Abstract: Identification cards at a processing server may be secured in certain embodiments by intercepting data associated with the identification card. The data may be prevented from being accessed by an application that is of a particular priority level. The data may be encrypted and provided to a server, which may provide replacement data that is formatted to be processed as a substitute for the data. This substitute data may then be provided to the application that was prevented from accessing the data.

Abstract: An assembly having a mechanical process which allows a user to tie a knot in a balloon. A hook feature in the assembly will hold the end of the balloon. The neck of the balloon is wrapped around the assembly creating a loop. The hook feature is actuated by a spring loaded trigger that will pull the end of the balloon through the balloon loop which will create a knot.

Abstract: An information management system may store information related to tasks to be performed by workers in an organization. Workers in the organization may communicate with the information management system using email messages. The information management system may not require a login or authentication procedure, and workers may interact with the information management system without the need to log in to the information management system. The information management system may receive an email message from a worker that indicates a request for a report. The information management system may determine whether to transmit the report to the worker based on whether the worker is appropriately registered with the information management system, and/or whether the worker has administrative privileges. The information management system, in response to a positive determination, may transmit the report to the email address from which the requesting email message was sent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cellulose mixed esters, processes for preparing these and uses of the cellulose mixed esters, for example in coating compositions. The cellulose mixed esters have glass transition temperatures that fall within an appropriate range to allow for film formation to occur at ambient temperatures and have a total degree of substitution per anhydroglucose unit of about 2.5 to about 3.5; a residual hydroxyl functionality per anhydroglucose unit of 0 to about 0.5; a degree of substitution per anhydroglucose unit by C2-C6 ester groups of about 0.5 to about 2.8; and a degree of substitution per anhydroglucose unit by Ievulinyl ester groups of about 0.2 to about 2.6.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method of analyzing spatial, temporal and contextual elements of data for predictive decision-making. The computer-implemented method includes receiving a first set of rules and receiving first data and second data including spatial, temporal and contextual elements. The computer-implemented method also includes identifying each rule of the first set for which the received first data and the received second data is a respective candidate. For the identified rules for which the received first data is a candidate, and for the identified rules for which the received second data is a candidate, the respective received first data and received second data is indexed by its temporal, spatial or contextual elements as a function of the identified rules. The computer-implemented method also includes identifying an event as satisfying an identified rule in memory using the indexed first and second data.

Abstract: A pick-up head may be provided with an anti-wrapping device to prevent materials from wrapping around the pick-up head. The pick-up head may include a plurality of tine bars for carrying a plurality of pick-up teeth. The tine bars may be rotatably supported by a drive shaft and the drive shaft may be secured to end plates of the pick-up head. The anti-wrapping device may be attached to an end of the tine bars to fill in gaps between the tine bars and to create a surface rotatable with the tine bars that is less susceptible to wrapping.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to an apparatus having cutter elements for destroying articles such as paper sheets and a mechanism for separating at least a sheet from a stack in a tray. The separation mechanism can be activated by rotation of the cutter elements. In one embodiment, the separation mechanism is provided in the form of a helical mechanism, such as a coil, configured for insertion into the stack and to receive separated sheets from the stack in between its spaces as it is rotated. The separated sheets can fall via gravity into the shredder mechanism. Optionally, a paper feed mechanism can feed separated paper to the cutter elements. The tray can include an edge to assist in directing separated paper towards the cutter elements. One or more staple picking support mechanisms can also be provided to assist in separating sheets from a stapled set of pages.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method of analyzing spatial, temporal and contextual elements of data for predictive decision-making. The computer-implemented method includes receiving a first set of rules and receiving first data and second data including spatial, temporal and contextual elements. The computer-implemented method also includes identifying each rule of the first set for which the received first data and the received second data is a respective candidate. For the identified rules for which the received first data is a candidate, and for the identified rules for which the received second data is a candidate, the respective received first data and received second data is indexed by its temporal, spatial or contextual elements as a function of the identified rules. The computer-implemented method also includes identifying an event as satisfying an identified rule in memory using the indexed first and second data.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for extruding randomly shaped food items includes a one-piece finger member. The one-piece finger member reduces the downtime of the extruding machine containing the rotor assembly by reducing the number of parts in the rotor assembly and reducing the adjustment necessary after finger replacement. The proprietary threaded interface between the finger member and the improved extruder machine allows for quick swap out during extruder maintenance.

Abstract: An information management system may store information related to tasks to be performed by workers in an organization. Workers in the organization may communicate with the information management system using email messages. The information management system may not require a login or authentication procedure, and workers may interact with the information management system without the need to log in to the information management system. The information management system may receive an email message from a worker that indicates a request for a report. The information management system may determine whether to transmit the report to the worker based on whether the worker is appropriately registered with the information management system, and/or whether the worker has administrative privileges. The information management system, in response to a positive determination, may transmit the report to the email address from which the requesting email message was sent.

Abstract: A shredder includes a shredding mechanism and a vibration sensor configured to detect vibrations generated by the shredding mechanism. The shredder includes a controller configured to regulate operation of the shredder's motor in response to the detected vibrations. The controller may regulate operation of the shredder so as to keep the detected vibrations below a predetermined vibration level during operation of the shredder. The controller may modify operation of the shredder (e.g., turn the shredder off, conduct an autocorrect sequence, increase or decrease the shredder's speed, display an error message) in response to the detected vibrations having a predetermined characteristic (e.g., frequency and/or amplitude within a predetermined range, a characteristic that indicates a material/paper jam or misfeed).

Abstract: Payment card transactions at a point of sale (POS) are secured in certain embodiments by intercepting, with a POS security layer installed on a POS terminal, payment data from the POS terminal, transmitting the payment data from the POS security layer to a server security application installed on a POS server, and providing false payment data from the POS security layer to a POS terminal application installed on the POS terminal. The false payment data in various embodiments is processed as if it were the payment data, such that the POS terminal transmits an authorization request to the POS server using the false payment data. In addition, the authorization request may be transmitted from the POS server to a payment gateway.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for extruding randomly shaped food items includes a one-piece finger member. The one-piece finger member reduces the downtime of the extruding machine containing the rotor assembly by reducing the number of parts in the rotor assembly and reducing the adjustment necessary after finger replacement. The proprietary threaded interface between the finger member and the improved extruder machine allows for quick swap out during extruder maintenance.

Abstract: A merger apparatus including a pick-up header; a conveyor with a conveyor belt; a skid shoe disposed below the pick-up header and the conveyor; and an operative connection between the pick-up header and the skid shoe that enables the merger apparatus to articulate independently of an external frame underneath the conveyor, such that loose material transported by the conveyor belt that lags beneath the return side may fall to the ground keeping the return side of the conveyor belt free from obstructions.

Abstract: An electronic commerce (e-commerce) system may send advertisement emails to customers that are registered with the e-commerce system. The advertisement emails may include mailto hyperlinks. Each mailto hyperlink may be associated with a product that is being offered for sale, and each mailto hyperlink describes an email message that may be generated when that hyperlink is selected. When a mailto hyperlink is selected, the generated email message may include one or more parameters related to the product associated with the hyperlink, such as an identifier of the product. The generated email message may then be transmitted to the e-commerce system. The e-commerce system may receive the message and, based on the parameters in the received message, execute a transaction to purchase the identified product on behalf of the customer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for forming an article with a diffusion portion comprises: forming a slurry comprising chromium and silicon, applying the slurry to the article, and heating the article to a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to diffuse chromium and silicon into the article and form a diffusion portion comprising silicon and a microstructure comprising ?-chromium. In one embodiment, a gas turbine component comprises: a superalloy and a diffusion portion having a depth of less than or equal to 60 ?m measured from the superalloy surface into the gas turbine component. The diffusion portion has a diffusion surface having a microstructure comprising greater than or equal to 40% by volume ?-chromium.

Abstract: Methods of reducing an initial cross-sectional area of a hole in a component to a predetermined cross-sectional area including preparing a composition comprising at least an aluminum alloy with a melting temperature higher than aluminum, applying the composition to an interior surface of the hole, and then heating the component to cause a metal within the component to diffuse from the component into the composition and react with the aluminum alloy in the composition to form a coating on the interior surface of the hole. The heating step is performed to selectively modify the initial cross-sectional area of the hole and thereby directly attain the predetermined cross-sectional area thereof.

Abstract: An electronic commerce (e-commerce) system may send advertisement emails to customers that are registered with the e-commerce system. The advertisement emails may include mailto hyperlinks. Each mailto hyperlink may be associated with a product that is being offered for sale, and each mailto hyperlink describes an email message that may be generated when that hyperlink is selected. When a mailto hyperlink is selected, the generated email message may include one or more parameters related to the product associated with the hyperlink, such as an identifier of the product. The generated email message may then be transmitted to the e-commerce system. The e-commerce system may receive the message and, based on the parameters in the received message, execute a transaction to purchase the identified product on behalf of the customer.

Abstract: An electronic commerce (e-commerce) system may send advertisement emails to customers that are registered with the e-commerce system. The advertisement emails may include mailto links. Each mailto link describes an email message that is generated when that link is selected. When a mailto link is selected, the generated email message includes one or more parameters related to a money transfer made by the customer to a second financial account. For example, the generated email message may include a customer identifier, and/or one or more parameters that indicate the second financial account to which a money transfer should be made, and an amount to be transferred. The generated email message may then be transmitted to the e-commerce system. The e-commerce system may receive the message and, based on the parameters in the received message, communicate with a payment processing system to perform the money transfer indicated in the message.

Abstract: A pick-up head may be provided with an anti-wrapping device to prevent materials from wrapping around the pick-up head. The pick-up head may include a plurality of tine bars for carrying a plurality of pick-up teeth. The tine bars may be rotatably supported by a drive shaft and the drive shaft may be secured to end plates of the pick-up head. The anti-wrapping device may be attached to an end of the tine bars to fill in gaps between the tine bars and to create a surface rotatable with the tine bars that is less susceptible to wrapping.