Abstract: Techniques for secure and efficient interfacing with a cloud computing service are described. In an embodiment, a cloud computing management service is programmed or configured to communicate with a cloud computing service. The cloud computing management service can be accessed by software engineers that are looking to deploy a software instance to a computing device of the cloud computing service. Thus, the cloud computing management service acts as an intermediary layer in front of the cloud computing service. In an embodiment, the cloud computing management service may store one or more frequently-used system parameters for deployment of software instances. The parameters conform to company's security protocols, compliance protocols, and/or other standards.

Abstract: Guidance systems and associated methods are disclosed. One method comprises: receiving macroscan data prior to an operation; defining a body information model from the macroscan data; positioning a navigation component in the body during the operation; generating microscan data with the navigation component; correlating a location in the macroscan data with a location in the microscan data in the body information model; and/or modifying the body information model by combining an image in the microscan data with an image in the macroscan data.

Abstract: Operation room devices, methods, and systems are disclosed. One method comprises: receiving, at a processing unit, data associated with a patient; determining, with the processing unit, a treatment for the patient; identifying, with the processing unit, a control setting associated with one or more treatment devices that are (i) in communication with the processing unit, and (ii) operable to perform the treatment; and generating, with the processing unit, a display including the control setting and at least one view of the data. Related devices and systems also are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for routing voice over internet protocol (VOIP) are described. A service provider may provide a VOIP infrastructure for routing VOIP calls. One or more other service providers may join the VOIP infrastructure. A computing device may identify the service provider servicing the VOIP calls and may further process the calls accordingly.

Abstract: Guidance systems and associated methods are disclosed. One method comprises: receiving macroscan data prior to an operation; defining a body information model from the macroscan data; positioning a navigation component in the body during the operation; generating microscan data with the navigation component; correlating a location in the macroscan data with a location in the microscan data in the body information model; and/or modifying the body information model by combining an image in the microscan data with an image in the macroscan data.

Abstract: Operation room devices, methods, and systems are disclosed. One method comprises: receiving, at a processing unit, data associated with a patient; determining, with the processing unit, a treatment for the patient; identifying, with the processing unit, a control setting associated with one or more treatment devices that are (i) in communication with the processing unit, and (ii) operable to perform the treatment; and generating, with the processing unit, a display including the control setting and at least one view of the data. Related devices and systems also are disclosed.

Abstract: Network hardware devices organized in a wireless network. A controller device receives device information about each of a multiple network devices, network congestion at each device, scan data, and a station list from each of the devices. The controller device assigns a channel to each radio of the multiple network devices using the device information, the network congestion data, the scan data, and the station list and outputs a first subset of channel assignments to a first group of the network devices, a second subset of channel assignments to a second group of the network devices, and a third subset of channel assignments to a third group of the network devices.

Abstract: A system for training a classification model to be robust against perturbations of multiple perturbation types. A perturbation type defines a set of allowed perturbations. The classification model is trained by, in an outer iteration, selecting a set of training instances of a training dataset; selecting, among perturbations allowed by the multiple perturbation types, one or more perturbations for perturbing the selected training instances to maximize a loss function; and updating the set of parameters of the classification model to decrease the loss for the perturbed instances. A perturbation is determined by, in an inner iteration, determining updated perturbations allowed by respective perturbation types of the multiple perturbation types and selecting an updated perturbation that most increases the loss of the classification model.

Abstract: A fair scheduling system with methodology for scheduling queries for execution by a database management system in a fair manner. The system obtains query jobs for execution by the database management system and cost estimates to execute the query jobs. Based on the cost estimates, the system causes the database management system to execute the query jobs as separate sub-query tasks in a round-robin fashion. By doing so, the execution latency of low cost query jobs that return few results is reduced when the query jobs are concurrently executed with high cost query jobs that return many results.

Abstract: Embodiments include a method, computer program product, and system for grouping electronic devices into roll-call channel access (RCCA) groups to reduce the number of devices contending for a wireless channel. Devices within RCCA groups are represented a host device during a channel contention process. Once a channel is granted access to a host device, its respective RCCA group has control of the channel for a predetermined period of time during which devices of the RCCA group take turns transmitting data on the channel.

Abstract: A wireless communication device is implemented to include a communication interface and a processor. The processor is configured to process communications associated with the other wireless communication devices within the wireless communication system to determine one or more traffic characteristics of those communications as well as one or more class characteristics of the other wireless communication devices. The processor is configured to classify the communications into one or more access categories based on the one or more traffic characteristics and is configured to classify the other devices into one or more device class categories based on the one or more class characteristics. The processor is then configured to generate one or more channel access control signals based on these classifications. The communication interface of the device is configured to transmit the one or more channel access control signals to one or more of the other devices.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for preparing a surface modified cathode material for lithium-ion battery, wherein the cathode material comprises lithium multi-metal composite oxide particles capped with a thin film of an oxide of the metal, wherein the lithium multi-metal composite oxide is represented by Li1+zNixMnyCo1?x?yO2; and wherein z is from 0 to 0.2; x is from 0.35 to 0.8; y is from 0.1 to 0.45; and the metal is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mn, Al, Mg, Zn, Ti, La, Ce, Sn, Zr, Ru and combination thereof. The cathode material disclosed herein exhibits a high initial specific capacity from 150 mAh/g to 200 mAh/g, possesses good safety characteristics and shows impressive energy retention of about 91% after 1000 cycles.

Abstract: An electronic hookah apparatus comprising a core unit attachable with a stem piece and a base. The core comprises at least one airflow sensor to detect airflow from air pathways, a plurality of cartridges including a wick and a heating element, and a plurality of flavor selection buttons, each of the flavor selection buttons connected to a switch that activates and deactivates a respective one of the plurality of cartridges. The core further comprises a microcontroller that provides power to cartridges activated by the flavor selection buttons based on the detection of airflow by the airflow sensor, wherein providing power to the cartridges causes the cartridges to produce vapor, at least one air chamber that collects flows of vapor from a set of activated cartridges, and at least one hose port coupled to a hose, the at least one hose port tapping the collected vapor from the at least one air chamber.

Abstract: A scope system includes a processor and a scope device. The scope device includes a handle configured to remain outside of the body and an elongated shaft extending from the handle to a distal tip and including a working channel extending therethrough. The working channel is open at the distal tip of the shaft. The shaft is inserted through a bodily lumen to a target surgical site. The shaft includes at least one sensor transmitting to the processor sensor data relating to the target surgical site.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for preparing a surface modified cathode material for lithium-ion battery, wherein the cathode material comprises lithium multi-metal composite oxide particles capped with a thin film of an oxide of the metal, wherein the lithium multi-metal composite oxide is represented by Li1+zNixMnyCo1?x?yO2; and wherein z is from 0 to 0.2; x is from 0.35 to 0.8; y is from 0.1 to 0.45; and the metal is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mn, Al, Mg, Zn, Ti, La, Ce, Sn, Zr, Ru and combination thereof. The cathode material disclosed herein exhibits a high initial specific capacity from 150 mAh/g to 200 mAh/g, possesses good safety characteristics and shows impressive energy retention of about 91% after 1000 cycles.

Abstract: Provided herein is a separator used for an electrochemical device such as a lithium-ion battery. The separator disclosed herein comprises a porous base material, and a protective porous layer coated on one or both surfaces of the porous base material disclosed herein, wherein the protective porous layer comprises an organic binder and an inorganic filler, and wherein the inorganic filler comprises a whisker-type material selected from the group consisting of Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, ZrO2, BaOx, ZnO, CaCO3, TiN, AlN, MTiO3, K2O·nTiO2, Na2O·mTiO2, and combinations thereof, wherein x is 1 or 2; M is Ba, Sr or Ca; n is 1, 2, 4, 6 or 8; and m is 3 or 6. Also provided herein is a lithium-ion battery including the separator disclosed herein. The separator disclosed herein is excellent in terms of safety, ion permeability, and cycle characteristics.

Abstract: Spinal tumor ablation devices and related systems and methods are disclosed. Some spinal tumor ablation devices include two conductors and one or more thermocouples. The thermocouple to measure a temperature at a location on one of the conductors. A generator can produce an electrical alternating current to be conducted between the first conductor and the second conductor via tissue within a desired ablation region. A processor may monitor temperature and impedance and control an output of the generator when the impedance of the tissue increases and stop the generator when the thermal energy delivered to the tissue reaches a target threshold.

Abstract: Tumor ablation devices and related systems and methods are disclosed. Some tumor ablation devices include an RF energy delivery probe with two conductors and one or more thermocouples. The thermocouple measures a temperature at a location on one of the conductors. A generator can produce a current to be conducted between the first conductor and the second conductor via tissue within a desired ablation region. The ablation regions created by the RF energy delivery probe are symmetric about poles of the first conductor and the second conductor. A distal portion of the RF energy delivery probe may articulate, enabling a user to position the RF energy delivery probe in a proper position to ablate the tumor. The thermocouples may be disposed on a flexible or wired thermocouple circuit that is disposed between insulators.

Abstract: A communication system and method for operating or evaluating the communication system includes powering a plurality of base stations each operating in at least a sleep mode and an active mode, wherein the base station operates in the sleep mode with less power consumption than in the active mode; analyzing an overall power consumption for powering the plurality of base stations with respect to a grade of service of the communication system; and switching at least one of the plurality of base stations to operate between the sleep mode and the active mode based on a result associated with the overall power consumption and/or the grade of service. Each of the plurality of base stations in sleep mode is further arranged to pass a service request to a nearby base station in the plurality of base stations such that the service request is handled by the respective nearby base station.

Abstract: Channel Optimization in Half Duplex Communications Systems is provided herein. Methods may include obtaining at a first terminal, radio frequency (RF) spectral information local to the first terminal, analyzing at the first terminal, RF spectral information for a second terminal that is not co-located with the first terminal, transmitting data to the second terminal on a second terminal optimal frequency band, and receiving data from the second terminal on the first terminal optimal frequency band, where the first terminal optimal frequency being based upon the RF spectral information local to the first terminal.