Abstract: A heat gun includes a canister, a first outlet pipe, and an assistant member. The canister includes a columnar sidewall bounding a receiving space and an installation board mounted in the receiving space. The assistant member includes a first vent pipe, and a second vent pipe communicating with the first vent pipe and slidably mounted to the first vent pipe. Top ends of the first outlet pipe and the first vent pipe extend through the installation board and communicate with an upper portion of the receiving space. Bottom ends of the first outlet pipe and the second vent pipe function as outlets of the heat gun.

Abstract: A draining apparatus for a keyboard of an electronic device includes a base for slantingly supporting the keyboard and a protecting film to be covered on the keyboard. The protecting film includes a waterproof sheet and a flange protruding up from edges of the waterproof sheet. The flange defines an outfall adjacent to a bottom end of the flange. In case liquid is spilled on the protecting film, the water may flow downward and islet out through the outfall.

Abstract: A circuit for testing a buzzer includes a microphone, an amplifier circuit, a microprocessor circuit, and a display circuit. The amplifier circuit is configured to amplify an analog signal from the microphone to an amplified signal. The microprocessor circuit determines whether a loudness and a frequency of the amplified signal are within proper ranges. The buzzer is qualified if the loudness and frequency of the amplified signal are within the proper ranges. The display unit displays the loudness, the frequency, and a test result.

Abstract: A control circuit for a display device includes a group of keys, a video graphics array (VGA), and a control unit. The VGA port is electronically connected to the display device via a VGA bus. The control unit is electronically connected to the group of keys, and is electronically connected to the VGA port via an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) bus. The control unit outputs control signals when at least one key is actuated, and then the control signals is transmitted to the display device via the VGA port.

Abstract: A multimedia projector includes a local area network (LAN) port, a storage system, a video playing module, a file activation module, and a projection lens. The LAN port is coupled to a peripheral apparatus to receive videos and files from the peripheral apparatus. The storage system stores the videos and the files. The video playing module reads the videos from the storage system, and plays the videos. The file activation module reads the files from the storage system, and opens the files. The projection lens projects the videos and the files accordingly.

Abstract: Various techniques for delivering atrial pacing and supraventricular stimulation to achieve a desired ventricular rate and/or cardiac output are described. One example method described includes delivering a pacing signal configured to cause an atrial depolarization to a heart of a patient, wherein the atrial depolarization results in an associated refractory period during the cardiac cycle, and delivering a signal to a supraventricular portion of the heart of the patient subsequent to the atrial refractory period and during a ventricular refractory period of the cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A drive circuit is used in an electronic device comprising multiple peripheral component interconnect-express (PCIE) slots. The drive circuit includes a motherboard, a first signal generation circuit, a second signal generation circuit, and a first delay circuit. The motherboard provides a control signal to the first signal generation circuit and the first delay circuit. The first signal generation circuit outputs immediate drive signals to first multiple PCIE slots. The first delay circuit outputs a first delay control signal to the second signal generation circuit after a predetermined time. The second signal generation circuit outputs drive signals to drive second multiple PCIE slots.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to discriminate cardiac events by sensing atrial and ventricular depolarizations having associated refractory periods thereafter. A fast ventricular rate is detected in response to the sensed ventricular depolarizations. Responsive to detecting the fast ventricular rate, at least one stimulus pulse is delivered to atrial tissue within the associated refractory period of the ventricle but outside of an associated refractory period of the stimulated atrial tissue. A ventricular response to the atrial tissue stimulus pulse is determined, and the cardiac event is discriminated based on the ventricular response to the atrial tissue stimulus pulse.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to discriminate cardiac events by sensing atrial and ventricular depolarizations having associated refractory periods thereafter. A fast ventricular rate is detected in response to the sensed ventricular depolarizations. Responsive to detecting the fast ventricular rate, at least one stimulus pulse is delivered to atrial tissue within the associated refractory period of the ventricle but outside of an associated refractory period of the stimulated atrial tissue. A ventricular response to the atrial tissue stimulus pulse is determined, and the cardiac event is discriminated based on the ventricular response to the atrial tissue stimulus pulse.

Abstract: Various techniques for delivering atrial pacing and supraventricular stimulation to achieve a desired ventricular rate and/or cardiac output are described. One example method described includes delivering a pacing signal configured to cause an atrial depolarization to a heart of a patient, wherein the atrial depolarization results in an associated refractory period during the cardiac cycle, and delivering a signal to a supraventricular portion of the heart of the patient subsequent to the atrial refractory period and during a ventricular refractory period of the cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A composition for implantation into cardiac tissue includes a biological pacemaker that, when implanted, expresses an effective amount of a mutated hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) isoform to modify Ih when compared with wild-type HCN. Methods for implementing each of the biologocal pacemakers include implanting each of biologocal pacemakers into cardiac tissue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing a patient's heart rate or blood pressure. The apparatus provides stimulation to the patient's atrial and/or nodal tissue within the associated refractory period of the ventricle but outside of an associated refractory period of the stimulated atrial an/or nodal tissue, responsive to detecting an occurrence of a ventricular depolarization following a preceding atrial depolarization. The apparatus may define a time window following the ventricular depolarization, following the atrial depolarization or determined based upon the timing of both the atrial and ventricular depolarizations. The stimulus may be delivered during or on expiration of the defined time window. The duration of the time window may be pre-set or determined based upon measurements of the patient's refractory periods.

Abstract: A biological pacemaker composition for implantation into cardiac tissue includes an effective amount of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) to produce or conduct pacing stimuli and thereby modulate cardiac contraction. The biological pacemaker may be included as part of a heart pacing system that includes an implantable electric pacemaker for producing backup pacing stimuli if the at least one biological pacemaker is unable to modulate cardiac contraction at a predetermined pacing rate. Methods for preventing cardiac pacing or conduction dysfunction in a heart include implanting the biological pacemaker or the heart pacing system into the heart.

Abstract: A composition for implantation into cardiac tissue includes a biological pacemaker that, when implanted, expresses an effective amount of a mutated hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) isoform to modify Ih when compared with wild-type HCN. Methods for implementing each of the biological pacemakers include implanting each of biological pacemakers into cardiac tissue.

Abstract: A biological pacemaker composition for implantation into cardiac tissue includes an effective amount of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) to produce or conduct pacing stimuli and thereby modulate cardiac contraction. The biological pacemaker may be included as part of a heart pacing system that includes an implantable electric pacemaker for producing backup pacing stimuli if the at least one biological pacemaker is unable to modulate cardiac contraction at a predetermined pacing rate. Methods for preventing cardiac pacing or conduction dysfunction in a heart include implanting the biological pacemaker or the heart pacing system into the heart.

Abstract: The present invention provides therapeutic methods which employ one or more identifiable types of mammalian stem cells, and/or their progenitor progeny cells, and/or their lineage-committed descendant cells, and/or their partially-differentiated offspring cells—with or without completely differentiated cells—to treat living mammalian subjects afflicted with a clinically recognized form of cardiopathology. The identifiable cell types include embryonic stem cells and their offspring cells; as well as the presently identified types of adult stem cells and their various offspring cells; and also include recently identified alternative cell types which have functional stem cell properties. Among the clinical forms of cardiopathology which can be efficaciously treated using the present therapeutic methods are myocardial infarction, myocarditis, heart failure, and cardiac dysrhythmia.

Abstract: A method for forming a magnetoresistive (MR) layer first employs a substrate over which is formed a magnetoresistive (MR) layer formed of a magnetoresistive (MR) material. There is then ion implanted selectively, while employing an ion implant method, the magnetoresistive (MR) layer to form: (1) an ion implanted portion of the magnetoresistive (MR) layer formed of an ion implanted magnetoresistive (MR) material; and (2) an adjoining non ion implanted portion of the magnetoresistive (MR) layer formed of the magnetoresistive (MR) material, where the ion implanted magnetoresistive (MR) material is a non magnetoresistive (MR) material. The method may be employed for forming within magnetoresistive (MR) sensor elements magnetoresistive (MR) layers with enhanced dimensional uniformity, and in particular enhanced overlay dimensional uniformity.

Abstract: The present invention provides genetically altered mammalian embryonic stem cells, their living descendent progeny having an altered genomic DNA, and therapeutic methods using these cells for improving cardiac function in a living subject after myocardial infarction. The genetically altered embryonic stem and progenitor cells may be maintained in-vitro as a stable cell line; and transplanted as active, mitotic cells to an infarcted area of the myocardial using any surgical procedure. After transplantation at a chosen anatomic site within the heart of the subject, these genetically altered cells will differentiate in-site, cause a regeneration of myocardocytes, and will effect a marked improvement in cardiac function for the subject.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for markedly improving cardiac function and repairing heart tissue in a living mammalian subject after the occurrence of a myocardial infarction. The method is a surgical technique which introduces and implants mammalian embryonic stem cells into the infarcted area of the myocardium. After implantation, the embryonic stem cells form stable grafts and survive indefinitely within the infarcted area of the heart in the living host. The demonstrated beneficial effects of the method include a decreased infarcted area and improved cardiac function as assessed by hemodynamic and echocardiographic measurements.

Abstract: A spin valve structure that is thinner than currently available spin valves is described. This improvement is achieved through use of a thinner free layer. The key feature of the invention is the insertion of a seed enhancement layer between the seed and the free layer. The seed enhancement layer must have a FCC crystal structure, our preferred material for it being NiCu. When this layer is present, a constant GMR ratio of about 7% is obtained for a thickness range of the free layer of from 10 to 40 Angstroms. A process for manufacturing this structure is also disclosed.