Abstract: An aspect of the invention relates to methods and implants comprising acoustic-sensitive material and at least one additional component within said acoustic-sensitive material. In some embodiments, the at least one additional component is one or more of at least one releasable drug within said acoustic-sensitive material and/or a plurality of cells within said acoustic-sensitive material. In some embodiments, the implant comprises a dedicated form, which is provided inside the body of the patient.

Abstract: A thermochemical recuperation (TCR) system that may use a water-alcohol mixture as an engine liquid coolant; that may include a TCR reformer configured to output a TCR product at pressure no less than twenty bars; a pressure regulator; and an TCR product accumulator configured to separate an outputting of the TCR product by the TCR reformer from a provision of the TCR product to the pressure regulator; wherein the pressure regulator is configured to provide the TCR product to a direct injector of an engine, thereby enabling the direct injector to inject the TCR product at a high pressure level—for example at a pressure level that exceeds twenty bars.

Abstract: A method comprising: prior to performing a planned i-th data movement in a distributed data system comprising a plurality of storage sites, generating (i) a first map of current locations of data item replicas following an immediately-preceding (i?1)-th data movement, (b) a first timestamp associated with a completion of said (i?1)-th data movement, and (c) a second map of expected locations of data item replicas following said i-th data movement; implementing said i-th data movement; generating, upon performing said i-th data movement, a second timestamp associated with a completion of said i-th data movement, wherein said second timestamp is indexed as i; and if a failure occurs with respect to at least one of said storage sites during said i-th data movement, determining a completion status of said i-th data movement, based on a comparison between said indexing of said second map and said indexing of said second timestamp.

Abstract: Methods and kits for detecting the presence of at least one target DNA sequence with or without a modification in a DNA molecule are provided.

Abstract: A method for training a computerized mechanical device, comprising: receiving data documenting actions of an actuator performing a task in a plurality of iterations; calculating using the data a neural network dataset and used for performing the task; gathering in a plurality of reward iterations a plurality of scores given by an instructor to a plurality of states, each comprising at least one sensor value, while a robotic actuator performs the task according to the neural network; calculating using the plurality of scores a reward dataset used for computing a reward function; updating at least some of the neural network's plurality of parameters by receiving in each of a plurality of policy iterations a reward value computed by applying the reward function to another state comprising at least one sensor value, while the robotic actuator performs the task according to the neural network; and outputting the updated neural network.

Abstract: A pipelined ADC system comprising: a first ADC stage comprising a trainable neural network layer and configured to receive an analog input signal, and convert it into a first n-bit digital output representing said analog input signal; a DAC circuit comprising a trainable neural network layer and configured to receive said first n-bit digital output, and convert it into an analog output signal representing said first n-bit digital output; and a second ADC stage comprising a trainable neural network layer and configured to receive a residue analog input signal of said analog input signal, and convert it into a second n-bit digital output representing said residue analog input signal; wherein said first and second n-bit digital outputs are combined to generate a combined digital output representing said analog input signal.

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

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: 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: 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: 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.