Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, methods of treating a cardiac disease or condition in a patient having muscular dystrophy that can include administering to a subject suffering from, susceptible, or diagnosed with muscular dystrophy an angiotensin (1-7) peptide.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for generating location-based playlists. The disclosed method includes providing a music service for generating playlists for a location, identifying users having respective user devices within the defined boundaries of the location, and aggregating music preferences of the identified users. Each of the user devices have access to the music service and the aggregated music preferences of the identified users identify a plurality of music tracks. The disclosed method further includes generating a playlist having the plurality of music tracks based on the aggregated music preferences and providing an access to the generated playlist to the identified users at the location. The plurality of music tracks of the playlist is provided for listening by the music service to one or more of the user devices.

Abstract: A thin, freestanding, microporous polyolefin web with good heat resistance and dimensional stability includes an inorganic surface layer. A first preferred embodiment is a microporous polyolefin base membrane in which colloidal inorganic particles are present in its bulk structure. Each of second and third preferred embodiments is a thin, freestanding microporous polyolefin web that has an inorganic surface layer containing no organic hydrogen bonding component for the inorganic particles. The inorganic surface layer of the second embodiment is achieved by hydrogen bonding with use of an inorganic acid, and the inorganic surface layer of the third embodiment is achieved by one or both of hydrogen bonding and chemical reaction of the surface groups on the inorganic particles.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing autonomous vehicle operation analysis. A method includes sensor data being received from sensor devices that is representative of an environment and operation of a human-operated vehicle. Human event data is determined based upon the received sensor data. Event data associated with operation of an autonomous vehicle is received. The human event data is correlated with the autonomous vehicle event data based upon degree of similarity of human-operated vehicle events and autonomous vehicle events with respect to driving scenarios. Safety-related analysis is generated, by the one or more data processors, based upon the correlated human-operated vehicle events and autonomous vehicle events.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus for use in a tubular include a mandrel, a first slip, a cone, and a seal element. The mandrel, which can be permanent or temporary, has a first end shoulder. The first slip is disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first end shoulder, and the cone is disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first slip. The cone is movable relative to the first end shoulder to engage the first slip toward the tubular. The seal element is disposed on the mandrel adjacent the cone. At least a portion of the seal element is composed of a dissolvable metallic material and is expandable outward from the mandrel. The expanded portion of the seal element forms a metal seal against the tubular and seals off fluid communication in the annular space between the seal element and the tubular.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes one or more fuel injectors are described. The systems and methods may characterize fuel injector operation during a time when injecting fuel may be useful to maintain balance of a catalyst to reduce engine emissions. Further, large or small amounts of fuel may be injected without affecting engine combustion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a separate interest rate for an individual transaction are disclosed. A system may provide a service associated with a account having an account balance and an associated first interest rate. The system may include a service device having one or memory devices storing instructions and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to perform a separate interest rate service process. The process may include providing a separate interest rate service offer to a client device and receiving a separate interest rate selection from the client device. The process may also include determining a selected portion of the account balance corresponding to an amount to which a second interest rate, different from the first interest rate, is to be applied based on the separate interest rate selection.

Abstract: A tool for installing a blind fastener including a core bolt and a core nut is provided. The tool includes a driving member, a collet driven by the driving member for engaging the core bolt, and an external sleeve for holding the core nut and preventing the core nut from rotating during installation of the blind fastener. The external sleeve is movable between a first position in which the external sleeve is driven by the collet to rotate with the collet and a second position in which the external sleeve is stationary despite rotating action of the collet.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seatback having an interior portion and a seat portion having an interior portion. A belt member includes first and second ends and a deployable portion disposed therebetween. The deployable portion is operable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The deployable portion of the belt member is disposed within the interior portion of the seatback and the interior portion of the seat portion when the deployable portion is in the stowed position. The deployable portion of the belt member is disposed outside of the interior portion of the seatback and outside of the interior portion of the seat portion when the deployable portion is in the deployed position. One or more retractor mechanisms are operably coupled to the belt member and operative to retract a portion of the deployable portion of the belt member after or during deployment.

Abstract: A transcatheter, percutaneously implantable, prosthetic heart valve is provided that comprises a lattice frame and two or more integrated cusp and leaflet folded structures attached to the lattice frame. The two or more integrated cusp and leaflet folded structures each comprise a flat sheet of biocompatible membrane that is folded to include a substantially conical shape according to a flat folding pattern. The substantially conical shape is further formed by joining apposing sides of the substantially conical shape along a seam. The two or more integrated cusp and leaflet folded structures are each attached along their respective seams to the lattice frame in a direction substantially parallel to an axis of the lattice frame. Embodiments of valves described herein have application within the entire vascular system.

Abstract: A power system is disclosed. The power system includes a first power generating unit. The first power generating unit includes a first power converting subunit and a first control unit coupled to the first power converting subunit, where the first control unit is configured to regulate a voltage of the first power generating unit. The power system further includes a second power generating unit coupled to the first power generating unit and a load, where the second power generating unit includes a second power converting subunit and a second control unit coupled to the second power converting subunit, wherein the second control unit is configured to control a current of the second power generating unit to share a quantity of electrical output current flowing through the load among the first and second power generating units.

Abstract: An MR code is generated within a browser on a client device and is read by a mobile application on a mobile device. A communication channel is then established through a web-based service, between the browser and the mobile application on the mobile device. The mobile application generates a user interface display on the mobile device that allows user selection of content. The mobile application sends a link to that content to the browser, which accesses and renders the content on the client device. User input commands to control the rendered content are also received at the mobile device and sent to the browser through the communication channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the resistance of a power cable of an ESP. The nameplate resistance of the motor is determined prior to installation of the ESP in the well, and the temperature is determined for a point in the well at which the motor will be positioned. The downhole temperature and nameplate resistance are used to calculate an initial downhole resistance of the motor. After the ESP is installed, but before operation of the ESP is initiated, the electric drive for the system generates a measurement voltage and applies the measurement voltage to the power cable and motor. The corresponding current is then measured and is used to calculate the resistance of the string (the combined power cable and motor). The calculated initial downhole resistance of the motor is then subtracted from the resistance of the string to obtain the resistance of the power cable.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a resonant converter circuit may be formed to include a light-load control circuit that forms a sequence to control one or more transistors wherein the sequence includes a drive interval having a drive pattern to drive the one or more transistors and a subsequent Off-interval wherein the one or more transistors are switched. A first circuit of the light-load control circuit may be configured to form the drive pattern as a repeated sequence of a pulse set that sequentially enables the one or more transistors with a base set followed by a number of non-switching intervals wherein each non-switching interval is a period of a signal formed in response to driving the one or more transistors with the base set.

Abstract: A method is provided for converting heat from a heat source to mechanical energy. The method comprises heating a working fluid using heat supplied from the heat source; and expanding the heated working fluid to lower pressure of the working fluid and generating mechanical energy as the pressure of the working fluid is lowered. The method is characterized by using a working fluid comprising (2E)-1,1,1,4,5,5,5-heptafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)pent-2-ene (HFO-153-10mzzy). Also provided is a power cycle apparatus. The apparatus is characterized by containing a working fluid comprising HFO-153-10mzzy.

Abstract: A statistical multiplexer (statmux) system for encoding multiple channels of digital television data is provided with improved algorithms for determining bitrate for encoding and decoding to account for signal complexity. The variable bit rate (VBR) encoders and encoding are provided in a statmux system by employing a CBR (constant bit rate) adapter. A CBR adapter can provide correcting state updates on a per-frame basis to a CBR encoder element, thereby enabling VBR capability.

Abstract: A bio-based polyurethane foam manufactured by a process that involves cleaning a bio-based polyoxyalkylene glycol polyol by a method comprising the steps of adding an adsorbent to the bio-based polyoxyalkylene glycol polyol to create a mixture in the ratio of 0.5% to 5.0% adsorbent to bio-based polyoxyalkylene glycol polyol by weight, stirring the mixture in a gaseous nitrogen environment, replacing the gaseous nitrogen environment with a gaseous carbon dioxide environment, and filtering the mixture to separate impurities from the mixture and create a cleaned bio-based polyoxyalkylene glycol polyol; then mixing the cleaned bio-based polyoxyalkylene glycol polyol with a polyfunctional isocyanate to create a bio-based polyurethane prepolymer; and then foaming the bio-based polyurethane prepolymer by admixing with an excess of water to make the bio-based polyurethane foam.

Abstract: Photoresist compositions are provided comprising a radiation sensitive component and at least two distinct novolak resins. In one aspect, photoresists of the invention exhibit notably high dissolution rates, such as in excess of 800 angstroms per second in aqueous developer solution. In another aspect, photoresists of the invention can exhibit good photospeeds, such as 100 mJ/cm2 or less.

Abstract: A DC-DC power converter including switched inductance circuits arranged in parallel is described. Operation includes determining a commanded current and activation commands for the switched inductance circuits based upon the commanded current. This includes executing the activation commands and monitoring current in the switched inductance circuits. An average measured current is determined for each of the switched inductance circuits, and a modified activation command is determined for each of the switched inductance circuits based upon the average measured current. A time portion of the modified activation command that exceeds an end time point of a subsequent time period is determined, and the modified activation commands for the switched inductance circuits are executed, including forward-shifting that time portion of the modified activation command for each of the switched inductance circuits that exceeds the end time point.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for video encoding/decoding. In some examples, an apparatus for video decoding includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry can decode prediction information for a current block in a current picture that is a part of a coded video sequence. The prediction information indicates a prediction mode for the current block and an access order for an affine history-based motion vector predictor (HMVP) buffer. The processing circuitry constructs a motion vector predictor (MVP) list including an affine HMVP candidate from the affine HMVP buffer according to the access order. The processing circuitry can reconstruct the current block based on the MVP list.