Abstract: An electronic cigarette apparatus including a first and second modules; the first removably connected to the second; wherein the first module includes a male connector, a tank, and an upper portion; wherein the second module includes a lower portion which removably connects to the upper portion of the first module to removably connect the first and second modules; and wherein the second module further includes a female connector and a battery device. The lower portion may include a top section having at least two tabs; and wherein the upper portion includes at least two slots into which the at least two tabs of the lower portion can be inserted to connect the upper and lower portions. The upper portion may include one or more ledges which assist in preventing the lower and upper portions from disconnecting, unless the upper portion is rotated with respect to the lower portion.

Abstract: Clostridium difficile disease involves a range of clinical presentations ranging from mild to self-limiting diarrhea to life-threatening pseudomembranous colitis and megacolon. Cases of C. difficile are treated differently depending on severity of disease. Mild and moderate cases may be treated with metronidazole while moderate-to-severe and relapsing cases are often treated with vancomycin or fidaxomicin. The presence of C. difficile disease is detected using a biomarker panel that includes C. difficile antigen (GDH), toxins A and B, and fecal lactoferrin. In patients suspected of C. difficile disease, if GDH is detected indicating the presence of C. difficile, and then toxins A and/or B are detected to indicate toxigenic C. difficile and support a diagnosis of C. difficile-associated disease, fecal lactoferrin concentrations are measured to determine severity of the disease by indicating the amount of intestinal inflammation.

Abstract: Clostridium difficile disease involves a range of clinical presentations ranging from carrier status with other causes of symptoms to mild and self-limiting diarrhea to life-threatening pseudomembranous colitis and megacolon. Cases of C. difficile are treated differently depending on the presence and then the severity of disease. Patients that are carriers may not receive treatment with concern of causing the disease. Mild to moderate cases may be treated with metronidazole while severe and relapsing cases are often treated with vancomycin or fidaxomicin. Current molecular assays are highly sensitive for detecting toxigenic C. difficile and cannot rule out carrier status. Utilization of a biomarker panel that includes C. difficile antigen (GDH), toxins A and B, and fecal lactoferrin allows clinicians to differentiate between a carrier state and active state of C. difficile and allows for monitoring to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.

Abstract: A method of assisting a heart for the operation of a ventricular assist device comprising the steps of implanting a cannula to the heart and deploying a stent within a left ventricle, a right ventricle, a left atrium, or a right atrium of the heart. The stent may be transferable from a first compact configuration to a second open configuration to facilitate implantation. The stent may also have a flared distal end to assist with alignment, positioning, and prevent outgrowth.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for stormwater utility management that aids stormwater utilities in establishing fees, abatements, and tradeable stormwater credits using publicly available parcel database information. A stormwater support services computer in communication with publicly available data stores of parcel information rapidly assesses and generates a per-parcel stormwater utility fee based on estimated size of impervious surfaces on a parcel. Through use of publicly available parcel information to generate an estimated size of impervious surfaces on a parcel, a stormwater utility fee based on level of service is implemented.

Abstract: A high power handling optical modulator and methods of fabricating the same are described. The method includes forming a number of electrostatically deflectable elements over a surface of a substrate, and forming a non-metallic, multilayer optical reflector over each electrostatically deflectable element. The multilayer optical reflector includes at least a first layer of high index material having a high index of refraction, a second layer of a low index material having a low index of refraction formed over the first layer, and a third layer of high index material also having a high index of refraction formed over the second layer. Generally, the high index materials and low index material are selected and deposited to maintain planarity of the multilayer optical reflector at operating temperature. In one embodiment, the high and low index materials include silicon-germanium and air respectively. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A capacitive micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) structure or device and methods of making and operating the same are described. Generally, the MEMS device provides a large stroke while maintaining good damping, enabling fast beam steering and large scan angles. In one embodiment, the capacitive MEMS device includes a bottom electrode formed over a substrate; an electrically permeable damping structure formed over the bottom electrode, the electrically permeable damping structure including a first air-gap and a dielectric layer suspended above and separated from the bottom electrode by the first air-gap; and a plurality of movable members suspended above the damping structure and separated therefrom by a second air-gap, each of the plurality of movable members including a top electrode and being configured to deflect towards the bottom electrode by electrostatic force. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Described herein are compounds of Formula (I?), Formula (IA), Formulae (I)-(VII), pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, hydrates, polymorphs, co-crystals, tautomers, stereoisomers, isotopically labeled derivatives, and prodrugs thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds for human and veterinary use. Compounds of the present invention are useful for inhibiting bacterial growth and therefore are useful in treating and/or preventing bacterial infections. Methods of using the compounds for treating and/or preventing a bacterial infection in a subject are also described.

Abstract: Methods, computer systems, and stored instructions are described herein for inferring dimensional metadata from content of a query that references tables. A server analyzes the content of the query to determine which table(s) of the referenced tables could be fact tables and/or which table(s) of the referenced tables could be dimension tables. The server transforms the query to a transformed query that operates on a candidate fact table and candidate dimension table(s) of the referenced tables other than the candidate fact table. The transformed query, when executed, processes at least some data from dimension(s) using the candidate dimension table(s) before processing at least some data from the candidate fact table. Alternatively or additionally, the server generates an execution plan that operates on the candidate fact table and the candidate dimension table(s).

Abstract: Laser-based material processing systems including a Micro-Electromechanical System devices (MEMs) based reflective, optical modulator with dielectric mirrors for high power handling and methods of manufacturing and using the same are described. Generally, the system includes a workpiece support, a laser, a workpiece support, a laser, a MEMs based reflective, optical modulator to modulate a beam generated by the laser; and imaging optics to direct modulated light from the optical modulator onto a workpiece on the workpiece support. The optical modulator includes a number of surfaces with dielectric mirrors formed thereon to modulate the beam generated by the laser. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing power in a computing system using power controller(s). Power consumption information may be received from power sensors that measure power consumption of computing devices in a rack computing system, or that measure the power received or distributed by power distribution components such as power distribution units (PDUs) in the racks. A determination may be made whether the amount of power being currently consumed within a computing system exceeds a predetermined threshold. If so, control signal(s) may be sent to instruct the power controller(s) to alter characteristic(s), such as frequency, voltage, current, and so forth, of the power being supplied to one or more computing devices or other component(s). The power alteration may occur at one or more points in the power distribution system of one or more racks, such as at one or more PDUs, distribution circuits, breakers, and so forth.

Abstract: A flow through Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) package and methods of operating a MEMS packaged using the same are provided. Generally, the package includes a cavity in which the MEMS is enclosed, an inlet through which a fluid is introduced to the cavity during operation of the MEMS and an outlet through which the fluid is removed during operation of the MEMS, wherein the package includes features that promote laminar flow of the fluid across the MEMS. The package and method are particularly useful in packaging spatial light modulators including a reflective surface and adapted to reflect and modulate a light beam incident thereon. Other embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: Network page latency reduction is facilitated by various embodiments. In one embodiment, a first distribution corresponding to a plurality of instances of a network page is estimated. A second distribution corresponding to a subset of the instances is also estimated. The network page is adapted based at least in part on a comparison of the first and second distributions in order to reduce network page latency.

Abstract: A cross-platform mobile application reporting system is disclosed that generates analytical reports for a business entity sorted on an aggregated business metric. The reporting system receives a set of application properties for one or more mobile applications from a plurality of application stores. The reporting system extracts metadata about a plurality of publisher profiles from the application properties and clusters two or more of the plurality of publisher profiles based on a determined likelihood that the clustered publisher profiles represent the same business entity. The clustered publisher profiles and their mobile applications are associated with a business entity. The business metric for the mobile applications associated with the business entity is aggregated and an analysis report is generated based in part on the aggregated business metric. The report is sent, responsive to the request, for display to a user.

Abstract: One system includes one or more host computing systems, each host computing system including at least one execution core and a system memory. The system includes a plurality of virtual partitions executing on the one or more host computing systems and including a first partition having at least a portion of the system memory associated with at least one of the one or more host computing systems and configure to store a database therein. The system also includes an interconnect layer communicatively connecting the plurality of virtual partitions, the interconnect layer providing a programming interface by which direct memory access operations between partitions are coordinated. In response to database commands received at the first partition, the data stored in the database is provided to a requesting partition a direct memory access operation.

Abstract: A keyword reporting system for mobile applications is disclosed that generates keyword reports for a subject mobile application. The reports include a set of most relevant keywords for the subject mobile application with their associated ranking and result value. The ranking of a keyword is the subject mobile application's position in a search result for the keyword. A result value is determined for each keyword as well, where the result value is the number of mobile applications found in a search result for the keyword. Based on the ranking and result value of each keyword, a weight value is determined for each keyword. The weight value indicates the relevance of the keyword for the subject mobile application. A set of keywords are sorted and selected based on the weight value and a keyword report is generated that includes the set of keywords along with their rankings.

Abstract: Laser-based material processing systems including a Micro-Electromechanical System devices (MEMs) based reflective, optical modulator with dielectric mirrors for high power handling and methods of manufacturing and using the same are described. Generally, the system includes a workpiece support, a laser, a workpiece support, a laser, a MEMs based reflective, optical modulator to modulate a beam generated by the laser; and imaging optics to direct modulated light from the optical modulator onto a workpiece on the workpiece support. The optical modulator includes a number of surfaces with dielectric mirrors formed thereon to modulate the beam generated by the laser. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A support arm includes a generally elongated support arm housing having first and second ends; an arm mounting member pivotally carried by the first end of the support arm housing, the arm mounting member pivotal throughout a first range of rotation; a device mounting member pivotally carried by the second end of the support arm housing, the device mounting member pivotal throughout a second range of rotation; a position equalizing assembly engaging the arm mounting member and the device mounting member, the position equalizing assembly pivoting the arm mounting member and the device mounting member in opposite directions throughout the first range of rotation and the second range of rotation; anda counterbalance adjusting assembly carried by the arm mounting member and engaging the device mounting member, the counterbalance adjusting assembly applying counterbalance force to the device mounting member.

Abstract: A system for generating electrical power includes one or more turbine systems, a linking system, a power receiving station, and a transmission line. The turbine systems includes a turbine, a turbine carrier that can hold the turbine in a flow of water, and a generator that produces electricity from rotation of a runner of the turbine. The linking system couples the turbine carriers to a fixed location. The transmission line transmits power from the generator to the power receiving station.

Abstract: Methods, computer systems, and stored instructions are described herein for inferring dimensional metadata from content of a query that references tables. A server analyzes the content of the query to determine which table(s) of the referenced tables could be fact tables and/or which table(s) of the referenced tables could be dimension tables. The server transforms the query to a transformed query that operates on a candidate fact table and candidate dimension table(s) of the referenced tables other than the candidate fact table. The transformed query, when executed, processes at least some data from dimension(s) using the candidate dimension table(s) before processing at least some data from the candidate fact table. Alternatively or additionally, the server generates an execution plan that operates on the candidate fact table and the candidate dimension table(s).