Abstract: A method of determining a suitable blood pressure lowering treatment for an individual comprises a step of assaying a biological sample from the individual for the presence or absence of the C-5312T SNP in a distal enhancer region of the renin gene. The presence of at least one T allele is indicative of an increased response to a blood pressure lowering treatment selected from the group comprising: angiotensin-2-receptor blockers; ACE Inhibitors; aldosterone receptor blockers; and beta-receptor blockers. The absence of at least one T allele is indicative of an increased response to a blood pressure lowering treatment selected from the group comprising: renin inhibitors; calcium channel blockers; and diuretics.

Abstract: A novel class of mixed micelles formed with critical micelle concentration (Cmc) character's diblock copolymer, and temperature-sensitive character's diblock copolymer were disclosed. The mixed micelles possess complementary effects in adjusting external temperature shift (storage vs. body temperature) and concentration change (dilution after intravenous injection). The mixed micelles of the present invention can serve as a potential injectable drug delivery system for anticancer drugs, such as doxorubicin and many others.

Abstract: A method of a frequency-domain equalization to jointly suppress inter-symbol interference (ISI) and data-like co-channel interference (CCI) includes receiving a transmit signal over a channel, generating a vector by sampling and converting the transmit signal to a frequency domain signal; generating an equalized vector by multiplying an equalization matrix to the vector generated by converting; generating an estimate of data vector by inverse converting the equalized vector; and recovering data included in the transmit signal based on the estimate of data vector, wherein the equalization matrix is generated by approximating a frequency domain correlation matrix. Significant computational complexity is reduced than the LMMSE equalization while resulting in almost no performance degradation compared to the LMMSE equalization.

Abstract: The invention relates an implantable access device for a catheter for supplying an active substance to an active site. The inventive access device comprises a chamber which is arranged in a housing for receiving the active substance and is closed with a piercable membrane. A connecting piece, to which the catheter is connectable, is fluidly connected to the chamber. The catheter is fixed by clamps that are fixable to the housing preferably by means of elastic fixing arms. The chamber receiving the active substance is embodied in an insertion element that is arranged in a recess of the housing by an intermediate clamping of the intermediate layer of the membrane in such a way that the insertion element produces a pressure force to said membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a conformable and semi-permeable biopolymeric membrane suitable for tissue repair and protection. This membrane contains a first layer made from randomly oriented, reconstituted biopolymer fibers and, on top of the first layer, a coating layer made from biopolymer fibers.

Abstract: A communication system for providing high-speed wireless access to mobile processing systems a stationary transceiver defining an information portal in its immediate vicinity. A local server in communication with this stationary transceiver is configured to respond to a mobile processing-system present within the information portal.

Abstract: This invention provides combinations of novel oligonucleotides and their use in detecting a deletion(s) in the Pre-S region of HBV. Such a deletion(s) is associated with an increased risk of developing cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract: Multi-frame persistence of videotext is exploited to mitigate challenges posed by varying characteristics of videotext across frame instances to improve OCR techniques. In some examples, each frame of video is processed to form multiple binary images, and one or more text hypotheses is formed from each binary image. In some examples, one or more combined images are formed from multiple frames processed to form a binary image and a corresponding text hypothesis. The text hypotheses are combined to yield an overall text recognition output.

Abstract: Disclosed are immunogenic composition, fusion proteins, and related methods for inducing immune response to dengue virus infection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for forming product groups from a flow of a plurality of identical piece goods fed by means of conveying devices, having an infeed track (16) and dividing elements engaging in the product flow in a synchronized manner transverse to the transport plane on at least one pair of driven, endlessly circulating flexible drive elements (7, 11, 12), wherein at least one crossbar (8) is disposed on each of said pairs of flexible drive elements, dividing elements (9) being held thereon, wherein at least three pairs of flexible drive elements (7, 11, 12) are provided within a device, wherein each of said pairs can be operated with a unique velocity profile.

Abstract: A medical system and method for treating a disorder of a subject by thermal ablation, e.g., focused ultrasound thermal ablation, are provided. The method includes obtaining medical images that include at least one image of subject's chest and ribs to reconstruct a three-dimensional chest-rib distribution; and applying ultrasound waves on a target point beyond the subject's ribs by selectively activating one or more elements of an ultrasound phased array to avoid ultrasonic energy absorption or reflection by an intervening rib based on a calculation of a relationship between the three-dimensional chest-rib distribution and an acoustic emission direction.

Abstract: In a method for producing an optoelectronic component, a growth substrate having a first coefficient of thermal expansion is provided. A multilayered buffer layer sequence is applied thereto. A layer sequence having a second coefficient of thermal expansion—different than the first coefficient of thermal expansion—is subsequently deposited epitaxially. It furthermore comprises an active layer for emitting electromagnetic radiation. A carrier substrate is subsequently applied on the epitaxially deposited layer sequence. The growth substrate is removed and the multilayered buffer layer sequence is structured in order to increase a coupling-out of electromagnetic radiation. Finally, contact is made with the epitaxially deposited layer sequence.

Abstract: A communication protocol provides a selective ordering of packets such that some sequences of packets on the channel are guaranteed not to be delivered out of order, while other packets on the same channel may be delivered before earlier sent packets are received, thereby preempting their delivery. The communication protocol can be implemented using UDP over IP. The protocol may be used for exchange of information in a distributed multi-player game.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a novel progressive glasses lens intended for a presbyopic wearer, which takes into account the postural habits of the wearer, acquired through prior conditions of ophthalmic correction. A design for the novel progressive lens is established by modifying a reference lens in compliance with an aptitude of the wearer to modify his/her postural habits. To this end, variations in a postural parameter are determined using measurements of said parameter, which are carried out on the wearer. The invention enables the reduction of a period of habituation by the wearer to the novel progressive glasses lens.

Abstract: A first element is connected to a first end of the connecting piece and a second element is connected to a second end of the connecting piece. At least one end of the connecting piece is provided with a thread, whereby the connecting piece is connectable for instance to a pipe or fitting with threaded connection. The connecting piece may be made of plastic, for example, the connecting piece is made substantially completely of thermoplast in such a way that the thermoplastic body is provided with a thread. The outer surface of the connecting piece is provided with a gripping member. The gripping member is formed and dimensioned such that it gives way earlier than the connecting member thread and/or basic structure.

Abstract: A polypeptide containing epitope of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3 is provided, which is selected from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 and amino acids at 16-32 positions, amino acids at 1-30 positions, amino acids at 50-80 positions and amino acids at 17-200 positions of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3. The nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide, recombinant vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid molecule are also provided. The polypeptide and the nucleic acid molecule encoding it can be used for preparing reagents, kits or devices for diagnosing the diseases characterized by EECP expression and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing or treating the diseases characterized by EECP expression by increasing or inhibiting EECP expression and/or activity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating femtosecond electron beam are disclosed. The apparatus for generating electron beam by discharging an electron generated via a cathode to an anode includes a transmission window provided at one side of the cathode to allow incident laser to pass therethrough, a pinhole formed on the anode such that the pinhole corresponds to the position of the electron generated from the transmission window, and a focusing unit provided at one side of the cathode and generating an electric field to accelerate and at the same time concentrate the electron to the pinhole. Electrons are simultaneously concentrated and accelerated to the pinhole by an electric field generated by the focusing unit positioned at the cathode to generate femtosecond electron beam.

Abstract: This invention relates to a conjugate of a polymer moiety and an interferon-? moiety, an erythropoietin moiety, or a growth hormone moiety.

Abstract: A regenerative brake system and a variable displacement pump/motor for use therein. Each cylinder of the pump/motor having a main piston and a second piston between which is defined a space for hydraulic fluid, and a resilient element acting on the second piston to bias it toward the main piston. Variable displacement is achieved by controlling a volume of pressurized fluid that is injected and exhausted between the main and second pistons. Brake, drive and neutral modes of operation of the pump/motor are achieved by controlling the timing (relative to a drive shaft phase) of the injection and exhaust of the fluid. Regeneration is achieved by storing pressurized fluid generated by the pump/motor in an accumulator in brake mode and using the stored pressurized fluid to power the pump/motor in drive mode.