Abstract: Differential image data compression systems and techniques are disclosed for use in video telephone systems for full duplex, real time transmission of audio and video images over nominal 3 kHz residential telephone lines and other narrow bandwidth channels. Each video telephone device consists of a transmitting portion and a receiving portion. In the transmitting section a reduced grey-scale (luminance) image, preferably consisting of only black-and-white pixels, is compared in an image processing module with a similarly reduced image derived from previous values to determine pixel positions that have changed. Information representative of the changes is then encoded and modulated and (time or frequency) multiplexed with the audio and/or chrominance signals for transmission. At the receiver, the incoming signal is demodulated and demultiplexed to separate the audio and video portions, the image portion is decoded and the luminance value is updated by an image updating unit.

Abstract: An RF hyperthermia applicator for inducing a temperature rise in a human female breast for treating carcinomas includes a waveguide applicator having an aperture and a phased-array of monopole electric field radiators coupled to a source of electric field energy for producing electric field radiation output from the waveguide through the aperture. Compression means is used for compressing a human breast to a predetermined thickness. The waveguide is positioned adjacent to the compression means such that the breast is positioned adjacent to the aperture and thereby receives electric field radiation from the waveguide. In another embodiment, at least two waveguide applicators are positioned on opposite sides of the compression means so that the compressed breast is positioned between the opposed apertures of the waveguides. An electric field probe is placed into a target within the breast to assist in focusing the electric field energy into the target.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for using quasielastic light scattering to determine the degree of cataractogenesis of a lens in vivo. By collecting and analyzing light scattered from the lens, it is possible, using the temporal autocorrelation function, to produce a signature of cataractogenesis, accounting for scattering due to immobile scatterers. The components of the cataractogenesis can also be detected by comparing the values of the components of the signature of cataractogenesis to frequency distribution of the components taken from populations or by detecting changes in the values of the components of the signature of cataractogenesis as a function of time.

Abstract: A method and system for capturing H.sub.2 S from hot gas streams such as from a coal or other fuel gasifier are disclosed. Zinc or zinc oxide precursors in gas, liquid, or fine powder form are injected into the hot duct work of coal gasifier exit after fly ash has been removed to react with H.sub.2 S gas. In addition to ZnO sulfidation, a portion of the Zn-based reagents converted to the vapor state in the reducing fuel gas environment, reacts with H.sub.2 S and forms fine ZnS particles that are then collected on a high efficiency, high temperature filter. Periodically, the filter is backflushed, and spent sorbent is collected in a hopper, removed for regeneration, and returned to the injection system.

Abstract: A thin-film heterostructure bilayer is formed on a substrate by a molecular self-assembly process based on the alternating deposition of a p-type doped electrically conductive polycationic polymer and a conjugated or nonconjugated polyanion or water soluble, non-ionic polymer has been developed. In this process, monolayers of electrically conductive polymers are spontaneously adsorbed onto a substrate from dilute solutions and subsequently built-up into multilayer thin films by alternating deposition with a soluble polyanion or water soluble, non-ionic polymer. In contrast to a deposition process involving the alternate self-assembly of polycations and polyanions, this process is driven by non-covalent bonded attractions (for example, ionic and hydrogen bonds) developed between a p-type doped conducting polymer and a polymer capable of forming strong secondary bonds. The net positive charge of the conducting polymer can be systematically adjusted by simply varying its doping level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the isolation of genes encoding novel protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) having SH2 domains, the nucleic acid sequences isolated, and the encoded phosphatases. The invention further relates to methods of altering tyrosine phosphatase activities encoded by the novel phosphatases. By altering (i.e., increasing or decreasing) tyrosine phosphatase activity, one can alter megakaryocyte cell function, and thereby alter platelet production. Alteration of the genes is associated with neoplastic disease.

Abstract: A pattern recognition system is described. During training, multiple training input patterns from multiple classes of subjects are grouped into clusters within categories by computing correlations between the training patterns and present category definitions. After training, each category is labeled in accordance with the peak class of patterns received within the cluster of the category. If the domination of the peak class over the other classes in the category exceeds a preset threshold, then the peak class defines the category. If the contrast does not exceed the threshold, then the category is defined as unknown. The class statistics for each category are stored in the form of a training class histogram for the category. During testing, frames of test data are received from a subject and are correlated with the category definitions. Each frame is associated with the training class histogram for the closest correlated category.

Abstract: A method for controlling and modifying biopolymer synthesis by manipulation of the genetics and enzymology of synthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polyesters at the molecular level in procaryotic and eukaryotic cells, especially plants. Examples demonstrate the isolation, characterization, and expression of the genes involved in the production of PHB and PHA polymers. Genes encoding the enzymes in the PHB and PHA synthetic pathway (beta-ketothiolase, acetoacetyl-CoA reductase and PHB polymerass or PHA polymerase) from Zoogloea ramigera strain I-16-M, Alcaligenes eutrophus, Nocardia salmonicolur, and P. olevorans were identified or isolated and expressed in a non-PHB producing organism, E. coli. Specific modifications to the polymers include variation in the chain length of the polymers and incorporation of different monomers into the polymers to produce co-polymers with different physical properties.

Abstract: A single chip adaptive filtering system including an finite impulse response (FIR) filter and circuitry for calculating updated weighting coefficients for use in associated multiplying digital-to-analog converters. The adaptive FIR filter performs the convolution of a delayed and sampled input sequence to produce a filter output. Thereafter, an error term is determined by calculating the difference between the filter output and a reference signal which corresponds to a predetermined anticipated output of the filter. The error term is then applied to a least mean square (LMS) estimation algorithm for computing updated weighting coefficients to be used by the adaptive FIR filter.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image data registration system and method of storing a first data set of three-dimensional image data associated with a predetermined portion of an object with reference to a first coordinate frame; obtaining and storing a second data set of three-dimensional image data associated with a surface of the predetermined portion of the object with reference to a second coordinate frame; and registering the first data set and the second data set to generate a matched image data set in which the first coordinate frame is aligned with the second coordinate frame.

Abstract: A column-associative cache that reduces conflict misses, increases the hit rate and maintains a minimum hit access time. The column-associative cache indexes data from a main memory into a plurality of cache lines according to a tag and index field through hash and rehash functions. The cache lines represent a column of sets. Each cache line contains a rehash block indicating whether the set is a rehash location. To increase the performance of the column-associative cache, a content addressable memory (CAM) is used to predict future conflict misses.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for improving metal production in ironmaking and steelmaking processes is disclosed. The use of an inert metallic conductor in the slag containing crucible and the addition of a transition metal oxide to the slag are the disclosed process improvements.

Abstract: Sensors for measuring properties of resinous materials having an insulating member bonded directly to a conductive strand and a narrow thread-like geometry in which only a very small surface area of the connecting strand is exposed. The sensors provide advantages in the variety of environments in which measurements can be made, in the variety of types of measurements that can be made, and in the ease of constructing the sensors and in making the measurements.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for connecting a slender structure to a reference body. The apparatus comprises a link, that is connected to one end of the slender structure. The link is connected with a hinge at a second point of the link to the reference body with at least one degree of rotational freedom. A damper for damping motion of the link through at least one of the link's degrees of rotational freedom is connected between the link at a third point and the reference body. The device suppresses vibration waves travelling in the slender structure. A spring for resisting motion through the degree of rotational freedom may also be beneficially provided. The link, spring and damper may all act through one or two degrees of rotational freedom. The hinge can be either a pivot or a flex joint. The invention includes a method of selecting the parameters of the link, damper and spring assembly to optimize the suppression of vibration.

Abstract: The cDNA which encodes heme-regulated eIF-2.alpha. kinase (HRI) has been cloned from a lambda Zap II cDNa of rabbit reticulocytes. The rabbit HRI cDNA is highly homologous to human HRI and hybridizes to the human HRI DNA under moderately stringent conditions. The rabbit HRI cDNA contains 2729 amino acids. In vitro translation of HRI mRNA transcribed from HRI cDNA yields a 90 kDa polypeptide with eIF-2.alpha. kinase activity. Since HRI is a potent inhibitor or protein synthesis, it is anti-proliferative in nature. In addition, the unusually high degree of homology of HRI to three protein kinases involved in the regulation of cell division suggests that HRI plays a direct role in the regulation of cell division.

Abstract: An optical circuit and a method for substantially eliminating radiation losses associated with optical integrated circuits and, in particular, bends in optical waveguides, is disclosed. The circuit and waveguide are fabricated on a substrate having a periodic dielectric structure. The periodic dielectric structure exhibits a range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation which cannot propagate into the structure. The range of frequencies is known as a photonic band gap or frequency band gap. Radiation at a frequency within the frequency band gap of the structure is confined within the circuit and waveguide by the periodic dielectric structure surrounding the circuit and waveguide. Radiation losses are substantially eliminated.

Abstract: A technique is provided to remove noise from images and to enhance their visual appearance through the utilization of a technique which converts an image into a set of coefficients in a multi-scale image decomposition process, followed by modification of each coefficient based on its value and the value of coefficients of related orientation, position, or scale, which is in turn followed by a reconstruction or synthesis process to generate the enhanced image. Also contributing to the improved enhancement is a set of orientation tuned filters of a specialized design to permit steering, with the analysis and synthesis filters also having a self-inverting characteristic. Additionally, steerable pyramid architecture is used for image enhancement for the first time, with the steering being provided by the above orientation tuned filters.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an oriented tissue-equivalent formed by contracting a collagen solution with connective tissue cells. In the method of the present invention, the contraction of collagen fibrils by the connective tissue cells is restrained along an axis of cell alignment defined by at least two structural members within the gel, whereby the connective tissue cells align along the axis thereby producing an oriented tissue-equivalent. In a preferred embodiment fibroblast cells are used to contract a collagen gel to form connective tissue into a ligament configuration.

Abstract: A class of switching networks is comprised of expansive logical clusters and/or dispersive logical clusters. These clusters are of low degree. The class of networks include multibutterfly networks as well as multi-Benes networks. These networks provide for fault tolerance and routing and for efficient routing. Moreover, routing is provided in a non-blocking fashion.

Abstract: An airport safety logic system includes a target state machine, a prediction engine, light-control logic, and alert logic. The target state machine receives a plurality of tracks, each of which includes information about an airport target object including a track number, position, velocity, acceleration, and a measure of the size of the airport target object. The target state machine also determines, for each track, a state of the airport target object at an airport including whether the object is stopped, taxi-ing, arriving, landing, aborting a landing, departing, or aborting a departure. The prediction engine utilizes, for each track, at least the position and the velocity of the object to predict a variety of things. The predictions include a maximum and a minimum distance the airport target object could travel in a period of time, and a maximum distance path and a minimum distance path the object could follow in that time period.