Abstract: A superconductor for mitigating the effects of local current disruptions in a superconducting filament. The superconductor comprises superconducting filaments covered by a medium in electrical communication with the filaments. The covering medium has anisotropic conductivity, the conductivity in a direction substantially aligned with the filaments being selected to stabilize the superconductor near the critical temperature, and the conductivity of the covering in a direction substantially perpendicular to the filaments being selected to permit controlled current sharing between the filaments, especially when a filament is compromised, while simultaneously limiting alternating current (ac) losses. In various embodiments, the covering comprises a wire mesh having longitudinal wires made of a first material having a first conductivity, and transverse wires made of a second material having a second conductivity, different from the first conductivity.

Abstract: Protein-polymer conjugates are described. Also described are a method for preparing a protein-polymer conjugate and its use in treating hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection.

Abstract: The invention provides novel reagents and methodologies for detecting free versus bound compounds. It is particularly useful to detect thrombin when it is not bound to A2M in the presence of thrombin bound to A2M by using a modified substrate that is sterically hindered from reacting with the bound thrombin.

Abstract: Fused bicyclic pyrimidine compounds of formula (I): wherein R1, R3, R4, X1, X2, Y, Z, A, B, C, D, n, and the two bonds are defined herein. Also disclosed are a method for inhibiting Aurora kinase activity and a method for treating cancer with these compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) strains expressing thermophilic arabinose isomerase as an active form and method of food grade tagatose by using the same, and more precisely, a gene encoding arabinose isomerase originating from the thermophilic Geobacillus stearothermophilus DSM22 and Geobacillus thermodenitrificans, a recombinant expression vector containing the gene, a recombinant GRAS strains expressing the thermophilic arabinose isomerase as an active form by transformed with the expression vector, and a method of preparing food grade tagatose from galactose by using the same.

Abstract: Provided is a production method for the particulate water-absorbing agent, which can contribute to property enhancement, and further improvement of productivity or the like, as well. One example of the production method for the particulate water-absorbing agent relevant to the present invention includes the polymerization step for obtaining a polymer gel; the drying step for drying the polymer gel to obtain a dried substance; the pulverization step for pulverizing the dried substance or the polymer gel to obtain the particulate water-absorbing resin; the classification step for sieving the particulate water-absorbing resin; the granule sizing step for granule sizing the particulate water-absorbing agent obtained from the particulate water-absorbing resin; and the transporting step for transporting the products produced in each of the steps to other steps.

Abstract: A transparent optical component having cells (1) filled with an optical material is proposed, which has a high transparency. The cells of the component are filled to levels (h1, . . . , h5) which vary randomly, and the variations of which are adapted so as not to cause a perceptible optical defect. To do this, the fill levels of the cells are adapted so that the phase shifts experienced by the light rays (R1, . . . , R5) which pass through the cells have a root mean square deviation of less than one quarter of the wavelength (1). Such a component may in particular be an ophthalmic lens.

Abstract: A novel thermophilic endo-glucanase, nucleic acid encoding the endo-glucase, and uses thereof in converting ligocellulosic material to fermentable sugars.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer program products, for maintaining a personalized message provided by a personal security service subscriber in an escrow storage during a security period associated with the subscriber; processing itinerary-related information of the personalized message against a dictionary of known physical locations to identify a starting point, a destination point, and a candidate route between the starting point and the destination point; generating a visual representation of the candidate route; and delivering the personalized message, the visual representation of the candidate route, or both, to one or more recipients upon determining an occurrence of a security event during the security period associated with the subscriber.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining computational units for computing interactions among sets of bodies located in a computation region includes, for each computation associated with one of the sets of bodies, determining, according to an assignment rule that provides a mapping from a location of each of the bodies to a determined computation unit from the plurality of computation units, a computation unit from a plurality of computation units for performing the computation.

Abstract: An amphiphilic block copolymer. The amphiphilic block copolymer includes one or more hydrophilic polymers, one or more hydrophobic polymer, and one or more zwitterions. The invention also provides a nano particle and carrier comprising the amhpiphilic block copolymer for delivery of water-insoluble drugs, growth factors, genes, or cosmetic substances.

Abstract: An apparatus for combining input signals produced by a plurality of electric musical devices includes a plurality of audio buses and a plurality of segments. Each segment includes input circuitry configured to receive at least one input signal from at least one electric musical device and to deliver the at least one input signal to one of the plurality of audio buses; a plurality of variable adjustment devices each associated with a corresponding one of the audio buses and each configured to change at least one property of an input signal received by another of the plurality of segments and carried on the corresponding one of the audio buses independent from input signals carried on other of the plurality of audio buses; and a mixer configured to combine the input signals carried on each of the plurality of audio buses into an output signal.

Abstract: A method for providing electric power to a power system includes receiving, at a slave node of a power converter having a plurality of slave nodes, a first synchronization signal via a first communication channel, the first synchronization signal purporting to represent a master timing characteristic of a master control node of the converter; receiving, at the slave node of the converter, a second synchronization signal via a second communication channel, the second synchronization signal purporting to represent a master timing characteristic of the master control node of the converter; synchronizing an internal timing characteristic of the slave control node with the master timing characteristic of the master control node using the first synchronization signal; determining that the first synchronization signal is invalid; and synchronizing an internal timing characteristic of the slave control node with the master timing characteristic of the master control node using the second synchronization signal.

Abstract: An intercoupling component is provided which permits reliable, non-permanent electrical connection between a first substrate and a second substrate. The intercoupling component includes an electrically conductive terminal including a first end and a second end opposed to the first end. The first and second ends are configured to receive a solder ball. An axial hole extends inward from the first end of the terminal, and an electrically conductive core member is disposed within the hole. The core member is sized and shaped to obstruct the hole. In addition, at least an outer surface of the core member includes a first material and at least an outer surface of the body includes a second material, the first material having greater solderability than the second material.

Abstract: Provided are a method of detecting and isolating fault in sensors and a method of accommodating fault in sensors using the same. In the method of detecting and isolating fault in sensors, a one reduced-order parity vector is obtained by excluding the output of one sensor selected from n sensors, a two reduced-order parity vector is obtained by excluding output of two sensors selected from the n sensors, and when there are a plurality of parity vectors obtained at plural points of time, one reduced-order parity vectors are averaged to obtain an averaged one reduced-order parity vector and likewise, two reduced-order parity vectors are averaged to obtain an averaged two reduced-order parity vector. Therefore, a decrease in fault detection and isolation (FDI) performance can be hindered, and even when double faults occur, sensors to be excluded can be selected. Thus, a system including sensors has high reliability and high accuracy.

Abstract: In an interleaving power factor corrector, a control device interleavingly drives first and second converting circuits such that the power factor corrector generates a voltage output (Vo), and includes first and second control modules generating respectively first and second driving signals (Q_master, Q_slave) that correspond respectively to first and second control signals for controlling operations of power switches of the first and second converting circuits. A phase modulating module generates a reset signal (S_PTCL) based on an inverted first driving signal (Qn_master) and a feedback compensation signal (Vcomp) outputted by the first control module, and a reset signal (S_syn) outputted by the second control module. When one of the reset signals (S_syn, S_PTCL) has a predetermined level, the second driving signal (Q_slave) has a level for switching the power switch of the second converting circuit to an OFF-mode.

Abstract: A method for determining an optimal eyeglass lenses design for a viewer (1) comprising the successive steps of: showing the viewer (1) a stereoscopic scene including optical effects of a first lens design;—introducing a relative movement between the viewer (1) and the shown stereoscopic scene, said scene being shown with optical effects of the first lens design; expressing the viewer's opinion; showing the viewer (1) a stereoscopic scene including optical effects of a modified lens design; introducing a relative movement between the viewer (1) and the shown stereoscopic scene, said scene being shown with the modified lens optical effects; expressing again the viewer's opinion; repeating the three last steps up to viewer's satisfaction. A system for customizing vision correction suitable to implement said method. Related computer program for dynamically calculating a stereoscopic image. Related computer program for actuating an electro-active component.

Abstract: An apparatus that controls opening and closing of a roof glass is disclosed. The apparatus includes a drive motor that is actuated to selectively open and close the roof glass. The apparatus stores a count value that changes in correspondence with operation of the drive motor. The apparatus detects the number of cycles of reset starting and determines whether the detected number of the reset starting cycles is in a predetermined acceptable range. The apparatus switches initial setting, in accordance with which the relative relationship between the actual open/closed position of the roof glass and the count value is determined, to a non-set state if it is determined that the number of the reset starting cycles exceeds the acceptable range.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a connector for packaging containing medical fluids, in particular infusion or transfusion bags, including a tubular connection part for receiving a spike for the withdrawal of fluid, and having a lower opening on the packaging side and an upper opening on the connection side. A self-sealing membrane, which is pierced by the spike, is located in the connection part. The membrane has an upper, annular section leading into a lower, plate-shaped section, said annular section of the membrane surrounding the spike in a sealing manner, when the latter pierces the plate-shaped section. The membrane acts as a guide for the spike and also reseals the connector, once the spike has been removed.