Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which quantifies regurgitant flow through a mitral valve. A flow quantification processor (34) in the ultrasound system produces a mathematical model of a flow velocity field proximal to a regurgitant orifice. The velocity field model produces values of velocity vectors directed toward the regurgitant orifice. These modeled values are modified for the effects of ultrasound physics and ultrasound system operation to produce expected velocity values. The expected velocity values are compared with actual Doppler velocities measured by the ultrasound system, and the differences accumulated to a mean square error which is used to adjust parameters of the model such as the orifice location and flow velocities. When this iterative processing converges with a desired comparison, parameters derived from the finally adjusted model are used to calculate the true orifice location, flow rate, and volume flow.

Abstract: A chimeric protein having deubiquitinase activity, methods of identifying anti-deubiquitinase compounds using chimeric proteins, and kits comprising chimeric proteins are described herein. In one aspect, a chimeric protein comprises a mammalian deubiquitinase catalytic domain, a linker domain, and a non-human deubiquitinase proteasome binding domain. In another aspect, a method of identifying a compound having deubiquitinase inhibition activity comprises a) providing an assay for identifying a compound having deubiquitinase inhibition activity, wherein the assay comprises one or more biological cells comprising a chimeric protein comprising a mammalian deubiquitinase catalytic domain, a linker domain, and a non-human deubiquitinase proteasome binding domain; b) screening the assay with at least one compound; and c) identifying a compound having deubiquitinase inhibition activity based on survival of the biological cell.

Abstract: New exemplary heat exchange configurations that incorporate internal or external surfaces equipped with perturbators, for changing the thermal behavior of the system, or for modulating the surface temperature distribution of the flow surfaces. This is achieved by applying an acoustic wave to the fluid flow in a heat exchange passage, and selecting the frequency of the acoustic exciting wave to be the same as the acoustic resonance frequency of the heat exchange passage itself. As the traveling waves interact with the boundaries confining the heat exchange passages, constructive interference of the incident and reflected waves give rise to a standing wave. Thus, the heat exchange passages act as a resonator, and by superimposing this standing wave on the separating and reattaching fluid flow, significant heat transfer improvement can be achieved. This is accomplished without the need to significantly increase the pressure required to achieve the desired through flow.

Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities provide a unique single-shot text detector that generates word-level text bounding boxes in an image by at least identifying text regions in the image via an automatically learned attention map and by conducting pixel-wise review of text; aggregating multi-scale inception features; generating, based at least in part on the multi-scale inception features, a set of aggregated inception features; and generating, using at least the set of aggregated inception features, the word-level text bounding boxes in the image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying frequency and match tuning in a non-overlapping manner are described. For example, a radio frequency (RF) generator is tuned for a time interval and an impedance match is not tuned for the time interval. The impedance match is tuned before or after the RF generator is tuned. Such a non-overlap in the tuning of the RF generator and the impedance match facilitates a reduction in reflected power during a pulse without the tuning of the RF generator interfering with the tuning of the impedance match.

Abstract: A low-noise wide band amplifier is realized utilizing a superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) junction, quasiparticle frequency mixers connected in tandem or in cascade, a first quasiparticle mixer performs first frequency mixing with use of a first local signal having a frequency not less than twice a frequency of an input signal to the first quasiparticle mixer, a second quasiparticle mixer performs second frequency mixing with use of a second local signal having a frequency not more than twice a frequency of an input signal to the second quasiparticle mixer, and signal amplification is performed through frequency conversion by extracting, from among a plurality of signals generated with the first and the second frequency mixing, a signal in a frequency band not more than a frequency band of the signal before the first frequency mixing and the second frequency mixing, using a transmission line or a filter.

Abstract: Novel compositions of recombinant human CC10 protein have been generated by chemically modifying the pure protein in vitro. Several new synthetic preparations containing isoforms of chemically modified rhCC10 have been generated by processes that utilize reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species. These preparations contain novel isoforms of rhCC10 which have been characterized with enhanced or altered biological properties compared to the unmodified protein. Preparations containing novel isoforms may be used as standards to identify and characterize naturally occurring isoforms of native CC10 protein from blood or urine and ultimately to measure new CC10-based biomarkers to assess patient disease status. These preparations may also be used to treat respiratory, autoimmune, inflammatory, and other medical conditions that are not effectively treated with the unmodified protein.

Abstract: In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating a molten carbonate fuel cell, such as a fuel cell assembly, with increased production of syngas while also reducing or minimizing the amount of CO2 exiting the fuel cell in the cathode exhaust stream. This can allow for improved efficiency of syngas production while also generating electrical power.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a rotary chuck and a heating assembly that faces a wafer-shaped article when positioned on the rotary chuck. A liquid dispenser positioned so as to dispense liquid onto a surface of a wafer-shaped article that faces away from the rotary chuck when positioned on the rotary chuck. The heating assembly comprises an array of radiant heating elements distributed among at least five individually controllable groups. The liquid dispenser comprises one or more dispensing orifices configured to move a discharge point from a more central region of the rotary chuck to a more peripheral region of the rotary chuck. A controller controls power supplied to each of the at least five individually controllable groups of radiant heating elements based on a position of the discharge point of the liquid dispenser.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle vision system for estimating a category of a detected object in an object pose unknown to the system includes a neural network to apply a mapping process to a region of interest in an image including the detected object in the object pose to obtain a point in a 3D manifold space. The system includes an object detector to estimate the category of the detected object in the object pose in the region of interest based on a relationship between the point representing the detected object in the object pose and a plurality of separate object clusters in the 3D manifold space. The system further includes a planner to select an improved route based on a predicted behavior of the category of the detected object in the object pose. The system also includes a controller to control operation of an autonomous vehicle according to the improved route.

Abstract: A hybrid Cascaded H-Bridge (CHB) converter includes a selective harmonic current mitigation pulse width modulation (SHCM-PWM) unit coupled to an input current and providing an output signal SWSHCM, a phase shift pulse width modulation (PSPWM) unit coupled to the input current and providing an output signal SWPS, a modulation selector coupled to the output signal SWSHCM of the SHCM-PWM unit and the output signal SWPS of the PSPWM unit and providing an output signal SW, and a CHB converter coupled to the output signal SW of the modulation selector. The modulation selector can select one of the output signals (SWSHCM and SWPS) as the output signal SW based on the input current. The hybrid technique is for cascaded multilevel converters which utilizes asymmetric SHCM to mitigate the harmonics generated from PS-PWM to meet harmonic limits with a smaller number of switching transitions and smaller inductance than the conventional PS-PWM technique.

Abstract: A method of imaging a region of interest of a body, the body having sites outside the region which can produce image clutter. The method includes: generating a first pattern of vibration within the body to produce a localised first displacement at the region and localised first displacements at the clutter-producing sites; while the body undergoes the first displacements, generating ultrasound signals from the region, and detecting the ultrasound signals to generate a first image of the region; generating a second pattern of vibration within the body to produce a localised second displacement at the region and localised second displacements at the clutter-producing sites; while the body undergoes the second displacements, generating ultrasound signals from the region, and detecting the ultrasound signals to generate a second image of the region; and combining the first and second images to produce a third image of the region.

Abstract: A loading device, a monitoring system, and a method thereof can measure stiffness of a structural member (SM), such as a bone, and monitor progress or property over time. The loading device includes two types of displacement sensors, one type being an antenna. As the SM, which is in a magnetic or electromagnetic field and electromagnetically coupled to the antenna without contact, undergoes displacement under known loads, characteristics of the electromagnetic field coupling between the antenna and the SM change over time due to the displacement of the SM. The shift in the characteristics of the electromagnetic field coupling between the antenna and the SM can be used to determine the displacement of the SM. Based on the changes in the displacement over time, diagnosis of the SM being monitored over an evaluation period can be made.

Abstract: Method for imaging regions of a sample using a light source and an optical detection means and at least one device for moving the sample in three dimensions, comprising the following method steps: a) introducing at least one magnetic element into the sample, b) applying a magnetic field by means of the at least one device for moving the sample in three dimensions, the magnetic field interacting with the at least one magnetic element introduced into the sample, c) arranging the region of the sample in a radiation region of the light source and in a detection region of the detection means, d) emitting first light beams from the light source onto the sample, e) generating second light beams by means of the sample, f) recording an image of a region of the sample by capturing a proportion, incident on the detection means from the sample, of the second light beams, g) moving the at least one magnetic element and the sample containing this at least one magnetic element by varying the magnetic field, h) repeating ste

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an imaging optical system. In one aspect, the imaging optical system includes, among other things, a light bending element configured to substantially separate electromagnetic radiation into at least two portions, and configured to redirect the at least two portions of said electromagnetic radiation into substantially different directions.

Abstract: Methods of reducing loading across a cartilaginous joint, or of reducing pain in a cartilaginous joint caused by cartilage damage in the joint. The methods involve implanting one or more magnetic devices in the bones, or affixing one or more magnetic devices onto the surface of the bones, that form the joint. For example, to reduce loading or reduce pain in a knee joint, one or more magnetic devices maybe implanted in the femur and in the tibia. The magnetic devices are oriented to generate a repulsive magnetic force between the one or more magnetic devices of each of the bones forming the joint.

Abstract: Disclosed are recombinant chimeric influenza virus vaccines and live attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) vaccines expressing foreign (RSV) neutralizing epitopes or conserved M2e epitopes that are capable of providing broader cross-protection against influenza virus and/or protecting against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) without vaccine-enhanced RSV disease (ERD).

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a thermite bag, which may be used for the disposal of hazardous material. The thermite bag includes a sealable exterior pouch, a sealable interior pouch receivable within the exterior pouch, a thermite charge receivable within the sealable interior pouch and an igniter wire contacting thermite within the thermite charge. The thermite bag also includes a power supply electrically coupled to the ignitor wire and a trigger electrically coupled to the ignitor wire and power supply. In addition, the thermite bag includes a vent including a filter, wherein the vent is coupled to the sealable exterior pouch.

Abstract: An absorber for an absorption refrigeration system for a vertically mounted plate absorber has fins positioned over the plate to promote distribution of a fluid under flow as a nearly continuous thin film. The absorber has rows of fins that are evenly spaced with the fins occupying a portion of the active width of the plate with adjacent rows offset by the width of the plate. A combined evaporator-absorber module is constructed with the absorbing face of the absorber parallel with an evaporating surface of an evaporator where absorber solution and refrigerant fall as parallel falling sheets of liquid. The absorber is covered with a porous hydrophobic membrane to isolate the falling absorber solution from the falling liquid refrigerant.

Abstract: A concentrator, wherein the concentrator comprises an air processor that includes a sampled airflow inlet slot that receives a sampled airflow that contains particles containing target material. A secondary airflow inlet slot that is located downstream from the sampled airflow inlet slot. The sampled airflow inlet slot uses centrifugal force to concentrate particles containing target material into a central portion of the sampled airflow, and produces a non-collimated sampled airflow. The secondary airflow inlet slot is operable to divide a secondary airflow from at least a part of the central portion of the sampled airflow that is received by the secondary airflow inlet slot from the sampled airflow inlet slot, and is operable to divide side primary airflows from the non-collimated sampled airflow produced by the sampled airflow inlet slot. Finally, the secondary airflow flows through the secondary airflow inlet slot.