Abstract: Treating skin can include delivering a beam of radiation to a target region of the skin to cause a zone of thermal injury including a lateral pattern of varying depths of thermal injury distributed along the target region. The lateral pattern includes at least one first sub-zone of a first depth of thermal injury laterally adjacent to at least one second sub-zone of a second depth of thermal injury. The first depth is greater than the second depth. The at least one first sub-zone of the first depth and the at least one second sub-zone of the second depth extend from a surface of the target region of the skin to form a substantially continuous surface thermal injury. The at least one first sub-zone of the first depth and the at least one second sub-zone of the second depth are substantially heated to at least a critical temperature.

Abstract: A phased array ultrasound transducer is made from a plurality of independently excitable elements that are arranged in a row in the azimuthal direction, configured so that azimuthal aiming of an outgoing ultrasound beam is controlled by timing the excitation of the elements. The geometry of the elements is configured to focus the outgoing beam in the elevation direction so as to improve the images of target regions located at or about a particular radial distance. In some embodiments, this is accomplished by forming each element from a plurality of subelements that are stacked in the elevation direction, with the subelements of any given element all (a) wired together and (b) positioned at about the same distance from a substantially rod-shaped focal region.

Abstract: A system and method of rendering an authoritative image on a graphical display that is part of a critical system wherein image data is received from a source and the image data is stored in a storage module. The plurality of partial images are then generated from a subset of the image data, the partial images can include an indicator. The plurality of images are then combined to form the image, and the image is presented in a single graphical display. The image can then be evaluated by an operator for validity and correctness.

Abstract: A method for converting blanks by drawing in a tool with a ram, a die and a pressure pad wherein, converted blanks with high dimensional precision can be produced, includes feeding a blank with a plurality of bulges to the tool. In flange regions of the blank the pressure pad is moved in a first process step of the method into a first position, which corresponds to the height of the bulges of the flange region of the blank added to the blank thickness. In the first process step the blank is preformed in the tool using the ram and in a second process step the pressure pad and the ram are moved into the end positions, so that the blank is converted by the ram to the end form and the pressure pad smoothes the bulges of the flange regions of the blank.

Abstract: A method and system for partitioning (clustering) large amounts of data in a relatively short processing time. The method involves providing a first data matrix and a second data matrix where each of the first and second data matrices includes one or more variables, and a plurality of data points. The method also involves determining a first score from the first data matrix using a partial least squares (PLS) analysis or orthogonal PLS (OPLS) analysis and partitioning the first and second data matrices (e.g., row-wise) into a first group and a second group based on the sorted first score, the variance of the first data matrix, and a variance of the first and second groups relative to the variances of the first and second data matrices.

Abstract: A method for determining a distance between a first piece and a second piece includes measuring, at the first or second piece, a first signal at a first frequency, and measuring, at the first or second piece, a second signal at a second frequency. The second frequency is different from the first frequency. The distance is determined based on the measured first and second signals.

Abstract: Cells that are in the late anaphase or telophase stages of cell division are vulnerable to damage by AC electric fields that have specific frequency and field strength characteristics. The selective destruction of rapidly dividing cells can therefore be accomplished by imposing an AC electric field in a target region for extended periods of time. Some of the cells that divide while the field is applied will be damaged, but the cells that do not divide will not be harmed. This selectively damages rapidly dividing cells like tumor cells, but does not harm normal cells that are not dividing. Improved results may be achieved by using a field with two or more frequencies.

Abstract: A computerized method for dynamically generating a targeted manifest file for use by a playback device to retrieve a video stream including targeted content, includes periodically receiving a manifest file that identifies a sequence of media files, and updating a master manifest file to identify the sequence of media files from each periodically received index file, such that the master manifest file identifies a continuous master sequence of media files that constitute the video stream. The sequence of media files constitutes a portion of a video stream. The method further includes, upon request from a playback device, generating a targeted manifest file from the master sequence of media files. The targeted manifest file identifies a custom sequence of media files that includes targeted content, wherein one or more consecutive media files identified in the master sequence are substituted with a different number of targeted media files in the custom sequence.

Abstract: A transformer-less power supply is provided for ozone generation. The power supply advantageously reduces costs and increases reliability of ozone generators. The power supply provides a first AC voltage from a power source to a resonant circuit and the resonant circuit provides a second AC voltage to the ozone generating unit, the second AC voltage being greater than the first AC voltage. A controller for the power supply that adapts to the resonance of the circuit to provide control with a wide tolerance for the high Q circuit component values of the circuit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing assays involving binding material elements with a plurality of bonds over a substantial area of a surface of a resonant device establishing a normalized exposure. The methods and apparatuses also involve controlling an external influence applied to the material elements over a first period of time and measuring a signal during a second period of time that is indicative of the change in the amount of material elements bound to the surface relative to the normalized exposure. In some cases, the measured signals are integrated with respect to time to determine the time averaged amount of material elements bound to the surface.

Abstract: An article of clothing is provided for selectively destroying dividing cells in living tissue formed of dividing cells and non-dividing cells. The dividing cells contain polarizable intracellular members and during late anaphase or telophase, the dividing cells are connected to one another by a cleavage furrow. The article of clothing includes insulated electrodes to be coupled to a generator for subjecting the living tissue to electric field conditions sufficient to cause movement of the polarizable intracellular members toward the cleavage furrow in response to a non-homogeneous electric field being induced in the dividing cells. The non-homogeneous electric field produces an increased density electric field in the region of the cleavage furrow. The movement of the polarizable intracellular members towards the cleavage furrow causes the breakdown thereof which adversely impacts the multiplication of the dividing cells.

Abstract: Target tissue may be removed from a subject using a cannula that has an interior cavity and an orifice configured to permit material to enter the cavity. This is accomplished by generating a negative pressure in the cavity so that a portion of the tissue is drawn into the orifice. Fluid is then delivered, via a conduit, so that the fluid exits the conduit within the cavity and impinges against the portion of the tissue that was drawn into the orifice. The fluid is delivered at a pressure and temperature that causes the tissue to soften, liquefy, or gellify. The tissue that has been softened, liquefied, or gellified is then suctioned away.

Abstract: A multilayered composite part includes a plurality of steel alloy layers connected to one another, with at least one core layer consisting of a soft, well deformable steel alloy and at least one steel alloy layer of a very high strength steel alloy, arranged on the core layer. A multilayered composite part which is characterized simultaneously by a high strength paired with very good outer skin quality and very good paint adherence, is achieved in that at least one outer steel alloy layer of a soft, well deformable steel alloy is provided on the very high strength steel alloy layer.

Abstract: The device relates to methods and devices for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Abstract: A body of a motor vehicle includes a lateral roof region that has an outer skin, an outer roof frame, and an inner roof frame, wherein the outer roof frame is arranged under the outer skin and the inner roof frame is arranged under the outer roof frame, and the outer skin, the outer roof frame, and the inner roof frame have a common welded flange, by means of which the outer skin and the outer and inner roof frames are connected to one another, and which is configured to receive an adhesive layer for a roof module having a roof module frame. An aspect of the invention is to provide an accident-optimized vehicle body at little expense that prevents a tearing off of the roof module, and is achieved in that the outer roof frame of the body is configured as a locking element for the roof module frame.

Abstract: A shield for a plasma arc torch that pierces and cuts a metallic workpiece producing a splattering of molten metal directed at the torch, the shield protecting consumable components of the plasma arc torch from the splattering molten metal. The shield can include a body, a first surface of the body configured to be contact-cooled by a gas flow, a second surface of the body configured to be contact-cooled by a liquid flow, and a seal assembly configured to be secured to the body and disposed relative to the second surface configured to retain the liquid flow contact-cooling the second surface.

Abstract: A method of conditioning the surface of a work piece, particularly of a strip or sheet, more particularly of a lithostrip or lithosheet, including an aluminum alloy is provided. The method for conditioning the surface of a work piece and a work piece including an aluminum alloy enabling an increasing manufacturing speed in electro-chemically graining and maintaining at the same time a high quality of the grained surface, includes a conditioning method which comprises at least the two steps, degreasing the surface of the work piece with a degreasing medium and subsequently cleaning the surface of the work piece by pickling.

Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for optimizing allocation of resources across projects in a project portfolio. The method includes receiving, at a computing device, (i) resource information, (ii) a portfolio of project definitions and (iii) one or more portfolio-level optimization criteria. The resource information representing a plurality of resources available for allocation to the projects, and each project definition includes a unique identifier and one or more project-level constraints. The method also includes generating, using the computing device, a plurality of project portfolio allocation scenarios and determining one or more optimized project portfolio allocation scenarios from the plurality of project portfolio allocation scenarios. Each project portfolio allocation scenario satisfies the one or more project-level constraints associated with each project definition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for liquefying target tissue within a body and aspirating the same while leaving non-target tissue intact. A biocompatible fluid is heated and contacted with target tissue so that the target tissue is melted while non-target tissue remains intact. As the target tissue is being melted it is also aspirated from the body.