Abstract: This invention describes a method for preparation of stable hematology reference materials by producing synthetic hydrogel blood cell surrogates, which mimic human blood components in size, morphology, performance and functionality when analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer employing multiple detection technologies. Different hydrogel particles can be combined and mixed to prepare multi-parameter and multi-level hematology reference materials, which could be used for calibration, linearity verification, proficiency evaluation, and routine performance monitoring of modern automated hematology analyzers. These hydrogel particles can also be combined with processed and stabilized human blood components to prepare the reference materials of this invention.

Abstract: A medical clip for holding a medical device. The medical clip includes a first jaw and a second jaw rotatably coupled to the first jaw, the first jaw and the second jaw being rotatable with respect to each other between a closed position and an open position; an elastomeric insert configured to be positioned between the first jaw and the second jaw. The elastomeric insert defining a cavity having a cavity depth that receives a medical device between the first jaw and the second jaw. In the closed position, a distal face of the first jaw and the second jaw define a distal opening configured to receive a portion of the medical device through the distal opening; and, a proximal face of the first jaw and the second jaw define a proximal opening configured to receive a second portion of the medical device through the proximal opening.

Abstract: An endoscopic system having a shaft, a sheath disposed at least partially inside the shaft having a distal end with a leading surface and an inner surface, the leading surface at the distal end of the sheath having rounded edges so as to be atraumatic, an instrument at least partially inside the sheath and movable relative to the sheath along a longitudinal direction of the sheath, the inner surface being sloped so as to deflect the instrument at a predetermined angle as it is moved into contact with the inner surface and out of the sheath, and the sheath being rotatable relative to the shaft so as to change the direction at which the instrument extends from the sheath.

Abstract: A surgical device for examination and treatment of a target area. The surgical device includes a shaft portion that extends along a longitudinal axis and that is configured to be inserted into a patient's body, a surgical tool provided within the outer sheath and configured to be movable along the longitudinal axis, and an optical assembly provided at a distal end of the inner shaft, the optical assembly including a light source and an imaging sensor.

Abstract: A surgical device for examination and treatment of a target area. The surgical device includes a shaft portion that extends along a longitudinal axis and that is configured to be inserted into a patient's body, a surgical tool provided within the outer sheath and configured to be movable along the longitudinal axis, and an optical assembly provided at a distal end of the inner shaft, the optical assembly including a light source and an imaging sensor.

Abstract: A medical clip for holding a medical device. The medical clip includes a first jaw and a second jaw rotatably coupled to the first jaw, the first jaw and the second jaw being rotatable with respect to each other between a closed position and an open position; an elastomeric insert configured to be positioned between the first jaw and the second jaw. The elastomeric insert defining a proximal cavity having a cavity depth that is receives a medical device between the first jaw and the second jaw. In the closed position, a distal face of the first jaw and the second jaw define a distal opening configured to receive a portion of the medical device through the distal opening; and, a proximal face of the first jaw and the second jaw define a proximal opening configured to receive a second portion of the medical device through the proximal opening.

Abstract: A surgical device for examination and treatment of a target area. The surgical device includes a shaft portion that extends along a longitudinal axis and that is configured to be inserted into a patient's body, a surgical tool provided within the outer sheath and configured to be movable along the longitudinal axis, and an optical assembly provided at a distal end of the inner shaft, the optical assembly including a light source and an imaging sensor.

Abstract: A medical clip for holding a medical device. The medical clip includes a first jaw and a second jaw rotatably coupled to the first jaw, the first jaw and the second jaw being rotatable with respect to each other between a closed position and an open position; an elastomeric insert configured to be positioned between the first jaw and the second jaw. The elastomeric insert defining a cavity having a cavity depth that receives a medical device between the first jaw and the second jaw. In the closed position, a distal face of the first jaw and the second jaw define a distal opening configured to receive a portion of the medical device through the distal opening; and, a proximal face of the first jaw and the second jaw define a proximal opening configured to receive a second portion of the medical device through the proximal opening.

Abstract: This invention describes a method for preparation of stable hematology reference materials by producing synthetic hydrogel blood cell surrogates, which mimic human blood components in size, morphology, performance and functionality when analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer employing multiple detection technologies. Different hydrogel particles can be combined and mixed to prepare multi-parameter and multi-level hematology reference materials, which could be used for calibration, linearity verification, proficiency evaluation, and routine performance monitoring of modern automated hematology analyzers. These hydrogel particles can also be combined with processed and stabilized human blood components to prepare the reference materials of this invention.

Abstract: A reagent sleeve system such as can be used with various analyzers using chemical phenomena, analyzers and methods of using the reagent sleeve system and analyzer are described. The reagent sleeve system can include a reagent sleeve; and a plurality of removable reagent reservoirs located within the reagent sleeve, wherein each of the plurality of removable reagent reservoirs comprises a respective peripheral wall, and first and second end walls, whereby each of the plurality of removable reagent reservoirs contains a reagent located therein, and the first end wall is pierceable by a reagent extractor, and the reagent sleeve comprises a peripheral wall that encompasses the plurality of removable reagent reservoirs and holds the plurality of reagent reservoirs for sequential use.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system are disclosed. The method includes receiving a first communication at a computer system, performing a search operation, sending a second communication, receiving a third communication, and storing the at least the portion of item information in a transaction storage construct. The computer system can cause presentation of a search field in a user interface displayed by a remote computer system. The first communication is received as a result of an event in the search field. Further, a search result (a result of the performing the search operation) is communicated to the remote computer system and comprises item information corresponding to an item. The second communication can cause presentation of the search results in the user interface. The third communication represents a selection of the item in the user interface, and comprises at least a portion of the item information.

Abstract: An endoscopic system having a shaft, a sheath disposed at least partially inside the shaft having a distal end with a leading surface and an inner surface, the leading surface at the distal end of the sheath having rounded edges so as to be atraumatic, an instrument at least partially inside the sheath and movable relative to the sheath along a longitudinal direction of the sheath, the inner surface being sloped so as to deflect the instrument at a predetermined angle as it is moved into contact with the inner surface and out of the sheath, and the sheath being rotatable relative to the shaft so as to change the direction at which the instrument extends from the sheath.

Abstract: A system of secure data packets for transmission over a packet switched network includes an expiring Hash-based Message Authentication Code (HMAC) appended to the data packet. The expiring HMAC is calculated based on a shared secret and a clock time. A receiving network application or firewall with the shared secret validates the secure data packets based on a comparison of the expiring HMAC to the receiving network or application's own calculation of a valid HMAC based on the shared secret and the clock time. Applications executing on the receiving and sending networks do not need modification to use the secure data packet protocol because HMAC appending, validation, and removal may all occur at network boundaries on firewalls. Protected host endpoints may serve client endpoints using expiring HMAC data packets and other validation information based on security data stored on a shared ledger such as nonce values encountered by the network.

Abstract: A blockchain file system provides access to a data storage volume on a blockchain. The blockchain volume is mounted by the host computing system in the same way as a conventional data storage volume from the perspective of the user space applications. The host computing system includes a local write-ahead blockchain journal that links bundles of mutations to the filesystem related to filesystem operations into a chain of digital signatures. One or more of the mutation bundles are included in a signed blockchain transaction that is broadcast to a network of the blockchain that, when confirmed into the blockchain, will carry out the filesystem operations on the blockchain data storage volume. Also provided is a novel blockchain addressing scheme, copy-on-write functionality, and de-duplication features write-ahead filesystem journal.

Abstract: A system of secure data packets for transmission over a packet switched network includes an expiring Hash-based Message Authentication Code (HMAC) appended to the data packet. The expiring HMAC is calculated based on a shared secret and a clock time. A receiving network application or firewall with the shared secret validates the secure data packets based on a comparison of the expiring HMAC to the receiving network or application's own calculation of a valid HMAC based on the shared secret and the clock time. Applications executing on the receiving and sending networks do not need modification to use the secure data packet protocol because HMAC appending, validation, and removal may all occur at network boundaries on firewalls. Protected host endpoints may serve client endpoints using expiring HMAC data packets and other validation information based on security data stored on a shared ledger such as nonce values encountered by the network.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a current efficiency score for an airport, receiving a request to compare the current efficiency score with a previous efficiency score, retrieving the previous efficiency score and displaying the current efficiency score and the previous efficiency score to a user. Also, a system having a database storing a plurality of previous efficiency scores for an airport, a calculation arrangement calculating a current efficiency score for the airport and retrieving a previous efficiency score from the database and a data distribution arrangement for generating a displayable file and distributing the current efficiency score and the one of the plurality of previous efficiency scores to a user of the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods which implement dynamic workflow generation and related processes are provided. The method is implemented in a computer system. The method includes providing a message panel, which provides linking functionality to link together a plurality of tasks to respective users assigned to complete each task; linking the message panel to a subject topic such that each of the tasks and respective users is linked to the subject topic; sending, in a single electronic communication action, the plurality of tasks assigned to the respective users within the message panel; receiving real-time status data of each of the tasks assigned to the respective users; mapping, within a database, the real-time status data of the plurality of tasks to the linked subject topic; and generating a summary for the tasks linked to the subject topic based on the mapping of the real-time status.

Abstract: A device, system, and method manages a transportation capacity. The method performed at a capacity server includes receiving transportation information from transportation providers in a region, the transportation information comprising transportation options, each transportation option having a respective supply, the supply corresponding to an available remaining occupancy. The method includes determining a respective demand for each transportation option based on respective requests for the transportation options. The method includes determining a regional transportation capacity based on the supply and the demand, the regional transportation capacity indicating a distribution of an overall load in the region to the transportation options. The method includes determining a respective regional efficiency value for each transportation option based on the regional transportation capacity.