Abstract: A method for stratifying a patient infected with a respiratory disease is disclosed. The method comprises providing (1510) a fluid sample (9) from the patient, producing (1520) a light signal from a laser (1), illuminating (1530) the fluid sample (9) with the light signal through a lens in a sensing probe (8), acquiring (1540) a spectrogram from the fluid sample (9), extracting (1550) a plurality of spectrogram features from the light signal, comparing (1560) the extracted plurality of spectrogram features with a model in a database to determine a degree of severity of the respiratory disease. A result is then output (1570) to indicate the degree of severity of the respiratory disease.

Abstract: A qMRI system and method map qMRI parameters of a biological object. The method includes performing, by the qMRI system, N scans wherein each scan, includes: performing T2-prepared inversion pulse series, each followed by readout blocks, each magnetization preparation RF pulse series is a T2-prepared inversion pulse series containing multiple pulses and an inter-pulse duration, for varying to obtain different T2 weightings; and acquiring, by the MRI system and during each readout block of an MRI, a recovery signal generated by a part of the biological object, wherein for each readout block, an MRI signal is acquired by the MRI system at different inversion times. An image of the part is reconstructed for and from each MRI signal. A voxel-wise signal is created by concatenating intensity values for a same voxel for the reconstructed images. A physical model is fitted to the concatenated intensity values to obtain a qMRI map.

Abstract: A transformer may comprise a winding wrapped around a magnetic core, the winding having at least one winding portion extending between the magnetic core and the exterior of the winding in radial direction. The winding may comprise at least a first conductor and at least a second conductor, arranged radially adjacent to each other in each winding portion with the interposition of an insulating layer, wherein the first conductor is arranged radially inwardly with respect to the second conductor for part of each winding portion length, and radially outwardly with respect to the second conductor for another part of each winding portion length.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a portable device for the collection of biological samples. The device comprises a receptacle (8) with a cover (2), which comprises a pierceable area (3) and may include a collection instrument (1), comprising a rod (4), and a collection arrangement at the end, which may include a solid matrix, for instance a sponge or a tampon (5). The receptacle (8) has a rounded or conical shaped bottom (10), at the center of which there is a conical or rounded-shaped projection (11), with one or more holes (12). The bottom of the receptacle (8) is in contact with a collector recipient through a system of close-aperture, which may comprise screw or a fitting system with protrusions (13). In this way, the device referred in the present invention allows for the collection, storage, transportation and separation of biological material without significant manipulation and without risk of cross-contamination.

Abstract: A transformer may comprise a winding wrapped around a magnetic core, the winding having at least one winding portion extending between the magnetic core and the exterior of the winding in radial direction. The winding may comprise at least a first conductor and at least a second conductor, arranged radially adjacent to each other in each winding portion with the interposition of an insulating layer, wherein the first conductor is arranged radially inwardly with respect to the second conductor for part of each winding portion length, and radially outwardly with respect to the second conductor for another part of each winding portion length.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for configuring and managing virtual networks. For example, a distributed virtual network controller is described that configures and manages an overlay network within a physical network formed by plurality of switches. A plurality of servers are interconnected by the switch fabric, each of the servers comprising an operating environment executing one or more virtual machines in communication via the overlay networks. The servers comprises a set of virtual switches that extends the overlay network as a virtual network to the operating environment of the virtual machines.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a portable device for the collection of biological samples. The device comprises a receptacle (8) with a cover (2), which comprises a pierceable area (3) and may include a collection instrument (1), comprising a rod (4), and a collection arrangement at the end, which may include a solid matrix, for instance a sponge or a tampon (5). The receptacle (8) has a rounded or conical shaped bottom (10), at the center of which there is a conical or rounded-shaped projection (11), with one or more holes (12). The bottom of the receptacle (8) is in contact with a collector recipient through a system of close-aperture, which may comprise screw or a fitting system with protrusions (13). In this way, the device referred in the present invention allows for the collection, storage, transportation and separation of biological material without significant manipulation and without risk of cross-contamination.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a network router includes plural interfaces and a chain walker which, upon receipt of a first protocol packet in a first interface, processes the packet by walking the packet through a decapsulation chain associated with the interface and the first protocol and an encapsulation chain associated with an identified second interface and identified second protocol. The walker passes the packet to elements of the decapsulation chain to produce a decapsulated packet. The walker passes the decapsulated packet to elements of an encapsulation chain to produce an encapsulated packet. Each chain includes at least one packet-processing element. An element receives the packet from the walker as processed by a previous element, the packet being further processed as appropriate. The walker, upon receipt of the first protocol packet, passes the packet to elements of a demultiplexer chain associated with the first interface to produce a demultiplexed packet.

Abstract: An extruded and stamped personal washing bar comprising an artisan crafted appearance having top and bottom stamped faces bounded by a parting line or edge band and a horizontal plane intersecting the parting line or edge band, said bar further comprising an outer surfactant phase and a substantially contiguous inner vein comprising a thermoplastic mass, wherein said inner vein is located between the top and bottom stamped faces of the bar and wherein a projection of the inner vein onto the horizontal plane intersecting the parting line or edge band has a maximum width that is at least 20% of a maximum width of the bar in said horizontal plane.

Abstract: An extruded and stamped personal washing bar comprising an artisan crafted appearance having top and bottom stamped faces bounded by a parting line or edge band and a horizontal plane intersecting the parting line or edge band, said bar further comprising an outer surfactant phase and a substantially contiguous inner vein comprising a thermoplastic mass, wherein said inner vein is located between the top and bottom stamped faces of the bar and wherein a projection of the inner vein onto the horizontal plane intersecting the parting line or edge band has a maximum width that is at least 20% of a maximum width of the bar in said horizontal plane.

Abstract: An extruded and stamped personal washing bar comprising an artisan crafted appearance having top and bottom stamped faces bounded by a parting line or edge band and a horizontal plane intersecting the parting line or edge band, said bar further comprising an outer surfactant phase and a substantially contiguous inner vein comprising a thermoplastic mass, wherein said inner vein is located between the top and bottom stamped faces of the bar and wherein a projection of the inner vein onto the horizontal plane intersecting the parting line or edge band has a maximum width that is at least 20% of a maximum width of the bar in said horizontal plane.

Abstract: An extruded and stamped personal washing bar comprising an artisan crafted appearance having top and bottom stamped faces bounded by a parting line or edge band and a horizontal plane intersecting the parting line or edge band, said bar further comprising an outer surfactant phase and a substantially contiguous inner vein comprising a thermoplastic mass, wherein said inner vein is located between the top and bottom stamped faces of the bar and wherein a projection of the inner vein onto the horizontal plane intersecting the parting line or edge band has a maximum width that is at least 20% of a maximum width of the bar in said horizontal plane.

Abstract: A method for processing packets in a router includes specifying operations on packets as chains of processing elements. Each chain is uniquely associated with one interface/protocol pair, and each processing element performs at least one function on a packet. An incoming packet is received, and processed, first by a demultiplexor element which determines the protocol of the next higher level used by the packet. Then, the packet is processed by the elements of a decapsulation chain associated with the interface on which the packet was received, and by the elements of an encapsulation chain associated with the interface on which the packet is to be transmitted. The demultiplexor element or operation passes the packet on to a decapsulation chain associated with the protocol and with the incoming interface, depending on protocol information contained in the incoming packet.

Abstract: A method for processing packets in a router includes specifying operations on packets as chains of processing elements. Each chain is uniquely associated with one interface/protocol pair, and each processing element performs at least one function on a packet. An incoming packet is received, and processed, first by a demultiplexor element which determines the protocol of the next higher level used by the packet. Then, the packet is processed by the elements of a decapsulation chain associated with the interface on which the packet was received, and by the elements of an encapsulation chain associated with the interface on which the packet is to be transmitted. The demultiplexor element or operation passes the packet on to a decapsulation chain associated with the protocol and with the incoming interface, depending on protocol information contained in the incoming packet.