Abstract: A transaction system can include a notary system and an interceptor for providing security in connection with processing a transaction. The notary system is configured to confirm parameters of the transaction and to apply a signature using a private key to the transaction in response to confirming the parameters. The notary system is also configured to output a signed transaction for execution, and to provide the parameters of the transaction to an immutable ledger. The interceptor can be positioned between a transfer system and a transfer settlement system. The interceptor is configured to intercept the transaction before the transfer settlement system, to confirm that data from the transaction matches information in the immutable ledger, and, in response to confirming that the data matches the information, to provide the transaction for settlement by the transfer settlement system.

Abstract: A restraint system for an animal, comprising a stake member, a link member, and a restraint member. A first end of the restraint member is operatively connected to the link member. A second end of the restraint member is configured to be operatively connected to the animal. The stake member is arranged such that a neck portion is within the link passageway, a base portion is on a first side of the link member, and a grip portion is on a second side of the link member. The restraint system is used in a leash mode by gripping the grip portion of the stake member with the second end of the restraint member connected to the animal and in a tether mode with the base portion in secured relative to an object and the second end of the restraint member connected to the animal.

Abstract: Account permissions and data accessibility can be modified based on level of confidence for a login attempt to the account. User activity observations corresponding to one or more login attempts to access a user account can be stored. A confidence score associated with a successful login attempt of the user account can be determined. The confidence score is based on the user activity observations. A level of access to an application with functions and data for the user account can be determined. The level of access is based on the confidence score. The level of access is associated with the functions and the data that are executable and accessible subsequent to the successful login attempt.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, apparatuses, and devices for treating skin, such as skin tightening or for treating diseases, disorders, and conditions that would benefit from tissue area or volume reduction, skin restoration, skin tightening, skin lifting, or skin repositioning. Such methods and devices include an ablative apparatus, a removal apparatus, and/or a positioning apparatus.

Abstract: Luminaires are described herein employing waveguides and associated architectures for dynamic alteration of illuminance distribution patterns. The waveguide includes a light extraction component. The waveguide transmits light from a light source to the light extraction component by total internal reflection (TIR). The light extraction component includes one or more reversibly moveable surfaces for altering illuminance distribution patterns of the luminaire in response to one or more forces applied to the light extraction component by a force application assembly of the luminaire.

Abstract: Bond pad structures and methods for fabricating bond pad structures. A bond pad and a plurality of fill lines are formed on the top surface of a dielectric layer. The fill lines are arranged on the top surface of the dielectric layer adjacent to the bond pad, and may be separated from the bond pad by a fill keep-out zone. One or more Under Bump Metallurgy (UBM) layers may be arranged on the bond pad and may extend outwardly to overlap with the fill lines.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, apparatuses, and devices for treating skin, such as skin tightening or for treating diseases, disorders, and conditions that would benefit from tissue area or volume reduction, skin restoration, skin tightening, skin lifting, or skin repositioning. Such methods and devices include an ablative apparatus, a removal apparatus, and/or a positioning apparatus.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is directed to a system comprising a switch used in a network and a central function configured to receive physical layer information related to the network. The physical layer information includes information associating media access control (MAC) addresses of devices on the network with ports of the switch. The switch is configured to use information about a spanning tree determined by the central function to configure the switch to carry out a switching function performed by the switch. The central function is configured to use at least some physical layer information about patching equipment in the network and end devices in the network in associating MAC addresses of devices on the network with the ports of the switch. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices for skin tightening after incising or excising tissue portions from a subject. Exemplary methods and devices include tunable dressings having an adhesive layer and a regulatable layer or an un-stretched layer that responds to one or more external stimuli to contract or expand the dressing, where the contraction or expansion can be uniform or non-uniform.

Abstract: A vacuum pump, vacuum pump arrangement and method are disclosed. The vacuum pump comprises: at least one rotor; and a stator, an inlet for receiving gas during operation; and an exhaust for exhausting the gas. The vacuum pump comprises a shaft extending through a centre of said pump and comprising a plate mounted on an end of the shaft towards the inlet. The vacuum pump comprises control circuitry configured to control an axial position of the plate, a change in axial position of the plate providing a change in inlet conductance of gas to the vacuum pump. The plate is mounted such that it extends beyond the inlet in at least some axial positions of the rotor such that the plate is not on the same side of the inlet as the stator.

Abstract: Luminaires are described herein employing waveguides and associated architectures for dynamic alteration of illuminance distribution patterns. In one aspect, a luminaire described herein comprises a waveguide body and light sources having differing angular positions relative to the waveguide body for altering illuminance distribution patterns of the luminaire according to one or more activation patterns of the light sources. The differing angular positions can be located at the perimeter of the waveguide body and/or at one or more internal locations of the waveguide body.

Abstract: A voltage probe for measuring voltage on a mechanical device. The voltage probe includes a sensing brush, a grounding brush, a grounding switch, and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to receive a voltage from the sensing brush and, after a change of state of the grounding switch, which electrically connects the grounding brush to a mechanical device, measure voltage on the mechanical device, compare the measured voltage to a predetermined threshold, and generate an electronic signal indicative of the measured voltage or the comparison.

Abstract: Bond pad structures and methods for fabricating bond pad structures. A bond pad and a plurality of fill lines are formed on the top surface of a dielectric layer. The fill lines are arranged on the top surface of the dielectric layer adjacent to the bond pad, and may be separated from the bond pad by a fill keep-out zone. One or more Under Bump Metallurgy (UBM) layers may be arranged on the bond pad and may extend outwardly to overlap with the fill lines.

Abstract: An improved vacuum pump mechanism is described in which an intersecting solid or perforated element is arranged to intersect a channel member. Relative movement of the intersecting solid or perforated element and channel member causes gas molecules to be urged from inlet to an outlet of the pump. Gas molecules are constrained within the channel member and interaction of the gas molecules with the flat and smooth surfaces of the intersecting solid or perforated member influence momentum of the gas molecules so that they are directed towards the outlet. In one embodiment, the channel member is formed as a helix and the intersecting solid or perforated elements are disk-shaped. An alternative embodiment is provided having the channel member configured as a spiral and the perforated elements as cylindrical skirts. The pump provides significant improvements in pump capacity, reduced power consumption and size of pump.

Abstract: Electrodepositable coating compositions containing 1,1-di-activated vinyl compounds are described. The coating compositions produce cured coating layers that exhibit resistance to cratering. The coating compositions can be used in electrodepositable coating composition formulations.

Abstract: A fiber panel system includes a chassis and at least blades configured to mount to the chassis. Each blade is moveable relative to the chassis between a retracted (closed) position and at least one extended position. Cable slack is managed at the front and/or rear of each chassis to facilitate movement of the blades without pulling or bending the cables beyond a maximum bend limit. Each blade may be locked into one or more positions relative to the chassis.

Abstract: Heat spreader lids and package assemblies including a heat spreader lid. The heat spreader lid has a central region configured to be coupled with an electronic component, a peripheral region configured to be coupled with a substrate, and a connecting region arranged between the central region and the peripheral region. The connecting region is configured to impart stress relief to the central region.

Abstract: A vacuum pumping system comprises a plurality of vacuum pumping arrangements for evacuating an enclosure and an auxiliary vacuum chamber for evacuation by at least one first vacuum pumping arrangement. The vacuum pumping system has a first state for evacuating the enclosure and a second state for conserving power consumed by the system. In a first stage of the second state the first vacuum pumping arrangement is arranged to evacuate an exhaust of at least one second vacuum pumping arrangement and in a second stage the exhaust of the first pumping arrangement is arranged to be evacuated by the auxiliary vacuum chamber.

Abstract: One embodiment described herein includes a method of determining the location of a wireless device. The method includes capturing wired information about wired components in a network. Capturing wired information includes one or more of: reading information from a storage device associated with a connector of a wired communication media, or communicating a signal over an out-of-band conductor included in a cable in addition to the in-band conductors. The method also includes capturing wireless information about a wireless device communicatively coupled to the network, and integrating at least some of the wired information and the wireless information. The integrated wired information and wireless information is used to locate the wireless device.

Abstract: First and second active optical modules that terminate first and second active optical cable segments, each of which having a respective active end and a respective passive end, can be authenticated by: reading information from active-end storage devices attached to the respective active ends of the first and second active optical modules; providing information read from the active-end storage devices to an aggregation point; reading information from passive-end storage devices attached to the respective passive ends of the first and second active optical cable segments; providing information read from passive-end storage devices to the aggregation point; and authenticating the first and second active optical modules using information provided to the aggregation point.