Abstract: A card authentication system. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for authenticating a data card having an intrinsic magnetic characteristic and recorded data on the data card, the method including reading information from the data card, the data card information including the intrinsic magnetic characteristic and the recorded data on the data card, encrypting the data card information, sending the encrypted data card information, receiving the encrypted data card information, decrypting a portion of the encrypted data card information, the portion including the intrinsic magnetic characteristic, generating a score indicative of a degree of correlation between the intrinsic magnetic characteristic of the data card information and a stored value, and determining an authenticity of the data card based at least in part on the score.

Abstract: A system for verifying the authenticity of data contained in a magnetic medium using the remanent noise characteristics of the magnetic medium. In one embodiment, the invention includes a sensing unit configured to generate a signal indicative of the magnetic field of the magnetic medium, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in communication with the sensing unit and configured to digitize the analog signal, a filter in communication with the ADC configured to enhance the component of the signal associated with the remanent noise characteristic, a data extraction unit, in communication with the ADC and the filter configured to measure at least bit duration and peak location and an authentication extraction unit, in communication with the filter and the data extraction unit configured to extract a set of scaled samples from the output of the filter representative of the remanent noise characteristic.

Abstract: A method for the reconstruction of a tomographic image of an object from measurements of scattering data resulting from probing waves. The scattering data is related to a forward scattering operator by an integral operator. The tomographic image is reconstructed by executing a prescribed mathematical algorithm, as determined with reference to the integral operator, on the scattering data.

Abstract: Transrectal ultrasound is used for accurate planning and targeting of placement of radioactive seeds by needles into the prostate in transperineal prostate brachytherapy. The pubic arch formed by the union of the pelvic bones is a potential barrier to passage of the needles containing the radioactive seeds. An initial image of the pubic arch is also provided by transrectal ultrasound, in addition to a transverse cross-sectional image of the prostate. The initial image of the pubic arch is processed using a technique to selectively enhance the contrast of the linear features of the edge of the ultrasound image. The enhanced image is then thresholded via the use of a percentile thresholding technique and then a curve modeling the shape of the pubic arch is fitted against the thresholded, enhanced image to produce a processed image of the pubic arch. This is then overlaid with the image of the prostate and a determination made as to pubic arch interference.

Abstract: cDNA clones having a base sequence for human placental plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-2) have been developed and characterized and the amino acid sequence of the PAI-2 has been determined. The PAI-2 protein has then been expressed in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.