Abstract: Topical personal care compositions containing amino acids and nicotinamide for potentiating glutathione synthesis within skin cells. The compositions can be used to improve skin appearance of chronological aging or photoaging, resulting from exposure to UV light/sunlight, or environmental pollutants. The compositions are also useful for attaining even skin color and reducing pigmentation, age spots and discoloration.

Abstract: A lock including a housing and an opening for receiving a locking bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position is provided. The lock also includes a rotary actuator having a rotary output of a predetermined amount and responsive to entry of an electronic combination input by a user; a cam wheel operably coupled to the housing and responsive to a manual combination input of the user, the cam wheel including a cam way; a bolt release lever moveably coupled to the housing and including a nose portion engageable with the cam way and a locking bar; and an armature post responsive to both the rotary and manual inputs, the armature post moveable between a blocking position for blocking the locking bolt in the locked position and an unblocking position for allowing the locking bolt to move into the unlocked position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a SOCS1-derived peptide for use in chronic complications of diabetes, particularly ocular, renal, nerve and vascular complications, as well as compositions containing same and isolated polynucleotides encoding same. The present invention also relates to the SOCS1-derived peptide for topical use in the treatment and/or prevention of neurodegenerative diseases of the retina, particularly in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy and other diseases of the retina in which neurodegeneration plays an essential role.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and system for treating ballast water and ballast water treatment systems in order for treatment effects to be carried out, such as controlling the transportation of undesirable and invasive marine organisms. In particular, the disclosure relates to methods and systems for applying a superimposed time-varying frequency electromagnetic wave comprising both AC and DC components in a pulsating manner to ballast water within a ballast water treatment system.

Abstract: A white light source includes an array of light emitting elements arranged to a light guide. A light in-coupling array is arranged so that each light emitting element faces a light in-coupling element to incouple in the light guide a portion of the divergent light beams so that the in-coupled angle of at least a part of the light rays of the in-coupled light beam is higher than 45°. An array of light homogenizing elements is arranged so that each light homogenizing element faces a light incoupling element and so that the deflection angle of at least a fraction of the incident part of the in-coupled light beam incident on each of said homogenizing elements is higher than 45°. The white light source provides a uniform outcoupled white light beam.

Abstract: A fiber optic shelving system includes a shelf including a plurality of holes, a plurality of fiber optic filaments, each of the plurality of fiber optic filaments having a first end and a second end, and the first end being coupled to one of the plurality of holes, a holder configured to hold the second ends and expose terminal surfaces of the plurality of fiber optic filaments, a first camera configured to capture an image of the terminal surfaces of the plurality of fiber optic filaments, and a second camera configured to capture an image of a side of one or more products on the shelf. The fiber optic shelving system determines a number of products on the shelf based on the captured image of the terminal surfaces of the plurality of fiber optic filaments and the captured image of the side of one or more products on the shelf.

Abstract: A flowing electrolyte battery can be quickly and safely electrically stripped using electrolyte. The battery includes: a stack comprising a plurality of electrodes; a negative electrolyte circuit coupled to the stack, for circulating negative electrolyte through the stack; a positive electrolyte circuit coupled to the stack, for circulating positive electrolyte through the stack; and a valve coupling the positive electrolyte circuit and the negative electrolyte circuit. The valve includes a closed configuration that prevents flow of electrolyte between the positive electrolyte circuit and the negative electrolyte circuit, and an open configuration that enables flow of electrolyte from at least one of the positive electrolyte circuit and the negative electrolyte circuit to the other of the positive electrolyte circuit and the negative electrolyte circuit. The valve is opened and closed by changes in pressure differences between the positive and the negative electrolyte circuits.

Abstract: A method may include receiving a selection of a first variation of a consumer product from multiple consumer product variations. Each consumer product variation may include a first and a second surface, each including a depth attribute and a texture map with a sync point (first and second of each, respectively). The method may also include generating a single image of the consumer product as implemented in the first variation based on the first depth attribute and the second depth attribute, where each of the first surface and the second surface may include a texture map including a sync point. For the method, the first and the second sync points may be selected so that transitions between the first surface and the second surface in the single image depict a designated manufacturer matching scheme that matches a pattern feature from the first surface with the second surface.

Abstract: A method for assessing the presence and/or severity of fibrotic NASH in a subject, including measuring cytokeratin 18 (CK-18), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA) in a sample of the subject. Also, a non-invasive accurate blood test for diagnosing fibrotic NASH including the determination of a score based on the combination of CK-18, AST and HOMA. Further, a method for treating fibrotic NASH and a method for monitoring treatment response.

Abstract: Skin lightening additives and personal care compositions containing amino acids and PPAR activating fatty acids compounds. The compositions are useful for attaining even skin color and reducing pigmentation, age spots and discoloration.

Abstract: In vivo gene therapies for immune deficiencies are described. The in vivo gene therapies utilize a foamy viral vector including a PGK promoter with a therapeutic gene. The foamy viral vector can be beneficially administered with cell mobilization into the peripheral blood.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blade guard (1) for a wiper (100) of a vehicle (200), the blade guard (1) comprising a first part (11) and a second part (12), the first part (11) being configured to allow the blade guard (1) to be attached on the wiper (100), the second part (12) being intended to come into contact with a glazed surface (50) of the vehicle (200), characterized in that the second part (12) is configured to contain a product to be applied onto the glazed surface (50). The invention also relates to a wiper (100) comprising such a blade guard (1).

Abstract: Cytoablative treatments lead to severe damages on thymic epithelial cells (TECs), which result in delayed de novo thymopoïesis and a prolonged period of T-cell immunodeficiency. Understanding the mechanisms that govern thymic regeneration is of paramount interest for the recovery of a functional immune system notably after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Here, the inventors show that administration of RANK ligand (RANKL) after total body irradiation and BMT boosts thymic regeneration. Notably, this treatment is also beneficial upon BMT in aged individuals. The inventors show that RANKL can improve thymopoiesis in aged individuals affected by thymic involution. Finally, the inventors show that RANK receptor is conserved in the human thymus. Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention relates to a method of boosting thymic regeneration in a patient suffering from a thymic injury comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a RANKL polypeptide.

Abstract: Methods include inputting an array of pixels, where each pixel in the array of pixels has a pixel dose. The array of pixels represents dosage on a surface to be exposed with a plurality of patterns, each pattern of the plurality of patterns having an edge. A target bias is input. An edge of a pattern in the plurality of patterns is identified. For each pixel which is in a neighborhood of the identified edge, a calculated pixel dose is calculated such that the identified edge is relocated by the target bias. The array of pixels with the calculated pixel doses is output. Systems for performing the methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fluid-based cooling element is provided. The fluid-based cooling element is configured for cooling a heat generating element arranged on a printed circuit board (100). The method comprises forming a base body comprising a plate-shaped base body portion and an inner base body portion integrally formed with the plate-shaped base body portion. The step of forming the base body comprises forming the plate-shaped base body portion and the inner base body portion by means of die casting. The inner base body portion comprises a plurality of protrusions formed on an upper side of the inner base body portion. The protrusions have a gap size in a range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

Abstract: A boot includes an outsole having a bottom surface configured to contact the ground, and a baseboard configured to support a wearer's foot and having an upper surface defined by a forefoot portion, an arch portion, and a heel portion, the upper surface of the baseboard defining an outer perimeter. When the boot is at rest on a flat surface, a maximum height of the heel portion of the baseboard above the flat surface is smaller than a maximum height of the arch portion of the baseboard above the flat surface. The boot can include an upper secured to the baseboard at or below the outer perimeter of the upper surface of the baseboard, and a footbed having an upper surface configured to contact a wearer's foot and a lower surface that substantially matches the upper surface of the baseboard.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the breakage strength of first and second cemented surfaces of well cementation under a dynamic load, includes: producing a rock-set cement-casing composite structure sample; clamping the sample between an incident rod and an output rod of a Hopkinson rod, hitting the incident rod with a conical punch to generate incident waves, enabling the incident waves to pass through the sample to generate reflected waves and projected waves, recording dynamic strain signals of incident waves, reflected waves and projected waves, and converting the dynamic strain signals into electrical signals and transmitting the electrical signals to a computer; recording the process and the corresponding time point from breakage starting to a complete breakage of the first and second cemented surfaces by a photographic instrument; obtaining a strain rate time travel curve and a stress-strain curve, and obtaining the corresponding breakage strength by analyzing the curve peak points.

Abstract: A system for cleaning at least one glazed surface (21) comprises at least two devices (100 to 111) for projecting a cleaning product onto an associated glazed surface. The projection devices each include an electronic control module (120) configured to drive the operation of the corresponding projection device depending on control instructions, and the cleaning system includes a powerline bus common to the at least two projection devices (100 to 111), which are linked electrically to the powerline bus (11) independently of one another and in successive areas (90, 92) of said powerline bus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for partially coating a surface of an object, comprising the following steps: (a) optional hydrophobization of the surface of the object; (b) partial application of (b1) a liquid and subsequent application of a powderous or granular substance or (b2) a solution or suspension of said powderous or granular substance in a liquid; (c) drying the surface to form spatially-delimited salt or powder crusts; (d) coating the surface with at least one layer of a metal or a metal compound; and (e) removing the salt or powder crusts that have been produced. The invention also relates to products that have been produced according to the claimed method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a windscreen wiper for a system for wiping a window of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising: a wiper blade (16), a strip-shaped, resilient, elongated support element (18), a longitudinal retaining member (30) for the blade (16) which comprises a first longitudinal housing (32) for receiving a heel (34) of the blade (16) and a second longitudinal housing (42) for receiving said support element (18), and a longitudinal body (14) which forms an aerodynamic deflector (20) and which comprises means for hooking onto the retaining member (30), characterized in that the longitudinal body (14) is fixed in a non-detachable manner to the retaining member (30).