Abstract: A hand-held sized imaging instrument identifies molecules with high selectivity and in complex mixtures. The instrument uses inelastic scattering and scattering intensities from with machine learning algorithms based on convolutional neural networks (CNN's) to identify the presence of a specified chemical or combination of chemicals. A laser is housed within the instrument to initiate a material response of a sample using laser light of a specified wavelength. The instrument uses an image sensor to capture visible images with inelastic scattering information. The CNN is able to classify the image to determine whether the specified chemical or combination of chemicals is present in the sample. The instrument is inexpensive, portable, easy to use by anyone (nonchemist, nonprofessional), and safe (laser is completely housed). The instrument can be used efficiently and easily for quality control, security, and other applications to reliably detect the presence of specified substances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (information processing system) for overcoming deficiencies and inefficiencies in the current paid search engine keyword bidding market, by providing keyword bidders with information they need to better optimize their use of paid search engines. The system accumulates bid amounts for a plurality of target keywords at one or more paid Internet search engines, and presents the bid amounts to a user, enabling the user to evaluate and optimize bids on those keywords. The system also presents bid amounts for a keyword at one or more paid Internet search engines, in a manner highlighting one or more selected bid amounts of interest to a potential bidder. This permits a bidder to identify the bidder's own bid, and/or to identify a differential in bid amounts that indicates an opportunity for bid optimization. The system further monitors keyword bids at one or more paid Internet search engines to identify bid changes of interest to a potential bidder.

Abstract: Surgical instruments, guides, and methods for closure of fascia and other tissue sites are disclosed. A suture passer guide comprises an elongate body with first and second passages for guiding a suture passer. The long axes of the elongate body, the first passage, and the second passage, preferably lie in three separate parallel planes. A suture passer comprises a housing having a needle tip portion and a first suture grasping surface. An elongate body is located at least partially within the housing and is configured to slide within the housing. The elongate body has a second suture grasping surface at the distal end. The first and second suture grasping surfaces preferably are spaced from the needle tip portion.