Abstract: A method of capturing soot includes the steps: combusting a first precursor in a burner to produce a soot stream, the soot stream comprising soot and exiting the burner at an outlet; and directing a capture medium to the soot stream, the capture medium contacting the soot in an impact region, the soot having a temperature greater than 50° C. in the impact region.

Abstract: Methods of firing ceramic honeycomb bodies are disclosed that include heating the ceramic honeycomb bodies and blocking furnace gases from flowing through the ceramic honeycomb body by placing an aluminum metal layer adjacent an endface of the honeycomb body. Heating removes organic pore-forming material and graphite pore-forming material in the ceramic honeycomb body. The aluminum metal layer oxidizes to form a porous Al2O3 layer after firing to a first temperature, and furnace gases flow through the ceramic honeycomb body.

Abstract: Methods of firing ceramic-forming honeycomb bodies are disclosed that include heating the honeycomb bodies and blocking furnace gases from flowing through the honeycomb body by placing a layer selected from the group consisting of a graphite layer, a graphite-containing layer, an activated carbon layer, or an amorphous carbon layer adjacent an endface of the honeycomb body. Heating removes organic pore-forming material and graphite pore-forming material in the honeycomb body. The layer oxidizes to form a porous layer after firing to a first temperature, and furnace gases flow through the honeycomb body.

Abstract: A method of analysing a sample is disclosed that comprises surveying a sample in a first mode of operation by directing a spray of charged droplets onto the sample, determining one or more regions of interest in the sample, and analysing the one or more regions of interest in a second different mode of operation by directing a spray of charged droplets onto the sample. The spot size of the spray of charged droplets at a point of impact with the sample may be varied.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing access to secure-access facilities based on pairing of the secure-access facilities with a user device such as a wearable device. A pairable secure-access facility may be a public storage facility or device such as a locker that includes communications circuitry for pairing with the user device. Once paired with the user device, the locker may operate a locking mechanism to lock the locker when the user device is away from the locker and to unlock the locker when the user device is in the vicinity of the locker. The locker may include a beacon for detecting and pairing with the user devices. Pairing the user device and the locker may include entering a locker identifier into the user device to ensure that the intended user device is paired with the intended locker.

Abstract: In various example embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for a waist measuring belt are provided. An example waist measuring belt is made up of a belt buckle frame with attachments for a belt strap. The belt further includes a position measuring module coupled to the belt buckle frame that measures an attachment position of a second end of the belt strap to the belt buckle frame. The belt also includes a tension measuring module coupled to the belt buckle frame that measures a tension through the belt buckle frame and the belt strap. A memory and a wireless communication module attached to the belt may be used to store measurements and communicate with a mobile device or server. In various embodiments, estimated user waist sizes over time using measured values and belt-specific data may be used to estimate a user's waist size and generate a waist size history.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing access to secure-access facilities based on pairing of the secure-access facilities with a user device such as a wearable device. A pairable secure-access facility may be a public storage facility or device such as a locker that includes communications circuitry for pairing with the user device. Once paired with the user device, the locker may operate a locking mechanism to lock the locker when the user device is away from the locker and to unlock the locker when the user device is in the vicinity of the locker. The locker may include a beacon for detecting and pairing with the user devices. Pairing the user device and the locker may include entering a locker identifier into the user device to ensure that the intended user device is paired with the intended locker.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for modifying image parameters of an image to be captured by an image capturing device based on input from a wearable computing device. In some embodiments, the system receives image data, determines an image parameter based on the image data, and receives data from a wearable computing device positioned proximate to a subject of the image. The system modifies the image parameter based on the data received from the wearable computing device and captures the image data using the modified image parameter.

Abstract: In various example embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for a waist measuring belt are provided. An example waist measuring belt is made up of a belt buckle frame with attachments for a belt strap. The belt further includes a position measuring module coupled to the belt buckle frame that measures an attachment position of a second end of the belt strap to the belt buckle frame. The belt also includes a tension measuring module coupled to the belt buckle frame that measures a tension through the belt buckle frame and the belt strap. A memory and a wireless communication module attached to the belt may be used to store measurements and communicate with a mobile device or server. In various embodiments, estimated user waist sizes over time using measured values and belt-specific data may be used to estimate a user's waist size and generate a waist size history.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for modifying image parameters of an image to be captured by an image capturing device based on input from a wearable computing device. In some embodiments, the system receives image data, determines an image parameter based on the image data, and receives data from a wearable computing device positioned proximate to a subject of the image. The system modifies the image parameter based on the data received from the wearable computing device and captures the image data using the modified image parameter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing access to secure-access facilities based on pairing of the secure-access facilities with a user device such as a wearable device. A pairable secure-access facility may be a public storage facility or device such as a locker that includes communications circuitry for pairing with the user device. Once paired with the user device, the locker may operate a locking mechanism to lock the locker when the user device is away from the locker and to unlock the locker when the user device is in the vicinity of the locker. The locker may include a beacon for detecting and pairing with the user devices. Pairing the user device and the locker may include entering a locker identifier into the user device to ensure that the intended user device is paired with the intended locker.

Abstract: A skinning apparatus and a method of skinning a porous ceramic. The apparatus includes an axial skinning manifold. The axial skinning manifold includes a curved adaptive pipe to flow cement in a circumferential direction from an inlet at a first position and through an adaptive opening along an inner bend of the curve through a land channel disposed along the inner bend. The land channel emits the cement at a constant velocity from a land opening extending proximate the first position to a second position spaced apart from the first position. The land outlet emits cement at a constant velocity around the outer periphery of the porous ceramic to dispose a uniform skin thereon as the porous ceramic moves axially relative to the land outlet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a honeycomb support structure comprising a honeycomb body and an outer layer or skin formed of a cement that includes an inorganic filler material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion from 25 C to 600 C and a crystalline inorganic fibrous material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion from 25 C to 600 C. Skin cement composition controls level of cement liquid/colloid components, for example water, colloidal silica, and methylcellulose migration into the substrate during the skin application process to form barrier to skin wetting and staining during the washcoating process.

Abstract: A method of capturing soot includes the steps: combusting a first precursor in a burner to produce a soot stream, the soot stream comprising soot and exiting the burner at an outlet; and directing a capture medium to the soot stream, the capture medium contacting the soot in an impact region, the soot having a temperature greater than 50° C. in the impact region.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for ion source devices with minimized post-column volumes are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one memory, and logic coupled to the at least one memory. The logic may be configured to receive analytical information from at least one analytical instrument, and generate at least one record in a distributed ledger having a transaction associated with at least a portion of the analytical information. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing access to secure-access facilities based on pairing of the secure-access facilities with a user device such as a wearable device. A pairable secure-access facility may be a public storage facility or device such as a locker that includes communications circuitry for pairing with the user device. Once paired with the user device, the locker may operate a locking mechanism to lock the locker when the user device is away from the locker and to unlock the locker when the user device is in the vicinity of the locker. The locker may include a beacon for detecting and pairing with the user devices. Pairing the user device and the locker may include entering a locker identifier into the user device to ensure that the intended user device is paired with the intended locker.

Abstract: A method of analysing a sample is disclosed that comprises surveying a sample in a first mode of operation by directing a spray of charged droplets onto the sample, determining one or more regions of interest in the sample, and analysing the one or more regions of interest in a second different mode of operation by directing a spray of charged droplets onto the sample. The spot size of the spray of charged droplets at a point of impact with the sample may be varied.

Abstract: In various example embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for a waist measuring belt are provided. An example waist measuring belt is made up of a belt buckle frame with attachments for a belt strap. The belt further includes a position measuring module coupled to the belt buckle frame that measures an attachment position of a second end of the belt strap to the belt buckle frame. The belt also includes a tension measuring module coupled to the belt buckle frame that measures a tension through the belt buckle frame and the belt strap. A memory and a wireless communication module attached to the belt may be used to store measurements and communicate with a mobile device or server. In various embodiments, estimated user waist sizes over time using measured values and belt-specific data may be used to estimate a user's waist size and generate a waist size history.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing glass articles from powder at low temperatures includes the steps of preparing a slurry of powder suspended in a liquid; depositing the slurry on a substrate; drying the slurry to form a layer on the substrate; depositing slurry on the layer; drying the slurry deposited on the layer on the substrate to form another layer; repeating the steps of depositing a slurry and drying the to form a plurality of sequential layers on the substrate; and consolidating the plurality of sequential layers to form a glass article. The process requires a small manufacturing footprint, and facilitates the manufacture of very large near-net shape glass articles.

Abstract: In various example embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for a waist measuring belt are provided. An example waist measuring belt is made up of a belt buckle frame with attachments for a belt strap. The belt further includes a position measuring module coupled to the belt buckle frame that measures an attachment position of a second end of the belt strap to the belt buckle frame. The belt also includes a tension measuring module coupled to the belt buckle frame that measures a tension through the belt buckle frame and the belt strap. A memory and a wireless communication module attached to the belt may be used to store measurements and communicate with a mobile device or server. In various embodiments, estimated user waist sizes over time using measured values and belt-specific data may be used to estimate a user's waist size and generate a waist size history.