Abstract: An apparatus for the ultrasonic destruction of microbiological contamination of fluids. The process involves subjecting contaminated fluids to ultrasonic vibration so as to cause cavitation within the fluids. The cavitation results in the destruction of microbial cells and mats of microbial colonies. To create cavitation in the fluids a number of piezoelectric ceramic rings surround a metal tube through which the fluids flows. Those piezoelectric rings are immersed in a transmission medium which is pressurized sufficiently to prevent cavitation occurring in it and causing damage to the piezoelectric rings electrodes. This process is applicable to many liquids such as fuels, lubricating fluids, potable and marine ballast waters, dairy products, pharmaceuticals, liquid food products and beverages.

Abstract: An adaptive multidimensional beamformer having near-instantaneous convergence for ultrasound imaging systems deploying multidimensional sensor arrays is disclosed. In a first step, the multidimensional beamformer is decomposed into sub-apertures. Each sub-aperture is then again decomposed into two coherent subsets of circular and/or line array beamformers in different coordinate directions of the multidimensional array. Implementation of the multidimensional beamformer according to the present invention provides the basis for a 3D ultrasound imaging system according to the present invention comprising a compact multidimensional sensor array and a compact processing unit that is field deployable and generates high resolution three-dimensional images in real time. It is also possible to capture four-dimensional images, the fourth dimension being time and the resulting images forming a video image of a volume of a moving organ.

Abstract: A method to estimate motor speed for extended stabilized rotational control of an induction motor at all speeds including slow speeds. The speed estimator supplies real-time time motor control feedback information for a variable speed motor drive controller without a mechanical encoder. The speed estimator is based on an optimized fast orthogonal search algorithm with control of the carrier drive frequency to reduce computation time. The reduced processing time provides for an update rate to the motor controller sufficient to maintain motor stability to near zero the motor rated base speed.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in an environment comprising extreme levels of noise and vibrations is disclosed. Blood pressure signals corresponding to the Korotkoff sounds are detected using a first acoustic sensor, or array of sensors, placed on the patient's skin over the brachial artery. A second acoustic transducer is placed on the outside of a pressure cuff the patient away for detecting noise and vibrations. Pressure is applied to the artery using the pressure cuff forcing the artery to close. The pressure is then reduced and while reducing the pressure the acoustic signals detected by the first and second acoustic sensor as well as a signal indicative of the pressure applied to the artery are provided to a processor. The signal of the first acoustic sensor is then processed using an adaptive interferer canceller algorithm with the signal of the second acoustic sensor as interferer.

Abstract: A phase-to-sinusoid-amplitude conversion system and method for use in, for example, direct digital frequency synthesizer applications. The system and method convert phase data to signal amplitude data using an approximation of the first quadrant of a sine function using a plurality of linear line segments of preferably equal length. Each segment is defined with a lower horizontal-axis bound; a lower vertical-axis bound; and a slope represented as a sum of a plurality of slope elements. Based on the approximation and for a given phase angle a set of values are evaluated, for each linear line segment, representing a product of (i) a horizontal displacement representing a difference between the prescribed phase angle and the lower horizontal-axis bound xi of a selected linear line segment where, for example, xi<X<xi+1 and (ii) each one of the slope elements of the selected linear line segment.

Abstract: An underwater acoustic projector comprising a pair of spaced apart end plates with an acoustic driver positioned between the end plates, the driver having smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the end plates. Each end plate close one end of an open ended tubular pipe waveguide and that plate is mechanically connected to one end of a piezoelectric drive unit with a tubular waveguide extending inwards and surrounding the end portion of the acoustic driver.

Abstract: A vaccine comprising a combination of Brucella “A” and “M” outer-polysaccharides (OPSs) and “R” protein antigens for enhancing immunity against brucellosis is disclosed. The OPS may be obtained from different strains or species of Brucellae (i.e. combining OPS extracted from different bacteria expressing “A” or “M” OPS, or combining OPS and OPS-protein complexes extracted from different bacteria). The OPS or OPS-protein complexes may also be obtained from a single strain expressing more than one OPS (e.g. from B. suis strain 145 which expresses “A”, “M” and possibly other OPSs). The vaccine according to the present invention overcomes the limitation of previously discovered B. abortus “A” OPS which only protects against species and strains of Brucella that had “A” OPS but not against others with different OPS.

Abstract: An underwater acoustic projector comprising a pair of spaced apart end walls with an acoustic driver positioned between the end walls, the driver having smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the end walls. Each end wall close one end of flared open ended pipe waveguides and is mechanically coupled to one end of a piezoelectric acoustic driver. The flared pipe waveguides extend outward from the driver and have a larger diameter at their open ends than at the end walls.

Abstract: An underwater acoustic projector comprising a pair of spaced apart end walls with an acoustic driver positioned between the end walls, the driver having smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the end walls. The projector has a one piece thin wall inwardly concavely shaped shell with corrugations running in the axial direction surrounding the driver and mechanically coupled to the end walls. An open ended tubular waveguide (pipe) is connected to each end wall of the projector and extend outward forming a flextensional resonant pipe projector.

Abstract: An insensitive melt cast explosive composition obtained by dissolving an energetic copolyurethane thermoplastic elastomer (“ETPE”) in melted trinitrotoluene (“TNT”) is disclosed. The resulting ETPE-TNT solution is easy to mix with other ingredients such as nitramines, plasticizers, aluminum and can be processed with the existing melt cast facilities. The energetic solution can be poured into shells and upon cooling to produce a recyclable plastic bonded explosive. Instead of melted TNT, the same process works equally well with melted Octol or melted Composition B to dissolve the ETPE.

Abstract: An underwater acoustic projector comprising a pair of spaced apart end walls with an acoustic driver positioned between the end walls, the driver having smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the end walls. Each end wall close one end of open ended tubular pipe waveguides and is mechanically coupled to one end of a piezoelectric acoustic driver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel ribonucleotide oligonucleotides (RNOs) that are specifically designed to inhibit viral replication. The RNOs are capable of binding to both the negative and positive strands of influenza RNA segments, thereby inhibiting the virus' ability to produce various viral components, thus inhibiting viral propagation, and effectively killing the virus at the intracellular sites of infection in the respiratory tract. The RNOs provided may act independently, or in combination to optimize their antiviral activity. In addition, the RNOs provided may be formulated in liposomes, which facilitate their therapeutic delivery to intracellular sites of infection, and additionally increase antiviral efficacies.

Abstract: An underwater acoustic projector comprising a pair of spaced apart end caps with an acoustic driver positioned between the end caps, the driver having smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the end caps to which the driver is mechanically coupled. The projector has a flextensional outer wall surrounding the driver with flanges at ends of that outer wall being secured to the end caps by a heat shrunk ring.

Abstract: A method of tracking organ motion and removing motion artifacts in conventional computer tomography scans is disclosed. Sensor time series indicative of projection measurement data of the object are correlated using a software spatial overlap correlator method in order to obtain a sinogram indicative of organ motion. The software spatial overlap correlator method is based on the fact that the image sampling process of a computer tomography scanner is periodical, therefore, image samples taken at a time t and at a time t+T are taken from identical spatial locations. The sinogram is then processed using a retrospective gating method or a coherent sinogram synthesis method in order to correct the image data for motion effects. This method for motion correction is software based and, therefore, can be easily implemented in existing computer tomography systems without major hardware modification.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in an environment comprising extreme levels of noise and vibrations is disclosed. Blood pressure signals corresponding to the heart beat are detected using a first acoustic sensor placed on a patient near an artery. A second acoustic transducer is placed on the patient away from the artery for detecting noise and vibrations. Pressure is applied to the artery forcing the artery to close. The pressure is then reduced and while reducing the pressure the acoustic signals detected by the first and second acoustic sensor as well as a signal indicative of the pressure applied to the artery are provided to a processing unit. The signal of the first acoustic sensor is then processed using an adaptive interferer canceller algorithm with the signal of the second acoustic sensor as interferer.

Abstract: An energetic and recyclable propellant composition, which is capable of withstanding cold temperature, includes an energetic copolyurethane thermoplastic elastomer. The propellant composition can be used as a gun or rocket propellant, an explosive or in air bag gas generators.

Abstract: An adaptive multidimensional beamformer having near-instantaneous convergence for ultrasound imaging systems deploying multidimensional sensor arrays is disclosed. In a first step, the multidimensional beamformer is decomposed into sub-apertures. Each sub-aperture is then again decomposed into two coherent subsets of circular and/or line array beamformers in different coordinate directions of the multidimensional array. Implementation of the multidimensional beamformer according to the present invention provides the basis for a 3D ultrasound imaging system according to the present invention comprising a compact multidimensional sensor array and a compact processing unit that is field deployable and generates high resolution three-dimensional images in real time. It is also possible to capture four-dimensional images, the fourth dimension being time and the resulting images forming a video image of a volume of a moving organ.

Abstract: Although poly ICLC possess a broad spectrum of antimicrobial and anticancer activities, it therapeutic potential has yet to be fulfilled due to its toxic side effect. This problem can be overcome by encapsulating poly ICLC within liposomes which provides a drug delivery system with slow sustained release characteristic and which has the ability to target the drug to sites of infection and tumor without causing systemic burden to normal tissues, thereby enhancing the immunological and biological activities of poly ICLC.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the effects of bacterial polysaccharides on cell mediated immunity in animals. Polysaccharides of the present invention comprise the outer polysaccharides (OPS) located on bacterial cell membranes and other polysaccharides (e.g. “Poly B”) either secreted or contained within the periplasmic space. These polysaccharides have been found to enhance the general or cell mediated immunity of animals to various diseases. The invention provides for the use of such polysaccharides in preventing and treating various infections as well as in treating carcinomas. The invention also provides for synthetic polysaccharides having the same immuno-modulating effect as the bacterial polysaccharides.