Abstract: A device for biofilm removal from an endotracheal tube is disclosed. Such a device may include a hollow catheter having a tip, wherein said device is inserted down an endotracheal tube of an orally intubated patient. Said tip may include a cylindrical central portion and a fin configured to dislodge biofilm from the inner lumen of the endotracheal tube as the device is rotated, either manually or mechanically, inside the endotracheal tube. The fin may be configured as a helix and positioned to spiral around said cylindrical central portion of the tip thereby forming a channel, defined by the pitch of said helix, about the circumference of the cylindrical central portion. Biofilm dislodged from the inner surface of the endotracheal tube by the rotational motion of the fin may be retained within the channel until the tip is removed from the endotracheal tube. The device may further comprise a motor for mechanically rotating the catheter and tip.

Abstract: Methods and system for music generation. One method comprises defining a phrase structure and a metrical layout, and generating a melody based on the phrase structure and the metrical layout using a probabilistic model of contour-sequences in a machine learning model. The probabilistic model includes a plurality of production rules determined by the machine learning model trained on a dataset of hierarchical analyses, and the contour-sequences defining directional patterns between musical notes extracted from the dataset of hierarchical analyses.

Abstract: A system and method for simplifying the creation of documentation, and especially software documentation. A software application, referred to as a source metadata tagger and document compiler is used to add metadata to a final output document. This metadata contains identifiers that are associated with various source files. In this way, the system can easily determine which source file is being reviewed and/or flagged by the reviewer. This information can be used by the ticketing/notification system to create a work item for the appropriate developer or development group. This is vastly simpler than the current system, where human intervention is required to determine which source file is being flagged.

Abstract: A device for biofilm removal from an endotracheal tube is disclosed. Such a device may include a hollow catheter having a tip, wherein said device is inserted down an endotracheal tube of an orally intubated patient. Said tip may include a cylindrical central portion and a fin configured to dislodge biofilm from the inner lumen of the endotracheal tube as the device is rotated, either manually or mechanically, inside the endotracheal tube. The fin may be configured as a helix and positioned to spiral around said cylindrical central portion of the tip thereby forming a channel, defined by the pitch of said helix, about the circumference of the cylindrical central portion. Biofilm dislodged from the inner surface of the endotracheal tube by the rotational motion of the fin may be retained within the channel until the tip is removed from the endotracheal tube. The device may further comprise a motor for mechanically rotating the catheter and tip.

Abstract: A system and method for simplifying the creation of documentation, and especially software documentation. A software application, referred to as a source metadata tagger and document compiler is used to add metadata to a final output document. This metadata contains identifiers that are associated with various source files. In this way, the system can easily determine which source file is being reviewed and/or flagged by the reviewer. This information can be used by the ticketing/notification system to create a work item for the appropriate developer or development group. This is vastly simpler than the current system, where human intervention is required to determine which source file is being flagged.

Abstract: A system for a multi-fuel engine includes adjusting delivery of one or more fuels in response to a condition of an ignition spark in the engine. In one example, the system adjusts one or more fuels in response to spark plug ionization detection to improve performance of the engine.

Abstract: A system for an engine of a vehicle, comprising of a combustion chamber, a delivery system configured to deliver a fuel and a fluid to the combustion chamber, an ignition system including a spark plug configured to deliver a spark to the combustion chamber, and a control system configured to respond to a change in a condition of the ignition system by varying at least one of an amount of the fuel and an amount of the fluid delivered to the combustion chamber to vary a ratio of the fluid and the fuel.

Abstract: The present invention yields a coagent-mediated, grafted copolymer prepared from a free radical-mediated reaction of a mixture containing or made from (a) a first free-radical reactive organic polymer, (b) a second free-radical reactive organic polymer, and (c) a coagent selected from the group consisting of allyl, vinyl, and acrylate coagents, wherein the first and second organic polymers are chemically dissimilar polymers as determined by at least one physical property yet the organic polymers have similar reactivity in radical-mediated additions to the coagent.

Abstract: The present invention is a crosslinkable, expandable polymeric composition comprising a free-radical crosslinkable polymer, a free-radical inducing species, a crosslinking-profile modifier, and a blowing agent. Preferably, the free-radical inducing species is a low temperature free-radical inducing species.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes an implantable medical device that delivers anti-tachyarrhythmia therapies including anti-tachyarrhythmia pacing (ATP) and at least one hemodynamic sensor that senses a hemodynamic signal. When a tachyarrhythmia episode is detected, the CRM system analyzes the hemodynamic signal to determine whether and/or when to deliver an ATP. In one embodiment, a hemodynamic parameter extracted from the hemodynamic signal is used to predict the potential effective of ATP in terminating the detected tachyarrhythmia episode. In another embodiment, a characteristic feature detected from the hemodynamic signal is used to determine an ATP window during which a delivery of ATP is initiated.

Abstract: A method of forming an air gap within a semiconductor structure by the steps of: (a) using a sacrificial polymer to occupy a space in a semiconductor structure; and (b) heating the semiconductor structure to decompose the sacrificial polymer leaving an air gap within the semiconductor structure, wherein the sacrificial polymer of step (a) is a copolymer of styrene or styrene derivative (such as alpha methyl styrene) and vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative. In addition, a semiconductor structure, having a sacrificial polymer positioned between conductor lines, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer of styrene or styrene derivative and vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative.

Abstract: The invention relates to functionalized interpolymers derived from base olefin interpolymers, which are prepared by polymerizing one or more monomers or mixtures of monomers, such as ethylene and one or more comonomers, to form an interpolymer products having unique physical properties. The functionalized olefin interpolymers contain two or more differing regions or segments (blocks), resulting in unique processing and physical properties.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for terminating atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias by delivering a voltage pulse to an electrode arrangement that efficiently terminates the tachyarrhythmia. In one embodiment, a voltage pulse is impressed between an electrode located in the coronary sinus and an electrode located lo within the superior vena cava or right atrium which is also coupled to an extravascular electrode. In another embodiment, a voltage pulse is impressed between an electrode located within the right ventricle and electrodes located within the coronary sinus and the superior vena cava that are also coupled to an extravascular electrode.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a device, system and method for determining the characteristics of deep tissue. The novel method includes measuring blood flow rate and oxygenation characteristics of the tissue, and determining oxygen metabolism of the tissue as a function of the measure blood flow rate and measure oxygenation. The blow flow rate characteristics are measured as a function of light fluctuations caused by the tissue, while the oxygenation characteristics are measured as a function of transmission of light through the tissue with respect to the wavelength of light. The tissue may be layered tissue, for example, a portion of a brain. The tissue characteristics may be measured during times of varying levels of exercise intensity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new method and system for optimizing the efficiency of an automotive catalytic converter by adjusting the engine air/fuel ratio based on estimates of the actual amount of oxidants stored in the catalyst. The oxidant storage capacity of the catalyst is adjusted by controlling engine spark in response to an estimate of a current amount of oxidants stored in the catalyst and an estimate of the total available oxidant storage capacity of the catalyst. To maintain engine speed in spite of adjustments to the engine spark, the engine air mass is also adjusted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new method and system for optimizing the efficiency of an automotive catalytic converter by adjusting the engine air/fuel ratio based on estimates of the actual amount of oxidants stored in the catalyst. An available oxidant storage capacity of the catalyst is determined by establishing an oxidant set point location, i.e., a location in the catalyst about which the system controls the oxidant storage. The oxidant set point is established based on the temperatures of the different potential set point locations and the levels of deterioration of the different potential set point locations, as well as the oxidant storage capacity of the emission control device system.

Abstract: A method for dynamically allocating system resources is provided. The method initiates with identifying a goal associated with a corresponding partition of a resource being configured according to a first configuration. The method includes establishing a mathematical function yielding a value associated with the goal. Once a violation of the goal is detected due to a changing workload, alternative configurations are evaluated to meet the goal under the changing workload. Then, a highest ranked one of the alternative configurations is selected and substituted for the first configuration.

Abstract: A method and system for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing is disclosed. A cardiac rhythm management device, such as an implantable pacemaker having anti-tachycardia pacing capability, delivers anti-tachycardia pacing therapy in accordance with an anti-tachycardia pacing protocol upon detection of a terminable arrhythmia. The anti-tachycardia pacing is delivered as a burst of one or more pacing pulses at a specified coupling interval after a sensed ventricular polarization. By sensing if an evoked potential occurs, the device can determine whether or not the anti-tachycardia pacing burst has captured the ventricle and can adjust the coupling interval and/or other parameters accordingly.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to the use of a biologically compatible composition, containing an effective amount of a metal-independent nitroxide compound which is preferably represented by the formula wherein R1 is —CH3; R2 is —C2H5, —C3H7, —C4H9, —C5H11, —C6H13, —CH2—CH(CH3)2, —CHCH3C2H5, or —(CH2)7—CH3, or wherein R1 and R2 together form spirocyclopentane, spirocyclohexane, spirocycloheptane, spirocyclooctane, 5-cholestane, or norbornane, R3 is —O. or —OH, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, as antioxidants capable of protecting cells, tissues, organs, and whole organisms against the deleterious effects of harmful free radical species generated during oxidative stress.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to the use of a biologically compatible composition, containing an effective amount of a metal independent nitroxide compound which is preferably represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is --CH.sub.3 ; R.sub.2 is --C.sub.2 H.sub.5, --C.sub.3 H.sub.7, --C.sub.4 H.sub.9, --C.sub.5 H.sub.11, --C.sub.6 H.sub.13, --CH.sub.2 --CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2, --CHCH.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5, or --(CH.sub.2).sub.7 --CH.sub.3, or wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together form spirocyclopentane, spirocyclohexane, spirocycloheptane, spirocyclooctane, 5-cholestane, or norbornane, R.sub.3 is --O. or --OH, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, as antioxidants capable of protecting cells, tissues, organs, and whole organisms against the deleterious effects of harmful oxygen-derived species generated during oxidative stress.