Abstract: It is described a method for determining and assessing the tissue surrounding an object being inserted into a patient. The method comprises acquiring a first dataset representing a first 3D image of the patient, acquiring a second dataset representing a second 3D image of the blood vessel structure of the patient and acquiring a third dataset representing a 2D image of the patient including the object. The method further comprises recognizing the object within the 2D image, registering two of the three datasets with each other, whereby the object is back-projected in the blood vessel structure, in order to generate a first combined dataset, and registering the first combined dataset with the remaining dataset in order to generate a second combined dataset representing a further image surrounding the object. The method allows for combining diagnostic scanning such as CT, 3D RA and real-time 2D fluoroscopy.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink jet device for producing a biological assay substrate by releasing a plurality of substances onto the substrate, the device comprising at least a print head comprising a nozzle, the device comprising at least a transducer provided to eject a droplet out of the nozzle, wherein a detection means is assigned to the ink jet device such that the state of the print head can be monitored by means of the detection of the behaviour of to the transducer.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of exopolysaccharide producing lactic acid bacteria. The invention relates to methods and culture media for producing large amounts of exopolysaccharides in safe and simple fermentation conditions. The invention more specifically relates to the characterization of a Streptococcus thermophilus ST 111 strain producing a stable high-molecular-mass heteropolysaccharide, its use in functional starter cultures and its use in food fermentation processes such as processes producing milk products, yoghurt and cheese for texture improvement and decreasing syneresis during fermentation and in the fermented product.

Abstract: On the basis of a series of reflection measurements on a liquid, parameters are calculated which describe a particle size distribution of particles in the liquid. In each reflection measurement, a signal beam is generated in the liquid and a value of a property such as the amplitude of a reflection on a particle in the signal beam is measured. Using maximum likelihood estimation, the parameters of the particle size distribution are estimated, on the basis of an expression for a probability of the measured values as a function of the measured values. The expression used contains a first factor for the probability of a reflection measurement of which a reflection with the measured value forms part, corrected with a second factor for the probability that there is not also a reflection with a dominating value of the property, which would mask the measured values, forming part of the reflection measurement.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a bearing configured to support a first part with respect to a second part of the apparatus in a first direction such that the first part is moveable in a second direction relative to the second part. The bearing passively supports the first part in three degrees of freedom. The first part is coupled to at least one permanent magnet, and the second part is coupled to at least two permanent magnets. The permanent magnet of the first part is positioned substantially between the permanent magnets of the second part. A field orientation of the permanent magnets is substantially parallel to the first direction and the permanent magnet of the first part has a substantially opposite polarity to at least one of the magnets of the second part.

Abstract: The invention refers to an electrically actuated, needle-free injection device. The main field of application is drug delivery. The device is based on a piezoelectric actuator (11). The device enables controlled, continuous, tuneable drug delivery. The device enables painless injection, personalized and programmable dosage profiles. The device is designed, both to pierce the epidermis for trans-epidermal drug delivery and to deliver controlled amounts of fluid (transdermal, electronic pill and implantable drug delivery). This type of device enables personalized drug delivery and is an enabling component for closed-loop drug delivery systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scintillation camera comprising a scintillation material which is capable of converting high-energy radiation incident thereon and having a wavelength of X-ray radiation or shorter into optical radiation, at least one position-sensitive detector capable of detecting the optical radiation, and at least one bundle of light guides which is located in front of the detector, characterized in that the bundle of light guides is located between the detector and the scintillation material. As a result of the scintillation material being provided as a separate unit, optionally including non-scintillating light guides, selection of the materials of each of the two parts can be optimized. Thus, for example, the scintillation material is no longer hygroscopic or subject to restrictions because of the need to grow it in parallel bundles.

Abstract: Variable-length information-containing frames (e.g., MPDUs) are aggregated into a bitstream using frame delimiters to distinguish the frames. Aggregation and frame extraction techniques are provided that support recovery from bit errors that may be present in a frame delimiter. One class of techniques involves providing redundant length information in the frame delimiters, e.g., by using multiple copies of a length field or error correction codes usable to correct errors in the length field. The receiver can use the redundant information to detect and correct errors in the length field. Another receiver-side technique iteratively attempts to locate the end of the corresponding frame when a corrupt frame delimiter is detected. Conventional synchronization fields may be eliminated.

Abstract: A composition comprising a purified collagen-like polypeptide suitable as a peptizer, said polypeptide comprising [Gly-X-Y]n repeats, wherein Gly stands for glycine, X and Y represent any amino acid and n is an integer and selected such that the length of the [Gly-X-Y]n repeat is at least 2.5 kDa and wherein the amino acid sequence of said [Gly-X-Y]n repeats comprises more than 4 different amino acids and wherein said purified polypeptide is free of helix structure.

Abstract: Processes of making extracts of Hoodia plant containing steroidal glycosides which have improved flavor, by virtue of reduced Levels of discovered negative flavor compounds.

Abstract: Extracts of Hoodia plant containing steroidal glycosides which have improved flavor, by virtue of reduced levels of discovered negative flavor compounds. Food compositions containing steroidal glycosides with reduced amounts of discovered negative flavor components are also included.

Abstract: In three-dimensional X-ray imaging, with C-arm systems, scan setup has to be performed manually under fluoroscopic control. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a scan planning system for planning a data acquisition process is provided, which is adapted to predict a field of view to be reconstructed and an image quality in the field of view with respect to the actual three-dimensional scan parameter set and previously acquired images or other information. The scan planning system may be accomplished by a stand control unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for processing and presenting at least a first image (102) and a second image (103), these images being digital medical images. A first step in the method is performing image registration between the first image (102) and the second image (103) to generate a pixel-level mapping between both images. The registration takes into account a region-level correspondence between the first image (102) and the second image (103) A second step is presenting the first image (102) and the second image (103) simultaneously on a display (103). A third step is presenting a first magnification (104) of a region of interest (106) in the first image (102) and a second magnification (105) of a corresponding region (108) in the second image (103). The corresponding region (108) in the second image (103) being determined based on the pixel-level mapping.

Abstract: A Natural Language Understanding system is provided for indexing of free text documents. The system according to the invention utilizes typographical and functional segmentation of text to identify those portions of free text that carry meaning. The system then uses words and multi-word terms and phrases identified in the free to text to identify concepts in the free text. The system uses a lexicon of terms linked to a formal ontology that is independent of a specific language to extract concepts from the free text based on the words and multi-word terms in the free text. The formal ontology contains both language independent domain knowledge concepts and language dependent linguistic concepts that govern the relationships between concepts and contain the rules about how language works. The system according to the current invention may preferably be used to index medical documents and assign codes from independent coding systems, such as, SNOMED, ICD-9 and ICD-10.

Abstract: A porous member is used in a liquid removal system of an immersion lithographic projection apparatus to smooth uneven flows. A pressure differential across the porous member may be maintained at below the bubble point of the porous member so that a single-phase liquid flow is obtained. Alternatively, the porous member may be used to reduce unevenness in a two-phase flow.

Abstract: A process for preparing 1,2-diamino-3-methylcyclohexane and/or 1,2-diamino-4-methylcyclohexane by reacting 2,3- and/or 3,4-diaminotoluene with hydrogen at elevated pressure and elevated temperature in the presence of a heterogeneous rhodium catalyst, wherein a mixture comprising 2,3- and/or 3,4-diaminotoluene, a dialkyl ether and/or alicyclic ether as a solvent and ammonia is initially charged in an autoclave in the presence of the catalyst and subsequently hydrogenated while supplying hydrogen.

Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial grass fibre in particular for use in an artificial mat for an artificial lawn, which artificial grass fibre is made of at least one synthetic material. The invention also relates to an artificial mat, in particular for use in an artificial grass sports field, which artificial mat is built up of a carrier to which at least artificial grass fibres according to the invention are attached. The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved artificial grass fibre which on the one hand can be produced by means of the existing techniques and which on the other hand reduces the number of injuries on the field. According to the invention, the artificial grass fibre to that end furthermore comprises at least one additional material component, which additional material component imposes a permanent volume increase on the artificial grass fibre under the influence of an external stimulus after the artificial mat has been provided with the artificial grass fibre.

Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial lawn, in particular an artificial grass sports field, comprising a substrate to which artificial grass fibres provided with additives are attached, which additives undergo a color change in response to an external stimulus. The object of the invention is to provide an artificial lawn as referred to in the introductory paragraph which is capable of displaying a range of colors in a simpler and more effective manner. According to the invention, the artificial grass fibres provided with an additive are attached to the substrate in the form of various groups of artificial grass fibres, each provided with a specific additive, wherein each specific additive of a group of artificial grass fibres undergoes a color change in response to a specific external stimulus.

Abstract: The invention provides a radiation detection device (1) for obtaining an image of a part of a test animal or human using high-energy radiation, comprising a detection chamber, a plurality of pinholes distributed all around the detection chamber over at least one pinhole wall, at least one framing wall having an opening for the high-energy radiation, at least one detector which is designed for detecting high-energy radiation, in which a plurality of image fields are provided on the at least one detector, in each case having one beam path from a part of the detection chamber to at least one detector, in which at least one of the at least one pinhole wall and the at least one framing wall is displaceable in such a manner that at least one of the plurality of image fields can be modified in size and/or direction. This provides the possibility to image an object at several angles, or to image a larger or a different part thereof, so that the entire device can be used in a more flexible manner.

Abstract: Tinted ophthalmic devices, methods for their production, and non-crosslinked binding polymers used in their production are disclosed herein.