Abstract: The system may comprise receiving a data element, and receiving an encryption key and an associated encryption key identifier from an encryption keystore database. The system may further comprise transmitting the data element to an encryption module for encryption using the encryption key to form an encrypted data element. The system may also comprise receiving the encrypted data element from the encryption module and concatenating the encryption key identifier with the encrypted data element to form a protected data field entry.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a capsule and a releasably connectable vaporizer or vaporizing unit. The capsule comprises a distal end and defines a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol-generating substrate. The vaporizing unit comprises a housing and a heating element and a transfer element disposed in the housing. The heating element is configured to heat the transfer element to vaporize the aerosol-generating substrate. The housing of the vaporizing unit has a proximal end. A portion of the transfer element extends beyond the proximal end of the housing. The vaporizing unit is configured such that the transfer element is the initial part of the vaporizing unit to penetrate into the reservoir of the capsule as the distal end of the capsule is moved towards the proximal end of the vaporizing unit.

Abstract: It has been surprisingly discovered that administration of nitrite to subjects causes a reduction in blood pressure and an increase in blood flow to tissues. The effect is particularly beneficial, for example, to tissues in regions of low oxygen tension. This discovery provides useful treatments to regulate a subject's blood pressure and blood flow, for example, by the administration of nitrite salts. Provided herein are methods of administering a pharmaceutically-acceptable nitrite salt to a subject, for treating, preventing or ameliorating a condition selected from: (a) ischemia-reperfusion injury (e.g., hepatic or cardiac or brain ischemia-reperfusion injury); (b) pulmonary hypertension (e.g., neonatal pulmonary hypertension); or (c) cerebral artery vasospasm.

Abstract: A system and method for preserving privacy of evidence are provided. In the method, an encrypted first image is generated by encrypting a first image acquired at a first location with a symmetric cryptographic key that is based on first information such as a license plate number extracted from the first image and first metadata associated with the first image, such as a time at which the first image was acquired. When a link is established between a second image and the first image, for example, through visual signature matching, the symmetric cryptographic key can be reconstructed, without having access to the first image, but based instead on the first metadata and information extracted from the second image. The reconstructed symmetric cryptographic key can then be used for decryption of the encrypted image to establish evidence that the license plate number was indeed extracted from the first image.

Abstract: A method for operating a well tractor is presented. The method involves running a well tractor coupled to a wireline into a wellbore and supplying an amount of electric power to the well tractor to operate the well tractor at a first speed to urge the wireline through the wellbore at a first force. A variable gear ratio transmission of the well tractor is adjusted and an amount of electric power is supplied to the well tractor to operate the well tractor at a second speed different than the first speed to urge the wireline through the wellbore at a second force different than the first force based on adjusting the variable gear ratio transmission.

Abstract: A shipping system for shipping packages involving the coordinated use of at least a first carrier and a second carrier. The shipping system includes physical delivery facilities for the physical delivery of packages, the physical delivery facilities including at least one transfer location at which the second carrier may take over delivery responsibilities for a package. The shipping system also includes an information system having a shipper computer system configured to record and determine whether the delivery address of a package is an efficient destination for the first carrier. If not an efficient destination, such as a delivery address having a rural zip code, the shipper computer system is configured to label the package for delivery to one of the transfer locations, allowing the first carrier to transfer the selected package to the second carrier for completion of the less efficient portion of the delivery.

Abstract: Method for locating anomalous features in medical images in which medical images are supplied by an external source. A sequence of specific measurements is executed on the supplied data to obtain image-related metrics. The metrics are compared to corresponding values in a database resulting in an anomalous/not anomalous determination. Anomalous determinations are presented to the test operator for analysis along with supplemental historical data. In application to all types of medical imagery, potential anomalies are located resulting in an efficient and accurate diagnosis. For paired body parts having symmetrical properties, as a pre-screening stage, a line of symmetry between the body parts is determined and symmetric regions of the two body parts on opposite sides of the determined line of symmetry are analyzed for differences. The metric comparison using the database is performed between both symmetric regions only when differences between the symmetric regions of the subject medical image are present.

Abstract: Mineral particles may provide for wellbore fluids with tailorable properties and capabilities. In some instances, a dry wellbore additive may comprise a plurality of first mineral particles having a specific gravity of about 2.6 to about 20; a plurality of second mineral particles having a specific gravity of about 5.5 to about 20; a plurality of lubricant particles having a specific gravity of about 2.6 to about 20; wherein the first mineral particles, the second mineral particles, and the lubricant particles are different; and wherein the first mineral particles, the second mineral particles, and the lubricant particles have a multiparticle specific gravity of about 3 to about 20.

Abstract: Provided is a method and system of tracking partially occluded objects using an elastic deformation model. According to an exemplary method and system, partially occluded vehicles are detected and tracked in a scene including side-by-side drive-thru lanes.

Abstract: A hospital bed is programmable with new firmware that is downloaded to the bed over a network. The firmware is downloaded to the bed automatically from a remote computer device. The remote computer device receives a message from the hospital bed which includes data regarding the version number of the bed's current firmware, and if the version number indicates that the firmware is an outdated version, the remote computer device downloads a new version of the firmware to the bed.

Abstract: A drilling motor assembly can include a housing, a shaft, and a pawl which selectively engages a recess, the pawl having an axis of rotation and a generally planar engagement face which engages a generally planar engagement face of the recess when relative rotation between the housing and the shaft is prevented. The engaged engagement faces can be oblique relative to a radius extending from the axis of rotation to the engaged engagement faces. A method of drilling a wellbore can include flowing a fluid through a drilling motor assembly, thereby rotating a shaft relative to a housing, and rotating the housing, thereby engaging a pawl with a recess and preventing relative rotation between the housing and the shaft, the pawl and recess each having a generally planar engagement face, whereby the engaged engagement faces prevent relative rotation between the shaft and the housing.

Abstract: Methods for accelerated soiling testing of PV modules is described herein. The methods accurately reproduce soiling characteristics across various environmental conditions and can be performed in a laboratory environment under short testing times. A method described herein comprises the steps of forming a soiling mixture, depositing the soiling mixture on a surface portion of a PV module, exposing the PV module surface portion to simulated environmental conditions and determining an extent of recovery of the PV module surface portion.

Abstract: A wellbore isolation device comprising: a first material, wherein the first material: (A) is a metal or a metal alloy; and (B) partially dissolves when an electrically conductive path exists between the first material and a second material and at least a portion of the first and second materials are in contact with an electrolyte; and an electrolytic compound, wherein the electrolytic compound dissolves in a fluid located within the wellbore to form free ions that are electrically conductive. A method of removing the wellbore isolation device comprises: placing the wellbore isolation device into the wellbore; and allowing at least a portion of the first material to dissolve.

Abstract: HIV neutralizing peptides, sulfated HIV-1 envelope proteins and immunogenic fragments thereof are disclosed, as well as nucleic acids encoding these molecules and methods of producing these peptides, envelope proteins and fragments. Methods are also provided for the treatment or prevention of a human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1 ) infection. The methods can include administering to a subject an HIV neutralizing peptide, sulfated HIV-1 envelope protein or immunogenic fragment thereof as disclosed herein. In several embodiments, administering the HIV neutralizing peptide, sulfated HIV-1 envelope protein or immunogenic fragment generates an immune response in a subject.

Abstract: A light source and a method for its use in an optical sensor are provided, the light source including a resistively heated element. The light source includes a power circuit configured to provide a pulse width modulated voltage to the resistively heated element, the pulse width modulated voltage including: a duty cycle with a first voltage; and a pulse period including a period with a second voltage, wherein: the duty cycle, the first voltage, and the pulse period are selected so that the resistively heated element is heated to a first temperature; and the first temperature is selected to emit black body radiation in a continuum spectral range. Also provided is an optical sensor for determining a chemical composition including a light source as above.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provides for nondestructive inspection of a generally tubular target structure (such as a wellbore casing) by rolling contact engagement of one or more rolling probe devices with the target structure. Each rolling probe device carries electromagnetic (EM) measurement instrumentation to capture measurement data during rolling contact engagement with the casing. Each rolling probe device may comprise an instrumentation carrier (e.g., a roller or a wheel) having an endless tread surface to engage the target structure, with the EM measurement instrumentation extending along the endless tread surface and being located at or adjacent an exterior of the instrumentation carrier. A plurality of such rolling instrumentation carriers can be mounted at azimuthally spaced positions on a tool body configured for axial movement along a wellbore.

Abstract: The social in line consumer interaction launch pad is a digital commerce service that integrates into digital social forums that allows users (e.g., consumers) to perform commerce functions within a social conversation (e.g., interaction) without leaving the social forums. The launch pad automatically determines whether the conversation is about a company, brand, product and/or service, and converts text entered during the conversation into a ‘hypertext link-mouse over-launch pad’ for users to view and respond to services related to the brand, product and/or service based context. The launch pad is implemented through alliances with social forum service providers and/or a web browser plug-in to tag input (e.g., free form text) within reviews, comments, and unstructured data, selectable to initiate an interaction and/or transaction with the company of the brand and/or product. The launch pad determines the content to provide based on context information and demographics of the author and/or recipient.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to compositions including functionalized polysaccharide for treatment of subterranean formations and methods and systems including the same. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method includes placing in a subterranean formation a composition including a functionalized polysaccharide that includes a hydroxy(C1-C5)alkyl functionalization and a polyhydroxy(C2-C5)alkyl functionalization.

Abstract: The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A PUBLISHING AND SUBSCRIBING PLATFORM OF DEPOSITING NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS (hereinafter “PS-PLATFORM”) provides a negotiable instrument data publish and subscribe framework, whereby financial institutions may exchange negotiable instrument deposit data and/or validation information within the publish and subscribe framework. In one embodiment, the PS-PLATFORM may register a financial institution as a subscriber and provide financial transaction information to the financial institution based on the subscription.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure relates to automatically triggering events (e.g., sales, promotions, gameplay-based events, and/or other events) in an online game based on varying levels of spend by users in the game. This automation of live operations in the online game may provide for management of revenue generation in the online game. The events may serve to draw users into the online game during traditional off-peak hours, may serve to entice user spending in the online game during times when spending would be low without an event, and/or provides for other enhancements.