Abstract: A method of producing an improved polyethylene, especially an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene utilizes a sequential irradiation and annealing process to form a highly cross-linked polyethylene material. The use of sequential irradiation followed by sequential annealing after each irradiation allows each dose of irradiation in the series of doses to be relatively low while achieving a total dose which is sufficiently high to cross-link the material. The process may either be applied to a preformed material such as a rod or bar or sheet made from polyethylene resin or may be applied to a finished polyethylene part.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for implants, where the implants have been machined out of UHMWPE blocks or extruded rods, has anthocyanin dispersely imbedded in the polyethylene. The implant is then exposed to ? ray or electron beam irradiation in an amount of at least 2.5 Mrad followed by a heat treatment to prevent the implant from becoming brittle in the long term as well as to improve strength and wear. The method includes mixing a powder or granulate resin of UHMWPE with an aqueous liquid that contains anthocyanin in a predetermined amount. The water is then evaporated in order to deposit the anthocyanin in a predetermined concentration on the polyethylene particles. The doped UHMWPE particles are compressed into blocks at temperatures in a range of approximately 135° C.-250° C. and pressures in a range of approximately 2-70 MPa. Medical implants are made from the blocks.

Abstract: A calibration apparatus includes a calibration target such as a checkerboard, a frame configured to hold the checkerboard in place, a rotatable socket connected at one end to the frame, a stand which is connected to another end of the rotatable socket, a height adjusting portion connected at one end to the stand, and a platform connected to another end of the stand. The checkerboard can be tilted and moved to a particular distance and orientation with respect to an image system to be calibrated by the calibration apparatus. A method of identifying outlier images in the camera parameter estimation process, by using estimated 3D positions of the checkerboard compared with ground truth values.

Abstract: A system and method of assisting a driver of a vehicle by providing driver and vehicle feedback control signals is disclosed herein. The system and method includes receiving location data of the vehicle from a GPS unit, retrieving navigation characteristics stored in a map database based on the location data, generating a most probable future path for the vehicle, determining the locations of upcoming zones on the most probable future path based on the retrieved navigation characteristics using a processor, generating vehicle speed data at a vehicle sensor unit, and determining if the vehicle speed data exceeds a speed threshold associated with the upcoming zone on the most probable path.

Abstract: A dynamic calibration system includes a rectification module that receives raw stereo image data from a vehicle stereo image system, rectifies the raw stereo image data, and outputs rectified stereo image data as a result thereof. A stereo matching module performs stereo matching processing on the rectified stereo image data, to thereby obtain a range map. A unit object generator receives the range map, detects at least one object in the range map, and provides information to the rectification module for use in determining whether a row shift operation should be performed in rectifying the raw stereo image data by the rectification module. A tracker receives information regarding the at least one objected detected by the unit object generator, and provides information to the rectification module for use in determining whether a column shift operation should be performed in rectifying the raw stereo image data by the rectification module.

Abstract: A system and method of assisting a driver of a vehicle by providing driver and vehicle feedback control signals is disclosed herein. The system and method includes receiving location data of the vehicle from a GPS unit, retrieving navigation characteristics stored in a map database based on the location data, generating a path tree comprising a set of forward paths the vehicle can take and a path tree root comprising the current path the vehicle is on and generating vehicle data from at least one vehicle sensor. The system and method also includes determining a most probable future path for the vehicle, determining road curvature of the most probable path at a plurality of nodes, comparing the received vehicle data with a threshold at one of the plurality of nodes on the most probable path, and transmitting a control signal in the case that the threshold has been exceeded.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for implants, where the implants have been machined out of UHMWPE blocks or extruded rods, has anthocyanin dispersely imbedded in the polyethylene. The implant is then exposed to ? ray or electron beam irradiation in an amount of at least 2.5 Mrad followed by a heat treatment to prevent the implant from becoming brittle in the long term as well as to improve strength and wear. The method includes mixing a powder or granulate resin of UHMWPE with an aqueous liquid that contains anthocyanin in a predetermined amount. The water is evaporated in order to deposit the anthocyanin in a predetermined concentration on the polyethylene particles. The doped UHMWPE particles are compressed into blocks at temperatures in a range of approximately 135° C.-250° C. and pressures in a range of approximately 2-70 MPa. Medical implants are made from the blocks.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for implants, where the implants have been machined out of UHMWPE blocks or extruded rods, has anthocyanin dispersely imbedded in the polyethylene. The implant is then exposed to ? ray or electron beam irradiation in an amount of at least 2.5 Mrad followed by a heat treatment to prevent the implant from becoming brittle in the long term as well as to improve strength and wear. The method includes mixing a powder or granulate resin of UHMWPE with an aqueous liquid that contains anthocyanin in a predetermined amount. The water is evaporated in order to deposit the anthocyanin in a predetermined concentration on the polyethylene particles. The doped UHMWPE particles are compressed into blocks at temperatures in a range of approximately 135° C.-250° C. and pressures in a range of approximately 2-70 MPa. Medical implants are made from the blocks.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for implants, where the implants have been machined out of UHMWPE blocks or extruded rods, has anthocyanin dispersely imbedded in the polyethylene. The implant is then exposed to ? ray or electron beam irradiation in an amount of at least 2.5 Mrad followed by a heat treatment to prevent the implant from becoming brittle in the long term as well as to improve strength and wear. The method includes mixing a powder or granulate resin of UHMWPE with an aqueous liquid that contains anthocyanin in a predetermined amount. The water is then evaporated in order to deposit the anthocyanin in a predetermined concentration on the polyethylene particles. The doped UHMWPE particles are compressed into blocks at temperatures in a range of approximately 135° C.-250° C. and pressures in a range of approximately 2-70 MPa. Medical implants are made from the blocks.

Abstract: A method of producing an improved polyethylene, especially an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene utilizes a sequential irradiation and annealing process to form a highly cross-linked polyethylene material. The use of sequential irradiation followed by sequential annealing after each irradiation allows each dose of irradiation in the series of doses to be relatively low while achieving a total dose which is sufficiently high to cross-link the material. The process may either be applied to a preformed material such as a rod or bar or sheet made from polyethylene resin or may be applied to a finished polyethylene part.

Abstract: A method for producing a wear resistant polyethylene medical implant includes forming a medical implant, such as an orthopedic implant, made at least partially of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The polyethylene may be irradiated with gamma ray or e-beam radiation to form free radicals and then crosslinked to eliminate free radicals prior to exposure to oxygen. The so treated bearing surface of the crosslinked polyethylene is then coated with a photoinitiator. Thereafter the bearing material is photocrosslinked with ultra-violet (UV) radiation. The photocrosslinking process can also be applied to non-crosslink UHMWPE.

Abstract: A method of producing an improved polyethylene, especially an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene utilizes a sequential irradiation and annealing process to form a highly cross-linked polyethylene material. The use of sequential irradiation followed by sequential annealing after each irradiation allows each dose of irradiation in the series of doses to be relatively low while achieving a total dose which is sufficiently high to cross-link the material. The process may either be applied to a preformed material such as a rod or bar or sheet made from polyethylene resin or may be applied to a finished polyethylene part. If applied to a finished polyethylene part, the irradiation and annealing must be accomplished with the polyethylene material not in contact with oxygen at a concentration greater than 1% oxygen volume by volume.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for implants, where the implants have been machined out of UHMWPE blocks or extruded rods, has anthocyanin dispersely imbedded in the polyethylene. The implant is then exposed to ? ray or electron beam irradiation in an amount of at least 2.5 Mrad followed by a heat treatment to prevent the implant from becoming brittle in the long term as well as to improve strength and wear. The method includes mixing a powder or granulate resin of UHMWPE with an aqueous liquid that contains anthocyanin in a predetermined amount. The water is then evaporated in order to deposit the anthocyanin in a predetermined concentration on the polyethylene particles. The doped UHMWPE particles are compressed into blocks at temperatures in a range of approximately 135° C.-250° C. and pressures in a range of approximately 2-70 MPa. Medical implants are made from the blocks.

Abstract: An orthopedic prosthetic joint comprising a joint couple having a first bearing surface made of a poly aryl ether ketone (PAEK) and a second joint component having a second bearing made of a polymer that is softer than the PAEK such as UHMWPE the first and second bearing surfaces in sliding engagement with one another.

Abstract: A selective pyrolysis process for the production of bio-oils enriched in pyrolytic sugars and phenols and conversion of these compounds into second generation bio-fuels is disclosed herein. One embodiment of the process comprises pre-treating a biomass with superheated steam or gases in a selected range of temperatures, followed by fast pyrolysis using synthesis gas as a carrier, and a two-step condensation operation. The aqueous phase from the second condenser can then be reformed to produce hydrogen or can be gasified together with the charcoal to produce syngas.

Abstract: A method of producing an improved polyethylene, especially an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene utilizes a sequential irradiation and annealing process to form a highly cross-linked polyethylene material. The use of sequential irradiation followed by sequential annealing after each irradiation allows each dose of irradiation in the series of doses to be relatively low while achieving a total dose which is sufficiently high to cross-link the material. The process may either be applied to a preformed material such as a rod or bar or sheet made from polyethylene resin or may be applied to a finished polyethylene part. If applied to a finished polyethylene part, the irradiation and annealing must be accomplished with the polyethylene material not in contact with oxygen at a concentration greater than 1% oxygen volume by volume.

Abstract: A method of producing an improved polyethylene, especially an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene utilizes a sequential irradiation and annealing process to form a highly cross-linked polyethylene material. The use of sequential irradiation followed by sequential annealing after each irradiation allows each dose of irradiation in the series of doses to be relatively low while achieving a total dose which is sufficiently high to cross-link the material. The process may either be applied to a preformed material such as a rod or bar or sheet made from polyethylene resin or may be applied to a finished polyethylene part. If applied to a finished polyethylene part, the irradiation and annealing must be accomplished with the polyethylene material not in contact with oxygen at a concentration greater than 1% oxygen volume by volume.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for implants, where the implants have been machined out of UHMWPE blocks or extruded rods, has anthocyanin dispersely imbedded in the polyethylene. The implant is then exposed to ? ray or electron beam irradiation in an amount of at least 2.5 Mrad followed by a heat treatment to prevent the implant from becoming brittle in the long term as well as to improve strength and wear. The method includes mixing a powder or granulate resin of UHMWPE with an aqueous liquid that contains anthocyanin in a predetermined amount. The water is then evaporated in order to deposit the anthocyanin in a predetermined concentration on the polyethylene particles. The doped UHMWPE particles are compressed into blocks at temperatures in a range of approximately 135° C.-250° C. and pressures in a range of approximately 2-70 MPa. Medical implants are made from the blocks.

Abstract: A processor operatively coupled to a speed sensor adapted to generate a measure of a longitudinal speed of a vehicle on a roadway, and to a source of a measure of yaw rate of the vehicle, provides for selecting a most likely roadway model of a plurality of different roadway models and for outputting a corresponding associated at least one curvature parameter as an estimate of curvature of the roadway, wherein the processor incorporates a plurality of curvature estimators associated with the corresponding plurality of different roadway models.

Abstract: A method for encoding images according to object shapes is provided. The method enables reduced usage of storage space when an image encoding system encodes a received image frame. The method uses a bottom-up and sequential approach for encoding coefficients. The coefficients in each subband are numbered using a tree structure, wherein level N subband is designated as a root of the whole tree, level (N-1) subbands are designated as roots of subtrees, and level (N=1) subbands are designated as terminal nodes of subtrees. The terminal nodes for one of the subtrees are numbered first, and then this subtree is numbered in the bottom-up sequence. After that, the terminal nodes for another subtree are numbered, and this numbering sequence continues to number all the other subtrees until the root of the tree has been numbered, so as to allow a bottom-up encoding process for the coefficient to be performed.