Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided to support individuals in a retail environment. Some embodiments, provide systems, comprising: a plurality of cameras positioned in a retail store; an image processing control circuit configured to determine a customer field of view; a product identification control circuit configured to identify a set of multiple products within the identified customer field of view, assign a viewing probability to each product without the first customer having to touch the first product; a product selection control circuit configured to determine a purchase probability of the first product; add the first product to a virtual electronic cart when the purchase probability of the first product exceeds a purchase probability threshold; and communicate instructions to control the worker personal computing device to instruct a worker to retrieve the first product.

Abstract: A method for making an aluminum alloy includes steps of (1) weighing out starting materials to achieve a mass of material having a composition that includes aluminum, about 1.8 to about 5.6 percent by weight copper, about 0.6 to about 2.6 percent by weight lithium, and at least one of lanthanum up to about 1.5 percent by weight, strontium up to about 1.5 percent by weight, cerium up to about 1.5 percent by weight, and praseodymium up to about 1.5 percent by weight; (2) loading said starting materials into a crucible; (3) inserting said crucible into a chamber; (4) evacuating said chamber to a predetermined vacuum level; (5) melting said starting materials to form a molten mass; and (6) casting said molten mass into a mold.

Abstract: Non-equilibrium conditions and distinctive process-dynamics give laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) inherent capability to produce unique microstructural-features. However, alloy-design strategies that not only tackle printability-related challenges but also capitalize on such inherent capability, are imperative. Hence, an alloy-design strategy that integrates concepts of grain-refinement and eutectic-solidification is proposed. Consequently, an Al-3Ni-1Ti-0.8Zr (wt. %) alloy has been designed and processed with L-PBF. The alloy exhibits a wide processing-window, indicating excellent printability, and hierarchical features-enabled heterogeneous grain-structured microstructure; a high synergistic as-built strength-ductility is thus obtained. Notably, wide processing-window allows fine-tuning of as-built microstructure, whereas heterogeneous microstructure potentially allows activation of back-stress strengthening and work-hardening.

Abstract: A method of forming an internal channel within a workpiece. In an embodiment, the method includes (a) rotating a tool about a central axis, wherein the tool includes: a shoulder; a pin extending axially from the shoulder; and a flange mounted to the pin that is spaced from the shoulder along the central axis. In addition, the method includes (b) moving the tool across the workpiece in a radial direction with respect to the central axis during (a). Further, the method includes (c) engaging the shoulder of the tool with an outer surface of the workpiece during (a) and (b), (d) submerging the pin and the flange within the workpiece during (a) and (b); and (e) forming the internal channel with the flange during (a) and (b).

Abstract: A friction stir welding tool comprises a cylindrical shank, a shoulder portion disposed at a distal end of the shank, a pin extending from the shoulder, a cutting insert mounted within a concave portion at the distal end of the shank, and a scribe cutter mounted at a distal end of the cutting insert. The cutting insert extends distally through a channel in the pine, and the scribe cutter extends from a distal end surface of the pin in an offset position. The distal end surface of the pin is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shank.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided to support handicapped and other customers in a retail store. Some embodiments, provide systems, comprising: a plurality of cameras positioned in a retail store; an image processing control circuit configured to determine a customer field of view; a product identification control circuit configured to identify a set of multiple products within the identified customer field of view, assign a viewing probability to each product without the first customer having to touch the first product; a product selection control circuit configured to determine a purchase probability of the first product; add the first product to a virtual electronic cart when the purchase probability of the first product exceeds a purchase probability threshold; and communicate instructions to control the worker personal computing device to instruct a worker to retrieve the first product.

Abstract: A method for making an aluminum alloy includes steps of (1) weighing out starting materials to achieve a mass of material having a composition that includes aluminum, about 1.8 to about 5.6 percent by weight copper, about 0.6 to about 2.6 percent by weight lithium, and at least one of lanthanum up to about 1.5 percent by weight, strontium up to about 1.5 percent by weight, cerium up to about 1.5 percent by weight, and praseodymium up to about 1.5 percent by weight; (2) loading said starting materials into a crucible; (3) inserting said crucible into a chamber; (4) evacuating said chamber to a predetermined vacuum level; (5) melting said starting materials to form a molten mass; and (6) casting said molten mass into a mold.

Abstract: A friction stir welding tool comprises a cylindrical shank, a shoulder portion disposed at a distal end of the shank, a pin extending from the shoulder, a cutting insert mounted within a concave portion at the distal end of the shank, and a scribe cutter mounted at a distal end of the cutting insert. The cutting insert extends distally through a channel in the pine, and the scribe cutter extends from a distal end surface of the pin in an offset position. The distal end surface of the pin is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shank.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy including aluminum, about 1.8 to about 5.6 percent by weight copper, about 0.6 to about 2.6 percent by weight lithium, and at least one of lanthanum up to about 1.5 percent by weight, strontium up to about 1.5 percent by weight, cerium up to about 1.5 percent by weight and praseodymium up to about 1.5 percent by weight.

Abstract: A method of servicing a request for a document over a computer network includes independently caching portions of pages called blocks. Each block includes a reference to a data source and code that is adapted to access the data source and to format the data accessed from the data source. When a request for a page is received over a computer network, one or more of the plurality of blocks defined in the script of the requested document may be retrieved from a cache memory. Any block that is not found in the cache memory is dynamically generated and a copy thereof is stored in the cache memory. The requested page may then be assembled from the page blocks retrieved from the cache memory and/or the dynamically generated page blocks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods of regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cotton via somatic embryogenesis.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a cache system, operating on behalf of a data server (e.g., web server, application server, database server), to serve one set of data in response to multiple requests that differ in content or form. In particular, the requests may include different session identifiers for identifying different users, clients or sessions, but they target the same basic set of data (e.g., a web page). When a set of data is cached in response to a request having one session identifier, it can also be served in response to another request having a second session identifier because the session identifiers are deleted, masked, replaced or otherwise ignored when searching the cache system for data responsive to the second request. Also, the cache system may include a requestor's session identifier as part of a data identifier (e.g., URI, hyperlink) within data served to the requester.

Abstract: An internal channel in a metal body for use in applications where internal fluid flow within a metal body is desired, as in a heat exchanger. The internal channel is formed in the metal body by frictionally stirring with a pin plunged into the metal body, and traversing the metal body with the pin.

Abstract: A method of making composite structural components including beams and other structural components involving incorporating a reinforcing segment into a metallic body by, for example, friction stir processing.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for enabling a cache system, operating on behalf of a data server (e.g., web server, application server, database server), to cache and customize one set of data (e.g., a web page) in different ways for different requests (e.g., to include a client's name, account information, a special logo). An application that generates or produces the data on the data server embeds or includes special tags or markers in customizable data, to identify where custom data should be inserted or substituted. The custom data may be included in client requests or retrieved from the cache system, data server or elsewhere. When the cache system receives a new request for cached data that is customizable, the data is retrieved from cache, the custom data is retrieved and inserted at the corresponding tags and the customized data is served.

Abstract: A system and method for caching multiple versions of a data item (e.g., web page, portion of a web page, data table, data object) and determining which of the multiple versions is most responsive to a particular request. A request is received and an initial cache lookup is done with a data identifier (e.g., URL, URI) extracted from the request. If the lookup is unsuccessful (i.e., nothing is returned), the request is passed to an origin server (e.g., web server, data server). If the lookup is successful, it may provide or identify the desired data item (if one version of the data item is served for all requests) or a policy to be applied to determine which version to serve. The cache applies the policy, which identifies the additional parameters, cookies or other information to be considered, and a second lookup is done with the additional information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods of regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cotton via somatic embryogenesis.

Abstract: A session-aware system and method for caching and serving data. A session-aware cache system stores data that may be designated or restricted for service to registered sessions or data requests that include session identifiers. A request for a restricted set of cached data that omits a session identifier is passed to an origin server (e.g., web server, data server) so that a session may be established and a session identifier assigned. The session-aware cache system may determine whether a session identifier of a data request is near expiration. If so, the request may be passed to the origin server so that the session lifetime may be extended.