Abstract: A computer system for recommending merchants to a candidate cardholder is provided. The computer system includes a memory device in communication with a processor. The processor is programmed to receive transaction information for a plurality of cardholders from a payment network. The transaction information includes data relating to purchases made by the cardholders at a plurality of merchants, the purchases satisfying a first criteria. The processor receives candidate cardholder preference information for at least one of the merchants input by the candidate cardholder. The computer system determines a merchant rank for each merchant based on the received transaction information and the candidate cardholder preference information, and determines a neutral merchant rank for each merchant based on the received transaction information and neutral cardholder preferences of the plurality of cardholders.

Abstract: A conversion assembly for a dunnage conversion machine includes both a downstream pair of rotatable members and an upstream pair of rotatable members upstream of the downstream rotatable members. The downstream rotatable members include a pair of gears, and each gear has a plurality of teeth and is rotatable about a respective axis. The gears are positioned so that the teeth of one gear are sequentially interlaced with the teeth of the other gear as the gears rotate. The upstream rotatable members include a pair of feed wheels, and the gears and the feed wheels define a path for a sheet stock material from between the upstream pair of feed wheels to between the downstream pair of gears. The rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the feed wheels is the same as the rate at which the sheet stock material is advanced by the gears.

Abstract: Provided is a process comprising a selective ruthenium seed layer deposition with oxygen-free ruthenium precursors, followed by bulk deposition of metal-containing precursors such as tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt, ruthenium, and/or copper-containing precursors. The ruthenium seed layer deposition is highly selective for the conducting portions of the microelectronic device substrate while minimizing deposition onto the insulating surfaces of the microelectronic device substrate. In certain embodiments, the conducting portions of the substrate is chosen from titanium nitride, tungsten nitride, tantalum nitride, tungsten, cobalt, molybdenum, aluminum, and copper.

Abstract: A system and method for an engaging tool. Removing debris, trees and clearing land and paths requires the use of specific tool and machinery. To grind, break and shred wood, the machines must be fitted with proper attachments and engaging tools. One tool includes a front a front face and a back face connected by two opposing side faces and an opposing top face and base face. The front face has a concave shape and an outer channel which extends inwardly into the front face. The front face also has a tube a tube extending outwardly from said front face. The tube is located within the outer channel.

Abstract: A coiler for producing tighter or smaller coils of dunnage uses a cam to move fork pins from a dunnage-receiving position inwardly to a more closely-spaced coiling position. The fork pins are coupled to pin mounts that cooperate with the cam and slots in a guide plate to move the parallel fork pins between the dunnage-receiving and coiling positions. The fork pins are mounted to extend perpendicular to and through the guide plate on opposing sides of a path of the dunnage to capture and wind a dunnage strip into a coil.

Abstract: A shoulder brace device includes: a torso band, an arm band, and a brace mechanism, such that the brace mechanism is configured to connect to the torso band and the arm band; wherein the brace mechanism includes a ball joint assembly, such that the shoulder brace device enables free range of movement; wherein the brace mechanism can be locked in place or tightened for reduced range of movement.

Abstract: The subject technology is related to methods and apparatus for discretization and manufacturability analysis of computer assisted design models. In one embodiment, the subject technology implements a computer-based method for the reception of an electronic file with a digital model representative of a physical object. The computer-based method determines geometric and physical attributes from a discretized version of the digital model, a cloud point version of the digital model, and symbolic functions generated through evolutionary algorithms. A set of predictive machine learning models is utilized to infer predictions related to the manufacture process of the physical object.

Abstract: An electronic module comprising an input capacitor connected between a first and second node; a first and second switch connected in series between the first and second node and the second node, in parallel with the input capacitor, and defining an intermediate node at their interconnection; a voltage regulator configured for receiving power from the input capacitor and for providing output power at a configurable voltage (out) between an output node and the second node. A multi-output power supply system comprising three such modules. A LED-driver comprising such module. A multi-color LED driver comprising three modules. A solid state lighting device comprising three modules and three LEDs.

Abstract: Various methods are described for forming threads in a workpiece, and particularly for controlling and/or monitoring threading of workpieces. Also described are tools and a system used in performing the methods.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for identifying natural product-encoding multi-gene clusters (MGCs). In some embodiments, the present disclosure also teaches methods for producing sequenced and assembled metagenomic libraries that are amenable to MGC search bionformatic tools and techniques.

Abstract: The use of selective deposition of silicon nitride can eliminate conventional patterning steps by allowing silicon nitride to be deposited only in selected and desired areas. Using a silicon iodide precursor alternately with a thermal nitrogen source in an ALD or pulsed CVD mode, silicon nitride can be deposited preferentially on a surface such as silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, germanium oxide, SiCO, SiOF, silicon carbide, silicon oxynitride, and low k substrates, while exhibiting very little deposition on exposed surfaces such as titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, aluminum nitride, hafnium oxide, zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, niobium oxide, lanthanum oxide, yttrium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, and strontium oxide.

Abstract: A coiler for producing tighter or smaller coils of dunnage uses a cam to move fork pins from a dunnage-receiving position inwardly to a more closely-spaced coiling position. The fork pins are coupled to pin mounts that cooperate with the cam and slots in a guide plate to move the parallel fork pins between the dunnage-receiving and coiling positions. The fork pins are mounted to extend perpendicular to and through the guide plate on opposing sides of a path of the dunnage to capture and wind a dunnage strip into a coil.

Abstract: A system filled with a fluid, designed for underwater applications, in which the interior of a housing and/or tank forms a fluid region which is sealed with respect to the surrounding seawater region, includes at least one hydraulic pressure compensation device, which at least raises the pressure level of the fluid region to the ambient pressure prevailing in the seawater region. The pressure compensation device is constructed in two stages in such a way that at least one store having a flexible wall region and at least one piston store having a displaceable piston are arranged in series. The use of the pressure compensation device to pressurize at least one housing filled with fluid for a hydraulic actuating shaft is also proposed.

Abstract: In some implementations, an optical interference filter includes a substrate; and a set of layers that are disposed on the substrate, wherein the set of layers includes: a first subset of layers; and a second subset of layers; wherein: each of the first subset of layers comprises an aluminum nitride (AlN) material, a stress of each of the first subset of layers is between ?1000 and 800 megapascals, the first subset of layers has a first refractive index with a first value, each of the second subset of layers comprises at least one other material, the second subset of layers has a second refractive index with a second value that is different than the first value, and the optical interference filter has an effective refractive index greater than or equal to 95% of a highest value of the first value and the second value.

Abstract: A system and method for separating a layer from a layer assembly when the layer assembly includes a backing layer and a material layer. The system includes an automated machine having a controller and an end effector. A separating tool is attached to the end effector of the automated machine. The separating tool includes a displacing member, with an outer face, configured to establish a void between the backing layer and the material layer by displacing a portion of the backing layer. The separating layer also includes a securing member configured to establish a mechanical connection with a displaced portion of the backing layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an agricultural composition comprising at least three insect pathogenic viruses, selected from Autographica californica (Alfalfa Looper) multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrosis virus (HaNPV), Plutella xylostella granulovirus (PxGV), Spodoptera litura (oriental leafworm moth) nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltNPV) and Spodoptera exigua (beet armyworm) nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeNPV).

Abstract: A method of operating an oven appliance includes capturing an image of a cooking chamber of the oven appliance, defining a plurality of zones within the cooking chamber as shown on the captured image, analyzing the image using one or more computer processors and image recognition features to determine at least one characteristic of an item within the cooking chamber within each zone, and comparing the at least one characteristic across the plurality of zones.

Abstract: A system includes a vaporizer vessel. The vaporizer vessel includes an outlet fluidly connected to the vaporizer vessel. A heater is configured to heat the vaporizer vessel. A valve is configured to regulate a pressure of a vaporized material at the outlet. In response to the pressure at the outlet being outside a set pressure range, the heater is configured to increase or decrease heat to the vaporizer vessel.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof having binding specificity for PACAP. The antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof comprise the sequences of the VH, VL, and CDR polypeptides described herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them. Antibodies and antigen binding fragments described herein bind to and/or compete for binding to the same linear or conformational epitope(s) on human PACAP as an anti-PACAP antibody. The invention contemplates conjugates of anti-PACAP antibodies and binding fragments thereof conjugated to one or more functional or detectable moieties. Methods of making said anti-PACAP antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof are also contemplated.