Abstract: A bone plate and method for use thereof affords use of at least two surgical approaches to attach the bone plate to a fractured bone to facilitate reduction and repair thereof. The bone plate includes two domains extending in different directions from a transition zone. The directions in which each of the two domains extend are generally opposite, and the transition zone is configured to afford portions of the two domains to be substantially disposed in planes that are transverse to one another.

Abstract: A system and method facilitating replacement of comminuted bone fractures or portions thereof adjacent bone joints. The system and method employs a prosthesis to replace at least a portion of the comminuted bone fractures. The prosthesis serves in reproducing the articular surface of the portion or portions of the comminuted bone fractures that are replaced. In doing so, the prosthesis serves in restoring joint viability and corresponding articulation thereof.

Abstract: Facilities are provided herein for authenticating a user to use a processing device. A user predefines authenticators of one or more types and associates these with graphical images. Upon on attempt to activate the processing device, a graphical image, of the graphical images, is selected for presentation to the user. The selected graphical image is presented to the user, who then provides input to authenticate with the device. A determination is made as to whether the user is authenticated to use the device. The determination is made based on input received from the user and based further on the authenticator associated with the selected graphical image. Varying the selection of image(s), each associated with a predefined authenticator and authentication type, enables variability in the authenticator that is suitable for unlocking a device at a given time, providing greater security to the authentication process.

Abstract: Apparatus for fixation and reduction of a fractured distal portion of a bone. A bone plate includes an elongated body portion adapted for attachment to a shaft portion of the bone, the body portion defining a longitudinal axis; a head portion connected to the body portion, and projecting therefrom at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the head portion adapted for attachment to the fractured distal portion of the bone; an alignment tab projecting from the perimeter of one of the head portion in the body portion; and a flex tab connected to a surface of an opening defined in the head portion, the flex tab being pivotable into contact with, and attachable to, the shaft portion of the bone at one of the shaft portion of the bone proximate the fractured distal portion of the bone and the fractured distal portion of the bone.

Abstract: A system for applying power into a wellbore. The system can include a casing, a tubing string, a first and second isolator sub, a power source, and an electrical device. The casing has a first cavity running therethrough. The tubing string is disposed within the first cavity without contacting the casing, where the tubing string has a second cavity running therethrough. The first isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The power source is electrically coupled to the power-transmitting section of the tubing string below the first isolator sub. The second isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the bottom neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The electrical device is electrically coupled to a bottom end of the power-transmitting section of the tubing string.

Abstract: A bone plate and method for use thereof affords use of at least two surgical approaches to attach the bone plate to a fractured bone to facilitate reduction and repair thereof. The bone plate includes two domains extending in different directions from a transition zone. The directions in which each of the two domains extend are generally opposite, and the transition zone is configured to afford portions of the two domains to be substantially disposed in planes that are transverse to one another.

Abstract: A system and method facilitating replacement of comminuted bone fractures or portions thereof adjacent bone joints. The system and method employs a prosthesis to replace at least a portion of the comminuted bone fractures. The prosthesis serves in reproducing the articular surface of the portion or portions of the comminuted bone fractures that are replaced. In doing so, the prosthesis serves in restoring joint viability and corresponding articulation thereof.

Abstract: A fracture fixation system serves in repairing comminuted bone portions of a bone. The fracture fixation system includes a plate having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, one of a screw and a post, and at least one aperture for receiving the one of the screw and the post therethrough. The plate is secured to a main portion of the bone, and the one of the screw and the post is inserted through the at least one aperture through the plate. The portion of the comminuted bone portions is attached to the one of the screw and the post using at least one suture. The one of the screw and the post is rotated to wind the at least one suture therearound to reposition the portion of the comminuted bone portions relative to the main portion of the bone.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed in part to testing of different versions of software or software components (software versions) and analyzing results of use (e.g., user interaction) of the different software versions. The techniques described herein provide software testing that varies the allocation to enable a ramp up of allocations to/from another software version. The allocation module may use allocation rules to assign requests to each software version based on various factors such as load balancing, user attributes, past user assignment, and/or other rules or logic. An analysis of the different software versions may include an analysis of system performance resulting from operation of each software version. An analysis may determine attributes of each user and then allocate the user to a software version based on at least some of the determined attributes.

Abstract: A fixation device serves in facilitating reduction and repair of a fractured humerus. The fixation device includes a bone plate adapted to overlie and contact portions of a proximal humerus and a humeral shaft. The bone plate includes at least a body portion overlying the humeral shaft, and an end portion overlying a portion of the proximal humerus. The end portion can facilitate attachment of the bone plate to the lesser tuberosity of the proximal humerus.

Abstract: A method includes estimating a parametric model for a round-trip time sequence for an electronic transmission over a network. Optimization calculations may be performed to dynamically determine a bound (for example, a lower bound) on re-transmission timeout for an electronic transmission to be conducted over the network.

Abstract: A surgical device and method used to assist in the surgical repair and rehabilitation of damaged and/or severed tendons. In one embodiment of the present invention, the device is comprised of a hollow member, preferably shaped as a partial funnel and/or cone, having an inner and outer surface, a flared mouth, a shaft, and an apical end. In another embodiment, the device is comprised of a hollow member, preferably shaped as funnel or barrel cut in half along its longitudinal axis, having an inner and outer surface, two flared mouths, and a shaft. The device may further include a thin, elongated handle for ease of manipulation, and can be implantable or non-implantable.

Abstract: A system for applying power into a wellbore. The system can include a casing, a tubing string, a first and second isolator sub, a power source, and an electrical device. The casing has a first cavity running therethrough. The tubing string is disposed within the first cavity without contacting the casing, where the tubing string has a second cavity running therethrough. The first isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The power source is electrically coupled to the power-transmitting section of the tubing string below the first isolator sub. The second isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the bottom neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The electrical device is electrically coupled to a bottom end of the power-transmitting section of the tubing string.

Abstract: A system and method facilitating replacement of comminuted bone fractures or portions thereof adjacent bone joints. The system and method employs a prosthesis to replace at least a portion of the comminuted bone fractures. The prosthesis serves in reproducing the articular surface of the portion or portions of the comminuted bone fractures that are replaced. In doing so, the prosthesis serves in restoring joint viability and corresponding articulation thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new sequence of BRANCHED1a gene, the SpBRANCHED1a gene of Solanum pennellii, and to an expression product of said gene, to a vector, host cell, cell culture, recombinant expression system, or tomato plants comprising said SpBRANCHED1a gene. The present invention also refers to the heterologous use of the gene in tomato plants, to produce a plant having fewer and/or shorter axillary shoots than a control plant, and to a method for producing tomato plants having fewer and/or shorter axillary shoots than a control plant.

Abstract: A surgical device and method used to assist in the surgical repair and rehabilitation of damaged and/or severed tendons. In one embodiment of the present invention, the device includes a hollow member, preferably shaped as a partial funnel and/or cone, having an inner and outer surface, a flared mouth, a shaft, and an apical end. In another embodiment, the device includes a hollow member, preferably shaped as funnel or barrel cut in half along its longitudinal axis, having an inner and outer surface, two flared mouths, and a shaft.

Abstract: A fracture fixation system serves in repairing comminuted bone portions of a bone. The fracture fixation system includes a plate having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, one of a screw and a post, and at least one aperture for receiving the one of the screw and the post therethrough. The plate is secured to a main portion of the bone, and the one of the screw and the post is inserted through the at least one aperture through the plate. The portion of the comminuted bone portions is attached to the one of the screw and the post using at least one suture. The one of the screw and the post is rotated to wind the at least one suture therearound to reposition the portion of the comminuted bone portions relative to the main portion of the bone.

Abstract: The techniques described herein provide software testing that may concurrently process a user request using a live version of software and a shadow request, which is based on the user request, using a shadow version of software (e.g., trial or test version, etc.). The live version of software, unlike the shadow version, is user-facing and transmits data back to the users while the shadow request does not output to the users. An allocation module may vary allocation of the shadow requests to enable a ramp up of allocations (or possibly ramp down) of the shadow version of software. The allocation module may use allocation rules to dynamically initiate the shadow request based on various factors such as load balancing, user attributes, and/or other rules or logic. Thus, not all user requests may be issued as shadow requests.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and devices for the simultaneous detection, recovery identification and counting of a plurality of microorganisms consisting in providing mixtures of nutrients specially selected from those that curtail the lag phase of growth in bacteria and moulds and which, together with fluorescent enzymatic, chromogenic or bioluminescent markers and other nutrient components or growth inhibitors, are embedded in three-dimensional structures or natural or artificial clays or ceramics with cavities of different dimensions and forms and specific surface areas of between 2×103 and 6×108 m2/m3.

Abstract: A fracture fixation system serves in repairing a comminuted humeral head of a humeral bone. The fracture fixation system includes a plate having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, one of a screw and a post, and at least one aperture for receiving the one of the screw and the post therethrough. The plate is secured to a portion of a humeral shaft of the humeral bone, and the one of the screw and the post is inserted through the at least one aperture through the plate. The portion of the comminuted humeral head is attached to the one of the screw and the post using at least one suture. The one of the screw and the post is rotated to wind the at least one suture therearound to reposition the portion of the comminuted humeral head relative to the portion of the humeral shaft.