Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for an image preprocessing device that automatically detects chestwall laterality; removes border artifacts; and segments breast tissue and pectoral muscle from digital mammograms. The algorithms in the preprocessing device utilize the computer cache, a vertical Sobel filter and a probabilistic Hough transform to detect curved edges. The preprocessing result, along with a pseudo-modality normalized image, can be used as input to a CAD (computer-aided detection) server or to a mammography image review workstation. In the case of workstation input, the preprocessing results improve the protocol for chestwall-to-chestwall image hanging, and support optimal image contrast display of each segmented region.

Abstract: A method of reviewing medical images and clinical data to generate a diagnosis or treatment decision is provided. The method includes receiving, at a computer-aided detection (CAD) system, the medical images and clinical data, processing the medical images and clinical data; to generate initial finding candidates and clustering the initial finding candidates into a plurality of groups. The method further includes classifying the initial finding candidates using machine learning algorithms integrated into the CAD system into one or more categories one or more categories of the initial finding candidates using type 2 fuzz logic, and determining detection and assessment statistics based on at least the assessed categories and classified findings using Bayesian probability analysis.

Abstract: A method of reviewing medical images and clinical data to generate a diagnosis or treatment decision is provided. The method includes receiving the medical images and clinical data and processing the medical images and clinical data. The method also includes receiving concurrent data resulting from additional processing of the medical images and clinical data and processing the concurrent data using integrated machine learning algorithms to generate a diagnosis or treatment decision based on the processed concurrent data and processed medical images and clinical data.

Abstract: The present invention provides an algorithm to detect and trace the spicules of a mass density in digital mammograms using an adaptive threshold edge algorithm and a flood-fill segmentation algorithm. Elongation criteria are used to remove false edges that do not radiate from a central mass margin. The algorithm works on a central mass border and spicules feature map that contains a subset of the pixels from the source image, so processing time is fast enough for use in a mammography CAD server and for real-time computation within a digital mammography workstation.

Abstract: A hydridable alloy of formula R1-x-yMgxMyNis-aBa wherein R is selected from the group consisting in rare earths, yttrium and a mixture thereof; M represents Zr and/or Ti; B is selected from the group consisting in Mn, Al, Co, Fe and a mixture thereof; 0.1<x<0.4; 0?y<0.1; 3<s<4.5 and 0?a<1; at least 5% of the volume of which consists of a stack of sequences of a pattern of the A2B4 type and of n patterns of the CaCu5 type randomly distributed along one direction, n being an integer comprised between 1 and 10 and representing the number of patterns of the CaCu5 type per pattern of the A2B4 type. A method for making a hydridable alloy comprising steps for compression and applying a current through a mixture comprising Mg2Ni and a compound comprising nickel and one or several elements selected from the group consisting in rare earths and yttrium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system using computer-aided detection (CAD) algorithms to aid diagnosis and visualization of tomosynthesis mammography data. The proposed CAD algorithms process two-dimensional and three-dimensional tomosynthesis mammography images and identify regions of interest in breasts. The CAD algorithms include the steps of preprocessing; candidate detection of potential regions of interest; and classification of each region of interest to aid reading by radiologists. The detection of potential regions of interest utilizes two dimensional projection images for generating candidates. The resultant candidates in two dimensional images are back-projected into the three dimensional volume images. The feature extraction for classification operates in the three dimensional image in the neighborhood of the back-projected candidate location.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a circuit is formed to couple a battery to a charging voltage at least a portion of a time when the charging voltage is greater than zero volts and is less than a first voltage value. The circuit is also formed to decouple the battery from the charging voltage approximately when the charging voltage is greater than the first voltage and also approximately when the charging voltage is no greater than zero volts.

Abstract: A portal antenna (10) particularly suited for enabling low frequency RFID devices carried by animals to be read when animals are proceeding through a stock race or the like. The portal antenna includes a portal structure (11) through which an animal can pass and about which is wound at least one coil (18/19) of antenna conductor. At least one elongate radiator element (21) preferably projects to at least one side of the portal structure (11). Preferably the radiator(s) (21) is/are of ferrous/magnetically conductive metal. The radiator(s) can form a separate structure or be part of the wall structure of a stock race.

Abstract: An aircraft fuselage structure including at least a first and a second panel made of composite materials, placed side by side along a juncture and assembled with one another through at least one longitudinal joint. The longitudinal joint includes a double ? stringer including: a first and a second ? element each including a head and two cores, a first side base-plate situated in continuity of the first core of the first ? element, a second side base-plate situated in continuity of the last core of the second ? element, and a central base-plate connecting the second core of the first ? element with the first core of the second ? element and covering the juncture between the two panels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for selecting mass density candidates from digital image, for example mammograms, for computer-aided lesion detection, review and diagnosis. A method of selecting mass density candidates from a digital image for computer-aided cancer detection, review and diagnosis includes down-sampling the digital image to a low resolution; smoothing an edge along a skinline; applying a Gaussian difference filter to enhance intensity to form a filtered image; masking the filtered image using a breast mask; using a Canny detector to find potential mass density contours; and generating a mass density candidate list from Canny contours produced in the Canny detector.

Abstract: An electrode including a conductive metal support and a paste including an electrochemically-active material and a binder. The binder includes a compound of silane type, and a polymer having at least one acrylic monomer, and representing at least approximately 0.15% of the weight of said paste. The use of this binder improves the calendar or cycle life of the battery at a temperature greater than or equal to 25° C., preferably at a temperature greater than or equal to 40° C.

Abstract: A positive electrode of an accumulator with an alkaline electrolyte comprising a nickel-based hydroxide and a lithiated oxide of formula LixMO2 wherein M represents at least one transition metal, 0.1?×?1, said lithiated oxide having a specific surface area as measured by the BET technique of less than 40 m2/g and a grain size of less than 1 ?m. A method for making a lithiated oxide of at least one transition metal comprising the steps of: a) providing a powder of an hydroxide of said at least one transition metal, b) suspending the powder in a lithine solution in the presence of a stream of a oxidizing gas in order to form a lithiated oxide of said at least one transition metal, the lithine concentration being at least equal to about 1 mol/L, c) adding to the suspension of step b) a solution containing an oxidizing compound, d) filtering the suspension, e) washing and drying the suspension.

Abstract: There are provided a non-sintered positive electrode for an alkaline secondary cell comprising a current conductive support and a paste comprising an electrochemically active material and a binder comprising at least one polymer a) other than a fluorinated polymer or a thickener and containing at least one acrylate or acetate function, in a weight percentage less than or equal to 1% of the weight of the paste, at least one fluorinated polymer b), in a weight percentage of from 0.5 to 4% of the weight of the paste and at least one thickener c) in a weight percentage less than or equal to 0.3% of the weight of the paste, and a method of producing a non-sintered electrode.

Abstract: A cross-link for a track that comprises belts spaced apart to accommodate a plurality of wheels of a tracked vehicle on which the track is mounted, the belts having a ground-facing side. In one embodiment, the cross-link comprises an elongate member for mounting to the belts to interconnect the belts, the elongate member having a belt-engaging face contacting the belts on the ground-facing side when the elongate member is mounted to the belts. The elongate member defines a channel including a bottom portion and a pair of sidewalls opposite one another on either side of the bottom portion. The cross-link also comprises a sole mountable in the channel for engaging a ground surface on which the tracked vehicle travels, the sole comprising a pair of sidewall-engaging surfaces for engaging the sidewalls when the sole is mounted in the channel.

Abstract: An active material composition for an alkaline storage battery comprises a) an alloy capable of forming a hydride, of formula R1-yMgyNit-zMz in which R is La, optionally substituted by Nd and/or Pr, M is at least one element chosen from the group comprising Mn, Fe, Al, Co, Cu, Zr and Sn, in which 0.1?y?0.4, 3.2?t?3.5, and z?0.5, and of which the equilibrium hydrogen pressure with the alloy, for a hydrogen insertion into the alloy of 0.5 H/Metal at 40°, is less than 0.7 bar, and b) a yttrium-based compound in a mixture with alloy a).

Abstract: An electrode including a conductive metal support and a paste including an electrochemically-active material and a binder. The binder includes a compound of silane type, and a polymer having at least one acrylic monomer, and representing at least approximately 0.15% of the weight of said paste. The use of this binder improves the calendar or cycle life of the battery at a temperature greater than or equal to 25° C., preferably at a temperature greater than or equal to 40° C.

Abstract: An electrode comprising a metallic conductive support and a paste comprising an electrochemically active substance and a binder; the binder comprising at least one ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer in a proportion by weight of at least approximately 0.25% relative to the weight of said paste, the binder comprising neither polystyrene nor butadiene copolymer. An alkaline-electrolyte battery comprising such an electrode.

Abstract: An electrode comprising a metallic lithium strip (1) and on at least one of its surfaces, at least one open-worked current collector strip (2), the ratio of the widths of the current collector strip(s) to the width of the metallic lithium strip ranging from 0.3 to 0.8, the proportion of openwork of each current collector strip ranging from 30 to 95%, the metallic lithium strip and the at least one current collector strip(s) being of substantially identical lengths. This electrode is advantageously used as the anode of a primary lithium electrochemical generator for example of the liquid cathode type such as Li/SO2, of the Li/MnO2 type or of the Li/CFx type with x comprised between 0.5 and 1 in order to reduce the quantity of non-discharged residual lithium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing medical images from one of a plurality of digital acquisition modalities or manufacturers with different imaging condition is proposed for creating consistent appearance of the images. The method comprises (1) tissue segmentation to isolate the region of interest; (2) dynamic extraction of the optimal parameters for image transformation from the segmented region; (3) generation of a transformation function from the individual image optimized parameters; and (4) use of the transformation function to produce images that have consistent image characteristics. This method also applies to multiple images from a single study or multiple studies. The transformed images can be used for computer-aided lesion detection, review and diagnosis.

Abstract: A non-sintered electrode containing a two-dimensional conductive support covered in a layer containing an electrochemically active material and a binder which is a mixture of a styrene-acrylate copolymer and a cellulose compound chosen from methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose. The proportion of the styrene-acrylate copolymer is less than 4% by weight of the active layer.