Abstract: A method includes initiating, by a user computing device, a payment with a merchant computing device. The method further includes determining, by a network computing device, an amount of collateral tokens required to back the payment. The method further includes depositing, by the user computing device, the amount of the collateral tokens in a smart contract. The amount of collateral tokens is locked in the smart contract to back the payment. The method further includes sending, by the network computing device, an amount of a desired currency to the merchant computing device to complete the payment. The method further includes sending, by the merchant computing device, a fee to the network computing device for facilitating the payment. The method further includes converting, by the network computing device, the fee to collateral tokens, and depositing the collateral tokens in one or more smart contracts as rewards.

Abstract: A method includes initiating, by a payor computing device, a financial transaction to send payment of a particular amount to a payee computing device using a first cryptocurrency. The payee computing device accepts a desired currency. The method further includes placing a hold on an amount of collateral cryptocurrency based on a request to process the financial transaction. The method further includes sending, by the payor computing device, a first amount of the first cryptocurrency equal to the particular amount to the cryptocurrency acceptance network computing device, converting, by a cryptocurrency exchange device, the first amount of the first cryptocurrency to an amount of the desired currency equal to the particular amount, and sending the amount of the desired currency to a payee banking computing device. The method further includes seeking a desired number of confirmations of the first amount of the first cryptocurrency from a consensus network.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a warehouse server, flash sale data file from a retail-type server. The method further includes storing, by the warehouse server, the flash sale data file in a database that functions as a virtual warehouse of flash sales. The method further includes interpreting, by the warehouse server, the information of the flash sale data file to determine flash sale parameters. The method further includes determining, by the warehouse server, whether a computing device has customer-device data that corresponds to the flash sale parameters. The method further includes, when the computing device has the customer-device data that corresponds to the flash sale parameters, generating, by the warehouse server, a customer specific coupon regarding the flash sale. The method further includes transmitting, by the warehouse server, the customer specific coupon to the computing device.

Abstract: A tube forming apparatus for forming polymeric tubing includes a housing between rear and discharge ends. The tube forming apparatus includes a core tube assembly with an exterior core tube and an inner core tube positioned partially therein and in an interior area of the housing. The tube forming apparatus includes a die that has an inner die-surface. A diverter tip is mounted in and extends from the inner core tube into the die forming a die opening between the die and the diverter tip. The tube forming apparatus includes a core tube adjustment system mounted proximate the rear end which includes an axial displacement device configured to axially position the core tube assembly for modulating wall thickness of the tube and/or an angular displacement device configured to modulate the inner core tube for modulating concentricity of the tube.

Abstract: A method of explicit note-location for stringed instruments is disclosed. The invention synthesizes tablature notation and traditional classical staff notation for more fluid sight-reading of musical pieces. The invention makes explicit the note-locations-on-stringed-instruments of notated pitches. The invention makes possible for string instrument music the explicit denotations for pitch and the location of those pitches on a piano that is the traditional classical staff system of notation. The disclosed invention accomplishes this without obscuring any musical information notated in tablature or staff notation, while adding to staff notation what has been missing for 700-500+ years. The notated music itself becomes easier to read, because no inference or interpretation is required while reading music notated with the invention, as is necessary for use of the current state of the art music notations with stringed-instruments, either in tablature, the classical musical staff, or others.

Abstract: A dissolvable frac plug is disclosed. The dissolvable frac plug has an internal chamber surrounded by an external wall with the chamber containing a dry powder component in an amount sufficient to combine with ground water or other wellbore fluids to form a solution or environment that enhances dissolution of the plug. The dry powder is released from the chamber as a portion or portions of the external wall dissolves due to contact with water or other wellbore fluids.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a device and a process for performing large-scale noncovalent functionalization of 2D materials, with chemical pattern elements as small as a few nanometers, using thermally controlled rotary Langmuir-Schaefer conversion. In particular, the present invention discloses a device comprising a thermally regulated disc driven by a rotor with fine speed control configured to be operable with a Langmuir trough for performing large-scale noncovalent functionalization of 2D materials, achieving ordered domain areas up to nearly 10,000 ?m2, with chemical pattern elements as small as a few nanometers. A process using the device for performing large-scale noncovalent functionalization of 2D materials with chemical pattern elements as small as a few nanometers is within the scope of this disclosure.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a request regarding an exchange item that is associated with a computing device. The method further includes generating first dynamic exchange item information based on static exchange item information. The method further includes generating a first verification code based on the first dynamic exchange item information and the request. The method further includes sending the first verification code to the computing device. The method further includes receiving a computer ID and a reply code. The method further includes determining whether the computer ID matches the static owner ID. When the computer ID matches the static owner ID and the reply code corresponds to the first verification code, sending the first dynamic exchange item information to the computing device. When the computer ID does not match the static owner ID or the code does not match the first verification code, deleting the first dynamic exchange item information.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model can be presented in a two-dimensional digital canvas on a computer display. User input directed at the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas can be received. The three-dimensional model can be manipulated in response to the user input. A two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional model can be displayed. Corresponding data structures for the model, the canvas, and the two-dimensional objects in the data structure can be maintained and updated. One or more additional techniques can also be utilized in a computer system, such as continuous user-controlled model rotation in a two-dimensional canvas; viewport autofit and non-autofit modes; rotating the model around a camera look-at point; ghosting outside the viewport; normalizing modeling units and values; preset buttons with on-button previews; user-defined view presets; and/or two-dimensional image substitution.

Abstract: A toe valve housing one or more of tracer or dye compounds and a method of monitoring the operation of a toe valve. The toe valve has an atmospheric chamber disposed between a sleeve and a pressure barrier and contains one or more of tracer or dye compounds in an amount sufficient to be observed from water or other wellbore fluids when released to the fluids. The tracer compound is released from the atmospheric chamber as a pressure barrier is activated and open. The released tracer or dye compounds can be identified from the water or other wellbore fluids. Also included are methods of monitoring the operation of a toe valve in a wellbore.

Abstract: A handgun sear has a sear body extending between a proximal end portion to a distal end portion. The sear defines a first engagement surface adjacent the proximal end portion and a second engagement surface positioned distally of the first engagement surface. The sear can pivot about the distal end portion between a cocked position and a displaced position. The second engagement surface can be used to arrest forward movement of the striker in the event of an impulse that causes the striker to disengage from the first engagement surface. The sear may be incorporated into a fire control assembly of a semiautomatic handgun or other firearm.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for producing guayule seeds, guayule plants, and products generated therefrom. More specifically, the disclosure provides methods for the production of viable seeds from apomictic guayule plants, seeds produced by such methods, plants grown from such seeds, plant parts, biomass, and biomaterials derived therefrom.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model can be presented in a two-dimensional digital canvas on a computer display. User input directed at the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas can be received. The three-dimensional model can be manipulated in response to the user input. A two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional model can be displayed. Corresponding data structures for the model, the canvas, and the two-dimensional objects in the data structure can be maintained and updated. One or more additional techniques can also be utilized in a computer system, such as continuous user-controlled model rotation in a two-dimensional canvas; viewport autofit and non-autofit modes; rotating the model around a camera look-at point; ghosting outside the viewport; normalizing modeling units and values; preset buttons with on-button previews; user-defined view presets; and/or two-dimensional image substitution.

Abstract: Smooth animation effects during zooming are provided by retaining content displayed at a previous zoom level. If the zoom operation is a zoom out operation, new content is stretched to a current zoom level, aligned with the retained content, and placed underneath it. If the zoom operation is a zoom in operation, new content is scaled down to the current zoom level, aligned with the retained content, and displayed on top of the retained content. The new content is then zoomed with the retained content. The retained content is then deleted. When zooming out, the retained content fades out. When zooming in, the new content fades in. Smooth scrolling animation is also provided by pre-rendering a portion of content and teleporting to a final viewport position and thereby skipping over blank content.

Abstract: A dissolvable frac plug is disclosed. The dissolvable frac plug has an internal chamber surrounded by an external wall with the chamber containing a dry powder component in an amount sufficient to combine with ground water or other wellbore fluids to form a solution or environment that enhances dissolution of the plug. The dry powder is released from the chamber as a portion or portions of the external wall dissolves due to contact with water or other wellbore fluids.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods related to assets and predictive models and corresponding workflows that are related to the operation of assets. In particular, examples involve assets configured to receive and locally execute predictive models, locally individualize predictive models, and/or locally execute workflows or portions thereof.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model can be presented in a two-dimensional digital canvas on a computer display. User input directed at the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas can be received. The three-dimensional model can be manipulated in response to the user input. A two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional model can be displayed. Corresponding data structures for the model, the canvas, and the two-dimensional objects in the data structure can be maintained and updated. One or more additional techniques can also be utilized in a computer system, such as continuous user-controlled model rotation in a two-dimensional canvas; viewport autofit and non-autofit modes; rotating the model around a camera look-at point; ghosting outside the viewport; normalizing modeling units and values; preset buttons with on-button previews; user-defined view presets; and/or two-dimensional image substitution.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a request from a computing device requesting that a digital wallet rendered by a digital wallet application executed on the computing device be recognized and accepted within a secure and trusted data communication system for purposes of financial transactions using a first cryptocurrency. The method further includes verifying that the first cryptocurrency is a valid form of cryptocurrency in accordance with a validation protocol. When the first cryptocurrency is valid, the method further includes establishing a per unit value of the first cryptocurrency based on a per unit value of a known and trusted cryptocurrency of the system, obtaining a set of units of collateral cryptocurrency for a plurality of units of first cryptocurrency based on the established per unit value of the first cryptocurrency, and storing the set of units of collateral cryptocurrency in a secure stake pool for transactions utilizing the first cryptocurrency.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model can be presented in a two-dimensional digital canvas on a computer display. User input directed at the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas can be received. The three-dimensional model can be manipulated in response to the user input. A two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional model can be displayed. Corresponding data structures for the model, the canvas, and the two-dimensional objects in the data structure can be maintained and updated. One or more additional techniques can also be utilized in a computer system, such as continuous user-controlled model rotation in a two-dimensional canvas; viewport autofit and non-autofit modes; rotating the model around a camera look-at point; ghosting outside the viewport; normalizing modeling units and values; preset buttons with on-button previews; user-defined view presets; and/or two-dimensional image substitution.

Abstract: A method for execution by a computing device of a recommendation system includes receiving, from a user computing device of the recommendation system, a selection of one or more images from one or more selectable image groups, where the user computing device is associated with a user profile. The method continues by generating, by the computing device, a personal preference profile for the user profile based upon the selection of the one or more images. The method continues by determining, by the computing device, to correlate one or more databases of items based on the personal preference profile for the user profile. The method continues by generating, by the computing device, a representation of one or more correlated items of the correlated one or more database of items for displaying on a display of the user computing device.