Abstract: In one embodiment, a coupler includes a glass tube having a refractive index n3 and a passageway, a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide positioned within the passageway, each of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide comprising a core surrounded by a cladding. The glass tube further includes a tapered region having a taper length. A coupling region is present between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide within the tapered region. A refractive index of the cladding is less than a refractive index of the core, and a lowest refractive index of the cladding of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide is n2. Additionally, n3 is lower than n2 such that a value of ?2-3 is 0.07%??2-3?0.125, where ?2-3 equals (n22?n32)/2n22.

Abstract: A haircare appliance has a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet, and a heater for heating the airflow. The haircare appliance has an airflow temperature module for obtaining a value indicative of a temperature of the airflow at the air outlet, a distance sensor for sensing a distance to hair within a flow path from the air outlet and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the hair. The haircare appliance has a moisture estimation module configured to estimate, based on received output values from the airflow temperature module, the distance sensor and the temperature sensor, a moisture content of the hair.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging apparatus including a processing unit configured to produce an ultrasound image of the target region by applying position/orientation data representative of the position and/or orientation of an ultrasound transducer on the first side of a surface during each collection cycle to echo data representative of reflected ultrasound energy received by the ultrasound transducer during each collection cycle so as to coherently focus the echo data at a plurality of points distributed within the target region.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging apparatus including a processing unit configured to produce an ultrasound image of the target region by applying position/orientation data representative of the position and/or orientation of an ultrasound transducer on the first side of a surface during each collection cycle to echo data representative of reflected ultrasound energy received by the ultrasound transducer during each collection cycle so as to coherently focus the echo data at a plurality of points distributed within the target region.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition useful in the treatment or prevention of transgenic xenograft rejection comprising immunosuppressant compounds selected from the group consisting of an IL-2 transcription inhibitor and immunosuppressant compounds that immunosuppress for B-cell-mediated or antibody-mediated rejection of xenografts, and pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carriers, and a method of preventing hyperacute rejection, reducing early graft damage, improving early xenograft function and promoting long term survival of said transgenic xenografts comprising the steps of i) contacting the body fluid removed from a human recipient with a xenoantigenic material which is bound to a biocompatible solid support, ii) reintroducing the treated body fluid into the recipient, and iii) treating the recipient with said pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition useful in the treatment or prevention of transgenic xenograft rejection comprising immunosuppressant compounds selected from the group consisting of an IL-2 transcription inhibitor and immunosuppressant compounds that immunosuppress for B-cell-mediated or antibody-mediated rejection of xenografts, and pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carriers, and a method of preventing hyperacute rejection, reducing early graft damage, improving early xenograft function and promoting long term survival of said transgenic xenografts comprising the steps of i) contacting the body fluid removed from a human recipient with a xenoantigenic material which is bound to a biocompatible solid support, ii) reintroducing the treated body fluid into the recipient, and iii) treating the recipient with said pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition useful in the treatment or prevention of transgenic xenograft rejection comprising immunosuppressant compounds selected from the group consisting of an IL-2 transcription inhibitor and immunosuppressant compounds that immunosuppress for B-cell-mediated or antibody-mediated rejection of xenografts, and pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carriers, and a method of preventing hyperacute rejection, reducing early graft damage, improving early xenograft function and promoting long term survival of said transgenic xenografts comprising the steps of i) contacting the body fluid removed from a human recipient with a xenoantigenic material which is bound to a biocompatible solid support, ii) reintroducing the treated body fluid into the recipient, and iii) treating the recipient with said pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for fast attack automatic gain control (AGC) loop for narrow band systems in which RF signals are received in discontinuous bursts, such as TETRA systems in a direct mode of operation (DMO). The loop includes a feedback loop with a predetermined non-linear response to an input signal. The method includes the steps of opening the AGC loop (250), setting a gain for the signal path of the AGC loop to a predetermined level (252), closing the AGC loop (254) and commencing a steady-state mode of operation (258).

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition useful in the treatment or prevention of transgenic xenograft rejection comprising immunosuppressant compounds selected from the group consisting of an IL-2 transcription inhibitor and immunosuppressant compounds that immunosuppress for B-cell-mediated or antibody-mediated rejection of xenografts, and pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carriers, and a method of preventing hyperacute rejection, reducing early graft damage, improving early xenograft function and promoting long term survival of said transgenic xenografts comprising the steps of i) contacting the body fluid removed from a human recipient with a xenoantigenic material which is bound to a biocompatible solid support, ii) reintroducing the treated body fluid into the recipient, and iii) treating the recipient with said pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: Cyclosporin A, or another compound having cyclosporin A-like activity, and cobra venom factor, or another complement inhibitor, can be used in conjunction with each other to promote allograft and concordant xenograft survival and to rescue such grafts from rejection.

Abstract: A digital signal processor (100) receives a digitally vocoded signal (102), and calculates a staggered average value (404) from the frame energy of each received frame, or the product of the frame energy and a voicing value. While the staggered average value is above a threshold voice indicator value, speech is declared present.