Abstract: Surgical instruments, methods, and systems are provided for securing spinal fixation elements to bone. For example, a spinal fixation system is provided that has a receiver with proximal and distal ends. The proximal end of the receiver is configured to receive various fixation members, such as spinal rods and set screws, therein. The distal end of the receiver has a hook member that is operably coupled thereto and has an opening that is configured to receive bone therein. The hook member is configured to be secured to bone without penetrating the bone.

Abstract: Electronic commerce over a publicly accessible computer network such as the Internet is facilitated and leveraged by a computer system that forms a community of computer user parties based on personal and business connections of the parties involved. Personal connections are created between users by invitation and mutual acceptance. Business connections are created between users when a transaction takes place between those users. Users search to perform any one or more of a variety of actions such as to purchase products, browse departments and categories for purchasing products, or explore the connections between the parties involved to find items to buy. Different groupings of the parties involved may be the users themselves and other buyers/sellers in the business network, the users themselves and their friends in the personal networks, or some combination of buyers/sellers and friends from each of the types of networks.

Abstract: Seamless connectivity utilizing multi-domain security by storing a global key on each participant computing devices. When a participant computing device tries to connect to a network, the network sends encryption keys for that network in response to that participant computing device providing the global key and not being blacklisted. The participant computing device can then connect to the network using that network's encryption key. A meta-message container is generated for the message based on a next participant in a route from the transmitting participant to the destination participant. One or more series of one or more line items are generated for the message, with each line item being tagged tag with network information. The line items are encrypted based on the network information. The meta-message container and the encrypted series of line items are then transmitted to the next participant.

Abstract: Surgical instruments, methods, and systems are provided for securing spinal fixation elements to bone. For example, a spinal fixation system is provided that has a receiver with proximal and distal ends. The proximal end of the receiver is configured to receive various fixation members, such as spinal rods and set screws, therein. The distal end of the receiver has a hook member that is operably coupled thereto and has an opening that is configured to receive bone therein. The hook member is configured to be secured to bone without penetrating the bone.

Abstract: A permanent magnet machine and a rotor assembly for the permanent magnet machine. The permanent magnet machine includes a stator assembly including a stator core including a stator winding to produce electrical currents. The stator assembly extending along a longitudinal axis with an inner surface defining a cavity. The rotor assembly including a rotor core and a rotor shaft. The rotor core is disposed inside the stator cavity and rotates about the longitudinal axis. The rotor assembly including a plurality of permanent magnets for generating a magnetic field which interacts with the stator winding to produce the electrical currents in response to rotation of the rotor assembly. within one or more cavities formed in a sleeve component. The sleeve component is configured to include a plurality of cavities or voids into which the permanent magnets are disposed to retain the permanent magnets therein and form an interior permanent magnet generator.

Abstract: An approach for improving throughput for encapsulated network traffic is provided. In an embodiment, a method comprises obtaining a plurality of network addresses of a plurality of intermediaries that facilitate communications between a plurality of virtual machines. A set of source-destination intermediary pairs is determined based on the plurality of network addresses, and for each source-destination intermediary pair, from the set of source-destination intermediary pairs, a precomputed encapsulated header is generated and included in a set of precomputed encapsulated headers.

Abstract: Devices and methods that allow a rod to be offset in a relatively small amount of space are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, first and second offset rods can be joined by a plate-type connector having a reduced thickness suitable for insertion into a small space, e.g., between adjacent bone anchors. In some embodiments, first and second offset rods can be joined by a curved connector that conforms to adjacent bone anchors and likewise has a reduced thickness.

Abstract: An approach for improving throughput for encapsulated network traffic is provided. In an embodiment, a method comprises obtaining a plurality of network addresses of a plurality of intermediaries that facilitate communications between a plurality of virtual machines. A set of source-destination intermediary pairs is determined based on the plurality of network addresses, and for each source-destination intermediary pair, from the set of source-destination intermediary pairs, a precomputed encapsulated header is generated and included in a set of precomputed encapsulated headers.

Abstract: Devices and methods that allow a rod to be offset in a relatively small amount of space are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, first and second offset rods can be joined by a plate-type connector having a reduced thickness suitable for insertion into a small space, e.g., between adjacent bone anchors. In some embodiments, first and second offset rods can be joined by a curved connector that conforms to adjacent bone anchors and likewise has a reduced thickness.

Abstract: A disposable staining system is provided including an insertable module configured to receive a biological sample therein, the insertable module including a well in which the biological sample is positioned; and a staining cartridge configured to receive the insertable module including the biological sample therein, the insertable module being positioned in the staining cartridge. The insertable module has first and second inclined planes on opposing sides of an upper surface of the insertable module. A sled configured to receive the insertable module has corresponding first and second inclined planes on a bottom surface thereof. The first and second inclined planes of the insertable module and the first and second inclined planes of the sled are configured to transform horizontal movement of the insertable module into the staining cartridge into a vertical movement of the sled such that the sled is pushed upward.

Abstract: A permanent magnet machine and a rotor assembly for the permanent magnet machine. The permanent magnet machine includes a stator assembly including a stator core including a stator winding to produce electrical currents. The stator assembly extending along a longitudinal axis with an inner surface defining a cavity. The rotor assembly including a rotor core and a rotor shaft. The rotor core is disposed inside the stator cavity and rotates about the longitudinal axis. The rotor assembly including a plurality of permanent magnets for generating a magnetic field which interacts with the stator winding to produce the electrical currents in response to rotation of the rotor assembly. within one or more cavities formed in a sleeve component. The sleeve component is configured to include a plurality of cavities or voids into which the permanent magnets are disposed to retain the permanent magnets therein and form an interior permanent magnet generator.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and software to enhance flow operations on a host computing system. In one implementation, a virtual switch on a host identifies a packet from a virtual node. In response to identifying the packet, the virtual switch determines whether the packet corresponds to a cached result action based on traits of the packet. If the packet corresponds to a cached result action, then the virtual switch may process the packet in accordance with the cached result action. In contrast, if the packet does not correspond to a cached result action, then the virtual switch may process the packet in accordance with first flow operations to determine a result action, and cache the result action for use with future packets.

Abstract: Electronic commerce over a computer network is facilitated by a computer system that forms a community of computers that enable the users to buy and sell items in an online marketplace. To list the item on an online marketplace website, for example, the selling user posts an item with a seller marketplace item management website by completing an online-item marketplace item creation form. The form requires input related to the item, such as a description, sale price or minimum bid, shipping instructions, and the like, and an image file or image file location illustrating the marketplace item. The seller marketplace item management server provides a marketplace administrator server the marketplace item data including original image file or image file location. The server contains a random image size generator that generates at least two additional images of the marketplace item for display in a seller marketplace item web page to advertise the marketplace item.

Abstract: A permanent magnet machine and a rotor assembly for the permanent magnet machine. The permanent magnet machine includes a stator assembly including a stator core configured to generate a magnetic field and extending along a longitudinal axis with an inner surface defining a cavity and a rotor assembly including a rotor core and a rotor shaft. The rotor core is disposed inside the stator cavity and configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The rotor assembly further including a plurality of permanent magnets for generating a magnetic field which interacts with the stator magnetic field to produce torque. The permanent magnets are disposed within one or more cavities formed in a sleeve component. The sleeve component configured to include a plurality of cavities or voids therein and thus provide minimal weight to the permanent magnet machine. The permanent magnet machine providing increased centrifugal load capacity, increased power density and improved electrical performance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the current condition of power contacts and providing an indication to a preventive maintenance system and/or a user of required power contact replacement. The method includes auxiliary contacts providing a low power binary signal to a processor in response to movements of a contact carrier supporting the movable auxiliary contacts and movable power contacts. The low power binary signals, in combination with physical features of the contact carrier and a signal indicating the state of the power contact, provide information to the processor for determining the current condition of the power contacts, and if the current condition exceeds a predetermined limit, notifying the preventive maintenance system and/or the user.

Abstract: Various rod-to-rod connectors having robust rod closure mechanisms and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for enhancing the locking or clamping force on a rod. An exemplary connector can provide a robust closure mechanism for rod-to-rod connections in which the run-on length of a rod slot is minimal. The connector can include a moveable jaw that is partially disposed within a connector body and configured to pivot or translate relative to the connector body to form a fully or substantially closed rod slot around a first rod. The closed rod slot can be formed between a first rod-receiving recess defined in the connector body and a counterpart first rod-receiving recess defined in the moveable jaw. The locking or clamping force of the moveable jaw can be amplified by a mechanical advantage caused by the force exerted to lock a second rod in a second rod-receiving slot of the connector body.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan, a compressor, a turbine having first stage blades and second stage blades, the first stage blades rotates in a first direction and the second stage blades rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first stage blades are directly adjacent to one another, a drive in operable input connection with the fan and in operable output connection with the first stage blades and the second stage blades, the first stage blades and the second stage blades driving the fan through the drive.

Abstract: An approach for improving throughput for encapsulated network traffic is provided. In an embodiment, a method comprises obtaining a plurality of network addresses of a plurality of intermediaries that facilitate communications between a plurality of virtual machines. A set of source-destination intermediary pairs is determined based on the plurality of network addresses, and for each source-destination intermediary pair, from the set of source-destination intermediary pairs, a precomputed encapsulated header is generated and included in a set of precomputed encapsulated headers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the current condition of power contacts and providing an indication to a preventive maintenance system and/or a user of required power contact replacement. The method includes auxiliary contacts providing a low power binary signal to a processor in response to movements of a contact carrier supporting the movable auxiliary contacts and movable power contacts. The low power binary signals, in combination with physical features of the contact carrier and a signal indicating the state of the power contact, provide information to the processor for determining the current condition of the power contacts, and if the current condition exceeds a predetermined limit, notifying the preventive maintenance system and/or the user.

Abstract: Devices and methods that allow a rod to be offset in a relatively small amount of space are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, first and second offset rods can be joined by a plate-type connector having a reduced thickness suitable for insertion into a small space, e.g., between adjacent bone anchors. In some embodiments, first and second offset rods can be joined by a curved connector that conforms to adjacent bone anchors and likewise has a reduced thickness.