the data in the plurality of clearing files, a settlement file comprising a first settlement amount and a first destination associated with an account at a custodian computer. The processing network computer may then transmit the settlement file to an authorizing entity computer. The processing network computer may then transmit a transfer instruction file comprising the first destination, a second settlement amount, and a second destination associated with a transport computer to a custodian computer. Later, the authorizing entity computer sends the first settlement amount to the first destination at the custodian computer. Then the custodian computer, or the processing network computer, sends the second settlement amount to the second destination associated with the transport computer.

Abstract: State of the art milk quality estimation techniques fail to determine quality of the milk non-invasively. This disclosure relates generally to a system and method for non-invasive estimation of milk quality within targeted packaging. A voltage signal is applied at a first capacitor plate amongst a plurality of capacitor plates placed on either side of a targeted packaging containing milk, wherein the targeted packaging is placed inside an electrode receptacle. The resulting voltage signal is measured at a second capacitor plate of the plurality of capacitor plates. A capacitance value is calculated from the measured voltage signal and a value of pH corresponding to the calculated capacitance value is then determined using a regression-based model. A correlation of the determined value of pH with one or more pre-defined quality indices is performed and the quality of milk within the targeted packaging estimated based on the correlation.

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: Identification of immunodominant Babesia microti antigens using genome-wide immunoscreening is described. Candidate antigens were screened against sera from patients with clinical babesiosis. Also described are diagnostic assays with high sensitivity and specificity for detecting B. microti-specific antibodies in patient samples using the identified immunodominant antigens.