Abstract: A general framework for parametric filters is based on belief condensation (BC), which can cope with highly nonlinear and non-Gaussian system models. The methodology exploits the specific structure of the problem and decomposes it in such a way that the linear and Gaussian part can be solved in closed form, while the remaining parts are addressed by an optimization process, referred to as BC. Simulation results show that the performance of the proposed BC filter is close to that of the particle filter, but with a much lower complexity.

Abstract: A method for preparing polymethylene polyphenyl polycarbamate is provided. The method includes dissolving phenylcarbamate in a water-immiscible organic solvent to form a solution A, formulating an aqueous acid catalyst solution to form a solution B, forming a reaction system comprising an organic phase and an aqueous phase by firstly adding a methylating reagent to the solution B and then mixing the solution A and the solution B, wherein the organic phase comprises phenylcarbamate and the aqueous phase comprises the acid catalyst and the methylating reagent. The method further includes reacting the reaction system under stirring at a reaction temperature of 30° C. to 200° C. and a reaction pressure of 0.05 MPa to 5 MPa to produce a polymethylene polyphenyl polycarbamate product mixture dissolved in the organic phase, and separating the polymethylene polyphenyl polycarbamate product mixture by allowing the organic phase and the aqueous phase to stand still and stratify.

Abstract: The phosphorylation status of the BAD protein is a determinant of ovarian cancer cell responsiveness to platinum chemotherapy. Indirect manipulation of BAD phosphorylation status influences cisplatin sensitivity. BAD phosphorylation represents a biomarker that predicts platinum sensitivity and is a therapeutic target to increase platinum sensitivity. The methods employ phospho-specific antibody against a particular amino acid residue or site. Phospho-specific protein characterization methods include immunohistochemical (IHC), flow cytometric, immunofluorescent, capture-and-detection, or reversed phase assay.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for storing and rebuilding data computes a corresponding parity after receiving an Input/Output command, and based on the parity, determines whether a final stripe corresponding to the Input/Output command is a full stripe. When the final stripe is a full stripe, a plurality of data and a parity corresponding to the Input/Output command are stored into a main hyper erase unit (HEU) in a disk storage system. When the final stripe is not a full stripe, a final parity is re-computed and written into at least two parity pages of a buffering HEU.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a tomography image of an object from a plurality of projection images generated by scanning the object in a plurality of projection directions includes: determining whether a truncated portion of the object exists in the plurality of projection images; reconstructing a first reconstruction image; calculating projection data for the first reconstruction image; and reconstructing a tomography image of the object by using the calculated projection data.

Abstract: An inventive composite optical gain medium capable includes a thin-disk gain layer bonded to an index-matched cap. The gain medium's surface is shaped like a paraboloid frustum or other truncated surface of revolution. The gain medium may be cryogenically cooled and optically pumped to provide optical gain for a pulsed laser beam. Photons emitted spontaneously in the gain layer reflect off or refract through the curved surface and out of the gain medium, reducing amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). This reduces limits on stored energy and gain imposed by ASE, enabling higher average powers (e.g., 100-10,000 Watts). Operating at cryogenic temperatures reduces thermal distortion caused by thermo-mechanical surface deformations and thermo-optic index variations in the gain medium. This facilitates the use of the gain medium in an image-relayed, multi-pass architecture for smoothed extraction and further increases in peak pulse energy (e.g., to 1-100 Joules).

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for charging an electrochemical device, such as a secondary electrochemical cell. Charging systems and methods of some embodiments provide charging parameters, such as charging voltage and charging current, that vary in a preselected manner as a function of time so as to enhance the overall device performance (e.g., specific capacity, discharge rate, etc.) cycling properties and useful lifetime of a secondary electrochemical cell. Charging systems and methods of some embodiments provide charging parameters, such as time varying charging voltages and charging currents, that take into consideration important electrochemical cell properties that impact device performance, cycling and lifetime, such as the state of health of an electrochemical cell, and/or the health and/or composition of specific system components such as anode, cathode, and electrolyte and/or the cycle history of the electrochemical cell (e.g., cycle number, etc.).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for performing cooperative autonomous driving between a vehicle and a driver. For this, a cooperative autonomous driving apparatus according to the present invention includes a driver state determination unit for determining a state of a driver and calculating the state of the driver as a risk index. An autonomous driving control unit classifies section characteristics of respective sections included in a path to a destination corresponding to the driver based on section data stored in a database (DB), and controls autonomous driving of a vehicle in which the driver is riding, based on a driving environment recognized for the path to the destination corresponding to the driver. A driving control determination unit determines driving modes of the respective sections included in the path based on the state of the driver and the section characteristics.

Abstract: In exemplary implementations, this invention comprises apparatus for retinal self-imaging. Visual stimuli help the user self-align his eye with a camera. Bi-ocular coupling induces the test eye to rotate into different positions. As the test eye rotates, a video is captured of different areas of the retina. Computational photography methods process this video into a mosaiced image of a large area of the retina. An LED is pressed against the skin near the eye, to provide indirect, diffuse illumination of the retina. The camera has a wide field of view, and can image part of the retina even when the eye is off-axis (when the eye's pupillary axis and camera's optical axis are not aligned). Alternately, the retina is illuminated directly through the pupil, and different parts of a large lens are used to image different parts of the retina. Alternately, a plenoptic camera is used for retinal imaging.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement carbon nanotube-based field emitters. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a carbon nanotube field emitter includes: patterning a substrate with a catalyst, where the substrate has thereon disposed a diffusion barrier layer; growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes on at least a portion of the patterned catalyst; and heating the substrate to an extent where it begins to soften such that at least a portion of at least one carbon nanotube becomes enveloped by the softened substrate.

Abstract: A display control apparatus and a display control method are disclosed. The display control apparatus comprises a recognition circuit and a mapping circuit. The recognition circuit recognizes a head position and a control point position of an operator. The mapping circuit dynamically adjusts the operating boundary according to the head position, the control point position and a display boundary, and calculates the cursor position on a display according to the control point position, the operating boundary and the display boundary, wherein the cursor position remains on a imagine line passing through the head position and the control point position.

Abstract: A method for modifying the refractive index of an optical, hydrogel polymeric material. The method comprises irradiating predetermined regions of an optical, polymeric material with a laser to form refractive structures. To facilitate the formation of the refractive structures the optical, hydrogel polymeric material comprises a photosensitizer. The presence of the photosensitizer permits one to set a scan rate to a value that is at least fifty times greater than a scan rate without the photosensitizer in the material, yet provides similar refractive structures in terms of the observed change in refractive index. Alternatively, the photosensitizer in the polymeric material permits one to set an average laser power to a value that is at least two times less than an average laser power without the photosensitizer in the material, yet provide similar refractive structures.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a head-up display apparatus for a vehicle. The head-up display includes an information analysis unit, a first information determination unit, a second information determination unit, and an information display unit. The information analysis unit collects vehicle state information, driver state information, driving environment state information, driver gaze information, individual characteristic information and common characteristic information from a plurality of information collection units, and analyzes the collected information. The first information determination unit prioritizes the vehicle state information, the driver state information, and the driving environment state information. The second information determination unit determines a driver's field of view based on driver field of view information and driver individual and common characteristic information.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage material is provided, the hydrogen storage material comprises a hydride-forming solid disposed in a film, a hydrogen-diffusing solid media disposed in the film with the hydride-forming solid, and a high density of interfaces between the hydride-forming solid and the hydrogen-diffusing solid media in the film. The hydrogen storage material may be made by co-depositing the hydride-forming solid and the hydrogen-diffusing solid media to form the film having different solid phases of the hydride-forming solid and the hydrogen-diffusing solid media and a high density of interfaces therebetween.

Abstract: The method of preparation of nucleated semi-crystalline polyolefin via coordination polymerization, wherein the nucleating agent is dosed in form of the suspension or the solution in a non-polar hydrocarbon solvent or in concentrated organoaluminum as part of the catalyst system for ?-olefin polymerization.

Abstract: A driving circuit comprises three switch groups, each comprising a first switch, a second switch, a third switch and a fourth switch. The first and the second switches are coupled in series. The third switch is serially coupled to the fourth switch and coupled between the first and the second switches. An ith inductor of a first driving device is coupled between the third and the fourth switches, wherein i ranges between 1˜3. In high speed mode, the first and the third switches of one of the switch groups are turned on, the second and the fourth switches are turned off, the first and the third switches of another of the switch groups are turned off, the second switch is turned on, and the fourth switch is turned on or off to raise voltage of the a driving device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an adult retinal cell line isolated from extra-retinal ocular tissue, and methods of isolating adult retinal cells from extra-retinal ocular tissue. The present invention is further directed to adult retinal stem cells isolated from vestigial tissue dissected from the eye of a donor mammal suffering from persistent fetal vasculature. The present invention is further directed to a culture medium for growing or maintaining retinal stem cells, and methods of maintaining adult retinal cells in culture. The present invention is further directed to methods of treating a treating an eye with retinal dystrophy using retinal stem cells, and an eye with glaucomatous injury with retinal stem cells. The present invention is further directed to kits for harvesting extra-retinal ocular tissue comprising a sterile container and a harvesting solution, wherein the kit allows the survival of the tissue until later dissociation of cells from the tissue.

Abstract: A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) apparatus and a MPPT method are disclosed. A converter uses an inductor therein to perform power conversion operations according to a gating signal so as to convert an input electrical energy into an output electrical energy to a load. A controller monitors the voltage difference of the inductor and the element temperature, performs a lookup table operation or calculates the element characteristic according to the element temperature, and further uses the element characteristic and the voltage difference of the inductor for calculating a characteristic value and correspondingly adjusts the gating signal according to the characteristic value so as to track the power of the input electrical energy.

Abstract: Provided are a gravity search adaptive apparatus and method. The gravity search adaptive apparatus includes: a system configured to process and output a received signal; a system modeling unit configured to receive the same signal as a signal input to the system, to convert the signal using a system modeling parameter, and to output the converted signal; and an adaptive controller configured to use a gravity search adaptive algorithm to detect the system modeling parameter so that an error signal which is a difference between an output signal of the system and an output signal of the system modeling unit converges on a minimum value when the system modeling parameter is applied to the system modeling unit.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming large-area directionally aligned nanowires on a silicon wafer surface with hydrophobic silicon pillars so as to form microelectrode-pair arrays, which belongs to the field of electronic circuit.