Abstract: An interactive workspace with multiple users and machines is characterized by an input redirection method whereby user-specific information is associated to the user input device that the user is controlling on one of the machines. The system allows the associated information to follow the user input device as it is redirected to control any of the other machines. Accordingly a point-of-presence is created for the user on the other machines, which includes the associated user-specific information. The associated user-specific information that was bound to the user input device to one of the machines can be transferred to where the user has a point-of-presence due to redirection of the user's input device. The user's input device and transferred user-specific information are independent from the: (i) actions performed and information specific to other users, and (ii) functionality of applications running on the other machines by the other users.

Abstract: A material that can be applied as implants designed to artificially replace or augment the cornea, such as an artificial cornea, corneal onlay, or corneal inlay (intrastromal lens) is provided. The artificial corneal implant has a double network hydrogel with a first network interpenetrated with a second network. The first network and the second network are based on biocompatible polymers. At least one of the network polymers is based on a hydrophilic polymer. The artificial cornea or implant has epithelialization promoting biomolecules that are covalently linked to the surface of the double network hydrogel using an azide-active-ester chemical linker. Corneal epithelial cells or cornea-derived cells are adhered to the biomolecules. The double network has a physiologic diffusion coefficient to allow passage of nutrients to the adhered cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels that have high oxygen permeability, strength, water content, and resistance to protein adsorption. The hydrogels include two interpenetrating polymer networks. The first polymer network is based on a hydrophilic telechelic macromonomer. The second polymer network is based on a hydrophilic monomer. The hydrophilic monomer is polymerized and cross-linked to form the second polymer network in the presence of the first polymer network. The telechelic macromonomer preferably has a molecular weight of between about 575 Da and about 20,000 Da. Mixtures of molecular weights may also be used. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrophilic telechelic macromonomer is PEG-diacrylate or PEG-dimethacrylate and the hydrophilic monomer is an acrylic-based monomer. The material is designed to serve as a contact lens.

Abstract: A more energy-efficient method of processing crude oil is achieved by viscoelastic shearing in order to increase the vapor pressure of the crude oil. This change in vapor pressure allows a more efficient separation of volatile components from non-volatile components in the crude oil. By optimizing the energy expenditure for shearing and the energy expenditure for separating the volatile components from the non-volatile components of the crude oil, while simultaneously removing the volatile components by distillation, one can reduce the overall energy input for the separation. Alternatively, it is possible to affect the distillation at a reduced temperature.

Abstract: A normally opaque waveguide interacting with a drop-filter cavity can be switched to a transparent state when the drop filter is also coupled to a dipole. This dipole induced transparency may be obtained even when the vacuum Rabi frequency of the dipole is much less than the cavity decay rate. The condition for transparency is a large Purcell factor. Dipole induced transparency can be used in quantum repeaters for long distance quantum communication.

Abstract: Improved crude oil processing is achieved by viscoelastic shearing of crude oil at an elevated temperature. The shearing provides for an enriched light fraction and an enriched heavy fraction that can be more efficiently separated by distillation. Shearing is achieved using a mobile surface and immobile surface, or other flow geometry, under conditions providing for a transient phase separation.

Abstract: A capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) array connected to a separate electronic unit is provided. The CMUT array includes at least two active elements, a ground element at the array end, and a non-active element having isolation trenches disposed between the active and ground elements. The active element includes a doped first silicon layer, a doped second silicon layer, and a first insulating layer disposed there between. A cavity is in the first silicon layer having a cross section that includes vertical portions disposed at each end of a horizontal portion, and the vertical portion spans from the first insulating layer through the first silicon layer such that a portion of the first silicon layer is isolated by the first insulating layer and the cavity. A membrane layer on the first silicon layer spans the cavity. A bottom electrode is disposed on the bottom of the second silicon layer.

Abstract: Stress rotation due to depletion can be estimated in reservoirs having an impermeable reservoir boundary. More specifically, the isotropic change in stress due to depletion, and the uniaxial stress resulting from a change in pore pressure across an impermeable boundary are both modeled as perturbations to an initial stress state. These perturbations can result in a rotation of the principal stress directions. Estimates of the stress rotation are helpful for hydraulic fracturing operations, because fracture tends to occur in a plane perpendicular to the least principal stress.

Abstract: A method and device for fuel cell heat and water management is provided. A thermally and electrically conductive hydrophilic heat and mass transport element is provided to the fuel cell spanning from inside to outside the cell. The transport element is deposited between current collector and gas diffusion layers, where heat is transported along the transport element from an interior portion of the element inside the cell to an exterior portion of the element outside the cell. Liquid water is transported along the element into or out of the cell, and heat is removed from the exterior portion by any combination of radiation, free convection and forced convection, and where the liquid water is removed from the exterior portion by any combination of convection driven evaporation and advection. The water is added to the cell from the exterior to the interior by any combination of advection and capillary wicking.

Abstract: A high temperature micromachined ultrasonic transducer (HTCMUT) is provided. The HTCMUT includes a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate having a doped first silicon layer, a doped second silicon layer, and a first insulating layer disposed between the first and second silicon layers. A cavity is disposed in the first silicon layer, where a cross section of the cavity includes a horizontal cavity portion on top of vertical cavity portions disposed at each end of the horizontal cavity portion, and the vertical cavity portion spans from the first insulating layer through the first silicon layer, such that a portion of the first silicon layer is isolated by the first insulating layer and the cavity. A membrane layer is disposed on the first silicon layer top surface, and spans across the cavity. A bottom electrode is disposed on the bottom of the second silicon layer.

Abstract: A Learning Enhanced Simulated Annealing (LESA) method is provided. Based on a Simulated Annealing (SA) framework, this method adds a Knowledge Base (KB) initialized at the beginning of the search and updated at each iteration, which memorizes a portion of the search history and guides the further search through a KB trial generator. The basic idea of LESA is that its search history is stored in a KB, and a KB trial generator extracts information from it and uses it to generate a new trial. The next move of the search is the weighted sum of the trial generated by the KB trial generator and the trial generated by the usual SA trial generator. The knowledge base is then updated after each search iteration.

Abstract: A network-based system for routing data between software applications with access to the network is taught, the system including at least one router connected to the network for routing between applications and the router, software in the router for creating and deleting routes and for converting incoming data of differing markup languages into a common format, at least one client device connected to the network, the device adapted for communication with the router, and software in the client device for determining how data sent to its host device is rendered for use by the device. The client device receives data from the router in the form of the common format wherein the receiving device reads the data, builds an object model from logic instructions embedded in the data and executes the object model to implement the logic at the device for data rendering.

Abstract: A method of arranging and fabricating parallel primary and secondary coils of a wideband planar transformer is provided. The spacing and width of the coils are disposed to extend the bandwidth from DC to GHz and allow for high frequency coupling when the core permeability dramatically drops and achieves low reflected energy and low loss over a wide bandwidth. A bottom mold having a pattern of hole-pairs with conductive elements inserted vertically couples to a top mold such that a middle portion of the conductive elements spans between the top and bottom molds. Dielectric material envelopes the middle portion and a displacement feature of the mold creates a vacancy. A ferrite element is deposited to the vacancy. A second top mold spans the bottom mold and dielectric material is deposited to create a molded assembly. A deposited patterned conductive coating connects the element ends to define the transformer coils.

Abstract: The gas absorption/adsorption memory effect in gas analysis can be reduced by controlling gas flow conditions such that the partial pressure of the analyte of interest is held constant, if the measured analyte concentration is within a predetermined range. Keeping the analyte partial pressure constant is helpful for mitigating the memory effect because changes in analyte absorption/adsorption rates tend to be driven by changes in analyte partial pressure. The memory effect can also be mitigated by performing concentration measurements at two or more different gas flow conditions, and employing a mathematical model to estimate true concentration and “memory effect” contributions to measured concentrations at one or more of the flow conditions. The mathematical model can be based on an assumption that the true analyte concentration is independent of flow rate or pressure, while the “memory effect” contribution to measured concentration is inversely proportional to flow rate or pressure.

Abstract: A heterogeneous content channel manager is provided for content management and collaboration within and across interactive workspaces. A content channel bar, available on each of the displays in the workspace(s), contains two or more unique representations of respectively two or more different channels available in the interactive workspace(s). Within the set of available channels on each channel bar two or more different channel types are represented. Furthermore, each one of the unique representations in the content channel bar represents different and unique content supported by their respective channels and their types. Channel selection on the channel bar initiates display, on the display where the channel selection was made, of the content represented by the selected representation and channel in a manner appropriate for the channel's type.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell is described. The DMFC uses a solid electrolyte that prevents methanol crossover. Optional chemical barriers may be employed to prevent CO2 contamination of the electrolyte.

Abstract: Improved calibration of a dual-etalon frequency monitor having x-y outputs is provided. An ellipse is fit to the (x,y) points from a set of calibration data. For each (x,y) point, an angle ? is determined. A linear fit of frequency to ? is provided. Differences between this linear fit and the determined values of ? are accounted for by including a spline fit to this difference in the calibration.

Abstract: A markerless motion capture system is provided for measurements accurate enough for biomechanical, clinical, sport, entertainment, animation, game and movie, design, ergonomics, surveillance applications. The system has multiple cameras distributed around a viewing volume. The cameras allow for the creation of three-dimensional mesh representations of an object dynamically moving within the viewing volume. A model of the object that incorporates specific morphological and kinematic model information (including soft joint constraints) is then matched to the captured three-dimensional mesh representations. The matching routine aims to embed the model into each of the three-dimensional representations using (i) iterative closest point or simulated annealing algorithms and (ii) using soft joint constraints. This unique combination of routines offers a simple, time-efficient, accurate and thus more meaningful assessment of movements.

Abstract: The invention relates to direct conversion of coal into electricity in a high temperature electrochemical generator in a single step process. This novel concept promises nearly doubling the conversion efficiency of conventional coal-fired processes and offering near-zero emissions. The improved efficiency would mean that nearly half as much coal is mined and transported to the power plant, and half the greenhouse gases and other pollutants such as sulfur, mercury and dioxins are produced. It also offers several crucial distinctions from conventional coal-burning processes. Since the process does not involve the combustion of coal in air, it does not involve nitrogen and hence generates practically no NOx. Accordingly, there is also no latent heat lost to nitrogen. In this process, the oxygen necessary to oxidize coal is supplied through an ion selective ceramic membrane electrolyte.

Abstract: A convex parimutuel call auction implemented at a central market organizer computer includes receiving orders from market participants, calculating a quantity of accepted bids for each of the orders, and communicating to the participants the calculated quantity of accepted bids for each of the orders. Each order includes a specification by a participant of contingent claims on outcomes of a future event, a limit bid price, and a limit bid quantity. The calculation involves maximizing an objective function given by an approximate profit to the market organizer plus a weighted logarithmic penalty function. Because the formulation is convex, the solution may be computed in polynomial time using standard techniques, such as a path-following algorithm.