Abstract: According to an embodiment, a hearing aid system is disclosed. The system includes a speech processor communicatively coupled to a microphone. The speech processor is configured to process a microphone signal received at the speech processor for producing an electrical stimulation signal and an acoustic stimulation signal. The speech processor is also configured to generate a modified acoustic stimulation signal by modifying the acoustic stimulation signal at least for a part of a residual frequency range of a patient in dependence on effect of an implantable electrode array on mechanical properties of cochlea of the patient. The system also includes a first unit and a second unit.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system is provided for decoding media streams. In an implementation, a method may include selecting a time window for monitoring discontinuities in a plurality of packets in a media transmission stream having a first time and a second time. The first time may indicate a beginning of the time window and the second time may indicate an end of the time window. The method may also include determining the number of discontinuities in the plurality of packets at the first time at a network node. The method may also include determining the number of discontinuities in the plurality of packets at the second time at the network node. The method may also include determining the number of discontinuities in the plurality of packets within the time window. The method may also include comparing the number of discontinuities within the time widow to a plurality of predefined discontinuities threshold values.

Abstract: An isolated Lactobacillus mucosae (DPC6426) strain deposited with the National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria Limited (NCIMB) on 27 Jul. 2012 under NCIMB Deposit Accession No. 42015.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for generating virtual terrains. A terrain editing application is configured to receive assets of various types, including a blank canvas, two-dimensional (2D) sketches, real-world elevation maps, authored heightfields, etc. The assets specify characteristics of a terrain, and provide starting points for creating the virtual terrain. The editing application further provides a set of tools allowing a user to modify the virtual terrain. In one embodiment, the set of tools may include a copy-and-paste tool, a peak creation tool, a ridge creation tool, a ridge tracing tool, and a resynthesis tool. The editing application generates a new layer for each edit, as well as 2D and three-dimensional (3D) previews of the edited terrain. The editing application also provides a user-adjustable frequency decomposition of each layer. The editing application combines layers using Laplacian blending to produce the final virtual terrain.

Abstract: Molecular target for healing or treating wounds and, in particular chronic, human wounds, are described. The molecular target is PTPRK, or a protein 50% homologous therewith, and which retains the same activity as PTPRK protein. Further, methods and novel therapeutics are described for treating said wounds.

Abstract: The present application relates to compounds of any one of Formulae I, Ia, Ib, Ic, Id, Ie, and If. Compounds of Formula (I) have the structure: wherein A, B, W, Y, Z, R2, R4, R5, R6, Rq and q are as defined herein. The compounds can be used as inhibitors of Bcl-3 and can be used for the treatment of cancer, particularly metastatic cancer.

Abstract: A method for performing sub-nanometer three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging of a sample under ambient conditions using a diamond having at least one shallowly planted nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center. A driving radio-frequency (RF) signal and a microwave signal are applied to provide independent control of the NV spin and the target dark spins. A magnetic-field gradient is applied to the sample with a scanning magnetic tip to provide a narrow spatial volume in which the target dark electronic spins are on resonance with the driving RF field. The sample is controllably scanned by moving the magnetic tip to systematically bring non-resonant target dark spins into resonance with RF signal. The dark spins are measured and mapped by detecting magnetic resonance of said nitrogen-vacancy center at each of said different magnetic tip positions. The dark-spin point-spread-function for imaging the dark spins is directly measured by the NV center.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stimulating the lower back and abdominal muscles in a patient comprising applying a first electrode A1/A2 substantially centrally to the lower lumbar region of the patient's body, and applying second and third electrodes B, C respectively to opposite side flanks of the patient's body. The electrodes are energized to apply a first group of muscular stimulation current pulses which flow between the second and third electrodes and a second group of muscular stimulation current pulses which flow between the first electrode and the second and third electrodes alternately.

Abstract: The invention provides the discovery and characterization of a novel arterivirus protein (nsp2TF), whose expression is dependent on ?2 ribosomal frameshifting at a site located in the nsp2 coding region. The coding region for the unique TF domain of nsp2TF overlaps the part of ORF1a that encodes the transmembrane region of nsp2 in arteriviruses, including PRRSV, LDV and SHFV. Mutations affecting the expression of nsp2TF impair PRRSV replication and result in a smaller plaque phenotype. Provided herein are arteriviruses that display reduced translation of nsp2TF and/or altered translation of one or more downstream products, arteriviruses in which nsp2TF function is reduced and/or absent, and vaccines comprising said arteriviruses. Also provided herein are diagnostic methods, methods for identifying compounds that inhibit ?2 frameshifting, and gene expression tools for eukaryotic systems utilizing ?2 frameshifting.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming at least one Metal Germanide contact on a substrate for providing a semiconducting device (100) by providing a first layer (120) of Germanium (Ge) and a second layer of metal. The invention provides a step of reacting the second layer with the first layer with high energy density pulses for obtaining a Germanide metal layer (160A) having a substantially planar interface with the underlying first (Ge) layer.

Abstract: (E)-2-(2-Quinolin-2-yl-propenyl)-phenol, 2-Quinolin-2-yl-ylethynyl-phenol and salts thereof are useful as medicaments, especially for treatment of an angiogenesis-related disease or disorder.

Abstract: A method for performing high dynamic range optical image detection of a scene. The method comprises imaging incident light from a scene onto an object plane of an Optical Array Device, the OAD operating in time modulation mode; determining the locations of those pixels in the object plane of a first light level; detecting the optical irradiance values of those pixels of the first light level to produce a first detected image; detecting the optical irradiance values of those pixels of a second light level to produce a second detected image; and generating a high dynamic range optical irradiance map of the scene by combining the first detected image and the second detected image into a single image.

Abstract: A method is provided for characterising and/or prognosing prostate cancer in a subject comprising measuring the level of at least one protein from a panel or at least one peptide thereof in a sample from the subject. The method may be used to determine the grade and stage of the prostate cancer. Also disclosed is a method for selecting a treatment for prostate cancer, together with corresponding methods of treatment. Systems and computing devices for performing the methods are also provided.

Abstract: Described herein are nitrated lipids and methods of making and using the nitrated lipids.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for genetically transforming a Bifidobacterium strain comprising a step of methylation of a shuttle vector in an E. coli or a Gram-positive bacterium strain by two type II DNA methyltransferases from a Bifidobacterium: a methyltransferase enzyme that methylates the adenine base at position 4 of the nucleotide sequence RTCAGG and a methyltransferase enzyme that methylates the cytosine base at position 4 of the nucleotide sequence GGWCC. The present invention also concerns genetic tools and culture media useful for carrying out said method.

Abstract: A transcutaneous prosthesis which includes a first component shaped for implantation into a bone, a second component intended for location between the bone and the skin, the second component having a surface treatment for stimulation of fibroblastic cell proliferation and attachment of epithelial cells, and a third component intended for location exterior to the skin surface having a low surface energy which deters bacterial adhesion.

Abstract: A process for the complete or partial oxygenation of hydrocarbons comprises contacting a C1-C8 hydrocarbon, molecular oxygen, and hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of water and a heterogeneous catalyst, under conditions suitable to convert the C1-C8 hydrocarbon to at least one corresponding C1-C8 oxygenate product, wherein the heterogeneous catalyst provides confinement and contains both Brønsted-Lowry acid centers and Lewis acid centers. The reaction may be carried out at a temperature ranging from 2° C. to 90° C. The use of molecular oxygen increases the economic attractiveness of the process while also improving yield.

Abstract: A compound for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of viral infections such, for example as chicken pox or shingles caused by the Varicella Zoster virus, said compound having the general formula (II): wherein X is O, S, NH or CH2, Y is O, S or NH, Z is O, S or CH2, R1 is C1-6 alkyl, preferably n-alkyl, e.g., n-pentyl or n-hexyl, and one of R2 and R3 is OH, and the other of R3 and R2 is a neutral, non-polar amino acid moiety, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof. Said neutral, non-polar amino acid moiety R2 or R3 may be (IV): in which R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each independently H or C1-2 alkyl. In preferred embodiments, one of R2 or R3 is valine, leucine, isoleucine or alanine, particularly valine.

Abstract: A flow enhanced method and system for flow non-linear magnetophoresis (F-NLM) is described. By tuning an external field frequency and the flow rate the migration velocities of different bead types may be caused to differ by several orders of magnitude over an extended range of frequencies to allow for separation of particles. Use of such efficiency in separation in bio-separation and similar assays is described.

Abstract: A blood glucose monitor for non-invasive, in-vivo characterization of a blood glucose level in a living body, the monitor comprising: a microwave resonator having a resonant response to input microwaves and designed such that said response will experience a perturbation by a living body in proximity or contact with the resonator; and detection means for detecting changes in said resonant response from which said level can be characterized.