Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include identifying a personal mobility vehicle that is available to reserve for a trip, determining that at least one metric for a level of maintenance for the personal mobility vehicle indicates a need for performing the maintenance on the personal mobility vehicle, determining at least one metric for an operations effort for performing the maintenance at a current location of the personal mobility vehicle, and blocking use of the personal mobility vehicle, to facilitate the operations effort for the performing of the maintenance, based at least in part on the metric for the level of maintenance and at least in part on the metric for the operations effort indicating an advantage to performing the maintenance at the current location. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Technologies and techniques are disclosed for transmitting predictive information to a control unit of a motor vehicle and/or to a software module to determine an activation command for at least one function of the vehicle. The system forecasts a progression of a vehicle parameter for a predefined time interval. It determines at least one first extreme value of the forecasted progression within a first partial time interval starting at a present point in time, and at least one second extreme value within a second, longer partial time interval. The system then transmits the determined extreme values as predictive information to the control unit and/or software module.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include identifying a personal mobility vehicle that is available to reserve for a trip, determining that at least one metric for a level of maintenance for the personal mobility vehicle indicates a need for performing the maintenance on the personal mobility vehicle, determining at least one metric for an operations effort for performing the maintenance at a current location of the personal mobility vehicle, and blocking use of the personal mobility vehicle, to facilitate the operations effort for the performing of the maintenance, based at least in part on the metric for the level of maintenance and at least in part on the metric for the operations effort indicating an advantage to performing the maintenance at the current location. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for improving communications efficiency between pairs of communication nodes running within a computer system are described herein. Potential locations for placing a communication node are evaluated using one or more fitness values wherein the fitness value is based at least in part on one or more system metrics associated with placing a communication node in the potential location. If an improved location is found based on the fitness value, the communication node may be migrated to the new location, thus improving system efficiency.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include identifying a personal mobility vehicle that is available to reserve for a trip, determining that at least one metric for a level of maintenance for the personal mobility vehicle indicates a need for performing the maintenance on the personal mobility vehicle, determining at least one metric for an operations effort for performing the maintenance at a current location of the personal mobility vehicle, and blocking use of the personal mobility vehicle, to facilitate the operations effort for the performing of the maintenance, based at least in part on the metric for the level of maintenance and at least in part on the metric for the operations effort indicating an advantage to performing the maintenance at the current location. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include identifying a personal mobility vehicle that is available to reserve for a trip, determining that at least one metric for a level of maintenance for the personal mobility vehicle indicates a need for performing the maintenance on the personal mobility vehicle, determining at least one metric for an operations effort for performing the maintenance at a current location of the personal mobility vehicle, and blocking use of the personal mobility vehicle, to facilitate the operations effort for the performing of the maintenance, based at least in part on the metric for the level of maintenance and at least in part on the metric for the operations effort indicating an advantage to performing the maintenance at the current location. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for generating a signature of an anomalous network event capable of adversely affecting the performance of a computing resource service provider. A signature computing workflow service receives network traffic information received at the computing resources service provider, and parses the network traffic information into a set of entries. The set of entries may include data for a set of parameters useable for communicating over a network. Entropy values may be calculated for the data and anomalies for the set of parameters may be detected based on changes in entropy for the set of parameters. A signature of an anomalous network traffic event may be generated based on characteristic entropy changes in the parameters associated with the anomalies. The signature may be useable to detect the presence of the network event.

Abstract: Techniques for improving communications efficiency between pairs of communication nodes running within a computer system are described herein. Potential locations for placing a communication node are evaluated using one or more fitness values wherein the fitness value is based at least in part on one or more system metrics associated with placing a communication node in the potential location. If an improved location is found based on the fitness value, the communication node may be migrated to the new location, thus improving system efficiency.

Abstract: Techniques for improving communications efficiency between pairs of communication nodes running within a computer system are described herein. Potential locations for placing a communication node are evaluated using one or more fitness values wherein the fitness value is based at least in part on one or more system metrics associated with placing a communication node in the potential location. If an improved location is found based on the fitness value, the communication node may be migrated to the new location, thus improving system efficiency.

Abstract: A method for detecting tooth decay and other tooth anomalies wherein a tooth is transilluminated with a near-infrared light source preferably in the range from approximately 795-nm to approximately 1600-nm, more preferably in the range from approximately 830-nm to approximately 1550-nm, more preferably in the range from approximately 1285-nm to approximately 1335-nm, and more preferably at a wavelength of approximately 1310-nm, and the light passing through the tooth is imaged for determining an area of decay in the tooth. The light source is a fiber-optic bundle coupled to a halogen lamp or more preferably a superluminescent diode, and the imaging device is preferably a CCD camera or a focal plane array (FPA).

Abstract: A polarization sensitive optical imaging system is used to detect changes in polarization in dental tissues to aid the diagnosis of dental disease such as caries. The degree of depolarization is measured by illuminating the dental tissue with polarized light and measuring the polarization state of the backscattered light. The polarization state of this reflected light is analyzed using optical polarimetric imaging techniques. A hand-held fiber optic dental probe is used in vivo to direct the incident beam to the dental tissue and collect the reflected light. To provide depth-resolved characterization of the dental tissue, the polarization diagnostics may be incorporated into optical coherence domain reflectometry and optical coherence tomography (OCDR/OCT) systems, which enables identification of subsurface depolarization sites associated with demineralization of enamel or bone.

Abstract: A polarization sensitive optical imaging system is used to detect changes in polarization in dental tissues to aid the diagnosis of dental disease such as caries. The degree of depolarization is measured by illuminating the dental tissue with polarized light and measuring the polarization state of the backscattered light. The polarization state of this reflected light is analyzed using optical polarimetric imaging techniques. A hand-held fiber optic dental probe is used in vivo to direct the incident beam to the dental tissue and collect the reflected light. To provide depth-resolved characterization of the dental tissue, the polarization diagnostics may be incorporated into optical coherence domain reflectometry and optical coherence tomography (OCDR/OCT) systems, which enables identification of subsurface depolarization sites associated with demineralization of enamel or bone.

Abstract: A device for coupling a blow lance with a header is disclosed, in which the force required for producing a sealing joint between the header (2) and the lance (4) is exerted by a cooling fluid and/or a blowing fluid. In a preferred embodiment, said cooling fluid and/or blowing fluid acts via a pressure surface (32) on the joint between the header (2) and the lance (4), the pressure surface being integral with a piston (22) which transmits the pressure to said joint. The lance has preferably a first coupling surface (12), while the header (2) has a second coupling surface (14), and one of said coupling surfaces (12 or 14) is integral with said piston (22).

Abstract: Charging device for supplying liquid metal to an electric furnace with a shaft 15, the device consisting of a balcony 19 extending the shaft 15 of the furnace 10 laterally and communicating with the hearth of the furnace 10.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for supplying media to a blowing lance, particularly a blowing lance used in the production of steel by a top blowing process. A vertically movable lance carrier comprises a media connection device having a vertical connection surface. Before coupling, the blowing lance is first locked on the lance carrier by a fastening device. The connection device is movable horizontally in guide rails on the lance carrier from a waiting position towards the coupling head of the blowing lance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blowing lance suspension with integrated medium supply. In accordance with this invention, a U-shaped medium collector box having a horizontal top plate as carrier arm and a first connection surface is provided on the lance carriage. The medium connection pipes lead into this first connection surface. A lance carrier plate is provided, at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the lance, on the top part of the lance. The underside of the lance carrier plate forms a second connection surface into which the medium distributor pipes of the lance lead fittingly. After the lance has been laid down on the carrier arm of the lance carriage, the lance carrier plate is carried by the horizontal top plate, so that between the first and second connection surfaces, the connection of the medium pipes is made through the action of gravity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to drives for an automatic lance-changing devices. In accordance with the present invention, the drive effects the coupling of lances used for supplying media by pressing them against a coupling head which, in turn, is accomplished by draw rods which are operated with the aid of lifting spindle movement transmitting screw thread systems. Each draw rod has associated with it its own reduction gear unit which has an integrated lifting spindle system and on which a load cell is mounted. The primary shafts, in alignment with one another, of the two gear units are connected together by a coupling which compensates for axial, radial and angular displacements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive for an automatic lance-changing device, such as is used in the top-blowing steel-making process. Such a lance-changing device comprises two lance-receiving hooks pivotable about a horizontal axis of rotation, means for the synchronous vertical displacement of these hooks relative to the lance carriage and to the coupling head, means which, during this displacement of the hooks, cause these hooks to execute a pivoting movement about their said axis of rotation, and means for detecting by measurement the load acting on each hook, the latter being a function of the force with which the lance top part is pressed against said coupling head by the hooks. The drive of this invention is a lifting-spindle system, by means of which a vertically displaceable suspension ring for suspension hooks of the lance top part is driven.

Abstract: A device for automatically coupling a lance for injecting a fluid into a molten metal bath to a manifold for supplying the fluid to the lance includes means for hitching the lance rigidly to a lance-carrying carriage which can be displaced along a slide rail, and means ensuring the support of the manifold with respect to the lance-carrying carriage and enabling the manifold to be displaced vertically with respect to the lance-carrying carriage, or vice versa.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic coupling for coupling lances used in steel production to a coupling head of a lance carrier, the required materials and cooling liquids being supplied to the lance through the coupling head.Coupling takes place by means of coupling hooks (4) which are provided on the coupling head (6), mounted by means of eccentrics (12), and vertically movable by actuation of these eccentrics (12).