Abstract: A payment processing system is configured to provide financing to a merchant, the merchant having an account with a payment provider who operates the payment processing system to process a plurality of financial transactions between the merchant and buyers via a mobile point-of-sale (POS) terminal. The payment processing system receives repayment of the financing from the merchant by withholding a portion of funds from the plurality of financial transactions processed for the merchant by the payment processing system. The payment processing system evaluates financial transactions conducted by the merchant through the payment processing system and, based on the evaluation, provides the merchant with one or more offers defining an incentive of financing or modification of current financing arrangements in order to induce activity by the merchant. The payment processing system identifies that the merchant has performed the activity identified in the offer and implements the incentive in the offer.

Abstract: A payment system can determine whether a merchant is eligible for a cash advance for a particular amount, along with a fee for the cash advance. The particular amount can be determined by evaluating previous financial transactions that were conducted by the merchant through the payment system. Once a determination is made that the merchant is eligible for the cash advance, the payment system can send an offer for the cash advance in the particular amount to the merchant, for example, in the form of an e-mail or text. The merchant can accept the offer for the cash advance by sending an acceptance to the payment system, for example, through a financing interface provided by the payment system. Upon accepting the offer, the merchant is provided the cash advance for the particular amount, for example, in the form of an electronic deposit in a financial account of the merchant.

Abstract: A lighting assembly includes an LED string affixed to a lamp support connected between first and second lighting sockets and includes an non-conductive coupling and a pair of conductive support segments. Each support segment is connected between the coupling a corresponding lighting socket, either directly or via an intervening endcap. The LED string includes an LED module and a pair of interconnects. The LED module includes one or more LEDs and power circuitry for coupling a supply voltage to the LEDs. The interconnect pair may include positive and negative interconnects. A fixed end of each interconnect is electrically and mechanically connected to a corresponding support segment. The first support segment is electrically coupled to a positive terminal of a voltage source and the second support segment is electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the voltage source, the interconnect pair conveys a supply voltage to each LED module.

Abstract: In some examples, a payment system may receive, from a point-of-sale (POS) computing device of a merchant, transaction data for a plurality of financial transactions corresponding to purchases by a plurality of customers of items from the merchant. The payment system may determine, based in part on the received transaction data, an amount that is expected to be paid by the merchant during an upcoming time period. Furthermore, the payment system may determine, based at least partially on the transaction data, that the merchant is eligible to receive financing from the payment system for at least a portion of the amount. The payment system may send a notification that causes an application on a computing device of the merchant to display a financing offer interface presenting an offer for financing based on the amount. The payment system may receive, via the financing offer interface, an acceptance of the financing.

Abstract: A light emitting diode lighting device used for illumination specifically the illumination of commercial signage. The device has a modular housing and contains a printed circuit board, one or more light emitting diodes, and the wiring and power control circuitry to connect the device to an available power source. The devices can be wired together in a parallel circuit with another device creating a string of the LED devices. The device housing facilitates the addition of a colored lens that can change the color of the light emitted and the beam pattern of the emitted light. This device provides sign designers with an LED product that can produce light of varying intensity, color and beam angle by the manipulation of a single LED device.

Abstract: Silicone-containing light fixture optics. A method for manufacturing an optical component may include mixing two precursors of silicone, opening a first gate of an optic forming device, moving the silicone mixture from the extrusion machine into the optic forming device, cooling the silicone mixture as it enters the optic forming device, filling a mold within the optic forming device with the silicone mixture, closing the first gate, and heating the silicone mixture in the mold to at least partially cure the silicone. Alternatively, a method for manufacturing an optical component may include depositing a layer of heat cured silicone optical material to an optical structure, arranging one or more at least partially cured silicone optics on the layer of heat cured silicone optical material, and heating the heat cured silicone optical material to permanently adhere the one or more at least partially cured silicone optics to the optical structure.

Abstract: Optics for asymmetrically redirecting light from one or more light engines include a dome optic, and first and second reflecting surfaces. The dome optic refracts light emitted by the light engines. The first reflecting surface redirects at least a portion of the light that is initially emitted toward a backward horizontal direction, toward the forward horizontal direction. The first reflecting surface extends substantially vertically and along a transverse horizontal direction, proximate to and behind the dome optic, and has a height greater than or equal to a height of the dome optic. The second reflecting surface reflects downwardly at least a portion of the refracted light that is initially emitted in the forward horizontal direction. The second reflecting surface is proximate to the dome optic and forward of the dome optic, and forms an angle of 45 degrees or more with respect to vertical.

Abstract: A luminaire includes a housing, a luminous zone coupled with the housing, and one or more transition zones coupled with the housing and disposed adjacent to the luminous zone. The luminous zone provides a first light to an illuminated area, and the one or more transition zones provide a second light to the illuminated area. The first light is harsher than the second light. A method of illuminating an area includes providing a first light to the area from a luminous zone of a luminaire and providing a second light to the area from one or more transition zones disposed adjacent to the luminous zone within the luminaire. The first light is a harsher light than the second light.

Abstract: A connecting system is provided for machine vision operations using a mobile device. The connecting system can include a machine vision system with an imaging device, as well as an identification feature associated with the machine vision system. The identification feature can include at least one of: a symbol for communicating identification information for the machine vision system to the mobile device via an imaging of the symbol by a camera associated with the mobile device, and an electronic identification device for communicating the identification information to the mobile device via electronic transmission to the mobile device. The identification information, when received at the mobile device, can facilitate connecting of the mobile device with the machine vision system for interoperation of the mobile device and the machine vision system.

Abstract: Optics for asymmetrically redirecting light from one or more light engines include a dome optic, and first and second reflecting surfaces. The dome optic refracts light emitted by the light engines. The first reflecting surface redirects at least a portion of the light that is initially emitted toward a backward horizontal direction, toward the forward horizontal direction. The first reflecting surface extends substantially vertically and along a transverse horizontal direction, proximate to and behind the dome optic, and has a height greater than or equal to a height of the dome optic. The second reflecting surface reflects downwardly at least a portion of the refracted light that is initially emitted in the forward horizontal direction. The second reflecting surface is proximate to the dome optic and forward of the dome optic, and forms an angle of 45 degrees or more with respect to vertical.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and compositions for identifying and/or selecting soybean plants that have resistance to lodging, have improved resistance to lodging, or are susceptible to lodging. The methods use molecular genetic markers to identify, select and/or construct resistant plants or identify and counter-select susceptible plants. Also provided are soybean plants that display resistance or improved resistance to lodging that are generated by the methods described herein. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Silicone-containing light fixture optics. A method for manufacturing an optical component may include mixing two precursors of silicone, opening a first gate of an optic forming device, moving the silicone mixture from the extrusion machine into the optic forming device, cooling the silicone mixture as it enters the optic forming device, filling a mold within the optic forming device with the silicone mixture, closing the first gate, and heating the silicone mixture in the mold to at least partially cure the silicone. Alternatively, a method for manufacturing an optical component may include depositing a layer of heat cured silicone optical material to an optical structure, arranging one or more at least partially cured silicone optics on the layer of heat cured silicone optical material, and heating the heat cured silicone optical material to permanently adhere the one or more at least partially cured silicone optics to the optical structure.

Abstract: An attachment for use with a mobile device with an imaging device and a mobile-device light source can include one or more of an attachment base and an attachment body. The attachment base can be configured to secure the attachment body to the mobile device via a case for the mobile device. The attachment body can include at least one optical device for use with the imaging device, and an optical sensor to receive optical control signals from the mobile-device light source.

Abstract: Various methods and compositions are provided for identifying and/or selecting a soybean plant or soybean germplasm with improved resistance to Brown Stem Rot infection. In certain embodiments, the method comprises detecting at least one allele of one or more marker locus within or linked to a QTL associated with Brown Stem Rot resistance. In further embodiments, the method comprises crossing a selected soybean plant with a recurrent soybean parent plant. Further provided herein are marker loci, marker alleles, primers, probes, and kits suitable for identifying and/or selecting soybean plants or soybean germplasms with improved resistance to Brown Stem Rot infection.

Abstract: Various methods and compositions are provided for identifying and/or selecting a soybean plant or soybean germplasm with one or more preferred or desired reproductive growth phenotypes. In certain embodiments, the method comprises detecting at least one allele of one or more marker locus within or linked to a QTL associated with days to initiation of flowering. In other embodiments, the method additionally comprises detecting at least one allele of one or more marker locus within or linked to a QTL associated with days to maturity. In further embodiments, the method comprises crossing a selected soybean plant with a recurrent soybean parent plant. Further provided herein are marker loci, marker alleles, primers, probes, and kits suitable for identifying and/or selecting soybean plants or soybean germplasms with one or more reproductive growth phenotypes.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided producing a complex trait locus in a genomic window of a soybean plant comprising (i) at least one transgenic target site for site specific integration integrated in at least double-strand-break target site, (ii) at least one double-strand-break target site and at least one transgene, (iii) at least one altered double-strand-break target site or (iv) any one combination of (i)-(iii). The double-strand-break target site can be, but is not limited to, a target site for a zinc finger endonuclease, an engineered endonuclease, a meganuclease, a TALENs and/or a Cas endonuclease. The genomic window of said plant can comprise at least one genomic locus of interest such as a trait cassette, a transgene, a mutated gene, a native gene, an edited gene or a site-specific integration (SSI) target site.

Abstract: An attachment for use with a mobile device with an imaging device or with a case for the mobile device can include one or more of an attachment base and an attachment body. The attachment base can be configured to be secured to at least one of the mobile device and the case. The attachment body can include at least one optical device for use with the imaging device and can be configured to be secured to the attachment base. The attachment base can removably secure the attachment body to the mobile device or the case when the attachment body is secured to the attachment base.

Abstract: A payment system can determine when a business need for a merchant is expected to occur. The payment system can also determine whether the merchant is eligible for financing for a financing amount. Once a determination is made that the merchant is eligible for the financing, the payment system can send the merchant a notification describing the expected business need along with an offer for the financing, which may be presented in an interface on a merchant device. The merchant can accept the offer for the financing by sending an acceptance to the payment system. Upon accepting the offer, the merchant is provided the financing amount, for example, in the form of an electronic deposit in a financial account of the merchant.

Abstract: Molecular markers associated with soybean reproductive stage, methods of their use, and compositions having one or more marker loci are provided. Methods comprise detecting at least one marker locus, detecting a haplotype, and/or detecting a marker profile. Methods may further comprise crossing a selected soybean plant with a second soybean plant. Isolated polynucleotides, primers, probes, kits, systems, etc., are also provided.

Abstract: A method for establishing the routing of audio signals between a plurality of audio inputs and a plurality of audio outputs in a conferencing system. The method includes establishing a matrix comprising at least one available cross-point, where each cross-point defines a particular mapping of an audio input to an audio output, receiving user input that results in the selection of one or more available cross-points, and based on the selection of one or more available cross-points, automatically establishing in a programmable processor the mapping of audio inputs to audio outputs defined by the selected cross-points.