Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes outputting an interface, receiving a first input and parsing contents of the first input. It is determined whether the first input includes the instances of information: a type of modification that is to be performed, a program that is to be incorporated in the performing of the modification, and a target system on which the modification is to be performed. In response to a determination that the first input does not include one or more of the instances of information, a request is output. In response to a determination that the first input includes the instances of information, a process is performed. The process includes correlating the instances of information to a script file and performing the modification in accordance with the instances of information of the first input. The process further includes collecting status information and outputting the status information.

Abstract: A valve assembly for instruments and/or guide wires for use as access/tool port includes a cannula attached to a valve housing with a through hole. Elastic valve members are housed in the valve housing for sealing the through hole either when no device is inserted, or when a specific device with a compatible cross section is inserted. A further sealing arrangement is housed in the valve housing. The further sealing arrangement is extendable within the valve housing to selectively reduce the width of the through hole from a non-sealed configuration where one generic device or a group of generic devices, not necessarily having the same size and/or shape, can be inserted into and/or removed from the through hole, to a sealed configuration where the sealing arrangement seals the through hole with the generic device or the group of generic devices inserted into the through hole.

Abstract: In various embodiments methods are provided that involve the use of antibody-interferon (Ab-IFN) fusion proteins to boost the cancer-fighting capacity of adoptive T cell therapies (ACT), including any T cells that are manipulated and grown outside the body, then returned to the patient with the goal of having the infused T cells home to sites of tumor and destroy the cancer in an immunologic attack. Illustrative, but non-limiting, adoptive T cell therapies include chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), virus-specific T cells, and T cell receptor transgenic T cells.

Abstract: A dynamic licensing system permits facility administrators to quickly enable a patient monitoring device to monitor a previously unmonitored physiological parameter when the caregiver determines that a new physiological parameter should be monitored. The administrator selects through a dynamic licensing module the patient monitoring device and instructs the dynamic licensing system to enable monitoring of the new physiological parameter. The administrator defines how long the patient monitoring device is to be monitoring the new parameter. The administrator may also select locations in the hospital, and some or all patient monitoring devices at that location are upgraded to monitor the new parameter. The dynamic licensing system creates a licensing agreement to monitor the new parameter for the monitoring duration and/or in the monitoring location.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor including a diffusion barrier layer. A bottom electrode overlies a substrate. A capacitor dielectric layer overlies the bottom electrode. A top electrode overlies the capacitor dielectric layer. The top electrode includes a first top electrode layer, a second top electrode layer, and a diffusion barrier layer disposed between the first and second top electrode layers.

Abstract: A replacement heart valve commissure assembly may include a locking mechanism including a first locking portion spaced apart from a second locking portion in a delivery configuration and configured to engage with the second locking portion in a deployed configuration, wherein the first locking portion is longitudinally actuatable relative to the second locking portion between the delivery and deployed configurations. The commissure assembly may include a first valve leaflet and a second valve leaflet each secured to the first locking portion. A first sleeve portion of the first valve leaflet may be fixedly attached to a first fabric sleeve wrapped around a first leg of the first locking portion by a first filament, and a second sleeve portion of the second valve leaflet may be fixedly attached to a second fabric sleeve wrapped around a second leg of the first locking portion by a second filament.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a memory cell including a co-doped data storage structure. A bottom electrode overlies a substrate and a top electrode overlies the bottom electrode. The data storage structure is disposed between the top and bottom electrodes. The data storage structure comprises a dielectric material doped with a first dopant and a second dopant.

Abstract: This invention provides a recombinant Pichia pastoris strain which has been genetically modified for highly expressing pediocin PA-1 and secreting it into the medium so that the pediocin PA-1 can be easily collected and purified from the culture medium. In this invention, we also demonstrated that the obtained pediocin PA-1 had specific antimicrobial activities against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 13932 and several other bacteria strains. Therefore, pediocin PA-1 produced from this recombinant Pichia pastoris strain has a great potential for the application in food preservation and pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a memory cell including a data storage structure. A top electrode overlies a bottom electrode. The data storage structure is disposed between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The data storage structure includes a first data storage layer, a second data storage layer, and a third data storage layer. The second data storage layer is disposed between the first and third data storage layers. The second data storage layer has a lower bandgap than the third data storage layer. The first data storage layer has a lower bandgap than the second data storage layer.

Abstract: A transmission includes a bar supporting at least one sensor for measuring an operating parameter of the transmission. The sensor bar is provided with an oil channel for transportation of lubrication oil to at least one component of the transmission.

Abstract: A composition, method and device for the preparation of biological samples for subsequent LC-MS analysis using a combined and concurrent protein precipitation and solid phase extraction (SPE) process is described. Through an integrated combination of protein precipitation, filtration, and SPE using a novel zirconia-coated chromatographic media, interfering compounds, such as proteins and phosphate-containing compounds, are eliminated from the biological samples, affording a higher degree of analyte response during LC-MS analysis.

Abstract: An expandable sheath may include an inelastic compliant membrane having a lumen therethrough, and a discontinuous outer member bonded to the membrane. The membrane may include one or more folds formed therein. At least a portion of the outer member may extend continuously around a circumference of the membrane in a first configuration. The outer member may be configured to separate to a second configuration when subjected to a radially outward force from within the membrane. The outer member may taper from a first diameter adjacent a proximal hub to a second smaller diameter at a distal end. A method of manufacturing an expandable sheath may include forming one or more folds in a compliant membrane, cutting a plurality of apertures through a wall of an outer covering; and laminating the outer covering onto the membrane, wherein the plurality of apertures is disposed over the one or more folds.

Abstract: A printing device is implemented to activate a hidden function by inputting tap sequences on a tap screen. The hidden function includes displaying an icon of a title of a secret document on a display screen without showing the content of the secret document. A method for activating the hidden function using tap sequences is also disclosed. The method compares the input tap sequences with a plurality sets of predetermined codes, each of which corresponds to a hidden function. When the input tap sequences match one set of predetermined codes, the method activates and executes the hidden function. By executing the hidden function, the secret document is printed. The tap sequences are tapping actions that do not generate tangible symbols that are reviewable on the tap screen. By doing so, the confidential document is further protected.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first amorphous switching structure disposed over a first electrode. A buffer structure is disposed over the first amorphous switching structure. A second amorphous switching structure is disposed over the buffer structure. A second electrode is disposed over the second amorphous switching structure, where the first and second amorphous switching structures are configured to switch between low resistance states and high resistance states depending on whether a voltage from the first electrode to the second electrode exceeds a threshold voltage.

Abstract: Provided is a computer-implemented method for authenticating a user. The method includes registering a plurality of user accounts for a plurality of users based at least partially on user information and account data for each user of the plurality of users, the account data for each user including an account identifier associated with a portable payment device, generating an identity score for each user, registering a plurality of provider accounts for a plurality of third-party service providers based at least partially on third-party service provider data, receiving a request to authenticate a user of the plurality of users, receiving user credentials corresponding to a user account of the user, validating the user credentials based at least partially on the identity score of the user, and communicating an authentication response message to the third-party system in response to validating the user credentials.

Abstract: Numerous embodiments of an improved charge pump design are disclosed for generating the high voltages necessary to perform erase and program operations in non-volatile flash memory devices. In these embodiments, each boost stage in the charge pump is modified to overcome a deficiency in prior art charge pumps whereby voltage actually would decrease in the final boost stage. These modifications include the addition of one or more of a clock doubling circuit, a local self-precharge circuit, a feed-forward precharge circuit, a feed-backward precharge circuit, and a hybrid circuit comprising NMOS and PMOS transistors and diodes.

Abstract: Methods of depositing an encapsulation stack without damaging underlying layers are discussed. The encapsulation stacks are highly conformal, have low etch rates, low atomic oxygen concentrations, good hermeticity and good adhesion. These films may be used to protect chalcogen materials in PCRAM devices. Some embodiments utilize a two-step process comprising a first ALD process to form a protective layer and a second plasma ALD process to form an encapsulation layer.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) hard disk drive has a gas-bearing slider supporting a near-field transducer (NFT) and a NFT temperature sensor (NTS). An optional first IVC circuitry may provide a bias voltage to the slider body to assure substantially zero electrical potential between the slider body and the disk to minimize slider-disk contact and lubrication pick-up. A second IVC circuitry operates independently of the first IVC circuitry and provides a negative bias voltage to the NTS (and the connected NFT) relative to the disk to minimize the adverse effects of excessive heating on the NFT.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a bottom electrode disposed over one or more interconnect layers and a diffusion barrier layer is arranged over the bottom electrode. A data storage layer is separated from the bottom electrode by the diffusion barrier layer. A top electrode is over the data storage layer.

Abstract: A device for implanting a heart prosthesis including a central body, a containment portion having one or more sub-components, and a release device for the central body capable of being inserted into a catheter. A device for assisting the connection operation between the central body and the sub-components of the containment portion includes an assembly of catheters, of which there are at least two catheters for each sub-component of the containment portion, the catheters being joined to each other over a portion thereof and having at least one free end for each catheter.