Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes a relationship server receiving a discovery service request from a client computer, the relationship server comparing metadata provided in the discovery service request against a database and a crawler retrieving updated metadata from a commerce server for if the metadata provided in the discovery service request does not match the metadata stored in the database column.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes a relationship server receiving a discovery service request from a client computer, the relationship server comparing metadata provided in the discovery service request against a database and a crawler retrieving updated metadata from a commerce server for if the metadata provided in the discovery service request does not match the metadata stored in the database column.

Abstract: An endoscopic device is described and includes at least an endoscope and one or more catheters, and a means for securing the endoscope to the catheter at a distal end of the endoscopic device. The means for securing the endoscope may be a sleeve or distal cap. The sleeve includes at least a first opening for securing the catheter therebetween and a second opening for securing the endoscope adjacent to the catheter.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes a relationship server receiving a discovery service request from a client computer, the relationship server comparing metadata provided in the discovery service request against a database and a crawler retrieving updated metadata from a commerce server for if the metadata provided in the discovery service request does not match the metadata stored in the database column.

Abstract: An endoscopic device includes a base, one or more end effectors, and an actuating assembly. The base includes a cylindrical shaft will a hollow interior. The end effectors are connected to the distal portion of the base such that the end effectors are movable between open and closed positions. The actuating assembly moves the end effectors between the open and closed position. The actuating assembly includes a driver that has at least one stopper feature extending radially from the driver shaft. The driver of the actuating assembly is at least partially disposed within the hollow interior of the base such that the stopper feature is movable in an opening of the base. The stopper feature engages a distal edge of the opening to prevent movement of the driver in a distal direction relative to the base and engages a proximal edge of the opening to prevent movement of the driver in a proximal direction relative to the base.

Abstract: An endoscopic device includes a base, one or more end effectors, and an actuating assembly. The base includes a cylindrical shaft will a hollow interior. The end effectors are connected to the distal portion of the base such that the end effectors are movable between open and closed positions. The actuating assembly moves the end effectors between the open and closed position. The actuating assembly includes a driver that has at least one stopper feature extending radially from the driver shaft. The driver of the actuating assembly is at least partially disposed within the hollow interior of the base such that the stopper feature is movable in an opening of the base. The stopper feature engages a distal edge of the opening to prevent movement of the driver in a distal direction relative to the base and engages a proximal edge of the opening to prevent movement of the driver in a proximal direction relative to the base.

Abstract: A device for obtaining a tissue sample includes a spring sheath, an outer sheath, a base, a pair of jaws, and an actuator assembly. The outer sheath has a wall extending along a longitudinal axis. The base is connected to at least one of the spring sheath and the outer sheath. The pair of jaws is operatively connected to the base such that the pair of jaws can be moved between an open position and a closed position. Each jaw has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The actuator assembly includes a driver that extends through the base and engages the pair of jaws to move the pair of jaws between the open and closed positions. When the pair of jaws are in a fully opened position, the proximal portion of each jaw does not extend beyond the longitudinal axis of the wall of the outer sheath.

Abstract: An endoscopic device includes a base, one or more end effectors, and an actuating assembly. The base includes a cylindrical shaft will a hollow interior. The end effectors are connected to the distal portion of the base such that the end effectors are movable between open and closed positions. The actuating assembly moves the end effectors between the open and closed position. The actuating assembly includes a driver that has at least one stopper feature extending radially from the driver shaft. The driver of the actuating assembly is at least partially disposed within the hollow interior of the base such that the stopper feature is movable in an opening of the base. The stopper feature engages a distal edge of the opening to prevent movement of the driver in a distal direction relative to the base and engages a proximal edge of the opening to prevent movement of the driver in a proximal direction relative to the base.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes a relationship server receiving a discovery service request from a client computer, the relationship server comparing metadata provided in the discovery service request against a database and a crawler retrieving updated metadata from a commerce server for if the metadata provided in the discovery service request does not match the metadata stored in the database column.

Abstract: A suspension mount assembly for mounting a subframe to a frame of a vehicle having a frame rail is provided. The suspension mount assembly includes a cross member and a stay. The cross member is coupled to the frame rail and at least partially defines a recess. The subframe includes a distal end at least partially positioned within the recess at a mounting point defined along a central axis of the recess. The stay couples the cross member to the frame rail and retains the subframe at least partially positioned within the recess at the mounting point.

Abstract: Passages for communicating ambient air to a pressure sensor within a housing are provided; such passages may have particular cross-sectional characteristics that result in higher-quality pressure data having less noise than may be obtained used passages having other cross-sectional characteristics.

Abstract: A suspension mount assembly for mounting a subframe to a frame of a vehicle having a frame rail is provided. The suspension mount assembly includes a cross member and a stay. The cross member is coupled to the frame rail and at least partially defines a recess. The subframe includes a distal end at least partially positioned within the recess at a mounting point defined along a central axis of the recess. The stay couples the cross member to the frame rail and retains the subframe at least partially positioned within the recess at the mounting point.

Abstract: A method for a computer system includes receiving a first user communication, determining a first group of users, determining a target number of users, determining whether the first group of users includes the target number of users, and if not, providing the communication to the first group of users, determining a hierarchal mapping of groups of users in response to user memberships, determining a second group of users from the hierarchal mapping, determining a plurality of social network relationship factors for the second group of users with respect to the first user, and providing the communication to at least a subset of users in the second group of users in response to the first plurality of social network relationship factors.

Abstract: The objective is to develop a method for determining the quality of a liquid product containing polyphenols. The present invention is a method that is a significant improvement over existing methods that use conventional laboratory instrumentation to study the quality of liquid products. The method uses an adsorption cell with a small mirror as a reflecting surface and acts as a substrate for the adsorption of the liquid's polyphenols on its surface. The polyphenol's film thickness is measured by laser ellipsometry. Light from a monochromatic light source is reflected from the thin film of polyphenol, which changes the light's optical properties and are sensed using the principles of ellipsometry. The changes in state of polarized light are translated into graphical illustrations of measured and computed parameters that can be recognized and interpreted as distinctive properties of liquid product quality.

Abstract: A method for a computer system includes receiving a first user communication, determining a first group of users, determining a target number of users, determining whether the first group of users includes the target number of users, and if not, providing the communication to the first group of users, determining a hierarchal mapping of groups of users in response to user memberships, determining a second group of users from the hierarchal mapping, determining a plurality of social network relationship factors for the second group of users with respect to the first user, and providing the communication to at least a subset of users in the second group of users in response to the first plurality of social network relationship factors.

Abstract: A method for a computer system includes determining a first social distance for a first user with respect to a second user, determining a second social distance for a third user with respect to the second user, determining a first qualitative rating associated with the first user, determining a second qualitative rating associated with the second user, determining a first trust-metric for the first user in response to the first social distance and the first qualitative rating, determining a second trust-metric for the third user in response to the second social distance and the second qualitative rating, and prioritizing a first listing from the first user over a second listing from the third user for the second user, in response to the first trust-metric and the second trust-metric.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for performing the dynamic generation of correlation scores between arbitrary objects. When a behavioral event is recorded, that is to say when an end user interacts with multiple objects, relationships between objects are created. These relationships are maintained as a list. When a request for correlated items is requested based upon a seed object, a list of correlated items is dynamically created through the generation of a pivot set and a scoring algorithm to compute the list of correlated items.

Abstract: A method for a computer system include determining a first social distance for a first user with respect to a second user, determining a second social distance for a third user with respect to the second user, determining a first trust-metric for the first user in response to the first social distance, determining a second trust-metric for the third user in response to the second social distance, and prioritizing a first communication from the first user over a second communication from the third user, in response to the first trust-metric and the second trust-metric.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for performing the dynamic generation of correlation scores between arbitrary objects. When a behavioral event is recorded, that is to say when an end user interacts with multiple objects, relationships between objects are created. These relationships are maintained as a list. When a request for correlated items is requested based upon a seed object, a list of correlated items is dynamically created through the generation of a pivot set and a scoring algorithm to compute the list of correlated items.

Abstract: When an end user opens an e-mail the user's e-mail client requests the image content based on the image tag from a recommendation platform and sends an identification to the recommendation platform as part of the image URL. The user ID or seed item is looked up in the recommendation platform database and associated behavioral data and any applicable rules to generate content for the e-mail and the content is then displayed in the e-mail as an image. When the image is engaged, a request is sent to the recommendation platform that references the user or request identifier and a logical location in the image where the click occurred, the image location is looked up along with the user or request identifier to present the correct page or content for the user.