Abstract: In one general aspect, a method is described. The method includes generating a positional relationship between one or more support structures having at least one motion capture mark and at least one virtual structure corresponding to geometry of an object to be tracked and positioning the support structures on the object to be tracked. The support structures has sufficient rigidity that, if there are multiple marks, the marks on each support structure maintain substantially fixed distances from each other in response to movement by the object. The method also includes determining an effective quantity of ray traces between one or more camera views and one or more marks on the support structures, and estimating an orientation of the virtual structure by aligning the determined effective quantity of ray traces with a known configuration of marks on the support structures.

Abstract: Launch vehicles with ring-shaped external elements, and associated systems and methods. A representative aerospace system includes a launch vehicle having a first end and a second end generally opposite the first end, with the launch vehicle being elongated along a vehicle axis extending between the first and second ends, and having an external, outwardly facing surface. The system can further include an annular element carried by the launch vehicle, the annular element having an external, inwardly-facing surface radially spaced apart from, and extending at least partially circumferentially around, the vehicle axis. The annular element can have a first edge surface facing a first direction along the vehicle axis, and a second edge surface facing a second direction along the vehicle axis, the second direction being opposite the first direction. A propulsion system can be carried by the launch vehicle, and can have at least one nozzle positioned toward the first end of the vehicle to launch the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the operation of a laboratory centrifuge (1), wherein a rotor (2) rotates around a horizontal rotational axis (3). It should be avoided that during the start-up of the laboratory centrifuge (1) or the deceleration of the laboratory centrifuge (1) for small angular velocities and small centrifugal forces resulting therefrom due to the gravitational acceleration the product (6) is biased by resulting components of the acceleration in vertical direction which change their sense of direction. For this purpose the acceleration of the rotor (2) is chosen such that when arriving for the first time in a reversing angular position (twelve o'clock position) there is already a centrifugal acceleration being larger than the gravitational acceleration. The corresponding applies for the deceleration of the rotor after the centrifugation.

Abstract: A magnet pump for an auxiliary unit of a vehicle includes an inlet, an outlet, an electromagnet comprising an armature, a core, a coil and a yoke, a cylinder comprising an outlet opening, and an axial piston which moves in the cylinder. The axial piston includes first and second axial piston parts, a gap arranged between the first and second axial piston parts, and an axial through bore. A first non-return valve is biased between the first and second axial piston parts and against the axial piston. A second non-return valve is biased against the outlet opening of the cylinder. The first axial piston part is connected with/is integrally formed with the armature and is lifted off the second axial piston part. A fluidic connection exists between the inlet and the outlet via the gap when the first axial piston part is lifted off the second axial piston part.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a method is described. The method includes generating a positional relationship between one or more support structures having at least one motion capture mark and at least one virtual structure corresponding to geometry of an object to be tracked and positioning the support structures on the object to be tracked. The support structures has sufficient rigidity that, if there are multiple marks, the marks on each support structure maintain substantially fixed distances from each other in response to movement by the object. The method also includes determining an effective quantity of ray traces between one or more camera views and one or more marks on the support structures, and estimating an orientation of the virtual structure by aligning the determined effective quantity of ray traces with a known configuration of marks on the support structures.

Abstract: A method for preparing a composition for external treatment of wounds includes charging at least 90% of the oxygen binding sites of hemoglobin with carbon monoxide during or after isolation from its natural environment. The method further includes adding at least one further ingredient selected from the group consisting of electrolyte(s), preservative(s), stabilizer(s), anti-flocculant(s), anticoagulant(s), pH buffering agent(s), solvent(s), antioxidant(s), film-forming agent(s) and crosslinking agent(s). The method can further include packaging the composition, such as in an aerosol can.

Abstract: Among other aspects, on computer-implemented method includes: receiving at least one command in a computer system from a handheld device; positioning a virtual camera and controlling a virtual scene according to the command; and in response to the command, generating an output to the handheld device for displaying a view of the virtual scene as controlled on a display of the handheld device, the view captured by the virtual camera as positioned.

Abstract: A system includes a visual data collector for collecting visual information from an image of one or more features of an object. The system also includes a physical data collector for collecting sensor information provided by at one or more sensors attached to the object. The system also includes a computer system that includes a motion data combiner for combining the visual information the sensor information. The motion data combiner is configured to determine the position of a representation of one or more of the feature in a virtual representation of the object from the combined visual information and sensor information. Various types of virtual representations may be provided from the combined information, for example, one or more poses (e.g., position and orientation) of the object may be represented.

Abstract: Undue scarring of healing wounds is decreased and/or the relapse rate of wounds is lowered by applying a composition that includes hemoglobin to the wound area. At least 90% of the hemoglobin in the composition is provided in CO-charged form.

Abstract: Among other aspects, on computer-implemented method includes: receiving at least one command in a computer system from a handheld device; positioning a virtual camera and controlling a virtual scene according to the command; and in response to the command, generating an output to the handheld device for displaying a view of the virtual scene as controlled on a display of the handheld device, the view captured by the virtual camera as positioned.

Abstract: A fluid regulating device includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve port, a control element adapted to be displaced relative to the valve port to control the flow of a fluid between the inlet and the outlet, a control assembly operatively coupled to the control element and including a diaphragm disposed adjacent a diaphragm chamber, and a sense tube. The sense tube has a first end, a second end, and a sense hole formed adjacent the second end. The first end is positioned to communicate with the diaphragm chamber, and the second end is disposed adjacent the outlet, with the second end being movable, relative to the first end, between a first position within the valve body and a second position extending outside of the valve body, the movement being in response to fluid flowing between the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: A system includes a visual data collector for collecting visual information from an image of one or more features of an object. The system also includes a physical data collector for collecting sensor information provided by at one or more sensors attached to the object. The system also includes a computer system that includes a motion data combiner for combining the visual information the sensor information. The motion data combiner is configured to determine the position of a representation of one or more of the feature in a virtual representation of the object from the combined visual information and sensor information. Various types of virtual representations may be provided from the combined information, for example, one or more poses (e.g., position and orientation) of the object may be represented.

Abstract: A device-implemented network with domains each having nodes, the nodes of each of the domains sharing network information with one another according to an intra-domain communication policy. An inter-domain protocol is configured to control communication between at least one of the nodes of one of the domains and at least one of the nodes of a different one of the domains. A broker is configured to be communicatively coupled to the nodes and configured to control communication according to the inter-domain protocol and to which all of the nodes of each of the plurality of domains are configured to send the network information.

Abstract: A fluid regulating device includes a valve body, a control element, a control assembly, and a sense tube. The valve body has an inlet, an outlet, a valve port, and a control element adapted to be displaced relative to the valve port to control the flow of a fluid between the inlet and the outlet. The control assembly is operatively coupled to the control element and includes a diaphragm disposed adjacent a diaphragm chamber. The sense tube has a first end, a second end, and a sense hole. The first end is positioned to communicate with the diaphragm chamber, the second end is disposed adjacent the outlet, and the sense hole being formed in the sense tube between the first end and the second end and being oriented along an axis that is angled relative to an axis of the outlet.

Abstract: A system includes a visual data collector for collecting visual information from an image of one or more features of an object. The system also includes a physical data collector for collecting sensor information provided by at one or more sensors attached to the object. The system also includes a computer system that includes a motion data combiner for combining the visual information the sensor information. The motion data combiner is configured to determine the position of a representation of one or more of the feature in a virtual representation of the object from the combined visual information and sensor information. Various types of virtual representations may be provided from the combined information, for example, one or more poses (e.g., position and orientation) of the object may be represented.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for dynamically capturing and reconstructing lighting are provided. The systems and techniques may be based on a stream of images capturing the lighting within an environment as a scene is shot. Reconstructed lighting data may be used to illuminate a character in a computer-generated environment as the scene is shot. For example, a method may include receiving a stream of images representing lighting of a physical environment. The method may further include compressing the stream of images to reduce an amount of data used in reconstructing the lighting of the physical environment and may further include outputting the compressed stream of images for reconstructing the lighting of the physical environment using the compressed stream, the reconstructed lighting being used to render a computer-generated environment.

Abstract: A virtual director's viewfinder includes: a housing with a form factor of a director's viewfinder; at least one mechanical viewfinder control connected to the housing, the virtual director's viewfinder encoding a setting of the mechanical viewfinder control into digital setting information; at least one communication device for communication of the digital setting information to a computer system, and for receiving from the computer system an image generated using the digital setting information; and a display device that presents at least the image received from the computer system.

Abstract: Among other aspects, on computer-implemented method includes: receiving at least one command in a computer system from a handheld device; positioning a virtual camera and controlling a virtual scene according to the command; and in response to the command, generating an output to the handheld device for displaying a view of the virtual scene as controlled on a display of the handheld device, the view captured by the virtual camera as positioned.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing retargeting of actor motion includes: receiving, in a computer system, an input generated by user selection of at least one of multiple real-time constraint scenarios, each real-time constraint scenario corresponding to a relationship between motion capture information from an actor and a position or movement of a character driven by the motion capture information; activating, based on the selected real-time constraint scenario, one or more of multiple limb solvers for the character which determines at least a first joint angle for a corresponding character limb; registering, for at least one character limb where the corresponding limb solver is not activated, a corresponding joint angle from the motion capture information as a second joint angle; and determining a root location for the character based on at least the first and second joint angles.