Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate pretreatment system, comprising (a) an activating rinse for treating at least a portion of a substrate comprising a dispersion of metal phosphate particles having a D90 particle size of no greater than 10 ?m, wherein the metal phosphate comprises divalent or trivalent metals or combinations thereof; and (b) a pretreatment composition for treating at least a portion of the substrate treated with the activating rinse, comprising zinc ions and phosphate ions, wherein the pretreatment composition is substantially free of nickel. Methods of treating a substrate with the substrate pretreatment system also are disclosed. Substrates treated with the substrate pretreatment system also are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an activating rinse for treating at least a portion of a substrate, comprising a dispersion of metal phosphate particles having a D90 particle size of no greater than 10 ?m, wherein the metal phosphate comprises divalent or trivalent metals or combinations thereof; a dispersant; and a metal sulfate salt. Methods of treating a substrate with the activating rinse also are disclosed. Optionally, substrates treated with the activating rinse also are disclosed.

Abstract: A marking device for attaching to a tape measure includes an attachment assembly for movably attaching the marking device to a tape measure and a guide housing movably engageable with the attachment assembly. The guide housing receives a marking member and a marking fluid storage member and directs movement of the marking member from a first position contacting the marking fluid storage member to a second position contacting an object to be marked. A compartment receives the guide housing, which directs movement of the marking member from the second position to the first position. At least one aperture enables contact of the marking member with an object to be marked. An energy storage member moves the guide housing and marking member from the first position to the second position. The guide housing may include a gear mechanism that moves the marking member from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: Lengths of an optical fiber may be broken apart from one another while a cross-sectional region of the optical fiber is in a state of multi-axial compressive stress, and the multi-axial compressive stress extends across the optical fiber. The breaking can include propagating a crack across the optical fiber. The crack can be positioned in sufficiently close proximity to the cross-sectional region so that the multi-axial compressive stress restricts the crack from penetrating the cross-sectional region. At least a portion of the optical fiber may be in tension during the breaking.

Abstract: Computer systems and methods are provided for storing configuration settings for services that are provided in a cloud infrastructure in a central database, and providing values for those configuration settings to services in the cloud infrastructure when those services request a configuration setting.

Abstract: An electric machine, such as an Internal Permanent magnet or Synchronous Reluctance machine, having X phases, that includes a stator assembly, having M slots, with a stator core and stator teeth, that is further configured with stator windings to generate a stator magnetic field when excited with alternating currents and extends along a longitudinal axis with an inner surface that defines a cavity; and a rotor assembly, having N poles, disposed within the cavity which is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis, wherein the rotor assembly includes a shaft, a rotor core located circumferentially around the shaft. The machine is configured such that a value k=M/(X*N) wherein k is a non-integer greater than about 1.3. The electric machine may alternatively, or additionally, include a non-uniformed gap between the exterior surface of the rotor spokes and the interior stator surface of the stator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a vehicle determine a baseline wheel rotational speed and wheel rotational speeds of a wheel for different positions along an outer perimeter of the wheel. One or more deviations between the wheel rotational speeds and the baseline wheel rotational speed are determined, and the deviations between the wheel rotational speeds and the baseline wheel rotational speed are correlated with one or more identified positions of the positions along the outer perimeter of the wheel. One or more of damage to the wheel or damage to a drivetrain of the vehicle is identified based at least in part on the one or more deviations being correlated with the one or more identified positions.

Abstract: A system (1) includes a plurality of mobile devices (21 . . . 2N) connectable to a server system (3) via a network system (4), one or more computing devices (5) connectable to the server system (3). The system (1) also includes a global navigation satellite system (36) and a plurality of transmitters (371 . . . 37N?). For example, the system can be for providing location-based and/or social networking services to users of the mobile devices (21 . . . 2N). Improvements in aspects of the underlying technology are described.

Abstract: A cardio-pulmonary compression device includes a motor (11) having a rotating portion, and a ball nut (12) mounted on the rotating portion and configured to rotate with the rotating portion. A ball screw (13) is received in the ball nut such that rotation on the ball nut advances and/or retracts the ball screw in accordance with a direction of the motor. A pad assembly (15) is coupled to an end portion of the ball screw such that longitudinal motion of the ball screw imparts a compression cycle to a patient.

Abstract: A portion of a core of an optical fiber may be positioned eccentrically in a bore of a ferrule. The portion of the core may be part of an asymmetric cross-sectional region of the optical fiber, and the asymmetric cross-sectional region may include an asymmetric outer surface. The asymmetric outer surface may include an inclined portion spaced outwardly from the portion of the core in a first direction. There may be contact between the inclined portion and the ferrule, so that a lengthwise axis of the portion of the core is spaced apart from a lengthwise axis of the bore in a second direction, and the first and second directions extend substantially opposite from one another.

Abstract: A route examination system and method automatically detect (with an identification unit onboard a vehicle having one or more processors) a location of a break in conductivity of a first route during movement of the vehicle along the first route. The system and method also identify (with the identification unit) one or more of a location of the vehicle on the first route or the first route from among several different routes based at least in part on the location of the break in the conductivity of the first route that is detected.

Abstract: A gaming device provides a single player poker game including one or more opportunities for forming player hands. In one embodiment, for a play of the poker game, a player places a wager on each of a plurality of player hands. The gaming device provides the player with one or more opportunities to fold one or more of the player hands and withdraw the wager associated with the folded hand. A number of community cards are dealt. The gaming device determines and provides any awards associated with a ranking of each of the remaining player hands according to a paytable.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scribing and cleaving an optical fiber held by a ferrule are disclosed. The methods include operably supporting an optical fiber in a ferrule so that a bare fiber section of the optical fiber extends beyond a front end of the ferrule. The method also includes disposing a top-side location of a scribing medium to be in contact with a lower portion of the bare fiber section and a near-side location of the scribing medium to be in contact with the front end of the ferrule. The top-side location includes an abrasive feature while the near-side location is smooth. The scribing medium is moved relative to the bare fiber section to cause the abrasive feature to form a scribe mark at a scribe location at a distance from the front end of the ferrule. The smooth near-side location prevents substantial damage to the ferrule front end.

Abstract: A component of an electrical machine is disclosed. The component includes a core including a plurality of slots, a magnetic field-generating component disposed in at least one slot of the plurality of slots, and a heat dissipating element disposed in a slot of the plurality of slots, in contact with the magnetic field-generating component. The heat dissipating element includes a thermally conductive material having an in-plane thermal conductivity higher than a through-plane thermal conductivity.

Abstract: A decoy motion device for removably supporting and moving a decoy back and forth about a longitudinal axis of the device. The decoy motion device includes a stand; a motion actuating assembly removably mounted upon the stand; and a pivotable elongate support member in operable communication with the motion actuating assembly and adapted to support and pivot a decoy.

Abstract: The disclosure provides compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds useful for treating chronic and acute bacterial infections. Certain of the compounds are compounds and salts of general Formula VIII Certain compounds of this disclosure are MvfR inhibitors. MvfR inhibitors reduce the formation of antibiotic tolerant bacterial strains and are useful for treating Gram-negative bacterial infections and reducing the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods of treating bacterial infections in a patient, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, are also provided by the disclosure.

Abstract: A fishing hook assembly that is either self-setting or initiated upon the fisherman setting the hook. A torsion spring placed at the head of the assembly which is interconnected by two shafts that are terminated by hooks. The hooks used on the first shaft termination can consist of a single hook, treble hook, or jig hook. The first shaft also consists of a latch placed at the end of the selected hook before the hook bend. The shafts are bent outward at 15 to 30 degrees at the torsion spring to allow closer proximity when compressed. The second shaft terminates with a single hook element and is the shaft where the release element is slide onto the shaft adjacent to the latch. The release element has a connection point where the fishing line is directly connected to the release element. The torsion spring is compressed bringing the first and second shafts together with the release element on the second shaft slide onto the latch located at the hook bend on the first shaft.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive environmental context data upon which automatic engagement of a fuel economic driving mode (eco-mode) is conditioned. The processor is also configured to evaluate the context data to determine if the eco-mode should be automatically engaged based on a data correspondence to an engagement factor and engage the eco-mode upon correspondence of the data to an engagement factor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for incrementally communicating a document to a client computer are disclosed herein. Time consistent views of the document are maintained throughout the incremental downloading through use of a cryptographically secured permissions token identifying a version of the document the user is permitted to access.