Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting the onset of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) from electrocardiogram (ECG) data representing a patient. A signal processing component determines parameters representing the activity of the heart of the patient from the ECG data. A feature extraction component calculates a plurality of features useful in predicting postoperative AF from the determined parameters. A classification component determines an AF index for the patient from the calculated plurality of features. The AF index represents the likelihood that the patient will experience AF.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to reduction or inactivation of gene function or gene expression in cells in vitro and in multicellular organisms. The invention encompasses methods for mutating cells using a combination of mutagens, particularly wherein at least one mutagen is an insertional mutagen, to achieve homozygous gene mutation or mutation of multiple genes required cumulatively to achieve a phenotype to create knock-outs, knock-downs, and other modifications in the same cell. The invention is also directed to cells (and libraries thereof) and organisms created by the methods of the invention, including those in which at least one of the genes created by insertional mutagenesis is tagged by means of the insertion sequences thereby allowing identification of the mutated gene(s). The invention is also directed to libraries of mutated cells and their uses.

Abstract: A method for treating a pulmonary disorder in a subject includes inserting a therapy delivery device into a vessel of the subject, advancing the therapy delivery device to a point adjacent an intraluminal target site of the autonomic nervous system, and activating the therapy delivery device to delivery a therapy signal to the intraluminal target site to treat the pulmonary disorder. The intraluminal target site is in electrical communication with nervous tissue selected from the group consisting of a spinal nerve, a postganglionic fiber of a spinal nerve, a sympathetic chain ganglion, a thoracic sympathetic chain ganglion, a cervical ganglion, a lower cervical ganglion, an inferior cervical ganglion, an intramural ganglion, a splanchnic nerve, an esophageal plexus, a cardiac plexus, a pulmonary plexus, an anterior pulmonary plexus, a posterior pulmonary plexus, a celiac plexus, a hypogastric plexus, an inferior mesenteric ganglion, a celiac ganglion, and a superior mesenteric ganglion.

Abstract: A run-level domain transcoder receives a stream of compressed frames carried in a bit stream. The run-level domain transcoder decodes the bit stream into run-level pairs and selectively processes the compressed frames so as to, among other things, reduce the number of bits necessary to represent the compressed frames.

Abstract: Systems and methods for combining a plurality of transport streams into a single transport stream for transmission to, e.g., a single frequency network via a satellite. Embodiments provide receiving a plurality of original, e.g., MPEG-compliant, data streams, where each original data stream has its own timing information, combining the plurality of original data streams into a single combined data stream which is also, e.g., MPEG compliant, modulating the single combined data stream for uplink to a satellite, receiving a downlink transmission from the satellite, where the downlink transmission includes the single combined data stream, de-combining the single combined data stream into the plurality of original data streams, and passing respective original data steams to, e.g., one or more DVB-T modulators for broadcast into a single frequency network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for tracking a moving person. The system comprises a controller configured to receive acceleration data that characterizes an acceleration of the moving person in three dimensions. The controller comprises a step rate component that determines a step rate for the person based on a vertical component of the acceleration data. The controller also comprises a body offset component that determines a body offset angle based on a spectral analysis of the acceleration data and the step rate. The controller further comprises a velocity component that determines a reference velocity vector based on the body offset angle and the step rate.

Abstract: A controller for use with a guidewire, such as a vascular guidewire, provides a mechanism for gripping and applying a torque to the guidewire without the need to thread the guidewire axially through the controller and at a location close to a point of access of the guidewire. In one embodiment, the controller includes a side-access, multi-part assembly including a collet or other gripping element that applies a uniform radially inward force on the guidewire. In another embodiment, for use with guidewires having active electrically controllable elements, the controller integrally or removably incorporates a switch or other mechanism to initiate an energized state. The controller thereby permits ergonomic, single-handed control of an electronically steerable guidewire, including axially displacing, torquing and steering the guidewire.

Abstract: A rotation damper, particularly for damping the rotary movement of a belt retractor shaft of a vehicle safety belt, has a housing which delimits a working space filled with a damping medium, and an element which is rotatable relative to the housing. Several pins serving as resistance elements, which extend into the working space, are provided on the element.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed to achieve improvements in scanning that can be implemented by a wireless device. A method to control scanning performed by a mobile unit includes detecting the presence or absence of audio for transmission from the mobile unit. A performance of a scan can be deferred depending on the detection of the presence or absence of audio.

Abstract: A polymer film laser is provided that comprises a plurality of extruded polymer layers. The plurality of extruded polymer layers comprises a plurality of alternating dielectric layers of a first polymer material having a first refractive index and a second polymer material having second refractive index different than the first refractive index.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface. The apparatus has an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; an outlet port for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; a heating element that heats up fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet; and a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: A mixing bucket has a cylindrical sidewall with longitudinally separated lower and upper bucket rims defining a bucket interior volume. A laterally oriented bucket bottom spans the sidewall and separates the bucket interior volume into upper and lower bucket volumes. At least one aperture is located in the sidewall and provides substantially laterally oriented access between an ambient environment and the lower bucket volume. At least one laterally oriented channel extends from at least one aperture and is located within the lower bucket volume. An elongate anchoring structure has first and second anchor ends laterally separated by an anchor body. The anchoring structure engages the bucket by the anchor body being at least partially positioned within the channel. An anchoring force is exerted upon the anchoring structure while the anchoring structure is engaged with the bucket, and the anchoring force counteracts a mixing force being exerted upon the bucket.

Abstract: A temperature system is provided with magnetic field suppression. In one embodiment, the temperature system comprises a plurality of conductors patterned to conduct current in directions that generate 2N multipole magnetic moments that interact to suppress the magnetic fields generated by the current conducting through the plurality of conductors, where N is an integer that is greater than one.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the energy state of a qubit by bringing the qubit into and out of resonance by coupling the qubit to a flux quantum logic gate. The qubit can be in resonance with a pump signal, with another qubit or with some quantum logic gate. In another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for controlling a qubit with RSFQ logic or through the interface between RSFQ and the qubit.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a gesture recognition interface system that determines input gestures based on changes in relative locations of an input object to initiate device inputs associated with the input gestures. The system comprises at least one light source positioned to illuminate a background surface in a first light spectrum to generate a light contrast difference between the input object and the background surface. The system also comprises a display device configured to display at least one calibration pattern on the background surface in a second light spectrum in response to a calibration command and at least one camera configured to receive images of the background surface in both the first light spectrum and the second light spectrum. The system further comprises an automated calibration component configured to issue the calibration command and to associate features of the at least one calibration pattern in the received images with known physical locations.

Abstract: A variable bandwidth phase locked loop (PLL) includes renormalizable circuitry configured to allow a gain of the PLL to be changed without causing a disturbance, and a phase compensation circuit configured to adjust a final output phase of the PLL based on parameter changes supplied to the PLL.

Abstract: The device for receiving oblong objects comprises a bottom wall (2) and a receiving element (1) having two bordering walls (3, 4) facing each other. A cover element (16) is mounted on the receiving element (1) so as to be pivoted by means of a border hinge (15) and can be linked with the receiving element (1) by means of a closure system (23, 24, 25, 26) facing the border hinge (15). The cover element (16) has at least three cover sections (17, 19, 21). Between adjacent cover sections (17, 19, 21), a center hinge (18, 20) is configured. The closure system (23, 24, 25, 26) allows for a number of closure positions that corresponds to the number of center hinges (18, 20) and in which the cover sections (17, 19, 21) are spaced apart from the bottom wall at different distances. The same design of the inventive device can therefore be used in different environments of assembly.

Abstract: A method to facilitate handover includes detecting that a mobile unit resides within at least one predetermined zone where a handover event from a first radio technology to a second radio technology may need to occur, the second radio technology being different from the first radio technology.

Abstract: An apparatus for renal neuromodulation includes an expandable support member having a main body portion for engaging a wall of a blood vessel proximate a renal vasculature and at least one electrode connected with the main body portion. The at least one electrode is arranged to selectively deliver electric current to a desired location where modulation of the sympathetic nervous system is effective to alter renal function. The apparatus further includes an insulative material attached to at least a portion of the main body portion for isolating blood flow through the vessel from the electric current delivered by the at least one electrode.