Abstract: A system for and method of determining thermal history of components which are subjected to high-temperature environments, such as in boilers, fuel cells, furnaces, engines and gas turbines, and temperature-monitoring materials and coatings for use in such a system and method.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method for purifying Interleukin-4 or related variants from an Escherichia coli culture medium, where Interleukin-4 and its derivatives are expressed as insoluble protein aggregates, so-called inclusion bodies.

Abstract: A method for renaturation of proteins comprising adding to a solution of denatured, chemically modified or reduced proteins a refolding buffer containing a primary, secondary or tertiary amine. Said method has been applied, for example, to interleukin-4 and bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI), which were previously (i) solubilized in the presence of guanidinium hydrochloride as chaotronic agent, and (ii) subjected to sulfitolysis.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for combining the handle of a surgical instrument with a force feedback generator, able to create resistance to motion similar to that encountered in a real operating environment. The working end of the surgical instrument is recreated in a virtual environment and manipulated by the modified handle through the force feedback generator. Actions of the instrument handle modify a model and display of the virtual environment and transmit a haptic response back to the handle. The devices and methods provide a means for repeatedly performing maneuvers that accurately simulate the actual instrument, but in the virtual environment. The virtual environment is modeled to accurately simulate the use of the instrument including manipulation of and collisions with other virtual objects, such as surgical thread or internal tissues. Training and assessment tools are also provided that coach or assess a user's proficiency with the instrument.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus and method for processing a differential phase shift keying signal carrying a plurality of symbols are disclosed to provide for improved compensation of linear and non-linear noise in phase modulated optical transmission. The receiving apparatus comprises an input unit for receiving electrical signals derived from an optical signal and a calculation unit for calculating a current value of a decision variable. The current value is indicative of a differential phase shift in the optical signal between a currently received symbol and a previously received symbol as a function of the optical signal power of the optical signal for the currently received symbol and at least one previous value of the decision variable. The receiving apparatus also comprises a decision unit for determining the differential phase shift from the current value of the decision variable obtained from the calculation unit to obtain the currently received symbol.

Abstract: Devices and methods that combine an actual surgical instrument handle, for example the handle of an AutoSuture EndoStitch™ device, with a force feedback generator able to create resistance to motion similar to that encountered in a real operating environment. The devices and methods provide a means for repeatedly performing maneuvers that accurately simulate the actual instrument, but in a virtual environment. The devices have haptic capabilities and collision detection so that the virtual device, such as the needle driver of the EndoStitch™ device, is “aware” of instrument contact.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dual-modality imaging system and a method for dual-modality imaging, wherein a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner for acquiring PET imaging data and at least one optical imaging detector for acquiring optical imaging data are arranged to acquire the PET imaging data and the optical imaging data of an imaged object (5) simultaneously (i.e. at the same time and at superimposed fields-of-view). The at least one optical imaging detector is a non-contact optical imaging detector.

Abstract: A WDM optical cross-connect has input and output channels for through traffic. A first group of matrices connects the input channels to the output channels. Each input channel is connected to an input of a matrix of the first group and each output channel is connected to an output of the matrix. Input/output channels are provided for adding/dropping traffic. Each add/drop channel is connected to an input/output of a second group of matrices. The outputs/inputs of the second group of matrices are connected to inputs of a third group of matrices or outputs of a fourth group of matrices and the outputs/inputs of the third/fourth group of matrices are connected to inputs/outputs of the first group of matrices such that the matrices of the second, third and first groups of the first, fourth and second groups each form a Clos network.

Abstract: An adjuvant composition comprising (A) a C1-C2carboxylic acid ester of a polyhydroxy compound containing from 2 to 20 hydroxyl groups and (B) an N-heterocyclic compound having a pKa, value of from 6 to 8 is storage-stable and suitable as an acid donor in the dyeing of polyamides.

Abstract: The invention relates to a triple-modality imaging system, wherein an optical imaging detector for acquiring optical tomography imaging data, a single photon emission computered tomography (SPECT) detector for acquiring SPECT data, and an x-ray source and detector for acquiring x-ray data are arranged to acquire optical imaging data, SPECT data, and x-ray data of an imaged object simultaneously, the optical imaging detector, the SPECT detector, and the x-ray detector having spatially over-lapping fields-of-view (FOV).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for disinfecting the air, comprising the distribution or atomization of a special antimicrobial composition. The invention also relates to antimicrobial compositions and the use thereof in order to disinfect the air.

Abstract: A locking device for vehicles, especially for aeroplanes, comprising an actively driven drive element provided with an input shaft and an output shaft which is directly or indirectly connected to the input shaft. According to the invention, at least one permanent magnet is associated with the input shaft or the output shaft, the magnet interacting with at least one other external fixed element, especially a permanent magnet.

Abstract: A method for assigning digital image information to the navigational data of a medical navigation system is provided. The method includes: producing digital image information from a digital image recording device for a patient being monitored by means of the navigation system; transmitting a signal from the image recording device to the navigation system when an image is produced, the signal including assignment information for assigning the image information to the navigational data which apply to the image information; and transmitting the image information from the image recording device to the navigation system, wherein the image information and the corresponding navigational data are assigned to each other.

Abstract: Luminescent material compositions, in particular for use in high-temperature environments, and structures, such as thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), which incorporate the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of improving the thermal stability of natural or synthetic polyamide fibre materials that are undyed, fluorescent whitened or dyed with reactive or disperse dyes, with the exception of metal complex dyes, wherein the fibre material is treated with a liquor comprising a compound of formula (1) Y1—X—Y2 (1) wherein X is a divalent aliphatic or cycloaliphatic radical and Y1 and Y2 are each independently of the other —OH, —CO—OR1, —NR1R2, —CO—NH—NR1R2 or —NH—CO—NH—NR1R2, wherein R1 and R2 are each independently of the other hydrogen; Q-C?alkyl unsubstituted or substituted by one or more hydroxy, amino or carboxyl groups or halogen atoms; C5-C24-aryl unsubstituted or substituted by one or more hydroxy, amino or carboxyl groups or halogen atoms; C6-C36aralkyl unsubstituted or substituted by one or more hydroxy, amino or carboxyl groups or halogen atoms; or C5-C24cycloalkyl unsubstituted or substituted by one or more hydroxy, amino or carboxyl groups or halogen atoms.

Abstract: A measurement system for and method of measuring thicknesses of coatings as applied to objects and a coating system and method for coating objects, in particular three-dimensional objects, with coatings, in particular thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), and a monitoring system for and method of monitoring a state of a thermal barrier coating (TBC) as applied to an object which is exposed to a high-temperature environment, and a TBC for use with the same.

Abstract: A coating material (20) for coating a machine component (10), especially a gas turbine or a part thereof, comprises a mixture of at least a refractory material and an indicator material having an optical emission (e.g. fluorescence) spectrum which varies in response to a physical parameter of the coated component. In a preferred embodiment, the coating consists of yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) or yttrium stabilized zirconium. The dopant is preferably a rare earth metal, e.g. Eu, Tb, Dy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dual-modality imaging system and a method for dual-modality imaging, wherein a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner for acquiring PET imaging data and at least one optical imaging detector for acquiring optical imaging data are arranged to acquire the PET imaging data and the optical imaging data of an imaged object (5) simultaneously (i.e. at the same time and at superimposed fields-of-view). The at least one optical imaging detector is a non-contact optical imaging detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical imaging detector for fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging of an imaged object that can be used for tomographic imaging. The optical imaging detector comprises at least one micro-lens array with a plurality of micro-lenses. A photo detector can be located either in the focal plane of the micro-lens array or can be connected to the micro-lens array by a network of optical fibres and be located externally.