Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for determining a central pulse wave velocity in a pregnant woman. The method comprises receiving an indication of a measurement of a length of a human aortic path outside the body to provide an aortic length, arranging a sound transducer at the position of the anatomical projection of the uterine artery, identifying the opening of the maternal aortic valve with measurement from the sound transducer as a first time, and the pulse wave arrival time at the uterine artery with measurements from the sound transducer as a second time, determining the central transit time based on the difference between the second time and the first time, and calculating the central pulse wave velocity based on the aortic length and the central transit time.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a solid nanocomposite material consisting of a polymer-matrix in which are dispersed alkali metal, hydronium or ammonium salts of polyanionic components, wherein the polymer-matrix comprises at least a linear or branched polymer or copolymer containing one or several poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chains, said polymer or copolymer being optionally crosslinked and each PEO chain having at least 4 ethylene oxide monomer units. The present invention relates also to a photonic, e.g. optoelectronic, device comprising such a nanocomposite material. Such material and device can be used as phosphorescence emitter, for crop growth lighting or for generating singlet oxygen.

Abstract: The present invention is generally related to methods and systems for preventing onset or worsening of RHF in patients with implanted ventricular assist devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to identifying patients at risk for RHF following implantation of a ventricular assist device based on pulmonary artery pressure measurement and/or trends and adjusting a pump operating parameter to prevent or reduce the onset or worsening of RHF in such patients, improve patient outcomes, or reduce mortality risks associated with VAD implantation. In particular, a pump operating parameter may be adjusted to reduce or minimize particularly high pressure loads on a patient’s heart or amount of time the patient is exposed to such high pressure loads following implantation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radio antenna comprising a substrate of dielectric material; a ground plane of electrically conductive material on a first face of the substrate; a resonator for converting an incident electrical signal into an electromagnetic wave and for resonating at at least two different resonant frequencies. The resonator comprises at least three elements, each in the form of strips of conductive material and arranged on a second face of the substrate opposite the first face. A second element is electrically connected to the ground plane by means of a via passing through the substrate at a first end of the corresponding strip, forms an extension of the first element, and is electrically connected directly to the first element at a second end of said strip which is opposite the first end.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pseudotyped retrovirus-like particles or retroviral vectors comprising both engineered envelope glycoproteins derived from a virus of the Paramyxoviridae family fused to a cell targeting domain and fused to a functional domain. The present invention also relates to the use of said pseudotyped retrovirus-like particles or retroviral vectors to selectively modulate the activity of specific subsets of cells, in particular of specific immune cells. These pseudotyped retrovirus-like particles or retroviral vectors are particularly useful for gene therapy, immune therapy and/or vaccination.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to the use of compositions and their use in reducing and treating pain.

Abstract: A novel and useful modified semiconductor fabrication technique for realizing reliable semiconductor quantum structures. Quantum structures require a minimization of the parasitic capacitance of the control gate and the quantum well. The modified semiconductor process eliminates the fabrication of the metal, contact, and optionally the raised diffusion layers from the quantum wells, thereby resulting in much lower well and gate capacitances and therefore larger Coulomb blockade voltages. This allows easier implementation of the electronic control circuits in that they can have larger intrinsic noise and relaxed analog resolution. Several processes are disclosed including implementations of semiconductor quantum structures with tunneling through an oxide layer as well as tunneling through a local well depleted region. These techniques can be used in both planar semiconductor processes and 3D, e.g., FinFET, semiconductor processes. A dedicated process masking step is used for realizing the raised diffusions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing methyl mercaptan from a mixture of carbon oxide, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen, in the presence of a catalyst based on molybdenum and potassium supported on zirconia, said catalyst not comprising any promoter.

Abstract: Method and system for localizing a region of interest in a medium in which cavitation occurs. Method for localizing a region of interest (R) in a medium (M) in which cavitation occurs, the method comprising the steps consisting in: producing cavitation in the region of interest (R), the cavitation generating an acoustic signal, at each of at least three separate positions, detecting a cavitation signal representative of the acoustic signal of the cavitation, for at least two pairs of cavitation signals, determining a delay between the cavitation signals of each pair of cavitation signals, calculating a localization of the region of interest (R) based on the delays and the positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device (FILT) for filtering light received, by polarisation or mechanically, from a medium presenting a graphic and/or textual content, characterized in that cycles of opening and closing a vision space, in a visible light spectrum, are realized periodically using the optical device (FILT) at a preset frequency Fd and in that the successive open periods each have a duration (T1) comprised in an interval of values ranging from 15 to 35% of the duration (T) of the realized cycles.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for supporting efficient and secure “Machine-to-Machine” (M2M) communications using a module, a server, and an application. A module can communicate with the server by accessing the Internet, and the module can include a sensor and/or an actuator. The module, server, and application can utilize public key infrastructure (PKI) such as public keys and private keys. The module can internally derive pairs of private/public keys using cryptographic algorithms and a first set of parameters. A server can authenticate the submission of derived public keys and an associated module identity. The server can use a first server private key and a second set of parameters to (i) send module data to the application and (ii) receive module instructions from the application. The server can use a second server private key and the first set of parameters to communicate with the module.

Abstract: A method for treating a substrate with a volatile liquid, crop-preservative formulation includes transporting a predetermined quantity of the formulation from a reservoir to an injection device and applying the predetermined quantity to the substrate. The substrate may thereafter be in proximity to a crop to be treated by the vapor from the formulation. The substrate is most conveniently a portion of a container in which the crop is stored or shipped.

Abstract: PEEP-valves configured to be placed inline with the exhalation path of a ventilator and ahead of the exhalation valve. The PEEP-valve functions as a resistor that can provide a higher PEEP value for any given PIP, lung compliance, and respiratory rate combination compared to a standard PIP to PEEP ratio.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic welding apparatus using an inside steel tube, which includes a connecting seat and a fixing bracket. The fixing bracket is fixedly connected to a rear side of the connecting seat. a roller assembly is provided at one end of the fixing bracket, and a left side and a right side of the connecting seat are respectively fixedly connected with two first mounting brackets, between which a connecting shaft is rotatably connected. The connecting shaft is rotatably connected with a driving wheel, a signal transmission component is arranged on a periphery of the driving wheel, a laser welder is provided on an upper surface of the connecting seat, a laser welding head is provided at one end of the laser welder; and the laser welder is configured to start the laser welding head according to a signal transmitted by the signal transmission component.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to improved medical blood pump devices, systems, and methods. For example, blood pumps may be provided that include a housing defining a blood flow path between an inlet and an outlet. A rotor may be positioned in the blood flow path. A motor stator may be driven to rotate the rotor to provide the blood flow through the pump. Axial and/or tilt stabilization components may be provided to increase an axial and/or tilt stabilization of the rotor within the blood flow path. In some embodiments, biasing forces are provided that urge the rotor toward a bearing component. The biasing force may be provided by adjusting drive signals of the motor stator. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more magnets (e.g., permanent/stator magnets) may be provided to bias the rotor in the upstream and/or downstream direction (e.g., toward a bearing (chamfer, step, conical), or the like).

Abstract: Health care information for multiple patients is processed to classify patients into categories. Additional data fields related to a category in which a patient is classified are added to the patient record. These data fields are populated in part by automatically processing the existing patient data. Such automatic processing can result in a probability that the underlying data supports having a particular value stored in one of the added data fields, and this probability also can be stored. Over time, additional data can be obtained from patients, caregivers and other sources, for structured data fields based on data entry forms for patient reported outcomes, caregiver reported outcomes, events of interest, survival and resource utilization. A set of factor scores is computed for each patient, for each category in which the patient is classified.

Abstract: An anchor platform assembly for anchoring an object to a raised, generally flat roof-like structure, has an anchor baseplate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and an internally threaded blindbore extending at least partially from the top surface generally towards the bottom surface and fasteners for fastening an object to the anchor baseplate via its blindbore and for fastening the anchor baseplate to a top surface of a roof-like structure. The assembly is especially intended for supporting, e.g., glass railings on balconies terraces and flat roofs and for mounted solar panels on both flat and pitched roofs which provides strength and affords watertight performance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating blood behavior when flowing through an implantable medical device are provided. A flow loop includes the implantable medical device, and a blood reservoir configured to contain a volume of blood and to supply blood from the volume of blood to the implantable medical device. The flow loop further includes a plurality of tubing sections coupled in flow communication between the implantable medical device and the blood reservoir, the plurality of tubing sections including a least a first tubing section having a first diameter and a second tubing section having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter, and a flow diverter coupled in flow communication between the plurality of tubing sections and the blood reservoir, the flow diverter comprising an outlet that is configured to be positioned below a surface of the volume of blood.

Abstract: Provided herein are nanoparticle compositions (e.g., nanoparticle compositions comprising high atomic number ions) that are useful for imaging diseases in a subject as well as radiosensitizing a disease in a subject (e.g., radiosensitizing a cancer in the subject). Methods of imaging a subject, methods of treating cancer, and processes of preparing the nanoparticle compositions are also provided.