Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a family of vibroacoustic emulators to simulate the vibroacoustic characteristics of components of an electronic device. Specific embodiments for simulating a hard disk drive comprise a housing and a vibroacoustic generator coupled to the housing. Various embodiments enable acoustic emulation through a cover side and base side, out-of-plane vibrational emulation to simulate hard disk drive during seek periods, and in-plane vibrational emulation to simulate a hard-disk drive during idle periods. Methods for using the vibroacoustic emulators to characterize system noise are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems are provided to increase the robustness of a low-cost GPS system by coupling it with an INS system, and by using one-satellite attitude determination in conjunction with the traditional multiple-satellite method. The system has demonstrated accuracy and robustness approaching needed standards for automobile control systems. The applications of this system are abundant, including real-time vehicle system ID, slip angle estimation, position estimation by GPS and dead reckoning, as well as sophisticated control systems.

Abstract: A method to quantify the vascular irregularity of aortoiliac arteries is provided. Inner wall and/or outer wall outlines of a vessel of interest are determined. The cross sectional area is determined for the area outlined by each outline. Using this cross sectional area a shape is selected that has substantially the same area as the outline. Subsequently, the shape is fitted to the outline. In one aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of the outline and the outline of the fitted shape. In another aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of at least a part of the outline and the outline of the fitted shape that corresponds to the same part of the outline. The irregularity index is visualized using a color scheme, a range of numbers, or a set of labels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a secure information exchange mechanism that can be seen as a portal or gateway to his or her digital information. The invention is sometimes referred to as an “n-by-m lockbox” because it allows n suppliers to submit information accessible by m accessors. Each lockbox owner specifies and controls who or what can provide what information to the lockbox, who or what can access what information stored therein, and when and how the stored information is accessed. The information may be encrypted and only authorized accessors would be able to decipher it. The lockbox may comprise multiple compartments that segregate information based on pertinent criteria and may incorporate multiple encryption/decryption mechanisms that respectively correspond to each of the multiple compartments.

Abstract: A simple, inexpensive and highly efficient fuel cell has boundary structures made of a photo-sensitive material in combination with selective patterning. Printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication techniques combine boundary structures with two and three dimensional electrical flow path. Photo-sensitive material and PCB fabrication techniques are alternately or combined utilized for making micro-channel structures or micro stitch structures for substantially reducing dead zones of the diffusion layer while keeping fluid flow resistance to a minimum. The fuel cell assembly is free of mechanical clamping elements. Adhesives that may be conductively contaminated and/or fiber-reinforced provide mechanical and eventual electrical connections, and sealing within the assembly. Mechanically supporting backing layers are pre-fabricated with a natural bend defined in combination with the backing layers' elasticity to eliminate massive support plates and assist the adhesive bonding.

Abstract: Techniques for location-assisted wireless communication use real-time location(s) of wireless transceiver(s) together with stored location-indexed channel information to improve communication over a wireless channel between the transceiver(s). The stored channel information includes channel characteristics (e.g., average power, angle-of-arrival, and time delay of multipath components) that are substantially constant in time but vary gradually as a function of location. Current transceiver location(s) are obtained and used to retrieve stored channel characteristics corresponding to the location(s). The channel information may be used at either or both transceiver(s) to improve reception and/or transmission of signals propagating over the wireless channel. For example, reception may be improved by using path angle information to perform spatially structured reception, or using path delay information to perform temporally structured reception, e.g.

Abstract: A system uses reflectance spectrophotometry to characterize a sample having any number of structures. The system uses toroidal mirrors that are shaped in such a way that the angle of reflectance off of the target is small. The small angle of reflectance may allow for simplification of calculations and can result in a faster processing time. In addition, a more accurate measurement can be achieved when the reflected beam is close to normal.

Abstract: A method that allows the quantification of the true mass of a calcium fragment located along a vessel is provided. The method is independent of the level of arterial contrast enhancement, does not require protocol-specific or scanner-specific calibration scans, and allows a detailed analysis of calcium distribution patterns. For each identified calcium fragment, the average intensity and volume is determined as a function of a plurality of intensity thresholds. Using these determined values brightness volume products are calculated for each of the plurality of intensity thresholds. The mass of a calcium segment is subsequently obtained from the calculated brightness volume products extrapolated at zero intensity and reference calcium parameters. The mass and volume of the calcium fragments could be visualized with respect to a vessel in a computer display.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods useful for assaying binding of compounds to the hERG K+ channel. According to a method of the present invention, a compound of interest is added to the hERG K+ channel in the presence of a selenium analog of a competitive inhibitor of the hERG K+ channel. Next, the amount of the selenium analog of the competitive inhibitor that bound to the hERG K+ channel is quantified using mass spectrometry. The quantified amount can then be used to determine the amount of the compound of interest that bound to the hERG K+ channel. A selenium analog of any competitive inhibitor of the hERG K+ channel may be used according to the present invention, including but not limited to selenium analogs of the small molecule dofetilide; the peptide BeKm-1; or a combination of both.

Abstract: Two long-wavelength fluorescent proteins isolated from the strawberry anemone, Corynactis californica are provided. These proteins are homologous to known fluorescent proteins, but their unique properties, including yellow or red color of emission, can find use in replacing and supplementing known fluorescent proteins. In addition, because of their longer wavelength absorption and emission spectra, they can be used in energy transfer applications with the known shorter wavelength fluorescent proteins and non-proteinaceous fluorescers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for optically characterizing the reflection and transmission properties of a sample with a beam of light having a small diameter on a surface of the sample over a broadband of wavelengths, from 190 nm to 1100 nm. Reflective optical components, including off-axis parabolic mirrors with a collimated incident or reflected broadband beam of light, minimize non-chromatic aberration. Angles of incidence and reflection from optical components and the sample are kept substantially near normal to the optical components and the sample to minimize changes in the polarization of the beam of light. The apparatus and method further disclose an optical light path that can be focused by adjusting the position of an off-axis parabolic mirror and a planar mirror.

Abstract: An improved surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor is provided based on direct measurement of the Goos-Hänchen effect. Sensor sensitivity is enhanced by selecting the thickness of the metallic layer of the SPR sensor to be close to a critical thickness dcr where the effect of the surface plasmon resonance on the Goos-Hänchen shift is most pronounced. Overall sensor sensitivity is surprisingly found to improve with this approach, even though the measurement is based on a second order effect (i.e., the Goos-Hänchen shift) instead of the first order reflectance change measured in conventional SPR sensor approaches. The invention is also applicable to sensors based on measurements of other non-specular reflection parameters, such as temporal shifts, frequency shifts, and/or angular shifts.

Abstract: A method for assigning of geocodes to addresses identifying entities on a street includes ordering a set of entity geocodes associated with a street segment based on ordering criteria such as the linear distance of the geocodes along the length of the street segment. Assignable addresses are matched with the ordered geocodes creating a correspondence between a numerical order of the assignable addresses and a linear order of the ordered set of geocodes, consistent with address range direction data and street segment side data. The geocodes may be implicit or explicit, locally unique or globally unique. The set of entity geocodes may be obtained by identifying image features in aerial imagery corresponding to streets and buildings and correlating this information with data from a street map database.

Abstract: A method to quantify the radial endoluminal irregularity of aortoiliac arteries is provided. Radial endoluminal outlines of a vessel of interest are determined. The cross sectional area is determined for the area outlined by each endoluminal outline. Using this cross sectional area a shape is selected that has substantially the same area as the endoluminal outline. Subsequently, the shape is fitted to the endoluminal outline. In one aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of the endoluminal outline and the outline of the fitted shape. In another aspect, the irregularity index is calculated as the ratio of at least a part of the endoluminal outline and the outline of the fitted shape that corresponds to the same part of the endoluminal outline. The irregularity index is visualized using a color scheme, a range of numbers, or a set of labels.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards an acoustic concealed item detector and related methods for detection using acoustics. In an illustrative embodiment, a multi-frequency ultrasonic wave generator generates in a gaseous medium at least first and second ultrasonic waves. The multi-frequency ultrasonic wave generator is arranged such that in operation, the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave mix in a prescribed mixing zone to produce a difference-frequency acoustic wave. A receiver sensor detects the difference-frequency acoustic wave and produces corresponding electromagnetic signals. The electromagnetic signals are processed by a system processor and signals indicative of concealed items are identified. Preferably the ultrasonic waves are focused to a small prescribed mixing zone. Parametric and multi-transducer embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for providing automatic, personalized information services to a computer user includes the following steps: transparently monitoring user interactions with data during normal use of the computer; updating user-specific data files including a set of user-related documents; estimating parameters of a learning machine that define a User Model specific to the user, using the user-specific data files; analyzing a document to identify its properties; estimating the probability that the user is interested in the document by applying the document properties to the parameters of the User Model; and providing personalized services based on the estimated probability.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the coordinates of a body, where the coordinates express the body's inertial or kinematic properties, including, for example, its trajectory. The apparatus and method employ atom interferometers provided in a body frame X of the body whose inertial or kinematic properties are to be studied. During operation, interfering entities used by the atom interferometers are released into a known frame X?, such as an inertial frame or the Earth frame Xe, that is decoupled from the body frame X and an optical pulse sequence is applied to the interfering entities to affect the quantum-mechanical matter-wave phases of the interfering entities as a function of the coordinates. Under these conditions, the coordinates of the body are determined from the phases of the atom interferometers and analytic expressions for the trajectories of the interfering entities under the simultaneous action of the gravity gradient, Coriolis and centrifugal forces.

Abstract: The present invention provides sensors based on micromachined ultrasonic transducer technology. The sensors preferably include a plurality of sensor elements, but may include only one sensor element. Arrays of sensors are also provided. Sensor elements include a functionalized membrane supported over a substrate by a support frame. The functionalized membrane, support frame and substrate together form a vacuum gap. The sensor element is connected to an electrical circuit, which is configured to operate the sensor element at or near an open circuit resonance condition. The mechanical resonance frequency of the functionalized membrane is responsive to binding of an agent to the membrane. Thus, the sensor element also includes a detector, where the detector provides a sensor output responsive to the mechanical resonance frequency of the sensor element.

Abstract: A betting method determines rate of return on a bet by employing supply and demand forces. The bet can be made on any uncertain future event that has at least two outcomes (e.g. sporting events, financial market fluctuations, and elections). Investors that place a bet on a particular outcome provide money to a betting machine and receive shares (specific to the chosen outcome) in return. For each possible outcome there is a share type. Shares that correspond with the winning bet have a certain guaranteed value when the outcome is determined; losing share types are normally defined as worthless. Before the winning bet is determined, share values are calculated following a supply and demand model according to the following equation: Q 1 = B 1 B Tot where Q1 is the share value for shares corresponding to a first outcome, B1 is the amount bet upon the first outcome, and BTot is the total amount bet on all outcomes. Analogous equations determine share values for all other outcomes.

Abstract: The invention provides new reflective markers, reflectors, and delineators with a variety of mounting apparatuses for attaching the same onto standard guardrails in an efficient and effortless manner, without affecting the safety feature, display utility, and visibility of the marker/reflectors/delineators mounted thereon. The present invention also provides a new guardrail reflector/delineator that is particularly useful in situations, locations, and/or places with limited or no lighting, for example, cloudy days, foggy areas, dark places, streets with no lights at night, etc.