Abstract: A method of health monitoring of a hydraulic system includes measuring a hydraulic fluid level at a first location in the hydraulic systems and measuring one or more of hydraulic fluid pressure and hydraulic fluid temperature at one or more second locations in the hydraulic system. A snap-shot of data is identified that meets a mode detection criteria a model requires to estimate the hydraulic fluid level. An expected hydraulic fluid level is calculated based on the measurements of hydraulic fluid pressure and/or hydraulic fluid temperature, and the expected hydraulic fluid level is compared to the measured hydraulic fluid level, the difference an indicator of leakage in the hydraulic system.

Abstract: A graft-positioning system that includes a body further comprising a shaft, a handle engaged to the first end of the shaft, a guide rest engaged to the second end of the shaft and a flange engaged to the guide. In addition, the shaft also includes a plurality of pin channels that extend from the first end to the second end of the shaft. The graft-positioning system may also include plurality of guide pins that are configured and arranged to be received within the plurality of pin channels. Additional embodiments provide an arthroscopic cutter that includes a tubular body and a drive shaft attached to a cutting head at one end and situated within a lumen defined within the tubular body. The tubular body further includes a guide rest engaged to the distal end of the tubular body and a flange engaged to the guide rest.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention includes system and methods for the continued operation of a carrier management system having one or more user terminals that normally communicate with at least one data center over a network (online), when the one or more user terminals are unable to communicate with the data center (offline). Once communication is re-established between the one or more user terminal and the data center, local files and data on the user terminals that were used to rate and ship packages while offline are synchronized between the one or more user terminals and the data center.

Abstract: The present invention includes system and methods for the continued operation of a carrier management system having one or more user terminals that normally communicate with at least one data center over a network (online), when the one or more user terminals are unable to communicate with the data center (offline). Once communication is re-established between the one or more user terminal and the data center, local files and data on the user terminals that were used to rate and ship packages while offline are synchronized between the one or more user terminals and the data center.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manipulating the temperature of a surface are provided. Devices of the present disclosure may include a thermal adjustment apparatus, such as a controller in electrical communication with one or more thermoelectric materials, placed adjacent to the surface of skin. The device may generate a series of thermal pulses at the surface, for providing an enhanced thermal sensation for a user. The thermal pulses may be characterized by temperature reversibility, where each pulse includes an initial temperature adjustment, followed by a return temperature adjustment, over a short period of time (e.g., less than 120 seconds). The average rate of temperature change upon initiation and upon return may be between about 0.1° C./sec and about 10.0° C./sec. In some cases, the average rate of the initial temperature adjustment is greater in magnitude than the average rate of the return temperature adjustment.

Abstract: A fiber is provided that has been thermally drawn from a fiber preform, having a longitudinal-axis length and including at least one core that has a longitudinal core axis parallel to the longitudinal axis and internally disposed to at least one outer fiber cladding material layer along the fiber length. The fiber is fed through a localized heating site having a heating site temperature, T, that is above a melting temperature of the fiber core, with a feed speed, ?f, that melts a portion of the fiber core at the heating site, causing molten droplets to pinch off of fiber core material, one droplet at a time, with a time period of molten droplet formation set by the fiber feed speed, ?f. The fiber is fed through the localized heating site to move the molten droplets out of the heating site and solidify the molten droplets into solid in-fiber particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for lighting an oxygen candle within a drum and for sealing the drum of an oxygen candle furnace. The apparatus includes a housing member for positioning the ignition assembly on a lid of the drum. The housing member having an upper portion, a lower portion and a borehole extending through the upper and lower portions. An ignition nail is placed in the borehole and housing member is structured to hold prevent the ignition nail from moving laterally, and to automatically align the nail with the oxygen candle within the drum.

Abstract: A software, web-based method enables employers to determine which candidates are the most talented as it relates to a specific job capabilities. It takes a pre-existing pool of job seekers and allows them to enter talent based competitions to win prizes, job interviews, and ultimately jobs. Employers then receive a list ranking the most talented candidates for any given job. Because there are prizes associated with contests, there are additional incentives to participate ensuring a higher volume of candidates for the position. The prizes attract candidates who would otherwise not have been interested in that particular job. This competition-based system will produce the best candidates that have the particular and specific skills necessary for the actual job and will allow the employer to actually see those skills in action during the selection process.

Abstract: A method of controlling usage of a commodity. The method includes monitoring, by an electronic device, a usage of the commodity, communicating, by the electronic device, the usage of the commodity to a fully-loaded cost engine at a remote location, determining, by the fully-loaded cost engine, a fully-loaded price for a commodity, communicating the fully-loaded price to a device, and operating a commodity-using device based on the fully-loaded cost and a commodity-consumption strategy.

Abstract: A computer system that manages compliance information between a buyer and a number of suppliers includes a database and is operable to store supplier guidelines corresponding to a product the buyer desires to purchase, store a list of approved suppliers, provide the suppliers with access to the supplier guidelines, store compliance information indicating whether one or more of the suppliers is in compliance with the supplier guidelines, and selectively update the list of approved suppliers in response to the compliance information. The computer system is also operable to store supplier certificates and to request updated supplier certificates provided directly from a certification issuer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a minimally invasive ball joint implant and prosthesis for the treatment of arthritis, trauma, and other medical conditions leading to joint destruction and pain, as well as methods of use. In various cases, the prosthesis does not require reaming into the intramedullary canal and does not require diaphyseal fit for any bones associated with the joint, thereby resulting in more rapid and complete recovery. In various cases, the prosthesis incorporates an anchoring stem specifically designed to be impacted into the bone and to facilitate bony ingrowth after implantation, thereby strengthening the implanted prosthesis and preventing rotation thereof.

Abstract: A computer system that manages compliance information between a buyer and a number of suppliers includes a database and is operable to store supplier guidelines corresponding to a product the buyer desires to purchase, store a list of approved suppliers, provide the suppliers with access to the supplier guidelines, store compliance information indicating whether one or more of the suppliers is in compliance with the supplier guidelines, and selectively update the list of approved suppliers in response to the compliance information. The computer system is also operable to distribute recall information to buyers and suppliers associated with a supply chain related to the recall.

Abstract: A computer system that manages compliance information between a buyer and a number of suppliers includes a database and is operable to store supplier guidelines corresponding to a product the buyer desires to purchase, store a list of approved suppliers, provide the suppliers with access to the supplier guidelines, store compliance information indicating whether one or more of the suppliers is in compliance with the supplier guidelines, and selectively update the list of approved suppliers in response to the compliance information. The computer system is also operable to store supplier certificates and to request updated supplier certificates provided directly from a certification issuer.

Abstract: The present invention includes systems and methods for the controlled deployment of software in a web-based environment where multiple versions of a single application are supported to provide field experience of various versions before general deployment. The systems and methods of the invention support backwards compatibility, which allows older versions of the same software to be accessed concurrently with newer (revised) versions. Likewise, data item opaqueness is supported whereby data items not recognized by a software level or tier are not rejected but are passed on to another tier or level where they may be recognized.