Abstract: An improved vending machine that permits vending plural or multiple items in the course of a single customer transaction without the need for currency or special cards. The vending machine is particularly useful in controlled facilities such as prisons and jails.

Abstract: A surgical elevator has an oximeter sensor at its tip, which allows measuring of oxygen saturation of a tissue.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a probe for a medical device. In one example, the probe includes an additively manufactured backing having a porous matrix and one or more thermal management structures. The porous matrix may attenuate acoustic energy and the one or more thermal management structures may enable a transfer of heat from a front of the probe to a rear of the probe.

Abstract: A modified lug press and use thereof is described. The modified lug press includes a press and a cartridge. The press includes a drive which, when activated, crimps a lug, positioned on a die, to a wire. A cartridge holds the given lug and at least one additional lug, and successively aligns the given lug and the at least one next lug for insertion onto the die for crimping by the press. The cartridge includes a left rail, with a track therein, at least one middle rail, and a right rail. Distances between the rails may be adjustable. A drive motor, when activated, successively pushes lugs onto the die. A lug separator permits one lug to be pushed on the die at any given time. A lug placement device inhibit lateral lug movement during wire insertion and crimping operations.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a blast radius of a major incident occurring in a virtual desktop system is disclosed. The virtual desktop system has interconnected service components and provides access to virtual desktops by client devices. An event collection module collects events from the service components. An aggregation module merges the collected events in a time-ordered stream, provides context to the events in the time-ordered stream through relationships between the collected events, and generates a correlated event stream. An analysis module determines a stream of problem reports from the correlated event stream. The analysis module determines a spike in the stream of problem reports and determines the attributes of the problem reports in the spike to define the major incident. The analysis module determines a scope of the major incident and a corresponding attribute, to determine a blast radius associated with the major incident in the desktop system.

Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for managing battery usage and charging In one aspect, a method is performed at a battery charging device that includes one or more processors and memory. The method includes receiving first battery life information for a first battery installed in an electronic device, receiving user demand information for the electronic device, and based on the first battery life information and the user demand information, adjusting a charging rate for a second battery electrically coupled to the battery charging device for charging, the second battery configured for use in the electronic device.

Abstract: A burr hole plug includes a base member shaped and dimensioned for position withing an aperture defined by a burr hole and a cover member shaped and dimensioned for placement over the base member to fully close the bur hole and retain a stimulation lead passing through the burr hole in place.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for applying container carriers to unitize a plurality of containers. An applicating drum applies each container carrier to a group of containers and a push down wheel subsequently firmly engages the container carrier to the group of containers so that each applied container carrier is engageable with each container.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for applying container carriers to unitize a plurality of containers. A supply of container carriers are provided in a stack and grouped into sticks of multiple adjacent container carriers. A magazine accommodates the stack of container carrier sticks and a carrier feed draws a single container carrier stick from the magazine. A transport section comprising two or more container carrier sticks aligned in a queue provides single container carrier sticks to an applicating drum configured to apply to a corresponding group of containers.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for applying container carriers to unitize a plurality of containers. A supply of container carriers are provided in connected sticks of two or more container carriers. An applicating drum is configured to accept a single container carrier stick from a queue and provide the container carrier stick to a supply of containers. A cutoff system is configured to cut the sticks of two or more container carriers into individual container carriers but not cut between adjacent unconnected sticks of container carriers.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to catalytic nucleic acids, catalytic nucleic acid probes, biosensors, and kits for detecting the presence of Clostridium difficile. Also provided are methods for detecting the presence of Clostridium difficile in a test sample, using the catalytic nucleic acids, catalytic nucleic acid probes, biosensors, and kits.

Abstract: A container carrier forming a package of unitized containers includes a network of molded ribs forming a plurality of container receiving openings formed in a plane. An arrangement of inwardly extending tabs are formed in each container receiving opening toward a center of each container receiving opening. A handle is formed along one edge of the container carrier. The container carrier is engageable with a circumferential groove around a perimeter of a sidewall of each container so that each tab of the arrangement of tabs engages with the circumferential groove of a corresponding container of the plurality of containers.

Abstract: A method for reconstruction of a thickness profile of a part to be inspected including for distinct emission points: for a current emission point, emitting ultrasound firings, generating basic echo signals associated with a respective ultrasound firing, selecting a firing producing the basic echo signal of greatest amplitude, calculating for the selected firing a basic flight time, calculating the coordinates of a surface contact point for the selected firing, calculating a set of potential positions of the internal surface of the part to be inspected as a function of the basic flight time, the coordinates of the contact point of the external surface and a propagation medium in the part to be inspected, the method further including the step of calculating the profile of the internal surface of the part to be inspected by joining separate portions of the sets of potential positions.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) system includes a housing and a dialysis fluid pump housed by the housing. The dialysis fluid pump includes a reusable pump body that accepts PD fluid for pumping and a flush flow port. The PD system also includes a dialysis fluid heater for heating PD fluid, a container configured to accept and hold PD fluid, a condenser in fluid communication with the container, a chamber in fluid communication with the condenser and a flush flow line extending from the chamber to the flush flow port. The PD system further includes a control unit programmed to cause the dialysis fluid heater to heat PD fluid in the container to form steam or water vapor. The steam or water vapor is condensed in the condenser into distilled water collected in the chamber and provided from the chamber to the flush flow port via the flush flow line.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for validating software is provided. The method includes generating a first check value, by a remote computing device, based on a unique value and software of the remote computing device, outputting the first check value and the unique value from the remote computing device to a secure data repository, obtaining, by a secure computing device, an authentic copy of the software of the remote computing device, obtaining, by the secure computing device, the unique value and the first check value from the secure data repository, computing, by the secure computing device, a second check value based on the authentic copy of the software for the remote computing device and the unique value, and determining, by the secure computing device, whether the remote computing device has authentic software based on a comparison of the obtained first check value and the second check value.

Abstract: We have discovered that administering anti-ceramide antibody treats and prevents an array of diseases mediated by cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTLs)-induced killing and by damage to endothelial microvasculture, including radiation-induced GI syndrome, Graft vs. Host diseases, inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases. We have also discovered new anti-ceramide monoclonal antibodies, that have therapeutic use preferably in humanized form to treat or prevent these diseases.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling delivery of broadcast content are described. They include a broadcast device configured to receive a first media stream from a first content source, provide the first media stream for broadcast transmission in a broadcast communication network while operating in a first operating mode. They further include a diagnostic device configured to monitor at least one characteristic of the quality of the first media stream from at least one location in the broadcast communication network, generate at least one control signal in response to a determination that a value for the at least one characteristic exceeds a threshold value, provide the at least one control signal over the broadcast communication network. The broadcast device is further configured to select a second operating mode in response to receiving at least one control signal, the second operating mode being different from the first operating mode.

Abstract: An antenna includes a radiating structure to radiate electromagnetic waves having a phase along a radiating path extending in an axial direction, and a lens disposed in the radiating path and configured to pass the electromagnetic waves therethrough. The lens includes at least one lamina having a first surface, a second surface, a center axis that is aligned with the axial direction, a lamina thickness between the first surface and the second surface in a direction parallel to the axial direction, and an axial region extending about the center axis. Conductive scattering elements are arranged on the first surface, the second surface or both the first surface and the second surface. The conductive scattering elements are configured to change a first phase of the electromagnetic waves passing through the plurality of conductive scattering elements with respect to a second phase of the electromagnetic waves passing through the axial region.

Abstract: Analysis of 13,023 genes in 11 breast and 11 colorectal cancers revealed that individual tumors accumulate an average of ˜90 mutant genes but that only a subset of these contribute to the neoplastic process. Using stringent criteria to delineate this subset, we identified 189 genes (average of 11 per tumor) that were mutated at significant frequency. The vast majority of these genes were not known to be genetically altered in tumors and are predicted to affect a wide range of cellular functions, including transcription, adhesion, and invasion. These data define the genetic landscape of two human cancer types, provide new targets for diagnostic and therapeutic intervention and monitoring.

Abstract: A surgical simulation scope system is provided as effective as a surgical scope without the added expense and complexities. The surgical simulation scope comprises an optics housing, a lens and an image sensor placed in such a way to ensure the location of the sensor is within the depth of focus of the lens is maintained while not damaging the sensor and, in some cases, to provide angled and/or rotational viewing.