Abstract: A method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device is provided. The method includes providing a substrate comprising a surface region made of a thin-film photovoltaic absorber including copper, indium, gallium, selenium, and sulfur species. Additionally, the method includes applying a dip-in chemical bath deposition process for forming a buffer layer containing at least zinc-oxygen-sulfide material but substantially free of cadmium species. Furthermore, the method includes producing a chemical bath including steps of heating a bath of water to about 75° C., adding aqueous ammonia to mix with the bath of water, adding a solution of sodium hydroxide , adding zinc salt solution, and adding a solution of thiourea. The dip-in chemical bath deposition process includes immersing a plurality of substrates formed with the thin-film photovoltaic absorber substantially vertically in the chemical bath for 30 minutes to form the zinc-oxygen-sulfide buffer layer followed by a cleaning and drying process.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a timeline upon which a playhead indicator is moved or positioned. Changes to a displayed graph that are within a predetermined interval of the playhead indicator's time position are shown graphically on or near the graph. Actor icons are positioned on or near the displayed graph. The actor icons correspond to different entities (e.g., a person, group, organization, software agent, etc.) that has made a change to the graph. Change indicators both on the timeline and in association with the actor icons can be color-coded to indicate addition, deletion, modification or other operations to graph items or to other objects being displayed.

Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products. A score for each of a plurality of authors of posts submitted to a server system is determined. The score for each individual author in the plurality is based on a score of one or more authors in the plurality that have requested to subscribe to a stream of posts that the individual author submits to the server system. A particular post submitted by a particular author in the plurality is received at the server system and from a computing device. A score is assigned to the particular post based on a score of the particular author. The particular post is transmitted from the server system to computing devices that are associated with authors who have requested to subscribe to posts by the particular author.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a stream of content with candidate content items associated with a likelihood of being interesting to a user. A model generation engine generates a model for a user. A scoring engine obtains candidate content items and compares candidate content items to a model to determine the most interesting content items. A user interface engine organizing first and second content items in a first direction and a third content item in a second direction. The user interface engine receives feedback that includes a request for additional content items or a request to remove an interest associated with a selected content item from the model. The model generation engine updates the model in response to feedback.

Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems and program products. A server system receives from a plurality of computing devices indications that a user of each of the computing devices requested to receive posts that a first user authors. The server system receives from a first computing device a post that was authored by the first user. The post is transmitted from the server system to the plurality of computing devices. A score for the post is determined to satisfy a criteria for transmission to a second user who has not requested to receive posts authored by the first user. The determination uses a distance of the second user to the first user in a social network graph. In response, the post is transmitted from the server system to a second computing device that is associated with the second user.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein include new, more efficient ways to request, create, send, and receive product reviews from the Internet. One aspect of the invention is an email message for a customer. The email message includes a request to review a product obtained by the customer in a transaction; a rating input area and/or a text input area; an authentication token that includes a transaction identifier corresponding to the transaction; and an HTTP form submission command to send a response to the request from the customer to a remote computer. The response includes a rating entered in the rating input area and/or text entered in the text input area, and the authentication token.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device is provided. The method includes providing a substrate comprising a surface region made of a thin-film photovoltaic absorber including copper, indium, gallium, selenium, and sulfur species. Additionally, the method includes applying a dip-in chemical bath deposition process for forming a buffer layer containing at least zinc-ogygen-sulfide material but substantially free of cadmium species. Furthermore, the method includes producing a chemical bath including steps of heating a bath of water to about 75° C., adding aqueous ammonia to mix with the bath of water, adding a solution of sodium hydroxide, adding zinc salt solution, and adding a solution of thiourea. The dip-in chemical bath deposition process includes immersing a plurality of substrates formed with the thin-film photovoltaic absorber substantially vertically in the chemical bath for 30 minutes to form the zinc-oxygen-sulfide buffer layer followed by a cleaning and drying process.

Abstract: A mounting assembly which provides for a rigid connection between a valve assembly, such as a canister purge valve (CPV), and a component in an air flow system of a vehicle, such as an intake manifold, air box, or the like. The mounting assembly includes two brackets that are connected to the CPV, and the brackets are used to connect the CPV to an intake manifold. The first bracket includes an isolator having a slot, and a blade or flange extends into the slot, providing only one way of attachment between the CPV and the intake manifold. The second bracket includes a single bolt through a molded tab providing a second connection. The second bracket also has a second isolator; both isolators are made of rubber or other type of material suitable for isolating vibration. Each isolator provides vibration isolation between the intake manifold and the CPV.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device is provided. The method includes providing a substrate comprising a surface region made of a thin-film photovoltaic absorber including copper, indium, gallium, selenium, and sulfur species. Additionally, the method includes applying a dip-in chemical bath deposition process for forming a buffer layer containing at least zinc-oxygen-sulfide material but substantially free of cadmium species. Furthermore, the method includes producing a chemical bath including steps of heating a bath of water to about 75° C., adding aqueous ammonia to mix with the bath of water, adding a solution of sodium hydroxide, adding zinc salt solution, and adding a solution of thiourea. The dip-in chemical bath deposition process includes immersing a plurality of substrates formed with the thin-film photovoltaic absorber substantially vertically in the chemical bath for 30 minutes to form the zinc-oxygen-sulfide buffer layer followed by a cleaning and drying process.

Abstract: A wear cap including a flexible barrel and a rigid disc enables a high-frequency ultrasonic transducer to properly align to the surface of a material to be tested. The wear cap may be employed for any type of contact sensor that requires a protective wear cap and that needs to align to the surface of a material to be tested. An ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a wear cap and an ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic transducer is mounted in the wear cap and includes a transducer body with a cylindrical shape. A method of producing a wear cap for an ultrasonic transducer includes selecting a flexible material, forming a flexible barrel from the flexible material, selecting a rigid material, forming a rigid disc from the rigid material, and affixing the rigid disc to an end of the flexible barrel.

Abstract: Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems receive a request from a user to access content for a group of users of a social networking system, and send the content to the user including an interface to a third party system. The interface is to enable the user to retrieve information related to a third party service from the third party system to share with the group. The user sends the information related to the third party service to share with the group to the social networking system. The social networking system sends the shared information related to the third party service to a group member based on the group member requesting access to the content. In one embodiment, the third party service stores a file or folder on a third party server and the shared information includes a link to the shared file or folder.

Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems and program products. A server system receives from a plurality of computing devices indications that a user of each of the computing devices requested to receive posts that a first user authors. The server system receives from a first computing device a post that was authored by the first user. The post is transmitted from the server system to the plurality of computing devices. A score for the post is determined to satisfy a criteria for transmission to a second user who has not requested to receive posts authored by the first user. The determination uses a distance of the second user to the first user in a social network graph. In response, the post is transmitted from the server system to a second computing device that is associated with the second user.

Abstract: An interlocking joint system can be used to build emergency shelters. The system provides emergency structures that can be assembled by anyone but still handle heavy weather. The system also provides an armorable air droppable structure for military. Shelters built with the system require no tools or special training and such shelters typically become stronger as more force is applied to the joints. The shelter design laterally redirects how wind load and weight load affects the structure.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a stream of content includes a content stream module that generates a model based on user input and/or prior activities using heterogeneous data sources. The heterogeneous data sources include search, entertainment, social activity and activity on third-party sites. The content stream module retrieves candidate content items that have interests that are similar to the user. The candidate content items are compared to the model and scored based upon interestingness of the content item to the user. The content stream module generates the stream of content from the candidate content items.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a stream of content includes a content stream module that generates a model based on user input and/or prior activities using heterogeneous data sources. The heterogeneous data sources include search, entertainment, social activity and activity on third-party sites. The content stream module retrieves candidate content items that have interests that are similar to the user. The candidate content items are compared to the model and scored based upon interestingness of the content item to the user. The content stream module generates the stream of content from the candidate content items.

Abstract: A spherical bearing provides a passive apparatus that enables a contact sensor that needs to self-align to the surface of a test object. In some embodiments, the contact sensor is a transducer. This self-alignment apparatus may be used in a measurement system for aligning the face of a contact transducer to the surface of a material to be measured. The spherical bearing may be dry or may be lubricated with a liquid or with pressurized air to minimize the bearing friction and enable the transducer to self-align. The upper portion of the spherical bearing is preferably attached to a spring-loaded piston. The transducer is preferably attached to the lower portion of the spherical bearing. The spring-loaded piston holds the spherical bearing portions together and centers the floating lower bearing portion after each measurement operation. A cowling preferably retains the lower bearing portion between measurements.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method can include accessing a micro-blog to retrieve a real-time copy of the micro-blog thread and delivering the real-time copy of the micro-blog thread for display in an e-mail message.

Abstract: An interlocking joint system can be used to build emergency shelters. The system provides emergency structures that can be assembled by anyone but still handle heavy weather. The system also provides an armorable air droppable structure for military. Shelters built with the system require no tools or special training and such shelters typically become stronger as more force is applied to the joints. The shelter design laterally redirects how wind load and weight load affects the structure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method can include accessing a micro-blog to retrieve a real-time copy of the micro-blog thread and delivering the real-time copy of the micro-blog thread for display in an e-mail message.

Abstract: A method and system for camera calibration comprises configuring a calibration target comprising calibration reflectors on a test vehicle. Video of a test scene is collected. Next the test vehicle is identified as it enters the test scene and recorded as it passes through the test scene. The position of the calibration target in each frame of the video is determined and the corresponding individual position of each calibration reflector for each frame of the recorded frames is used to construct a camera calibration map to calibrate the video camera.