Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a shoe sole for relieving pressure from a wearer's metatarsal heads. In one aspect, a shoe sole comprises a shoe outer sole comprising a shaft region, a ball region, and a toe region. The shaft region underlies metatarsal shafts of the wearer and comprises a first lower surface, the ball region underlies metatarsal heads of the wearer and comprises a second lower surface, and the toe region underlies phalanges of the wearer and comprises a third lower surface. The second lower surface is raised relative to the first lower surface and the third lower surface.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for key-value stores with partial data access. An interface module is configured to receive a data object for storage in a key-value store. The data object may include a key and a value. A block object module is configured to generate a plurality of block objects smaller than the data object. A block object may include a new key and a new value. The new key may be based on the key for the data object and on metadata for the new value. The new value may be based on at least a portion of the value for the data object. A storage module is configured to store the block objects in the key-value store.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for inhibiting or treating metastasis based on discoveries regarding Kif19 and Cep192. Methods and compositions are provided for enhancing wound healing, treating fibrosis, reducing scarring and treating nerve pain.

Abstract: There is provided high power laser systems, high power laser tools, and methods of using these tools and systems for performing laser operations. In embodiments the laser systems and methods utilize high velocity laser fluid jets, including fluid jets formed from conanda laser jet nozzles and flow through window laser jet nozzles. There is provide a system having a revolving beam dump. Thus, there is also provided high power laser systems, high power laser tools, and methods of using these systems and tools for removing structures, objects, and materials located offshore, under bodies of water and under the seafloor.

Abstract: A device for anorectal and/or gynaecological procedures is provided in order to improve surgical access and visual field. The device has a hollow elongate body, and an opening at the proximal end, defining an open working channel in the hollow body, and a window aperture for providing access to surrounding tissue. In addition, one or more wings are dependent from the body to aid manipulation of the device. The device further includes an illumination device and a suction passageway located within the body wherein the illumination device forms at least part of a perimeter wall of the suction passageway.

Abstract: An image acquisition system determines first and second sets of points defining an iris-pupil boundary and an iris-sclera boundary in an acquired image; determines respective ellipses fitting the first and second sets of points; determines a transformation to transform one of the ellipses into a circle on a corresponding plane; using the determined transformation, transforms the selected ellipse into a circle on the plane; using the determined transformation, transforms the other ellipse into a transformed ellipse on the plane; determines a plurality of ellipses on the plane for defining an iris grid, by interpolating a plurality of ellipses between the circle and the transformed ellipse; moves the determined grid ellipses onto the iris in the image using an inverse transformation of the determined transformation; and extracts an iris texture by unwrapping the iris and interpolating image pixel values at each grid point defined along each of the grid ellipses.

Abstract: DOD ink delivery systems and methods are described herein that are used in DOD card printing systems of card processing systems for supplying ink for DOD printing on plastic cards. The ink delivery systems are configured to recirculate the ink without using a recirculation tank separate from an ink supply. The ink can be recirculated back into the ink supply or, when the ink supply is not present, the ink can be recirculated from a return header tank to a supply header tank.

Abstract: A method of preparing a nucleic acid sample with target enrichment uses a reaction vessel, within which is added a chelating agent to a sample with heating to about 99° C. to provide a crude lysate. A PNA probe is provided at a concentration sufficient for binding and capture of discernible levels of target nucleic acid. The PNA probe may be attached to beads which are initially embedded in a wax body and are released during the heating so that the y are free to move and come into contact with the PNA probe and target DNA. After binding has occurred, the beads are magnetically attracted back into a pocket along with the wax, which is allowed to solidify before they are removed from the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a video sequence comprises: obtaining an indication of camera movement from acquisition of a previous camera frame to acquisition of a current camera frame; determining an orientation for the camera at a time of acquiring the current camera frame; and determining a candidate orientation for a crop frame for the current camera frame by adjusting an orientation of a crop frame associated with the previous camera frame according to the determined orientation. A boundary of one of the camera frame or crop frame is traversed to determine if a specific point on the boundary of the crop frame exceeds a boundary of the camera frame. If so, a rotation of the specific point location which would bring the specific point location onto the boundary of the crop frame is determined and the candidate crop frame orientation updated accordingly before the crop frame is displayed.

Abstract: An arc detection method includes classifying whether an arc fault is present in the power system by, for each of a plurality of bins of a current frame of a signal, marking the bin as a candidate bin if a magnitude spectrum of the bin meets first criteria; determining a number of candidate bins in the current frame; marking the number of candidate bins as candidate cluster bins if the number of candidate bins exceeds a minimum cluster size; for each of the candidate cluster bins, determining whether the candidate cluster bin is also a candidate cluster bin of a previous frame of the first signal and if so, identifying the current frame as a candidate frame and incrementing a candidate frame count; and if the candidate frame count exceeds a candidate frame count threshold, determining that an arc fault is present in the power system.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are described herein for verifying digital identities. One exemplary method includes receiving a request for verification from a relying party where the request includes a query related to an attribute of an identity of a user and a MPAN specific to the user. The method also includes identifying at least one verification party enrolled for the user and, when the at least one verification party includes sufficient information to respond to the query, converting the MPAN to an AgencyPAN associated with the at least one verification party. The method then includes submitting the query along with the AgencyPAN to an interface processor associated with the at least one verification party, receiving a response to the query from the interface processor, and transmitting the response to the query to the relying party.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for setting a fixed currency conversion rate for a transaction, as determined during authorization of the transaction. One exemplary method includes receiving a clearing file for the transaction, where the clearing file includes a clearing transaction amount based on a final transaction amount for the transaction and a clearing currency conversion rate. The method also includes determining a billing transaction amount for the transaction based on the final transaction amount and the fixed currency conversion rate, and appending the billing transaction amount to the clearing file so that a user associated with an account used in the transaction is billed based on the fixed currency conversion rate instead of the clearing currency conversion rate. The method then also includes reconciling a difference between the billing transaction amount and the clearing transaction amount with the issuer as part of settlement of funds for the transaction.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a video sequence comprises: obtaining an indication of camera movement from acquisition of a previous camera frame to acquisition of a current camera frame; determining an orientation for the camera at a time of acquiring the current camera frame; and determining a candidate orientation for a crop frame for the current camera frame by adjusting an orientation of a crop frame associated with the previous camera frame according to the determined orientation. A boundary of one of the camera frame or crop frame is traversed to determine if a specific point on the boundary of the crop frame exceeds a boundary of the camera frame. If so, a rotation of the specific point location which would bring the specific point location onto the boundary of the crop frame is determined and the candidate crop frame orientation updated accordingly before the crop frame is displayed.

Abstract: Techniques for determining snapshot compliance may include receiving policy information for a snapshot policy associated with a storage group of logical devices; receiving snapshot information regarding snapshots taken of the storage group during a time period denoting an amount of time corresponding to the retention time for the storage group; determining, based on the snapshot creation interval of the snapshot policy, a timeline of expected policy runtimes denoting different points in time at which the snapshot policy is scheduled to run to take a snapshot of the storage group; analyzing the snapshot information and the timeline to determine a number of valid snapshots of the storage group; and determining a compliance level for the time period based on the number of valid snapshots of the storage group and at least one compliance threshold.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to photo-activated compounds for the manipulation of pH in a cell. In certain aspects the photo-activated compound is 2-nitrobenzaldehyde (NBA). Photo-activated compounds can be used as a targeted therapy for a variety of disease states and conditions, such as cancer.

Abstract: A method including transcutaneously measuring motility patterns, in the colon of a recipient of an implantable neuromodulator, responsive to an electrical stimulus delivered by the implantable neuromodulator, and programming the implantable neuromodulator responsive to the measured motility patterns, wherein the method comprises adjusting at least one parameter of the implantable neuromodulator that defines the electrical stimulus that the implantable neuromodulator is configured to deliver to the recipient.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a transaction bus, a console application in communication with the transaction bus, and a view predictor subsystem in communication with the transaction bus. The transaction bus receives, from a user application executing on a client device, a call for visual information to be provided to the user application. The view predictor subsystem determines a likelihood that the visual information will be viewable within a viewport of the user application, and a plurality of respective values for a plurality of sources of the visual information are computed based on the likelihood and a respective priority for each source. The console application provides to the transaction bus the set of potential sources of the visual information, and the transaction bus selects, based on the computed values, one of the potential sources of the visual information to be the result, which is provided to the user application.

Abstract: A method and system for improving holographic image simulation and presentation is provided. The method includes receiving and analyzing audio and video data associated with historical tendencies of an opponent sporting team occurring during previous sporting contests involving the opponent sporting team. Predicted tendencies of the opponent sporting team are determined with respect to a future sporting contest scheduled with a first sporting team. In response, a holographic simulation presentation is generated. The holographic simulation presentation is associated with a predicted performance of players of the opponent sporting team with respect to the future sporting contest scheduled with the first sporting team. The holographic simulation presentation is presented such that players of the first sporting team interact with holographic images of the players of the opponent sporting team during a practice session.

Abstract: An image acquisition system determines first and second sets of points defining an iris-pupil boundary and an iris-sclera boundary in an acquired image; determines respective ellipses fitting the first and second sets of points; determines a transformation to transform one of the ellipses into a circle on a corresponding plane; using the determined transformation, transforms the selected ellipse into a circle on the plane; using the determined transformation, transforms the other ellipse into a transformed ellipse on the plane; determines a plurality of ellipses on the plane for defining an iris grid, by interpolating a plurality of ellipses between the circle and the transformed ellipse; moves the determined grid ellipses onto the iris in the image using an inverse transformation of the determined transformation; and extracts an iris texture by unwrapping the iris and interpolating image pixel values at each grid point defined along each of the grid ellipses.

Abstract: Methods of detecting target nucleic acid is a sample are described. A first probe is attached to first beads, and the first beads are placed in the sample so that any target nucleic acid attaches to the first probe. A second probe also attaches to the target nucleic acid so that any of the target nucleic acid links or “tethers” the first and second probes. A capacitive sensor detects capacitance of the beads and processes capacitance data to quantify target nucleic acid presence in the sample. The second probe may be immobilised on the sensor surface. Alternatively the second beads are introduced into the sample with the second probe attached, and the extent of tethering of the first beads to the second beads is indicative of the extent of target NA present.