Abstract: An adhesion bond between a metallic surface layer and a second surface is formed by treating the layers with a material comprising sulphur-containing molecules. The sulphur-containing molecules are applied as a surface treatment of the surfaces, so that the sulphur-containing molecules act as a coupling agent to bond chemically to both substrates form nanometer-sized structures on the surfaces. The nanometer-sized structures are incorporated into a self-assembly interlayer in between the surfaces, with the interlayer forming a bond to both surfaces.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for sampling images using edge detection are presented herein. A gradient component can calculate at least one gradient of a luminance of a block of pixels based on at least one direction; and select a minimum gradient of the at least one gradient of the luminance. Further, a direction component can determine a direction of the block based on a direction of the minimum gradient of the at least one gradient of the luminance. Moreover, a sampling component can alternately select subpixels of the block based on the direction of the block. In addition, a filter component can calculate at least one gradient of a color of a subpixel of the subpixels based on the at least one direction; determine a direction of the subpixel based on the at least one gradient of the color; and filter the subpixels based on the direction of the subpixel.

Abstract: A method of depositing a stable diamond film on a metal substrate includes pretreating a surface of the substrate and depositing a diamond film on the substrate by way of a multi-stage chemical vapor deposition, in which each subsequent stage is performed at progressively higher temperature. The deposited diamond may be doped with boron. The substrate may be titanium, a titanium alloy, iron, an iron alloy, or any other valve metal. The diamond deposition may be a high temperature chemical vapor deposition. The first deposition stage may optionally create a carbide of diamond and substrate, and an optional mixture of diamond and amorphous carbon may be deposited to bond this carbide layer to a subsequently applied layer. The resulting product may be used as an electrode, as a tooth or blade in a cutting tool, or may have many other uses.

Abstract: A wireless network system and corresponding methodologiesthat operates in a user cooperative communication system is provided. In operation, the system either combines packets transmitted from a direct channel with packets transmitted from and a relay channel, or uses erroneously relayed packets to assist decoding a direct packet.

Abstract: An iterative decoder comprising a transconductance amplifier, a sampler, a Min-Sum decoder, and an early determination module is provided. The transconductance amplifier outputs a current proportional to the voltage of the coded bit stream. The sampler converts the amplified current into a plurality of currents and stores the sampled currents in a plurality of buffers. The Min-Sum decoder receives parallel currents, wherein currents represent the message of each variable node. The Min-Sum decoder exchanges the message of variable nodes and check nodes iteratively and outputs a set of decode codewords according to the possibilities. The early terminating module stops the iterative decoding when the decoded codeword converged.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enabling effective decoding of rate-compatible punctured codes are presented herein. A puncturing component can derive one or more partial puncturing patterns and corresponding decoding matrices/graphs that represent punctured code from a parity check matrix/graph of a mother code and a puncturing pattern specified for the mother code. Further, a rowcombining component can combine rows of the parity check matrix/graph based on the derived one or more partial puncture patterns. Further, the rowcombining component can create at least one decoding matrix/graph to represent the punctured code based on the combined rows. In addition, a selection component can select a decoding matrix/graph from the created at least one decoding matrix/graph that does not contain a girth-4 cycle.

Abstract: Spectrum sensing in wireless communications is provided to identify utilized and/or unutilized frequency bands reserved for primary users using a cyclostationary beamforming approach. An adaptive cross self-coherent restoral (ACS) algorithm can be utilized to extract signals of interest (SOI) at unique cycle frequencies related to primary and/or secondary users from an antenna array measurement. Based on the SOI, one or more users of the spectrum can be identified or the spectrum can be regarded as vacant; this can be based on lobe identification in the frequency spectrum of the SOI, in one example. This mechanism is less complex than traditional cyclic spectrum analysis methods. The cyclostationary beamforming based approach is more effective than the energy detection method. Also, the need for quiet periods in spectrum sensing is eliminated when using this mechanism such that signals can be transmitted simultaneously with receiving signals over the antenna array.

Abstract: Described herein is a context-free protocol (i.e., the COFFEE protocol) for stimulating cooperation among selfish nodes. Various embodiments have the ability to transmit a packet over the path successfully without the dependency on the information of other packets' transmissions. It is assumed that every node in the network is rational, and therefore during the packet forwarding stage, if the intermediate nodes can not clearly tell whether the packet is destined to them or not, they do not simply drop the packet. Thus, in the COFFEE protocol, by introducing several techniques, for a packet received by a node, the node thinks the packet could potentially be destined to itself and forwards the packet to find out the answer. Detailed analysis and performance evaluations have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the COFFEE protocol.

Abstract: This disclosures provides, in one aspect, a method for detecting non-clinically diagnosed cancer in a patient. In one embodiment, the method includes extracting blood serum or plasma from the patient, and then detecting beta-catenin RNA in the blood serum or plasma. In addition, in this embodiment, the method includes determining the presence of the cancer based on the detected beta-catenin RNA. In another aspect, this disclosure provides another embodiment of a method for detecting non-clinically diagnosed cancer in a patient. In this embodiment, the method includes extracting blood serum or plasma from the patient, and then detecting beta-catenin DNA in the blood serum or plasma. In addition, in this embodiment, the method includes determining the presence of the cancer based on the detected beta-catenin DNA.

Abstract: A test apparatus applies high speed impact load to a sample to test the shear strength of attachment of a component part to the sample, by use of a rotary drive mechanism driving an impact tip. A support mechanism provides alignment between the impact tip and a portion of the sample to receive a test force, and prevents relative movement of at least one of the sample and the impact tip. The rotary drive mechanism establishes a impact force between the impact tip and the sample, and a force transducer receives the resultant force and providing a corresponding output. In one example the force transducer uses a piezoelectric film for sensing. The testing may be used, for example, to provide stable impact speed to a solder ball, and provide, as an output a force and displacement relationship curve. The stable speed can be acquired by clutch, and the data collection.

Abstract: An effective method of allowing a sensor node to estimate its own position, based only on coarse distances to its neighbors, together with an embedding mathematical tool. This method involves four major steps for each of the nodes: estimating distances to and exchange distance information with nearby nodes; performing position estimation locally; broadcasting the result; and refining its estimation. It also supports nodes joining/leaving the network and nodes with lower power. Further, because useful information for position-based routing is already embedded during the position estimation process, no extra transmission is required for efficient route determination in reporting data to a collecting node.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating infrastructure and ad hoc wireless networks. In one example embodiment, a plurality of nodes and access points exchange beacons and route replies which are forwarded by intervening nodes. Nodes determine whether to switch access points based on cost values contained in the received beacons. Intervening nodes store routes with weights to the source node, such that the access points maintain weights to every node in their zones.

Abstract: We propose methods for generating a halftone image, in which each pixel takes one of two tone values. The generated image contains hidden data, which is present at data storage pixels chosen using a pseudo-random number generator. In a first case, the data is hidden within an existing halftone image by reversing the tone value at certain of the data storage pixels, and at pixels neighboring the data storage pixels. In a second case, the halftone image is generated from a grey-scale image, and data is hidden during this conversion process.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing an overvoltage protection material comprising: (i) preparing a mixture comprising a polymer binder precursor and a conductive material; and (ii) heating the mixture to cause reaction of the polymer binder precursor and generate a polymer matrix having conductive material dispersed therein, wherein the polymer binder precursor is chosen such that substantially no solvent is generated during the reaction.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate safety-oriented navigation through a local environment that presents emergency dynamics. The architecture can facilitate monitoring of deployed sensors constituting a sensor network, even for cases in which sensor locations are not known in advance such as for rapid or random deployment.

Abstract: A high suction double-cell extractor includes an outer cell defining an outer chamber, and an open-ended inner cell defining an inner chamber. The inner chamber is bottle-shaped and has a neck. The high suction double-cell extractor also includes a vertical loading system for applying axial force on a soil specimen during extraction. The high suction double-cell extractor also includes a port for introduction of pressurized air supply into the outer and inner cells. The introduced pressurized air can apply cell pressure on the soil specimen during extraction. The high suction double-cell extractor also includes a relative humidity control system and a differential pressure detector system. The high suction double-cell extractor can be used to measure stress-dependent soil-water characteristics curve (SDSWCC) under various stress states three-dimensionally and more accurately, and under total suction up to 8,000 kPa.

Abstract: Methods of producing carbon nanostructures utilizing a polymer and a nanostructure template to form carbon nanostructures are disclosed. The method does not require a metal catalyst.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for forming thin film transistors including a polycrystalline semiconducting film. The method comprises depositing a first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film on to a substrate; depositing a second layer of thin film on to the first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film; patterning the second layer of thin film so that the first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film is exposed at selected locations; exposing the first and second layers of thin film to a nickel containing compound in either a solution or a vapor phase; removing the second layer of thin film; and annealing the first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film at an elevated temperature so the first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film converts into a polycrystalline semiconducting thin film.

Abstract: An apparatus using reconfigurable integrated sensor elements with an efficient energy harvesting capability is described. Each sensor element has sensing and energy harvesting mode. In the sensing mode, the sensor element measures an environmental characteristic by generating electrical charge and outputs a time-encoded signal indicative of the measurement. In the energy harvesting mode, the sensor element itself is used to harvest energy from ambient energy source and makes it available to other sensor elements or circuit components. The sensing element is switched from the sensing mode to the energy harvesting mode when the electrical charge reaches a predetermined threshold. An image sensor device using asynchronous readout for harvesting energy from incident light while generating images is also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides therapeutically active compounds and compositions as NMDA and MC receptor antagonists, which are useful in preventing and treating central nervous system disorders by inhibiting over-activation of NMDA and/or MC receptors. In one aspect, the present invention provides methods of treating and/or preventing neurodegenerative diseases and neuropathological disorders, methods of providing neuroprotection under stress conditions such as a stroke, methods of enhancing the brain's cognitive functions and methods of treating depression, anxiety and cachexia induced by a chronic disease in mammals and humans.