Abstract: A series of substituted imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives as defined herein, being potent modulators of human IL-17 activity, are accordingly of benefit in the treatment and/or prevention of various human ailments, including inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.

Abstract: Described are techniques for quality analysis using thermographic imaging. In one example, a system including a test chamber for receiving an unpowered component. The system further includes an external heat source for heating the unpowered component for a predetermined period of time. The system further includes a thermographic imaging system for collecting thermographic images of the unpowered component during the predetermined period of time. The system further includes a computer communicatively coupled to the thermographic imaging system and configured to classify a quality of the unpowered component based on the thermographic images of the unpowered component.

Abstract: A method for producing seed corn from the corn plants, for use in growing subsequent corn plants, includes measuring a moisture content of corn kernels on ears of the corn plants in the field and removing, by a combine harvester, the ears of corn from the corn plants when the moisture content satisfies a threshold moisture content. The method then includes separating the corn kernels from cobs of the ears of corn onboard the combine harvester and collecting the separated corn kernels for use as seed corn, whereby one or more subsequent corn plants can be grown from the collected corn kernels.

Abstract: An anti-theft device for securing an article of merchandise against unauthorized removal from a display counter. The anti-theft device comprises a latch plate and a pedestal having a quick-release interface. The latch plate is configured to selectively couple to the quick-release interface. A latch bolt is disposed within the pedestal. The latch bolt locks the latch plate relative to the quick-release interface. A plurality of retaining arms is configured to receive and retain an article of merchandise. The retaining arms cannot be disengaged from the article of merchandise while the latch plate is locked relative to the quick-release interface. A solenoid is housed within the pedestal and operationally connected to the latch bolt. The solenoid is configured to retract the latch bolt into a position in which the latch bolt disengages the latch plate, thereby releasing the latch plate from the quick-release interface.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes jaws having an electrode configuration utilized to electrically modify tissue in contact with one or more electrodes. The instrument is removably connectable to an electrosurgical unit via an electrosurgical connector extending from the instrument and a receptacle on the electrosurgical unit. The electrosurgical instrument is rotatable without disrupting electrical connection to the electrodes of the jaws. One or more of the electrodes is retractable. The electrosurgical unit and instrument optimally seals and/or cuts tissue based on identifying the tissue and monitoring the modification of the tissue by the application of radio frequency energy.

Abstract: A pen cap for a medication delivery pen includes a piston-style detector mechanism. The piston-style detector mechanism includes at least an inner shell having first open end through which the medication delivery pen can be inserted, a second end opposite the first end, a sidewall defined by an outer surface and an opposing inner surface, and a passageway extending from the outer surface to the inner surface. The sidewall extends between the first end and the second end thereby defining a pen-receiving cavity there between. The piston-style detector mechanism further includes at least one switch and a translatable shaft at least partially disposed in the passage. The translatable shaft includes a body that extends at least from a pen-interfacing portion in the pen-receiving cavity to a switch-interfacing portion thereof.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for evaluating a plurality of cryptocurrencies, the method comprising monitoring and storing volatility data for a plurality of cryptocurrency exchanges; analyzing the stored volatility data to generate one or more risk forecasts indicating risks associated with purchasing cryptocurrency through each of the cryptocurrency exchanges; determining a number of transaction factors for purchasing cryptocurrencies and selecting a cryptocurrency based on the transaction factors.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display system. The display system includes a backlight configured to emit substantially collimated polarized light from an emission surface thereof. The emitted polarized light is polarized along a polarization direction. The display system further includes a display panel configured to receive an illumination light and form an image. The display system further includes a grating system substantially coextensive in length and width with the display panel and the emission surface. The grating system includes a plurality of substantially parallel elongated features extending along an in-plane first direction and arranged along an orthogonal in-plane second direction. The grating system is configured to receive and transmit an incident polarized light as a first transmitted light having different first and second polarization states in response to different respective first and second signals applied to the grating system.

Abstract: A launch and recovery vehicle can be towed by a water vehicle or ship. The launch and recover vehicle can ballast in order to retrieve an unmanned vehicle. The launch and recovery vehicle can deballast while holding the unmanned vehicle. The water vehicle or ship can retrieve or winch the launch and recovery vehicle onto a well deck. Additionally, the launch and recovery vehicle has wheels and can be pulled or towed onto land with a land-based vehicle, such as a truck.

Abstract: The CONVERGED MERCHANT PROCESSING APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“CMP”) facilitates the generation of user accounts with merchants. The user may be logged into an electronic wallet or issuer account, and may initiate an account generation process with a one-click mechanism. The CMP may provide information to the merchant in order to facilitate the generation of the account after receiving data from the electronic wallet or issuer.

Abstract: Persistent storage may contain definitions of: configuration items (CIs) each having attributes that characterize a respective hardware or software component, a list of data sources used to update at least some of the CIs, and an auto-attestation time period; and one or more processors configured to: identify a plurality of the CIs for auto-attestation; for each respective CI, determine a respective condition of whether: (i) a data-source attribute of the respective CI indicates that it was updated by a trusted data source, and (ii) a most-recent-update attribute of the respective CI indicates that it was updated within the auto-attestation time period; and mark each respective CI based on its respective condition, wherein the respective CI is marked as auto-attested when its respective condition is true, and wherein the respective CI is marked as not auto-attested when its respective condition is false.

Abstract: An e-commerce system and method for presenting product information to a viewer, where a video feed and product information associated with a product that relates to the content in the video feed can be displayed or presented to the viewer on one or more remote display devices.

Abstract: Techniques for data manipulation using processor cluster address generation are disclosed. One or more processor clusters capable of executing software-initiated work requests are accessed. A plurality of dimensions from a tensor is flattened into a single dimension. A work request address field is parsed, where the address field contains unique address space descriptors for each of the plurality of dimensions, along with a common address space descriptor. A direct memory access (DMA) engine coupled to the one or more processor clusters is configured. Addresses are generated based on the unique address space descriptors and the common address space descriptor. The plurality of dimensions can be summed to generate a single address. Memory is accessed using two or more of the addresses that were generated. The addresses are used to enable DMA access.

Abstract: A fluidized catalytic reactor system cycles from 0.05-5% of catalyst at a time through a rejuvenation unit to be heated in the presence of oxygen to maintain catalyst activity. The use of the rejuvenation unit that may be 2% of the size of the main catalyst regeneration unit allows for reduction in equipment size and in catalyst inventory. The catalyst that is sent to the rejuvenation unit may be spent catalyst but may be partially or fully regenerated catalyst. The rejuvenation unit may be heated by combusting fuel or by hot flue gas.

Abstract: A location awareness system including a communication network, and a network operating element coupled to the communication network. At least one anchor network gateway is coupled to the communication network, the at least one anchor network gateway configured to generate a wireless anchor network. A plurality of anchors are configured to couple to one of the at least one anchor network gateway via its respective wireless anchor network. A plurality of tags is each configured to communicate with at least one anchor to provide ranging information for determination of a position of the tag within an area covered by the system.

Abstract: A program is executed using a call stack and shadow stack. The call stack includes frames having respective return addresses. The frames may also store variables and/or parameters. The shadow stack stores duplicates of the return addresses in the call stack. The call stack and the shadow stack are maintained by, (i) each time a function is called, adding a corresponding stack frame to the call stack and adding a corresponding return address to the shadow stack, and (ii) each time a function is exited, removing a corresponding frame from the call stack and removing a corresponding return address from the shadow stack. A backtrace of the program's current call chain is generated by accessing the return addresses in the shadow stack. The outputted backtrace includes the return addresses from the shadow stack and/or information about the traced functions that is derived from the shadow stack's return addresses.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to hollow profiles and methods of preparing the same for joining operations. A method herein can include placing a dam within a channel defined by the hollow profile, fitting a die block over an end of the channel, and injecting a flowable composition through an injection port into the channel. Another method can include defining a volume within a first member using at least one flow control device, filling the defined volume with a flowable polymeric composition, allowing the flowable polymeric composition to solidify to form a solid portion in the first member, and mechanically modifying the solid portion to define a joining surface suitable for joining to the second member. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes receiving audio input by a microphone of an access control device that controls access through a passageway, processing an audio signal associated with the audio input to identify and authenticate a user, determining a command corresponding with the audio signal in response to identification and authentication of the user, and performing at least one action that corresponds with the command.

Abstract: Structures for a varactor diode and methods of forming same. The structure comprises a first semiconductor layer including a section on a substrate, a second semiconductor layer on the section of the first semiconductor layer, a third semiconductor layer on the second semiconductor layer, and a doped region in the section of the first semiconductor layer. The section of the first semiconductor layer and the doped region have a first conductivity type, and the second semiconductor layer comprises silicon-germanium having a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, and the third semiconductor layer has the second conductivity type. The doped region contains a higher concentration of a dopant of the first conductivity type than the section of the first semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer abuts the first section of the first semiconductor layer along an interface, and the doped region is positioned adjacent to the interface.

Abstract: Examples provide methods and apparatus for controlling a DC bias current in an RF amplifier. In one example where the RF amplifier is implemented on an amplifier die, a reference voltage is produced across a reference resistor implemented on the amplifier die, the DC bias current is measured, and a current controller, which is implemented on a controller die that is separate from the amplifier die, operates a feedback loop using the reference voltage to control a level of the DC bias current.