Abstract: A method is presented for altering a portion of a substrate. The method includes providing a first device including an outer surface and a second device including a source of vibration energy. The method also includes forming a nip between the source of vibration energy and the outer surface. The method also includes conveying the substrate through the nip and intermittently altering the portion of the substrate in the nip to create a pattern of altered areas forming a shape. The altered areas have a pattern balance that includes one or more of: an average area of the substrate altered in the nip is within a threshold range across the portion of the substrate; and a simple area of integral areas within the altered areas is within a threshold range across the portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A breast support platform for an x-ray imaging system includes a housing having a compression plate and a front wall, and a heating system disposed at least partially within the housing. The heating system is configured to heat at least a portion of the compression plate, at least a portion of the front wall, or at least a portion of the compression plate and the front wall. In an example, the heating system includes a transparent conducting film coupled to an inner surface of the housing. In another example, the heating system includes a blower disposed at least partially within the housing, and the blower is configured to channel hot air across an inner surface of the housing.

Abstract: A breast support platform for an x-ray imaging system includes a housing having a compression plate and a front wall, and a heating system disposed at least partially within the housing. The heating system is configured to heat at least a portion of the compression plate, at least a portion of the front wall, or at least a portion of the compression plate and the front wall. In an example, the heating system includes a transparent conducting film coupled to an inner surface of the housing. In another example, the heating system includes a blower disposed at least partially within the housing, and the blower is configured to channel hot air across an inner surface of the housing.

Abstract: A breast support platform for an x-ray imaging system includes a housing having a compression plate and a front wall, and a heating system disposed at least partially within the housing. The heating system is configured to heat at least a portion of the compression plate, at least a portion of the front wall, or at least a portion of the compression plate and the front wall. In an example, the heating system includes a transparent conducting film coupled to an inner surface of the housing. In another example, the heating system includes a blower disposed at least partially within the housing, and the blower is configured to channel hot air across an inner surface of the housing.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) is disclosed that allows user to quickly find and select (assign) specific items from a large data source that is housed in the cloud. The GUI includes a first and second grid that display unassigned and assigned items, respectively. Each of the first and second grids allows the user to filter each grid by typing in the search criteria and forwarding the criteria to the server. Items in each of the first and second grids may be moved between the two grids to quickly change the assigned state of moved items.

Abstract: In association with an imaging device which generates a portion of an image from a plurality of channels within a first row by sampling each channel during a sampling time corresponding to the channel, circuitry offsets sampling times of at least first and second channels within the first row, thereby reducing noise correlation between the first and second channels in the first row. Pixel sampling times may be defined by start times of the channels within a row, end times or both. Offsetting may be accomplished using a predetermined set of sampling time values or by randomizing sampling time values. Offsetting pixel sampling times of channels within a row relative to each other decorrelates channel sampling because different phases of the noise signal are sampled on each channel, effectively blurring or dithering the channel noise within each row. Random sampling within the channel, such as by varying a channel sampling time between rows, further dithers the noise within each channel.

Abstract: A device may receive, from a server device, information that identifies a user device and information that identifies an object. The device may receive, from the user device, information that identifies a geolocation of the user device. The device may receive information that identifies a geolocation of the object. The device may determine that a proximity condition associated with the user device and the object is satisfied. The device may provide information that identifies that the proximity condition is satisfied to permit an action to be performed in association with the object.

Abstract: A device may receive, from a server device, information that identifies a user device and information that identifies an object. The device may receive, from the user device, information that identifies a geolocation of the user device. The device may receive information that identifies a geolocation of the object. The device may determine that a proximity condition associated with the user device and the object is satisfied. The device may provide information that identifies that the proximity condition is satisfied to permit an action to be performed in association with the object.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) is disclosed that allows user to quickly find and select (assign) specific items from a large data source that is housed in the cloud. The GUI includes a first and second grid that display unassigned and assigned items, respectively. Each of the first and second grids allows the user to filter each grid by typing in the search criteria and forwarding the criteria to the server. Items in each of the first and second grids may be moved between the two grids to quickly change the assigned state of moved items.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for sourcing, processing, and distributing information in general, and more specifically, information that is generally news or news-related in nature. An embodiment operates by determining a geographic area and selecting stories associated with the geographic area. The embodiment further generates map display information for the geographic area including a plurality of selectable indicators, each corresponding to one of the one or more stories, and transmits the map display information to an interactive user device.

Abstract: In association with an imaging device which generates a portion of an image from a plurality of channels within a first row by sampling each channel during a sampling time corresponding to the channel, circuitry offsets sampling times of at least first and second channels within the first row, thereby reducing noise correlation between the first and second channels in the first row. Pixel sampling times may be defined by start times of the channels within a row, end times or both. Offsetting may be accomplished using a predetermined set of sampling time values or by randomizing sampling time values. Offsetting pixel sampling times of channels within a row relative to each other decorrelates channel sampling because different phases of the noise signal are sampled on each channel, effectively blurring or dithering the channel noise within each row. Random sampling within the channel, such as by varying a channel sampling time between rows, further dithers the noise within each channel.

Abstract: In association with an imaging device which generates a portion of an image from a plurality of channels within a first row by sampling each channel during a sampling time corresponding to the channel, circuitry offsets sampling times of at least first and second channels within the first row, thereby reducing noise correlation between the first and second channels in the first row. Pixel sampling times may be defined by start times of the channels within a row, end times or both. Offsetting may be accomplished using a predetermined set of sampling time values or by randomizing sampling time values.

Abstract: In association with an imaging device which generates a portion of an image from a plurality of channels within a first row by sampling each channel during a sampling time corresponding to the channel, circuitry offsets sampling times of at least first and second channels within the first row, thereby reducing noise correlation between the first and second channels in the first row. Pixel sampling times may be defined by start times of the channels within a row, end times or both. Offsetting may be accomplished using a predetermined set of sampling time values or by randomizing sampling time values.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lathe chuck having a hollow arbor and a cylindrical turning shaft which slides within the hollow arbor. Such an arrangement accommodates a turning shaft of considerably greater length than would ordinarily be possible. For one embodiment of the invention, the chuck is hand-tightenable, the arbor is an integral part of the chuck assembly, and is equipped with a standard Morse taper. The tapered arbor installs in the end of a lathe output shaft or spindle. The turning shaft is equipped with at least one pair of work-securing collets, at least one threaded end and a nut which engages the threaded end and secures one or more work pieces between the collets and to the turning shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lathe chuck having a hollow arbor and a cylindrical turning shaft which slides within the hollow arbor. Such an arrangement accommodates a turning shaft of considerably greater length than would ordinarily be possible. For one embodiment of the invention, the chuck is hand-tightenable, the arbor is an integral part of the chuck assembly, and is equipped with a standard Morse taper. The tapered arbor installs in the end of a lathe output shaft or spindle. The turning shaft is equipped with at least one pair of work-securing collets, at least one threaded end and a nut which engages the threaded end and secures one or more work pieces between the collets and to the turning shaft.

Abstract: A pen vise includes a jaw assembly having parallel front and rear grooved bars which are drawn together by two clamping bolts located at opposite ends of the jaw assembly in order to secure multiple workpieces between the grooved bars. The rear grooved bar has a longitudinal projection of dovetail cross section that slideably engages a groove of dovetail cross section on a base member of the vise, so that the jaw assembly can be moved in an X direction to position each of the workpieces beneath a machining axis. The jaw assembly is disposed between front and back walls of the base member. A securing bolt engages a threaded aperture in the front wall and both indexes and clamps the jaw assembly against the rear wall.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods and computer program products for updating a reference magnetic signature of a magstripe card. In one embodiment, magnetic signatures from a magstripe card, each previously captured from a terminal during a transaction are retrieved from a database. The magnetic signatures are examined to identify if the magnetic properties of the magstripe card have changed. If a change is detected, a new reference magnetic signature is selected and/or created based on the magnetic signatures examined to identify the change and assigned to the magstripe card.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods and computer program products for point of sale (POS) based capture of reference magnetic signatures. In one embodiment, a magnetic signature included in a request to authorize a transaction associated with a magstripe card is retrieved from a database. If the transaction is determined to be non-fraudulent, the magnetic signature is used to provide a reference magnetic signature for the magstripe card. A transaction is determined to be non-fraudulent, for example, if the transaction is not reported as being fraudulent for a designated period of time such as for three to four months. In another example, a transaction is determined to be non-fraudulent if an indication or a confirmation is received from a card member of the magstripe card that the transaction was valid.

Abstract: A two-piece brake rotor assembly includes a hub portion and a brake rotor portion. The brake rotor portion is mounted onto the hub portion and one of the brake rotor portion and the hub portion includes extending features and the other one of the brake rotor portion and the hub portion includes receiving features. The extending features engage the receiving features to secure the brake rotor portion onto the hub portion. The engagement of the extending features and the receiving features is adapted to allow rotational movement of the rotor portion relative to the hub portion about a tangential axis at the interface between the extending portions and receiving portions.

Abstract: An improved family toilet seat and cover assembly has easy-open, slow-close, fluid-damped hinges for all hingeable components, including the adult toilet seat, the cover for the adult toilet seat which also incorporates a child toilet seat, and a lid for the child toilet seat, which is hinged to the cover for the adult toilet seat. The adult toilet seat and adult toilet seat cover are hingeably attached to a pair of hinge posts, which are attached with bolts to the toilet bowl. Each hinge post contains one fluid-filled rotational dampener that is rotationally coupled to either the adult seat or adult seat cover/child seat. The child seat lid is rotationally coupled to a fluid-filed rotational dampener that is installed within a dampener housing molded into either the child toilet seat or the child toilet seat lid.