Abstract: As demonstrated herein, soluble human FcRn binds to AFP with affinities greater than observed with albumin, and is able to interfere with FcRn-mediated protection of and functional associations with IgG. Accordingly, provided herein, in some aspects, are compositions and methods to inhibit FcRn and AFP interactions in diseases or disorders where elevated AFP levels are associated with immunosuppression. Also provided herein, in some aspects, are compositions and methods to enhance or potentiate FcRn and AFP interactions in diseases or disorders with decreased AFP levels or diseases or disorders where increasing AFP levels increasing with immunosuppression.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments for migrating a virtual machine (VM) from a source host to a destination host while the virtual machine is running on the destination host. The system includes an RDMA facility connected between the source and destination hosts and a device coupled to a local memory, the local memory being responsible for memory pages of the VM instead of the source host. The device is configured to copy pages of the VM to the destination host and to maintain correct operation of the VM by monitoring coherence events, such as a cache miss, caused by the virtual machine running on the destination host. The device services these cache misses using the RDMA facility and copies the cache line satisfying the cache miss to the CPU running the VM. The device also tracks the cache misses to create an access pattern that it uses to predict future cache misses.

Abstract: A virtual machine running on a source host is live migrated to a destination host. The source host includes a first processing node with a first processing hardware and a first memory, and a second processing node with a second processing hardware and a second memory. While the virtual machine is running on the first processing hardware, the second processing hardware tracks cache lines of the first processing hardware that become dirty as a result of write operations performed on one or more memory pages of the virtual machine. The dirty cache lines are copied to the destination host in units of a cache line or groups of cache lines.

Abstract: An integrated circuit interconnects are described herein that are suitable for forming integrated circuit chip packages. In one example, an integrated circuit interconnect is embodied in a wafer that includes a substrate having a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) dice formed thereon. The plurality of IC dice include a first IC die having first solid state circuitry and a second IC die having second solid state circuitry. A first contact pad is disposed on the substrate and is coupled to the first solid state circuitry. A first solder ball is disposed on the first contact pad. The first solder ball has a substantially uniform oxide coating formed thereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying, selecting and/or producing a soybean plant or germplasm having iron deficiency chlorosis tolerance. A soybean plant, part thereof and/or germplasm, including any progeny and/or seeds derived from a soybean plant or germplasm identified, selected and/or produced by any of the methods of the present invention is also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a lost and found management method for payment cards. The method includes receiving, by a server system associated with a payment network, one or more attributes of a payment card of a first party from a second party who found the payment card. The one or more attributes are sent by the second party through an application interface associated with the server system. The method includes facilitating validation, by the server system, of the one or more attributes. The method further includes, upon successful validation, accessing, by the server system, information of an issuer bank of the payment card. The method further includes facilitating sending, by the server system, a notification to the issuer bank of a lost and found status of the payment card.

Abstract: An expert system incorporates multiple virtual-agent experts, each trained in a particular field or domain. When a user enters a block of input, an interactive front-end infers the semantic meaning of the input and creates a chat-table record that stores the inferred meaning and other characteristics of the input. A distributed virtual-assistant manager (DVAM) module uses that record to identify the domain of the input and, after retrieving cross-reference information stored in a virtual-assistant intent (VAI) table, selects a virtual-agent expert trained in the identified domain. If necessary, the DVAM directs the front-end to seamlessly switch the user to the newly selected expert. As the session continues, the system continues to dynamically switch the user to different experts as the session traverses different domains. The system may also consider the domain history of the entire session when selecting a domain.

Abstract: Methods and server systems for facilitating sharing of reward points between users are disclosed. Information related to linked one or more social IDs of a first user to a payment account of the first user is received and stored in a mapping file. A request for reward points redemption is initiated by the second user in response to an offer to redeem a fixed number of reward points posted by the first user on a social media platform. A social ID used by the second user to initiate the request on the social media platform is identified. A transfer of the fixed number of reward points from the first user to the second user is facilitated based on the mapping file and the social ID of the second user.

Abstract: Described herein are microfluidic devices and methods that can separate and concentrate particles in a sample.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a second line service (“SLS”) feature to a subscriber using a telecommunications device (“TD”) which includes receiving at a switch on the network of the subscriber's primary service provider a communication made up of a trigger and a directory number. When the communication is received at the primary service provider's switch, the switch parses the communication and detects the trigger. Once the switch has received the communication, the switch additionally transmits a query message to a SLS platform that manages the SLS feature. As a result of the switch's query message transmission, the switch receives a reply to the query message from the SLS platform. Based at least in part on the reply to the query message, the switch can route the communication such that the switch connects one or multiple voice channel circuit between the subscriber's TD and the terminating TD.

Abstract: A method includes executing a mobile threat detection function to determine whether an electronic device is corrupt. The method also includes when determining that the electronic device is not corrupt, identifying whether an encrypted user key (UKc-Enc) is stored in the electronic device. The method further includes when the UKc-Enc is not stored in the electronic device, decrypting an application key (AKc) and transmitting the AKc and a unique universal identifier (UUID) that is associated with the application to a gateway for establishing a secure application specific communication channel between the electronic device and the gateway. In addition, the method includes when the UKc-Enc is stored in the electronic device, decrypting the UKc-Enc to form a user key (UKc), extracting a UUID from the UKc, and transmitting the UUID from the UKc to the gateway for establishing the secure application specific communication channel between the electronic device and the gateway.

Abstract: A method for reducing loads of a wind turbine includes determining an angular pitch speed parameter of the rotor blade of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining an operational state of the wind turbine. Further, the method includes comparing the angular pitch speed parameter to a predetermined parameter threshold during turbine shutdown and/or a commanded pitch event. If the operational state corresponds to a predetermined operational state, the method includes yawing a nacelle of the wind turbine away from an incoming wind direction when the angular pitch speed parameter is below the predetermined parameter threshold during the turbine shutdown and/or the commanded pitch event.

Abstract: Migrating and delivering data content to a traveling user is provided. A pattern of data access corresponding to a user is determined. The pattern of data access includes previous data access requests made by the user and data to-be delivered to the user. A travel plan corresponding to the user is determined. The travel plan includes a set of intermediate data delivery destinations based on travel mode, travel route, travel schedule, and geographic locations of stops corresponding to the set of intermediate data delivery destinations. The data content is migrated to a set of data storage locations as the user travels based on the pattern of data access, the travel plan, and the set of intermediate data delivery destinations along the travel route. The data content is delivered to the user at geographic locations corresponding to the set of data storage locations as the user travels.

Abstract: A method for routing calls between a third party telecommunications device (“TD”) and a subscriber TD associated with a primary service and a second line service (“SLS”) involves associating the SLS number of the subscriber, the primary number of the subscriber and the primary number of a third party via a common relationship number. Calls directed from a third party to the SLS number of a subscriber are routed to an SLS platform and redirected to the subscriber TD. Calls directed from the subscriber TD to the third party use the relationship number to route the call to the SLS platform. The combination of the primary service number and the relationship number identifies the third party number for call completion. Calls can be directed to and from an SLS number of a subscriber TD using a combination of protocols such as ISUP, CAP and SIP.

Abstract: A system and method to estimate and to limit usage time of network applications by a centrally located router is provided. The router first modifies the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol's Time To Live (TTL) values to a fix value, then it counts the number of DNS queries for an application. Number of queries multiplied by the fixed TTL value gives estimated duration of the application.

Abstract: In one aspect a method of fabricating an n-doped strained germanium (Ge) film is disclosed, which includes depositing a strained Ge film on an underlying substrate, implanting at least one electron-donating dopant in the Ge film, and exposing the implanted Ge film to one or more laser pulses having a pulsewidth in a range of about 1 ns to about 100 ms so as to generate a substantially crystalline strained Ge film. In some embodiments, the pulses can cause melting followed by substantial recrystallization of at least a portion of the implanted Ge film. In some embodiments, the resultant Ge film can have a thickness in a range of about 10 nm to about 1 microns.

Abstract: In a described example, a packaged device includes a substrate having a device mounting surface including a first layer of conductive material having a first thickness less than a substrate thickness, the substrate having a second layer of the conductive material having a second thickness less than the substrate thickness. A first semiconductor device is mounted to a first area of the device mounting surface; and a second semiconductor device is mounted to a second area on the device mounting surface and spaced from the first semiconductor device. At least two connectors are formed of the first layer of the substrate having first ends coupled to one of first bond pads on the first semiconductor device and the at least two connectors having second ends coupled to one of second bond pads on the second semiconductor device.

Abstract: An adjustable firmness seat suspension includes a seat frame, first and second spring members, and an intermediate tensioning member. The seat frame includes a first frame member and a second frame member spaced apart from and opposite one another. The first spring member is attached to the first frame member, the second spring member is attached to the second frame member, and the intermediate tensioning member is attached to and extends between the first spring member and the second spring member. The intermediate tensioning member is formed from a shape memory alloy (SMA) having a first length that provides a first spring tension of the seat suspension through the first and second spring members, and configured to alter its length to a second length that provides a second spring tension of the seat suspension through the first and second spring members in response to application of a tensioning signal thereto.

Abstract: Technology for managing the flow of messages among accounts of a social network. One method enables a first account (e.g., person or entity account) to elect a second account (e.g., person or entity account) in the social network. The election causes the first account to follow the second account to receive electronic messages of the second account. Further, an election of the first account by the second account is disabled until the first account follows the second account. Additionally, the method includes an operation for detecting the first account has followed the second account and has added the second account to a communication group managed by the first account.

Abstract: As demonstrated herein, soluble human FcRn binds to AFP with affinities greater than observed with albumin, and is able to interfere with FcRn-mediated protection of and functional associations with IgG. Accordingly, provided herein, in some aspects, are compositions and methods to inhibit FcRn and AFP interactions in diseases or disorders where elevated AFP levels are associated with immunosuppression. Also provided herein, in some aspects, are compositions and methods to enhance or potentiate FcRn and AFP interactions in diseases or disorders with decreased AFP levels or diseases or disorders where increasing AFP levels increasing with immunosuppression.