Abstract: A method and an apparatus for encoding and/or decoding digital images, wherein the encoding apparatus includes a processor configured for determining weights of a graph related to an image by minimizing a cost function, transforming the weights through a graph Fourier transform, quantizing the transformed weights, computing transformed coefficients through a graph Fourier transform of a graph having the transformed weights as weights, de-quantizing the quantized transformed weights, computing a reconstructed image through an inverse graph Fourier transform on the basis of the de-quantized transformed weights, computing a distortion cost on the basis of the reconstructed image and the original image, generating a final encoded image on the basis of the distortion cost.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for treating diseases that produce elevated intraocular pressures, such as glaucoma, wherein the device includes a housing shell defining a cavity between a first end and a second end of the housing shell, and an elastic membrane disposed within the cavity to divide the cavity into a fluidic channel that permits a flow of fluid from the first end to the second end and a sealed cavity. The elastic membrane deforms to change the volume of the sealed cavity responsive to pressure fluctuations between the first and second ends, thereby varying the fluidic resistance of the flow of fluid through the fluidic channel.

Abstract: A novel mechanical system, based on a new cable driven mechanical transmission, able to provide sufficient dexterity, stiffness, speed, precision and payload capacity to actuate multi-DOF micro-manipulators. Besides the possibility of being used in several articulated surgical instruments and robotic systems for surgery or other applications involving remote manipulation, it enables the design of a novel fully mechanical surgical instrument, which offer the advantages of conventional laparoscopy (low cost, tactile feedback, high payload capacity) combined with the advantages of single port surgery (single incision, scarless surgery, navigation through several quadrants of the abdominal cavity) and robotic surgery (greater degrees of freedom, short learning curve, high stiffness, high precision, increased intuition).

Abstract: A device (100) is provided for treating diseases that produce elevated intraocular pressures, such as glaucoma, wherein the device (100) includes a housing shell (101) defining a cavity (107) between a first end (102) and a second end (104) of the housing shell (101), and an elastic membrane (110) disposed within the cavity (107) to divide the cavity (107) into a fluidic channel (106) that permits a flow of fluid from the first end (102) to the second (104) end and a sealed cavity (112). The elastic membrane (110) deforms to change the volume of the sealed cavity (107) responsive to pressure fluctuations between the first and second ends (102, 104), thereby varying the fluidic resistance of the flow of fluid through the fluidic channel (106).

Abstract: A real-time diagnosis aid method including: (a) providing a decision-support system for autonomous medical diagnosis to a user of a medical system, the system comprising a display module and software modules embodied on a computer readable medium; (b) generating on the display module an ordered list of diagnostic clues to look at by the user according to the diagnostic clues already filled in as absent or present, the ordered list being based on the relevance of looking at respective diagnostic clues to quickly lead to a diagnosis by the user; (c) receiving from the user, information on presence or absence of one or more diagnosis clues listed in the ordered list; and (d) processing the received information to update the ordered list and provide on the display module an indication of the probability of each possible diagnosis.

Abstract: The invention relates to heterodimeric inactivatable chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) and their use for treatment.

Abstract: Using a transformation based at least in part on a non-simple orthogonal or unitary matrix, data may be transmitted over a data bus in a manner that is resilient to one or more types of signal noise, that does not require a common reference at the transmission and acquisition points, and/or that has a pin-efficiency that is greater than 50% and may approach that of single-ended signaling. Such transformations may be implemented in hardware in an efficient manner. Hybrid transformers that apply such transformations to selected subsets of signals to be transmitted may be used to adapt to various signal set sizes and/or transmission environment properties including noise and physical space requirements of given transmission environments.

Abstract: The present disclosure refers to systems for electrical neurostimulation of a spinal cord of a subject in need of nervous system function support. In one example, a system comprises a signal processing device configured to receive signals from the subject and operate signal-processing algorithms to elaborate stimulation parameter settings; one or more multi-electrode arrays suitable to cover a portion of the spinal cord of the subject; and an Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG) configured to receive the stimulation parameter settings from the signal processing device and simultaneously deliver independent current or voltage pulses to the one or more multiple electrode arrays, wherein the independent current or voltage pulses provide multipolar spatiotemporal stimulation of spinal circuits and/or dorsal roots. Such system advantageously enables effective control of nervous system functions in the subject by stimulating the spinal cord, such as the dorsal roots of the spinal cord, with spatiotemporal selectivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing monomers via depolymerisation from lignocellulose-containing biomass.

Abstract: A polymer-based optoelectronic interface comprises an elastomeric substrate (10) and a plurality of discrete photovoltaic pixel elements (20) disposed on top of the substrate. Each pixel element comprises at least one active layer comprising a semiconducting polymer or polymer mixture. The pixel elements are excitable by light to generate an electric signal via a photovoltaic process. For mechanically protecting the pixel elements, an elastomeric encapsulation layer (30) can be disposed on top of the substrate, the encapsulation layer defining access openings (31) for the pixel elements (20). Pillar-like structures (40) can be disposed on the pixel elements. Methods for fabricating such an optoelectronic interface are also disclosed. The optoelectronic interface can be used as a retinal prosthesis.

Abstract: Several embodiments of the present disclosure relate to therapeutic compositions configured to target the liver of a subject and that are useful in the treatment or prevention of one or more of transplant rejection, autoimmune disease, food allergy, and immune response against a therapeutic agent. In several embodiments, the compositions are configured to target the liver and deliver antigens to which tolerance is desired. In several embodiments, the compositions are configured for clearance of a circulating protein or peptide or antibody associated with one or more of the above-mentioned maladies. Methods and uses of the compositions for induction of immune tolerance are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making nanopores in thin layers or monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides that enables accurate and controllable formation of pore within those thin layer(s) with sub-nanometer precision.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an organic cavity injection device including an injection cannula for injecting a photo-activatable substance inside an organic cavity; at least one element or a plurality of elements configured to control the removal of a resident substance from the organic cavity and simultaneously prevent removal of the non-activated photo-activatable substance from the organic cavity; and an optical waveguide for providing electromagnetic radiation inside the organic cavity to the photo-activatable substance to photoactive the photo-activatable substance inside the organic cavity.

Abstract: Several embodiments of the present disclosure relate to glycotargeting therapeutics that are useful in the treatment of transplant rejection, autoimmune disease, food allergy, and immune response against a therapeutic agent. In several embodiments, the compositions are configured to target the liver and deliver antigens to which tolerance is desired. Methods and uses of the compositions for induction of immune tolerance are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bicistronic expression vector for silencing a gene specifically in astrocytes and neurons, comprising two expression cassettes comprising a first and a second silencer sequence, respectively, wherein the expression of said first silencer sequence within astrocytes is regulated by an astrocyte-specific promoter and the expression of said second silencer sequence within neurons is regulated by a neuron-specific promoter. In a preferred embodiment, said first and second silencer sequences are SOD1 silencer sequences. Pharmaceutical composition comprising said bicistronic vector and the use of the same in the treatment of motoneuron diseases are further described.

Abstract: Peptides that specifically bind erythrocytes are described. These are provided as peptidic ligands having sequences that specifically bind, or as antibodies or fragments thereof that provide specific binding, to erythrocytes. The peptides may be prepared as molecular fusions with therapeutic agents, tolerizing antigens, or targeting peptides. Immunotolerance may be created by use of the fusions and choice of an antigen on a substance for which tolerance is desired. Fusions with targeting peptides direct the fusions to the target, for instance a tumor, where the erythrocyte-binding ligands reduce or entirely eliminate blood flow to the tumor by recruiting erythrocytes to the target.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing monomers via depolymerisation from lignocellulose-containing biomass.

Abstract: The present relates to a Metal hydride compressor control method for generating a variable output pressure P_desired_outPut, comprising a first step of inflowing gaseous hydrogen into a metal hydride compartment at a constant temperature and then stopping the gaseous hydrogen inflow, a second step of heating the metal hydride to a predetermined temperature which corresponds to a temperature which passes through the ?+? phase at the desired output pressure P_desired_output, a third step of opening the output connection of the compressor and keeping it at a constant pressure by regulating the temperature to keep a constant output pressure P_desired_outPut until the system completely leaves the ?+? phase.

Abstract: Provided herein are materials and methods for efficiently delivering nucleic acids to cochlear and vestibular cells, and methods of treating sensory transduction disorders associated with a genetic defect.

Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional object comprising computing a sequence of back-projections describing the three-dimensional object to be formed from different orientation angles of the object, defining a sequence of patterns of light using the back-projections, and irradiating with each of the patterns of light at the respective corresponding orientation angle. According to the defined sequence, a photoresponsive material is capable of altering its material phase, upon irradiation by light, thereby creating a three-dimensional distribution of alterations within the photoresponsive medium which physically reproduces the three-dimensional object, thereby creating the three-dimensional object.