Abstract: Disclosed herein is a compound having Formula I: or a salt thereof, in which R1, R2 and R3 are as defined herein. Also disclosed are processes to prepare compounds of Formula I and use of Formula I to prepare stable glassy phases.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices relating to a field programmable unattended surveillance, low-power sensor node which uses a passive infrared (PIR) based motion detector to trigger a linear array of photodetectors and advanced processing for target detection and classification. The sensor node is equipped with an infrared beacon that is activated once a potential target is detected. The activated infrared beacon can then be seen by an operator using a night vision device.

Abstract: The presented invention provides a detection method for free fluid in the human body. The preprocessing procedure is applied to reduce the speckle noise and enhance tissue volumetric pixels (voxels) intensity levels to make tissue and non-tissue voxels more distinguishable from each other. An initial surface selection step provides flexibility to either manually or automatically selecting a seed point to segment fluid regions in the volumetric data. A kidney and liver organ detection procedure provides a method for determining whether the detected fluid region is a normal fluid-carrying body organ or if it is due to a medical condition as a free fluid region. A combinational approach using a 3-dimensional Snake and Level-Set is utilized to accurately detect fluid regions in the volumetric ultrasound data.

Abstract: The subject invention provides low fiber, yellow-seeded canola, and related canola meal and animal feed. Oil produced from this seed has at least 68% oleic acid and no more than 3% linolenic acid, relative to the total fatty acids in the oil. Specific canola lines exhibiting these characteristics are also provided. Canola seed offering the combined advantages of excellent oil together with high-quality meal has not heretofore been provided.

Abstract: Methods are provided for automatically performing atmospheric compensation of a multi or hyper spectral image. One method comprises transforming at least two endmembers extracted from an image into at-ground reflectance. The transformation may be approximate and/or only in certain spectral bands in order to reduce processing time. A matching component is then located in a spectral library for each of the at least two extracted endmembers. Gain and offset values are then calculated using the at least two matched extracted endmember and spectral library component pairs. At least part of the image is then compensated using the calculated gain and offset values. Another method uses at least one endmember extracted from the image and a black level. Methods for atmospheric compensation using water vapor content of pixels are also provided. In addition, methods for shadow correction of hyper and multi spectral images are provided.

Abstract: A method and system for improving high excess air combustion system efficiency, including induration furnaces, using a re-routing of flue gas within the system by gas recirculation. Flue gas is drawn from hot system zones including zones near the stack, for re-introduction into the process whereby the heat recovery partially replaces fuel input. At least one pre-combustion drying zone, at least one combustion zone, and at least a first cooling zone exist in these furnaces. At least one exhaust gas outlet is provided to each pre-combustion drying and combustion zone. At least part of the gaseous flow from each system zone exhaust outlet is selectively delivered to an overall system exhaust, the remaining flow being selectively delivered via recirculation to cooling zones. Recirculation flow is adjusted to meet required system temperatures and pressures. The method and system provide efficiency improvements, reducing fuel requirements and greenhouse gas emissions.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a novel composition and use thereof, for the attraction and detection of emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire. The composition comprises (3Z)-dodecen-12-olide and ash foliar or cortical volatiles (green leaf volatiles) associated with a prism trap of a color in the green range of the visible light spectrum. A significant increase in the capture of male A. planipennis is achieved when traps were deployed in the upper tree canopy. This invention is the first demonstration of increased attraction with a combination of a pheromone and a green leaf volatile in a Buprestid species.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for photon counting are disclosed. In an implementation, the present disclosure provides a dynamic-range photon-counting spectrometric sensor for low signal detection embedded in large parasitic background light signal. Rather than using a known forward illuminated imager approach of counting photons directly, embodiments of the present disclosure use a backward illuminated imager approach to generate a burst of electrons based on the photons, and perform photon detection by counting the generated burst of electrons using the plurality of CMOS chip pixels. An electronic circuit, in communication with the CMOS chip pixels, includes a fast clock enabling discrimination between electrons in time. The electronic circuit can be built on the face of a semiconductor wafer on which the CMOS chip pixels are provided.

Abstract: A process for isolating at least one target compound, such as manool, geranyl linalool, ethyl guaiacol, eugenol, veratraldehyde, squalene, terpin, cholesterol, beta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, stigmastenol and dehydroabietic acid, from biomass, the process including steps of: obtaining a condensate from a recovery evaporator, a reverse osmosis retentate of a condensate of a pulp and paper mill, or both, the condensate, retentate or both being substantially free of higher molecular weight (approximately >1000 Da) cellulose and/or lignin and/or lignin-derived material; optionally pH adjusting and filtering the condensate to collect insoluble material; extracting the condensate, the collected insoluble material, or both, with solid phase extraction (SPE), liquid-liquid extraction or solid-liquid extraction to produce an extract containing the at least one target compound; and optionally purifying the extract containing the at least one target compound by thermal fractionation, chromatographic separ

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of microorganisms (biocatalysts), or catalysts derived from these organisms (enzymes), to improve the quality of crude oil and bitumen as an attractive alternative to current upgrading methods. The invention identifies and characterizes the microorganism species, in particular, N. muscorum (UTEX 2209) and Kocuria rhizophilia (ATCC533), that have the capability to biochemically convert organic acids into chemical species that do not possess corrosive properties.

Abstract: Three-dimensional visual information may be displayed on curvilinear display surfaces. The display devices can include a control system configured to execute various methods for obtaining the visual information and displaying the visual information on the curvilinear display surface. If the visual information is intended for display on a first display surface, the control system can modify the visual information for display on the curvilinear display surface. The control system also can modify the visual information based upon relative positions and orientations of a viewer, projector, and/or the display surface, as well as to correct for anticipated environmental or optical interference. The control system outputs the visual information or modified visual information to a display device for display on a curvilinear display surface.

Abstract: A system and method for performing field measurement and testing of a plurality of widely spaced laser beams used in visual warning technology (VWT). VWT uses a combination of widely spaced laser beams, to warn civilians from approaching too close to military security areas. The widely spaced laser beams are displaced using rhomboidal prisms. Each rhomboidal prism receives a corresponding laser beam and displaces it toward a collecting lens. The lens focuses the displaced beams received thereon onto an imaging sensor for testing. Beam shutters may be used for selectively blocking one or more beams in order to test the beams separately and in different combinations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for relative localization that provides an orientation signal and a position signal between at least two vehicles. The present invention also provides for vehicle formation, such that there is a leading vehicle and a follower vehicle that maintain a specific formation relative to one another. The orientation, relative position and identity signals are utilized to control that formation. Each vehicle has at least three ultrasonic sensors, at least one ultrasonic source and an optional pair of FM receiver/transmitter. By installing several acoustic sensors whose relative position are known and by measuring the difference in the time of arrival of the same signal from the various sensors on the same vehicle, the difference in time can be converted into a difference of distance and then into relative position of the sensors from the source based on the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA).

Abstract: A process for fabricating an electrochemical supercapacitor is disclosed herein. The process comprises depositing a carbon nanotube layer onto a first substrate; depositing a layer of metal oxide material onto the substrate forming a first electrode; depositing an electrolytic material onto the electrode; and joining the electrode to a first face of a solid electrolyte membrane such that the electrolytic material is disposed between the electrode and the electrolytic membrane. The carbon nanotubes, the metal oxide and the electrolytic material comprise distinct layers. An electrochemical supercapacitor fabricated by the above-referenced process is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dielectric resonator antenna comprising: a dielectric resonator; a ground plane, operatively coupled with the dielectric resonator, the ground plane having four slots; and a substrate, operatively coupled to the ground plane, having a feeding network consisting of four microstrip lines; wherein the four slots are constructed and geometrically arranged to ensure proper circular polarization and coupling to the dielectric resonator; and wherein the antenna feeding network combines the four microstrip lines with a 90 degree phase difference to generate circular polarization over a wide frequency band.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cognitive radio (CR) WiFi network which includes a plurality of radio environment aware WiFi terminals, which collect local WiFi interference information and send this information to a CR network management system (NMS). The CR NMS includes a database for storing historical records of the interference information obtained from the terminals, and cognitive engines for analyzing the stored historical interference records and determining terminal-specific transmission and reception parameters. In one embodiment the network implements a deterministic NMS-directed networks-wide TDD/TDM scheduling of WiFi communications for optimal channel re-use and interference avoidance, and a novel terminal synchronization mechanism.

Abstract: A percussive driving apparatus for an environmental sampling or test device. The driving apparatus comprises a percussion stem (10), a weighted percussion plunger (20) having a longitudinal bore through which the percussion stem (10) is received, the percussion plunger (20) being slidable along a length of the percussion stem (10), a lift element (80) to permit lifting of the percussion plunger (20) along at least a portion of said length of the percussion stem (10), and a percussion pad (30) affixed to the percussion stem (10) at or near a first end thereof. The percussion pad (30) is configured to receive percussive driving force from the percussion plunger (20). The percussion tube (10) is also adapted at the first end to connect to a probe (40) (for example a shielded or unshielded piezometer, or a split spoon sampler, a seepage meter, long term data logging monitoring device, or seismic device) for environmental sampling and/or testing.

Abstract: A method and device for generating a communal decryption key among participants to permit sharing of sensitive data, the method at a current participant includes generating a secret value; adding the generated secret value to an in progress key to create a modified in progress key; and forwarding the modified in progress key to a subsequent participant in accordance with a predetermined ordering of participants, over a predetermined number of rounds. Further a method for sharing of sensitive data among participants, the method at a current participant includes constructing an exponent by combining a secret value of the current participant and the sensitive data; creating an encrypted value using the constructed exponent; publishing the encrypted value; finding a product of encrypted values of all participants; and decrypting the product of encrypted values using a communal decryption key, wherein the communal decryption key includes secret values of all the participants.

Abstract: A standing wave oscillator includes a cross-coupled differential transistor pair having a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals; and a resonant circuit coupled to the input terminals of the cross-coupled differential transistor pair. The resonant circuit includes: a capacitance between the input terminals of the cross-coupled differential transistor pair; and a differential dual-mode coplanar waveguide (CPW) having opposite differential ends thereof connected to respective input terminals of the cross-coupled differential transistor pair. CPW ground lines of the differential dual-mode coplanar waveguide each have a first end thereof connected to the first supply voltage and have a second end thereof floating or unterminated.

Abstract: A computer-assisted training system for interview-based information gathering and assessment. A GUI displays information pertaining to a training scenario and generates event messages based on student input. An Evaluation Engine compares event messages to rules embodying predetermined instructional content and generates evaluation comments. An Adaptation Engine processes the evaluation comments to produce student feedback that is presented to the student via the GUI. The training scenario includes a scene defining a physical context of the scenario; one or more witnesses who may be interviewed by the student; and the predetermined instructional content.