Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical instrument, a motion sensor, and a computing device. The surgical instrument includes a housing, an end effector assembly distally-spaced from the housing, and a movable component movable relative to the housing. The motion sensor is disposed on or within the housing and configured to sense a vibration signature associated with movement of the movable component relative to the housing. The computing device communicates with the motion sensor, is configured to receive the vibration signature therefrom, and is configured to determine a condition of the movable component based on the vibration signature. A method of monitoring a surgical instrument includes sensing a vibration signature generated from movement of a movable component of a surgical instrument relative to a housing of the surgical instrument, and determining, based on the sensed vibration signature, a condition of the movable component.

Abstract: An herbal pouch usable in dry-herbal vaporizers and other natural herbal inhalers is presented, the pouch comprising a smoking-safe material capable of surviving the heating environment of a vaporizer device without breaking down or affecting the vaporization process of any smoke-able product contained within and including one or more lateral seals at one or both longitudinal ends of the pouch arranged to create a handle portion for gripping and manipulating the pouch, as well as a kit containing one or more pouches along with a loading tool for loading smoke-able product into the pouch for consumption.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of ranking and comparing fantasy sports leagues hosted by different fantasy sports providers using a computer. A computer is provided that is capable of receiving statistical facts from a statistical collector organization, receiving registrations of fantasy sports leagues and teams, and linking the statistical facts with the fantasy sports leagues and teams. The fantasy sports teams and leagues from different providers are then registered with the computer and the computer imports the facts and links the facts to the fantasy teams and leagues. Point totals are calculated by the computer and published for periods of time. As the rosters of fantasy sports teams are changed throughout a fantasy sports season, the point totals are calculated accordingly. At the conclusion of the fantasy sports season, the leagues from the different providers are ranked and compared to each other.

Abstract: A performance and cost analysis system and method comprises an output system; a calculation system operatively inputting data to the output system, wherein the calculation system is adapted to process system engineering and cost parameters of a system under analysis, make changes to the system engineering and cost parameters of the system under analysis, and calculate effects of factors influencing the system under analysis based on the changes made to the system engineering and cost parameters; an input model system operatively inputting data to the calculation system; and an input data system operatively inputting data to the calculation system and the output system, wherein the output system is adapted to identify changes to the system under analysis based on the calculated effects, and calculate a life cycle cost of the system under analysis based on the identified changes. Preferably, the system under analysis comprises hardware architecture components.

Abstract: A portable radioactive-material detection system capable of detecting radioactive sources moving at high speeds. The system has at least one radiation detector capable of detecting gamma-radiation and coupled to an MCA capable of collecting spectral data in very small time bins of less than about 150 msec. A computer processor is connected to the MCA for determining from the spectral data if a triggering event has occurred. Spectral data is stored on a data storage device, and a power source supplies power to the detection system. Various configurations of the detection system may be adaptably arranged for various radiation detection scenarios. In a preferred embodiment, the computer processor operates as a server which receives spectral data from other networked detection systems, and communicates the collected data to a central data reporting system.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, user-interface and system to support selective caller identification, the automatic transmission of a caller's identification information to a selective group of call recipients, conducted over a network, using a communications device. When selective caller identification is activated, and a caller initiates a communications session with a particular call recipient, caller's communications device determines whether that particular call recipient identifier is stored within the caller's selective caller identification database. If recipient's data is stored within the caller's selective caller identification database, then depending upon the database entry, selective caller identification will enable or disable the transmission of caller's identification information.