Abstract: The invention provides a method for detecting CD163+/CD16+ cell population in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a biological sample from a subject infected with HIV-1 which comprises contacting the biological sample with an anti-CD163 antibody, so that levels of CD163+/CD16+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the biological sample can be quantified.

Abstract: A magnetic descent control device is disclosed. The device comprises an input shaft affixed to a rotating driven sheave acting as a drive assembly, which grips a cable guiding the descent path of a body carrying cage. The input shaft has a shoulder upon which rests a rotor. The rotor is encased within a front and back enclosure of conductive material. Disposed along at least one surface of the rotor and/or at least one of the conductors, is a series of magnets such that rotation of the rotor relative to the conductors creates relative motion between the magnets' magnetic field and the conductor inducing eddy currents in the conductor that oppose the magnetic field creating a rotational braking force. As a result, very precise and/or controllable descent may be obtained over a broad range of descent angles and/or distances with little or no mechanical wear or risk of overheating. Preferably, the sheave gripping the cable may have a circumferential groove to better improve traction and grip of the cable.

Abstract: A garment for the treatment of sleep apnea and/or snoring includes a member for attachment to an individual afflicted with sleep apnea and an elongate, position control member at the rear of the garment and extending outwardly therefrom. The elongate member is a continuous member having transversely spaced-apart side surfaces, and the side surfaces are joined to an outer wall of the position control member at elongate side edges. The side surfaces and/or side edges are located to engage a mattress or other sleeping surface when an individual wearing the garment is sleeping in a lateral position to aid in supporting the individual in a lateral position.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the separation of particles (20, 21, 22) in a compartment (30) of a fluidic microsystem (100) are described, in which the movement of a liquid (10) in which particles (20, 21, 22) are suspended with a predetermined direction of flow through the compartment (30), and the generation of a deflecting potential in which at least a part of the particles (20, 21, 22) is moved relative to the liquid in a direction of deflection are envisaged, whereby further at least one focusing potential is generated, so that at least a part of the particles is moved opposite to the direction of deflection relative to the liquid by dielectrophoresis under the effect of high-frequency electrical fields, and guiding of particles with different electrical, magnetic or geometric properties into different flow areas (11, 12) in the liquid takes place.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilayer orodispersible tablet and to the process for preparing it.

Abstract: It is known for a gaining machine to issue a ticket or voucher having a value or an associated value as credit. It is a problem that such information carriers may become lost or stolen and subsequently redeemed by others. In the disclosed method, a player first registers and provides a first code to a gaming establishment and a value of credit available with which to play. A ticket is issued with a generated second code. On inserting the ticket in a gaming machine, prior to gaming being permitted, the gaming machine detects the second code and requires the player to enter the first code. The gaming machine validates the codes at the machine against corresponding codes stored elsewhere and permits gaming only when at least one of the codes matches. Thus, a ticket in accordance with the present invention will not be suitable for use other than by the player to whom the information carrier belongs since a third party will not have access to either the player provided code or the generated ticket code.

Abstract: A method for creating extensive variations in size or distance in nanostructure patterns on surfaces preferably includes: a) contacting a substrate with a liquid phase containing organic two-block or multi-block copolymer micelles, which are charged with an inorganic metal compound, by immersion into this liquid phase, during which chemically different polymer domains including inorganic metal compounds enclosed in micelles are deposited on the substrate; b) withdrawing the substrate from the liquid phase at a predetermined withdrawing speed, which is varied continuously or gradually, so that a gradient of the lateral separation length of the polymer domains is produced on the substrate surface; c) converting the deposited inorganic metal compounds by an oxidation- or reduction treatment into inorganic nanoparticles and optionally complete or partial removal of the organic polymer by a plasma treatment, wherein positions and lateral separation length of the nanoparticles obtained are determined by those of de

Abstract: An ultra-rapid freezing device (100) adapted for cooling a sample (1), includes a substrate chip (10) being adapted for cooling the sample (1), and at least one sample carrier (20) being adapted for accommodating the sample (1) and including at least one heatable support (21), through which the at least one sample carrier (20) is attached to the substrate chip (10). Preferably, the at least one sample carrier (20) is attached to the substrate chip (10) in a suspended manner. Furthermore, a method of ultra-rapid freezing a sample (1) is described. The at least one sample carrier (20) can be switched between a heated state at which a thermal gradient is formed relative to the substrate chip (10) and a cooled state at which a thermal equilibrium is formed relative to the substrate chip (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to an avalanche photodiode (1) for detecting radiation, including a semiconductor substrate (11), an upper diode layer (15), an oppositely doped, laterally delimited lower diode layer (16), an avalanche region situated between the upper diode layer (15) and the lower diode layer (16), wherein the radiation to be detected triggers an avalanche breakdown in the avalanche region, and also including a contact-making layer (12) at the underside (10) of the semiconductor substrate (11), a laterally delimited quenching resistance layer (18) arranged in the semiconductor substrate (11) between the lower diode layer (16) and the contact-making layer (12), wherein the quenching resistance layer (18) quenches the radiation-generated avalanche breakdown in the avalanche region, and also including a depletion electrode (15) arranged laterally alongside the laterally delimited lower diode layer (16), such that the depletion electrode (15) depletes the semiconductor substrate (11) laterally alongside t

Abstract: A buckle for a belt is provided including a fixation device to fix the buckle to a first end of the belt, and a guiding member configured to guide a belt part along the first belt end during use, for example to form a loop wherein the guiding member includes an operable clamping device having a releasing position to release the belt, and an engagement position to clamp a belt part to the guiding member, wherein the clamping device is configured such that when the clamping device is in the engagement position, the clamping device can be brought to its releasing position by pressing on a belt part.

Abstract: An air purifier has a housing with an inlet for receiving air and an outlet for exhausting air. The housing provides an air flow path for the flow of air in a downstream direction, from the inlet towards the outlet. Particulate pre-filtration is located within the housing downstream from the air inlet. VOC pre-filtration is located within the housing downstream from the particulate pre-filtration. UV filtration is located within the housing downstream from the VOC pre-filtration. VOC post-filtration is located within the housing downstream from the UV filtration. Final particulate filtration is located within the housing downstream from the VOC post-filtration.

Abstract: A system for creation of perspective images of the present invention includes: A new method for transforming three-dimensional (3D) world coordinates into two-dimensional (2D) screen coordinates using a negative exponential algorithm, instead of the classical projection algorithms that have the distance ‘z’ to the observer in the denominator (division algorithms); A new method for generating realistic perspective images of objects located at any distance from the observer (positive, negative or zero distances) that does not need any correction for zero or negative distances; The demonstration of practical use of the invention by computer graphics programs that generates and displays perspective images based on this exponential algorithm.

Abstract: An air purifier has a housing with an inlet for receiving air and an outlet for exhausting air. The housing provides an air flow path for the flow of air in a downstream direction, from the inlet towards the outlet. Particulate pre-filtration is located within the housing downstream from the air inlet. VOC pre-filtration is located within the housing downstream from the particulate pre-filtration. UV filtration is located within the housing downstream from the VOC pre-filtration. VOC post-filtration is located within the housing downstream from the UV filtration. Final particulate filtration is located within the housing downstream from the VOC post-filtration.

Abstract: A discontinuous mode flyback converter for limiting output current using primary feedback is disclosed. A transformer stores magnetic energy using field current and transfers the magnetic energy using a primary winding and a secondary winding closely coupled to the primary winding. A switching element is coupled to one end of the primary winding of the transformer and controls the current of the primary winding of the transformer. A control unit controls the switching element. A voltage error feedback unit feeds back the error of the output voltage of the transformer to the control unit, thereby regulating the output voltage. An output current feedback circuit detects the flyback period of the transformer, detects the output current information of the transformer from the rate of a flyback period in a cycle, and feeds it back to the control unit, thereby limiting the output current of the transformer.

Abstract: A computer 12 of an image processing apparatus 11 acquires a moving image including a minor axis cross section of a carotid artery and a cross section of surrounding tissues around the carotid artery and estimates, from images of two temporally different frames of the acquired moving image, an optical flow of each point included in an area corresponding to a carotid artery wall and an optical flow of each point included in an area corresponding to the surrounding tissues. Based on the estimated optical flow of each point, the computer 12 calculates an amount of displacement of the carotid artery and the surrounding tissues with respect to a radial direction of the carotid artery depending on a change in internal pressure of the carotid artery.

Abstract: A system for applying suction to a wound uses a reference airflow for monitoring system operation. A reference airflow (or “controlled leak”) to the suction source is provided when the system is in operation, such that deviation from the reference airflow can be monitored as an indication of a change in operation, such as a leak in the seal of the wound cover, a blockage of airflow from crimping of the suction conduit or overfill of the waste collector, or an inadvertent turn off or disconnect from the suction source.

Abstract: A control circuit member provided in a motor is disclosed. The motor includes a motor main body having a rotary shaft and a gear housing integrated with the motor main body. The control circuit member includes a circuit substrate on which a rotation detecting element is mounted and a substrate support member. The circuit substrate is accommodated in a circuit accommodating portion in the gear housing. The substrate support member supports the circuit substrate inside the circuit accommodating portion. The control circuit member is configured to be insertable into the circuit accommodating portion along the axial direction of the rotary shaft. The circuit substrate is configured to be arrangeable inside the circuit accommodating portion while being inclined with respect to the axial direction of the rotary shaft, so as to cause the rotation detecting element to approach the detector magnet.