Abstract: A rivet system comprises (i) a screw comprising a threaded shaft, (ii) a rigid sleeve comprising a hole extending therethrough for receiving the threaded shaft, (iii) a deformable sleeve comprising a hole extending therethrough; and (iv) a rigid base comprising a threaded hole on a first end of the rigid base, where the first end is configured to insert and advance into the hole of the deformable sleeve to allow the threaded hole of the rigid base to threadedly engage with the threaded shaft of the screw, and where the rigid base comprises an annular channel configured to receive at least part of the deformable sleeve when the first end of the rigid base is inserted and advanced into the hole of the deformable sleeve.

Abstract: A method for obtaining an improved plasticized material results from two differentiated steps: an esterification reaction for synthesizing a polycarboxylic acid ester oligomer in the presence of excess polyol and a catalyst, and a second step of gelatinization and plasticization at temperatures above 90° C. involving a starch mixed with water and with the polycarboxylic acid ester oligomer with excess polyol obtained in the previous step, and a coadjuvant. The catalyst used in the esterification reaction is the same as the coadjuvant used in the gelatinization and plasticization reaction. The plasticized material obtained with this method has a higher stability and a lower migration rate than known plasticized materials.

Abstract: An example antenna system includes a zig-zag antenna array. The zig-zag antenna array includes a stack of conductive disks and at least one crossed zig-zag antenna extending through the stack of conductive disks. The at least one crossed zig-zag antenna includes an element pair that includes a plurality of crossed zig-zag antenna segment pairs between the stack of conductive disks. A respective crossed zig-zag antenna segment pair extends between a respective lower conductive disk and a respective upper conductive disk. The example antenna system further includes a control circuit coupled to the element pair to switch the crossed zig-zag antenna segment pairs to drive the crossed zig-zag antenna segment pairs to transmit or receive radio frequency (RF) waves with polarization states that include vertical, horizontal, elliptical, or circular polarization.

Abstract: An example antenna system includes a plurality of dielectric rod stacks and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a plurality of independently controlled output circuit boards. Each independently controlled output circuit board includes a respective dielectric rod stack. The respective dielectric rod stack includes a plurality of respective dielectric rods. The control circuit selects: (i) the dielectric rod stacks, and (ii) the respective dielectric rods of the respective dielectric rod stack to adjust a beam of emitted or received radio frequency (RF) waves.

Abstract: A system includes: a water reservoir configured to store water; a brew chamber extending below and contiguous with the water reservoir; a piston configured to run in the brew chamber, defining a base of the water reservoir, defining a port extending between the water reservoir and the brew chamber, and including a valve coupled to the fill port and operable in a) a closed position during downward advancement of the piston and b) an open position during upward retraction of the piston; a heating element configured to heat water occupying the brew assembly; and an actuator configured to retract the piston to transfer water from the water reservoir, through piston via the port, and into the brew chamber and to advance the piston by a target piston travel distance—corresponding to a piston swept volume that yields a target brew volume—to displace liquid from the brew chamber.

Abstract: An example antenna system includes a plurality of dielectric rod stacks and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a plurality of independently controlled output circuit boards. Each independently controlled output circuit board includes a respective dielectric rod stack. The respective dielectric rod stack includes a plurality of respective dielectric rods. The control circuit selects: (i) the dielectric rod stacks, and (ii) the respective dielectric rods of the respective dielectric rod stack to adjust a beam of emitted or received radio frequency (RF) waves.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for providing items from an item store to an item store consumer. An item store organizer can request an item store from an item redemption system based on item store parameters. The item store organizer can receive a single use token from the item redemption system to provide initial access to the item store. The item redemption system can validate the item store consumer based on the single use token. The item redemption system can further validate redemption requests from the item store consumer based on the item store parameters. The item redemption system can fulfill the redemption request based on payment information of the item store organizer and shipping information of the item store consumer. The item redemption system can transmit redemption information to the item store organizer based on fulfilling the redemption request.

Abstract: An example antenna system includes a zig-zag antenna array. The zig-zag antenna array includes a stack of conductive disks and at least one crossed zig-zag antenna extending through the stack of conductive disks. The at least one crossed zig-zag antenna includes an element pair that includes a plurality of crossed zig-zag antenna segment pairs between the stack of conductive disks. A respective crossed zig-zag antenna segment pair extends between a respective lower conductive disk and a respective upper conductive disk. The example antenna system further includes a control circuit coupled to the element pair to switch the crossed zig-zag antenna segment pairs to drive the crossed zig-zag antenna segment pairs to transmit or receive radio frequency (RF) waves with polarization states that include vertical, horizontal, elliptical, or circular polarization.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for providing items from an item store to an item store consumer. An item store organizer can request an item store from an item redemption system based on item store parameters. The item store organizer can receive a single use token from the item redemption system to provide initial access to the item store. The item redemption system can validate the item store consumer based on the single use token. The item redemption system can further validate redemption requests from the item store consumer based on the item store parameters. The item redemption system can fulfill the redemption request based on payment information of the item store organizer and shipping information of the item store consumer. The item redemption system can transmit redemption information to the item store organizer based on fulfilling the redemption request.

Abstract: An example antenna system includes a plurality of dielectric rod stacks and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a plurality of independently controlled output circuit boards. Each independently controlled output circuit board includes a respective dielectric rod stack. The respective dielectric rod stack includes a plurality of respective dielectric rods. The control circuit selects: (i) the dielectric rod stacks, and (ii) the respective dielectric rods of the respective dielectric rod stack to adjust a beam of emitted or received radio frequency (RF) waves.

Abstract: An example antenna system includes a plurality of dielectric rod stacks and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a plurality of independently controlled output circuit boards. Each independently controlled output circuit board includes a respective dielectric rod stack. The respective dielectric rod stack includes a plurality of respective dielectric rods. The control circuit selects: (i) the dielectric rod stacks, and (ii) the respective dielectric rods of the respective dielectric rod stack to adjust a beam of emitted or received radio frequency (RF) waves.

Abstract: An example antenna system includes a plurality of dielectric rod stacks and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a plurality of independently controlled output circuit boards. Each independently controlled output circuit board includes a respective dielectric rod stack. The respective dielectric rod stack includes a plurality of respective dielectric rods. The control circuit selects: (i) the dielectric rod stacks, and (ii) the respective dielectric rods of the respective dielectric rod stack to adjust a beam of emitted or received radio frequency (RF) waves.

Abstract: An example antenna system includes a plurality of driven elements and at least one dielectric antenna array. The at least one dielectric antenna array include a central hub. Each driven element extends transversely through the central hub. The at least one dielectric antenna array further includes a plurality of dielectric rods extending outwards from the central hub. Each dielectric rod is driven by a respective one of the driven elements. The antenna system further includes a control circuit coupled to the at least one dielectric antenna array to switch the driven elements to drive one or more of the dielectric rods to transmit or receive radio frequency (RF) waves.