Abstract: A method includes positioning at least one guide projection on a substrate of a metal part such that the at least one guide projection extends outwardly from an outer surface of the substrate to an exposed length. Hardfacing is then applied to the substrate of the metal part at or near a location of the at least one guide projection. The exposed length of the at least one guide projection is then referenced in determining when to cease application of the hardfacing.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for authenticating transactions. An example first method includes steps performed by a server, comprising generating and storing a first identifier and sending the first identifier to a wireless beacon device associated with a transaction device over a network, receiving a transaction request comprising a proposed identifier and information related to a transaction, determining whether there is a match between the first identifier and the proposed identifier, and, based on a determination that there is a match, authorizing the transaction.

Abstract: A method includes a media services system maintaining user preference data, including historical listening patterns associated with situational parameters user preference data from a first wireless receiver in memory. The method continues with the media service system receiving current situational parameters from a second wireless receiver and comparing the situation parameters to the historical listening patterns with situation parameters from the first wireless receiver. The method continues by selecting media selection data for the second wireless receiver and then transmitting the media selection data to the second wireless receiver.

Abstract: A method and system for mapping fractures in a subterranean formation by generating micro-seismic events within fractures using energetic fracturing fluid. The micro-seismic events may be generated by injecting reactive particles and explosive particles into the fractures. A triggering event may occur that allows the reactive particles to come into contact with a fluid within the fractures, causing energetic reactions. The explosive particles may detonate from the energy generated by the reactions.

Abstract: A method of producing an electrochemical fuel cell device with one or more electrodes containing one or more electrocatalysts. The method involves the steps of, first, affixing a semi-permeable membrane with inhomogeneous conduction pathways to a conducting surface of a first electrode in a predetermined configuration to form a first electrode assembly. This assembly is then immersed in an electrolyte containing at least one electrochemical precursor with for forming an active electrocatalyst on the conducting surface of the first electrode when a potential is applied to the first electrode. The same process can occur with a second electrode assembly which can be joined to the first electrode assembly before or after the electrocatalyst deposition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assaying the viscoelastic properties of a heterogeneous material are provided. The systems and methods allow for application of an in situ calibrated optical trap to optical trap beads within the material to assay the viscoelastic properties. In several embodiments, the material can be a biological material, such as tumor tissue or skin tissue.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to proppant including a swellable coating thereon for treatment of subterranean formations. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method includes placing in the subterranean formation a proppant including a coating thereon. The coating is swellable with aqueous medium in response to a trigger including acidic pH, CO2, H2S, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method includes configuring a plurality of sub-bounding areas within a primary bounding area. An aggregate traffic message includes traffic information aggregated from the sub-bounding areas and is broadcast throughout the primary bounding area. The roads within the primary bounding area are associated with road classifications, and individual traffic messages associated with those roads are generated. Sub-bounding areas within the primary bounding area are associated with particular road classifications. Individual traffic messages (for particular roads) are selected for inclusion in the aggregate traffic message (broadcast over the primary bounding area) if those messages are associated with a road having a road classification that matches a road classification of a sub-bounding area in which the road is located. The aggregate traffic message is generated by combining the selected individual traffic messages and is transmitted to a station importer.

Abstract: An electric cleaning apparatus, which comprises an autonomous cleaning unit which moves autonomously over a surface to be cleaned and collects dust, and a station unit which has a charging electrode for the autonomous cleaning unit, wherein the autonomous cleaning unit includes a first body case having a first inlet, a secondary battery which accumulates electric power supplied from the charging electrode, a first dust collecting container which accumulates dust sucked from the first inlet, and an electric blower which is driven by electric power supplied from the secondary battery and makes negative pressure act on the first dust collecting container, and wherein the station unit is provided with a second body case having a second inlet which sucks other dust different from the dust which the autonomous cleaning unit collects.

Abstract: Various embodiments for a multi-focal selective illumination microscopy (SIM) system for generating multi-focal patterns of a sample are disclosed. The multi-focal SIM system performs a focusing, scaling and summing operation on each generated multi-focal pattern in a sequence of multi-focal patterns that completely scan the sample to produce a high resolution composite image.

Abstract: System for supporting an upright member from a support surface includes an elongated carrier releasably engageable with the support surface, a base adapted to extend around at least part of the lower end of the carrier and abut the support surface and at least one anchor associated with the carrier and configured to grip the upright member when the upright member is inserted into a bore of the carrier.

Abstract: An example shunt tube assembly includes at least one shunt tube that defines an inner flow path for a fluid and provides an upper portion and a lower portion. At least one shunt fitting is positioned inline between the upper and lower portions of the at least one shunt tube. The shunt fitting provides an outlet that fluidly communicates with the inner flow path to provide an exit for at least a portion of the fluid to be discharged from the at least one shunt tube.

Abstract: A method of operating a security server to securely transact business between a user and an enterprise via a network includes receiving, at the security server from an enterprise with which the user is currently connected via the network, a request of the enterprise to activate a secure communications channel over the network between the user and the security server. The request includes contact information for contacting the user via other than the network. The security server, in response, transmits an activation code for delivery to the user via other than the network and in a manner corresponding to the received contact information. The security server receives, from the user via the network, an activation code and compares the received activation code with the transmitted activation code to validate the received activation code. The secure communications channel is then activated based on the validation of the received activation code.

Abstract: A system for initiating and authorizing a transaction including one or more memory devices storing instructions and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to associate a detectable device with at least one financial account. The one or more processors may be further configured to receive a notification indicating that the detectable device is involved in a potential transaction initiated by a sensor device detecting the detectable device in an initiating action. The one or more processors may be further configured to receive transaction information associated with the potential transaction. The one or more processors may be further configured to identify a customer profile associated with the detectable device, and determine whether the potential transaction is authorized by a customer based on the transaction information and at least one profile customization parameter associated with the customer profile.

Abstract: Methods and systems monitor communications between users and analyze the communications to simultaneously determine, for a current time period, mental state variables of one of the users. Such mental state variables include the emotion of the user, the mood of the user, and the personality of the user. Additionally, such methods aggregate the emotion, the mood, and the personality using a hierarchical probabilistic graphical model that determines the highest probability path through a directed probabilistic graph to infer the mental state of the user. The directed probabilistic graph maintains a single state for the personality for the time period, and maintains multiple states for the emotion and the mood for the time period. These methods and systems output the mental state of the user.

Abstract: A cable surround material for a cable of an electricity transmission system comprising a mixture of: an additive containing carbon; sand; and cement, wherein the material comprises, by weight, approximately 60-80% carbon containing additive, approximately 5-10% cement, and a remainder of sand.

Abstract: A downhole logging tool comprises an optical sensor to sense a field related to a formation parameter at a first location along the downhole logging tool. A processor receives information from the optical sensor and provides an evaluation of the formation parameter.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing network resources based on available user information. The methods, systems, and apparatus include actions of obtaining a set of user information, receiving a request to access a network resource, and in response to receiving the request to access the network resource, determining user information requested by the network resource. Additional actions include determining whether the set of user information satisfies the user information requested by the network resource and in response to determining that the set of user information satisfies the user information requested by the network resource, selecting a particular network resource to provide in response to the request. Further actions include in response to selecting the particular network resource, providing the particular network resource in response to the request.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry composition for use in industries such as the petroleum and pipeline industries includes a particulate, an aqueous liquid and a chemical compound that renders the particulate surface extremely hydrophobic. The slurry is produced by rendering the surface of the particulate extremely hydrophobic during or before making the slurry.