Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for synthesizing products. The disclosed devices and methods may be used to synthesize products, e.g., pharmaceutical or therapeutic compounds (i.e., drugs), ceramics, catalysts, biological polymers (i.e., proteins, enzymes), cells, tissues, or combinations thereof. The devices and methods may be operated in a microgravity environment.

Abstract: A first subject of the present invention has an antiviral formulation with metallic copper particles in an unoxidized form and having a median particle diameter inferior or equal to 200 nm, graphene oxide or reduced graphene oxide, and a bonding matrix material. A second subject of the invention has an antiviral filtering material with a layer of textile and at least one layer of an antiviral coating comprising metallic copper particles in an unoxidized form and having a median particle diameter inferior or equal to 200 nm, graphene oxide or reduced graphene oxide, and a bonding matrix into which both metallic copper particles and graphene oxide or reduced graphene oxide are anchored. The invention also concerns methods of preparation of the antiviral formulation and of the antiviral filtering material. Finally, the invention includes an antiviral face mask with a layer of textile coated with the antiviral formulation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an annuloplasty device configured for being implanted via a catheter, a cinching device applied in annuloplasty, and a method of implementing annuloplasty. The annuloplasty device comprises a shaping ring and a tissue anchoring element. The shaping ring includes a first bar member, a second bar member and a third bar member that are connected via an extendable and compressible element. The first bar member, the second bar member and the third bar member are each provided with a connection portion for anchoring the shaping ring to the physiological tissue by the tissue anchoring element. An adjustment wire is provided in an inner cavity of the extendable and compressible element, for adjusting the size of the shaping ring, thereby adjusting the size of the physiological annulus.

Abstract: A device for non-invasive light delivery to a subject. The device includes a controller disposed in the housing, the controller being electrically connected to the power source; at least one waveform electronics assembly; a plurality of laser diodes disposed in the housing, the plurality of laser diodes being configured to operate in a super-pulsed regime, the controller being configured to operate the plurality of laser diodes with a Megahertz (MHz) modulation and peak power in milliwatts (mW), the plurality of laser diodes including at least one near-infrared laser diode, at least one mid-infrared laser diode, at least one far-infrared laser diode, and at least one visible-range laser diode; a plurality of optical fibers bundled into at least one fiber bundle, a distal end of the at least one fiber bundle being arranged and configured for delivering light from the plurality of optical fibers to the subject.

Abstract: A slip ring unit for an electric generator is provided. The slip ring unit includes a slip ring attachable to a rotor shaft of the electric generator, a plurality of sliding contacts arranged along a circumference of the slip ring, to provide an electrical connection with the slip ring, at least one temperature sensor for measuring a temperature inside the slip ring unit, a fan for providing a cooling flow in the slip ring unit, and a controller connected to the fan for controlling the cooling flow rate generated by the fan, the controller being connected to the at least one temperature sensor. The at least one temperature sensor is attached to at least a holder for supporting the sliding contacts. The controller is configured in such a way that the cooling flow rate is generated depending on the temperature measured by the at least one temperature sensor.

Abstract: A method for controlling the reactive power exchange of a DFIG wind facility with the grid is provided. The method includes determining a grid side converter reactive power thermal limit value and determining the value of the required DFIG magnetizing reactive power to be consumed by the stator. Then setting dynamically the sharing of the reactive power between the stator and the GSC such that the GSC reactive power value is the difference between the reactive power demand of the DFIG wind facility and the magnetizing reactive power consumed by the stator. Afterwards operating the DFIG wind turbine facility such that the absolute value of GSC reactive power is adjusted to be below the grid side converter reactive power thermal limit value value. An arrangement and a wind turbine are also provided.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for use in preventing or treating graft versus host disease (GVHD) in a subject wherein the composition includes intact microvesicles isolated from a biological fluid using polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation, wherein administration of the pharmaceutical composition alleviates or prevents one or more symptoms of GVHD in the subject. Also described is a method of preventing or treating graft versus host disease (GVHD) in a subject comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising intact microvesicles isolated from a biological fluid of an unrelated or related donor using polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation wherein one or more symptoms of GVHD comprising weight loss, cutaneous tissue damage, subcutaneous tissue damage, cutaneous inflammation, satellite cell necrosis, truncated lifespan, and/or subcutaneous inflammation are prevented or alleviated in the subject.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of treating skeletal muscular myopathy, e.g., Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), with cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs), wherein a therapeutically effective amount of CDCs is delivered to a targeted dystrophic skeletal muscle. Some embodiment enable delivery of a therapeutically effective amount of CDCs via intramuscular injection directly at a skeletal muscle or systemic administration, e.g., intravenous injection, in a single dose or multiple doses, to treat a targeted dystrophic skeletal muscle. Some embodiments provide a method for improving exercise capabilities in DMD patients. Additional embodiments relate to exosome mediated transfer of noncoding RNAs ameliorates Duchenne muscular dystrophy by restoring dystrophin in heart and skeletal muscle. Delivery of noncoding RNA species found in CDC-derived exosomes mimics the ability of CDCs and CDC-derived exosomes to increase dystrophin protein levels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating a chemical injury of the eye, in particular alkali burn of the cornea, as well as ocular GVHD and similar inflammatory ocular conditions, with extracellular vesicles, in particular exosomes obtained from human cardiospheres or cardiosphere-derived cells. The present invention also provides a formulation comprising extracellular vesicles, in particular exosomes obtained from human cardiospheres or cardiosphere-derived cells, for subconjunctival or topical administration to the eye in the treatment of a chemical injury of the eye, in particular alkali burn of the cornea, as well as ocular GVHD and similar inflammatory ocular conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating acute or chronic systemic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) with extracellular vesicles, e.g., exosomes obtained from human cardiospheres or cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs), wherein systemic GVHD involves, e.g., at least two organs selected from the group consisting of the skin, mucosa, gastrointestinal tract, liver, lungs, joints and fascia, genitalia, and eyes. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical formulation comprising extracellular vesicles, e.g., exosomes obtained from human cardiospheres or CDCs, for systemic administration, e.g., intravenous infusion, to a human subject in need of treatment of systemic GVHD.

Abstract: A system and method of lifting and positioning patients uses a patient’s center of gravity for leverage to enable a caregiver to readily move a patient with less effort. The system includes a device with a tension sheet and tension rollers located at opposite ends of the device. The tension rollers are configured to increase tension in the tension sheet, which creates leverage to assist positioning of the patient. The patient lifting and positioning system aims to reduce injury risk for both the caregiver and any patient being assisted to lay down and sit up. Further, the system and method uses leverage to assist a patient lay flat on an exam table or bed from the sitting position to the laying position, and back to the sitting position with less effort.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of treating skeletal muscular myopathy, e.g., Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), with cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs), wherein a therapeutically effective amount of CDCs is delivered to a targeted dystrophic skeletal muscle. Some embodiment enable delivery of a therapeutically effective amount of CDCs via intramuscular injection directly at a skeletal muscle or systemic administration, intravenous injection, in a single dose or multiple doses, to treat a targeted dystrophic skeletal muscle. Some embodiments provide a method for improving exercise capabilities in DMD patients. Additional embodiments relate to exosome, mediated transfer of noncoding RNAs ameliorates Duchenne muscular dystrophy by restoring dystrophin in heart and skeletal muscle. Delivery of noncoding RNA species found in CDC-derived exosomes mimics the ability of CDCs and CDC-derived exosomes to increase dystrophin protein levels.

Abstract: A baked good includes a gelatinized component comprising a starch and having a total starch content, the baked good having a slowly digestible starch content of at least 15 grams per 100 grams of ready-to-eat baked good, and at least 20% of the total starch content of the baked good being gelatinized.

Abstract: A wind power plant for providing electrical power to a utility grid is provided, the wind power plant including: at least one wind turbine having a wind turbine generator coupled to a wind turbine rotation shaft to which plural rotor blades are mounted, the wind turbine providing electric power at an output terminal; at least one power conversion system, each including: a plant motor electrically coupled and configured to receive the electric power from the output terminal of the at least one wind turbine and convert it into rotational power of a plant motor shaft; a plant generator mechanically coupled to the plant motor shaft and electrically coupleable to the electric utility grid.

Abstract: The present invention provides extrcellular vesicles, such as exosomes, engineered to be loaded with miR-345, which may be further loaded with, e.g., miR-146a and let-7b, and/or further be depleted of miR-10a and/or miR-10b. The present invention also provides an assay method, wherein the amounts of miR-345, miR146a, and let-7b in a sample of extracellular vesicles are positively associated with potency, and wherein the amount of miR-10b in a sample of extracellular vesicles is negatively associated with potency.

Abstract: A wind turbine electrical power generating system includes a first generator configured to be mechanically coupled to a rotor, a second generator configured to be mechanically coupled to the rotor; and an electrical power conversion system including at least a first and a second power converter section. The first power converter section is electrically coupled between a rotor winding of the first generator and a coupling point and a stator winding of the first generator is electrically coupled to the coupling point such that only a fraction of electrical power generated by the first generator passes through the power conversion system. The second power converter section is electrically coupled between an electrical power output of the second generator and the coupling point such that the electrical power provided by the second generator to the coupling point passes through the power conversion system.

Abstract: In an approach to obfuscation of sensitive information through non-visual feedback, responsive to receiving a signal from a user to start a session requiring input of sensitive data, one or more dummy character positions are determined, where the one or more dummy character positions represent characters that are not part of the sensitive data. Responsive to a current character position is any dummy character position of the one or more dummy character positions, the user is signaled that a next input character will be ignored, where the user is signaled using non-visual feedback. Responsive to receiving the next input character from the user, where the current character position is any dummy character position of the one or more dummy character positions, the next input character is ignored.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating acute or chronic systemic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) with extracellular vesicles, e.g., exosomes obtained from human cardiospheres or cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs), wherein systemic GVHD involves, e.g., at least two organs selected from the group consisting of the skin, mucosa, gastrointestinal tract, liver, lungs, joints and fascia, genitalia, and eyes. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical formulation comprising extracellular vesicles, e.g., exosomes obtained from human cardiospheres or CDCs, for systemic administration, e.g., intravenous infusion, to a human subject in need of treatment of systemic GVHD.

Abstract: Provided are methods for labeling ultrasound data. The method may include training a convolutional neural network (CNN) based on ultrasound data. The ultrasound data may include ultrasonic waveform data (e.g., radio frequency (RF) waveform data). An RF input of each downsampling layer of a plurality of downsampling layers in the CNN may be downsampled. The RF input may include RF waveform data for an ultrasound. Tissues in the ultrasound may be segmented based on an output of the CNN. A system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A double fibre laser cutting system for laser cutting sheet metal that comprises: a cutting machine with a mobile gantry and fixed metal sheets, multiple heads both for straight cutting and bevel cutting, multiple cutting sources in each head, automated means for changing the cutting source in each head, means for controlling all the elements, wherein the multiple cutting sources in each head is carried out by means of two fibres sent from corresponding generator outlets to each head. The simultaneous cutting of one or more metal sheets with different thicknesses is achieved and, consequently, maximum laser cutting capacity in useful length, and in useful width, the use of a single generator, and the automatic adjustment of cutting conditions in accordance with the thicknesses, straight and bevel cutting simultaneously in multiple heads.