Abstract: A method and apparatus for actuating rotating valves with fast closing times, high precision, and high force. The invention incorporates a lever arm attached to the valve shaft, accompanied by a housing for one or more cylinder-type linear actuators. A pivot mechanism allows the actuators to comply with movement. Multiple actuators can be attached to the lever arm's shaft, which pivots smoothly with the aid of a bearing. The housing securely bolts to the valve mounting flange, ensuring stability and alignment. A front guard with a position indicator window covers the lever arm, while a rear guard protects the actuators. By enabling longer and shorter strokes than the open and closed positions, multiple actuators can be precisely programmed and synchronized for optimal performance. This approach potentially improves valve actuation, offering enhanced speed, precision, and force for diverse fluid or slurry flow control applications.

Abstract: A bag stand, including a base comprising two or more legs, one or more wheels attached to each of the two or more legs, a support bracket disposed at an intersection of the two or more legs, the support bracket attaching an arm to the two or more legs, and a bag support disposed at a distal end of the arm.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a gas turbine includes a seal case, and a seal shoe arranged within the seal case. The seal shoe includes a main seal portion that is configured to engage with a radial bearing engagement portion of a rotor shaft, a radial bearing surface that engages with the radial bearing engagement portion of the rotor shaft, at least one hydrodynamic lift cavity extending through the radial bearing surface, and at least one airflow passage extending from a first side of the seal shoe through the at least one hydrodynamic lift cavity and providing airflow communication between the first side of the seal shoe and the at least one hydrodynamic lift cavity.

Abstract: A turbine engine is provided. The turbine engine defines an axial direction and a radial direction, and includes: a rotor; a stator comprising a carrier; a seal assembly disposed between the rotor and the stator, the seal assembly defining a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side and comprising a plurality of seal segments, the plurality of seal segments including a seal segment having a seal face forming a fluid bearing with the rotor, a lip, and a body, the lip extending from the body along the axial direction of the turbine engine on the high-pressure side and including an outer pressurization surface along the radial direction of the turbine engine; and a seal support assembly, the seal support assembly comprising a spring arrangement extending between the carrier and the first seal segment to counter a pressure on the outer pressurization surface during operation of the turbine engine.

Abstract: A method for boundary based edge device compliance includes receiving a request to process data and identifying a cluster of edge devices to process the data located within a boundary area. The method includes applying compliance rules to the cluster of edge devices and instructing the cluster of edge devices to perform computations while adhering to the compliance rules associated with the boundary area. In response to determining that a first edge device from the cluster of edge devices is relocating outside of the boundary area, the method includes instructing the first edge device to transfer data to a second edge device from the cluster of edge devices prior to crossing the boundary to adhere to the compliance rules.

Abstract: A method for boundary based edge device compliance includes receiving a request to process data and identifying a cluster of edge devices to process the data located within a boundary area. The method includes applying compliance rules to the cluster of edge devices and instructing the cluster of edge devices to perform computations while adhering to the compliance rules associated with the boundary area. In response to determining that a first edge device from the cluster of edge devices is relocating outside of the boundary area, the method includes instructing the first edge device to transfer data to a second edge device from the cluster of edge devices prior to crossing the boundary to adhere to the compliance rules.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for virtual space insertion is provided. The computer-implemented method includes receiving first and second user inputs from users regarding user information and regarding a virtual space targeted for entry by each of the users, respectively, obtaining spatial and occupancy information of the virtual space, determining insertion point requirements for the entry of each of the users into the virtual space from the first user inputs, generating a self-similar geometric insertion point pattern compatible with the insertion point requirements to a first threshold and with the spatial and occupancy information to a second threshold and mapping an insertion point for the entry of each of the users into the virtual space to the self-similar geometric insertion point pattern.

Abstract: Hyperlink copyright infringement avoidance is provided. A hyperlink is identified in a post made by a user on a social media website. A review of the hyperlink is performed. An analysis of a post history of the user is performed. The hyperlink is removed from the post to form a sanitized post with a removed hyperlink based on at least one of the review of the hyperlink and the analysis of the post history of the user.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for managing access requests based on user device location includes receiving a user initiated access request from a first device of the user, receiving location data of the first device, requesting attestation of a registered device of the user from a trusted geocoded device, receiving an attestation token for the registered device of the user from the trusted geocoded device, wherein the attestation token includes location data for the registered device, comparing the received location data of the first device to the location data of the registered device, and issuing an authentication status based on the comparison of the received location data of the first device to the determined location data of the second device of the user. A computer program product and computer system corresponding to the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for testing a software application. User interactions with the functional and non-functional aspects of software applications are monitored. User experience profiles are then generated for the monitored users based on the monitored interactions. The best user experiences in connection with interacting with specific functional and non-functional aspects of the software applications are then identified based on the generated user experience profiles. Virtual users having different types of best user experiences in connection with interacting with different functional and non-functional aspects of the software applications are created. The software application is then tested using the virtual users to determine if the functional and non-functional aspects of the software application satisfy the best user experiences associated with the virtual users.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel portion, a handle portion, and a joint connecting the handle portion to the barrel portion. In some embodiments, the joint includes a releasable connector configured to releasably connect the barrel portion to the handle portion. In some embodiments, the joint includes two releasable connectors to releasably connect the barrel portion to the handle portion. The ball bat may include a flexible rod element positioned between the two releasable connectors. The rod element may include an elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the ball bat may further include a safety connector between the barrel portion and the handle portion or a releasable connector may include a threaded connection to resist release of the releasable connector. In some embodiments, the joint may include a rotatable element for adjusting flex.

Abstract: A method of making a ball bat may include forming a bat frame with a handle and an inner barrel structure, providing spacer elements extending radially outwardly from the inner barrel structure, and forming a barrel shell having a main barrel and a tapered section. An inner diameter in the tapered section may be equal to an outer diameter of a first one of the spacer elements. The method may include mechanically locking the barrel shell to the bat frame by passing the handle through the barrel shell and moving the barrel shell toward the inner barrel structure until the barrel shell contacts the first one of the spacer elements. A gap is maintained between an outer diameter of the inner barrel structure and the barrel shell. The barrel shell may deflect during a hit to create a trampoline effect, while the inner barrel structure limits the deflection.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for testing a software application. User interactions with the functional and non-functional aspects of software applications are monitored. User experience profiles are then generated for the monitored users based on the monitored interactions. The best user experiences in connection with interacting with specific functional and non-functional aspects of the software applications are then identified based on the generated user experience profiles. Virtual users having different types of best user experiences in connection with interacting with different functional and non-functional aspects of the software applications are created. The software application is then tested using the virtual users to determine if the functional and non-functional aspects of the software application satisfy the best user experiences associated with the virtual users.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for testing a software application. User interactions with the functional and non-functional aspects of software applications are monitored. User experience profiles are then generated for the monitored users based on the monitored interactions. The best user experiences in connection with interacting with specific functional and non-functional aspects of the software applications are then identified based on the generated user experience profiles. Virtual users having different types of best user experiences in connection with interacting with different functional and non-functional aspects of the software applications are created. The software application is then tested using the virtual users to determine if the functional and non-functional aspects of the software application satisfy the best user experiences associated with the virtual users.

Abstract: An end-cap assembly for a ball bat or other sporting-good implement includes one or more removable weights, so that the weight of the end cap—and of the ball bat—may be adjusted. The one or more weights may reside in a receiving space or recess in an end-cap cup of the end-cap assembly. A fastener removably attaches the one or more weights to the end-cap cup. In some embodiments, the fastener may include threads that engage threads in a bore in the end-cap cup.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel portion, a handle portion, and a joint connecting the handle portion to the barrel portion. In some embodiments, the joint includes a releasable connector configured to releasably connect the barrel portion to the handle portion. In some embodiments, the joint includes two releasable connectors to releasably connect the barrel portion to the handle portion. The ball bat may include a flexible rod element positioned between the two releasable connectors. The rod element may include an elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the ball bat may further include a safety connector between the barrel portion and the handle portion or a releasable connector may include a threaded connection to resist release of the releasable connector. In some embodiments, the joint may include a rotatable element for adjusting flex.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel portion, a handle portion, and a joint connecting the handle portion to the barrel portion. In some embodiments, the joint includes a releasable connector configured to releasably connect the barrel portion to the handle portion. In some embodiments, the joint includes two releasable connectors to releasably connect the barrel portion to the handle portion. The ball bat may include a flexible rod element positioned between the two releasable connectors. The rod element may include an elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the ball bat may further include a safety connector between the barrel portion and the handle portion or a releasable connector may include a threaded connection to resist release of the releasable connector. In some embodiments, the joint may include a rotatable element for adjusting flex.

Abstract: A process for removing silica and reducing total hardness of a natural or waste water containing silica and scale-forming ions comprises adding (i) magnesium hydroxide or a precursor of magnesium hydroxide and (ii) a soluble aluminate compound or a precursor of aluminate to said water while maintaining the pH of said stream at pH>8 to produce a layered double hydroxide in situ, wherein the layered double hydroxide contains the scale-forming ions in a lattice of the layered double hydroxide and silica is incorporated in the lattice of the layered double hydroxide as an interlayer anion and/or bound by the layered double hydroxide via one or more binding modes, wherein the process further comprises a recycling and regeneration step and/or a hydroxide addition step.

Abstract: A process for simultaneously removing silica and reducing total hardness of a natural or waste water containing silica and scale-forming ions is described. The process comprises adding (i) magnesium hydroxide or a precursor of magnesium hydroxide and (ii) a soluble aluminate compound or a precursor of aluminate to said water while maintaining the pH of said stream at pH>8 to produce a layered double hydroxide in situ, wherein the layered double hydroxide contains the scale-forming ions in a lattice of the layered double hydroxide and silica is incorporated in the lattice of the layered double hydroxide as an interlayer anion and/or bound by the layered double hydroxide via one or more binding modes.

Abstract: A method of making a ball bat may include forming a bat frame with a handle and an inner barrel structure, providing spacer elements extending radially outwardly from the inner barrel structure, and forming a barrel shell having a main barrel and a tapered section. An inner diameter in the tapered section may be equal to an outer diameter of a first one of the spacer elements. The method may include mechanically locking the barrel shell to the bat frame by passing the handle through the barrel shell and moving the barrel shell toward the inner barrel structure until the barrel shell contacts the first one of the spacer elements. A gap is maintained between an outer diameter of the inner barrel structure and the barrel shell. The barrel shell may deflect during a hit to create a trampoline effect, while the inner barrel structure limits the deflection.