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: Described herein is the use of ultrasound pulses at different frequencies to track the dispersion properties of intracranial tissues which may have been altered due to traumatic or other neurological brain injury. Dispersive ultrasound does not provide imaging, but it can provide data of significant diagnostic value by using decision support systems that can be trained as a medical diagnostic system for traumatic brain injuries applications to detect specific patterns of dispersion that are associated with specific intracranial injuries.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in training crewmembers in the cargo compartment in detecting and identifying visual cues related to potential threats to aircraft and to ground based search and rescue circumstances. A visual display displays a scene generated by a visual scene generator apparatus. A vision limiting device, such as an actual door from an aircraft, equipped with a window is placed between the trainee and the visual display and the trainee can only see a limited amount of the visual display through the door's window. The limited view of the scene afforded the trainee will force the trainee to move around at various angles to see more of the scene and will also provide a frame of reference for making spatiotemporal judgments regarding the relationships between the trainee, the trainee's aircraft, and objects external to the aircraft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of iterative multi-layer decoding of a multimedia communication signal, wherein persistent bits from various upper layers of the employed protocol stack are used in error correction decoding at a lower error-correction layer. The method includes saving persistent bits from successfully decoded FEC frames in memory, and using a subset of the saved bits in decoding of future frames. A smart controller is used to analyze frames for the presence and location of persistent bits, for saving thereof in memory, and for inserting saved persistent bits into a next frame at successive decoding iterations thereof.

Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting document search results to a user. A user enters search terms to be matched with indicators mentioned in documents from a specific corpus of documents. The search results, which are the documents with indicators or content that match the search terms, are provided to the user using a user interface. Each document in the search results are represented by a marker on a map in the user interface. Other indicators which appear with the searched for indicators in the documents are also mapped to the user interface. Documents with similar indicators in their content are clustered together in the map and the markers which represent them are color coded to differentiate them from markers belonging to other clusters.

Abstract: The invention relates to modifications of a non-ammoniacal thiosulfate process of leaching precious metals (e.g. gold or silver) from precious metal-containing ores. The process involves leaching the ore with an aqueous lixiviant containing a soluble thiosulfate other than ammonium thiosulfate, a copper compound and an organic compound that serves as a copper ligand (i.e. a ligand-forming compound). Four modifications of this process are effective for increasing the amount of precious metal that can be extracted, reducing the consumption of materials, or for improving the rate of extraction. These four process, which may be used singly or in any combination, include (a) additions of soluble lead (e.g. as lead nitrate), (b) additions of thiourea, (c) increases in dissolved oxygen, and (d) increases of temperature at ambient pressure. This avoids the use environmentally harmful chemicals and allows for extraction from a variety of ores, e.g., containing substantial amounts of sulfides and/or quartz.

Abstract: A system for determining the detectability of a fleet of vehicles by a listener at a target site. The system receives as input at least the number of vehicles, a selection of a noise signature for each vehicle, and a distance to the target. The system may then estimate noise pressure level for the fleet along the estimated distance from the given location to the target site based on the noise signature associated with each vehicle and display a graph showing the noise pressure level vs. distance from the given location to the target site. In an embodiment, the system may estimate the background noise level at the target site and subtract this from the noise pressure level of the fleet at the target site to determine an expected noise level above background noise at the target site.

Abstract: A multibranched N-doped carbon nanotube (CNT) and the process of production are described. The CNT includes a first-stage stalk having a direction comprising a first-stage base, and a first-stage top opposite to and attached with the first-stage base, at least two second-stage bundles, each of which comprises a second-stage base attached to the first-stage top, and second-stage top opposite to and attached with the second-stage base, and wherein the second-stage bundles branch from the first-stage stalk in substantially the direction of the first stage stalk, and a plurality of third-stage nanotubes each of which comprises a third-stage base attached to the second-stage top, a third-stage top opposite to and attached with the third-stage base, and wherein the plurality of third-stage nanotubes branch from the second-stage bundles.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of modifying the level of expression or functional activity of factors such as enzymes or other catalytic proteins or structural proteins, alone or in concert, to modify the frequency of meiotic homologous recombination involving the exchange of genetic information between non-sister chromatids from homologous maternal and paternal chromosomes. The steps at which modulation may occur include: homologous chromosome pairing, double-strand break formation; resection; strand invasion; branch migration; and resolution. Methods of plant and animal breeding are also provided that utilize the modulation of meiotic homologous recombination.

Abstract: A filter and a method of filtering a high frequency electrical signal using photonic components is disclosed. The filter has a serially fiber-coupled laser source, a modulator, a filter, and a photodetector. The electrical signal is applied to the modulator. The modulated light propagates through the filter which is constructed to pass not only a modulated sideband, but also at least a fraction of light at the carrier frequency of the laser. The photodetector detects a signal at the beat frequency between the carrier and sideband signals, after both signals have propagated through the filter. As a result, a separate optical branch for light at the carrier frequency is not required, which considerably simplifies the filter construction and makes it more stable and reliable.

Abstract: A thin electromagnetic phase shifting element, named phase and amplitude shifting surface (PASS), is disclosed. The PASS is capable of independently altering both the phase and the amplitude distribution of the electromagnetic fields propagating through the structure. The element comprises a few patterned metallic layers separated by dielectric layers. The patterns of the metallic layers are tuned to locally alter the phase and/or the amplitude of an incoming electromagnetic wave to a prescribed set of desired values for the outgoing electromagnetic wave. The PASS can be applied to design components such as gratings, lenses, holograms, and various types of antennas in the microwave, millimeter wave and sub-millimeter wave.

Abstract: A man portable device for detecting the presence of hazardous material includes a pulsed or time-modulated light source and an objective scannable across the surface of a sample for projecting light from the light source onto a succession of spots on the surface of the sample. A spectrometer performs a spectral analysis of the induced fluorescence to create a first dataset defining a first vector as a function of wavelength. A time domain detector for measuring the time decay of the induced fluorescence collected simultaneously creates a second dataset defining a second vector as a function of time. A computer identifies hazardous material by performing independent multivariate analysis on the first and second vectors as the objective is scanned across the sample surface based on fluorescent signal models for hazardous materials in the spectral and time domains.

Abstract: A man portable device for detecting the presence of hazardous material includes a pulsed or time-modulated light source and an objective scannable across the surface of a sample for projecting light from the light source onto a succession of spots on the surface of the sample. A spectrometer performs a spectral analysis of the induced fluorescence to create a first dataset defining a first vector as a function of wavelength. A time domain detector for measuring the time decay of the induced fluorescence collected simultaneously creates a second dataset defining a second vector as a function of time. A computer identifies hazardous material by performing independent multivariate analysis on the first and second vectors as the objective is scanned across the sample surface based on fluorescent signal models for hazardous materials in the spectral and time domains.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid reverse flow catalytic apparatus having two reaction zones: a homogeneous reaction zone in porous ceramic and a heterogeneous reaction zone with catalyst, arranged in two different catalyst beds. A first catalytic bed located in a central region of the reactor is provided with a low activity catalyst and a second catalyst bed located in a peripheral region of the reactor is provided with a high activity catalyst. The provision of two catalyst beds containing different catalysts reduces the effect of radial temperature gradients in the reactor and improves the overall efficiency of the reactor. The invention also relates to method of performing catalytic and thermochemical reactions in said apparatus.

Abstract: An instrument for obtaining airborne measurements of cloud microphysical parameters. The instrument comprises supporting arms mounted thereon, optics and a detector for measuring the cloud microphysical parameters The supporting arms define an optical path of the instrument and comprise probe tips affixed thereto. The probe tips comprise an outer portion and an inner portion opposite the outer portion. The inner portion of the tips may comprise an angled section having at least one angled surface shaped to deflect particles away from the optical path of the instrument.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of modifying the level of expression or functional activity of factors such as enzymes or other catalytic proteins or structural proteins, alone or in concert, to modify the frequency of meiotic homologous recombination involving the exchange of genetic information between non-sister chromatids from homologous maternal and paternal chromosomes. The steps at which modulation may occur include: homologous chromosome pairing, double-strand break formation; resection; strand invasion; branch migration; and resolution. Methods of plant and animal breeding are also provided that utilize the modulation of meiotic homologous recombination.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and systems for accurate ranging and geo-locationing using coherent multicarrier (CM) signals and based on a high-resolution estimation of a receiver timing offset in a signal receiver that receives ranging CM signals. A transmitter transmits a ranging CM signal having a known subcarrier modulation pattern. The receiver samples the ranging CM signal it receives reflected back from an object or from the remote transmitter, and processes the sampled signal that preserves relative subcarrier phases using a high-resolution model channel response function to determine the receiver timing offset with resolution much better than the receiver sampling period. The receiver timing offset is used to determine a flight time for the ranging CM signal with high accuracy.

Abstract: The invention relates to compressing of sparse data sets contains sequences of data values and position information therefor. The position information may be in the form of position indices defining active positions of the data values in a sparse vector of length N. The position information is encoded into the data values by adjusting one or more of the data values within a pre-defined tolerance range, so that a pre-defined mapping function of the data values and their positions is close to a target value. In one embodiment, the mapping function is defined using a sub-set of N filler values which elements are used to fill empty positions in the input sparse data vector. At the decoder, the correct data positions are identified by searching though possible sub-sets of filler values.

Abstract: A new cultivar of shrub rose, ‘CA 29’, characterized by its semi-double flowers that open medium yellow in color with pink margins, maturing to medium pink with dark pink margins and fading to a cream color with dark pink margins; creating a multicolored effect, its flower buds that are medium yellow in color with dark pink margins, its continuous blooming habit, its glossy foliage with good resistance to powdery mildew, rust and black spot, and its cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 3a.

Abstract: A new cultivar of shrub rose, ‘CA 33’, characterized by its semi-double flowers that are golden yellow in color with a salmon orange blush, its semi-upright plant form, its repeat blooming habit, its satiny foliage with good tolerance to rust and black spot, and its cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 3a.