Abstract: Systems and methods of non-contact tensioning of a metal strip during metal processing include passing the metal strip adjacent a magnetic rotor. The magnetic rotor is spaced apart from the metal strip by a first distance. The systems and methods also include tensioning the metal strip through the magnetic rotor by rotating the magnetic rotor. Rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that the metal strip is tensioned in an upstream direction or a downstream direction. In other aspects, rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that a force normal to a surface of the metal strip is applied to the metal strip.

Abstract: A method of cropping a portion of an audio signal captured from a plurality of spatially separated audio sources in a scene, the method comprising: capturing the audio signal with one or more recording devices; separating the audio signal into a plurality of components each associated with one or more of the plurality of audio sources; selecting a spatial region in the scene; determining which of the plurality of components are associated with an audio source positioned outside of the selected spatial region; and cropping the plurality of components associated with an audio source positioned outside of the selected spatial region out of the audio signal.

Abstract: A flavorant container for use in a beverage system is provided. The flavorant container can be retained by a beverage system to dispense flavorant, which can be mixed with carbonated and/or uncarbonated water. In one embodiment, the flavorant container includes a container, a cap, and one or more features located on the cap. The features can include an inlet that is able to receive pressurized air, and an outlet that is able to dispense a flavorant when the inlet receives the pressurized air. The features can also include at least one raised protrusion that is capable of being retained by a complimentary pattern located on a beverage system in order to properly seat the flavorant container in the beverage system.

Abstract: A beverage system and methods for preparing flavored beverages are provided. In one embodiment, the beverage system includes a housing, a flavorant system, and a processor. The housing includes a mixing chamber configured to operably couple to a fluid reservoir and pressurized gas source. The processor is disposed in the housing and can be configured to cause, in response to at least one input, the separate dispensing of a fluid and a flavorant into a receptacle. The processor can also cause the delivery of gas from the pressurized gas source to the mixing chamber, where it can be used to form a carbonated fluid.

Abstract: Fiber-optic equipment is often deployed in various locations, and performance of fiber-optic transmissions may be monitored as a gauge of equipment status to prevent costly and inconvenient communication outages. Events that damage equipment that eventually result in outage and may be desirable to address proactively, but the occurrence of such events may be difficult to detect only through equipment performance. Presented herein are techniques for monitoring and maintaining fiber-optic equipment performance via enclosure sensors that measure physical properties within a fiber-optic equipment enclosure, such as temperature, pressure, light, motion, vibration, and moisture, which are often diagnostic and predictive of causes of eventual communication outages, such as temperature-induced cable loss (TICL), incomplete flash-testing during installation, exposure to hazardous environmental conditions, and tampering.

Abstract: A casing for a printing apparatus can include a body having a printing opening, and a cover member having an aperture, wherein the cover member is moveable relative to the body between an open position in which the aperture of the cover member is substantially aligned with the printing opening of the body, and a closed position in which at least a part of the cover member substantially closes the printing opening of the body. Further, a printing assembly can include a printing apparatus and a casing, the casing providing ingress protection for the printing apparatus. Finally, a control system for such a printing assembly, and a method of operation of such a printing assembly are provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for authenticating users. An exemplary method includes receiving, by a directory server (DS), an authentication request for a transaction to an account where the request includes a token and a cryptogram, and transmitting the token and cryptogram to a digital service server (DSS). The method also includes mapping, by the DSS, the token to an account number for the account, validating the cryptogram, generating a directory server nonce (DSN) for the request, and transmitting the DSN and the account number to the DS. The method further includes transmitting, by the DS, the DSN and the account number to an access control server (ACS) associated with an issuer of the account and, in response to an issuer authentication value (IAV), compiling an accountholder authentication value (AAV) including the IAV, the DSN and an amount of the transaction and transmitting the AAV to a merchant or server.

Abstract: A method for facilitating data synchronization across a plurality of platforms is provided. The method includes retrieving a change event, the change event corresponding to an event stream from a first platform; parsing the change event to identify a record and a data operation; examining a synchronization database to determine whether a corresponding record is persisted in a database of a second platform; inserting the record into the synchronization database when the corresponding record is not persisted in the platform, the inserted record including a change indicator; and updating, by using the synchronization database, the database of the second platform to include the record.

Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) tracking system can include PV modules having support frame assemblies. Base frame assemblies also can be included. Each base frame assembly can have an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion can be coupled to a respective support frame assembly such that the PV modules are oriented at a tilt angle with respect to horizontal to form a solar array of PV tables. Elongated members can extend in a north-south direction. Each elongated member can be coupled with a respective base frame assembly. The elongated members can rotate the PV tables about a rotational axis that is oriented at the tilt angle. The tilt angle can be fixed. A control unit can be coupled to the base frame assemblies and the elongated members such that the control unit rotates the PV tables about the rotational axis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for selectively transmitting routing information between separated local area network (LAN) interfaces are disclosed. In exemplary embodiments, a network appliance to update a local routing table with IP subnet, neighbor type, source type, and community identifier of a second network appliance; based at least on the local routing table, receive a customized routing policy and subnet exporting policy that permits the network appliance to export a subset of IP addresses from the local routing table to a permitted community of network appliances, wherein the customized routing policy and subnet exporting policy are configured by a network administrator of the network appliance; match the permitted community of network appliances to a new community identifier of a third network appliance; and export the subset of IP addresses of the local routing table to the third network appliance based on the customized routing policy and subnet exporting policy.

Abstract: A patient interface assembly includes an elastomeric piece configured to receive a flow of pressurized respiratory gas and sealingly engage the patient’s face. The elastomeric piece forms a plenum and includes a mouth sealing portion, a nasal sealing portion, and an anterior surface with an air inlet opening configured to be coupled to a connector and/or an air delivery tube. The patient interface assembly also includes a stiffening structure that is attached to the anterior surface of the elastomeric piece. The stiffening structure comprises a central aperture that is sized so that the air inlet opening and a portion of the anterior surface surrounding the air inlet opening remain exposed through the central aperture. The stiffening structure is configured so that the entirety of the stiffening structure is inferior to the patient’s nose in use.

Abstract: A rotating magnet heater for metal products, such as aluminum strip, can include permanent magnet rotors arranged above and below a moving metal strip to induce moving or time varying magnetic fields through the metal strip. The changing magnetic fields can create currents (e.g., eddy currents) within the metal strip, thus heating the metal strip. A magnetic rotor set can include a pair of matched magnetic rotors on opposite sides of a metal strip that rotate at the same speed. Each magnetic rotor of a set can be positioned equidistance from the metal strip to avoid pulling the metal strip away from the passline. A downstream magnetic rotor set can be used in close proximity to an upstream magnetic rotor set to offset tension induced by the upstream magnetic rotor set.

Abstract: An inner mandrel for forming a variable taper component includes a master insert and a plurality of interlocking pieces. The master insert includes opposed tapered edge faces, each tapered edge face defining at least one locking feature, a first surface having a variable taper and a plurality of recesses configured to receive a portion of the variable taper component, and a tapered second surface opposite the first surface. Each interlocking piece includes opposed tapered edge faces, one of the opposed tapered edge faces defining a locking feature and another of the opposed tapered edge faces defining a receiving feature to engage the locking feature of an adjacent interlocking piece, a first surface defining a variable taper and a plurality of recesses configured to receive a portion of the variable taper component, and a tapered second surface opposite the first surface.

Abstract: A real-time virtual reality welding system including a programmable processor-based subsystem, a spatial tracker operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem, at least one mock welding tool capable of being spatially tracked by the spatial tracker, and at least one display device operatively connected to the programmable processor-based subsystem. The system is capable of simulating, in virtual reality space, a weld puddle having real-time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics. The system is further capable of importing data into the virtual reality welding system and analyzing the data to characterize a student welder's progress and to provide training.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and techniques to cause data to be selectively stored in one or more memory locations. In at least one embodiment, a processor is to cause data to be selectively stored in one or more memory locations based, at least in part, on one or more threads to use the data.

Abstract: A cooking device according to one example embodiment includes a plurality of modular heaters. Each modular heater includes a ceramic substrate and an electrically resistive trace positioned on the ceramic substrate. Each modular heater is configured to generate heat when an electric current is supplied to the electrically resistive trace. The cooking device includes a thermally conductive heating plate. The plurality of modular heaters are positioned against a bottom surface of the heating plate. The heating plate includes a top surface positioned to transfer heat provided by the plurality of modular heaters to a cooking vessel for cooking an item held by the cooking vessel.

Abstract: A friction stir welded assembly includes a first workpiece having an interior portion with opposed interior walls, a second workpiece having an interior portion with opposed interior walls, and an insert positioned within the interior portion of the first workpiece and the interior portion of the second workpiece. The insert extends between and abuts at least one of the opposed interior walls of the first workpiece and the opposed interior walls of the second workpiece and a friction stir weld is between the first workpiece to the second workpiece. A joining end of the first workpiece and a joining end of the second workpiece form a butt joint or a lap joint between the first and second workpieces, and the friction stir weld is a butt weld or a lap weld, respectively, between the first and second workpieces.

Abstract: Polarized nuclear imaging and spectroscopy systems and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, nuclei of a radioactive substance are polarized such that the spins of the nuclei are oriented in a specific direction, to generate a polarized radioactive tracer with anisotropic gamma ray emission. The radioactive substance is selected such that the degree of anisotropy is enhanced. A tracer is introduced into a living subject for delivery to a target area of interest in the subject. The tracer is delivered such that nuclear spin relaxation of the tracer is inhibited during transport of the tracer to the target area of interest. Gamma rays from the gamma ray emission are detected, and based on the detected gamma rays and properties associated with the anisotropic gamma ray emission, imaging data and/or spectroscopic data are obtained that are associated with the tracer in the subject.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are network information collectors, methods, computer-readable media, and systems for generating network traffic statistics. For example, the network appliance is to receive, via a network, an accumulating map from a network appliance device, wherein the accumulating map comprises a condensed and aggregated version of web traffic flow information to the network appliance device; receive, via the network, additional accumulating maps from other network appliance devices; populate an accumulation map database with the accumulating map and the additional accumulating maps; and generate a report of the network traffic statistics hosted by the network appliance device and the other network appliance devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are network appliances, methods, computer-readable media, and systems for aggregating network traffic statistics in a communication network. For example, the network appliance is to receive a SYN network packet; store header information from the SYN network packet in a flow data table; for each of the data packets related to the SYN network packet, store header information of the data packets in the flow table; after a predetermined amount of time or a predetermined number of rows is reached, invoke an eviction policy on the flow data table, wherein the eviction policy removes the related data packets from the flow data table; and populate an accumulating map with the flow data table.