Abstract: A dental radiographic absorptiometric device and method is provided that quantitatively measures the amount of bone of a patient in any dentist's office. Absorptiometric information simultaneously obtained from the mandible and calibration devices are used to screen patients for osteoporosis.

Abstract: A system and method for a comparative web search engines, search result summarization, web snippet processing, comparison analysis, information visualization, meta-clustering, and quantitative evaluation of web snippet quality are disclosed. The present invention extends the capabilities of web searching and informational retrieval by providing a succinct comparative summary of search results at either the object or thematic levels.

Abstract: A method and health information exchange system for health and human care providers providing shared community health information records on individuals and their related household members in a secured relational database that is fully HIPAA compliant are disclosed. The system gathers a broad range of medical, epidemiological, and demographic information on individuals and their related household members visiting disjointed and unassociated health and human services providing care in a predefined region. The database is accessible to authorized subscribers via a secure private web site in real time, and allows for the tracking of service utilization of the individuals and their related household members in the predefined region to help ensure that the individuals and their related household members are receiving the necessary care from the variety of disjointed and unassociated health and human services.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for quantifying enzymatic activity of an enzyme with a known substrate. The methods employ SELDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and are suitable, in particular, for assaying aspects of the renin-angiotensin system. The methods may be utilized to assess and/or monitor biological conditions associated with the renin-angiotensin system prior to the manifestation of known physiological and biomarkers for such conditions. The methods are suitable for analysis of pharmacological effectors of the renin-angiotensin system, and are particularly suitable for automation and high-throughput screening assay design.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computerized near-real time resource deployment decision analysis tool providing a graphical user interface using perception-action icons that enables instant comparison of various resource parameters as well as progress according to plan, and a method thereof. The graphical user interface and method thereof provides an effective interface design strategy for both law-driven (e.g., process control) and intent-driven (e.g., information retrieval) domains using perception-action icons. Results unequivocally indicate that a graphical user interface with perception-action icons produced significantly better performance over prior art methods.

Abstract: Mass spectrometric methods directed to screening libraries of compounds for agents that inhibit entry of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV) into cells are provided, along with methods for comparatively evaluating inhibitors of the SARS CoV.

Abstract: A pipelined delta-sigma modulator (PDSM) analog to digital converter (ADC) architecture is disclosed where each stage of the pipelined ADC includes a delta sigma modulator with a digital low pass filter and a corresponding analog low pass filter that precisely matches the digital low pass filter. An error signal is generated at each stage based on the difference of the low pass filtered analog input and the low pass filtered digital output of the delta sigma modulator (after converting to an analog signal). The digital outputs of each stage are passed through the appropriate low pass filter stages so all digital signals have been subjected to the same filtering prior to combining in a digital error correction circuit. The present invention also uses a compensation filter to correct any errors in the pass band caused by the low pass filtering and to help reject unwanted noise outside the pass band.

Abstract: Methods are provided for adjusting and controlling the stress between layers of material in a multilayer structure. A first stress is configured in a region of stress on the substrate material. A second material is then deposited over the substrate. A second stress results between the substrate and the second material such that a net stress results where the net stress is a function of said first and second stresses. As such, the first stress can be configured to achieve a predetermined, desired net stress. For example, the first stress can be configured to cancel out the second stress such that the net stress is substantially zero.

Abstract: A method for the determining ultrasonic sound propagation speed and wall thickness of a tubular object. Time-domain and frequency-domain analyses are used, where the latter can determine acoustic dispersion if the specimen is made up of a dispersive material. Data is sensed from a series of transmitted ultrasonic waves, some of which are reflected. The data can be used to calculate speed of sound in the tube, as well as wall thickness. Inherent in the data is the speed of the ultrasonic wave; accordingly, correction for temperature variations in the tube is not required. The calculations based on measured speed of sound quantities produces more accurate results than in calculations where the speed of sound in the specimen is assumed.

Abstract: A method for the determining ultrasonic sound propagation speed and wall thickness of a tubular object. Time-domain and frequency-domain analyses are used, where the latter can determine acoustic dispersion if the specimen is made up of a dispersive material. Time of flight data is sensed from a series of transmitted ultrasonic waves, some of which are reflected and some of which are transmitted. The time of flight data can be used to calculate speed of sound in the tube, as well as wall thickness. Inherent in the time of flight data is the speed of the ultrasonic wave; accordingly, correction for temperature variations in the tube is not required. The calculations based on measured speed of sound quantities produces more accurate results than in calculations where the speed of sound in the specimen is assumed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for testing the abrasiveness of paper and other sheet materials. The device comprises a punching module, a feed module for moving the material, a holding module that holds the material while the punching module penetrated the material, and an instrument that records and analyzes the amount of force needed to punch through the material and then calculates the abrasive properties of the material. The punching module comprises a punching instrument for punching the material, a driving mechanism for operating the punching instrument, and a measurement system that measures the amount of the force required to punch the material. A method for using the device is also provided.

Abstract: A bandpass analog to digital converter includes M single channel delta sigma modulators having N-bit quantizer outputs arranged in a parallel configuration and operated at a predetermined sample frequency (fs). The modulator outputs are time interleaved and digitally combined in a manner that provides performance characteristics comparable to a modulator with a sample frequency of Mfs. Thus, bandpass center frequencies that are much higher than conventional single channel architectures are achievable. Single channel first order modulator bandpass center frequencies are restricted to fc=fs/4. However, a range of center frequencies approaching Mfs/2 is supported. This increased frequency capability is obtained while maintaining the delta sigma noise shaping near the higher bandpass center frequencies to reduce the effects of quantization noise. This results in a high signal to noise ratio with a corresponding high resolution at the much higher center frequencies.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus change speeds between a drive shaft and a driven shaft during power transmission between the shafts. Fixed diameter drive and driven wheels are secured to the shafts and a continuous elastic belt interconnects the drive wheel and the driven wheel. As power is transmitted between the shafts, one side of the elastic belt extending between the wheels is placed in tension and elongated in proportion to the tension while the other side of the elastic belt is untensioned and not elongated. The elongated portion of the belt remains elongated as it passes around the wheel which is driving and the slack portion of the belt remains relaxed as it passes around the wheel which is being driven. To accommodate the elongated state of the belt, the driving wheel must go faster than the driven wheel with the speed difference being dependent upon the amount of power being transmitted between the wheels and hence the amount of elongation of the elongated portion of the belt.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing polycrystalline superconductor materials which utilizes a zdense and non-polluting 211 substrate which has been pre-sintered prior to melt processing with a 123 superconducting material. The resulting melt-processed material may be fabricated into a 123 superconductor having a single crystal size of up to 60 mm long which can carry very high current of up to about 1,500 A at 1 .mu.V/cm criterion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the measurement of structural width and density with a CT scanner. The density of a particular structure is determined by establishing a radial density profile of a structure, identifying a peak density value along said density profile, interpolating a first curve of density versus width from a point defined by the structural width and the peak density value, and identifying a maximum density value of said first curve to establish a structural density value. The width of the structure is determined by identifying first and second radial positions corresponding to respective points on said radial density profile where the profile rises above and falls below first and second threshold values, measuring a difference between said first radial position and said second radial position, and determining the width of the structure as a function of the measured difference.

Abstract: This invention includes a computed tomography (CT) system which has the ability to quantitate cortical bone. Based on a series of specialized phantom measurements, the characteristics of the CT scanner with respect to the evaluation of cortical bone are established. The resulting characteristics provide the input to a specific algorithm that analyzes cross-sectional images containing cortical bone.

Abstract: A process is provided for creating a high resolution copy of a target video frame selected from a sequence of video frames, wherein each video frame comprises two interlaced fields.

Abstract: A heat pipe is disclosed for use in a vapor-absorption heat pump to provide high efficiency heat transfer between first and second fluids in contact with opposing first and second faces of the heat pipe. Although preferably disk-shaped and adapted for rotation for use in compact heat pumps, the heat pipe may be used in heat pump applications requiring other shapes, and may be either fixed or moving. In a further aspect of the invention, a vapor-absorption heat pump is provided incorporating at least one such heat pipe in at least one component thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus operate an optical memory to perform bit-slice associative memory operations by storing a plurality of keywords to define a keyword database and accessing the database by means of one of the keywords. Preferably, the plurality of keywords are unique and are used to retrieve data which corresponds individually to the keywords. Operation of the memory is by identification of a keyword, the location of which is to be determined within the memory, for example for data retrieval. The identified keyword is then used effectively as a retrieval mask to access the plurality of keywords. The keyword database and its complement are stored in an optical device with the keyword to be retrieved and its complement being stored in recall optical devices. The keyword database or its complement is repetitively swept by shifting output columnar vectors by one bit position until all bit positions have been swept.

Abstract: A temperature regulation system for the human body is provided which uses heat pipes to distribute energy to and from portions of a body to provide heating or cooling by redistributing body heat. The heat pipes are incorporated into a garment, a blanket and a pad which may be used for medical treatment or activities or for activities in environments having extreme temperatures. Supplemental means for heating and cooling are included to improve heating or cooling to a body, and to provide heating or cooling to limited areas of a body.