Abstract: An anamorphic optical assembly includes a housing defining an anamorphic aperture, a hood, an optional sleeve, a bayonet coupling interface, and a catch mechanism. The bayonet coupling interface is configured for coupling the anamorphic optical assembly to a lens attachment interface that is coupled to or integral with the mobile electronic device or a protective case coupled thereto.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for holding tubes of samples for processing by a homogenizer. The mounting apparatus includes a processing plate and at least one cassette, with the plate for mounting to the homogenizer, the cassette for mounting to the plate, and the tube for holding by the cassette. In some embodiments, the cassette includes one or more tube-retention assemblies for removably securing the tube against axial, lateral, and/or rotational movement, for example, using centrifugal forces of the homogenizer for retention assistance. In some embodiments, the cassette is removably mounted to the plate, for example, using centrifugal forces of the homogenizer for retention assistance. And in some embodiments, the tube can be replaced in the cassette with the cassette mounted to the plate adjacent an access opening through which the tube can pass, while centrifugal forces assist in retaining the tubes in the cassette during operation of the homogenizer.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method for uniquely identifying malicious advertisements may include (1) associating, by a browser advertisement platform, a browser advertisement with a unique identifier for the browser advertisement, (2) transmitting, by the browser advertisement platform, the browser advertisement to be displayed on at least one endpoint computing device in conjunction with the unique identifier, (3) receiving, at the browser advertisement platform, a message from the endpoint computing device that includes the unique identifier and that indicates that the browser advertisement was associated with malicious activity on the endpoint computing device, and (4) performing, by the browser advertisement platform, a security action on the browser advertisement in response to the message indicating that the browser advertisement with the unique identifier was associated with the malicious activity. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic system for homogenizing a sample includes an ultrasonic transducer and a control system. The transducer includes a horn or other probe that oscillates to produce cavitation in the sample and a converter that drives the horn through its oscillatory motion. The control system includes a closed-loop amplitude-control configuration and process. In particular, the control system includes a user interface, a controller, and a high-frequency driver, all connected together in a closed-loop configuration for enabling amplitude-control feedback. Control software includes programming for the closed-loop amplitude-control process including receiving a user-inputted desired amplitude of oscillatory horn motion, driving the transducer at a corresponding power level, determining the actual amplitude of oscillatory horn motion, and automatically adjusting the power level to the transducer to maintain the desired amplitude during operation of the ultrasonic system.

Abstract: A processing plate assembly for mounting to a homogenizer and for holding tubes containing samples to be homogenized. The processing plate assembly includes a mounting structure and one or plural tube holders. The mounting structure removably or permanently mounts to the homogenizer and can be provided by for example a flat plate-like mounting structure. The tube holders are attached to the mounting structure and hold the tubes in generally tangential use positions with a centroid of each tube positioned along a longitudinal axis of the tube and axially offset from a radius line of the processing plate that is perpendicular to the tube axis. In this way, the homogenizer imparts sinusoidal swashing forces on the tubes that urge the tubes forward into securement in their tube holders and that produces improved homogenization in the tubes.

Abstract: A tube holder for mounting a sample-tube assembly to a homogenizing device includes at least one clamp, at least one retainer, and a mount. The mount couples the tube holder to the homogenizing device. Each clamp defines a tube channel and a transverse ledge surface, with the tube channel having a lateral opening through which a tube of the tube assembly can be easily inserted and removed for example with one hand. And each retainer defines a retaining surface that extends over the respective tube channel and opposes the respective ledge surface to cooperatively form a receptacle that receives/retains a cap of the tube assembly against axial tube motion during homogenization. In some embodiments, multiple retaining surfaces are included for retaining different types of tube assemblies, multiple clamps and retainers are included for holding multiple tube assemblies simultaneously, and/or ejection mechanisms are included for ease of ejecting the tube assemblies.

Abstract: Agitation mechanisms for homogenization devices for processing sample materials in tubes that are secured by tube holders to the agitation mechanisms. Each agitation mechanism includes a first rotary member having a first fixed rotational axis, a second rotary member having a second fixed rotational axis, and a connecting member that extends between them, is rotationally mounted to them at third and fourth non-fixed rotational axes, and to which the tube holder is mounted, with the first and third rotational axes defining a first offset, and with the second and fourth rotational axes defining a second offset. When the first rotary member is driven through rotation, the sample in the tube in the tube holder on the connecting member is driven through a nonlinearly reciprocating motion profile to produce a grinding shear action to better homogenize the samples. Other disclosed embodiments produce linearly reciprocating motion profiles.

Abstract: A high purity valve (10) includes a valve body (12) having an inlet (40) and an outlet (42) separated by a valve seat (32), and a diaphragm (22) having a central stem (23) that has a first end coupled to a piston (20) for actuating the valve, and a poppet (28) for engaging the valve seat to close the valve. The poppet forms a dual point seal (50/52, 50?/52?) with the valve seat having at least two points of contact between an annular surface (30) of the poppet and the valve seat. The annular surface of the poppet may be either a concave surface or a convex surface that provides the dual point seal. The valve has a retainer (14) adjacent the diaphragm, and the diaphragm has a flexible web (26) that extends radially outward from the central stem. The retainer has a surface (60) adjacent the web, and the surface is spaced apart from the web such that the web does not contact the surface when the valve is pressurized.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for preventing the execution of online malvertising may include (1) maintaining a database of software version information for at least one client device, (2) detecting a request from the client device to access a website that contains active advertising content, (3) identifying, by querying the database of software version information, a vulnerability in at least one software element on the client device that may be used to deliver the active advertising content, and (4) preventing delivery of the active advertising content to the client device. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for restoring applications may include: 1) identifying an installation file that includes an application; 2) monitoring the installation file to identify a set of application files generated as a result of installing the application from the installation file; 3) assigning, to each application file in the set of application files, an application identifier that associates each application file in the set of application files with the application; 4) backing up the application by copying each application file in the set of application files to a backup storage system; 5) receiving a request to restore each application file in the set of application files; and 6) restoring the application by using the application identifier to locate each application file in the set of application files within the backup storage system. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for using reputation information to evaluate the trustworthiness of files obtained via torrent transactions may include (1) identifying a torrent file that includes metadata for facilitating a torrent transaction for obtaining a target file via a peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol, (2) identifying at least one entity involved in the torrent transaction, (3) obtaining reputation information associated with the entity involved in the torrent transaction, wherein the reputation information identifies a community's opinion on the trustworthiness of the entity, (4) determining, based at least in part on the reputation information associated with the entity involved in the torrent transaction, that the target file represents a potential security risk, and then (5) performing a security action on the target file. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A processing plate assembly for mounting to a homogenizer and for holding tubes containing samples to be homogenized. The processing plate assembly includes a mounting structure and one or plural tube holders. The mounting structure removably or permanently mounts to the homogenizer and can be provided by for example a flat plate-like mounting structure. The tube holders are attached to the mounting structure and hold the tubes in generally tangential use positions with a centroid of each tube positioned along a longitudinal axis of the tube and axially offset from a radius line of the processing plate that is perpendicular to the tube axis. In this way, the homogenizer imparts sinusoidal swashing forces on the tubes that urge the tubes forward into securement in their tube holders and that produces improved homogenization in the tubes.

Abstract: Agitation mechanisms for homogenization devices for processing sample materials in tubes that are secured by tube holders to the agitation mechanisms. Each agitation mechanism includes a first rotary member having a first fixed rotational axis, a second rotary member having a second fixed rotational axis, and a connecting member that extends between them, is rotationally mounted to them at third and fourth non-fixed rotational axes, and to which the tube holder is mounted, with the first and third rotational axes defining a first offset, and with the second and fourth rotational axes defining a second offset. When the first rotary member is driven through rotation, the sample in the tube in the tube holder on the connecting member is driven through a nonlinearly reciprocating motion profile to produce a grinding shear action to better homogenize the samples. Other disclosed embodiments produce linearly reciprocating motion profiles.

Abstract: A tube holder for mounting a sample-tube assembly to a homogenizing device includes at least one clamp, at least one retainer, and a mount. The mount couples the tube holder to the homogenizing device. Each clamp defines a tube channel and a transverse ledge surface, with the tube channel having a lateral opening through which a tube of the tube assembly can be easily inserted and removed for example with one hand. And each retainer defines a retaining surface that extends over the respective tube channel and opposes the respective ledge surface to cooperatively form a receptacle that receives/retains a cap of the tube assembly against axial tube motion during homogenization. In some embodiments, multiple retaining surfaces are included for retaining different types of tube assemblies, multiple clamps and retainers are included for holding multiple tube assemblies simultaneously, and/or ejection mechanisms are included for ease of ejecting the tube assemblies.

Abstract: A high purity valve (10) includes a valve body (12) having an inlet (40) and an outlet (42) separated by a valve seat (32), and a diaphragm (22) having a central stem (23) that has a first end coupled to a piston (20) for actuating the valve, and a poppet (28) for engaging the valve seat to close the valve. The poppet forms a dual point seal (50/52, 50?/52?) with the valve seat having at least two points of contact between an annular surface (30) of the poppet and the valve seat. The annular surface of the poppet may be either a concave surface or a convex surface that provides the dual point seal. The valve has a retainer (14) adjacent the diaphragm, and the diaphragm has a flexible web (26) that extends radially outward from the central stem. The retainer has a surface (60) adjacent the web, and the surface is spaced apart from the web such that the web does not contact the surface when the valve is pressurized.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for detecting fraudulent software applications that generate misleading notifications is disclosed. In one example, such a method may comprise: 1) detecting a notification generated by an application installed on the computing device, 2) accessing criteria for determining, based at least in part on characteristics of the notification, whether the application is trustworthy, 3) determining, by applying the criteria, that the application is untrustworthy, and then 4) performing a security operation on the application. Corresponding systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: An interstitial manager (100) monitors (210) network communications received by a client computer and detects (215) a potential to initiate contact with a remote computer system. When a potential to initiate contact with a remote computer system is detected (215), the interstitial manager (100) determines (220) whether the potential to initiate contact with the remote computer system entails redirection to an alternate location. The determination (220) of whether the potential to initiate contact with the remote system entails redirection is responsive to satisfying at least one condition from the group of conditions consisting of determining whether a client browser attempts to contact an address associated with the remote computer system, and identifying at least one link embedded within the network communication possessing characteristics consistent with interstitial redirection.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for user-directed malware remediation may include 1) identifying a window within a graphical user interface of a computing environment, 2) identifying a user-directed interface event directed at the window, 3) determining, based at least in part on the user-directed interface event, that a process represented by the window poses a security risk, and 4) performing a remediation action on the process based on determining that the process poses the security risk. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for holding tubes of samples for processing by a homogenizer. The mounting apparatus includes a processing plate and at least one cassette, with the plate for mounting to the homogenizer, the cassette for mounting to the plate, and the tube for holding by the cassette. In some embodiments, the cassette includes one or more tube-retention assemblies for removably securing the tube against axial, lateral, and/or rotational movement, for example, using centrifugal forces of the homogenizer for retention assistance. In some embodiments, the cassette is removably mounted to the plate, for example, using centrifugal forces of the homogenizer for retention assistance. And in some embodiments, the tube can be replaced in the cassette with the cassette mounted to the plate adjacent an access opening through which the tube can pass, while centrifugal forces assist in retaining the tubes in the cassette during operation of the homogenizer.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems for using tiered signing certificates to manage the behavior of executables are disclosed. In one example, a method for performing such a task may include: 1) identifying an executable file, 2) identifying a signing certificate associated with the executable file, 3) identifying, within the signing certificate, a privilege level associated with the executable file, and then 4) managing behavior of the executable file in accordance with the privilege level associated with the executable file. Corresponding methods and systems for generating tiered signing certificates for executable files are also disclosed.