Abstract: A method for speech quality degradation estimation, a method for degradation measures calculation, and the apparatuses thereof are provided. The first method above estimates the speech quality of a speech signal that is modified by a pitch-synchronous prosody modification method, which comprises the following steps. First, extract at least one source pitchmark from the speech signal, and then maps the source pitchmark(s) to at least one target pitchmark(s). Finally, calculate at least one degradation measure based on the mapping between the source and the target pitchmarks. The degradation measures include several weighted pitch-related functions and duration-related functions, where the weighting functions can be calculated based on the speech signal or the pitchmark(s) mapping mentioned above.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the finding that microRNA-146 plays a role modulating the innate immune response. Innate immunity receptor signaling can be modulated by delivery of microRNA-146 (miR-146) or antisense miR-146 to target immune cells. In some embodiments, IL-1 receptor associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) and TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) expression levels are downregulated in a target cell by administering a miR-146 oligonucleotide. Modulation of the innate immune system through miR-146 can be used to treat a variety of diseases and disorders associated with activation of the innate immune system, such as sepsis and Crohn's disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing a polymer composite membrane whose dimensional stability in accordance with hydration is good and a proton conductivity is improved by introducing a fluorinated polymer with a good excellent dimensional stability to sulfonated hydrocarbon-based polymers as proton conducting materials.

Abstract: A device for delivering and deploying a radially expandable prosthesis is disclosed and comprises a proximal prosthesis release mechanism having a first resistance and a distal prosthesis release mechanism having a second resistance. The device further comprises an actuation mechanism for actuating the distal and proximal release mechanisms in a single coordinated movement and a biasing compensator for regulating the relationship between the first resistance and the second resistance. Additional aspects of the invention include devices and methods for delivering and deploying a radially expandable prosthesis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the formation of ceramic bodies. Methods of the invention involve processing ceramic-forming compositions to form an integrally self-supporting or stabilized structure, which may then be sintered to give the full-density ceramic product. Methods of the invention may also involve densification of the ceramic body. In one set of embodiments, the volume of the integrally self-supporting structure is reduced by at least 20%. The present invention may produce ceramic bodies having greater strength and durability, since the ceramic-forming compositions may be low in viscosity and may be homogeneously blended, decreasing the possibility for defects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing composite polymer electrolyte membranes coated with inorganic thin films for fuel cells using a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method or a reactive sputtering method, so as to reduce the crossover of methanol through polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells and enhance the performance of the fuel cells. The manufacturing method of composite polymer electrolyte membranes coated with inorganic thin films for fuel cells according to the present invention is characterized to obtain composite membranes by coating the surface of commercial composite polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells with inorganic thin films using a PECVD method or a reactive sputtering method. The inorganic materials to form the inorganic thin films are chosen one or more from the group comprising silicon oxide (SiO2), titanium oxide (TiO2), zirconium oxide (ZrO2), zirconium phosphate (Zr(HPO4)2), zeolite, silicalite, and aluminum oxide (Al2O3).

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for detecting a signal in a communication system using a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) scheme. The signal detection apparatus includes a detector for generating second matrixes by extending a first matrix composed of channel response vectors, generating specific matrixes by decomposing the second matrixes, generating a lattice point of vectors constituting the second matrixes, estimating a signal using the generated specific matrixes and lattice point, and detecting the estimated signal as a received signal if the estimated signal has a value within a predetermined allowable range.

Abstract: Disclosed are a sealing element and a sealing method for sealing both ends of an anode-supported tubular solid oxide fuel cell. The sealing element includes a coupling tube having a first end portion opened to an exterior and a second end portion having a perforation hole, in which the coupling tube is formed with an internal cavity having a shape corresponding to an external appearance of an end portion of the fuel cell; and a flow tube extending outward from the center of the second end portion of the coupling tube and being formed with a hollow section, which axially extends while communicating with the perforation hole of the coupling tube.

Abstract: A transmitting apparatus and method in an OFDM system are provided. In the transmitting apparatus, a channel information receiver receives channel information. A rate allocator calculates a variable data rate. A scheduler allocates channel resources according to the channel information and the variable data rate.

Abstract: In order to manufacture the compound powder or the porous granulated substance in an efficient manner, a powder processing apparatus has an accumulating face on which the processing target powder is to be accumulated and a processing face disposed in opposition to the accumulating face and convexly curved, and a moving means for moving the accumulating face and the processing face along the accumulating face relative to each other. The apparatus comprises an excitement treatment means capable of applying an excitation energy to the processing target powder accumulated on the accumulating face from an excitation energy supplying portion disposed in opposition to the accumulating face or an oscillation means for oscillating the accumulating face or the processing face in a direction intersecting the accumulating face.

Abstract: A radio communication apparatus for performing transmission and reception based on radio communication includes: a power suppressor for coupling loop interference signal for attenuating signal power of a received signal to suppress the coupling loop interference signal power of the received signal; and a transceiver having a coupling loop interference signal removal function for analog domain and/or a coupling loop interference signal removal function for digital domain, for removing a coupling loop interference signal contained in a signal output from the power suppressor for coupling loop interference signal.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for checking a pipelined parallel cyclic redundancy is disclosed. In accordance with the method and the apparatus of the present invention, after an entire CRC (cyclic redundancy check) logic is divided into a feedback portion and an input data portion, the input data portion is divided using a pipelined structure such that the input data portion is designed to have the pipelined structure based on an algorithm that maintains a logic level of each stage to be lower than that of the feedback portion and an algorithm that optimizes a size of a register inserted during the division to improve a speed thereof and to detect an error of a received data in a high speed data communication apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lazy bulk insertion method for moving object indexing, which utilizes a hash-based data structure to overcome the disadvantages of an R-tree, and uses two buffers to simultaneously store operations in the buffers and process queries stored in the buffers, so that the overall update cost can be reduced. In the lazy bulk insertion method, a buffer is substituted and a state of the buffer is changed to a deactivated state if an input query cannot be stored in the buffer. Operations stored in the deactivated buffer are sequentially analyzed, information about objects corresponding to respective operations is obtained from a direct link to analyze the operations, and thus the operations are aligned on the basis of object IDs. Operations, aligned in ascending order of spatial objects, are identified depending on respective objects, effectiveness of the operations is determined, and thus the operations are realigned on the basis of terminal node IDs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tissue sealant which is safe and effective.

Abstract: A method for protecting catalytic metal-based sensor for sensing the presence of hydrogen in an environment comprising, depositing a protective layer on said sensor, said protective layer being permeable to hydrogen.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate, which includes the steps of (a) forming a buried oxidation layer to a predetermined depth of a first wafer and forming an oxidation layer on a surface of the first wafer; (b) bonding a second wafer onto the first wafer; (c) selectively removing the oxidation layer so as to expose a bottom surface of the first wafer; (d) selectively removing the exposed bottom silicon layer of the first wafer using the buried oxidation layer as an etch stop layer; and (e) removing the buried oxidation layer to expose a top surface of the first wafer, and thinning the exposed top surface of the first wafer to a predetermined thickness, so that a process can be relatively simple and can be readily carried out, thereby manufacturing an SOI substrate having a uniform silicon thickness of high quality and an ultra thin characteristic.

Abstract: A method for designing compounds specifically targeting RNA sequences, based on the discovery of short, specific sequences within RNA that are critical to function, using modeling of the compound to effect binding to the nucleotide sequences in the RNA in combination with secondary and/or tertiary structure associated with the minor groove of the RNA in the region of the critical sequences. In the preferred method, computer modeling is used along with analysis of the targeted RNA sequence to design molecules binding to the targeted RNA by covalent or hydrogen binding. Appropriate molecules are synthesized using known methodology that have the required structure and chemical characteristics to specifically bind the critical region of the RNA and thereby inhibit the function of the RNA. Molecules known to bind to RNA can also be modified using this method to increase specificity, and thereby decrease toxicity.

Abstract: A scroll apparatus with an axial gap control function is described. The scroll apparatus is capable of controlling the axial gap between its fixed scroll and orbiting scroll. The scroll apparatus has a frame with a pair of indentations installed in the casing of the scroll apparatus, a pair of flexible elements installed at the lateral side top of the frame and spanning the pair of indentations for defining a suspended flexible segment at the span, a sidewall having a positioning ring with a downward protruding body corresponding to the indentation, in which the protruding body of the positioning ring is fixed to the flexible segment of the flexible element, a fixed scroll suspended at the positioning ring, and an orbiting scroll for orbiting into the fixed scroll.

Abstract: The present application relates in general to methods for testing the performance of an automotive catalytic converter under conditions simulating those which occur in motor vehicles over extended driving conditions.

Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a composition that possesses insulation values approaching that of uncompressed foam neoprene. The liquid composition is incompressible and may be formulated to be neutrally buoyant in water. The composition is suitable for a use in a number of applications where insulation is required, including divers' suits and underwater cabins, such as chambers, submersible hulls, and waterproof housings.