Abstract: An interactive portrait system includes a camera configured to capture imagery of an environment and a controller. The controller is configured to analyze the imagery to identify a guest in the environment, instruct an output device to provide an initial output to attempt to interact with the guest, and analyze the imagery to identify a behavior of the guest during the initial output, after the initial output, or both. The controller is also configured to evaluate the behavior of the guest using one or more artificial intelligence algorithms to determine whether the guest responded to the initial output. The controller is further configured to, in response to determining that the guest responded to the initial output, instruct the output device to provide an additional output to continue to attempt to interact with the guest.

Abstract: A rim for a bicycle wheel includes a radially inner portion disposed along an inner circumference of the rim, a first sidewall, a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall, a radially outer tire engaging portion disposed along an outer circumference of the rim, and an opening. The first sidewall, the second sidewall, the radially outer tire engaging portion, the radially inner portion, or any combination thereof includes a composite laminate. The composite laminate includes one or more compressed layers of a first composite material, which includes a matrix of a polymer-based material and natural fibers for a reinforcing material, and one or more compressed layers of a second composite material that is different than the first composite material. The opening extends through at least one layer of the one or more compressed layers of the second composite material, such that the second composite material surrounds the opening.

Abstract: A stability monitoring system for detecting an instability condition in a moving vehicle-trailer system includes a processor and a memory communicably coupled to the processor. The memory may store a stability evaluation module configured to determine if a measured value of at least one stability evaluation parameter satisfies an associated predetermined condition. The stability evaluation module may be configured to, if the measured value of the stability evaluation parameter satisfies the associated predetermined condition, determine a total amount of time within a predetermined time period that the measured value of the stability evaluation parameter satisfied the associated predetermined condition.

Abstract: An exercise device includes a resistance unit having a connecting gear. It further includes a cable. It further includes an arm that routes the cable to an actuator. The arm is rotatable relative to the resistance unit about the connecting gear, the arm having a central axis. The arm includes a control that mechanically disengages a locking mechanism from the connecting gear. The control is activated by an activation force substantially directed either toward the central axis of the arm, along a length of the arm, or about the central axis. The activation force is mechanically converted into linear force along the arm that disengages the locking mechanism from the connecting gear.

Abstract: Metal films, such as molybdenum films are deposited on a semiconductor substrate having one or more recessed features in a deposition process modulated by addition of a halogen-containing compound (e.g., an alkyl halide). In some implementations, a pre-treatment of a substrate with a halogen-containing compound is performed prior to contacting the substrate with a metal-containing precursor and a reducing agent. In some embodiments, the pre-treatment is performed such that the halogen-containing compound modifies the surface of the substrate to a greater degree in a field region of the substrate and near the opening of the recessed feature, as compared to the bottom portion of the recessed feature, where the modification of the substrate inhibits deposition of the metal. As a result, deposition of metals with improved step coverage can be achieved. In some implementations, modulation of deposition by halogen-containing compounds is used to achieve bottom-up metal growth in recessed features.

Abstract: A database system is operable to assign a first node as a task monitoring node for a task and assign a second node as a task execution node for the task. The task is executed via the first node and the second node based on the first node sending a plurality of polls to the second node, the second node initiating execution of the task based on one of the plurality of polls, the second node sending a plurality of task status data to the first node, the first node maintaining current task status data for the task a shared metadata state based on the plurality of task status data, the second node completing execution of the task and caching task results in memory resources, the first node receiving the task results from the second node; and the second node removing the task results from the memory resources.

Abstract: A system for use with a fuel-burning water heater and a ventilation conduit is disclosed. The fuel-burning water heater is configured to burn fuel and generate gaseous exhaust and condensate from the burning of the fuel. The ventilation conduit is configured to remove the gaseous exhaust from the fuel-burning water heater. The system includes an input port configured to receive the gaseous exhaust and the condensate, a neutralizing material holder configured to house a condensate neutralizing material therein and to receive the condensate from the input port, a gas output port configured to provide the gaseous exhaust to the ventilation conduit, and a liquid output port configured to output condensate from the neutralizing material holder. The neutralizing material holder is disposed between the input port and the liquid output port.

Abstract: Molybdenum-containing films are deposited on semiconductor substrates at relatively low temperatures of between about 100 and about 500° C., such as between about 200 and about 450° C. For example, molybdenum metal can be deposited at this temperature on a substrate having exposed metal and exposed dielectric in a substantially non-selective manner. In one implementation, a substrate having a recessed feature is provided, where the recessed feature has an exposed dielectric on the sidewalls and an exposed metal on the bottom. The substrate is exposed to a molybdenum-containing precursor, a reducing agent, and a silicon-containing reagent, to thereby reduce the molybdenum-containing precursor and form a molybdenum-containing layer that includes metallic molybdenum. The use of the silicon-containing reactant leads to a reduction in on-metal/on-dielectric selectivity of molybdenum deposition.

Abstract: Method of generating animation overlays starts with a processor causing a communication interface for a communication session to be displayed at client devices. The processor receives from a first client device an animation sending request and causes an animation sending interface to be displayed in the communication interface of the first client device. The animation sending interface comprises animation overlay icons. Each of the animation overlay icons comprise a first avatar associated with the first user. The processor receives from the first client device a selection of a first animation overlay icon and causes the first animation overlay corresponding to the first animation overlay icon to be displayed as an overlay on the communication interface of each of the plurality of client devices. The first animation overlay is an animation that includes the first avatar. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Toilet tissue having a dynamic surface comprising a surface material that overlays a textured web material such that the toilet tissue exhibits one or more novel properties and method for making same are provided.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for processing an alcoholic beverage in a way that makes the alcohol taste better while taking a minimal amount of time to do so. The method accomplishes this by briefly subjecting the liquid in a container or a tank to a pulse-width modulated EM field having certain characteristics, such as a predetermined average voltage, a duty cycle, fundamental frequency and harmonics thereof and for a determined or certain amount of a time, often in the milliseconds to seconds range. Changing these parameters have a demonstrated greater effect on some compounds in alcoholic beverages than others.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an associative polymer, a powder, a process for forming a paper sheet, and a process for making a powder. One or more associative polymers and one or more optional surfactants may be networked to form a wet gel and a powder may be formed from the wet gel. The associative polymer may have a weight average molecular weight of from about 10 kDa to about 2,000 kDa. A method may involve adding the powder to a cellulose fiber slurry, draining the cellulose fiber slurry to form a fiber pad, and drying the fiber pad to form a paper sheet.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for protecting a network from network discovery by an unknown or unauthenticated device. A network element, according to one implementation, is arranged in a communication network and includes an interface device configured to enable communication with an unknown network device. The network element also includes a memory system configured to store first and second sets of network information. The first set of network information includes fake information about the network and is configured to deceive the unknown network device before a procedure is performed for analyzing the authentication of the unknown network device. The second set of network information includes real information about the network. In some cases, the first set of network information may be provided to the unknown network device via the interface device before performing the procedure for analyzing the authentication of the unknown network device.

Abstract: Fire-resistant overlays, panels, and processes for making and using same. The fire-resistant overlay can include a fiber mat that can include a plurality of fibers secured to one another. The fire-resistant overlay can include a coating disposed on at least one of a first and a second side thereof. The coating can include a blowing agent and an at least partially cured intumescent resin. When a side of the fiber mat that includes the coating disposed thereon is subjected to a modified ASTM D6413-99 test, where the test is modified by using a run time of 5 minutes instead of 12 seconds, a char can be produced. The char can have a density of about 0.05 g/cm3 to about 0.2 g/cm3, a length of about 8.8 cm to about 10.2, a height of about 1.25 cm to about 2.5 cm, and an expansion ratio of about 10 to about 17.5.

Abstract: The invention provides an associative polymer, a powder, and a process for making a powder including, networking one or more associative polymers and one or more optional surfactants to form a wet gel, and forming a powder from the wet gel, wherein the associative polymer(s) have a weight average molecular weight of from about 10 kDa to about 2,000 kDa.

Abstract: Systems and methods include receiving a request for a path in a network including a plurality of network elements interconnected to one another via links, wherein the request includes values for a plurality of criteria, wherein the plurality of criteria include one or more of trust, privacy, and secrecy; utilizing a multi-criteria path selection process to determine the path through the plurality of network elements over the links based on the plurality of criteria and the associated values; and providing a display of the determined path in a network map. The trust quantifies trustworthiness of each link in the network and the values of trust are any of a rating and a selection for inclusion or exclusion, the privacy quantifies a number of the links the network path is routed over for network obfuscation, and the secrecy quantifies a level of encryption utilized on the links.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mitigating network attacks include, responsive to detection of malicious traffic in a network, causing creation of an isolated network slice in the network where the isolated network slice is a set of connection resources that are allocated to a flow of traffic and that spans a plurality of network devices in the network; and causing rerouting of the malicious traffic from a source node of the malicious traffic to a deceptive network resource along the isolated network slice.

Abstract: A solution including an associative polymer, a cyclodextrin polymer, and a solvent is provided. The associative polymer is a powder in the absence of the solvent. Additionally, a method of making down an associative polymer powder to form a solution is provided. The method includes blending a mixture of the powder, a cyclodextrin polymer, and a solvent to yield the solution, wherein the powder includes particles having been dry-cut to a median particle size of from about 200 microns to about 10,000 microns. Additionally, a powder product is provided. The powder product includes from about 80 wt. % to about 99.9 wt. % associative polymer; and from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of a cyclodextrin polymer.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating aldehyde-functionalized polymers such as GPAM, wherein progress of the aldehyde-functionalized polymer formation is monitored by measuring viscosity using an online viscometer. A method is also provided for enhancing paper strength, said method comprising generating an aldehyde-functionalized polymer, such as GPAM, according to the present disclosure, and combining said aldehyde-functionalized polymer with a fiber slurry or applying it to a paper sheet.

Abstract: A seat adjuster may include a support member and a fluid bladder. The support member may have a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end may be connectable to a seat frame such that the support member is disposed at least partially below a suspension portion of said seat frame. The fluid bladder may be disposed at least partially between the support member and said suspension portion. The fluid bladder may be configured to support said suspension portion. A change or adjustment of a volume of the fluid bladder may change or adjust the support provided to said suspension portion.