Abstract: An apparatus configured to provide portioned instances of a compressible material includes a channel assembly, a gas source, a cutting assembly, and a discharge assembly. The channel assembly holds a bulk instance of the material extending through upper and lower channels of a continuous channel. The gas source supplies gas to compress the bulk instance. The cutting assembly moves in relation to the channel assembly to isolate the upper and lower channels, severing upper and lower material portions of the bulk instance. The discharge assembly directs gas to impinge on a lower face of the cutting assembly to discharge the lower material portion as a portioned instance. The channel assembly may be moveable, where operation of the gas source, cutting assembly, and/or discharge assembly are based on moving the channel assembly between various positions. The gas supply may be controlled based on a determined property of the portioned instance.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides composition and methods for improving leaf quality of low-alkaloid tobacco plants. Also provided are the identification and genetic engineering of target genes (Leaf Quality Genes) for producing tobacco plants with altered total alkaloid and nicotine levels and commercially acceptable leaf grade, their development via breeding or transgenic approaches, and production of tobacco products from these tobacco plants.

Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol-generating device includes a main housing having a cavity, a closure body engageable with the main housing to enclose a cartridge in the cavity, and a heater assembly. The heater assembly includes an elongate piercing assembly configured to extend into the open-ended passage of the cartridge and one or more electric heaters. The piercing assembly has a first hollow shaft portion connected to the main housing and a second hollow shaft portion connected to the closure body. The first and second hollow shaft portions have first and second piercing surfaces configured to breakthrough first and second frangible seals when the cartridge is enclosed in the cavity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for downhole drilling and, more particularly, hydraulic control systems and methods for hydraulically locking and unlocking moveable elements of a drill bit are provided. A drill bit may include a body; a moveable element secured to the body, wherein the moveable element is configured to extend or retract from a surface of the drill bit; a communication channel from the moveable element to a bore in the body; and a hydraulic control system at least partially disposed in the body, wherein the hydraulic control system is configured to at least provide fluid communication from the bore to the communication channel to thereby lock or unlock the moveable element.

Abstract: In some implementations, a compliance monitoring device may detect a trigger event associated with a compliance-based interaction. The compliance-based interaction may be associated with a secure location, a user device of a user, a sensor associated with a secure object, and one or more cameras. The compliance monitoring device may cause the one or more cameras to capture a set of images associated with the compliance-based interaction. The compliance monitoring device may receive the images and may extract image information from the set of images. The compliance monitoring device may receive positioning information associated with the user device and status information associated with the secure object. The compliance monitoring device may analyze at least one of the image information, the positioning information, or the status information to identify a compliance rule violation. The compliance monitoring device may provide an alert indication based on identifying the compliance rule violation.

Abstract: A technique for enabling non-native accounts to be processed by a processing system may include receiving an account identifier scheme that is used by a third-party entity to provide access to accounts associated with the third-party entity, and assigning an entity identifier to the third-party entity in which the entity identifier conforms to a native format used by the processing system. An application programming interface can be modified to recognize account identifiers of the third-party entity. A transaction request can be received to execute a transaction in which the transaction request includes a resource provider identifier of the third-party entity and an account identifier of an account of the third-party entity. The entity identifier assigned to the third-party entity can be determined using the modified application programming interface, and the transaction can be processed using the entity identifier assigned to the third-party entity.

Abstract: Provided is a system that includes at least one processor programmed or configured to provision a client device for access to an online source of information, transmit a private encryption key of a public/private encryption key pair to a software agent of the client device, receive a first hash value from the software agent, wherein the first hash value is generated using the private encryption key, receive a second hash value from the software agent, determine whether to allow access to the online source of information by the software agent based on the first hash value and the second hash value received from the software agent, process a request to access the online source of information involving the software agent, and store a data record associated with a data transaction involving the online source of information in a data structure. Methods and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: Vehicle shelf systems having indicators thereon for improving loading and delivery efficiency. Items are scanned for loading, and the indicators on the vehicle shelves identify where to place the item based on the sequence of the delivery point along the delivery route. A mobile computing device alerts a delivery carrier when the delivery vehicle is in proximity to a delivery point when an item is to be delivered.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a monitoring system may include an RFID reader mounted to a support structure. The RFID reader may be configured for continuously scanning for RFID tagged items within a field and issuing an alert when an alert condition has been triggered.

Abstract: Systems as described herein may implement non-persistent data caching using a dedicated web server. A non-persistent data caching system may determine that an application, executing on a computing device may require access to secure data located on a remote server external to the computing device. The non-persistent data caching system may initiate a dedicated web server on the computing device, retrieve the secure data from the remote server, and store the secure data in a volatile memory of the computing device. The non-persistent data caching system may subsequently redirect a request for at least a portion of the secure data from the application and to the dedicated web server, and the dedicated web server may send the requested portion to the application.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method comprising, establishing, by a wallet server computer, a single sign-on link between a user bank account and a wallet application. The method further comprises receiving a transaction request message from a user, wherein the transaction request is for a transaction between the user and a merchant associated with the wallet application. The method further comprises sending sign-on data to an issuer computer using a secure authentication protocol and receiving a confirmation message from the issuer computer confirms initiation through the issuer application. The transaction is processed by the wallet server computer based on the confirmation message.

Abstract: Antibodies and antigen binding fragments that specifically bind to P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein are disclosed. Nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, vectors and host cells are also provided. The disclosed antibodies, antigen binding fragments, nucleic acids and vectors can be used, for example, to inhibit a P. falciparum infection.

Abstract: A remote signal-based method and system of performing an authentication of images of a person in order to permit access to a secured resource. The system and method are configured to cause a visual and/or haptic pattern response to occur in a secondary device while collecting image data from a different, primary device. The image data is evaluated to determine whether the appropriate pattern is present. If the pattern is present, the system determines the image is authentic and can verify an identity of the person, and 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: Systems and methods for efficiently managing bulk material are provided. The disclosure is directed to a portable support structure used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material and output bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. The portable support structure may include a frame for receiving and holding the one or more portable bulk material containers in an elevated position proximate the blender hopper, as well as one or more gravity feed outlets for routing the bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. In some embodiments, the portable support structure may be transported to the well site on a trailer, unloaded from the trailer, and positioned proximate the blender unit. In other embodiments, the portable support structure may be a mobile support structure that is integrated into a trailer unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating training data for sequential conversational responses to alleviate the collection burden are disclosed herein. More specifically, the methods and systems describe generating determining dynamic conversational responses to generate training data for sequential conversation responses. For example, the system creates a special form of a random treatment control experiment to reduce the data collection while at the same time generating effectively adequate learning data for intents for the sequenced machine learning.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an RFID system for product identification may include a compartment having a first wall and a second wall that extend toward each other and that together define at least part of a cavity and a channel. The cavity may extend laterally along a first direction and may be configured to contain a suspended package and having a first width may extend along a second direction. The channel may extend laterally along the first direction and having a second width may extend along a second direction, the channel being in fluid communication with the cavity, the channel may be configured to limit movement along the second direction of a support that extends downward through the channel and into the cavity to support the suspended package, the second width of the channel being narrower than the first width of the cavity.

Abstract: A system for loading and unloading containers of items from transport vehicles and moving containers of items to and from desired locations using automated robots are disclosed. The system includes one or more automated robots, a base station, and one or more vehicle-based systems. The automated robots are configured to move to, lift, and carry containers of items. The base station is configured to coordinate the movements of the automated robots. The vehicle-based systems are associated with transport vehicles and configured to communicate information about containers on the transport vehicles to the base station or automated robots. The vehicle-based systems may call the one or more automated robots to automatically load or unload the transport vehicles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to coloured fiber cement products as well as to methods for manufacturing such products. In particular, the present invention provides coloured fiber cement products, which fiber cement products are coloured in the mass, and at least comprise on at least part of their outer surface one or more cured layers of a coating composition, which composition at least comprises a binder and a pigment and/or a filler and is characterized by a pigment volume concentration (PVC) of between about 1% and about 20%. The present invention further provides processes for producing these coloured fiber cement products. Finally, the present invention provides uses of the coloured fiber cement products as building materials. In particular embodiments, the fiber cement products produced by the processes of the present invention can be used to provide an outer surface to walls, both internal as well as external, a building or construction, e.g. as fagade plate, siding, etc.