Abstract: A device and method for monitoring the condition of an electrical power transformer in an electrical power grid synchronously measures current and voltage data at both a high voltage side of the transformer and a low-voltage side of the transformer and computes from this measured data corresponding transformer impedance data. These measurements and computations are repeated continuously in real time at a rates up to 30 Hz to provide a sequence of real-time transformer impedance data. An alarm signal is generated if a mean of the sequence of real-time transformer impedance data changes significantly.

Abstract: A method for automatically configuring peripheral devices performs a device assessment resulting in a list of available peripheral devices currently connected to the computer, calculates a configuration setting value from the list, and compares the configuration setting value to other values in a settings repository. If there is a match, then a prior selection of the peripheral devices is automatically restored. If there is no match, then devices are automatically selected from among the available peripheral devices in accordance with a predetermined devices database. The devices database includes possible devices and corresponding priority ranks for the possible devices. In addition, the computed configuration setting value is saved together with a current device selection in the settings repository.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of indirectly detecting at least one directly undetectable analyte of interest. According to the method, a leading electrolyte and a trailing electrolyte are provided. In addition, a mixture of the at least one directly undetectable analyte and at least two directly detectable spacer molecules is provided. The directly detectable spacer molecules and the directly undetectable analyte are then concentrated and separated into zones using isotachophoresis. A displacement between the zones of directly detectable spacer molecules is then used to determine the presence of the directly undetectable analyte.

Abstract: Network latency measurements of RTP traffic are measured using an intermediate network device positioned between endpoints that do not necessarily support RTCP. During an active RTP stream between two endpoints, the intermediate device detects whether the endpoints are already providing their own RTCP packets and responding to RTCP packets from the other endpoint. If not, the intermediate device generates RTCP packets on behalf of the non-responsive or non-providing endpoint(s), acting as a proxy for the endpoint(s), so the packets appear to one endpoint as if they were generated by the other endpoint. Thus, if at least one endpoint supports RTCP, a single intermediate device is sufficient to generate the RTCP packets that allow the latency calculation to be performed.

Abstract: A method of creating a super-resolved color image from multiple lower-resolution color images is provided by combining a data fidelity penalty term, a spatial luminance penalty term, a spatial chrominance penalty term, and an inter-color dependencies penalty term to create an overall cost function. The data fidelity penalty term is an L1 norm penalty term to enforce similarities between raw data and a high-resolution image estimate, the spatial luminance penalty term is to encourage sharp edges in a luminance component to the high-resolution image, the spatial chrominance penalty term is to encourage smoothness in a chrominance component of the high-resolution image, and the inter-color dependencies penalty term is to encourage homogeneity of an edge location and orientation in different color bands. A steepest descent optimization is applied to the overall cost function for minimization by applying a derivative to each color band while the other color bands constant.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor array including magnetoresistive sensor elements having outputs combined by frequency division multiplexing (FDM) is provided. Each sensor element provides an input to a mixer which provides a distinct frequency shift. Preferably, time division multiplexing is also used to combine sensor element outputs. Each sensor element is typically in proximity to a corresponding sample. The sensor elements are preferably subarrays having row and column addressable sensor element pixels. This arrangement provides multiple sensor pixels for each sample under test. Multiplexing of sensor element outputs advantageously reduces readout time. A modulated external magnetic field is preferably applied during operation, to reduce the effect of 1/f noise on the sensor element signals. The effect of electromagnetic interference (EMI) induced by the magnetic field on sensor element signals is advantageously reduced by the mixing required for FDM.

Abstract: A method of compensating for motion artefact of a portion of a subject, wherein signal intensity data representing movement of the portion of the subject is recorded and plotted on a display means. The method includes selecting a region of interest (ROI) covering an edge of the moving portion, calculating and plotting data points representing the average signal intensity of the selected ROI at specific time instances, producing a smoothed curve representing the mean of the plotted data points. The method further includes measuring the difference between the plotted data points and the smoothed curve at particular time instances to produce a difference curve, detecting a set of critical points on the difference curve, and interpolating the detected set of critical points to form a curve of equal time intervals for subsequent processing.

Abstract: Complex labyrinth curves are interactively generated by an iterative process that spatially modulates curve evolution by an image or other function defined on the evolution space. After curves and evolution parameters are initialized [100], the iterative process allows the curve and evolution parameters to be interactively modified by a user [102], resamples the curves [104], and spatially modulates the curves according to the evolution parameters [106]. The evolved labyrinth curves are may be processed [110] for use in various applications including animation, maze creation, intricate artistic patterns, and graphical user interfaces that map linearly ordered data to the evolved curve and allow the data to be navigated using the rendered curve. The evolved curves can also be triangulated and projected to a plane to create patterns for manufacturing developable surfaces.

Abstract: Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for managing the power consumption of an automotive vehicle, and thereby for optimizing the power consumption of the vehicle. The devices and systems for managing the power consumption of the vehicle typically include power management logic that can calculate an applied power for the vehicle engine based on information provided from the external environment of the vehicle, the operational status of the vehicle, one or more command inputs from a driver, and one or more operational parameters of the vehicle.

Abstract: This invention provides, in one aspect, a procedure to use optically transparent nanocrystalline quantum dots to absorb UV light. This absorption process leads to an energy transfer to a chemically bound and chelated lanthanide ion that may emit light in either the visible spectrum (400-700 nm) or in the near infrared (700-1600 nm). This invention also provides methods for the use of these taggant materials in inks and aerosols used to disperse the taggant.

Abstract: The present invention provides materials that have high glucose and oxygen permeability, strength, water content, and resistance to protein adsorption. The materials include an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel that is coated with biomolecules. The IPN hydrogels include two interpenetrating polymer networks. The first polymer network is based on a hydrophilic telechelic macromonomer. The second polymer network is based on a hydrophilic monomer. The hydrophilic monomer is polymerized and cross-linked to form the second polymer network in the presence of the first polymer network. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrophilic telechelic macromonomer is PEG-diacrylate or PEG-dimethacrylate and the hydrophilic monomer is an acrylic-based monomer. Any biomolecules may be linked to the IPN hydrogels, but are preferably biomolecules that support the growth of cornea-derived cells. The material is designed to serve as a corneal prosthesis.

Abstract: In tensor MRI, a set of k-space MRI data points is acquired that includes one or more k-space subsets of MRI data points. An object orientation (or spatial transformation) corresponding to each of the k-space subsets is determined. Because the object orientation (or spatial transformation) can differ from subset to subset, the overall set of k-space data can be inconsistent with respect to object orientation (or spatial transformation). This possible inconsistency can be addressed by providing a k-space tensor model that includes object orientation and/or spatial transformation information corresponding to each of the subsets. A tensor MRI image can be reconstructed from the set of k-space MRI data points by using the k-space tensor model to account for object orientation and/or spatial transformation.

Abstract: A structure for high performance light emitting electrochemical cells comprises at least two active layers of mixed ionic/electronic conducting materials, at least one of which is electroluminescent. The active layers are sandwiched between ion blocking electrodes, typically metal and/or transparent conducting oxide, that are electrically but not ionically conductive. Application of bias to the electrodes results in the polarization of ions at the electrodes thereby generating a field to drive the injection of electronic carriers into the active layer. The injected electron and holes recombine within the active layers to emit light. The ability to balance electron and hole injection in the design of such devices provides for optimal light emission efficiency.

Abstract: Growth of SiGe on a significantly lattice mismatched substrate (e.g., Si) is provided by depositing a SiGe buffer layer at a growth temperature, then annealing the resulting structure at a temperature higher than the growth temperature. Additional buffer layers can be included following the same steps. The SiGe buffer is significantly lattice mismatched with respect to the substrate, and is preferably substantially lattice matched with a SiGe device to be grown on top of the buffer. The resulting buffer structure is relatively thin and provides low defect density, and low surface roughness. Disadvantages of thick graded buffer layers, such as high cost, high surface roughness, mechanical fragility, and CTE mismatch, are thereby avoided.

Abstract: A displacement sensor element and a haptic sensor arrangement using two or more displacement sensor elements are provided. The arrangements can be used for real-time capture of the shape of haptic deformation of the sensor arrangement. Although examples described in detail herein are primarily directed to tactile applications, the sensor can be used in the machine, robotic and medical fields where a sensor of this type can usefully be applied where only machine or computer controlled robotic elements are interacting, particularly if the machines or robotic elements are being used in human like applications but other force measurement applications are possible.

Abstract: A method of image processing using kernel regression is provided. An image gradient is estimated from original data that is analyzed for local structures by computing a scaling parameter, a rotation parameter and an elongation parameter using singular value decomposition on local gradients of the estimated gradients locally to provide steering matrices. A steering kernel regression having steering matrices is applied to the original data to provide a reconstructed image and new image gradients. The new gradients are analyzed using singular value decomposition to provide new steering matrices. The steering kernel regression with the new steering matrices is applied to the noisy data to provide a new reconstructed image and further new gradients. The last two steps are repeated up to ten iterations to denoise the original noisy data and improve the local image structure.

Abstract: A biocomposite is produced from natural fiber fabrics embedded in a matrix of biosynthetic polyhydroxy-alkanoate (PHA) polymers. The PHA is synthesized using aerobic microbial biosynthesis using mixed bacterial cultures and a feedstock containing anaerobic degradation products such as methane and volatile fatty acids derived from microbial biodegradation of organic waste materials, which may include waste biocomposites. Monomers may be added to the synthesized PHA polymer to control mechanical properties of the resulting biocomposite. The natural fibers and/or PHA may be pretreated using various techniques to improve the bond between the fibers and the PHA resin matrix and water absorption resistance of the fibers. The composite may be a laminate of treated and untreated fabric layers, or differently treated layers, to achieve good in-service performance as well as rapid and/or optimal biogas production when taken out of service and put in an anaerobic environment to degrade.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus and method includes a sensor head with at least two surfaces separated by a gap. One surface is mechanically fixed, a second surface is free to move and deflections of the second surface relative to the first surface are monitored by optical interferometry. In one embodiment, an optical fiber is used to direct light from a light source to the sensor and collect light reflected by the sensor. In alternate embodiments the sensor apparatus includes integrated optical elements, free-space optics, and direct laser-diode sensing. In operation, interaction of molecules or other objects in the sample with the second surface is detected as a change in amplitude and/or phase of deflection the second surface in response to an applied driving signal. A layer of binding molecules may be immobilized on the second surface and this surface exposed to a sample.

Abstract: A database server contains pointers to useful information, such as on the World Wide Web. Users of the server may have hypertext links added automatically into documents they submit. Users may additionally contribute to the link database, thereby extending it, and may add additional qualifying information pertaining to the links.

Abstract: An asymmetric mirror is composed of a dielectric substrate [500] and a coating [502] on the dielectric substrate. Within an operational wavelength range ??, the mirror has a transmission symmetry ?T=0% and a reflection asymmetry ?R>10%, where the reflection asymmetry ?R varies by less than 5% within the operational wavelength range ??. In addition, the wavelength range ?? is substantially broad, i.e., satisfies ??/?max>10%. The coating [502] is a metamaterial having structural features smaller than the smallest operational wavelength, e.g., a nano-structured metamaterial such as a photonic crystal or a disordered nano-composite of a metal and a dielectric. In a preferred embodiment, the coating [502] is semi-continuous with a filling factor p between 70% and 75%. The dielectric may be, for example, air, vacuum, an electro-optic polymer, an optical gain material, an electro-active material, or a semiconductor.