Abstract: Methods and devices for treating spinal deformities are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a low-profile spinal anchoring device is provided for receiving a spinal fixation element, such as a tether, therethrough. The device generally includes a staple body that is adapted to seat a spinal fixation element, a fastening element for fixing the staple body to bone, and a locking assembly for coupling a spinal fixation element to the staple body. In one embodiment, the locking assembly includes a washer that is adapted to couple to the staple body such that the spinal fixation is disposed therebetween, and a locking nut that is adapted to engage the staple body to mate the washer to the staple body.

Abstract: Systems and methods use electric fields to separate bioanalytes from a substrate comprising a biological sample. Biological material, especially blood samples, are sometimes dried onto absorbent substrates. By applying an electric field across the substrate, or a portion thereof, bioanalytes from the sample are attracted to a conductor having a positive or negative charge, depending on the charges carried by the bioanalytes. The electric field can be created using two conductors in circuit with a power source, and the substrate may be positioned between the conductors.

Abstract: A method of managing content delivery to a client device by a proxy, where the content is made up of a sequence of segments. The proxy starts off by receiving content requests from the client device over unicast, and fulfilling those requests by forwarding them to a content server, and receiving that content over unicast before forwarding onto the client device. The proxy then determines that a multicast channel should be joined to more efficiently receive the content. However, the multicast channel is likely to be ahead of the available unicast data. Therefore, a multicast join command is delayed until the proxy has taken steps to obtain subsequent content by unicast faster than that content is being requested by the client device, so that the obtained content has caught up with the content available on the multicast channel.

Abstract: Technologies for implementing customized behaviors for content items are provided. An example method can include receiving, from a user account registered with a content management system, a request to access a content item managed by the content management system for the user account, the content item having one or more behaviors configured for an attribute associated with the content item and/or the content item associated with the attribute; obtaining, from a representation of a remote state of content items associated with the user account, metadata defining the attribute associated with the content item; based on the metadata, determining the one or more behaviors configured for the attribute and/or the content item associated with the attribute; and applying the one or more behaviors to the content item.

Abstract: A method of managing content delivery to a client device via a proxy is described. The proxy starts off by receiving content requests from the client device over unicast, and fulfils those requests by forwarding them to a content server, and receiving that content before forwarding onto the client device. The proxy then determines that it may be possible to join a multicast channel to more efficiently receive the required content. However, before joining the multicast channel, the proxy determines whether joining the multicast channel might result in the client device receiving content in a manner that would cause the client device to change the quality level of the content segments being requested. The proxy can do this by first obtaining segment requested by the client device from the unicast server over unicast. The proxy also requests timing information from the multicast server to determine a time at which the same segment will complete delivery over multicast.

Abstract: A Charging Function (CHF) (16) of a communication network (10) signals a payload size limit to a Charging Trigger Function (CTF) (14) in the network (10), and the CTF (14) applies the payload size limit to restrict the maximum payload of one or more charging messages sent by the CTF (14) towards the CHF (16). Payload limits determined by the CHF (16) depend, for example, on any one or more of the type(s) of communication services involved, the involved subscribers, or load at the CHF (16). “Load” refers to processing load or communication load, meaning that the CHF (16) in an example implementation may choose smaller payload limits to reduce its processing load or choose larger payload limits, e.g., up to some maximum size, to reduce its communication load.

Abstract: Technologies for implementing customized behaviors for content items are provided. An example method can include receiving, from a user account registered with a content management system, a request to access a content item managed by the content management system for the user account, the content item having one or more behaviors configured for an attribute associated with the content item and/or the content item associated with the attribute; obtaining, from a representation of a remote state of content items associated with the user account, metadata defining the attribute associated with the content item; based on the metadata, determining the one or more behaviors configured for the attribute and/or the content item associated with the attribute; and applying the one or more behaviors to the content item.

Abstract: Described is a method of media content delivery, where measurements of network delivery rates are used to determine at which bit rate to request each content segment. The aim is to ensure continuous play-out of good quality segments, without relying on a large buffer, so that end-to-end delay is kept low. The historical network delivery rate is measured on two or more timescales, such as a short-term delivery rate and a long-term delivery rate, and these are used to decide when to request a higher bit rate segment than the previous segment, and when to request a lower bit rate segment than the previous segment.

Abstract: A method of managing content delivery to a client device via a proxy is described. The proxy starts off by receiving content requests from the client device over unicast, and fulfils those requests by forwarding them to a content server, and receiving that content before forwarding onto the client device. At some stage, the proxy determines that it may be possible to join a multicast channel to more efficiently receive the required content. However, before a switch is made, the proxy gathers multicast delivery timing data from the content server without joining the multicast group, and behavioural characteristics of the client device. The proxy uses this data to determine whether the client device would change the quality level of the content segments being requested.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for an expandable spinal cage device used in a spinal fusion procedure. The device can comprise three major pieces that are combined to expand the device both laterally and vertically in the intervertebral gap. A first piece is a cage support body, and a second piece is a width expander body inserted into the first piece that laterally expands the first piece. A third piece is a vertical expander body inserted into the first or second piece that results in vertical expansion of first piece. In this way, the first piece can be expanded laterally up to two times, and vertically up to two times.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of media content delivery, where the time taken to deliver each chunk of content is measured, from which the stability or consistency of delivery times are calculated. The amount of data buffered at the user's device awaiting decoding and play-back can then be adjusted (such as by playing out the content slower or quicker), in order to achieve a good compromise between continuous play-out and low end-to-end delay, taking into consideration the current network characteristics.

Abstract: A method of managing content delivery to a client device by a proxy, where the content is made up of a sequence of segments. The proxy starts off by receiving content requests from the client device over unicast, and fulfilling those requests by forwarding them to a content server, and receiving that content before forwarding onto the client device. At some stage, the proxy determines that a multicast channel should be joined to more efficiently receive the required content. However, the multicast channel is likely to be ahead of the available unicast data. Therefore, a multicast join command is delayed until the proxy has taken steps to obtain subsequent content by unicast faster than that content is being requested by the client device, so that the obtained content has caught up with the content available on the multicast channel. The proxy stores this content and uses it to respond to requests from the client device. Only then does the proxy take action to join the multicast channel.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling aquatic equipment is provided. The system includes a variable speed pump, a controller configured to determine operational parameters of the variable speed pump and to control operation of the variable speed pump, and a wireless communication system operatively coupled to the controller. The wireless communication subsystem is configured to transmit one or more of the operational parameters of the variable speed pump to a device over a WiFi wireless and/or a Bluetooth wireless connection. The wireless communication subsystem is configured to receive one or more control parameters from the device, and the controller controls operation of the variable speed pump based on the one or more control parameters.

Abstract: In some aspects, a system is disclosed for detecting genetic targets for diagnosing tuberculosis and associated antibiotic resistance. The system includes a mechanical instrument and a cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly comprises one or more reservoirs, with at least one reservoir containing a wet reagent. The cartridge also includes a chip with a fluidic channel holding a liquid slug. The chip has an optical detection region positioned between a heating region and a cool region. The mechanical instrument controls the back and forth motion of the liquid slug between the heating and cool regions. Additionally, the cartridge assembly includes one or more puncture elements configured to pierce the reservoirs and provide the wet reagent to the chip. The system further includes an optical detection unit with an optical light-emitting element, an optical detector, and a processing unit for analyzing the optical detection region of the chip.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for systems and methods for detecting and making real-time adjustments to positional control of a fluidic volume moving through an optical detection region in a fluidic channel of a chip on a RT-qPCR system. Said embodiments are disclosed within a RT-qPCR system having a chip and a cartridge for receiving the chip, and further a mechanical instrument for interacting with a membrane of the chip for positional control. Further, example embodiments include systems and methods for capacitive detection of a fluid within a fluidic channel as well as optical detection within an optical detection region of a fluidic channel within a chip.

Abstract: In general, the present application is directed to cartridge assemblies which can be used for reagent storage and systems and methods using the same. Aspects of the present disclosure can include disposable cartridge assemblies that are intended for single-use only. For instance, example cartridge assemblies can include interlocking features that can couple to a to an assay system (e.g., a chip assembly) in an irreversible manner.

Abstract: Various embodiments for a chip for use in a real-time qPCR system are disclosed. The chip can include at least one port for receiving a sample into the chip; at least one channel in fluidic communication with the at least port; a plurality of magnetically active beads disposed within the at least one channel that capture DNA/RNA from the sample as the sample passes through the at least one channel; and an optical inspection region in fluidic communication with the at least one channel for performing an optical analysis of the sample containing the eluted DNA/RNA previously captured on the magnetic beads.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for controlling pool/spa components. More particularly, disclosed is a system for controlling pool/spa components including a display screen and one or more processors presenting a control user interface for display on the display screen, wherein the control user interface includes a home screen comprising a first portion containing a first plurality of buttons and/or controls for controlling a first group of the plurality of pool/spa components associated with a first body of water, and a second portion containing a second plurality of buttons and/or controls for controlling a second group of the plurality of pool/spa components associated with a second body of water.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a tool driver device that can apply counter-torque to the device while applying torque to a target component that is engaging a target base. The example device can be operated by one hand to actuate a power input component that provides the desired torque, while providing counter-torque to offset rotation of the device. A selectably engaged counter-torque component is selected to complement the target base, to operably hold it in place during use. A power input provides power to apply rotational force to drive a selectably coupled tool, which has been selected to complement the target component engaged with a target base. The counter-torque component is operably engaged with the base, which applies counter-torque to the torque provided by the target component.

Abstract: Techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a device for use as a tool. The device has a main component formed as a monolithic body. The monolithic body is configured to be selectably transformed by a user between an operational configuration and a non-operational configuration to allow for cleaning and sterilization of the device. Transformation of the device from the non-operational configuration to the operational configuration includes engaging two or more portions of the monolithic body in contact together to form an operational tool that can be operably manipulated by the user. The operational tool has a distal tool end, a proximal user engagement end, and one or more hinge points. The transformation from the operational configuration to the non-operational configuration includes disengaging the engaged portions from each other.