Abstract: Improved surface feature recognition in CT images is provided by extracting a triangulated mesh representation of the surface of interest. Shape operators are computed at each vertex of the mesh from finite differences of vertex normals. The shape operators at each vertex are smoothed according to an iterative weighted averaging procedure. Principal curvatures at each vertex are computed from the smoothed shape operators. Vertices are marked as maxima and/or minima according to the signs of the principal curvatures. Vertices marked as having the same feature type are clustered together by adjacency on the mesh to provide candidate patches. Feature scores are computed for each candidate patch and the scores are provided as output to a user or for further processing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for incrementally manipulating an internal body member of a patient are disclosed. The apparatus has a magnetic implant adapted to be received on a location of the body member, a platform external to the patient, and a magnetic member coupled to the platform, wherein the magnetic member generates a magnetic force between the implant and the platform to incrementally manipulate the body member. The implant and external magnetic member are preferably rare earth magnets or an array of rare earth magnets, and are configured to generate an attractive or repulsive force between the implant and the platform to reposition, reorient, deform, or lengthen the body member.

Abstract: A method for inexpensive and efficient PHA biosynthesis includes operating a sequencing bioreactor in alternating phases of nutrient deprivation and carbon feedstock deprivation to select for robust PHA-producing microbes. Preferably, the bioreactor is operated in a non-sterile manner with mixed cultures of methanotrophs. The method also preferably uses periodic biomass-wasting (PHA harvesting) at the end of the carbon feed phase, gradually lengthening the time period of carbon deprivation phase to create a penalty for rapid PHA degradation and incentive for PHA accumulation. Also, bacterial enrichment cultures may be introduced periodically. The PHA-accumulating bacteria are preferably grown on common anaerobic degradation products, specifically volatile fatty acids, such as acetate and propionate, and methane gas. The PHA has useful applications in bioplastics and other products.

Abstract: In a hybrid peer-to-peer file sharing network including a receiver peer and a provider peer, the receiver sends the provider a ticket [710] obtained from a server authorizing the receiver to obtain a data object O. The receiver obtains a root value of a hash tree for the object, verifies its digital signature, and sends the provider peer a request for a block of data object O and a request for a corresponding set of hash values from the hash tree [714]. The receiver receives from the provider peer the block of O and the corresponding set of hash values of the hash tree [716] that do not contain any hash value in the local hash tree. The receiver sends the provider an acknowledgement of receipt [718], obtains a block key from the provider [720], decrypts the block, verifies the integrity of the block using the subset of hash values and the local hash tree for O, and updates the local hash tree by adding the subset of hash values to the local hash tree, as well as any newly calculated hash values [722].

Abstract: A reduced cost solid oxide fuel cell having enhanced surface exchange rates and diffusivity of oxide ions is provided. The invention cell includes a first porous electrode and a second porous electrode, where the porous electrodes have a layer of electronically conductive porous non-precious metal, and the porous non-precious metal layer is a gas diffusion layer. The porous electrodes further include at least one atomic layer of catalytic metal deposited on the non-precious metal layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the first porous electrode and the second porous electrode. The electrolyte layer includes a first dense ion-conductive doped oxide film layer, and a second dense ion-conductive doped oxide film layer deposited on the first doped oxide film layer, where the catalytic metal layer on the conductive porous non-metal layer enhances surface exchange rates and diffusivity of the oxide ions, thus the material costs of the fuel cell are reduced.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for video capture of a three-dimensional region of interest in a scene using an array of video cameras. The video cameras of the array are positioned for viewing the three-dimensional region of interest in the scene from their respective viewpoints. A triggering mechanism is provided for staggering the capture of a set of frames by the video cameras of the array. The apparatus has a processing unit for combining and operating on the set of frames captured by the array of cameras to generate a new visual output, such as high-speed video or spatio-temporal structure and motion models, that has a synthetic viewpoint of the three-dimensional region of interest. The processing involves spatio-temporal interpolation for determining the synthetic viewpoint space-time trajectory. In some embodiments, the apparatus computes a multibaseline spatio-temporal optical flow.

Abstract: A method for wireless communication combines OFDMA resource allocation and power control policies with cooperative relaying techniques. The techniques are preferably implemented in a dense wireless network of power-limited mobile devices assisted by mobile relay devices having superior power supplies. Preferably, MIMO beamforming techniques are used to further increase energy efficiency and spectral efficiency beyond the increases provided by ODFMA cooperative relaying.

Abstract: Improved audio source separation is provided by providing an audio dictionary for each source to be separated. Thus the invention can be regarded as providing “partially blind” source separation as opposed to the more commonly considered “blind” source separation problem, where no prior information about the sources is given. The audio dictionaries are probabilistic source models, and can be derived from training data from the sources to be separated, or from similar sources. Thus a library of audio dictionaries can be developed to aid in source separation. An unmixing and deconvolutive transformation can be inferred by maximum likelihood (ML) given the received signals and the selected audio dictionaries as input to the ML calculation. Optionally, frequency-domain filtering of the separated signal estimates can be performed prior to reconstructing the time-domain separated signal estimates. Such filtering can be regarded as providing an “audio skin” for a recovered signal.

Abstract: The refractive index, extinction coefficient, size and density of fluid suspended particles are simultaneously determined by combined transmittance and scattering measurements. The scattering measurements are preferably angle selective to obtain additional information about the scattered light. A charge-coupled device is employed for its high sensitivity to low light intensity in measurement of scattered light in combination with a photodiode array employed for its high signal to noise ratio, which is beneficial in transmittance measurement. The scattered light may be measured in an angle selective fashion by use of a motorized aperture that is concentrically positioned with respect to the impinging beam axis and moveable along the impinging beam axis. An ellipsoidal mirror collects the scattered light that passes through the motorized aperture and focuses the scattered light towards the charge-coupled device.

Abstract: A balloon catheter system distinguishing a proximal balloon catheter system and a distal balloon catheter is provided. The proximal balloon catheter system has a first and a second catheter. These two catheters are positioned side-by-side over at least part of the longitudinal area of their outer surfaces, and they are detachably connected to each other. A first inflatable member is attached to the first catheter near the distal end of the first catheter. The distal balloon catheter distinguishes a catheter part with a distal end and a proximal end, and an exchange rod attached near the proximal end of the catheter part. The catheter part has a second inflatable member encircling the outer surface of the catheter part. The balloon catheter system can be used for example in methods of isolating a segment of a vessel, generating reversal fluid flow and creating an in-vivo shunt with a balloon catheter.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device has nanoparticles sandwiched between a conductive substrate and a charge selective transport layer. Each of the nanoparticles has a ligand shell attached to the nanoparticle core. A first type of ligand is electron rich and attached to one hemisphere of the nanoparticle core, while a second type of ligand is electron poor and attached to an opposite hemisphere of the core. Consequently, the ligand shell induces an electric field within the nanoparticle, enhancing the photovoltaic effect. The arrangement of ligands types on different sides of the nanoparticle is obtained by a process involving ligand substitution after adhering the nanoparticles to the conductive substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensitive system for measuring the physiological response of an in-vitro cell culture to an environmental parameter. An electrical property of the cell culture is measured as a control signal, and a parameter of a stimulus is adjusted in real time to maintain the control signal at a specified value as the environment of the cell culture is altered, for example, pharmacologically. Artifact reduction and real-time control methods are two key aspects of preferred embodiments of the invention, and enable highly accurate determination of pulse parameters which elicit a desired response. Both aspects must be highly robust to the natural variations inherent in a biological system. This system is beneficial for studying the effects of environmental alterations because extremely small changes in the physiological response can be measured over time, revealing the magnitude and time-dependence of the impact of these alterations on the cell culture.

Abstract: Various methods, techniques or modules are provided to allow for the automated analysis of the 3-D representation of the upper front torso (i) to recognize 3-D anatomical features, (ii) to orient the subject with reference to their anatomy or a display, (iii) to determine dimensional analysis including direct point-to-point lines, 3-D surface lines, and volume values, (iv) to simulate the outcome with the addition of breast implants including breast and nipple positioning, (v) to assist in the selection of the breast implants, and/or (vi) to assist in the planning of breast surgery. The automated analysis is based on the analysis of changes in a 3-D contour map of the upper torso, orientation analysis of 3-D features and planes, color analysis of 3-D features, and/or dimensional analysis of 3-D features and positions of the upper torso.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a distance adjustable passenger handle assembly for an elevator. The handle assembly comprises plural fixing members (120), and plural handle supports (140). Each fixing member (120) includes a horizontal wall (122) having an opening (124) formed at an intermediate portion thereof along the entire length thereof. The opening (124) has a width which prevents the head of the fastener (30) from passing therethrough. Each handle support (140) includes a vertical partition (144), and a horizontal wall (146). The vertical partition (144) defines a space (143) inside the handle support (140), and has a through hole (145). The horizontal wall (146) has an opening (147) corresponding to the opening (124). With the handle securely fixed the handle support, the handle support (140) is inserted to the fixing member (120), adjusted to a desired distance to the inner wall, and securely coupled to the fixing member (120).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of sequestering carbon dioxide in aqueous environments. In a first step, an area is assessed to determine whether the area is capable of supporting the addition of organisms of higher trophic level (OHTL). Next, OHTL are added to the area in order to produce enough rapidly sinking and refractory particulate matter (PM) to sequester carbon dioxide above the level of carbon dioxide sequestration that exists before the addition of OHTL. Preferably, the PM produced by the OHTL sinks at rates significantly greater than and/or is significantly less biodegradable than that produced by other components of the biological carbon pump. Finally, this increase in the level of carbon dioxide sequestration is quantified. The method of the present invention may also include the step of reporting the quantified increase in the level of carbon dioxide sequestration.

Abstract: A variable trip limit transient blocking unit (TBU) is provided. The variable trip limit transient blocking unit circuit includes a transient blocking unit and a low-pass filter, such as an RC circuit having an RC time constant. The RC circuit is disposed to approximate an integrator operating over periods of time that are short compared to the RC time constant. The RC circuit integrates a signal representing an approximated current flowing through the transient blocking unit and triggers a disconnect threshold in the transient blocking unit when a voltage stored across a capacitor of the RC circuit reaches a predefined limit.

Abstract: When a series protective element such as a transient blocking unit (TBU) is used in combination with a shunt protective element such as a gas discharge tube (GDT), firing of the GDT can cause a transient having the potential to damage the TBU. This problem can be alleviated by placing a TBU core in series between depletion mode transistors having their gates connected. With this arrangement, the GDT transient causes a transient in the TBU circuit that has the effect of switching the transistors around the TBU hard off, thereby protecting the TBU from the GDT transient.

Abstract: An invention for coherent array image formation and restoration is taught. The invention is applicable for both 2D and 3D imaging using either 1D or 2D arrays, respectively. A transducer array is subdivided into subarrays, each subarray having a number of adjacent array elements. All elements of each subarray transmit and receive in parallel. The signals received from each subarray are delayed and summed to form scan lines, or beams. The low-beam-rate beams formed from each subarray are upsampled and interpolated prior to forming high-beam-rate images. Depending on the subarray geometry, a subarray-dependent restoration filter is also applied to the subarray beams. The restored beams from each subarray are combined to form the final high-beam-rate image. The invention significantly reduces the front-end hardware complexity compared to conventional methods such as full phased array imaging with comparable image quality.

Abstract: A remote parking meter monitoring system is provided. The system has a plurality of radio transceivers. Each transceiver communicates with at least one other transceiver within a transceiver communication region. The transceivers are integrated to parking meters. A separate aggregate point has a transceiver and a communication network that is connected to a computer. The aggregate point communicates with at least one proximal transceiver and communicates to the computer through the network. The system has a mesh communication arrangement, and a signal routing architecture, where the information is communicated along any path of adjacent communication regions. The computer is able to communicate information through the network to the aggregate point, and the aggregate point transceiver sends the information to the proximal transceiver.

Abstract: A technique and device provides absolute skin dosimetry in real time at multiple tissue depths simultaneously. The device uses a phoswich detector which has multiple scintillators embedded at different depths within a non-scintillating material. A digital pulse processor connected to the phoswich detector measures a differential distribution (dN/dH) of count rate N as function of pulse height H for signals from each of the multiple scintillators. A digital processor computes in real time from the differential count-rate distribution for each of multiple scintillators an estimate of an ionizing radiation dose delivered to each of multiple depths of skin tissue corresponding to the multiple scintillators embedded at multiple corresponding depths within the non-scintillating material.