Abstract: A method is proposed for the simultaneous optimization of an arbitrary number of electromagnetic pulses, which act in a cooperative way, or mutually compensate each other's errors. The method generally relates to pulses which can have improved properties when cooperating with each other compared to single pulses. In experiments with several scans, undesired signal contributions can be suppressed by COOP pulses, which complements and generalizes the concept of phase cycling. COOP pulses can also be used in individual scans. COOP pulses can be optimized efficiently with the aid of an extended version of the optimal-control-theory-based gradient ascent pulse engineering (GRAPE) algorithm. The advantage of the COOP pulse method is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally for broadband and band-selective excitation and saturation pulses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a modified protein having an increased stability and/or improved folding efficiency as compared to the unmodified protein, the method comprising (i) modifying a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein comprising at least one immunoglobulin constant domain-like region by (a-i) replacing the nucleotides encoding at least one amino acid, preferably an uncharged amino acid, in the loop separating the C strand from the D strand with nucleotides encoding a charged amino acid selected from the group consisting of Arg, Lys, His, Glu and Asp and/or replacing the nucleotides encoding at least one amino acid, preferably an uncharged amino acid, in the helix connecting the E strand with the F strand with nucleotides encoding a charged amino acid selected from the group consisting of Arg, Lys, His, Glu and Asp; (a-ii) replacing the nucleotides encoding at least one amino acid not having a side chain that can form a hydrogen bond in the loop separating the C strand fr

Abstract: The present invention describes an electrical converter system for power supply systems, comprising at least two identical individual modules connected consecutively, characterized in that each individual module have at least four internal switching elements, at least one energy storage element and at least four connectors, wherein the connectors are paired and serve as a first and a second terminal pair; the internal switching elements of each individual module are designed in such manner that they are able to selectively connect one or both connectors of each terminal pair to the energy storage element; the cascaded connection of at least two individual modules is made in such manner that the connectors in the second terminal pair of a preceding individual module are each connected to the connectors of the first terminal pair in the respective following individual module, and at least one terminal of the first terminal pair of the first individual module of the cascaded connection and at least one terminal

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical converter for power supply, which is constructed from individual modules. Each of the identical modules includes a module capacitor and can be switched by switching elements such that the module capacitors of the modules may be connected in series or in parallel, or a current flow takes place through the modules without charging or discharging the module capacitor. In this manner, the voltage can be connected across the terminals of the converter by a corresponding control of the switching elements in stages with low loss levels. According to the invention, the voltages of these capacitors are adjusted with respect to each other by load balancing prior to parallel connection of the capacitor modules so that the corresponding losses are minimized.

Abstract: A method and a system for quantifying anaesthesia and/or a state of vigilance (e.g. monitoring sedation or sleep) from a plurality of parameters acquired from a subject allows to determine an indicator that reliably quantifies the hypnotic component of anaesthesia and/or the state of vigilance and/or the analgesic component of anaesthesia, even if the number of parameters varies while monitoring the subject. Preferably, a first sub-indicator based on a first subset of parameters adapted to characterize a boundary region between consciousness and unconsciousness is determined, and a second sub-indicator based on a second subset of parameters adapted to characterize a level of hypnosis of said subject is determined, and said first sub-indicator and said second sub-indicator are then combined to compute a global indicator value.

Abstract: An energy-efficient thermal management system for an electric or hybrid vehicle is provided. The system has a first coolant circuit for controlling the temperature of electric components of an electric powertrain, an air-conditioning unit being provided for air-conditioning an interior. A second coolant circuit air-conditions the interior and is operable independently of the first coolant circuit. Each coolant circuit comprises a pump and a respective ambient heat exchanger. In order to control the temperature of the interior, a temperature control device which can be designed as a Peltier module is integrated into the second coolant circuit, said temperature control device operating in the manner of a heat pump for heating purposes. The two coolant circuits can be coupled to each other in order to exchange heat. An additional temperature control device can be integrated in order to air-condition an interior component in a decentralized manner, in particular a seat.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for lubricating an expansion machine (30) in a thermodynamic cycle device, wherein the thermodynamic cycle device comprises the expansion machine, a feed pump (50), a lubricant separator (10) and a working medium containing a lubricant, and wherein the method comprises the following steps: The working medium is subjected to pressure by means of the feed pump. The pressurised working medium is delivered by the feed pump to the lubricant separator. At least part of the lubricant is separated from the working medium by means of the lubricant separator. At least part of the separated lubricant is delivered by the lubricant separator to the expansion machine.

Abstract: A system and method for the evaluation of hearing implant signal processing is described. A cochlear implant signal processor converts a speech signal input into multi-channel stimulation pulse sequences for a cochlear implant electrode array. A temporal feature processing module extracts temporal feature information from the stimulation pulse sequences. A speech recognition engine evaluates the temporal information using automatic speech recognition to produce speech recognition outputs corresponding to the speech signal input.

Abstract: A method for machining a wall of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, in which recesses in the wall are introduced by mechanical machining. The invention is characterized in that the wall is radiated with a medium under high pressure after the mechanical machining in order to introduce micro-recesses.

Abstract: A method for the adjustment of an optical measurement system comprises providing an optical measurement system, which comprises, as optical elements, a beam splitter; a first photo sensor, exposed by a first partial beam from the beam splitter; an optical filter; a second photo sensor, arranged downstream of the optical filter, exposed by a second partial beam from the beam splitter. Additionally, the angularity and relative position between multiple optical elements is designed to be adjustable.

Abstract: A method and system for prediction of respiratory motion from 3D thoracic images is disclosed. A patient-specific anatomical model of the respiratory system is generated from 3D thoracic images of a patient. The patient-specific anatomical model of the respiratory system is deformed using a biomechanical model. The biomechanical model is personalized for the patient by estimating a patient-specific thoracic pressure force field to drive the biomechanical model. Respiratory motion of the patient is predicted using the personalized biomechanical model driven by the patient-specific thoracic pressure force field.

Abstract: A method for detecting radiation during the examination of a sample (1) comprises the steps of generating the radiation, more particularly X-ray radiation or proton radiation, by means of a source device (10), passing the radiation through the sample (1), and detecting the radiation by means of at least one photoelectric solid-state detector (20) containing a photoconduction section having a predetermined response threshold and a potential well section for taking up free charge carriers. The solid-state detector (20) is a GaN- or GaAs-based semiconductor detector and the potential well section contains a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). A setting of the radiation is provided in such a way that the solid-state detector (20) is operated separately from the response threshold of the photoconduction section and in a sensitivity range of the potential well section.

Abstract: An approach is described for evaluating a selected hearing stimulation strategy in a hearing impaired patient. A healthy neurogram represents a normal auditory neural response to a selected sound input by a healthy auditory system. An impaired neurogram represents an impaired auditory neural response to the selected sound input by a hearing impaired patient auditory system using the hearing stimulation strategy. The impaired neurogram is compared to the healthy neurogram based on: i. partitioning the neurograms into corresponding temporal and frequency domain tiles, ii. determining local variability between corresponding individual tiles by comparison of selected tile features, iii. determining global variability between the neurograms by weighted averaging of the individual tile comparisons, and iv. developing from the local and global variabilities a perception estimate representing effectiveness of the selected hearing stimulation strategy in approaching normal healthy hearing for the implanted patient.

Abstract: A device adapted for generating a rotatory ultrasonic vibration on a tool that includes a first part which is adapted for the rotationally fixed connection of the device to a spindle of a machine tool that rotates about an axis of rotation, and a second part which is adapted for the rotationally fixed connection of the device to a tool. The device also includes a claw coupling which is configured to connect the first and second parts for rotation with one another and has a form fit of at least one first flank on the first part and at least one second flank, lying opposite the first flank, on the second part. The device also includes at least one piezoelectric oscillation element arranged between first and second flanks of the claw coupling configured for generating a rotatory ultrasonic vibration about the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A method for state monitoring of a rotor blade of a wind turbine is described. The method comprises: measuring an acceleration of the rotor blade with a first signal, wherein the acceleration is measured at a first position at a predetermined distance from the rotor blade root in at least one direction comprising a first directional component orthogonal to the axis of the rotor blade, measuring a strain of the rotor blade with a second signal, wherein the strain is measured at a second position disposed in the area of the first position to the rotor blade root, determining a first positional change at the first position on the basis of the acceleration, determining a first value corresponding to the rotor blade stiffness or to the rotor blade elasticity by means of calculation on the basis of the first positional change and the strain, and determining the rotor blade state from the first value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for installing at least one sensor device within a rotor blade of a wind turbine. A first substantially planar light beam is emitted in the interior of the rotor blade. Finally, at least one second substantially planar light beam is emitted in the interior of the rotor blade, wherein the plane of the first planar light beam is oriented at a predetermined angle to the plane of the second planar light beam. Further, the planes of the first and second planar light beams are aligned on the blade flange of the rotor blade. At least one sensor device is subsequently aligned in reference to the planar light beams.

Abstract: The present invention, among others, relates to a compound having a structure according to formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Xaa1 to Xaa4 are independently of each other, an optionally N-alkylated natural or unnatural amino acid, R is H or methyl, L is a linker moiety, Ar is a spacer comprising an aromatic moiety, and D comprises, preferably is i) a combination of an organic complexation agent and a detectable label; or ii) a detectable label, an organic complexation agent or an active substance, said active substance particularly being selected from cytotoxic agents, lipids, sugars, sugar conjugates, sugar derivatives, proteins and combinations thereof, with the proviso that -L-Ar-D does not comprise a 18F-benzoyl residue.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device which comprises: a heat exchanger (1) for transferring heat of a heat-supplying medium to a working medium which differs from said heat-supplying medium, a first supply device designed to provide a flow of the heat-supplying medium at a first temperature from a heat source to the heat exchanger, and a second supply device which is designed to deliver the heat-supplying medium after it has passed through the heat exchanger, and/or a further medium at a second temperature lower than the first temperature, to the flow of the heat-supplying medium at the first temperature.

Abstract: Increased in vivo and/or in vitro stability is imparted to a biologically active protein by fusing to an amino acid sequence consisting of at least about 100 amino acid residues, which consist essentially of Alanine, Serine and Proline, which form a random coil conformation. Specific examples are described. Also described are related nucleic acids, vectors and cells encoding such amino acids; compositions of biologically active proteins fused to a random coil domain, and methods of making and using the compounds and compositions of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of molecular imaging, i.e. nuclear and fluorescent imaging using metal ion radionuclides in combination with chelates highly functionalized with peptidic, nonpeptidic or protein ligands or additional signalling moieties.