Abstract: A promotion processing system may include a point-of-sale terminal at a store to collect purchased product identifiers from products being purchased, and a promotion generation server. The server may obtain the collected purchased product identifiers from the point-of-sale terminal, determine a store-transaction count based upon the collected purchased product identifiers, and for each purchased product identifier, map the corresponding product to an aisle location within the store. The server may determine a corresponding aisle-transaction count for the aisle location corresponding to each product based upon the mapped aisle locations, and determine shopper paths of travel within the store based upon the store- and aisle-transaction counts. The server may identify a location within the store for an aisle violator sign for a promoted product located in one of the aisle locations based upon the shopper paths of travel and the aisle-transaction counts, and generate a digital promotion for the promoted product.

Abstract: A method of modifying a grain structure of a metal article includes disposing at least a portion of a metal article in a molten salt bath in a pressure vessel. The molten salt bath has bath temperature that is below a melting point temperature of the metal article. The method also includes pressuring the molten salt bath in the pressure vessel to a forging pressure sufficient to cause pressure-driven grain changes in the metal article.

Abstract: An optical system measures scene inhomogeneity. The system includes a mirror for receiving radiance of a field-of-view (FOV) of a scene, and reflecting a portion of the radiance to an optical detector. A controller is coupled to the mirror for changing the FOV. The optical detector provides a signal of the reflected portion of radiance of the scene. A processor determines scene inhomogeneity, based on amplitude of the signal provided from the optical detector. The controller is configured to modulate the FOV at a periodic interval, using a sinusoidal waveform, a pulse code modulated waveform, or a pseudo-random waveform.

Abstract: A method for measuring scene inhomogeneity includes the steps of directing radiance of a scene into a dispersive spectrometer, and changing the field-of-view (FOV) of the spectrometer, while directing the radiance of the scene into the spectrometer. The method then processes the radiance of the scene to obtain a signal. The method also includes measuring an amplitude of the signal and determining scene inhomogeneity based on the measured amplitude of the signal. The method may include uniformly oscillating the FOV of the spectrometer and, next, obtaining a sinusoidal signal, based on uniformly oscillating the FOV of the spectrometer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying an elastic waistband to disposable diapers utilizing canted pin-equipped wheels where an elastic patch is applied to the wheels when the wheel peripheries are close together and then stripping the patches from the pins and applying them to a diaper component web when the wheels are further apart.