Abstract: Provided are a signal processing method for determining an audience rating of media, and an additional information inserting apparatus, a media reproducing apparatus and an audience rating determining apparatus for performing the same method. In detail, the signal processing method for determining an audience rating of media is a method that may determine an audience rating of media with respect to a whole section of an audio signal by inserting additional information into a silence section through a noise signal.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for a vehicle may include a radio frequency (RF) assembly including an RF assembly housing to be positioned within the vehicle, an antenna carried by the RF assembly housing, an RF receiver carried by the RF assembly housing, and a motion sensor carried by the RF assembly housing. The system may further include a controller assembly including a controller assembly housing to be positioned within the vehicle spaced apart from the RF assembly, and a controller carried by the controller housing. The controller may perform at least one first operation responsive to RF signals received by the RF receiver from a remote transmitter, and perform at least one second operation responsive to the motion sensor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to method of operating television white space (TVWS) geo-location database (GLDB). The method comprises: embedding a plurality of data signals in a plurality of radio frequency (RF) broadcast signals of at least one existing television or radio channel, wherein the data signals comprise at least one of TVWS GLDB data, time reference data and broadcast transmitter data which comprises at least one of transmitter location data and transmitter identification; and transmitting, over a RF network which is other than an internet protocol (IP) network, the RF broadcast signals together with the embedded data signals to a plurality of white space devices.

Abstract: A system for reservoir formation characterization with a downhole wireless telemetry system, including at least one sensor disposed along a tubular body; at least one sensor communications node placed along the tubular body and affixed to a wall of the tubular body, the sensor communications node being in communication with the at least one sensor and configured to receive signals therefrom; a topside communications node placed proximate a surface; a plurality of intermediate communications nodes spaced along the tubular body and attached to a wall of the tubular body, wherein the intermediate communications nodes are configured to transmit signals received from the at least one sensor communications node to the topside communications node in substantially a node-to-node arrangement; a receiver at the surface configured to receive signals from the topside communications node; and a topside data acquisition system structured and arranged to communicate with the topside communications node.

Abstract: Provided is a video encoding apparatus, including a signal separator to separate a differential image block into a first domain and a second domain, based on a boundary line included in the differential image block, the differential image block indicating a difference between an original image and a prediction image with respect to the original image, a transform encoder to perform a transform encoding with respect to the first domain using a discrete cosine transform (DCT), a quantization unit to quantize an output of the transform encoding unit in a frequency domain, a space domain quantization unit to quantize the second domain in a space domain, and an entropy encoder to perform an entropy encoding using outputs of the quantization unit and the space domain quantization unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving security of a vehicle are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, from a requester, a request to access a vehicle compartment of a vehicle; determining a scope of access of the vehicle compartment for the requester based on an operation of the vehicle; and configuring a lock mechanism of the vehicle compartment based on the scope of access.

Abstract: A dual-diaphragm loudspeaker driver assembly can include a multiple pole magnet structure, and first and second pole piece assemblies can be provided on opposite first and second sides of the multiple pole magnet structure. In an example, each pole piece assembly defines an airgap over a polarity transition region on a respective side of the magnet structure. First and second voice coils can be provided in respective ones of the airgaps, wherein each of the voice coils is coupled to a respective diaphragm assembly, and at least one acoustic tuning port can be configured to provide a damped acoustic communication path between first and opposite second sides of each diaphragm assembly.

Abstract: A device may include a temperature controlled chamber. The temperature controlled chamber may be coupled to a plurality of strengthening coated capillary tubes. The strengthening coated capillary tubes may support the temperature controlled chamber and provide thermal insulation to the temperature controlled chamber.

Abstract: An optical device includes a first waveguide having a longitudinal axis and a first end facet inclined at a non-normal angle to the longitudinal axis, and a second waveguide, which has a second end facet and is fixed with the second end facet in proximity to and parallel with the first end facet. An actuator is coupled to move the first end facet of the first waveguide in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis between a first position in which a distance between the first and second end facets is less than 25 nm, and a second position in which the distance between the first and second end facets is greater than 300 nm.

Abstract: An identifier for a conduit includes a first tag having a body with a first aperture formed therein for receiving the conduit and a first identifying feature, and a second tag having a body with a second aperture formed therein for receiving the conduit and a second identifying feature that matches the first identifying feature. The first tag is attached to the conduit adjacent one end, the second tag is attached to the conduit adjacent another end, and the ends are identified as ends of the same conduit by the matching first and second identifying features.

Abstract: The invention describes the development of more potent peptide vaccines to prevent or treat infections or cancer and their administration to a subject in order to elicit a T cell response in the subject. Small synthetic peptides from the known sequences of viral, bacterial, parasitic or tumor antigens are modified so they can spontaneously form complexes with a synthetic nucleic acid, such as Poly IC, that functions as an immunological adjuvant. The peptide-nucleic acid complexes are dramatically more immunogenic as compared to the separate components. The procedure for developing the vaccine involves the conjugation of a synthetic peptide containing a C residue to poly-K using a bi-functional cross-linking reagent (SMCC). The peptide/poly-K complex was then formulated with CMC and poly-IC to produce a self-adjuvant vaccine that was 36-fold more effective as compared to the same peptide administered mixed with the same adjuvant (but not complexed to it).

Abstract: The invention discloses a compressor. The compressor includes a first primary cylinder, a second primary cylinder and a secondary cylinder, which are stacked, a separator is provided between two adjacent cylinders. The first primary cylinder is provided with a first air entry, the second primary cylinder is provided with a second air entry, and the secondary cylinder is provided with an air outlet. The first primary cylinder and the second primary cylinder are connected in serial to the secondary cylinder after being connected in parallel. A refrigerant entering the first air entry and the second air entry is discharged from the air outlet after primary or/and secondary compression. The two separators are divided into a first separator and a second separator. Any one or two of the first separator, the second separator and a lower flange may be provided with a slide piece control device.

Abstract: A repeat expansion in C9ORF72 causes frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (c9FTD/ALS). RNA of the expanded repeat (r(GGGGCC)exp) forms nuclear foci or undergoes repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation producing “c9RAN proteins”. Since neutralizing r(GGGGCC)exp could inhibit these potentially toxic events, we sought to identify small molecule binders of r(GGGGCC)exp. Chemical and enzymatic probing of r(GGGGCC)8 indicate it adopts a hairpin structure in equilibrium with a quadruplex structure. Using this model, bioactive small molecules targeting r(GGGGCC)exp were designed and found to significantly inhibit RAN translation and foci formation in cultured cells expressing r(GGGGCC)66 and neurons trans-differentiated from fibroblasts of repeat expansion carriers. Finally, we show that poly(GP) c9RAN proteins are specifically detected in c9ALS patient cerebrospinal fluid.

Abstract: A printed resistive gas detector configuration that is simple, inexpensive and compact, fabricated for incorporation into an electronic device, such as an electronic computing and/or communication device, the printed resistive gas detector configuration designed to continuously monitor for predetermined types of gasses. The printed resistive gas detector configuration manufactured by the use of printing technology to print on a flexible substrate.

Abstract: An energy-resolved X-ray image detector includes a scintillation crystal layer, a photon detector layer and an optical layer. The scintillation crystal layer includes a plurality of scintillation crystals. The photon detector layer includes a plurality of photon detector elements. The optical layer is disposed between the scintillation crystal layer and the photon detector layer. The optical layer includes a plurality of optical elements having different light transmittances. The scintillation crystal is used for converting the X-ray beams into scintillation lights, and, when each scintillation light injects the corresponding optical elements, the light transmittances of the optical elements determine whether the scintillation lights can pass through the respective optical elements. The photon detection element then detects the scintillation lights passing through the corresponding optical elements to discriminate the energy of the X-ray beams.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems and methods that include a porous coating on a medical device. The porous coating may be formed by forming a scaffold along an exterior surface of the medical device to support the porous coating during application thereof and electrospinning a polymer to apply the porous coating on the scaffold.

Abstract: Sweep-based gas separation processes for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from gas-fired power plants. The invention involves at least two compression steps, a combustion step, a carbon dioxide capture step, a power generate step, and a sweep-based membrane separation step. One of the compression steps is used to produce a low-pressure, low-temperature compressed stream that is sent for treatment in the carbon dioxide capture step, thereby avoiding the need to expend large amounts of energy to cool an otherwise hot compressed stream from a typical compressor that produces a high-pressure stream, usually at 20-30 bar or more.

Abstract: Described herein are mutant pneumoviruses comprising a nucleotide sequence which encodes a mutated zinc binding motif in an M2-1 protein of the pneumovirus, wherein the zinc binding motif is mutated relative to wild-type pneumovirus. The mutant pneumoviruses described herein grow to high titer in cell culture, are genetically stable, are attenuated in vitro and in vivo, and are highly immunogenic. Also described herein are vaccines and vaccine compositions comprising the live attenuated mutant pneumoviruses. Vaccine compositions can further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, vehicle, excipient, and/or adjuvant. Methods for inducing a protective immune response in a subject against a pneumovirus infection are also described and disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gripper system comprising fingers. The gripper fingers are connectable to a gripper arm. The gripper fingers comprise a roller configured to spin around its central axis or a ball element rotatable in any direction; a stopper configured to stop and/or prevent the spinning of the roller or ball. The present invention also relates to a method for grasping and displacing an object.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Gentiana plant named ‘Fi0304123’ that is characterized by its flower corollas that are purple-blue in color, its lateral branching that is suitable for pot plant production, lateral flowering branches on the lower protion of the main stems, and its late flowering period.