Dubois D. Parmelee was issued a U.S. patent for an "Improvement in Artificial Legs" using a custom-moulded suction cup to receive the stump (No. 37,637). Atmospheric pressure held the socket in place such that "straps usually employed for this purpose can be dispended with, and at the same time a perfect fit of the bucket is attained." On the underside of the bucket "a small faucet" was open as the stump was forced into the tightly fitting socket. The faucet was then closed, and atmospheric pressure held the bucket in place until air is readmitted through the faucet. It was 90 years before his idea received general acceptance. Parmelee also invented the first key-operated adding machine (Pat. No. 7,074, 5 Feb 1850).

The Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the United States for what he calls an 'almost uncontained' use of force around the world. He has said that Washington's 'very dangerous' approach to global relations was fueling a nuclear arms race. He was attending a security summit in Munich.