Abstract: A spinneret format, an electric-field reversal format and a process for post-treatment of membranes formed from electro-spinning or electro-blowing are provided, including a cleaning method and apparatus for electro-blowing or blowing-assisted electro-spinning technology.

Abstract: Management of information is facilitated by unambiguously tracking portions of reality over time. To track the portions of reality, a referent tracking system is used. The referent tracking system is able to communicate with other tracking systems and/or tradition information systems. Errors in the referent tracking system are detected and corrected to maintain actual representations of the portions of reality.

Abstract: This invention broadly comprises a novel segment protection scheme (survivability framework) for a network, which we refer to as PROMISE (Protection using MultIple SEgments). It combines the best of existing link and path protection schemes (e.g., bandwidth efficiency and fast recovery). The PROMISE approach divides an active path or AP (along which a survivable connection is established) into several, possibly overlapping active segments or ASs, and then protects each AS with a detour called backup segment or BS (instead of protecting the AP as a whole as in path protection schemes). This facilitates the bandwidth sharing not only among the BSs for different APs, but also among those for the same AP. In addition, recovery time can be shortened due to the limited length of each AS and BS. This technology can be applied to MPLS, ATM, SONET, WDM and other high-speed link layers under the evolving G-MPLS framework.

Abstract: Current methods of embedding hidden data in an image inevitably distort the original image by noise. This distortion cannot generally be removed completely because of quantization, bit-replacement, or truncation at the grayscales 0 and 255. The distortion, though often small, may make the original image unacceptable for medical applications, or for military and law enforcement applications where an image must be inspected under unusual viewing conditions (e.g., after filtering or extreme zoom). The present invention provides high-capacity embedding of data that is lossless (or distortion-free) because, after embedded information is extracted from a cover image, we revert to an exact copy of the original image before the embedding took place. This new technique is a powerful tool for a variety of tasks, including lossless robust watermarking, lossless authentication with fragile watermarks, and steganalysis. The technique is applicable to raw, uncompressed formats (e.g., BMP, PCX, PGM, RAS, etc.

Abstract: A method for managing static data traffic of at least one light path in an optical network, comprising the steps of achieving load balanced path routing for the at least one light path, assigning wavelengths to demands of the at least one light path, and, switching the at least one light path according to its assigned wavelength. A method for managing dynamic data traffic of at least one light path in an optical network, comprising the steps of routing the K-shortest path, which has the largest interference length (L), and, assigning waveband with a First-Fit network topology based on band/port number restriction and minimum weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to a quasi-interpenetrating network of polymer chains, the chains comprising linear polyacrylamide (LPA) chains in the form of a main frame having a weight average molecular weight of approximately 0.05 million to approximately 25 million g/mole, and a radius of gyration of approximately 10 nm to 350 nm; and polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA) chains prepared by polymerizing PDMA in the presence of the LPA main frame, wherein the LPA and PDMA chains are entangled within one another and interpenetrate one another, and wherein the quasi-interpenetrating network has substantially no chemical cross-linking.

Abstract: Sensors are provided which are selective for a specific gas. The sensors include a substrate, electrodes, and a thin film metal oxide. Methods for choosing the metal oxide to be utilized in the sensor with selectivity for the specific gas are also provided, as are methods for determining the presence of a specific gas in a gaseous mixture.

Abstract: Current methods of embedding hidden data in an image inevitably distort the original image by noise. This distortion cannot generally be removed completely because of quantization, bit-replacement, or truncation at the grayscales 0 and 255. The distortion, though often small, may make the original image unacceptable for medical applications, or for military and law enforcement applications where an image must be inspected under unusual viewing conditions (e.g., after filtering or extreme zoom). The present invention provides high-capacity embedding of data that is lossless (or distortion-free) because, after embedded information is extracted from a cover image, we revert to an exact copy of the original image before the embedding took place. This new technique is a powerful tool for a variety of tasks, including lossless robust watermarking, lossless authentication with fragile watermarks, and steganalysis. The technique is applicable to raw, uncompressed formats (e.g., BMP, PCX, PGM, RAS, etc.

Abstract: The method termed WaveCluster for mining spatial data. WaveCluster considers spatial data as a multidimensional signals and applies wavelet transforms, a signal-processing technique, to convert the spatial data into the frequency domain. The wavelet transforms produce a transformed space where natural clusters in the data become more distinguishable. The method quantizes a feature space to determine cells of the feature space, assigns objects to the cells, applies a wavelet transform on the quantized feature space to obtain a transformed feature space, finds connected clusters in sub bands at different levels of the transformed feature space, assigns labels to the cells, creates a look-up table, and maps the objects to the clusters. The method can manage spatial data in a two-dimensional feature space. The method also is applicable to a feature space that is made up of an image taken by a satellite.

Abstract: A system and method that efficiently, accurately, and simply detect reliably least-significant-bit (“LSB”) embedding of a secret message in randomly scattered pixels. The system and method apply to both 24-bit color images and 8-bit grayscale or color images. Many commercial steganographic programs use Least Significant Bit embedding (LSB) as the method of choice to hide messages in 24-bit, 8-bit color images and in grayscale images. They do so based on the common belief that changes to the LSBs of colors cannot be detected because of noise that is always present in digital images. By inspecting the differences in capacity for lossless (invertible) embedding in the LSB and the shifted LSB plane, the present invention reliably detects messages as short as 1% of the total number of pixels (assuming 1 bit per sample). The system and method of the present invention are fast, and they provide accurate estimates for the length of the embedded secret message.

Abstract: A movable bathroom-fixture system, comprising bathroom fixtures modified to allow adjustment of their position in a bathroom; and the means to mount said fixtures on bathroom walls so that the fixture placement is adjustable. The modifiable fixtures include a moveable sink fixture, a moveable shower fixture, a moveable wet wall, a height adjustable toilet seat, and drainage tiles. Depending on the size of the bathroom the modifiable fixtures can be slideably and/or removably attached to moveable wall panel units, moveable walls, moveable panels, or fixture interface units.

Abstract: An image-based quality assurance (IBQA) system is provided for performing quality assurance testing of a medical linear accelerator photon beam. The IBQA system includes an imaging phantom integrated with an automated image analysis system. The imaging phantom comprises a set of fixed and rotatable reference objects which, when radiographed, set the orientation of the phantom, determine magnification factors and measure spatial distortions. The imaging phantom includes a chamber for inserting a radiographic film to record an image of the photon beam. The sampled image is digitized and made available to the automated image analysis system for measuring quality assurance parameters from the sampled image. The measured beam quality parameters are compared with baseline parameter values to determine whether they fall within prescribed specifications.

Abstract: An improved microvalve device is configured to provide a more robust and durable operation to withstand the demands of various operating environments. The microvalve may comprise a valve seat and a diaphragm, with the diaphragm operated by an external actuator device, such as a bladder, through various mechanisms of actuation, such as direct and indirect mechanisms, that are separate from the microvalve. Through use of the various mechanisms of actuation, the actuator device is configured to apply forces on the diaphragm to suitably move the diaphragm to open and close the microvalve. The valve seat and diaphragm can be configured to provide the microvalve with a plurality of openings configured to permit flow thereinbetween. In addition, the microvalve may be configured to facilitate uni-directional or bi-directional flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically balancing the load among different cells in a cellular phone system in a cost-effective way is disclosed. The method for establishing a connection between a first mobile host and a second mobile host comprises: identifying a first relaying station in communication range of the first mobile host, identifying a communication path between the first relaying station and the second mobile host, establishing a connection between the first mobile host and the first relaying station, and establishing a connection between the first relaying station and the second mobile host. The present invention also comprises a method for establishing a connection between a first mobile host and a second mobile host within a system having a limited number of primary frequencies, and an apparatus for performing the above-identified methods.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for producing an alkyl-substituted metallocene complex comprising the steps of mixing a metallocene with a solvent to form a metallocene-solvent mixture; mixing the metallocene-solvent mixture with an effective amount of a metallation reagent to produce a metallated-metallocene; and mixing said metallated-metallocene with an electrophilic alkyl-reagent to form an alkyl-substituted metallocene complex.

Abstract: A foveal image sensor integrated circuit comprising a plurality of CMOS active pixel sensors arranged both within and about a central fovea region of the chip. The pixels in the central fovea region have a smaller size than the pixels arranged in peripheral rings about the central region. A new photocharge normalization scheme and associated circuitry normalizes the output signals from the different size pixels in the array. The pixels are assembled into a multi-resolution rectilinear foveal image sensor chip using a novel access scheme to reduce the number of analog RAM cells needed. Localized spatial resolution declines monotonically with offset from the imager's optical axis, analogous to biological foveal vision.

Abstract: An energy dissipation apparatus for installation in structural frames to mitigate seismic effects comprises a scissor-jack system of braces with an energy dissipation device such as a viscous, viscoelastic, or hysteretic damper, or an active or semi-active device, connected between opposing pivot joints of the scissor-scissor jack system. The scissor jack system magnifies displacement so that energy is dissipated more effectively by the damper. Open bay, diagonal, and alternative installation arrangements with respect a structural frame are disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of cobalt disilicide films comprises chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of cobalt from cobalt tricarbonyl nitrosyl as cobalt source precursor, capping the cobalt layer and annealing to form epitaxial cobalt disilicide on the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for inhibiting malignant neoplastic growth of epithelial or endothelial cells in a mammal by administering to the mammal an effective amount of an oligonucleotide complementary to at least a portion of mRNA for ERK-1 or ERK-2 that is overexpressed in the mammal. The antisense oligonucleotides are administered to the mammal as a dosage unit. A method of identifying and monitoring potentially malignant neoplastic cell growth in a mammal is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method that efficiently, accurately, and simply detect reliably least-significant-bit (“LSB”) embedding of a secret message in randomly scattered pixels. The system and method apply to both 24-bit color images and 8-bit grayscale or color images. Many commercial steganographic programs use Least Significant Bit embedding (LSB) as the method of choice to hide messages in 24-bit, 8-bit color images and in grayscale images. They do so based on the common belief that changes to the LSBs of colors cannot be detected because of noise that is always present in digital images. By inspecting the differences in capacity for lossless (invertible) embedding in the LSB and the shifted LSB plane, the present invention reliably detects messages as short as 1% of the total number of pixels (assuming 1 bit per sample). The system and method of the present invention are fast, and they provide accurate estimates for the length of the embedded secret message.