Abstract: A computer-implemented method for facilitating a merchant transaction comprises providing a list of one or more merchants that are in geographic proximity to a geolocation of a payer, and receiving a request from the payer to conduct a transaction with a merchant among the one or more merchants. The request can be received by a computer system programmed to facilitate the transaction. The transaction can then be processed with the aid of the computer system. A tip selection, which can include a tip amount, can be applied to the transaction. In some cases the tip selection is received from the payer as a selectable option. In other cases, the tip selection is automatically applied to the transaction without involvement from the payer during or upon the termination of the transaction.

Abstract: A technique is configured to provide various data protection schemes, such as replication and erasure coding, for data blocks of volumes served by storage nodes of a cluster configured to perform deduplication of the data blocks. Additionally, the technique is configured to ensure that each deduplicated data block complies with data redundancy guarantees of the data protection schemes, while improving storage space of the storage nodes. In order to satisfy the data integrity guarantees while improving available storage space, the storage nodes perform periodic garbage collection for data blocks to optimize storage in accordance with currently applicable data protection schemes.

Abstract: Techniques associated with a customer-facing device and a merchant-facing device are described herein. In an example, a system can include a customer-facing device configured with a customer application that is executable on an operating system of the customer-facing device to (i) display information to a customer and (ii) receive input from the customer, wherein the customer-facing device includes a payment reader to read payment data from a payment instrument in association with a payment transaction between the customer and a merchant, and a merchant-facing device configured with a merchant application that is executable on an operating system of the merchant-facing device to (i) display information to the merchant and (ii) receive input from the merchant. In at least one example, the customer-facing device and the merchant-facing device can communicate to process, at least in part, the payment transaction associated with the payment instrument via a remote payment service system.

Abstract: A bin syncing technique ensures continuous data protection, such as replication and erasure coding, for content driven distribution of data served by storage nodes of a cluster in the event of failure to one or more block services configured to process the data. The cluster maintains information about the block services assigned to host a bin with a copy of the data in a bin assignment table associated with a state. The copies of the data are named, e.g., replica 0 (R0), replica 1 (R1) or replica 2 (R2). In response to failure of one or more block services assigned to host a bin with a replica of the data, an alternate or replacement block service may access the assignments maintained in the bin assignment table, which specify names of the replicas associated with the state.

Abstract: A technique is configured to provide various data protection schemes, such as replication and erasure coding, for data blocks of volumes served by storage nodes of a cluster configured to perform deduplication of the data blocks. Additionally, the technique is configured to ensure that each deduplicated data block complies with data redundancy guarantees of the data protection schemes, while improving storage space of the storage nodes. In order to satisfy the data integrity guarantees while improving available storage space, the storage nodes perform periodic garbage collection for data blocks to optimize storage in accordance with currently applicable data protection schemes.

Abstract: Devices can be implanted in an eye to treat glaucoma and/or dry eye. The devices described herein include a body defining a lumen and having first and second ends and external and lumenal surfaces. The body has a length sufficient to provide fluid communication between the anterior chamber and tear film of the eye through the lumen when the device is implanted in the sclera. The body can include a radiused distal edge. A distal end portion of the body can be laterally flared. The body can include a mid-body portion that is laterally narrower than distal and proximal end portions of the body. Methods of treating glaucoma and/or dry eye, wherein the device is implanted in the sclera of an afflicted eye, are also described.

Abstract: The systems and methods described can include approaches to calibrate head-mounted displays for improved viewing experiences. Some methods include receiving data of a first target image associated with an undeformed state of a first eyepiece of a head-mounted display device; receiving data of a first captured image associated with deformed state of the first eyepiece of the head-mounted display device; determining a first transformation that maps the first captured image to the image; and applying the first transformation to a subsequent image for viewing on the first eyepiece of the head-mounted display device.

Abstract: A technique provides efficient data protection, such as erasure coding, for data blocks of volumes served by storage nodes of a cluster. Data blocks associated with write requests of unpredictable client workload patterns may be compressed. A set of the compressed data blocks may be selected to form a write group and an erasure code may be applied to the group to algorithmically generate one or more encoded blocks in addition to the data blocks. Due to the unpredictability of the data workload patterns, the compressed data blocks may have varying sizes. A pool of the various-sized compressed data blocks may be established and maintained from which the data blocks of the write group are selected. Establishment and maintenance of the pool enables selection of compressed data blocks that are substantially close to the same size and, thus, that require minimal padding.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for distributed memory management comprising a network component configured for network communication with one or more memory resources that store data and one or more consumer devices that use data, the network component comprising a switching device in operative communication with a mapping resource, wherein the mapping resource is configured to associate mappings between data addresses associated with memory requests from a consumer device relating to a data object and information relating to a storage location in the one or more memory resources associated with the data from the data object, wherein each data address has contained therein identification information for identifying the data from the data object associated with that data address; and the switching device is configured to route memory requests based on the mappings.

Abstract: Power dividers (or splitters) and power combiners may be implemented using distributed lossy transmission lines that dissipate radio frequency (RF) and other electromagnetic (EM) signal energy. By taking advantage of natural PCB board loss at high operating frequencies, N-way power dividers with matched outputs and good isolation may be implemented without the use of discrete resistors. In one embodiment, a N-way power divider may be at least partially implemented on buried printed circuit board (PCB) layers (e.g., partially embedded) and, in a further embodiment a N-way may be implemented in a manner that is completely internal to the PCB (e.g., completely embedded), without the use of discrete resistors.

Abstract: The systems and methods described can include approaches to calibrate head-mounted displays for improved viewing experiences. Some methods include receiving data of a first target image associated with an undeformed state of a first eyepiece of a head-mounted display device; receiving data of a first captured image associated with deformed state of the first eyepiece of the head-mounted display device; determining a first transformation that maps the first captured image to the image; and applying the first transformation to a subsequent image for viewing on the first eyepiece of the head-mounted display device.

Abstract: The disclosure provides novel compounds having the general formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or salt of the solvate thereof, compositions including the compounds and methods of using the compounds.

Abstract: A technique provides efficient data protection, such as erasure coding, for data blocks of volumes served by storage nodes of a cluster. Data blocks associated with write requests of unpredictable client workload patterns may be compressed. A set of the compressed data blocks may be selected to form a write group and an erasure code may be applied to the group to algorithmically generate one or more encoded blocks in addition to the data blocks. Due to the unpredictability of the data workload patterns, the compressed data blocks may have varying sizes. A pool of the various-sized compressed data blocks may be established and maintained from which the data blocks of the write group are selected. Establishment and maintenance of the pool enables selection of compressed data blocks that are substantially close to the same size and, thus, that require minimal padding.

Abstract: A technique transitions data blocks of volumes served by storage nodes of a storage cluster from an old data protection scheme (DPS) to a new DPS in a non-disruptive manner. Slice services of the storage nodes forward the data blocks associated with write requests to the block services for storage on storage devices of the nodes. Mapping of volume logical block addresses to block identifiers are contained in slice files, wherein there is a single slice file for each volume. To transition a volume between the old and new DPSs, the slice service tags the data blocks with the new DPS when forwarding new write requests to the block services. In accordance with a background transitioning process, the slice service also retrieves every data block referenced by the to slice file and then resends the data to the block service with the new DPS.

Abstract: A technique provides efficient data protection, such as erasure coding, for data blocks of volumes served by storage nodes of a cluster. Data blocks associated with write requests of unpredictable client workload patterns may be compressed. A set of the compressed data blocks may be selected to form a write group and an erasure code may be applied to the group to algorithmically generate one or more encoded blocks in addition to the data blocks. Due to the unpredictability of the data workload patterns, the compressed data blocks may have varying sizes. A pool of the various-sized compressed data blocks may be established and maintained from which the data blocks of the write group are selected. Establishment and maintenance of the pool enables selection of compressed data blocks that are substantially close to the same size and, thus, that require minimal padding.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing process includes forming an object material stack using sheet materials without use of binder material between the sheet materials and forming features of the cross-sectional layers of a 3D object in the corresponding sheet materials. Another process involves forming features of the cross-sectional layers of a 3D object in soot layers of a laminated soot sheet. A manufactured article includes three or more glass layers laminated together without any binder material between the glass layers. At least one of the glass layers is composed of silica or doped silica, and at least one feature is formed in at least one of the glass layers.

Abstract: A bin syncing technique ensures continuous data protection, such as replication and erasure coding, for content driven distribution of data served by storage nodes of a cluster in the event of failure to one or more block services configured to process the data. The cluster maintains information about the block services assigned to host a bin with a copy of the data in a bin assignment table associated with a state. The copies of the data are named, e.g., replica 0 (R0), replica 1 (R1) or replica 2 (R2). In response to failure of one or more block services assigned to host a bin with a replica of the data, an alternate or replacement block service may access the assignments maintained in the bin assignment table, which specify names of the replicas associated with the state.

Abstract: A method for monitoring glucose concentration in aqueous humor can include inserting an implantable device into an eye and determining glucose concentration as a function of glucose sensed at the implantable device. The method can optionally include optically detecting glucose concentration as a function of polarimetry and/or fluorescence. A system for monitoring glucose concentration can include devices described herein.

Abstract: The systems and methods described can include approaches to calibrate head-mounted displays for improved viewing experiences. Some methods include receiving data of a first target image associated with an undeformed state of a first eyepiece of a head-mounted display device; receiving data of a first captured image associated with deformed state of the first eyepiece of the head-mounted display device; determining a first transformation that maps the first captured image to the image; and applying the first transformation to a subsequent image for viewing on the first eyepiece of the head-mounted display device.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing process includes forming an object material stack using sheet materials without use of binder material between the sheet materials and forming features of the cross-sectional layers of a 3D object in the corresponding sheet materials. Another process involves forming features of the cross-sectional layers of a 3D object in soot layers of a laminated soot sheet. A manufactured article includes three or more glass layers laminated together without any binder material between the glass layers. At least one of the glass layers is composed of silica or doped silica, and at least one feature is formed in at least one of the glass layers.