Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing the seeding of cancerous cells during morcellation of a tissue specimen inside a patient's body and removal of the tissue specimen from inside the patient through a minimally-invasive body opening to outside the patient are provided. One system includes a cut-resistant tissue guard removably insertable into a containment bag. The tissue specimen is isolated and contained within the containment bag and the guard is configured to protect the containment bag and surrounding tissue from incidental contact with sharp instrumentation used during morcellation and extraction of the tissue specimen. The guard is adjustable for easy insertion and removal and configured to securely anchor to the body opening. Protection-focused and containment-based systems for tissue removal are provided that enable minimally invasive procedures to be performed safely and efficiently.

Abstract: A system includes one or more server hardware computing devices communicatively coupled to a network. The one or more server hardware computing devices include one or more processors and memory storing specific computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to receive a first request to calculate a trust score for a user associated with a user account of an online proctored examination platform. The trust score represents results of a risk analysis of the user. The instructions cause the system to obtain internal data of the online proctored examination platform, the internal data describing usage of the online proctored examination platform by the user, perform the risk analysis using at least the internal data to produce the trust score, associate the trust score with the user account, and perform an action based on the trust score.

Abstract: A method for distributing multiple cryptographic keys used to access data includes: receiving a data signal superimposed with an access key request, wherein the access key request includes at least a number, n, greater than 1, of requested keys; generating n key pairs using a key pair generation algorithm, wherein each key pair includes a private key and a public key; deriving an access private key by applying the private key included in each of the n key pairs to a key derivation algorithm; generating an access public key corresponding to the derived access private key using the key pair generation algorithm; and electronically transmitting a data signal superimposed with a private key included in one of the n key pairs for each of the n key pairs.

Abstract: A physiological characteristic sensor, a method for forming a physiological characteristic sensor, and a method for forming a platinum deposit having a rough surface are presented here. The method for forming a physiological characteristic sensor includes immersing a sensor electrode in a platinum electrolytic bath. Further, the method includes performing an electrodeposition process by sequentially applying a pulsed signal to the sensor electrode, wherein the pulsed signal includes a repeated cycle of a first current and a second current different from the first current, and applying a non-pulsed continuous signal to the sensor electrode, wherein the non-pulsed continuous signal includes a non-repeated application of a third current, to form a platinum deposit on the sensor electrode.

Abstract: An embodiment of an electronic apparatus may include one or more substrates, and logic coupled to the one or more substrates, the logic to maintain a respective lookup table for each of two or more persistent storage devices in a persistent memory outside of the two or more persistent storage devices with a first indirection granularity that is smaller than a second indirection granularity of each of the two or more persistent storage devices, buffer write requests to the two or more persistent storage devices in the persistent memory in accordance with the respective lookup tables, and perform a sequential write from the persistent memory to a particular device of the two or more persistent storage devices when a portion of the buffer that corresponds to the particular device has an amount of data to write that corresponds to the second indirection granularity. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: In general, the present invention is directed to airborne security measures and more specifically to a device and method to defeat in total a plurality of approaching Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with a single sacrificial intercepting drone. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the intercepting drone may be configured with an attached Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) generation device capable of producing a sufficiently intense EMP burst to completely disable all approaching UAVs.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for treating viral infections and reducing viral multiplication, including flaviviruses. Provided is a derivative of a compound or a pharmaceutical salt thereof, wherein the compound comprises a 3?,4-didehydroribose.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the development of therapeutics and prophylactics for the treatment and/or prevention of bacterial infections in humans and other mammals. A new class of small molecules is disclosed that inhibits the bacterial trans-translation/ribosome rescue mechanism and thus blocks infection of host cells by bacteria. Also disclosed are methods of using the small molecule inhibitors in the treatment/prevention of bacterial infections.

Abstract: A method of scale inhibition treatment of a water system comprising introducing an aqueous scale inhibiting composition into the water system wherein the aqueous scale inhibiting composition comprises a carboxylated hyperbranched polyglycerol.

Abstract: A copolyamide composition comprising a statistical copolyamide containing 70-99 wt % of diamine and dicarboxylic acid repeat units and 1-30 wt % of lactam or AA-BB repeat units, whereby incorporation of the comonomer lactam or AA-BB unit reduces the crystallization rate (longer crystallization times) while maintaining (1) high melting point, (2) low potential plate out, (3) low oxygen permeation, (4) high tensile strength and (5) puncture/tear resistance.

Abstract: A method of forming an electronic device is disclosed. The method comprises forming a barrier layer on a silicon layer, and depositing a silicon oxide layer on the barrier layer. The formation of the barrier layer on the silicon layer minimizes parasitic oxidation of the underlying silicon layer and minimizes defects in the silicon layer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, vehicle operation safety may be enhanced. An environmental or weather condition (e.g., hail, storm, wind) may be identified that presents a hazard to an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle. With the customer's permission, when it is determined that the vehicle is parked in an unprotected location, a protected or covered location to park the vehicle may be identified, a route to that location may be determined, and the vehicle may be directed to travel automatically to the protected location under the operation of autonomous operation features. Insurance discounts or cost savings may be provided to risk averse insurance customers based upon the self-parking functionality that will reduce or mitigate damage to insured vehicles caused by adverse conditions, falling trees or power lines, hail, etc.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, the operating status of the features, the identity of a vehicle operator, risk levels for operation of the vehicle by the vehicle operator, or damage to the vehicle may be determined based upon sensor or other data. According to further aspects, decisions regarding transferring control between the features and the vehicle operator may be made based upon sensor data and information regarding the vehicle operator. Additional aspects may recommend or install updates to the autonomous operation features based upon determined risk levels. Some aspects may include monitoring transportation infrastructure and communicating information about the infrastructure to vehicles.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method for detecting and acting upon driver behavior while driving with passengers, telematics data collected by electronic subsystems of a vehicle and/or a mobile electronic device is received. The telematics data is analyzed to identify time periods during which a driver drove with passengers, and identify driving behaviors of the driver during those times. Based upon the identified driving behaviors, a driver profile associated with the driver is set or updated. The profile is transmitted to an entity that adjusts a credit rating of the driver, adjusts an insurance rating of the driver, reviews at least the portion of the profile in connection with a job sought by the driver, or offers a permanent or temporary credit in connection with a good or service offered by the entity. As a result, risk-averse drivers may be offered benefits or cost savings.

Abstract: An automatic alarm system for a vehicle includes a sensor adapted to detect electromagnetic data, a computer system, and an automatic alarm mechanism. The computer system receives data from the sensor. A computer processor analyzes the data from the sensor to determine whether a pattern from the electromagnetic data has been detected and compares the pattern of electromagnetic data detected by the sensor with known patterns of electromagnetic data emitted by emergency vehicles that are stored in a library. The automatic alarm mechanism activates in response to the processor determining that the comparison matches a known pattern of electromagnetic data for an emergency vehicle resulting in the computer processor sending a first signal to activate an alarm of the vehicle.

Abstract: Interbody cages for spinal stabilization having a frame that surrounds a central compartment suitable for retaining biological material, such as bone graft material. The central compartment acts as a spill-free bone and biologic compartment that allows a surgeon to introduce the interbody cage into the body in an effective manner without spilling the biological material. Methods for introducing the interbody cages are disclosed.

Abstract: A brake actuator assembly may comprise a housing, a piston disposed in the housing and slidably engaged therewith, a resilient member disposed within the housing and coupled to the piston, and a deformable member disposed within the housing a coupled to the piston, wherein each of the deformable member and the resilient member are disposed radially between a piston rod of the piston and the housing.

Abstract: Intra-abdominal liver retraction devices and methods of use. One device includes a body, a stabilizing member, and a lifting filament. The stabilizing member is configured to be swiveled so that the device can be introduced through a trocar into the abdomen of a patient. The filament pulls the stabilizing member into engagement with the abdominal wall while a foot section lifts the liver. Another device includes first, second and third sections coupled together by a filament. The first and second sections are pivotably connected by a first pivotable joint. The second and third sections are pivotably connected by a second pivotable joint including the flexible filament. The second and third sections are pivoted with respect to each other to form a support surface to lift the liver by pulling the filament. The second pivotable joint separates to enable the device to be removed.

Abstract: Processing methods may be performed to produce semiconductor structures that may include a high-k dielectric material. The methods may include delivering a nitrogen-containing precursor or an oxygen-containing precursor to a substrate contained in a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include forming reactive ligands on an exposed surface of the substrate with the nitrogen-containing precursor or the oxygen-containing precursor. The methods may also include forming a high-k dielectric material overlying the substrate.

Abstract: A system that calibrates timing relationships between signals involved in performing write operations is described. This system includes a memory controller which is coupled to a set of memory chips, wherein each memory chip includes a phase detector configured to calibrate a phase relationship between a data-strobe signal and a clock signal received at the memory chip from the memory controller during a write operation. Furthermore, the memory controller is configured to perform one or more write-read-validate operations to calibrate a clock-cycle relationship between the data-strobe signal and the clock signal, wherein the write-read-validate operations involve varying a delay on the data-strobe signal relative to the clock signal by a multiple of a clock period.