Abstract: A system for directional detection of radiation, comprises a plurality of scintillating crystals, responsive to the radiation and being arranged three-dimensionally, with voids between adjacent crystals, such that there are crystals that are inner and crystals that are outer within the arrangement. The system also comprises a plurality of light sensors coupled to the crystals for receiving optical signals from the crystals and responsively generating electrical signals, and a data processor receiving an electrical signal separately from each light sensor and calculating a direction of the radiation based on relative intensities of the signals and mutual occultation among different crystals.

Abstract: An apparatus for optical detection of ultrasound includes one or more optical resonators (OR—200), one or more optical passive-demodulation interferometers (OPDI—22), and one or more respective electro-optical readout circuits (EORC—24). The one or more optical resonators (OR) are configured to modulate respective carrier frequencies of optical signals indicative of US waves impinging thereon. The one or more OPDI are implemented in one or more photonic integrated circuits (PIC), wherein each OPDI is configured to demodulate the optical signal output by the respective OR, so as to generate a respective intensity-modulated optical signal. Each OPDI includes an interferometer (32) having imbalanced arms (323, 325) that are recombined using an optical hybrid (34). The one or more respective EORC are each configured to measure the intensity demodulated optical signal produced by the respective OPDI, and to output a respective electrical signal.

Abstract: Provided are electrochemical cells and methods for generating hydrogen gas and oxygen gas.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for decision making under uncertainty, for selecting an optimal action from among multiple candidate actions in belief space planning (BSP), including, for a new propagated belief: selecting from stored propagated beliefs a closest propagated belief; selecting, from among the stored measurement samples associated with the closest propagated belief, re-use measurement samples that provide a representative set of a measurement likelihood distribution corresponding to the new propagated belief; determining an information gap between a stored posterior belief associated with a re-use measurement sample and a new posterior belief that would be inferred by applying the re-use measurement sample to the new propagated belief; updating the stored posterior belief to account for the information gap; and calculating objective values for the multiple candidate actions, the objective values being weighted summations including immediate scores of the updated posterior beliefs.

Abstract: Agents which inhibit Gads dimerization are provided. Accordingly there is provided an agent which inhibits Gads (SEQ ID NO: 1) dimerization, the agent interacting with a pharmacophore binding site comprising an amino acid selected from the group consisting of F55, P56, W58, F59, E61, G62, A84-F92, V107-N111, Y115, F116, L125 and N126 of SEQ ID NO: 1. Also provided an agent which inhibits Gads (SEQ ID NO: 1) dimerization, the agent interacting with a pharmacophore binding site comprising an amino acid sequence of an SH3 domain of SEQ ID NO: 1. Also provided are methods of inhibiting activation of a T cell and/or a mast cell and methods of treating or preventing a disease associated with activation of T cells or an allergic response.

Abstract: An imaging system (200) including a phase-modulating element (202) configured and arranged with optics (100) in an imaging path (300) of the imaging system, to modulate light emitted from an object (150), while the object is in motion with respect to the imaging system, to create a modified point-spread function (PSF); and a processor (700) configured and arranged to generate, on an image plane (500) of the imaging system, a three-dimensional image from the modulated light to provide depth-based characteristics of the object. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a monoclonal antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof having specific binding affinity to RING finger protein 4 (RNF4). The invention is further directed to use of the antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof in detecting a RNF4-associated disease in a subject, such as cancer.

Abstract: A method for evaluating heart function, comprising receiving a digitized cardiac signal, computing a power spectral density (PSD) or multiscale entropy (MSE) of the digitized cardiac signal, and evaluating heart function based on the PSD or MSE is provided. Systems and computer program products for doing same are also provided.

Abstract: Doubly-crosslinked hydrogel polyHIPEs (DC-PHs), which exhibit rapid water absorption, enhanced mechanical properties, and shape memory behavior, are provided herein, as well as processes of producing the same and uses thereof. DC-PHs comprise a continuous HIPE-templated doubly-crosslinked hydrogel, formed from hydrogel-forming monomers, ligand-bearing monomers, and crosslinking monomers.

Abstract: Low-density thermoplastic expandable microspheres are disclosed. Various low-density structures, in particular, sandwich panels, based on foam prepared from the low-density microspheres, are also disclosed. Process of preparing low-density polymeric microspheres, per se, and the corresponding low-density structures, based on the microsphere foam, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein are composite conductors, characterized by having copper deposits inside the bulk rather than on the outer surface of a non-metallic conductive porous matrix, such as CNT fabric, as well as a process for obtaining the same. The composite conductors provided herein are also characterized by a low specific weight and a high ampacity compared to metal conductors of similar size and shape.

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: A channel distribution system has a channel carrying content, and an interactive receiver which receives content and provides to a user. The interactive receiver has an interface to allow the user to interact with the content. The channel also includes a broadcast label superimposed on the content which invites the user to interact with the content. The label includes an interactive link with a digital instruction containing handling information for the interactive receiver device. The handling information tells the interactive receiver how to handle a user interaction coinciding with the label.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for steering of a flexible needle into tissue using a steering robotic platform for manipulation of the needle shaft, and by use of a semi-active arm for locating and orienting of the steering robot on the patient's body. As opposed to other steering methods, the robot does not hold the base of the needle, which is its proximal region, but rather grips the shaft of the needle by means of a manipulatable needle gripping device, near its distal end. The needle gripper attached to the robotic platform may be equipped with a traction assembly to provide motion to the needle in its longitudinal direction, such that it co-ordinates the entry of the needle with the desired entry angle. The gripping of the needle at its distal end, close to its insertion point, provides the needle manipulator with a low profile, with concomitant advantages.

Abstract: A device comprising: plurality of Stationary Nanoliter Droplet Array (SNDA) components; each SNDA component comprising: at least one primary channel; at least one secondary channel; and a plurality of nano-wells that are each open to the primary channel and are each connected by one or more vents to the secondary channel; the vents are configured to enable passage of air solely from the nano-wells to the secondary channel, such that when a liquid is introduced into the primary channel it fills the nano-wells, and the originally accommodated air is evacuated via the vents and the secondary channel/s; an inlet port and a distribution channel configured to enable a simultaneous introduction of the liquid into all primary channels; and an outlet port and an evacuation channel configured to enable a simultaneous evacuation of the air out of all the secondary channels.

Abstract: Devices for detecting a molecule of interest comprising an electrokinetic focusing apparatus and a nanopore apparatus are provided. Kits and systems comprising the apparatus are also provided; as are methods of detecting molecules of interest comprising running the molecules through the electrokinetic focusing apparatus and then detecting the focused molecules as they pass through the nanopore.

Abstract: Provided herein is forward osmosis-based water purification process, that includes contacting a solution of a soluble draw agent with a dehydrated insoluble draw agent, separating the now hydrated insoluble draw agent from the now concentrated draw solution, and exerting a stimulus on the hydrated insoluble draw agent for extracting water therefrom, thereby regenerating a dehydrated insoluble draw agent, wherein the osmotic concentration (osmolality) of the insoluble draw agent is greater than the osmotic concentration of the diluted draw solution, and the insoluble draw agent is impermeable to the soluble draw agent.

Abstract: There is provided a method of design and analysis of a geometric object comprising: receiving an initial definition of the geometric object in a coordinate system; generating a volumetric model according to the initial definition, the volumetric model comprises: volumetric cells each represented by one or more multivariate of three variables or more functions, and intra object general border surfaces in general orientation each defines topological adjacency between at least two of said plurality of volumetric cells.

Abstract: One of the main obstacles of securing industrial control systems is the lack of an appropriate security model that is both implementable by vendors and addresses the inherent security and usability issues needed by organizations. Current solutions such as device passwords and IPSec lack scalable key management infrastructure and fine granularity access control mechanisms. A security model for industrial control systems that supports organizational level authorizations and authentication requirements, while hiding the low-level details (e.g., keys and passwords) from the users is disclosed. It also enables easy addition and removal of PLCs, engineering station, HMI devices and users, and assigning permission to them. A major advantage is its support for hybrid ICS systems, characterized by co-existence of legacy devices and new devices, while using the same protocol. Devices may communicate therein either natively, or by a connected converter.

Abstract: A pressure sensing device having a first sensing element, a second sensing element and a sensing circuit. The first and second sensing elements have one or more piezoresistive materials. The first sensing element has a first gradient along a longitudinal axis thereof having a first direction. The second sensing element has a second gradient along a longitudinal axis thereof having a second direction. The first direction of the first gradient is opposite to the second direction of the second gradient. The sensing circuit is (a) coupled to the first and second sensing elements and (b) arranged to sense at least one out of resistance and conductance of the first and second sensing elements to determine a magnitude and a location of a pressure applied on the first and second sensing elements along the longitudinal axes thereof.