6242results about How to "Raise the possibility" patented technology

The invention provides variant hypervariable regions comprising selected amino acid sequence diversity. Libraries comprising a plurality of these polypeptides are also provided. In addition, methods of and compositions for generating and using these polypeptides and libraries are provided.

A networking database containing a plurality of records for different identities in which identities are connected to one another by defined or interpreted Inter-Personal and Intra-Personal relationships. Individuals using the system may define, group and categorize specific identities and relationships; the system may also define, categorize and group both identities and relationships belonging to individuals registered with the system and unregistered users through computational analysis. Identities and relationships may be discovered by the system via an opt-in user-provided mechanism, via a third-party providing information, or through the system's own discovery. Identity and Relationship data can then be used to customize content.

A search engine system displays the results of a multiple-category search according to levels of relevance of the categories to a user's search query. A query server receives a search query from a user and identifies, within each of multiple item categories, a set of items that satisfy the query. The sets of items are used to generate, for each of the multiple categories, a score that reflects a level significance or relevance of the category to the search. The scores may be based, for example, on the number of hits within each category relative to the total number of items in that category, the popularity levels of items that satisfy the query, a personal profile of the user, or a combination thereof. The categories are then presented to the user, together with the most relevant items within each category, in the order of highest to lowest category relevance.

A gaming machine has a symbol display arrangement that displays a variation action of a variable plurality of symbols that are necessary for playing a game. A predictive display arrangement performs a predictive display that informs the player of the likelihood of the appearance of a specific symbol display state when the variation action is stopped. A determination whether or not the symbol variation action is to be stopped with the appearance thereon of the specific symbol display state is made by a controller that also determines which predictive display mode from among a plurality of predetermined predictive display modes is to be displayed. In one embodiment, the controller controls the predictive display arrangement so that the probability of the appearance of a specific symbol display state is changeable in conjunction with the change in the game with the passage of time. The player will expect the appearance of the predictive display having a high likelihood, and therefore the player's expectation of the appearance of the specific symbol display state can be sustained from the start of the variation display to the stopping thereof. The player's expectation for the "big hit" is enhanced by changing the predictive display in which the likelihood of the "big hit" is increased.

The present invention relates to a transdermal drug delivery system comprising a dermal drug delivery patch and a heating element compartment securable to the dermal drug delivery patch. A freely transferrable heating element is securable within the heating element compartment. A drug can be administered transdermally using the present invention by placing the dermal drug delivery patch upon a patient's skin at an administration site. A heating element compartment is secured to the dermal drug delivery patch and a freely transferrable heating element is placed within the heating element compartment. The heating element provides controlled heat to the dermal drug patch and the patient's skin aid thereby improves dermal drug administration.

Described herein is a system for executing distributed transactions. A coordinator and one or more participants cooperate to execute a distributed transaction, the distributed transaction including for each participant a transaction executed by the participant. To manage the transaction, the coordinator and the participant communicate over a network using, for example, a stateless protocol. Before each participant commits the transaction, the participants determine that the coordinator has committed the transaction. The coordinator commits the transaction after receiving acknowledgment from all the participants that they will commit the transaction. To determine whether the coordinator has committed the transaction, a participant transmits a message to the coordinator to acknowledge that it will commit the distributed transaction. The participant commits its respective transaction if it receives an acknowledgement from the coordinator. For the particular transaction being executed by a participant, the participant prevents other transactions from modifying a data item affected by the particular transaction. The participant will prevent such modifications until termination criteria for the particular transaction is satisfied, in which case the participant terminates the transaction.

Apparatus (10) is provided that includes at least one sensor (30), configured to sense a physiological parameter of a subject (12) and to sense large body movement of the subject (12), an output unit (24), and a control unit (14). The control unit (14) is configured to monitor a condition of the subject (12) by analyzing the physiological parameter and the sensed large body movement, and to drive the output unit (24) to generate an alert upon detecting a deterioration of the monitored condition. Other embodiments are also described.

The present invention provides a gaming device, wherein the game requires the same average investment from a player to win an award, including a jackpot award, regardless of the amount that the player bets at any one time. The award can be unchanging, e.g., $10,000, each time a player plays the gaming device. The award can also vary such as with a progressive jackpot, i.e., the jackpot builds until a player “hits” the jackpot. The game enables the average investment necessary to win the jackpot to be uniform by varying the odds of winning the jackpot as the player's bet varies. That is, a player betting less money needs to play the game more times, on average, to win the jackpot. Likewise, a player betting more money needs to play the game less times, on average, to win the jackpot. The average overall bet or investment thus remains constant despite the player's betting habits or betting ability.

Apparatus is provided for treating a condition of a subject, including an electrode device, adapted to be coupled to an autonomic nerve of the subject, and a control unit. The control unit is adapted to drive the electrode device to apply to the nerve a stimulating current, which is capable of inducing action potentials in a therapeutic direction in a first set and a second set of nerve fibers of the nerve, and to drive the electrode device to apply to the nerve an inhibiting current, which is capable of inhibiting the induced action potentials traveling in the therapeutic direction in the second set of nerve fibers, the nerve fibers in the second set having generally larger diameters than the nerve fibers in the first set. Other embodiments are also described.

Arthroplasty jigs and related methods are disclosed. Some of the arthroplasty jigs may comprise a jig body that is configured to align with a surface of a bone, and a positioning component. Certain of the methods may comprise providing such an arthroplasty jig, and aligning the jig body with a surface of a bone so that the positioning component provides at least one of a visible, audible, or tactile indication that such alignment has been achieved. Some of the arthroplasty jigs may comprise a jig body that is configured to align with a surface of a bone, and that is marked with identifying information. Certain of the methods may comprise providing an arthroplasty jig comprising a jig body that is configured to align with a surface of a bone, or providing an arthroplasty jig blank, and marking the arthroplasty jig or the arthroplasty jig blank with identifying information.

This invention relates generally to the field of moiety or molecule manipulation in a chip format. In particular, the invention provides a method for manipulating a moiety in a microfluidic application, which method comprises: a) coupling a moiety to be manipulated onto surface of a binding partner of said moiety to form a moiety-binding partner complex; and b) manipulating said moiety-binding partner complex with a physical force in a chip format, wherein said manipulation is effected through a combination of a structure that is external to said chip and a structure that is built-in in said chip, thereby said moiety is manipulated.

The invention relates to mobile audio playback devices and methods of its operation for enhanced music and sound experience for mobile devices. To provide stereo and surround sound, the present invention provides an audio playback device with a receiving means for receiving multi-channel audio data, obtaining means connected to the receiving means, for obtaining first channel audio data from the multi-channel audio data for playback on the audio playback device, and playback means having at least one loudspeaker, and being connected to the obtaining means for outputting the first channel audio data. The other not selected audio channels or all received audio data may be transferred to other terminals for playback or may be discarded.

Adhesion defects between a single crystal semiconductor layer and a support substrate are reduced to manufacture an SOI substrate achiving high bonding strength between the single crystal semiconductor layer and the support substrate. Plasma is produced by exciting a source gas, ion species contained in the plasma are added from one surface of a single crystal semiconductor substrate, and thereby forming a damage region in the single crystal semiconductor substrate; forming an insulating layer over one surface of the single crystal semiconductor substrate; a support substrate is bonded so as to face the single crystal semiconductor substrate with the insulating layer therebetween; the single crystal semiconductor substrate is heated to separate the single crystal semiconductor substrate into a single crystal semiconductor layer bonded to the support substrate and a single crystal semiconductor substrate, in the damage region; and the single crystal semiconductor layer bonded to the support substrate is pressed.

A bipolar electrosurgical instrument has opposable seal surfaces on its jaws for grasping and sealing vessels and vascular tissue. Inner and outer instrument members allow arcuate motion of the seal surfaces. An open lockbox provides a pivot with lateral support to maintain alignment of the lateral surfaces. Ratchets on the instrument members hold a constant closure force on the tissue during the seal process. A shank portion on each member is tuned to provide an appropriate spring force to hold the seal surfaces together. During surgery, the instrument can be used to grasp and clamp vascular tissue and apply bipolar electrosurgical current through the clamped tissue. In one embodiment, the seal surfaces are partially insulated to prevent a short circuit when the instrument jaws are closed together. In another embodiment, the seal surfaces are removably mounted on the jaws.

Described herein is a system for executing distributed transactions. A participant and a coordinator cooperate to execute a distributed transaction, the distributed transaction including a transaction executed by the participant. To manage the transaction, the coordinator and the participant communicate over a network using, for example, a stateless protocol. The distributed transaction may be terminated when communication between the participant and coordinator regarding the transaction does not occur within a time period. The time period may reflect the time required for a coordinator to send a message and a participant to acknowledge receipt of the message, and the time for the participant to perform operations executed for the transaction. The latency of network traffic between the participant and the coordinator is monitored, and the time periods adjusted accordingly. In addition, the amount of time required for the participant to execute operations for the transaction is monitored, and the time periods adjusted accordingly.

This invention deals with recommendation systems. The first embodiment is an off-the-shelf recommendation system is described, where it is easy to integrate with the website database and uses a web service for recommendations, as well as easy to integrate with email. The system receives client ID, item ID and user ID, and returns recommended item IDs. The recommendations include similar items, related items, related users, items likely to be acted upon by a given user (labeled likely items), and users likely to act upon an item (labeled likely users). The recommendations include categorical training, where recommended items are based upon similar categories, where the category types include as product type and brand. The recommendations include similar-to-related training, where similar items are used to find related items. These two intelligent methods work for items with no, few or numerous actions.

Systems and methods for blocking nerve impulses use an implanted electrode located on or around a nerve. A specific waveform is used that causes the nerve membrane to become incapable of transmitting an action potential. The membrane is only affected underneath the electrode, and the effect is immediately and completely reversible. The waveform has a low amplitude and can be charge balanced, with a high likelihood of being safe to the nerve for chronic conditions. It is possible to selectively block larger (motor) nerve fibers within a mixed nerve, while allowing sensory information to travel through unaffected nerve fibers.

The invention is directed to systems and methods for detecting the loss, theft or unauthorized use of a device and/or altering the functionality of the device in response. In one embodiment, a device monitors its use, its local environment, and/or its operating context to determine that the device is no longer within the control of an authorized user. The device may receive communications or generate an internal signal altering its functionality, such as instructing the device to enter a restricted use mode, a surveillance mode, to provide instructions to return the device and/or to prevent unauthorized use or unauthorized access to data. Additional embodiments also address methods and systems for gathering forensic data regarding an unauthorized user to assist in locating the unauthorized user and/or the device.

A body worn communications device for communicating with a head-worn listening device, the communications device being adapted for receiving a multitude of audio signals and for transmitting at least one audio signal selected among the multitude of audio signals to the listening device, the communications device having a number of functional push-buttons for influencing the selection and properties of said audio signals. The communications device has a user interface having a number of functional push-buttons for influencing the state of the user interface, such as the selection (and de-selection) of an audio signal, events and properties related to the audio signal, and wherein the state of the user interface is indicated at the same button where the state can be influenced.

A computer based trading system implies spread markets from multiple real or implied spread markets. In particular, one aspect of the invention permits implication of a spread market from a combination of inter-commodity and inter-calendar spread orders. Furthermore, another aspect of the invention allows use of nontradeable implied or bridge markets to combine with other implied or real markets to create further tradeable implied markets. The method described herein thereby permits the creation of all implied markets that are inherent in the combination of futures, calendar spread and inter-commodity spread real orders.

A virtual machine management apparatus connected to a plurality of server devices via a network generates a new virtual machine on a server device in accordance with a request from a management terminal. At that time, for one or more server devices to which a new virtual machine can be allocated, the virtual machine management apparatus refers to an allocation rule table for storing a score for each of combinations of types of virtual machines. The score indicates appropriateness of a condition that each combination of types of virtual machines is to be allocated to the same server device. Thus, the virtual machine management apparatus computes an index value indicative of appropriateness of a condition that the new virtual machine is to be allocated to the server device. Then the virtual machine management apparatus determines an allocation target for the new virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.