Abstract: Computerized CAPTCHA systems using a direct connection with user computing devices are provided. An example computerized CAPTCHA system is configured to perform operations. The operations include receiving a request from a user computing device to engage in a verification process. The request is received independent of a resource provider from which the user computing device has requested a resource. The operations include providing a challenge to the user computing device at least in part in response to the request for engagement in the verification process and receiving a response to the challenge from the user computing device. The operations include determining whether the user computing device should be verified based at least in part on the response and providing a verification token to the user computing device when it is determined that the user computing device should be verified.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and performing a three-dimensional audio CAPTCHA are provided. One exemplary system can include a decoy signal database storing a plurality of decoy signals. The system also can include a three-dimensional audio simulation engine for simulating the sounding of a target signal and at least one decoy signal in an acoustic environment and outputting a stereophonic audio signal based on the simulation. One exemplary method includes providing an audio prompt to a resource requesting entity. The audio prompt can have been generated based on a three-dimensional audio simulation of the sounding of a target signal containing an authentication key and at least one decoy signal in an acoustic environment. The method can include receiving a response to the audio prompt from the resource requesting entity and comparing the response to the authentication key.

Abstract: The invention relates to vascular remodelling, and to the treatment of conditions that are characterised or caused by inappropriate vascular remodelling. The invention also extends to pharmaceutical compositions for use in treating such conditions, and to methods of treatment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for verifying a user based on reputational information are provided. In particular, a computerized CAPTCHA system consisting of one or more computers can determine a trust score based on one or more reputation signals associated with a user computing device, select a challenge to provide to the user computing device based on the trust score, and determine whether to verify the user computing device based on a received response to the challenge and/or the trust score.

Abstract: A system that facilitates executing an auction when an auctioneer is also a bidder is described herein. The system includes a receiver component that receives an indication that an auction is to be executed and an identifier component that determines that the auctioneer is a bidder in the auction. The system also includes an auction component that executes an auction for one or more items based at least in part upon a determination that the auctioneer is a bidder and a rank of the bid of the auctioneer amongst all receive bids.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for executing a positional auction. The method includes acts of receiving a keyword and executing at least one multi-item single unit demand auction and at least one single-item auction, wherein a plurality of bidders submit bids in the at least one multi-item single unit demand auction and the at least one single-item auction. The method further includes an act of ranking the plurality of bidders based at least in part upon bids submitted in the at least one multi-item single-unit demand auction and the at least one single-item auction. The method additionally includes an act of allocating a subset of the plurality of bidders to particular positions on a search results page based at least in part upon the ranking.