Abstract: A vacuum system non-return valve includes a baffle for extending across a flow path in the vacuum system and a valve member. The baffle has an aperture, a perimeter of the aperture has a valve seat. The valve member has a curved sealing surface configured to mate with the valve seat. The valve member and aperture are configured such that the valve member obscures the aperture and seals with the valve seat to impede a flow of fluid in a closed position and is displaceable in use to move away from the valve seat and allow a fluid flow in an open position; at least a portion of the surface of the baffle surrounding the aperture slopes towards the inlet end of the valve such that the aperture is smaller at the inlet end than it is at the outlet end.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for performing quantum state preparation. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of defining a target quantum state of a quantum system, wherein time evolution of the quantum system is governed by a target Hamiltonian, and defining a total Hamiltonian that interpolates between an initial Hamiltonian and the target Hamiltonian, wherein the total Hamiltonian is equal to the initial Hamiltonian at an initial time and is equal to the target Hamiltonian at a final time; approximating the time evolution of the total Hamiltonian using a truncated linear combination of unitary simulations to generate a truncated time evolution operator; evolving a ground state of the initial Hamiltonian according to the truncated time evolution operator for a truncated number of time steps to generate an intermediate state; and variationally adjusting the intermediate state to determine a wavefunction that approximates the target quantum state of the quantum system.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fluid flow management system that includes a flow sensor coupled to a fluid source conduit and configured to determine a fluid flow in the fluid source conduit; a flow sensor controller to compare the fluid flow to a flow threshold and generate a leak trigger signal based on the comparison of the fluid flow to the flow threshold; a controllable valve coupled to the fluid source conduit; and a valve controller to control the controllable valve to shut off the fluid flow in the fluid conduit based on a state of the leak trigger signal.

Abstract: A system to monitor and control a water supply includes a plumbing fixture coupled to a water supply; a temperature sensor to generate temperature sensor data indicative of an ambient temperature around the plumbing fixture; and a controller including a battery power supply. The controller is configured to determine a first battery level of the battery power supply, responsive to determining that the first battery level exceeds a first battery level threshold, the controller is also configured to set a timer to a first time duration; the controller is further configured to determine a first temperature for the one or more temperature sensors based on the temperature sensor data and responsive to determining that the first temperature satisfies a first condition, the controller is also configured to cause a transmission of a first notification corresponding to the first condition to a remote computing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for facilitating fund transfers between accounts. One example method includes capturing a computer-readable indicia representative of a destination account identifier specific to a destination account of a first party and a name of the first party, and in response to the captured indicia, displaying the name of the first party, at a mobile device of the user, as a confirmation that the first party is associated with the destination account. The method also includes identifying a payment amount for a fund transfer from a source account issued by a financial institution to the destination account, based on a user input at the mobile device, and compiling and transmitting a transfer request for the fund transfer to a payment network, where the transfer request includes the destination account identifier, a source account identifier for the source account, and the identified payment amount.

Abstract: A sprinkler backflow alert system includes a sprinkler system, a building fire panel, a backflow preventor including at least one shut-off valve, a fluid detection system, and a tamper switch. The backflow preventor may be fluidly coupled upstream of the sprinkler system. The fluid detection system is configured to detect a discharge of water from the backflow preventor and generate a water discharge signal corresponding to the backflow discharge. The tamper switch is configured to detect a change in a position of the at least one shut-off valve and generate a tamper signal in the event the at least one shut-off valve is closed or partially closed. When a backflow discharge event occurs, a signal is sent to the fire panel triggering the building fire alarm as well as sending an alert to the local fire department and facility owner.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for performing quantum state preparation. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of defining a target quantum state of a quantum system, wherein time evolution of the quantum system is governed by a target Hamiltonian, and defining a total Hamiltonian that interpolates between an initial Hamiltonian and the target Hamiltonian, wherein the total Hamiltonian is equal to the initial Hamiltonian at an initial time and is equal to the target Hamiltonian at a final time; approximating the time evolution of the total Hamiltonian using a truncated linear combination of unitary simulations to generate a truncated time evolution operator; evolving a ground state of the initial Hamiltonian according to the truncated time evolution operator for a truncated number of time steps to generate an intermediate state; and variationally adjusting the intermediate state to determine a wavefunction that approximates the target quantum state of the quantum system.

Abstract: In aspects, a concentration of lithium oxide at a surface is greater than a concentration of lithium oxide at a midpoint by from about 0.2 mol % to about 2 mol %. In aspects, a concentration of lithium oxide at a surface is from about 0.2 mol % to about 2 mol %. In aspects, a total concentration of potassium oxide, rubidium oxide, cesium oxide, and francium oxide at a surface is from about 5 mol % to about 15 mol %. In aspects, a ratio of the total concentration of potassium oxide, rubidium oxide, cesium oxide, and francium oxide at a surface to a concentration of lithium oxide at the surface is from about 1 to about 20. Methods include immersing a substrate in a molten salt bath at 380° C. or more for from about 1 minute to about 10 minutes or for from about 3 minutes to about 2 hours.

Abstract: A backflow preventer including a body having an inlet for connection to an upstream portion of a plumbing system and an outlet for connection to a downstream portion of the plumbing system, a first check valve and a second check valve located in the body for preventing the reverse flow of water between the outlet and the inlet. An inlet pressure zone is positioned between the inlet and the first check valve, an outlet pressure zone is positioned between the outlet and the second check valve, and an intermediate pressure zone is positioned between the first and the second check valves. Position sensors sense the positions of the check valves, and pressure sensors sense the pressures in the zone. A controller in communication with the position sensors and the pressure sensors calculates the opening and closing pressures of the check valves.

Abstract: A resealable flap device in the form of a sheet, for applying to or incorporating in packaging, comprises: a lower layer of flexible material, and an upper layer of stiff material. The sheet is cut through both layers to outline a flap portion, the cut leaving an edge in a hinge region, the upper layer being removed behind the line of the hinge region. In this way the flexible lower layer forms a hinge that is easy to handle and does not spring back, while the stiff upper layer maintains the shape of the flap.

Abstract: A UV reactor comprises a reactor body shaped to define longitudinally extending inner and outer reactor chambers. One or more passages located at a first longitudinal end of the inner reactor chamber provide fluid communication between the inner and outer reactor chambers. The outer reactor chamber surrounds a portion of the inner reactor chamber that includes the first longitudinal end. The UV reactor also comprises: an inlet/outlet in fluid communication with the outer reactor chamber; and an outlet/inlet in fluid communication with the inner reactor chamber. The outlet/inlet is located at a second longitudinal end of the inner reactor chamber. A cap connected to the reactor body houses one or more UV radiation emitters optically oriented to direct UV radiation into the inner reactor chamber. An inner fluid-flow cross-section of the inner reactor chamber may be greater than an outer fluid flow cross-section of the outer reactor chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for use in facilitating fund transfers between source accounts and destination accounts. One exemplary method includes capturing a computer-readable indicia representative of: a destination account identifier specific to a destination account of a first party and a name of the first party associated with the destination account and, in response to the captured indicia, displaying the name of the first party as a confirmation that the first party is associated with the destination account. The method also includes identifying a source account identifier associated with a source account based on a selection of the source account or on the source account being a default account, and compiling and transmitting a transfer request for a fund transfer based on: the destination account identifier, the source account identifier associated with the identified source account, and a payment amount for the fund transfer.

Abstract: Examples of the disclosure include a system for modifying a trip level of a circuit, the system comprising a protection device configured to activate responsive to a differential current exceeding the trip level, a first current transformer coupled to an input of the circuit, a second current transformer coupled to the output of the circuit, at least one measurement circuit coupled to the first current transformer and to the second current transformer, the at least one measurement circuit being configured to obtain a first current measurement from the first current transformer, obtain a second current measurement from the second current transformer, determine a bias current based on the first current measurement and the second current measurement, and modify the trip level of the protection device based on the bias current.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a method of operating a local storage device (“LSD”) in a broadband communication network is disclosed. The LSD is within a local area network of at least one user device. At least one item of digital content is received by the LSD from at least some of a plurality of digital content providers, via the network, during an off peak time period of the network. The item of digital content is selected by a respective content provider for download to a respective user based on the respective user. The received digital content is stored in the local storage device. A selected one of the stored digital content is provided from the LSD to a user device in response to a request from the user device. A system for providing digital content and an LSD, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for starting and rapidly decelerating a turbomachine in a power generation system that utilizes a supercritical fluid in a closed cycle.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes, by an electromagnetic device, emitting optical radiation on one or more objects disposed inside an interior of the electronic device, where the optical radiation is emitted by one or more radiation sources, capturing a set of 2D images of the one or more objects illuminated by the optical radiation, where variation of illumination or of an imaging process permits the set of 2D images to be combined into a representation of the one or more objects, determining whether the set of images comprises a representation of the one or more objects as imaged, in response to determining that the set of images comprises a representation of the one or more objects as imaged, generating a three-dimensional (3D) spectral data cube of the one or more first objects based on spectral information of the first set of images, and storing the 3D spectral data cube for processing by the electronic device.

Abstract: A method for evaluating hits on a target is disclosed comprising capturing frames of the target by a camera, detecting a target in a captured frame, classifying the target in the captured frame as a target type, determining a depth of the target from a user, identifying a hit on the target, by a processing device, and scoring the hit. Detecting the target, classifying the target, and/or identifying a hit on the target by a respective machine learning model run. A portable and self-contained target evaluation unit is also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes, by an electromagnetic device, emitting optical radiation on one or more objects disposed inside an interior of the electronic device, where the optical radiation is emitted by one or more radiation sources, capturing a set of 2D images of the one or more objects illuminated by the optical radiation, where variation of illumination or of an imaging process permits the set of 2D images to be combined into a representation of the one or more objects, determining whether the set of images comprises a representation of the one or more objects as imaged, in response to determining that the set of images comprises a representation of the one or more objects as imaged, generating a three-dimensional (3D) spectral data cube of the one or more first objects based on spectral information of the first set of images, and storing the 3D spectral data cube for processing by the electronic device.