Abstract: A panel mounting system for mounting building materials to a building surface includes a rigid cleat fixed with the building surface. Multiple building panels each have a cleat depression formed in a rear surface for receiving the cleat. Each edge of the building panel interlocks with an adjacent panel so that all of the building panels hold each other together against the building surface along with the cleat. Some of the building panels may include a hooked flange projecting that engages a flange-receiving groove of an adjacent building panel to mutually secure the building panels together. Some embodiments include a gable rail fixed with the building surface that projecting outwardly to engage a gable rail-receiving slot formed within the rear surface of a trim panel that has an ornate front surface. Other decorative panels may be included for fixing with the trim panels or other of the bundling panels.

Abstract: Computing platforms, methods, and storage media for providing multi-channel authentication are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: receive, from a plurality of system access channels, authentication data related to a plurality of data transfers and to a plurality of users; consolidate the authentication data from the plurality of access channels to generate a set of consolidated authentication data; and generate a user interface, based on the set of consolidated authentication data, to enable execution of a centrally-provided authentication function at a selected system access channel for a selected user initiating a data transfer. An authentication hub according to an implementation may provide a common authentication experience and improved authentication for the plurality of access channels, which may include a telephone contact center, an in-person or branch location, and online services such as web-based or app-based.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), which includes a plurality of propulsion mechanisms that enable the aerial vehicle to move independently in any of six degrees of freedom (surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch, and yaw).

Abstract: Techniques are provided for fallback authorization routing. A merchant processor may receive authorization requests from one or more merchant systems. These authorization requests may be to authorize a transaction. The merchant processor may transmit these authorization requests over a first communication channel to an acquirer processor, which may then forward the requests to a payment network. If the merchant processor determines that the acquirer processor is not receiving the authorization requests, or is otherwise unavailable, the merchant processor may, as a fallback, transmit the authorization requests directly to the payment network through a second communication channel, thereby bypassing the acquirer processor. When the merchant processor receives some indication that the acquirer processor is available to process authorization requests, new authorization requests can be transmitted to the acquirer processor via the first communication channel.

Abstract: A propeller according to an embodiment includes a hub and a series of blades extending outward from the hub. Each blade of the series of blades includes a core and a skin covering the core. The core may be formed of a ceramic first material and the skin is formed of a second material different than the ceramic first material. The ceramic first material of the core may be ceramic Si3N4 (silicon nitride), yttria-toughened zirconia ceramic, or alumina-zirconia ceramic, and the second material of the skin may be a polymer. The polymer skin is configured to function as a shock absorber protecting the ceramic core, and the ceramic core is configured to provide rigidity to maintain the shape of the propeller blades under aerodynamic loading, which enables improved aerodynamic efficiency and reduced noise generation.

Abstract: A roofing system for protecting a building comprises a plurality of side-interlocking and front-to-back interlocking roof panels. A top side includes a front flange projecting forward at a front end. One or more gutter panels may be included, each having a top side open to a U-shaped gutter. An interior of each roof panel and gutter panel includes an insulating foam material, and an outer surface includes a rigid shell. The gutter panel is adapted for fixing along an edge of the roof at least partially under the flange of any of the roof panels that are disposed along an edge of the roof. Preferably the roofing system further includes gable cap panels, soffit fascia panels, valley cap panels, and wind breakers for holding the roof panels down to the roof in wind.

Abstract: A tailsitter aircraft includes an airframe, a thrust array attached to the airframe and a flight control system. The thrust array includes propulsion assemblies configured to transition the airframe from a forward flight orientation to a VTOL orientation at a conversion rate for an approach to a target ground location in a forward flight-to-VTOL transition phase. The flight control system implements an adaptive transition system including a transition parameter monitoring module configured to monitor parameters including a ground speed and a distance to the target ground location. The adaptive transition system includes a transition adjustment determination module configured to adjust the conversion rate of the airframe from the forward flight orientation to the VTOL orientation based on the ground speed and the distance to the target ground location such that the airframe is vertically aligned with the target ground location in the VTOL orientation of the forward flight-to-VTOL transition phase.

Abstract: Compositions, articles, systems, and methods for sensing and/or authentication using luminescence imaging are generally provided. In some embodiments, an article (or packaging material of an article) is associated with an emissive material comprising an emissive species (e.g., a luminescent species). In some cases, the emissive species has an emission lifetime of at least 10 nanoseconds (ns). In some cases, a characteristic of an article (e.g., identity, authenticity, age, quality, purity) may be determined by obtaining an image (or series of images) comprising time-dependent information related to an emissive species. In certain instances, for example, the emission lifetime of an emissive species may be determined from an image (or series of images). Since the emission lifetime of an emissive species may be modified by a number of factors, including but not limited to binding or proximity to other molecules (e.g.

Abstract: An ionically resistive ionically permeable element for use in an electroplating apparatus includes ribs to tailor hydrodynamic environment proximate a substrate during electroplating. In one implementation, the ionically resistive ionically permeable element includes a channeled portion that is at least coextensive with a plating face of the substrate, and a plurality of ribs extending from the substrate-facing surface of the channeled portion towards the substrate. Ribs include a first plurality of ribs of full maximum height and a second plurality of ribs of smaller maximum height than the full maximum height. In one implementation the ribs of smaller maximum height are disposed such that the maximum height of the ribs gradually increases in a direction from one edge of the element to the center of the element.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a modular headset assembly comprising a headband, a detachable audio module in wired communication with a computing device via a cord coupled to the detachable audio module, the detachable audio module being detachably secured relative to the headband and comprising: a module housing; and a cord retention element disposed within an interior of the module housing and comprising an at least partially dynamic configuration relative to the module housing defined at least in part by a range of relative rotational motion between the cord retention element and the module housing, wherein the cord retention element may rotate within the module housing at least partially independently of an angular configuration of the module housing; wherein the cord is engaged with the cord retention element such that the cord retention element may rotates along the range of relative rotational motion based on forces acting on the cord.

Abstract: A bed senses inter-sleep-session changes in bodyweight of a subject. A computer system can be configured to: receive weight readings; determine, using the weight readings, user presence in a bed; identify, using the user presence, sleep sessions for the user; and generate, using the weight readings and for a given sleep session, weight change data that records a change of weight by the user through the sleep session.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.

Abstract: A panel mounting system for mounting building materials to a building surface includes a rigid cleat fixed with the building surface. Multiple building panels each have a cleat depression formed in a rear surface for receiving the cleat. Each edge of the building panel interlocks with an adjacent panel so that all of the building panels hold each other together against the building surface along with the cleat. Some of the building panels may include a hooked flange projecting that engages a flange-receiving groove of an adjacent building panel to mutually secure the building panels together. Some embodiments include a gable rail fixed with the building surface that projecting outwardly to engage a gable rail-receiving slot formed within the rear surface of a trim panel that has an ornate front surface. Other decorative panels may be included for fixing with the trim panels or other of the bundling panels.

Abstract: The gloves with finger-warming insert pockets comprise a pair of gloves, a plurality of heating strip pockets, and a plurality of heating strips. The pair of gloves may be adapted to be donned by a user. The gloves with finger-warming insert pockets may be adapted to warm a user's hands. The plurality of heating strips may be activated to produce heat and may be placed into the plurality of heating strip pockets located on the dorsal side of a plurality of finger stalls on both a left glove and a right glove. The plurality of heating strips may be removed from the plurality of heating strip pockets when spent.

Abstract: A method comprises providing a microfluidic device including a reservoir; an injection nozzle at the bottom of the reservoir, the injection nozzle being wider at its top than at its bottom; an injection channel below the injection nozzle; and a microfluidic channel below the injection channel. The method further comprises placing fluid in the reservoir, and allowing the fluid to passively flow through the injection nozzle and the injection channel.

Abstract: In one implementation, a microfluidic probe has a non-planar processing surface and an inlet aperture. The shape of the surface may be selected to produce a specific velocity gradient profile across a surface onto which fluid is deposited using the microfluidic probe, for example a constant velocity gradient or a velocity gradient that decreases linearly with distance from the inlet aperture. The microfluidic probe may define and overflow notch in a perimeter edge of the processing surface.

Abstract: In example embodiments, a system and method for providing item notifications is provided. A networked system receives, from a device of a user, a selection of an item from a list for monitoring. The network system also receives, from the device of the user, a condition that triggers the reporting of news for the selected item. The network system monitors for news for the selected item. A determination is made as to whether the condition that triggers the reporting of the news is satisfied. In response to determining that the condition that triggers the reporting of the news is satisfied, the networked system transmits a notification to the user indicating the news for the selected item.

Abstract: In one aspect there is provided a foldable creeper having a body comprised of a foldable material. The body has a first end, a second end and is foldable in a direction along a folding axis. The creeper further comprises a bottom, a raisable circumferential wall having first end portion, a second end portion, a first side wall and a second side wall, said first and second side walls running along axes that are substantially parallel to the folding axis, and a plurality of rigid panel members. The plurality of rigid panel members are positioned at panel locations within or along each of the first and second side walls. The first end portion, the second end portion and the first and second side walls are moveable relative to the bottom and cooperate to form a circumferential raised barrier around the periphery when the creeper is in an unfolded configuration.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to: sensing and/or authentication using luminescence imaging; diagnostic assays, systems, and related methods; temporal thermal sensing and related methods; and/or to emissive species, such as those excitable by white light, and related systems and methods.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, the present invention is embodied as a method of processing a filtered liquid with a microfluidic device. The method includes positioning a porous filtering medium with respect to the microfluidic device, so as to allow a flow path between the filtering medium and a channel of the microfluidic device. The method further includes introducing a liquid in the porous filtering medium for the liquid to advance along the filtering medium and be filtered by the medium. The method further includes applying compression to the filtering medium to extract a given volume of the filtered liquid from the filtering medium, where the extracted liquid volume reaches said channel via the flow path. The method further includes processing the extracted volume with the microfluidic device.