Abstract: A method of treating an autoimmune disease and/or inflammatory condition in a subject, whereby the subject in need thereof is administered, via the oral mucosa, a rapidly infusing composition that includes (a) a pharmaceutically acceptable binder and/or excipient system containing gelatin and a sugar alcohol, and (b) a therapeutically effective amount of cannabidiol (CBD) or a derivative/analog thereof. The autoimmune disease and/or inflammatory condition may include, inter alia, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, type-I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis, including refractory diseases/conditions thereof.

Abstract: A rapidly infusing composition that includes a pharmaceutically acceptable binder and/or excipient system containing gelatin and a sugar alcohol, and methotrexate. Also provided is a method of treating an autoimmune disease and/or inflammatory condition in a subject, whereby the subject in need thereof is administered, via the oral mucosa, the rapidly infusing composition. The autoimmune disease and/or inflammatory condition may include, inter alia, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, eczema, vasculitis, psoriatic arthritis, type-Ii diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and sarcoidosis, including refractory/diseases/conditions thereof.

Abstract: A communication system employed during wellbore operations, such as during drilling, cementing, fracturing, or other wellbore operations, which utilizes ultrasound (i.e., acoustic waves characterized by ultrasonic frequencies) to communicate sensor and/or control information from inside a riser and/or blowout preventer (BOP) to outside the riser/BOP, and/or vice versa. More specifically, the communication system may include an internal ultrasonic module (IUM) residing inside the riser/BOP and acoustically coupled to a drill string and/or a centralizer also inside the riser/BOP. The communication system may further include an external ultrasonic module (EUM) residing outside the riser/BOP and acoustically coupled to the riser/BOP.

Abstract: A communication system employed during wellbore operations, such as during drilling, cementing, fracturing, or other wellbore operations, which utilizes ultrasound (i.e., acoustic waves characterized by ultrasonic frequencies) to communicate sensor and/or control information from inside a riser and/or blowout preventer (BOP) to outside the riser/BOP, and/or vice versa. More specifically, the communication system may include an internal ultrasonic module (IUM) residing inside the riser/BOP and acoustically coupled to a drill string and/or a centralizer also inside the riser/BOP. The communication system may further include an external ultrasonic module (EUM) residing outside the riser/BOP and acoustically coupled to the riser/BOP.

Abstract: A communication system employed during wellbore operations, such as during drilling, cementing, fracturing, or other wellbore operations, which utilizes ultrasound (i.e., acoustic waves characterized by ultrasonic frequencies) to communicate sensor and/or control information from inside a riser and/or blowout preventer (BOP) to outside the riser/BOP, and/or vice versa. More specifically, the communication system may include an internal ultrasonic module (IUM) residing inside the riser/BOP and acoustically coupled to a drill string and/or a centralizer also inside the riser/BOP. The communication system may further include an external ultrasonic module (EUM) residing outside the riser/BOP and acoustically coupled to the riser/BOP.

Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus comprises processing circuitry configured to: obtain a three-dimensional (3D) image that is representative of an anatomical region of a subject; acquire a stream of two-dimensional images that are representative of the anatomical region of the subject; set a first rendering direction by performing a 2D/3D registration procedure in respect of the 3D image and a 2D image of the stream of 2D images; generate a first rendered image from the 3D image based on the first rendering direction; and for each of a plurality of subsequent 2D images of the stream of 2D images, determine whether a condition is satisfied, the condition being dependent on at least one of a 2D misalignment and a time since last 2D/3D registration procedure; when the registration condition is satisfied, select one of the subsequent 2D images; reset the rendering direction to obtain a second rendering direction by performing a 2D/3D registration procedure in respect of the 3D image and the selected 2D image;

Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus comprises processing circuitry configured to: obtain a three-dimensional (3D) image that is representative of an anatomical region of a subject; acquire a stream of two-dimensional images that are representative of the anatomical region of the subject; set a first rendering direction by performing a 2D/3D registration procedure in respect of the 3D image and a 2D image of the stream of 2D images; generate a first rendered image from the 3D image based on the first rendering direction; and for each of a plurality of subsequent 2D images of the stream of 2D images, determine whether a condition is satisfied, the condition being dependent on at least one of a 2D misalignment and a time since last 2D/3D registration procedure; when the registration condition is satisfied, select one of the subsequent 2D images; reset the rendering direction to obtain a second rendering direction by performing a 2D/3D registration procedure in respect of the 3D image and the selected 2D image;

Abstract: A system and method that determines a contour of a model vessel representing a branching structure, wherein the structure contains a branch point at which an upper segment of the structure splits into a first lower segment and a second lower segment, and determines a path of a first model vessel representative of at least part of the upper segment and at least part of the first lower segment, determines a path of a second model vessel, representative of at least part of the upper segment and at least part of the second lower segment, determines the position of a contour branch point; and ensures that for at least one position above the contour branch point a contour of the first model vessel is substantially the same as a contour of the second model vessel.

Abstract: Methods for controlling unsolicited messages in a messaging network using an authoritative domain name (DNS) server, in which a requester intending to send an e-mail message to a recipient queries the DNS server associated with the recipient's domain. The response sent from the DNS server is dependent upon a security policy associated with the requester, which results from interrogations to determine the probability that the requester is sending unsolicited messages or spam. A validity factor is set to a first indicator if the request passes or to a second indicator if the request fails. The response from the DNS server provides the network address if the validity factor is set to the first indicator. A suitable not-the-network-address response is sent if the validity factor is set to the second indicator. The authoritative DNS server thereby controls, blocks, or reroutes the message and lightens the load on the recipient's mail server and ISP(s).

Abstract: A method of determining a contour of a model vessel representing a branching structure, wherein the structure comprising a branch point at which an upper segment of the structure splits into a first lower segment and a second lower segment, and the method comprises determining a path of a first model vessel representative of at least part of the upper segment and at least part of the first lower segment, determining a path of a second model vessel, representative of at least part of the upper segment and at least part of the second lower segment, determining the position of a contour branch point; and ensuring that for at least one position above the contour branch point a contour of the first model vessel is substantially the same as a contour of the second model vessel.

Abstract: The optical multiplexer system comprises an optical multiplexer, an output path and an adjustable beam steering element. The optical multiplexer comprises an input port characterized by an original acceptance range. The output path is disposed relative to the optical multiplexer such that a light beam incident on the input port within the original acceptance range enters the output path. The adjustable beam steering element is located adjacent the input port and is adjustable such that a light beam incident on the beam steering element within an enhanced acceptance range enters the output path as an output beam. The enhanced acceptance range is at least angularly greater than the original acceptance range.

Abstract: A coupler for use with an excavator provides a hook with a mouth which receives a cross bar of an implement such as a bucket at an upper end. Towards a bottom end the coupler receives an extension through an opening. The extension is then retained by a pin through a bore in the extension and a bore in a body of the coupler. The mouth of the hook is provided with at least one wear pad which preferably extends along a substantial width of the mouth and is provided with adjustment members which can extend the wear pad into the mouth incrementally and/or to be tensioned against a cross bar with a selected amount of tension.

Abstract: The optical multiplexer system comprises an optical multiplexer, an output path and an adjustable beam steering element. The optical multiplexer comprises an input port characterized by an original acceptance range. The output path is disposed relative to the optical multiplexer such that a light beam incident on the input port within the original acceptance range enters the output path. The adjustable beam steering element is located adjacent the input port and is adjustable such that a light beam incident on the beam steering element within an enhanced acceptance range enters the output path as an output beam. The enhanced acceptance range is at least angularly greater than the original acceptance range.

Abstract: Methods for controlling unsolicited messages in a messaging network using an authoritative domain name (DNS) server, in which a requester intending to send an e-mail message to a recipient queries the DNS server associated with the recipient's domain. The response sent from the DNS server is dependent upon a security policy associated with the requester, which results from interrogations to determine the probability that the requester is sending unsolicited messages or spam. A validity factor is set to a first indicator if the request passes or to a second indicator if the request fails. The response from the DNS server provides the network address if the validity factor is set to the first indicator. A suitable not-the-network-address response is sent if the validity factor is set to the second indicator. The authoritative DNS server thereby controls, blocks, or reroutes the message and lightens the load on the recipient's mail server and ISP(s).

Abstract: A method of navigating along a biological object with a lumen represented by a three-dimensional volume data set comprises generating a plurality of navigation segments connectable in a sequence, each segment having a start point within the lumen, a direction and a length. The navigation may be used for a camera in a virtual endoscopic examination, for example. The direction of each segment is determined by casting groups of rays outwards from the start point of the segment to the object wall, and calculating an average ray length for each group. The group having the largest average ray length is selected, and the axial direction of this group is used as the direction for the segment. The average ray lengths of the groups may be weighted using the direction of the previous segments to bias the navigation generally forward, or may be weighted using a view direction of the camera to allow a user to turn the camera into a chosen branch in the object.

Abstract: A method of navigating along a biological object with a lumen represented by a three-dimensional volume data set comprises generating a plurality of navigation segments connectable in a sequence, each segment having a start point within the lumen, a direction and a length. The navigation may be used for a camera in a virtual endoscopic examination, for example. The direction of each segment is determined by casting groups of rays outwards from the start point of the segment to the object wall, and calculating an average ray length for each group. The group having the largest average ray length is selected, and the axial direction of this group is used as the direction for the segment. The average ray lengths of the groups may be weighted using the direction of the previous segments to bias the navigation generally forward, or may be weighted using a view direction of the camera to allow a user to turn the camera into a chosen branch in the object.