Abstract: A hardware agent is a hardware device attached to, embedded in, or otherwise associated with a good. In particular, the hardware agent is bound to the good in such a way that information held by the agent may be confidently associated with the good. The hardware agent is constructed to securely hold information about the good, and information about stakeholders, such that the agent may autonomously make binding decisions regarding the good, including sales and financial transactions.

Abstract: A hardware agent is a hardware device attached to, embedded in, or otherwise associated with a good. In particular, the hardware agent is bound to the good in such a way that information held by the agent may be confidently associated with the good. The hardware agent is constructed to securely hold information about the good, and information about stakeholders, such that the agent may autonomously make binding decisions regarding the good, including sales and financial transactions. Although the hardware agent may perform many functions autonomously, it often will have communication capabilities enabling it to share information with stakeholders, or to others as allowed.

Abstract: An information system is provided that enables stakeholders to define a secure data object that sets permissions, rules, and rights for an asset. The secure data object may be communicated to entities, such as computer hosts or hardware agents, and the entities are enable to act within the permissions, rules, and rights to conduct transactions and gather information as agents of the stakeholders. The secure data object may be received into a hardware agent attached to an asset, and the agent may have sufficient permission to monitor environmental conditions, adjust pricing, consummate a transaction, or communicate a report.

Abstract: Briefly, a portable intelligent device is provided that has an audio input for receiving a voice input from a user and an event manager for detecting that an event has occurred. The intelligent device also stores a passcode and a voice-code indicative of the passcode that is unique to a particular user. The intelligent device presents the passcode to a user, for example, from a display on the device, or from smart phone or tablet wirelessly connected to the intelligent device. The user speaks the passcode into an input transducer (microphone) on the intelligent device, and a processor generates a voiceprint that reflects the spoken passcode. The processor then can use the stored voice-code and the generated voiceprint to determine if a specific user was speaking, and if the user spoke the correct passcode. In this way the intelligent device is able to authenticate or authorize a remote user simply by having the user anonymously speak a passcode into the intelligent device.

Abstract: Briefly, a portable intelligent device is provided that has an audio input for receiving a voice input from a user and an event manager for detecting that an event has occurred. The intelligent device also stores a passcode and a voice-code indicative of the passcode that is unique to a particular user. The intelligent device presents the passcode to a user, for example, from a display on the device, or from smart phone or tablet wirelessly connected to the intelligent device. The user speaks the passcode into an input transducer (microphone) on the intelligent device, and a processor generates a voiceprint that reflects the spoken passcode. The processor then can use the stored voice-code and the generated voiceprint to determine if a specific user was speaking, and if the user spoke the correct passcode. In this way the intelligent device is able to authenticate or authorize a remote user simply by having the user anonymously speak a passcode into the intelligent device.

Abstract: Briefly, a portable intelligent device is provided that has an audio input for receiving a voice input from a user and an event manager for detecting that an event has occurred. The intelligent device also stores a passcode and a voice-code indicative of the passcode that is unique to a particular user. The intelligent device presents the passcode to a user, for example, from a display on the device, or from smart phone or tablet wirelessly connected to the intelligent device. The user speaks the passcode into an input transducer (microphone) on the intelligent device, and a processor generates a voiceprint that reflects the spoken passcode. The processor then can use the stored voice-code and the generated voiceprint to determine if a specific user was speaking, and if the user spoke the correct passcode. In this way the intelligent device is able to authenticate or authorize a remote user simply by having the user anonymously speak a passcode into the intelligent device.

Abstract: An information system is provided that enables stakeholders to define a secure data object that sets permissions, rules, and rights for an asset. The secure data object may be communicated to entities, such as computer hosts or hardware agents, and the entities are enable to act within the permissions, rules, and rights to conduct transactions and gather information as agents of the stakeholders. The secure data object may be received into a hardware agent attached to an asset, and the agent may have sufficient permission to monitor environmental conditions, adjust pricing, consummate a transaction, or communicate a report.

Abstract: A buttress assembly is configured to temporarily adhere to a wet surgical stapler end effector. The buttress assembly includes a buttress body and a humidity tolerant adhesive. The adhesive includes a bioabsorbable polymer having a block configuration selected from the group consisting of A-B-A and A-B-C. The A block is a bioabsorbable homopolymer characterized by a glass transition temperature of at least about 0° C., a crystallinity as measured by X-ray diffraction of at least about 30%, and a melting temperature of at least about 50° C. The B block is a bioabsorbable homopolymer or co-polymer that is characterized by a glass transition temperature of at least about ?40° C., a crystallinity as measured by X-ray diffraction of at most about 25%, and 2 a molecular weight of from about 20 to about 80 kDa. The C block is a bioabsorbable hydrophilic homopolymer or co-polymer that is miscible with water at 37° C.

Abstract: A buttress is applied to an end effector of a surgical stapler. The buttress is loaded on a platform of a buttress applier cartridge. The end effector is closed upon the platform. An adhesive layer of the buttress secures the buttress to the end effector. The buttress is thus adhered to the end effector when the end effector is opened. The end effector is then actuated on tissue of a patient, thereby stapling the buttress to the tissue.

Abstract: An information system is provided that enables stakeholders to define a secure data object that sets permissions, rules, and rights for an asset. The secure data object may be communicated to entities, such as computer hosts or hardware agents, and the entities are enable to act within the permissions, rules, and rights to conduct transactions and gather information as agents of the stakeholders. The secure data object may be received into a hardware agent attached to an asset, and the agent may have sufficient permission to monitor environmental conditions, adjust pricing, consummate a transaction, or communicate a report.

Abstract: A hardware agent is a hardware device attached to, embedded in, or otherwise associated with a good. In particular, the hardware agent is bound to the good in such a way that information held by the agent may be confidently associated with the good. The hardware agent is constructed to securely hold information about the good, and information about stakeholders, such that the agent may autonomously make binding decisions regarding the good, including sales and financial transactions.

Abstract: A buttress assembly is configured to temporarily adhere to a wet surgical stapler end effector. The buttress assembly includes a buttress body and a humidity tolerant adhesive. The adhesive includes a bioabsorbable polymer having a block configuration selected from the group consisting of A-B-A and A-B-C. The A block is a bioabsorbable homopolymer characterized by a glass transition temperature of at least about 0° C., a crystallinity as measured by X-ray diffraction of at least about 30%, and a melting temperature of at least about 50° C. The B block is a bioabsorbable homopolymer or co-polymer that is characterized by a glass transition temperature of at least about -40° C., a crystallinity as measured by X-ray diffraction of at most about 25%, and2 a molecular weight of from about 20 to about 80kDa. The C block is a bioabsorbable hydrophilic homopolymer or co-polymer that is miscible with water at 37° C.

Abstract: A buttress is applied to an end effector of a surgical stapler. The buttress is loaded on a platform of a buttress applier cartridge. The end effector is closed upon the platform. An adhesive layer of the buttress secures the buttress to the end effector. The buttress is thus adhered to the end effector when the end effector is opened. The end effector is then actuated on tissue of a patient, thereby stapling the buttress to the tissue.

Abstract: Amphiphilic peptide compounds comprising one or more epitope sequences for binding interaction with one or more corresponding growth factors, micellar assemblies of such compounds and related methods of use.