Abstract: A wavelet coefficient quantization method using a human visual model in an image compression process is provided, which is particularly suitable for remote sensing image compression. A wavelet-domain visual quantization model is obtained through experiments based on human visual characteristics, so as to reflect the relation between distortion of wavelet coefficient blocks and human visual characteristics. The model includes a luminance component, a masking component and a frequency component, where the luminance component is calculated by low frequency coefficients after the kth level wavelet transform, the masking component is calculated by high frequency coefficients of the second and third levels, and the frequency component is calculated by a statistical method. The method may be used in combination with any mainstream wavelet compression method such as EZW, SPIHT or EBCOT.

Abstract: Method and system for establishing an initial position of a tooth, determining a target position of the tooth in a treatment plan, calculating a movement vector associated with the tooth movement from the initial position to the target position, determining a plurality of components corresponding to the movement vector, and determining a corresponding one or more positions of a respective one or more attachment devices relative to a surface plane of the tooth such that the one or more attachment devices engages with a dental appliance are provided.

Abstract: Method and system for establishing an initial position of a tooth, determining a target position of the tooth in a treatment plan, calculating a movement vector associated with the tooth movement from the initial position to the target position, determining a plurality of components corresponding to the movement vector, and determining a corresponding one or more positions of a respective one or more attachment devices relative to a surface plane of the tooth such that the one or more attachment devices engages with a dental appliance are provided.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for integrating at least one analytical or modeling driver into an existing business analytic environment. The system comprises a BAMS (Business Analytics and Mathematical Sciences) driver, implemented on the memory device and run by the processor, loads a real database driver and redirects a request from a client application to the real database driver. An extension driver, invoked by the BAMS driver, provides an interface to a data modeling or processing software and converts the interface from a software environment compiled by a programming language to another software environment targeted to another programming language. The extension driver extends or overrides functionalities of the BAMS driver. Implementing the BAMS driver and the extension driver in the existing business analytic environment do not require any change made on the existing business analytic environment.

Abstract: There is provided a system, method and computer program product for integrating at least one analytical or modeling driver into an existing business analytic environment. The system comprises a BAMS (Business Analytics and Mathematical Sciences) driver, implemented on the memory device and run by the processor, loads a real database driver and redirects a request from a client application to the real database driver. An extension driver, invoked by the BAMS driver, provides an interface to a data modeling or processing software and converts the interface from a software environment compiled by a programming language to another software environment targeted to another programming language. The extension driver extends or overrides functionalities of the BAMS driver. Implementing the BAMS driver and the extension driver in the existing business analytic environment do not require any change made on the existing business analytic environment.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for clustering customers includes receiving a source set of customer records, wherein each customer record represents one customer, and each customer record includes at least one data attribute, and each data attribute has an attribute value; pre-processing the source set of customer records to generate a pre-processed set of customer records; executing a clustering algorithm on the pre-processed set of customer records to group the pre-processed set of customer records into clusters of a pre-defined number. The pre-processing comprises: determining the type of a customer in the source set of customer records; using a type attribute value to indicate the type of the customer in its customer record; normalizing data attribute values and type attribute values; weighting to the data attribute values and the type attribute values respectively to obtain weighted attribute values of the data attribute and weighted attribute values of the type attribute.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for clustering customers includes receiving a source set of customer records, wherein each customer record represents one customer, and each customer record includes at least one data attribute, and each data attribute has an attribute value; pre-processing the source set of customer records to generate a pre-processed set of customer records; executing a clustering algorithm on the pre-processed set of customer records to group the pre-processed set of customer records into clusters of a pre-defined number. The pre-processing comprises: determining the type of a customer in the source set of customer records; using a type attribute value to indicate the type of the customer in its customer record; normalizing data attribute values and type attribute values; weighting to the data attribute values and the type attribute values respectively to obtain weighted attribute values of the data attribute and weighted attribute values of the tune attribute.

Abstract: A method of forecasting workforce demand, includes forecasting an ongoing engagements demand, forecasting an opportunities demand, forecasting a wedge engagements demand, representing a result of the forecasting the ongoing engagements demand as a first workforce demand statement, a result of the forecasting the opportunities demand as a second workforce demand statement, and a result of the forecasting the wedge engagements demand as third workforce demand statement, and integrating the first workforce demand statement, the second workforce demand statement and the third workforce demand statement to generate an overall workforce demand forecast.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus's for improving orthodontic treatments. In an embodiment, an orthodontic system including a tactile object is provided for modulating an engagement between a tooth attachment and an orthodontic appliance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved dental impression tray and related methods. In one embodiment, a dental impression tray includes a first portion for receiving impression material from a source and a second portion is configured for receiving a patient's upper or lower teeth and will at least partial define a cavity shaped to receive the teeth during use. In use, impression material introduced into the first portion can pass through openings and into the second portion and around a patient's teeth.

Abstract: Orthodontic systems and related methods are disclosed for designing and providing improved or more effective tooth moving systems for eliciting a desired tooth movement and/or repositioning teeth into a desired arrangement. Methods and orthodontic systems of the invention include tooth attachments having improved or optimized parameters selected or modified for more optimal and/or effective application of forces for a desired/selected orthodontic movement. Attachments of the present invention can be customized to a particular patient (e.g., patient-customized), a particular movement, and/or a sub-group or sub-set of patients, and configured to engage an orthodontic tooth positioning appliance worn by a patient, where engagement between the attachment and orthodontic appliance results in application of a repositioning force or series/system of forces to the tooth having the attachment and will generally elicit a tooth movement.

Abstract: Method and system for establishing an initial position of a tooth, determining a target position of the tooth in a treatment plan, calculating a movement vector associated with the tooth movement from the initial position to the target position, determining a plurality of components corresponding to the movement vector, and determining a corresponding one or more positions of a respective one or more attachment devices relative to a surface plane of the tooth such that the one or more attachment devices engages with a dental appliance are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems including orthodontic tooth positioning appliances. An exemplary appliance can include teeth receiving cavities shaped such that, when worn by a patient, repositioning the patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a subsequent or target arrangement. Appliances can include a cavity having one or more shaped features or protrusions shaped and/or positioned so as to apply a desired force to a patient's tooth received in the cavity and move the tooth along a desired path or direction.

Abstract: A system and method for concurrently measuring a force exerted upon a tooth is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, the system includes a target tooth attached to a force gauge which is coupled to a motion module for adjusting the tooth to a reference position. The method includes utilizing a motion module of a force measurement device is utilized to adjust each target tooth of a plurality of target teeth to be located in a reference position. Next, each target tooth receives a dental appliance. Then an exerted force is measured by the dental appliance upon each target tooth utilizing a coordinate system of the force gauge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved dental impression tray and related methods. In one embodiment, a dental impression tray includes a first portion for receiving impression material from a source and a second portion is configured for receiving a patient's upper or lower teeth and will at least partial define a cavity shaped to receive the teeth during use. In use, impression material introduced into the first portion can pass through openings and into the second portion and around a patient's teeth.

Abstract: A system and method for concurrently measuring a force exerted upon a tooth is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, the system includes a target tooth attached to a force gauge which is coupled to a motion module for adjusting the tooth to a reference position. The method includes utilizing a motion module of a force measurement device is utilized to adjust each target tooth of a plurality of target teeth to be located in a reference position. Next, each target tooth receives a dental appliance. Then an exerted force is measured by the dental appliance upon each target tooth utilizing a coordinate system of the force gauge.

Abstract: A method for concurrently measuring a force exerted upon each of a plurality of teeth is disclosed. A dentition crown connecting rod associated with a force gauge is positioned such that a dentition crown coupled to the dentition crown connecting rod may be received within a corresponding cavity of a reference aligner. A measurement aligner is then applied to the dentition crown, wherein the dentition crown is positioned to be received within a corresponding cavity of a reference aligner. A force exerted on the dentition crown by the measurement aligner is then calculated.

Abstract: A method for concurrently measuring a force exerted upon each of a plurality of teeth is disclosed. A dentition crown connecting rod associated with a force gauge is positioned such that a dentition crown coupled to the dentition crown connecting rod may be received within a corresponding cavity of a reference aligner. A measurement aligner is then applied to the dentition crown, wherein the dentition crown is positioned to be received within a corresponding cavity of a reference aligner. A force exerted on the dentition crown by the measurement aligner is then calculated.

Abstract: A process for determining which of a large number of candidate companies are most likely to outsource some aspect of their business operations, based on a mathematical model capable of analyzing a large number of inputs, including financial metrics, executive changes, and other significant corporate events like mergers and acquisitions.

Abstract: A method of forecasting workforce demand, includes forecasting an ongoing engagements demand, forecasting an opportunities demand, forecasting a wedge engagements demand, representing a result of the forecasting the ongoing engagements demand as a first workforce demand statement, a result of the forecasting the opportunities demand as a second workforce demand statement, and a result of the forecasting the wedge engagements demand as third workforce demand statement, and integrating the first workforce demand statement, the second workforce demand statement and the third workforce demand statement to generate an overall workforce demand forecast.