Abstract: An electronic cigarette comprises nicotine without harmful tar. The cigarette includes a shell, a cell, nicotine solution, control circuit, and an electro-thermal vaporization nozzle installed in the air suction end of the shell. The advantages of the present invention are smoking without tar, reducing the risk of cancer, the user still gets a smoking experience, the cigarette is not lit, and there is no fire danger.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing operation of a heart assist pump device to a patient's cardiac cycle includes obtaining a signal from a motor of a heart assist pump device and filtering the signal to remove noise. The method also includes determining a speed synchronization start point at which time the motor of the heart assist pump device will begin a change in speed of operation based on the filtered signal. The method further includes modulating a speed of the motor of the heart assist pump device to a target speed at the speed synchronization start point, thereby synchronizing the change in speed of operation with a patient's cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A novel and useful modified semiconductor process having staircase active well shapes that provide variable distances between pairs of locations (i.e. quantum dots) resulting in modulation of the quantum interaction strength from weak/negligible at large separations to moderate and then strong at short separations. To achieve a modulation of the distance between pairs of locations, diagonal, lateral, and vertical quantum particle/state transport is employed. As examples, both implementations of semiconductor quantum structures with tunneling through an oxide layer and with tunneling through a local well depleted region are disclosed. These techniques are applicable to both planar semiconductor processes and 3D (e.g. Fin-FET) semiconductor processes. Optical proximity correction is used to accommodate the staircase well layers. Each gate control circuit in the imposer circuitry functions to control more than one set of control gates.

Abstract: Methods and systems for correcting transcribed text. One method includes receiving audio data from one or more audio data sources and transcribing the audio data based on a voice model to generate text data. The method also includes making the text data available to a plurality of users over at least one computer network and receiving corrected text data over the at least one computer network from the plurality of users. In addition, the method can include modifying the voice model based on the corrected text data.

Abstract: Blood pump devices having improved rotary seals for sealing a bearing assembly supporting a rotor provided herein. Such rotary seals are particularly suited for use in blood pump devices that include rotors having cantilevered supported through a sealed mechanical bearing disposed outside a blood flow path of the device to avoid thrombus formation caused by blood contact with the bearing. The rotary seal can include a first and second face seal that are preloaded with a deflectable compliance member incorporated into the pump housing or a pair of magnets. Such rotary seals can instead or further utilize tight fitment between components or a bio-absorbable fill material to seal an interface between the rotor shaft and pump housing to seal the bearing assembly from fluid flowing through the pump.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to heart treatment systems. In some aspects, methods and systems are provided for facilitating communication between implanted devices. For example, an implantable cardiac rhythm management device may be configured to communicate with an implantable blood pump. The implantable cardiac rhythm management device may deliver heart stimulation rate information in addition to information associated with any detected abnormalities in heart function. In response, the pump may be configured to adjust pumping by the pump to better accommodate a patient's particular needs.

Abstract: A method and system for a configurable security and surveillance system are provided. A configurable security and surveillance system may comprise at least one programmable sensor agent and/or at least one programmable content analysis agent. A plurality of processing features may be offered by the configurable security and surveillance system by programming configurable hardware devices in the programmable sensor agents and/or the programmable content analysis agents via a system manager. Device programming files may be utilized to program the configurable hardware devices. The device programming files may be encrypted and decryption keys may be requested to enable the programming of different processing features into the programmable sensor agents and/or the programmable content analysis agents. The device programming files and/or the decryption keys may be received via a network transfer and/or via a machine-readable media from an e-commerce vendor.

Abstract: A novel and useful controlled quantum shift register for transporting particles from one quantum dot to another in a quantum structure. The shift register incorporates a succession of qdots with tunneling paths and control gates. Applying appropriate control signals to the control gates, a particle or a split quantum state is made to travel along the shift register. The shift register also includes ancillary double interaction where two pairs of quantum dots provide an ancillary function where the quantum state of one pair is replicated in the second pair. The shift register also provides bifurcation where an access path is split into two or more paths. Depending on the control pulse signals applied, quantum dots are extended into multiple paths. Control of the shift register is provided by electric control pulses. An optional auxiliary magnetic field provides additional control of the shift register.

Abstract: A device (100) for supporting a valve annulus is described that includes spaced apart support members (105) and a connecting member (110) extending between and connecting the support members. At least one adjustor (115) is also provided that is engaged with the connecting member and can be actuated to modify a length of the connecting member between two adjacent support members. In addition, each support member may include at least two channels extending through the support members at different heights with respect to an overall thickness of the respective support member. Each channel may receive a portion of the connecting member therethrough, and each support member may further include a passageway between the channels to allow selection of one of the channels. In this way, the device may be adjusted in at least two dimensions to support the valve leaflets and promote sufficient closure of the leaflets.

Abstract: A side loading packaging machine for packaging articles in containers including: a section for forming containers starting from die-cuttings, comprising at least one feeding device, a loading section, a closing section, substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the machine; a conveyor equipped with transportation members configured to carry at least one of said containers, wherein said conveyor includes a motor arranged to drive the advance of said transportation members or groups thereof in an independent manner, and the machine operates with: a continuous formation of boxes, said feeding member working with a continuous movement and with a constant rate over time, and said transportation members advancing with a continuous movement at said forming section; and a static loading, said transportation members being stationary during the loading of articles into the containers.

Abstract: A system and method for tagging an image of an individual in a plurality of photos is disclosed herein. A feature vector of an individual is used to analyze a set of photos on a social networking website such as Facebook® to determine if an image of the individual is present in a photo of the set of photos. Photos having an image of the individual are tagged preferably by listing a URL or URI for each of the photos in a database.

Abstract: A novel and useful modified semiconductor process having staircase active well shapes that provide variable distances between pairs of locations (i.e. quantum dots) resulting in modulation of the quantum interaction strength from weak/negligible at large separations to moderate and then strong at short separations. To achieve a modulation of the distance between pairs of locations, diagonal, lateral, and vertical quantum particle/state transport is employed. As examples, both implementations of semiconductor quantum structures with tunneling through an oxide layer and with tunneling through a local well depleted region are disclosed. These techniques are applicable to both planar semiconductor processes and 3D (e.g. Fin-FET) semiconductor processes. Optical proximity correction is used to accommodate the staircase well layers. Each gate control circuit in the imposer circuitry functions to control more than one set of control gates.

Abstract: Provided is a detection method of a detection device. The detection device detects at least one object from an image by using depth information about the image obtained by a camera. The detection device identifies whether said at least one object is a person through three-dimensional (3D) head model matching, which matches a head candidate area of said at least one object with a 3D head model. The detection device calculates a feature for detection of a situation by using said at least one object when it is identified that said at least one object is the person.

Abstract: A method of controlling Fusarium disease on potato, wherein the method comprises contacting potato tuber with a composition comprising lower alkyl naphthalene. The growth of Fusarium is controlled by treating the potato tuber with a composition comprising lower alkyl naphthalene.

Abstract: A novel and useful multistage semiconductor quantum detector circuit incorporating an anticorrelation mechanism. The quantum structure has at least the first stage sensor of the detector merged into the quantum structure in order to minimize loading of the quantum structure. The merged quantum structure and detector sensor may be encapsulated in a metal cage in order to provide enhanced rejection of the environmental parasitic electric and/or magnetic fields. A double boot strapping detector front-end configuration substantially eliminates the loading coming from both the gate-source and the gate-drain parasitic capacitances of the first sensor device of the detector that is connected to the quantum structure. In addition, differential detection aids in rejecting leakage, noise, and correlated interference coupling. Both dummy referenced differential detection as well as self-referenced differential detection may be employed in the detector.

Abstract: A novel and useful controlled quantum shift register for transporting particles from one quantum dot to another in a quantum structure. The shift register incorporates a succession of qdots with tunneling paths and control gates. Applying appropriate control signals to the control gates, a particle or a split quantum state is made to travel along the shift register. The shift register also includes ancillary double interaction where two pairs of quantum dots provide an ancillary function where the quantum state of one pair is replicated in the second pair. The shift register also provides bifurcation where an access path is split into two or more paths. Depending on the control pulse signals applied, quantum dots are extended into multiple paths. Control of the shift register is provided by electric control pulses. An optional auxiliary magnetic field provides additional control of the shift register.

Abstract: An inter-gaming operator (IGO) server and method is described. The IGO server receives gaming and non-gaming transactions from gaming operator systems, comprising gaming platforms and merchants associated with each gaming operator system. Each gaming operator system issues its own casino crypto currency (C3) for use in gaming and non-gaming transactions. For each transaction that is processed by the IGO, the IGO debits and credits user accounts in accordance with the particular C3 involved in each transaction. Each transaction is further maintained by generating one or more crypto-blocks, each crypto-block comprising a cryptographically-encoded version of all or a portion of the information in each transaction received by the IGO server. Because the IGO server is coupled to multiple gaming operator systems, the IGO server may be used to detect illicit wagering activities that heretofore could not be detected.

Abstract: A method for determining a rate of sedimentation or of creaming of a mixture in suspension, including an application of a sample of the mixture in suspension to a photonic microresonator, an application of a first optical signal at the input of the photonic microresonator carrying the sample of the mixture in suspension, an acquisition and a recording of a second optical signal, delivered at the output of the microresonator carrying the sample of the mixture in suspension, and a determination of information representing a rate of sedimentation or of creaming of the mixture from the recorded second signal, by successive iterations of spectral analysis of the second optical signal.

Abstract: Systems, assemblies, and related modules for connecting components of medical devices employ connector cables with electrical conductors and optical fibers. A connector assembly for coupling a battery module with a medical system including an implanted or worn medical device includes an input connector and an output connector. The input connector includes metal contact plates, has no moving parts, and is sealed to prevent water or dust ingression into the housing. The output connector includes metal pins to electrically couple to the metal plates of the input connector, a connector cable including electrical conductors coupled to the metal pins configured to transmit electrical power and an optical fiber configured to transmit data, and a latching mechanism disposed at an end of the output connector configured to physically attach the output connector to the housing. The cable body has a substantially flat cross-section.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to heart pump systems. In some embodiments, a pressure sensor is provided with a heart pump, either at the inflow or the outflow of the blood pump. The heart pump may further include a flow estimator based on a rotor drive current signal delivered to the rotor. Based on the rotor drive current signal, a differential pressure across the pump may be calculated. The differential pressure in combination with the pressure measurements from the pressure sensor may be used to calculate pressure on the opposite side of the pump from the pressure sensor. In some embodiments, the pressure sensor is located at the outflow of the pump and the pump is coupled with the left ventricle. The differential pressure and pressure measurement may be used to calculate a left ventricular pressure waveform of the patient. With such a measurement, other physiological parameters may be derived.