148 results about "Minimal effect" patented technology

The apparatus and method are designed to compute the optimal spatial and temporal characteristics for combating tumor growth within a body on the basis of cytological (as provided by biopsies, etc.) and anatomical data (as provided by CT, MRI, PET, etc.), as well as the electric properties of the different elements. On the basis of this computation, the apparatus applies the fields that have maximal effect on the tumor and minimal effect on all other tissues by adjusting both the field generator output characteristics and by optimal positioning of the insulated electrodes or isolects on the patient's body.

A new recommendation technique, referred to as "personality diagnosis", that can be seen as a hybrid between memory-based and model-based collaborative filtering techniques, is described. Using personality diagnosis, all data may be maintained throughout the processes, new data can be added incrementally, and predictions have meaningful probabilistic semantics. Each entity's (e.g., user's) reported attributes (e.g., item ratings or preferences) may be interpreted as a manifestation of their underlying personality type. Personality type may be encoded simply as a vector of the entity's (e.g., user's) "true" values (e.g., ratings) for attributes (e.g., items) in the database. It may be assumed that entities (e.g., users) report values (e.g., ratings) with a distributed (e.g., Gaussian) error. Given an active entity's (e.g., user's) known attribute values (e.g., item ratings), the probability that they have the same personality type as every other entity (e.g., user) may be determined. Then, the probability that they will have a given value (e.g., rating) for a valueless (e.g., unrated) attribute (e.g., item) may then be determined based on the entity's (e.g., user's) personality type. The probabilistic determinations may be used to determine expected value of information. Such an expected value of information could be used in at least two ways. First, an interactive recommender could use expected value of information to favorably order queries for attribute values (e.g., item ratings), thereby mollifying what could otherwise be a tedious and frustrating process. Second, expected value of information could be used to determine which entries of a database to prune or ignore-that is, which entries, which if removed, would have a minimal effect of the accuracy of recommendations.

An intravascular delivery catheter includes a middle member or manipulator to ameliorate the effect of buckling of the graft cover during the tracking or positioning of the delivery device within a body flow lumen to deploy an exclusion device, such a stent graft. The delivery device / catheter includes a region or regions of lower resistance to bending than other portions of the delivery device, which are positioned, within the delivery device, to preferentially bend the delivery system at locations where buckling will have minimal effect upon the deployment of the exclusion device from the delivery system. The preferential bending is accomplished, by providing a middle member / manipulator that is a rod with laterally oriented slots, having different depth and spacing configurations, or by using a wire coil as a portion of the middle member where the variable stiffness is created either by providing a variable / multiple coil diameter or by using a wire having a variable diameter along its length while the wire coil diameter is relatively uniform.

A method, system, computer system and computer program product to maintain consistency between mirrored copies of data. A first data change map identifies regions that are about to be updated. If a system failure occurs during the update, the first data change map identifies regions that were being changed so that only those regions can be synchronized to restore consistency between the mirrored copies of data. A second data change map tracks changes made to data after a snapshot of the mirrored data is taken. This second data change map enables the mirrored copies of data to be synchronized without copying all data from one mirrored copy to another. The first and second data change maps are updated in parallel to reduce processing time and overhead. This parallel processing enables fast restoration and synchronization of mirrored copies of data, while having minimal effect on performance of applications using the data.

An arrangement (900), method and unit for AFC in a communication system (100) having: a frequency estimator (980) producing a decision-directed frequency estimate from a received signal; and an AFC loop receiving the decision-directed frequency estimate and performing therewith frequency control. The AFC process may use a CRC-decision directed frequency estimate as the final stage in a multi-stage AFC process (preceded by SCH- and midamble-derived frequency estimate stages), such that a verified received data sequence is used to re-construct a local copy of the ideal received data symbols expected at the output of a detector. This local copy is then correlated with the actual detector output and the results used to estimate the frequency error present on the received signal. The AFC process is inherent suited for discontinuous receive (DRX) applications. This provides the advantage of allowing required frequency correction accuracy to have minimal impact on the error rate of the received data in various channel configurations.

According to the present invention, a circuit and methods for enhancing the operation of SOI fabricated devices are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pulse discharge circuit is provided. Here, a circuit is designed to provide a pulse that will discharge the accumulated electrical charge on the body of the SOI devices in the memory subarray just prior to the first access cycle. As explained above, once the accumulated charge has been dissipated, the speed penalty for successive accesses to the memory subarray is eliminated or greatly reduced. With a proper control signal, timing and sizing, this can be a very effective method to solve the problem associated with the SOI loading effect. Alternatively, instead of connecting the bodies of all SOI devices in a memory circuit to ground, the bodies of the N-channel FET pull-down devices of the local word line drivers can be selectively connected to a reference ground. This would enable the circuit to retain most of the speed advantages associated with SOI devices while overcoming the loading problem described above. With this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the major delay caused by the bipolar loading effect is minimized while the speed advantage due to providing a lower, variable Vt effect is preserved. The overall body resistance of the individual devices has a minimal effect on the device body potential.

A cine imaging filter and method of use that includes a denoising image-filter based on the Karhunen-Loeve transform along the temporal direction to take advantage of the high temporal correlation among images. The cine imaging filter may further include the application of a simple formula describing the quantitative noise reduction capabilities of the KLT filter as a function of eigenimage cutoff. Additionally, the filter may validate its accuracy in numerical simulation and in in-vivo real time cine images. Furthermore, exemplary embodiments of the cine imaging filter may employ a technique to automatically select the optimal eigenimage cutoff to maximize noise reduction with minimal effect on image information.

A method, system, computer system, and computer-readable medium that enable quick recovery from failure of one or more nodes, applications, and / or communication links in a distributed computing environment, such as a cluster. Recovery is facilitated by regularly saving persistent images of the in-memory checkpoint data and / or of distributed shared memory segments. The persistent checkpoint images are written asynchronously so that applications can continue to write data even during creation and / or updating the persistent image and with minimal effect on application performance. Furthermore, multiple updater nodes can simultaneously update the persistent checkpoint image using normal synchronization operations. When one or more nodes fail, the persistent checkpoint image can be read and used to restart the application in the most recently-saved state prior to the failure. The persistent checkpoint image can also be used to initialize the state of the application in a new node joining the distributed computing environment.

A method, system, and computer-readable medium to quickly synchronize copies of data that have diverged over time. The present invention can be used in synchronizing replicated copies of data that have become unsynchronized due to the restoration of primary data from a backup copy of the primary data. The solution enables copies of data to be synchronized without copying all of the data from one copy to another. The solution uses minimal resources to maintain data consistency and has minimal effect on performance of applications using the data and on network usage. The method includes determining that a change occurred to data in a region of a primary volume without including the region in a set of regions designated for replication to a secondary volume. The region is added to the set of regions designated for replication to the secondary volume and replicated.

A variety of loudspeaker arrangements may have any of multiple adjacent magnetic circuits, single magnetic circuits, an improved loudspeaker voice coil assembly, multiple voice coil windings (124-127, 315-317), and commutated current. The radial direction of flux may alternate at adjacent poles and may have a controller that commands the current through each of the windings. The position of the moving components may be measured or inferred by the controller (213). An encoding track (318a) applied to the surface of the assembly may allow the assembly to function as part of a position transducer to permit appropriate action based on position. Calculated or sensed actual position may be used to determine the relative current in each of the windings and the controller may have compensation such as a motion control algorithm, thermal monitoring, and management of the driver. The voice coil assembly (305c) may have foil conductors applied to a substrate to connect and interconnect a single or multiple voice coil windings with minimal effect on the magnetic gap (303b) width.

This invention involves encapsulating an RFID device in an encapsulating material by known encapsulating processes to form a domed, encapsulated RFID tag. The encapsulating material may be translucent or opaque, flexible or hard, and has minimal effect on transmission or reception of radio frequency (RF) signals. The invention further involves a stand-off bracket, composed of one or more materials that have minimal effect on transmission or reception of RF signals, for mounting an RFID device on or near materials that impede RF transmission and reception. The encapsulated RFID tag and stand-off bracket, separately, may have an adhesive or other attachment means on one of their surfaces so that they may be adhered or otherwise attached to another surface. In one application, an encapsulated RFID tag in the 860-928 MHz range is mounted on a stand-off bracket and may be used for tracking items to which it is attached.

An endoscopic instrument has a portion having an outer surface with a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The non-circular cross-sectional shape may be provided to the instrument by providing peripheral projections or fins along the length of the portion or by providing the periphery of the portion with a polygonal shape. Where fins are used, the fins are preferably quite small and only have a minimal effect on the fluid flow cross sectional area between the interior of the working channel and the endoscopic instrument. The resulting instrument has significantly reduced backlash while maintaining adequate fluid flow in the working channel. According to a second embodiment of the invention, a portion of the interior of the working channel of the endoscope has an interior surface having a non-circular cross sectional shape by the inclusion of a plurality of radially spaced and inwardly directed ribs or by being polygonally shaped. The resulting endoscope reduces the backlash of an endoscopic instrument inserted therein while maintaining adequate fluid flow in the working channel.

An electric machine having a stator surrounding a rotor with an air gap therebetween. The stator has slots in its inner margin for accommodating stator coil windings. Stator teeth defined by the slots have irregular shapes to modify a variable flux flow pattern in the air gap to reduce harmonic torque components with minimal effect on an average value of rotor torque.

A cine imaging filter and method of use that includes a denoising image-filter based on the Karhunen-Loeve transform along the temporal direction to take advantage of the high temporal correlation among images. The cine imaging filter may further include the application of a simple formula describing the quantitative noise reduction capabilities of the KLT filter as a function of eigenimage cutoff. Additionally, the filter may validate its accuracy in numerical simulation and in in-vivo real time cine images. Furthermore, exemplary embodiments of the cine imaging filter may employ a technique to automatically select the optimal eigenimage cutoff to maximize noise reduction with minimal effect on image information.

An endoscopic instrument has a control member, a portion of the member having an outer surface with a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The non-circular cross-sectional shape may be provided to the control member by providing peripheral projections or fins along the length of the portion or by providing the periphery of the portion with a polygonal shape. Where fins are used, the fins are preferably quite small and only have a minimal effect on the fluid flow cross-sectional area between the interior of the endoscope instrument shaft and the central control member. The resulting instrument has significantly reduced backlash in end effector assembly manipulation, while maintaining adequate fluid flow in the endoscope shaft. According to a second embodiment of the invention, a portion of the interior of the shaft of the endoscopic instrument has an interior surface having a non-circular cross-sectional shape by the inclusion of a plurality of radially spaced and inwardly directed ribs or by being polygonally shaped. The resulting endoscopic instrument likewise reduces the backlash experienced in operating the distal end effector assembly.

The invention provides methods and systems for facilitating transfer of an active session from a first device to a second device associated with the same user. A network server is configured to enable the switching or swapping of an active session from one device to another device, where both devices are associated with a common user address. The switching or swapping is implemented with no or minimal effect on the active session or awareness of the remote party. The device switch may be performed in relation to any active session, including VoIP, video conferencing, or other media sessions.

The present invention is directed to a method and system of tissue or background suppression for the acquisition of image data from blood flow or tissue perfusion. Background suppression with minimal effects upon inflowing spins is achieved through a series of spin locking low level RF pulses that cause adiabatic demagnetization of tissue with a relaxation time T1-rho that is intermediate between T1 and T2 relaxation times. In this regard, the effective transverse magnetization of static tissue resulting from the application of a series of low level RF pulses is reduced and, with the spin locking, longitudinal magnetization regrowth is minimized. As such, inflowing spins to an imaging volume may be directly imaged with significant background tissue suppression. The present invention is particularly applicable to time-of-flight MRA and MR perfusion imaging.

According to the present invention, fat and caloric content of processed cheeses can be reduced by the replacement of a portion fat content normally found in processed cheeses with an equal amount of emulsified liquid shortening composition comprising dietary fiber gel, water and lipid. The result is that fat and caloric content of processed cheeses can be manipulated with minimal effect on taste and texture. Furthermore, these emulsified mixtures, or “emulsified liquid shortening compositions comprising dietary fiber gel, water and lipid”, can further comprise functional foods such as high omega three and omega six oils and pure omega three and omega six fatty acids, medium chain triglyceride, beta carotene, calcium estearate, vitamin E, bioflavonoids, fagopyritrol, polyphenolic antioxidants of vegetable origin, lycopene, luteine and soluble fiber, for example Beta-Glucan derived from yeast, and other soluble fibers derived from grain, flax seed, and other vegetable and fruit fiber sources, and any combination thereof. Hence, in addition to reducing fat and caloric content of processed cheeses, further health benefits can be achieved by replacing a portion of fat with emulsified liquid shortening compositions comprising dietary fiber gel, water and lipid.

An antifungal fragrance composition containing as its active ingredients: (a) at least one type of fragrance component selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic or aromatic aldehyde having 5 to 16 carbon atoms and an aliphatic or aromatic alcohol having 5 to 16 carbon atoms, and (b) at least one type of compound different from component (a) and selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic or aromatic aldehyde, an aliphatic or aromatic alcohol, acetal and ester that produces synergistic antifungal effects in the presence of said fragrance component (a). The present antifungal fragrance composition demonstrates antifungal activity by adding a small amount of oils and fragrant chemical products that have a minimal effect on the scent of the fragrance composition.

The present invention relates to the novel use of prostacyclin analogs for prevention and / or treatment of capillary leakage during surgery. The treatment of the present invention mediates discrete or minimal effects on haemostasis and vasodilation. Thus the present invention provides prostacyclin and analogs thereof for treatment which prevents capillary leakage while minimizing the risk of bleeding. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions and kits of parts comprising prostacyclin or analogs thereof, and methods for treatment.

In a solar cell having one or more subcells, at least one subcell is provided with a reverse heterojunction, the reverse heterojunction being formed with an emitter and an adjacent base, wherein the emitter has a band gap that is at least 10 meV lower than that of the adjacent base in order to reduce sheet resistance of the emitter and / or increase the subcell current with minimal effect on the open-circuit voltage. Because of the increase in current, the decrease in emitter sheet resistance, and relatively unchanged open-circuit voltage of the subcell, the efficiency of a solar cell employing one or more subcells with reverse heterojunctions is enhanced.

The lifetime of optical components used in deep-UV (DUV) excimer laser systems, including systems in a MOPA configuration, can be increased by reducing the intensity of pulses incident upon these components. In one approach, an output pulse can be “stretched” in order to reduce the peak power of the pulse. A pulse stretching component can be used, which can be mounted outside the laser enclosure with a horizontal beam path in order to provide a delay line with a minimum impact on the laser system footprint. The horizontal beam path also can minimize the number of optical components in the arm containing the high power beam. A beamsplitting prism can be used with the delay line to avoid the rapid degradation of coatings otherwise exposed to intense UV beams. The prism can expand the beam in the delay line in order to minimize beam intensity and losses due to reflection.

A cartridge for placement in a urinal includes a chamber having an entry for receiving wastewater (e.g., urine), a quantity of sealant floatable on the wastewater in the chamber for functioning as a barrier to odors that may otherwise emanate from the wastewater in the chamber, a sealant reservoir coupled to the chamber for containing a supply of the sealant, and a closed path sealant dispenser for dispensing the sealant from the sealant reservoir to the chamber for maintaining the sealant modicum atop the wastewater. The sealant dispenser includes a cap having a U-shaped channel, and opening, and an orifice entering into a throat in which the sealant floats. An air vent avoids the buildup of suction in the primary reservoir. A secondary reservoir may be coupled to the sealant reservoir primarily for retaining additional sealant, in addition to any wastewater that might accompany the sealant for conserving sealant, and is particularly useful to avoid the deleterious effects of water being dumped into cartridge, particularly, sealant that is flushed out and into drain through the outlet-to-drain compartment, which flushing has a minimal effect on the sealant in the secondary reservoir. If desired, a water reservoir may be housed within the cartridge.

The fuel efficiency of an internal combustion reciprocating piston engine may be increased through selective secondary expansion of exhaust gas in the engine cylinders in order to recover exhaust gas energy which is otherwise wasted by cylinder blow-down at the end of the power stroke. Exhaust valve cam switching, intake valve deactivation, multiple exhaust valves, a specialized exhaust manifold arrangement and an exhaust gas diverter valve can be configured to enable a reciprocating engine to selectively operate in efficient eight stroke cycle compound mode when moderate engine power is demanded, then revert to conventional four stroke cycle non-compound mode operation when high engine power is demanded, without stopping the engine. For a road vehicle application, the benefit is substantially reduced highway cruising fuel consumption, while incurring minimal impact on engine weight, minimal impact on engine manufacturing cost, and no adverse impact on vehicle acceleration performance, hill climbing performance or trailer towing performance.

This invention involves encapsulating an RFID device in an encapsulating material by known encapsulating processes to form a domed, encapsulated RFID tag. The encapsulating material may be translucent or opaque, flexible or hard, and has minimal effect on transmission or reception of radio frequency (RF) signals. The invention further involves a stand-off bracket, composed of one or more materials that have minimal effect on transmission or reception of RF signals, for mounting an RFID device on or near materials that impede RF transmission and reception. The encapsulated RFID tag and stand-off bracket, separately, may have an adhesive or other attachment means on one of their surfaces so that they may be adhered or otherwise attached to another surface. In one application, an encapsulated RFID tag in the 860-928 MHz range is mounted on a stand-off bracket and may be used for tracking items to which it is attached.

A milk serum protein and calcium concentrate that is useful for fortifying acidic clear or opaque, carbonated or uncarbonated soft drinks without producing a cloudy appearance in clear drinks and with minimal effect upon the flavor of the beverage. Addition of liquid or melted fat or oil to drinks so fortified produces a beverage with a milk-like appearance.

An intravascular delivery catheter includes a middle member or manipulator to ameliorate the effect of buckling of the graft cover during the tracking or positioning of the delivery device within a body flow lumen to deploy an exclusion device, such a stent graft. The delivery device / catheter includes a region or regions of lower resistance to bending than other portions of the delivery device, which are positioned, within the delivery device, to preferentially bend the delivery system at locations where buckling will have minimal effect upon the deployment of the exclusion device from the delivery system. The preferential bending is accomplished, by providing a middle member / manipulator that is a rod with laterally oriented slots, having different depth and spacing configurations, or by using a wire coil as a portion of the middle member where the variable stiffness is created either by providing a variable / multiple coil diameter or by using a wire having a variable diameter along its length while the wire coil diameter is relatively uniform.