Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to merchandise security systems and methods for displaying and protecting items of merchandise from theft. A merchandise security system and method according to the invention includes at least one wireless-enabled computing device having a unique media access control (MAC) address and a wireless beacon tracking system including a plurality of nodes positioned within a display area. The plurality of nodes are operable for obtaining the MAC address and signal strength of the wireless-enabled computing device and for determining a location of the wireless-enabled computing device. The wireless beacon tracking system further includes a server operably associated with the plurality of nodes for providing a notification relating to a change in the location of the wireless-enabled computing device relative to a home location.

Abstract: A pipeline management service improves the operation of a processing pipeline by monitoring the operation of one or more journal services within the processing pipeline, and adjusting operational parameters of the one or more journal services. In various examples, the pipeline management service determines a model of the processing pipeline by identifying the producers and consumers associated with each of the one or more journal services, and determines a processing flow through the one or more journal services based at least in part on the identities of the associated producers and consumers. The pipeline management service acquires backlog information from each of the one or more journal services, and may adjust the operational parameters of a journal service associated with an identified processing bottleneck. In some examples, the pipeline management service adjusts capacity and reliability parameters of the one or more journal services to improve the operation of the processing pipeline.

Abstract: Systems with multiple components managing storage may implement efficient storage reclamation. A storage reclamation event may be detected for a system component. An indication to a request dispatching mechanism may be made which indicates that the system component is unable to perform further tasks in order to perform storage reclamation. A storage reclamation operation, such as a stop-the-world garbage collection technique, or a service process restart may be performed to reclaim at least some storage. Upon completion of the storage reclamation operation, an indication may be made to the request distribution mechanism that the service process has resumed performing tasks for the system. In some embodiments, a gossip protocol communicating availability information to different nodes of a distributed system may provide information to schedule storage reclamation operations at different compute nodes of the distributed system.

Abstract: A partitioning policy for materializing writes indicated in journal entries of a multi-data-store database is determined. The policy indicates a partitioning attribute of a data object. A write applier associated with a materialization node of the database processes journal entries according to the partitioning policy. If the value of the partitioning attribute associated with a write of a particular journal entry indicates that the write belongs to a partition materialized at the materialization node, the write applier propagates the write to the materialization node for storage at the node's storage devices.

Abstract: A communication system allows communication between two users separated by a long distance includes a source ground station, a constellation, one or more linking-gateways, and a destination ground station. The constellation includes groups of communication devices orbiting or traveling around the earth. A first communication device of a first group of communication devices is in communication with the source ground station and receives a communication from the source ground station. The linking-gateway is in communication with at least the first and a second group of communication devices. The linking-gateway receives the communication from the first group of communication devices and sends the communication to a second communication device of the second group of communication devices.

Abstract: Various enhancements to grid-interactive inverters in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes input terminals configured to receive a direct current, output terminals configured to provide an alternating output current to the utility grid, a controller, an output current sensor, and a DC-AC inverter stage comprising a plurality of switches controlled by control signals generated by the controller. In addition, the controller is configured to: generate control signals that cause the switches in the DC-AC inverter stage to switch a direct current in a bidirectional manner; measure the alternating output current; perform frequency decomposition of the output current; and generate control signals that cause the switches in the DC-AC inverter stage to switch current in a way that the magnitude of a plurality of unwanted current components is subtracted from the resulting output current.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to compositions and methods for converting biomass to various chemical intermediates and final products including fuels. Aspects include the depolymerization of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose to a wide slate of depolymerization compounds that can be subsequently metabolized by genetically modified bacterium, and converted to cis,cis-muconic acid. Other aspects include the use of monometallic catalysts for converting the cis,cis-muconic acid to commodity chemicals and fuels, for example adipic acid and/or nylon.

Abstract: A method displays a chart including visual marks representing a dataset. The chart is displayed according to contents of multiple shelf regions. The shelf regions determine characteristics of the chart. The method generates a visual analytic object by applying an analytic operation to the set of data represented by the visual marks, and displays the visual analytic object superimposed over the chart. The method detects user input to select the displayed visual analytic object and place an icon representing the visual analytic object onto a first shelf region. In response, the method updates the content of the first shelf region to associate it with the analytic operation corresponding to the visual analytic object and updates the chart according to the updated content of the first shelf region. This includes updating the chart based on values of the dataset represented by the visual marks relative to the analytic operation.

Abstract: A method executes at an electronic device with a display, concurrently displaying a chart that displays visual marks representing a set of data and a plurality of analytic icons. The method detects a first portion of an input on a first analytic icon, and in response displays one or more option icons that correspond to options for performing a first analytical operation that corresponds to the first analytic icon. The method also detects a second portion of the input on the first analytic icon and in response moves the first analytic icon over a respective option icon such that the first analytic icon is over the respective option icon immediately prior to ceasing to detect the input. In addition, the method adds one or more graphics to the chart that correspond to the first analytical operation and a respective option that corresponds to the respective option icon.

Abstract: A perforating apparatus incorporating a selective self-sealing material is disclosed for sealing exit holes in a wall of the apparatus resulting from perforation operations. The perforating apparatus traps debris produced during downhole perforation operations and prevents the debris from entering the wellbore which avoids the need for remedial operations to remove debris from the wellbore. The self-sealing material may be disposed within the perforating apparatus adjacent to an interior surface of the wall or the self-sealing material may be disposed outside the perforating apparatus adjacent to an exterior surface of the wall. The self-sealing material may include an expandable polymer material, a swelling elastomer, a rubber and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An analytics tool of a journal-based multi-data-store database obtains respective rejection cause descriptors for a set of transactions rejected by the journal manager of the database due to read-write conflicts. A particular rejection cause descriptor indicates a query predicate used for a read set of a transaction request which was rejected by a journal manager of the database due to a read-write conflict between the read set and a previously-committed transaction. The analytics tool prepares a database contention analysis using the rejection cause descriptors, and transmits the analysis to a client.

Abstract: A particular node of a journal-based multi-node distributed storage system requests the addition of an acceptability verification request entry to the journal, indicating a proposed state change of the system. The particular node examines contents of entries added to the journal after the acceptability verification request entry. After determining that a targeted set of acceptability verification response entries have been added to the journal, indicating that the potential state change meets acceptance criteria at respective other nodes of the system, the particular node requests an addition of a committed transaction entry to the journal, indicating an approval of the proposed state change.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting spark plug fouling and cleaning up fouled spark plug during pre-delivery phase of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include updating a spark plug fouling index saved in the non-volatile memory of the vehicle based on engine operating parameters, and indicating spark plug fouling based on the updated index. The method may further include cleaning the fouled spark plug by driving the vehicle along a planned route.

Abstract: A system and method of using the same, wherein the system comprises: an optical surface having a diffractive image generating structure disposed thereon, the diffractive image generating structure itself comprising a layer of reflective material incorporating a plurality of grooved diffractive elements each having a periodic wave surface profile, the periodic wave surface profiles each having a groove alignment direction; a source of incident electromagnetic radiation arranged to illuminate the diffractive elements at an angle of incidence substantially normal to the plane of the surface of the diffractive elements; means for polarizing the radiation from the source, and means for polarizing radiation reflected from the diffractive elements; wherein the diffractive elements are configured such that, in use, polarization conversion of the incident radiation takes place, and wherein the diffractive elements are disposed in a two dimensional array of pixels to represent an image; and further wherein the means fo

Abstract: Methods for protecting a peritoneum or other tissue during a surgical procedure are disclosed. In some embodiments, a protective lining is applied to the peritoneum or other tissue before an active surgical intervention, such as before tissue dissection, tissue approximation, and/or other surgical act. In some embodiments, the protective lining includes a protective film applied to the peritoneum or other tissue via a delivery balloon or via a spray instrument.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising methylnaltrexone or a salt thereof, and compositions and formulations thereof, for oral administration.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for improving a user experience for performing transactions between potential buyers and sellers online via real-time communications. For example, a social marketplace system enables a potential buyer to initiate a real-time communication with a seller without the potential buyer having to provide contextual information regarding the item to the seller. In one or more embodiments, the social marketplace system provides a banner, in connection with the real-time communication, populated with structured data associated with the item that the potential buyer and the seller are discussing.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material from a transfer component onto the surface of an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. In some embodiments, the method may utilize a printer such as an inkjet printer. In some cases, the transfer material may be a UV curable ink and/or adhesive. When the transfer material is UV curable, the transfer component may be permeable to UV radiation to allow curing of the ink and/or adhesive therethrough. UV curable adhesives including thiol-acrylate and thiol-ene acrylate inkjet-able adhesives are disclosed. The UV curable adhesive may be colored (such as with white pigment) in lieu of providing a base (white) ink layer so that more UV radiation will be able to pass through the ink layer(s) in order to reach the adhesive.

Abstract: An object processing system is disclosed that includes a plurality of track sections, and a plurality of remotely actuatable carriers for controlled movement along at least portions of the plurality of track sections, wherein each of the remotely controllable carriers is adapted to support and transport an object processing bin.