Abstract: A fire protection element is useful for the separation of openings passing through walls or ceilings, in particular of line passages. The fire protection element has a molded part made from intumescent material with a plurality of through-openings for the passage of lines which extend in particular parallel to each other from a first side to an opposite second side of the fire protection element. In each case, the through-openings for the passage are tightly sealed relative to flue gas by a membrane.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with load prediction using load profiles are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving weather information for a plurality of geographical regions, and receiving load information from a plurality of meters located in the plurality of geographical regions. A load profile is generated for each of the geographical regions. Each load profile is generated based upon (i) weather information corresponding to a geographical region and (ii) load information corresponding to one or more meters located within the geographical region. A loading is predicted for each geographical region based upon a load profile for the geographical region. A determination is made as to whether the predicted loading for each geographical region exceeds a defined threshold. In response to a first predicted loading for a first geographical region exceeding the defined threshold, a geographical representation of the first geographical region is distinguished.

Abstract: An imaging assembly includes a compression system configured to receive and compress an object to be imaged. The compression system includes a first compression paddle and a second compression paddle. The imaging assembly further includes an ultrasound system including a first ultrasound probe coupled to the first compression paddle. The first ultrasound probe is configured to acquire a first portion of the ultrasound image information of the object. The ultrasound system also includes a second ultrasound probe coupled to the second compression paddle. The second ultrasound probe is configured to acquire a second portion of the ultrasound image information of the object.

Abstract: A fire protection element is useful for the separation of openings passing through walls or ceilings, in particular of line passages. The fire protection element has a molded part made from intumescent material with a plurality of through-openings for the passage of lines which extend in particular parallel to each other from a first side to an opposite second side of the fire protection element. In each case, the through-openings for the passage are tightly sealed relative to flue gas by a membrane.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with load prediction using load profiles are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving weather information for a plurality of geographical regions, and receiving load information from a plurality of meters located in the plurality of geographical regions. A load profile is generated for each of the geographical regions. Each load profile is generated based upon (i) weather information corresponding to a geographical region and (ii) load information corresponding to one or more meters located within the geographical region. A loading is predicted for each geographical region based upon a load profile for the geographical region. A determination is made as to whether the predicted loading for each geographical region exceeds a defined threshold. In response to a first predicted loading for a first geographical region exceeding the defined threshold, a geographical representation of the first geographical region is distinguished.

Abstract: An imaging assembly includes a compression system configured to receive and compress an object to be imaged. The compression system includes a first compression paddle and a second compression paddle. The imaging assembly further includes an ultrasound system including a first ultrasound probe coupled to the first compression paddle. The first ultrasound probe is configured to acquire a first portion of the ultrasound image information of the object. The ultrasound system also includes a second ultrasound probe coupled to the second compression paddle. The second ultrasound probe is configured to acquire a second portion of the ultrasound image information of the object.

Abstract: An attenuated Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae bacterium has a mutation in a gene required for bacterial virulence. Vaccines based upon the bacterium are provided, as are isolated virulence genes and polypeptides and uses thereof.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the treatment of microbial infection, and in particular meningococcal disease, comprise a commensal Neisseria or an extract of a commensal Neisseria. Further methods and compositions comprise commensal Neisseria which express genes from virulent strains of Neisseria and/or heterologous gene products from non-Neisserial sources. Such compositions are used in vaccine preparations for the treatment of microbial infection.

Abstract: An adaptive filter 24 for filtering a signal comprising first streams interspersed with second streams (for example the A and B tracks of a signal retrieved from a tape storage device) comprises respective stores for storing initial filter coefficients for each type of stream. The corresponding coefficients are loaded for the beginning of each stream. The stored coefficients for each stream may be a standard set, or they may be from the adaption process of one or more previous streams of that type. The coefficients may be taken part way through the adaption process, in a minimum error portion of the stream.

Abstract: During retrieval of data from tape in a helical scan tape drive mechanism with a rotary head drum, movement of tape past the drum by a capstan is controlled to keep the tracks recorded on the tape in alignment with paths followed by the heads. A time interval is measured between occurrence of a drum position pulse generated at a specific angular position of the drum, and detection of reference signals included in the tracks (such as specific portions, with known bit patterns, of the data in the tracks). The capstan is operated to keep this interval equal to a set reference value. If a change in the reference value is required, such as at a transition between data recordings made at different times, the tape is moved at a slower than normal speed, and multiple measurements are made of the time interval as it cycles through a range of values in consequence of the changed tape speed. The mean value of these multiple measurements is used as the new reference value.