Abstract: Systems and methods for noninvasively determining the function capacity of the kidney are provided. In the methods, first contrast agent is injected into the vasculature of a subject. The contrast agent is to be bound with functioning glomeruli of the kidney of the subject. Then, the kidney is imaged with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to acquire MRI images of the kidney. In the images, signal magnitudes or phases of voxels of regions bound with the contrast agent are different from signal magnitudes or phases of voxels of regions not bound with the contrast agent. Afterwards, the function capacity of the kidney is determined using the MRI images. Lastly, a report of the function capacity of the kidney is generated.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system, method and computer program product for normalizing data obtained from a plurality of social networks coupled to a network such as the Internet are disclosed. The system may include an interface adapted to access information from a plurality of social networks. The information that is obtained from each social network may include personal information about with the user as well as social graphs of the user that map the user to his or her friends. A data analyzer may be provided to compare the personal information obtained from the plurality of social networks to determine a normalized set of personal information for the user. The data analyzer may also compare the social graphs to determine a normalized set of friends associated with the user.

Abstract: A device for transferring images from an image donating member to an image receiving medium comprises a substrate, at least two electrodes disposed on the substrate, and at least one layer of coating disposed on the substrate having an outer surface for forming a nip region with the image donating member. The at least two electrodes are controllable to produce an electric field and control a position thereof at the nip region to allow transfer of an image from the image donating member to the image receiving medium in an image transfer operation.

Abstract: A system for automatically videoing an event activity being conducted within a performance area. The system includes one or more automatic cameras placed in fixed locations with respect to the performance area and have adjustable views of at least a portion of the performance area for capturing and outputting a real-time automatic video stream of the event activity; a tracking system including multiple detectors for detecting the event activity throughout the performance area and for outputting a real-time tracking data stream of event activity information; and an automatic filming system for determining electronic camera movement control signals using at least in part the real-time tracking data stream, and for providing the electronic camera movement control signals to the one or more automatic cameras such that the one or more automatic cameras automatically adjust their view of the performance area.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conditioning synthetic crude oils are provided herein. The systems and methods described herein subject the synthetic crude to one or more process solutions to provide conditioned synthetic crude exhibiting, for example, a reduced TAN.

Abstract: An automatics system 100 that uses one to three grids 20cm of overhead cameras 20c to first video an event area 2. Overall bandwidth is greatly reduced by intelligent hubs 26 that extract foreground blocks 10m based upon initial and continuously updated background images 2r. The hubs also analyze current images 10c to constantly locate, classify and track in 3D the limited number of expected foreground objects 10. As objects 10 of interest are tracked, the system automatically directs ptz perspective view cameras 40c to follow the activities. These asynchronous cameras 40c limit their images to defined repeatable pt angles and zoom depths. Pre-captured venue backgrounds 2r at each repeatable ptz setting facilitate perspective foreground extraction. The moving background, such as spectators 13, is removed with various techniques including stereoscopic side cameras 40c-b and 40c-c flanking each perspective camera 40c.

Abstract: A system, and computer program product for expanding an answer key to verify a question and answer system are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A definition is constructed of an extended answer type. The extended answer type represents an answer type of an unrepresented answer. The unrepresented answer is unrepresented in the answer key as a valid response to a question in a set of valid responses to the question in the answer key. The extended answer type is created in the answer key according to the definition. The extended answer type is populated such that the unrepresented answer becomes as additional valid response to the question, the creating and the populating extending the answer key to form an extended answer key. The populated extended answer type in the extended answer key is used to verify that a generated answer from the Q and A system is correct.

Abstract: A method for expanding an answer key to verify a question and answer system is provided in the illustrative embodiments. A definition is constructed of an extended answer type. The extended answer type represents an answer type of an unrepresented answer. The unrepresented answer is unrepresented in the answer key as a valid response to a question in a set of valid responses to the question in the answer key. The extended answer type is created in the answer key according to the definition. The extended answer type is populated such that the unrepresented answer becomes as additional valid response to the question, the creating and the populating extending the answer key to form an extended answer key. The populated extended answer type in the extended answer key is used to verify that a generated answer from the Q and A system is correct.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for bone cavity preparation. Formed broaching members may be supported inside a bone by a rotator. The broaching members may be bowed out inside the bone to create a cavity having a shape determined by the broaching members and bone anatomy.

Abstract: A device for transferring images from an image donating member to an image receiving medium comprises a substrate, at least two electrodes disposed on the substrate, and at least one layer of coating disposed on the substrate having an outer surface for forming a nip region with the image donating member. The at least two electrodes are controllable to produce an electric field and control a position thereof at the nip region to allow transfer of an image from the image donating member to the image receiving medium in an image transfer operation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cleaner/corrosion inhibiting compositions useful in applications relating to the production, transportation, storage, and separation of crude oil and natural gas. Also disclosed herein are methods of using the compositions as cleaners/corrosion inhibitors, particularly in applications relating to the production, transportation, storage, and separation of crude oil and natural gas.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the temperature and pressure of a cryogenic liquid methane storage unit are provided. The disclosed systems and methods generate methane gas from a reservoir of liquid methane stored within the methane storage unit, vent the methane gas through one or more outlet valves connected to the methane storage unit, and generate electric power using the vented methane gas. The generated electric power can then be used to initiating a cooling cycle, which reduces the temperature of said reservoir of liquid methane and reduces the pressure in said methane storage unit. Micro anaerobic digesters and methane storage units may be configured in a networked environment with a central controller that monitors remote units.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a third-party system that allows parents or authorized guardians to continually grant permissions to several websites and online services and provides a one-time-authentication process of the parent-child relationship. Through this system, the need to re-authenticate the parent-child relationship or for each online company to build their own authentication system and COPPA record keeping mechanisms can be reduced or eliminated. In addition, the embodiments provided herein may afford a service for managing COPPA compliance that is relatively easy for online companies to integrate into their online services and websites.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conditioning synthetic crude oils are provided herein. The systems and methods described herein subject the synthetic crude to one or more process solutions to provide conditioned synthetic crude exhibiting, for example, a reduced TAN.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and computer products to manage recording resources for programming events of interest are disclosed. A first indication of a first selection of a first programming event to record may be processed, and a recording may be scheduled in a recording schedule. A second indication of a second selection of a second programming event to record may be processed, and available resources to record may be ascertained. A resource conflict may be identified based on event scheduling information for the first and/or second programming event. First and/or second programming metadata may be processed. Availability of alternative viewing options for the first and/or second programming event may be ascertained. The ascertaining may be based on the first and/or second programming metadata. Based on the availability of alternative viewing options, it may be determined whether to maintain or modify the recording schedule, and the recording schedule may be managed accordingly.

Abstract: Using methods, computer-readable storage media, and apparatuses for computer-implemented processing, a passage of text may be variably rendered. For each glyph in the passage of text, a glyph representation is varied according to a geometric transformation that was determined from statistical measurements of at least one geometric property from an ensemble of representations of the current glyph. Each varied glyph representation is included in renderable output data, such that when the passage of text is rendered to an output device, a given rendered representation of a given glyph subtly differs from other rendered representations of the given glyph.

Abstract: A gravity bending mold for bending glass sheets is disclosed. The gravity bending mold comprises an intermediate mold having an intermediate movable mold section and a final mold having a final movable mold section. Each movable mold section is movable between an operable position and an inoperable position respectively. The intermediate and final movable mold sections are adapted successively to engage a glass sheet during a gravity bending operation. There is a mechanical connection between the intermediate and final movable mold sections, the mechanical connection being selectively disposable in a first configuration, at which the intermediate and final movable mold sections are in the operable and inoperable positions respectively, and in a second configuration, at which the final and intermediate movable mold sections are in the operable position and inoperable positions respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus that vents atmosphere air and allows for the pressurization of a sealed beverage container with carbon dioxide for the purpose of reducing oxidation and preserving or re-introducing effervescence to the beverage housed within the container. The previously mentioned apparatus can be integrated and/or retrofitted to accommodate the various sizes and shapes of current and future portable beverage containers. For the purpose of this apparatus, “portable beverage container” is defined as having a volume less than or equal to 5 gallons and the apparatus uses external or internally integrated pressure regulated gas sources to pressurize the container.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implants and methods for filling voids in a cranium of a patient. A craniofacial implant that may be used for filling such voids may include at least first and second components each having outer and inner surfaces, the outer and inner surfaces being curved in an inferior to posterior direction and a medial to lateral direction. The first component includes a flange extending outwardly from a medial side surface thereof and the second component includes a recessed portion extending inwardly from a medial side surface thereof. The first and second components are preferably engageable to one another such that the medial side surfaces of the first and second components are adjacent one another and the flange of the first component is housed within the recessed portion of the second component.

Abstract: Using methods, computer-readable storage media, and apparatuses for computer-implemented processing, a passage of text may be variably rendered. For each glyph in the passage of text, a glyph representation is varied according to a geometric transformation that was determined from statistical measurements of at least one geometric property from an ensemble of representations of the current glyph. Each varied glyph representation is included in renderable output data, such that when the passage of text is rendered to an output device, a given rendered representation of a given glyph subtly differs from other rendered representations of the given glyph.