Abstract: A method for assessment and/or monitoring a person's cardiovascular state comprises: using a sound and vibration transducer to acquire a vascular sound signal in order to detect a vascular sound from a cervical, thoracic, abdominal, pelvic, or lower limb region of the person; filtering the vascular sound signal to isolate the vascular sound, said filtering using a filter which attenuates frequencies below a lower cut-off frequency in a range of 100-300 Hz; and analyzing the filtered sound signal in order to determine whether an indication of a dicrotic notch in the vascular sound exceeds a set threshold.

Abstract: An earphone includes a housing having a sound output hole, wherein a center axis line of the sound output hole is deviated from a center axis line of the housing by an angle; a drive unit received inside the housing; and a resilient element disposed on the housing, wherein the resilient element can be squeezed and deformed, the resilient element or the housing abuts a cavum conchae of a user.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic film structure is provided. The method comprises forming a magnetic structure on a bottom electrode layer, the magnetic structure comprising at least one pinned bottom magnetic film layer having a fixed magnetic orientation; at least one top magnetic film layer whose magnetic orientation can be manipulated by a current; and a tunneling layer between the bottom magnetic film layer and the top magnetic film layer; forming a metallic hard mask atop the magnetic structure; patterning and etching the metallic hard mask to define exposed areas of the magnetic structure; selectively etching the exposed areas of the magnetic structure by a chemical etch process based on a CO etch chemistry to form discrete magnetic bits.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for use in a blood pump includes a first component that has a convex bearing surface and a first outer surface proximate the convex bearing surface. The bearing assembly includes a second component that a concave bearing surface and a second outer surface proximate the concave bearing surface, the concave bearing surface being configured to receive the convex bearing surface. A plurality of grooves are defined through the convex bearing surface and first outer surface or through the concave bearing surface and the second outer surface.

Abstract: A gripping head for a loading robot or manipulator of a cartoning machine capable of nesting articles arranged on two substantially parallel rows, the gripping head comprising a row of gripping members, wherein each of the gripping members comprises a gripping section adapted to receive two adjacent articles and on opposite sides with respect to a centerline plane, and wherein at least the gripping members having even index position or odd index position in the row rotate by about 180 degrees around an axis.

Abstract: An electronic inertial measurement unit (IMU) coupled to headtracking headphones. The IMU may track any movement of the user's head, such as the pitch, yaw, roll angels, acceleration, and elevation and record this information as position data. The position data may be transmitted to tools that use routing schemes contained within authoring applications to decode user orientation and create high quality interactive multichannel biphonic audio without any additional processing or filtering. If horizontal, vertical, and tilt orientating audio is required, the MI emitters may be moved around (giving them x,y,z coordinates) within a cube representing a three dimensional space to generate “M1 Cube Format” audio. For horizontal orienting audio, fewer mono bus outputs may be used to generate “M1 Cube Format” audio.

Abstract: Methods for secure communications are provided. The methods include creating a safe user account on a secure access system, wherein creating an account includes provision of at least one strong authenticator to be associated with a user of the secure access system; providing a unique login and the at least one strong authenticator associated with the user to the secure access system to gain access to information associated with a referring organization, the referring organization being registered with the secure access system; and accessing the information associated with the referring organization based on the unique login and the at least one strong authenticator provided to the secure access system. Related systems and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: In one general aspect, an implant includes a cuff defining an opening configured to receive a cannula coupled to a heart pump. The implant includes a coupling mechanism having a first position and a second position, the cuff being uncoupled from the cannula in the first position and the coupling mechanism coupling the cuff to the cannula in the second position. The implant includes a locking mechanism configured to secure the coupling mechanism in the second position, and the locking mechanism is configured to be moved to a locked position after the coupling mechanism is in the second position.

Abstract: A method of programming a FPGA, wherein the FPGA comprises an array of macrocells, each comprising at least a configurable hardware block and a configurable interconnection network, the method comprises the steps of: providing a high-level configuration file containing: first data defining a set of macrocells and their relative positions; second data defining a configuration of the hardware blocks of the macrocells; and third data defining interconnections between the macrocells; wherein said high-level configuration file contains neither data defining an absolute position of the macrocells within the FPGA, nor local routing information fully defining a configuration of their interconnection networks; converting said high-level configuration file into a bitstream file; and uploading the bitstream file into the FPGA. A semiconductor chip comprising a FPGA and a device configured for programming the FPGA are provided.

Abstract: A system and method for automated call analysis using context specific lexicons. A system includes memory and a processor configured to executed instructions. The system includes a recording component, a lexicon component, an analysis component, and a display component. The lexicon component defines a plurality of context specific lexicons, with each context specific lexicon having elements associated with one of a plurality of unique conversation segments. The analysis component configured to identify elements of the context specific lexicons, and associate each identified element with a time location in a telephonic conversation. The display component configured to graphically present a multi-line graph such that the intersections of the lines indicate transitions between the unique conversation segments.

Abstract: A process management system uses a radio frequency identification (RFID) detection system in the form of, for example, a phased array antenna based RFID detection system to track and manage material storage and flow in a manufacturing process or plant. The process management system operates in conjunction with the various machines that implement manufacturing stages or steps of the manufacturing process to assure that the correct materials and processing procedures are used at or on the various production machines of the process to produce a particular product as defined by a job number or job order. The process management system is thereby able to increase the efficiencies of the plant and to increase the quality of the plant production by reducing or eliminating waste, manufacturing errors and shipping errors in the production facility.

Abstract: In a terminal, a control unit transmits a bundle response signal using a resource in a basic region of an uplink control channel in an uplink unit band of a unit band group when no error is detected in each of a plurality of pieces of downlink data of the unit band group, the uplink control channel in the uplink unit band being associated with a downlink control channel in a basic unit band that is a downlink unit band in which a broadcast channel signal including information relating to the uplink unit band is transmitted, and the control unit transmits the bundle response signal using a resource in an additional region of the uplink control channel when an error is detected in each of the plurality of pieces of downlink data.

Abstract: A method for oxidation of glycerol into glyceric acid is described, which includes a step of treating glycerol with a supported metal catalyst in the presence of oxygen, said catalyst including platinum and a metal element selected from the group comprising tin, molybdenum, bismuth and a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A system including a convex-shaped member, an actuator and a computer. The convex-shaped member includes a forward facing surface, a first end and a second end. While in a deployed state, the forward facing surface curves outward between the first end and the second end in a direction away from a point rearward of the forward facing surface, and the convex-shaped member (i) adjusts attitude or motion of a marine vessel, (ii) deflects oncoming water, and (iii) extends at least partially below a bottom surface of the marine vessel. The actuator (i) is coupled to the convex-shaped member, and (ii) while connected to the marine vessel, is configured to move the convex-shaped member. The computer is configured to control the actuator to transition the member between the deployed state and a retracted state.

Abstract: A system and method for fraud prevention is provided. This system and method may comprise a web browser having form filing capabilities. This system may interact with a financial institution to request and receive a dynamic security code to be used in merchant checkout page to complete a transaction.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for an adaptable blood pump are disclosed herein. The blood pump can be part of a mechanical circulatory support system that can include a system controller and the blood pump. The blood pump can include a rotary motor and a control unit that can communicate with the system controller. The blood pump can determine when communication with the system controller is established or has been lost. The blood pump can retrieve one or several back-up parameters when communication with the system controller has been lost, and can operate according to these back-up parameters.

Abstract: The loyalty system allows a consumer to accumulate general loyalty points from one or more merchants, and convert any desired subset of general points to loyalty dollars associated with a specific merchant. The system stores, for each consumer, the merchant loyalty dollars (or monetary equivalent) by merchant within a remotely-accessible host database or within a smart card database. Upon conducting a purchase at a particular merchant, the consumer may utilize a code key to facilitate access to the consumer's own loyalty dollars for the particular merchant. The loyalty dollars are then applied to the purchase transaction as a discount or rebate. The consumer may also re-load the merchant loyalty dollar accounts.

Abstract: Novel phenazine derivatives, methods for their preparation and their medical use, in particular as anti-neoplastic agents and anti-infective agents, are provided. Novel methods for the preparation of iodinin and myxin are also provided.