Abstract: A needle system and methods for using the needle system are described. The needle system is generally intended for medical use and can be used when performing a dialysis on a patient, for example, hemodialysis. In general, the needle system can address problems that commonly arise when using conventional single or double needle systems during hemodialysis.

Abstract: A method for enforcing a network policy is described herein. In the method, a network socket event request from an application executing in a first context is intercepted by an agent prior to the request reaching a transport layer in the first context. A context refers to virtualization software, a physical computer, or a combination of virtualization software and physical computer. In response to the interception of the request, the agent requests a decision on whether to allow or deny the network socket event request to be communicated to a security server executing in a second context that is distinct from the first context. The request for a decision includes an identification of the application. The agent then receives from the security server either an allowance or a denial of the network socket event request, the allowance or denial being based at least in part on the identification of the application and a security policy.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a Web browser that employs a relevancy algorithm to make an educated guess as to the likelihood of a user's intended destination when the user begins to enter text into a browser's address bar. In one or more embodiments, the relevancy algorithm employs various parameters and assigns weights to the parameters to arrive at a collection of suggestions to provide to the user. By using various rules, associated weightings, and the relevancy algorithm, relevant suggestions can be provided to a user to facilitate their navigation activities.

Abstract: Various embodiments of surface-modified devices, components, and associated methods of manufacturing are described herein. In one embodiment, an implantable device suitable for being implanted in a patient includes an implantable material having a utile shape and a surface and a modification material deposited on at least a portion of the surface of the implantable material. The modification material has a release rate in an implantation environment in the patient. The modification material at the release rate is effective as bactericidal without being cytotoxic to the patient.

Abstract: Disclosed are semiconducting or conducting organic small molecules and oligomers that contain a central, electron rich, functionalized dihydrodicyclopentylanthracene core (or electron donor core) that is connected to at least one or two comparatively electron deficient monomeric unit or units (or electron acceptor units) that feature group 16 heteroatoms sulfur, selenium or tellurium or combinations thereof. Multiple electron rich cores can be linked together through one or more alkynyl linkages.

Abstract: A system of an alert puck, a mobile communication device, and an alert server for facilitating a VOIP session with the mobile communication device responsive to an emergency event triggered by the alert puck. The alert puck comprises a housing enclosing a sealed volume, a power supply and control circuitry that includes a personal area network (PAN) interface. The mobile communication device comprises an operating system, an alert application executing upon the operating system, and a wireless transceiver. The alert server contacts a set of one or more previously defined contact devices, conveys an emergency message, and facilitates the VOIP session with the alert application, when a button is pressed on the alert puck.

Abstract: A method for far-field speech recognition can include determining a location for a plurality of sound recognition devices, communicatively coupling each of the plurality of sound recognition devices, adjusting a sound reception for the plurality of sound recognition devices to receive a voice command from a particular direction, and sending instructions to a device based on the voice command.

Abstract: An approach for managed instant communication (or chat)-based helpdesk services. An inquiry for a support service is received, at a helpdesk management platform, from a customer requesting assistance, the inquiry including one or more parameters defining the support service. A response is generated to the inquiry based on the one or more parameters, the response indicating a plurality of helpdesks associated with at least one service provider. An instant communication session is established between the customer and one of the helpdesks. The instant communication session is placed into a queue for an agent associated with the one helpdesk.

Abstract: A method includes generating a voice assist message in a device, queueing the voice assist message responsive to a state of a microphone in the device indicating an active state, and executing the queued voice assist message on the device responsive to identifying the state of the microphone in the device indicating an inactive state. A device includes a microphone, a speaker, and a processor coupled to the microphone and the speaker. The processor is to generate a voice assist message, queue the voice assist message responsive to a state of a microphone indicating an active state, and execute the queued voice assist message on the speaker responsive to identifying the state of the microphone indicating an inactive state.

Abstract: Termites have specialized digestive systems that overcome the lignin barrier in wood to release fermentable simple sugars. Using the termite Reticulitermes flavipes and its gut symbionts, high-throughput titanium pyrosequencing and proteomics approaches experimentally compared the effects of lignin-containing diets on host-symbiont digestome composition. Proteomic investigations and functional digestive studies with recombinant lignocellulases conducted in parallel provided strong evidence of congruence at the transcription and translational levels and provide enzymatic strategies for overcoming recalcitrant lignin barriers in biofuel feedstocks.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the prevention and treatment of blepharitis, where the compositions include verbascoside, oligopeptide-10, and sulfonated shale oil, and the preparation of such compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an oral care composition comprising catechins. We have found that the catechins tend to darken the color of the chalk based toothpaste due to its oxidation which happens at the high pH of the toothpaste. Once the catechins are oxidized and darken the color of the toothpaste it is no longer available as such for providing anti-inflammatory benefits. It is an object of the invention to provide a chalk based toothpaste formulation which does not turn substantially dark due to oxidation of catechins. The present inventors while working with oral care compositions comprising catechins preferably green tea catechins for providing anti-inflammatory benefits, surprisingly found that some selected zinc salts when added in particular quantities do not result in darkening the color of the toothpaste, and also, when stored, are able to deliver green tea catechins.

Abstract: A method of recovering carbon black includes the step of providing a carbonaceous source material containing carbon black. The carbonaceous source material is contacted with a sulfonation bath to produce a sulfonated material. The sulfonated material is pyrolyzed to produce a carbon black containing product comprising a glassy carbon matrix phase having carbon black dispersed therein. A method of making a battery electrode is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes generating an alert message in a device. The device is one of a plurality of connected devices. The alert message is suppressed in the device responsive to a state of a microphone of any of the plurality of connected devices indicating an active state. A device includes a microphone, a speaker, and a processor coupled to the microphone and the speaker. The processor is to generate an alert message and suppress the alert message responsive to a state of a microphone of any of a plurality of connected devices including the device indicating an active state.

Abstract: An Automatic Image Composer (AIC) of a computer system, linked to a computer and/or communications network, creates a composition of numerous product images as a single image as an electronic document. The products in the composition (single image) are dimensioned relative to their actual or “real world” dimensions, and dimensions relative to each other. The products of interest, are typically determined and selected by each of the individual customers of the computer system which includes the AIC, “on-the-fly.” The composition is suitable for being made into an electronic graphic, such as a web page, banner, or the like, typically for computer, tablet and mobile phone displays.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an energy storage system includes one or more storage cells, charge/discharge circuitry, and charger wakeup circuitry. After the storage cells become depleted below an energy level threshold, the charge/discharge circuitry disconnects the storage cells from a main circuit associated with the storage system. The charger wakeup circuitry allows a limited amount of current to bypass the charge/discharge circuitry in order to present a current-limited voltage from the storage cells at the terminals. The voltage presented at the terminals is pulsed on and off when an external device is connected across the terminals. The voltage presented to the terminals is detected by the external device. After detecting the voltage, the external device performs an operation in response to detecting the condition.

Abstract: A fuel water separator filter that is configured as a filter-in-filter construction with multiple water separating layers to separate water from the fuel. The fuel water separator filter is configured for use on a suction side of a fuel pump, and includes a neck with a radially outward facing seal that in use seals with the filter housing. The filter housing is formed with an isolated water sump that in use is isolated from water that is stripped from the fuel by the first stage of the outer filter.

Abstract: A virtual tour application or player provides a virtual environment in which a user can travel. One or more images may be displayed in the virtual tour application or player. The images are blended with each other to enable a user to feel more natural while he or she traveling in the virtual tour. Displaying a virtual tour in an electronic device is provided. A first image which corresponds to a first point included among a plurality of points along a route in a virtual tour is displayed. A second image which is registered with the first image and corresponds to a second point included among the plurality of points and different from the first point is displayed.

Abstract: A method for wireless communication provisioning is disclosed. A first wireless communication provisioning state associated with one or more identifiers is defined. A second wireless communication provisioning state associated with one or more identifiers is defined. A state transition rule is defined, wherein the state transition rule defines a transition between the first wireless communication provisioning state and the second wireless communication provisioning state, wherein the first wireless communication provisioning state and the second wireless communication provisioning state are based on the lifecycle of the service of a wireless communication device associated with the first and second wireless communication provisioning states.

Abstract: A mobile smart phone device based system and method for expressing an interest in performing a social networking activity form the available activities within the application, referred as categories and sub-categories; enabling finding of and contacting to the other users of this application that are interested in performing the same activity synchronously coinciding in time, and enabling filtering by age, gender and distance, of such users that are geographically nearby located; and, eventually enabling an instant communication between such users via the application built-in instant chat messaging system.