Abstract: Methods and apparatus for simulating risk tolerance and associated adversary costs in a distributed business process are disclosed. The methods and apparatus simulate an interdependent business process, such as a financial transaction system, in a secure distributed manner. Each business entity that is part of the interdependent business process models itself on a local client device at any chosen level of detail. A simulation server connects the separate client based simulations into one large simulation. Details of each local simulation may be hidden from other simulation participants. However, interruptions in business flow caused by simulated disruptions introduced at the simulation server and/or a client device are propagated to all of the effected simulation participants via the simulation server. In addition, the simulation server receives inputs from users indicative of risk tolerance levels and associated response actions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for simulating risk tolerance and associated adversary costs in a distributed business process are disclosed. The methods and apparatus simulate an interdependent business process, such as a financial transaction system, in a secure distributed manner. Each business entity that is part of the interdependent business process models itself on a local client device at any chosen level of detail. A simulation server connects the separate client based simulations into one large simulation. Details of each local simulation may be hidden from other simulation participants. However, interruptions in business flow caused by simulated disruptions introduced at the simulation server and/or a client device are propagated to all of the effected simulation participants via the simulation server. In addition, the simulation server receives inputs from users indicative of risk tolerance levels and associated response actions.

Abstract: A method of preventing paravalvular leakage includes concurrent delivery of a heart valve prosthesis and an annular sealing component. During delivery, the sealing component is moved from a first position to a second position of the heart valve prosthesis which is longitudinally spaced apart from the first position of the heart valve prosthesis. The sealing component is secured around the heart valve prosthesis at the second position by a contoured outer surface of the heart valve prosthesis. The sealing component may be a flexible ring or may be a cylindrical flexible sleeve having a plurality of ribs longitudinally extending over the cylindrical sleeve. The ribs operate to deploy the sealing component such that at least a portion of the cylindrical sleeve buckles outwardly away from the outer surface of the heart valve prosthesis.

Abstract: A transcatheter valve prosthesis includes an expandable tubular stent, a prosthetic valve within the stent, and an anti-paravalvular leakage component coupled to and encircling the tubular stent. The anti-paravalvular leakage component includes a radially-compressible annular scaffold, which is a sinusoidal patterned ring of self-expanding material, and an impermeable membrane extending over the annular scaffold. The anti-paravalvular leakage component has an expanded configuration in which at least segments of the annular scaffold curve radially away from the tubular stent. Alternatively, the anti-paravalvular leakage component includes a plurality of self-expanding segments and an annular sealing element coupled to inner surfaces of the segments. The anti-paravalvular leakage component has an expanded configuration in which the segments curve radially away from the tubular stent and the annular sealing element is positioned between an outer surface of the tubular stent and inner surfaces of the segments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for testing heart valve leaflets. The system includes a leaflet support assembly with a support post for receiving and supporting a leaflet to be tested, the post being disposed in a target region of the support assembly. The system also has a transmitter assembly that includes a light source and is configured and arranged to direct light from the light source onto the target region. The system further includes a receiver assembly that has an image sensor configured and arranged to sense an image of the target region and generate image information indicative of the sensed image, such as leaflet droop.

Abstract: A computer system for storing corresponding instruction blocks in a compressed form in a main memory and in an uncompressed form in an instruction cache. The instruction cache line addresses for the uncompressed instruction blocks in the instruction cache have an algebraic correlation to the main memory line addresses for the compressed instruction blocks in the main memory. Preferably, the instruction cache line addresses are proportional to the corresponding main memory line addresses.

Abstract: A directional plotter for underwater searches, land searches, land orienting, or the like includes a pair of first and second relatively rotatable discs with the first disc including first, second and third concentric sets of compass degrees in radially adjacent relationship to each other. The second disc includes first, second and third sets of apertures associated with the first, second and third concentric sets of compass degrees. The two discs are relatively rotatable such that different search patterns can be established by rotating the discs relative to each other and viewing the required degrees for a particular search pattern through the associated apertures.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a protective device for compressed gas cylinders and includes a pair of caps each including an end wall and a peripheral skirt with one of the caps being of a generally inverted frusto-conical configuration and being adapted to receive in a chamber thereof a valve assembly of a compressed gas cylinder, each cap having aligned grooves lying in an axial plane and apertures in the same plane in which and through which, respectively, are disposed strap means for holding the caps positioned upon an associated compressed gas cylinder. The frusto-conical cap includes exterior pairs of projections to prevent rotation of the device about its axis when resting upon a support, as well as internally directed ribs for maintaining alignment between the frusto-conical cap and the compressed gas cylinder.