Abstract: A prosthetic system for implantation between upper and lower vertebrae comprises an upper joint component. The upper joint component comprises an upper contact surface and an upper articulation surface. The system further includes a lower joint component. The lower joint component comprises a lower contact surface and a lower articulation surface configured to movably engage the upper articulation surface to form an articulating joint. The articulating joint is adapted for implantation within a disc space between the upper and lower vertebrae, allowing the upper and lower vertebrae to move relative to one another. The system further includes a bridge component extending posteriorly from one of either the upper or lower joint components and from the disc space. The bridge component has a distal end opposite the one of the either upper or lower joint components. The distal end of the bridge component comprises a connection component adapted to receive a fastener.

Abstract: A fiber optic ferrule includes a body extending from a first end to a second opposite end, with the body including an axial passage extending between the first and second ends. The axial passage includes a first diameter portion having a diameter of at least 125 microns, and a second diameter portion having a diameter of at least 250 microns and less than a diameter of the buffer, the second diameter portion positioned between the first diameter and the second end. The axial passage further defines a tapered shape at the second end extending inward from the second end to the second diameter portion. A hub holds the ferrule. A method of assembling a terminated fiber optic cable is also provided.

Abstract: A housing including a plurality of openings for receiving fiber optic connectors and protecting the polished end face of the connectors from damage while the connectors are stored within a telecommunications connection cabinet. A module with a plurality of optical fiber cables connected to a first optical fiber cable and terminated by a fiber optic connector. Each of the connectors are inserted within openings in a connector holder for storage and protection until the cables need to be connected to a customer equipment cable.

Abstract: An amusement park system in accordance with present embodiments includes a tower having a central passage disposed therethrough, a ride vehicle disposed within the central passage, and a drive system coupled to the ride vehicle. The drive system is configured to displace the ride vehicle vertically within the central passage of the tower, and the tower is configured to rotate about the drive system.

Abstract: Microcomponents are provided for real-time process integration between a customer relationship management system or a sales configuration system and an enterprise resource planning system. The microcomponents allowing for rapid integration of data presented from both systems to allow for interactive display and manipulation of data across systems without the need for data synchronization or complex API integration via third party tools.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of training a user to effectively apply makeup using a computerized makeup brush, the method comprising the steps of receiving, from a computerized makeup brush that comprises one or more sensors for sensing the movement of the makeup brush relative to a particular portion of a user's body, data representing a movement of the makeup brush relative to the particular portion of the user's body over a particular period of time as the makeup brush is used to apply makeup brush to the particular portion of the user's body, and using the data to generate and display, to a user, a visual representation of the movement of the makeup brush over the particular period of time on a display that is operatively coupled to the computerized makeup brush.

Abstract: Lights with features for underwater use that provide tailored beam-width and/or other tailored light patterns are disclosed. One embodiment includes a housing having a front end with a port and a back end, a port window having a plurality of lens features positioned at the front end of the housing within or behind the port, and a circuit element, including a plurality of LED lighting elements, positioned behind the window.

Abstract: Shooting sticks having pivotally attached support rests slidably attached to collapsible legs, said support rests providing a stable platform on which a user may aim and/or shoot a firearm or other object requiring at least temporary immobilization. A first channel running along the length of each support rests allows for the passage of a leg. A brake is attached to each support rest, said brake having an aperture through which a leg passes through, the aperture being configured, when the brake has not been depressed, to arrest any sliding movement of the support rest along the length of the leg to which it is attached. When the brake is depressed, the aperture becomes oriented perpendicular to leg which passes through it, allowing the support rests to freely slide up and down the leg. An elastic member provides an upwardly directed force to aid in support rest stabilization and lift assist.

Abstract: A fiber alignment device is provided that includes a curable refractive index-matching gel that exhibits self-cleaning and self-healing characteristics upon multiple cycles of insertion and removal of an optical fiber.

Abstract: Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT) including a crystalline plasmonic material having crystal grains and grain boundaries; and nanoparticles disposed in the crystal grains, on the grain boundaries, or some combination thereof, wherein the nanoparticles are oxides of, lanthanum (La), barium (Ba), strontium (Sr), erbium (Er), hafnium (Hf), germanium (Ge), or combinations thereof; nitrides of zirconium (Zr), niobium (Nb), or combinations thereof; or carbides of silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), boron (B), zirconium (Zr), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), niobium (Nb), or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The occupancy status of a building space may be determined by sensing an indication of motion in the building space, in response to sensing the indication of motion in the building space, starting an occupied time period having a length during which the building space is indicated as being occupied, determining a measure related to a number of subsequent sensed indications of motion in the building space during the occupied time period, and selectively adjusting the length of the occupied time period based on the measure related to the number of subsequent sensed indications of motion in the building space during the occupied time period.

Abstract: There are disclosed therapies and preventions of prion protein complex infections. The transcription of the amyloid precursor protein gene and PrP gene and the RNA transcript are the rate-limiting steps and are most susceptible for blockage and control of the process of amyloid protein formation and PrPsc formation. Thus, therapies and prevention regimes for prion protein complex infections interrupt this process at the level of DNA transcription to RNA, RNA transport to the mitochondrion for protein synthesis and deposition in the cerebral cortex neurons.

Abstract: An atrial appendage closure device is provided that includes an insertion rod having a first end and a second end. An occluding member having an outer surface and an inner surface is connected to the first end of the insertion rod. The occluding member is moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position such that, in the deployed position, the occluding member is configured to provide a seal between a left atrial appendage and a left atrium of a heart. An anchoring member is further connected to the insertion rod and is configured to slide along the insertion rod to secure the device to a wall of a left atrial appendage. Methods for occluding a left atrial appendage that make use of the closure devices are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for repelling or killing insects, said method comprising treating an object or area with a composition comprising an insects repelling or killing effective amount of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a C8 or C9 or C10 or C11 or C12 or C13 straight or branched chain free fatty acid, methyl ester or ethyl ester or propyl ester or isopropyl ester or 2-ethyl hexyl ester of said acid, salts of said acid, and mixtures thereof, and optionally a carrier. The term “insects” as used herein includes non-insects such as ticks, mites, spiders, centipedes, scorpions, chiggers, and solifugids.

Abstract: An electronic device includes: a multilayered dielectric substrate including a plurality of dielectric layers; a planar magnetic device disposed on at least one internal dielectric layer of the plurality of dielectric layers; and an overlapping shield assembly including a first shield layer and a second shield layer separated by at least one of the plurality of dielectric layers.

Abstract: A system and method can be used to denervate at least a portion of a bronchial tree. An energy emitter of an instrument is percutaneously delivered to a treatment site and outputs energy to damage nerve tissue of the bronchial tree. The denervation procedure can be performed without damaging non-targeted tissue. Minimally invasive methods can be used to open airways to improve lung function in subjects with COPD, asthma, or the like. Different sections of the bronchial tree can be denervated while leaving airways intact to reduce recovery times.

Abstract: An electronic device, such as a watch, has a housing to which a carrier is attached. The carrier has a first surface interior to the electronic device, and a second surface exterior to the electronic device. A set of electrodes is deposited on the exterior surface of the carrier. An additional electrode is operable to be contacted by a finger of a user of the electronic device while the first electrode is positioned against skin of the user. The additional electrode may be positioned on a user-rotatable crown of the electronic device, on a button of the electronic device, or on another surface of the housing of the electronic device. A processor of the electronic device is operable to determine a biological parameter of the user based on voltages at the electrodes. The biological parameter may be an electrocardiogram.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes a power supply configured to output a DC waveform, a current or voltage source coupled to the power supply and a power converter coupled to the current or voltage source, the power converter including at least one power switching element and a power inductor having an inductance value during switching of the at least one power switching element. The electrosurgical generator further includes a zero voltage switching (ZVS) inducing circuit coupled to the power converter at a switching node, the ZVS inducing circuit including an inductor having an inductance which is greater than the inductance value of the power inductor of the at least one power switching element.

Abstract: Policy enforcement previously available for web proxy access methods is extended and applied to layer 3 packets flowing through VPN channels. With these extensions, a common security policy is possible that is enforceable between VPN proxied access and VPN tunneled access. Equivalent security policy to tunnel based VPN access without comprising the inherent performance, scalability and application compatibility advantages tunnel based VPNs have over their proxy based VPN counterparts.