Abstract: A combustor generally includes a plate that extends radially and circumferentially within at least a portion of the combustor. The combustor may also include a shroud that at least partially surrounds the plate and a plurality of tubes that extend through the plate. One or more flexible couplings may at least partially surround at least some of the plurality of tubes and the one or more flexible couplings may be connected to the plate.

Abstract: A method (1400) of storage access scheduling for a memory device for a workload of different priority access requests including access requests having a real-time priority. The method includes characterizing the memory device (1402) including determining a balanced number (N) of concurrent access requests associated with a concurrent access maximum throughput associated with the memory device. The method also includes characterizing the workload (1404). The method also includes receiving a real-time access request (1406) associated with an access request storage location value. The method also includes processing the real-time access request (1408), utilizing a processor, based on the access request storage location value and the values obtained from characterizing the memory device and the workload.

Abstract: A turbine shroud cooling assembly for a gas turbine system includes an outer shroud component disposed within a turbine section of the gas turbine system and proximate a turbine section casing, wherein the outer shroud component includes at least one airway for ingesting an airstream. Also included is an inner shroud component disposed radially inward of, and fixedly connected to, the outer shroud component, wherein the inner shroud component includes a plurality of microchannels extending in at least one of a circumferential direction and an axial direction for cooling the inner shroud component with the airstream from the at least one airway.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a voice-activated device by interpreting a spoken command as a series of voiced and non-voiced intervals. A responsive action is then performed according to the number of voiced intervals in the command. The method is well-suited to applications having a small number of specific voice-activated response functions. Applications using the inventive method offer numerous advantages over traditional speech recognition systems including speaker universality, language independence, no training or calibration needed, implementation with simple microcontrollers, and extremely low cost. For time-critical applications such as pulsers and measurement devices, where fast reaction is crucial to catch a transient event, the method provides near-instantaneous command response, yet versatile voice control.

Abstract: A hand held exfoliation device suitable for repeated use on a facial skin surface is provided. The exfoliation device includes a body and an exfoliating material attached thereto that is sized for application to a facial skin surface. The exfoliating material includes a substrate and an exfoliating surface. The exfoliating surface is formed from a plurality of particles, wherein the plurality of particles are attached to the substrate to form peaks and valleys thereon. The exfoliating material has a surface roughness Sa from about 2 ?m to about 16 ?m and the particles have an average Mohs hardness from about 4 to about 8.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical connector for use in a fiber optic communications system, and particularly an expanded beam optical connector (20) for connecting optical fibers. The connector (20) comprises a housing (6), a port (48) within the housing for receiving an end (35) of an optical fiber (38), a cylindrical ferrule (32) within the housing (6) having opposite first and second ends (33, 35), and an optical fiber stub held axially (14) within the ferrule (32) and extending between said ferrule ends (33, 35). The connector (20) also has a lens (8) for projecting and/or receiving an expanded beam (40) optically coupled with the optical fiber stub at the first ferrule end (33). A sleeve (34) surrounds the ferrule (32) and extends towards the port (48) axially away from the second ferrule end (35) to present an open end to the sleeve for receiving a termination ferrule (36) of an optical fiber (38) inserted into the port.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing database transactions communicated from a browser-based software application to a database by a database management system in order to avoid or ameliorate transaction latency. According to one embodiment, the system or method comprises foreground and background processes, each generating database transactions. The foreground processes can submit an unlimited number of transactions to the database while background processes can only submit a limited, predetermined number of transactions to the database. To accomplish this, the background processes are associated with an in-memory queue of transactions that are then submitted to the database in a quantity no greater than the predetermined number. As a result, the database transactions sent by the foreground process will not have to wait behind more than the predetermined number of background transactions, thereby resulting in lower latency and avoiding or ameliorating delays to the user.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for objectively determining tennis player rankings and rating levels for a broad range of tennis players, from novice amateurs to top-ranked professionals, on a single continuum are disclosed. Player-specific match outcome data stored in an electronic archive database are communicated to an electronic processing element that calculates player rankings and rating levels. Updated player-specific data is then communicated back to the electronic archive database for storage. The disclosed ranking and rating process evaluates each player's body of work, including the results of his/her most recent match.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods provide an intelligent battery pack interface module for mounting to an electrochemical cell assembly and having circuitry for establishing electrical connection with the cells. The circuitry may establish electrical connection in a parallel or series manner, for example. In an illustrative example, the circuitry may provide control and management operational functions. In some examples, the module may include a base and cover which cooperate to form a housing, where the base may include an alignment structure for alignment with cell terminals. In some examples, the circuitry may be located within the housing. Various examples may include handles extending from the module. In some examples, the handles may automatically retract upon release. The handles may retract to present a low profile so as not to interfere with connection of the module to a cable received in a plane substantially perpendicular to a gravity vector, for example.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for producing ophthalmic lens molds and molded ophthalmic lenses are described. The present devices, systems, and methods provide venting of gases produced during injection molding of ophthalmic lens molds. With the present devices, systems, and methods, improvements in mold quality, lens quality, mold quality consistency, and lens quality consistency can be achieved compared to existing injection molding devices, systems, and methods. An optic power insert bushing is described and includes a venting system that directs gas from a first end of the bushing toward a second end of the bushing. The gas is directed between an optic power insert and an inner sidewall surface of a bushing bore in which the optic power insert is located. The bushing or bushings, and optic power inserts, can be provided as components of an ophthalmic lens mold injection system. Methods of making and using the vented bushings are also described.

Abstract: Rights clearances management for assets, such as media assets. A rights brokerage service enables potential licensees to clears rights to use assets within designated projects, such as advertising campaign projects. The potential licensee uses an interface to select or identify an asset without necessarily accessing the asset itself. The rights holders and the rights held by each rights holder are identified based on the asset identity. A request is automatically issued to the rights holders to approve use of the asset for the project. The potential licensee may use an interface to track progress of approvals from the rights holders. Unenforceable rights are detected and approval is automatically obtained. If all enforceable rights are cleared, the asset may be committed for approval by a project manager or other authority. When approved, a license to use the asset is automatically created between the potential licensee and each of the rights holders.

Abstract: A process for the production of a polymeric film comprising a copolyester having an acid component and a diol component, said acid component comprising a dicarboxylic acid and a sulfomonomer containing a sulfonate group attached to the aromatic nucleus of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, said process comprising the steps of: (i) melt-extruding a layer of said copolyester; (ii) stretching the extrudate in at least one direction; (iii) heat-setting the film by raising the temperature of the stretched film to a temperature T1 in a first heating zone such that (TM?T1 is in the range of from 5 to 30° C., and then raising the temperature of the film to a temperature T2 in a second heating zone such that (TM?T2 is in the range of from 0 to 10° C.

Abstract: A membrane, suitable for use in a fuel cell, comprises: (a) a central region comprising an ion-conducting polymeric material; (b) a border region which creates a frame around the central region and which consists of one or more non-ion-conducting materials wherein at least one of the one or more non-ion-conducting materials forms a layer; wherein the non-ion-conducting material of the border region overlaps the ion-conducting polymeric material of the central region by 0 to 10 mm in an overlap region.

Abstract: An external fixation component includes a capture member defining opposing grooves on opposite lateral sides of the capture member for capture of an element of an orthopedic fixation system. The capture member includes a base and a head coupled to the base to define a component axis that extends through the base and through the head. The base and the head are coupled for relative lateral translation in opposing directions such that the element can be captured by the capture member in either of the opposing grooves.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for use in maintaining currency of a projection index of a plurality of database objects. The computer-implemented method includes creating the projection index representative of a connection between a first database object and at least a second database object, determining an entity dependency between the first database object and at least the second database object, determining a path dependency between the first database object and at least the second database object, and updating the projection index in response to a modification of one or both of the entity dependency and the path dependency.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a first pressure module and a blockage indication module. The first pressure module receives a signal from a pressure sensor that measures pressure within a fuel vapor purge system. The first pressure module generates a first pressure based on the signal at a first time and generates a second pressure based on the signal at a second time. The second time is after the first time. The blockage indication module indicates whether a blockage is present in the fuel vapor purge system between the pressure sensor and a fuel tank based on a difference between the first and second pressures.

Abstract: A cosmetic applicator includes a handle, a drive coupled to the handle, an applicator head coupled to the drive, and a torque limiter. The torque limiter includes a magnetic coupling, the magnetic coupling being coupled to at least one of the drive and the applicator head such that the torque applied via the applicator head does not exceed a predetermined allowable torque.

Abstract: An example loading regulator having an internal relief valve apparatus includes a body having a loading diaphragm disposed between a first casing and a second casing. The first casing and a first side of the loading diaphragm define a first chamber and the second casing and a second side of the loading diaphragm define a second chamber. A relief valve assembly is coupled to the loading diaphragm. The relief valve assembly includes a relief valve seat having an aperture that forms a passageway to fluidly couple the first chamber and the second chamber and a relief valve plug movably coupled to the relief valve seat. The relief valve seat is to move relative to the relief valve plug to a bleed position to allow the flow of fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber in response to an outlet pressure substantially greater than a pressure at which the loading regulator enters a lock-up condition.

Abstract: A method and device allowing a scan of a data storage device from a remote server are disclosed. In some embodiments, a computing device may include an out-of-band (OOB) configured to compute a first hash value for data stored in one or more sectors of a data storage device at a first time; receive, using communication circuitry, a request to transmit a portion of the data stored in the one or more sectors of the data storage device at a second time, the second time being subsequent to the first time; compute a second hash value for the data stored in the one or more sectors of the data storage device at the second time; and transmit, using the communication circuitry, the requested portion of the data, only if the second hash value does not match the first hash value.

Abstract: Starch compositions, including cationic crosslinked starches, and methods of using those starches in papermaking are disclosed. In particular, a cationized crosslinked starch and use of the starch in the wet end system of a paper machine is disclosed. The starch compositions of the disclosure are particularly adapted for customization for specific wet end systems, and allow for modification to correspond to variations in the wet end of the papermaking machine.