Abstract: The inventive Limited perimeter Vector Matching fault localization method and system is launched when alarming sinks are identified. Each alarming sink broadcasts its node ID and path length, and all nodes compare their paths to identify an executive sink, which creates an Affected Link Vector consisting of the links in its lightpath, for multicast within a limited perimeter thereabout, the perimeter comprising all nodes within a neighborhood size. Each recipient returns an outcome vector corresponding to the ALV, together with a status, which indicate if the corresponding lightpath is healthy. For failed lightpaths, corresponding cells of the binary vector are set and cleared otherwise. For healthy lightpaths, bits are inverted. The vectors are ANDed by the executive sink to identify the disconnection. The exercise could be repeated for a progressively larger limited perimeter. The affected path is restored by link restoration. Multiple fault localization exercises may be simultaneously performed.

Abstract: A method for producing a fuel or fuel additive comprising providing a reaction mixture comprising oil and an alcohol in an oil-in-alcohol emulsion and a catalyst for converting the oil to the fuel or the fuel additive. The oil and the alcohol are reacted in the presence of the catalyst, at a concentration below that used in a conventional batch process, to produce the fuel or fuel additive. This low level of catalyst reduces the formation of diols and oxidation products that can diminish the quality of the fuel or fuel additive. The fuel or fuel additive produced is continuously removed during the reaction, effectively de-coupling the concentration of catalyst used from the rate of the two phase reaction.

Abstract: Disclosed is substantially pure DNA encoding mammalian IAP polypeptides; and methods of using such DNA to express the IAP polypeptides in cells and animals to inhibit apoptosis. Also disclosed are conserved regions characteristic of the IAP family and primer and probes for the identification and isolation of additional IAP genes. In addition, methods for treating diseases and disorders involving apoptosis are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a functionalized adsorbent for removal of acid gases, which comprises a pore-expanded mesoporous support having a pore volume of between 0.7 and 3.6 cc/g, a median pore diameter of between 1 and 25 nm, and a BET surface area of between 500 and 1600 m2/g. The support is functionalized by addition of acid-gas reactive functional groups within the pores and external surface of said support material. Also provided are methods of manufacturing the adsorbent and methods of use.

Abstract: A method is provided for biosensing using a photonic crystal fiber having a hollow core. The method includes: designating an analyte of interest; determining a wavelength for an excitation light source which generates a Raman spectrum when incident upon the analyte of interest; selecting a photonic crystal fiber that would guide the light when the fiber is non-selectively filled with a solvent hosting the analyte of interest; non-selectively filling a photonic crystal fiber with the solvent hosting the analyte of interest; interrogating the analyte of interest by coupling light from the light source to the photonic crystal fiber; and analyzing the light output from the photonic crystal fiber for Raman fingerprints.

Abstract: A parameter-free method to analyze sensor signals incorporates two or more of frequency demodulation, amplitude demodulation and phase demodulation of the raw signal data. The resulting signal is transformed to a frequency domain, and target fault characteristics from the demodulated signal are identified. The method is used to detect faults in bearings, gears and other mechanical components.

Abstract: The invention provides a unified optical network architecture for metro and access communication networks, wherein a metro ring network interfaces access PONs through one or more reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexers to provide wavelength-reconfigurable all-optical transmission of communication signals from the metro ring network to designated optical network units associated with the end-users, and wherein one metro hub located in the metro ring network is utilized to set transmission wavelengths and timing for both downstream and upstream signal transmission for multiple access PONs.

Abstract: A system and method of performing risk assessment of a dataset de-identified from a source database containing information identifiable to individuals is provided. The de-identified dataset is retrieved comprising a plurality of records from a storage device. A selection of variables from a user is received, the selection made from a plurality of variables present in the dataset, wherein the variables are potential identifiers of personal information. A selection of a risk threshold acceptable for the dataset from a user is received. A selection of a sampling fraction wherein the sampling fraction define a relative size of their dataset to an entire population is received. A number of records from the plurality of records for each equivalence class in the identification dataset for each of the selected variables. A re-identification risk using the selected sampling fraction is calculated. The re-identification risk meets the selected risk threshold is determined.

Abstract: A signal analysis method extracts transient target signals of known type from a raw data source signal that contains an unknown number of target signals. The method can enhance the analysis of data obtained from in-line oil-debris sensors. The method comprises steps of: defining signatures of the known target signal, and of at least one of the intrinsic noise and interfering signals; performing a mathematical transform that decomposes the raw data into distinct data sets; using the signal signatures to identify and nullify the data sets containing noise and interfering signal signatures; using the target signal signatures to identify the data sets containing target signal components, or may further use a thresholding rule to remove intrinsic noise from said data sets, and finally applying the inverse transform to the processed data sets in order to reconstruct an enhanced output signal.

Abstract: An antifreeze glycoprotein comprising at least one C-linked saccharide according to the following general formula: wherein X is nitrogen, sulfur, carbon or (CR1R2)nS?O wherein n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, Y is carbon, nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen, R1 is hydrogen, methyl, fluorine, a carbohydrate, or a hydroxy chain, R2 is hydrogen, methyl, fluorine, a carbohydrate or a hydroxy chain, R3 to R6 independently represent an alkyl chain, a hydroxy group, a dimethyl sulfoxy group, a carbohydrate or an ether, R7 is ornithine, lysine, an alkyl chain, a pyridyl group or a heterocycle; and R8 is hydrogen, fluorine a carbohydrate or a hydroxy or methoxy group. Such antifreeze glycoprotein analogues are useful recrystallization inhibitors and may be used as a cryoprotectant for tissue preservation and transplantation, improving the texture of processed frozen food and frozen meats, frostbite protection, crop protection, and green alternatives for land vehicle antifreeze and aircraft de-icing.

Abstract: A system for multimedia communications implemented with reconfigurable technology is disclosed. The system includes: a SIP engine implemented in hardware that executes functions defined by Session Initiation Protocol (SIP); a XML engine implemented in hardware that executes functions defined by Extensible Markup Language (XML); and an interface that coordinates functions executed by the SIP engine and the XML engine. A standard set of features are provided for robust communications while permitting the addition of more features to enhance the multimedia communications experience. For example, audio and video communication, instant messaging and presence can be provided by the system while P2P and IP Multimedia Systems (IMS) can be provided through expansion. Reconfigurable technology allows the system to achieve optimal performance in performing various tasks.

Abstract: The present application discloses methods for the production of organic compounds comprising a linear series of five fused carbon rings. Such compounds are useful in the production of electronic components, devices and materials. For example the methods disclosed permit the production of 2,9- and 2,10-disubstituted pentacene compounds that present particularly advantageous properties for the manufacture of semiconductor materials, and may be used in devices such as for example thin film transistors and solar cells. Also disclosed are compounds that are excellent candidates for use in the manufacture of semiconductor materials, and other components of electronic systems, by virtue of their solubility, crystal packing geometries, and electronic properties.

Abstract: A method is provided for biosensing using a photonic crystal fiber having a hollow core. The method includes: designating an analyte of interest; determining a wavelength for an excitation light source which generates a Raman spectrum when incident upon the analyte of interest; selecting a photonic crystal fiber that would guide the light when the fiber is non-selectively filled with a solvent hosting the analyte of interest; non-selectively filling a photonic crystal fiber with the solvent hosting the analyte of interest; interrogating the analyte of interest by coupling light from the light source to the photonic crystal fiber; and analyzing the light output from the photonic crystal fiber for Raman fingerprints.

Abstract: An electronic image classification and search system and method are provided. Images are processed to determine a plurality of simple feature descriptors based upon characteristics of the image itself. The simple feature descriptors are grouped into complex features based upon the orientation of the simple feature descriptors. End-stopped complex feature descriptors and complex feature descriptors at multiple orientations are grouped into hypercomplex feature descriptors. Hypercomplex resonant feature descriptor clusters are generated by linking pairs of hypercomplex feature descriptors. Feature hierarchy classification can then be performed by adaptive resonance on feature descriptors and classifier metadata associated with the image can then be generated to facilitate indexing and searching of the image within a hierarchical image database.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for automatic real-time monitoring for the presence of a pathogen in water using coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. Water sample trapped in a trapping medium is provided to a CARS imager. CARS images are provided to a processor for automatic analyzing for the presence of image artifacts having pre-determined features characteristic to the pathogen. If a match is found, a CARS spectrum is taken and compared to a stored library of reference pathogen-specific spectra for pathogen identification. The system enables automatic pathogen detection in flowing water in real time.

Abstract: Methods and systems for access control systems such as firewalls. The system detects conflicts between two access control rules by finding all common variables between the two rules and determining if there are values for all the common variables that simultaneously satisfy both rules. If there are such values, and if the end result of the two rules are different, then the two rules are in conflict with one another.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accelerating scalar multiplication in an elliptic curve cryptosystem (ECC) over prime fields is provided. Multiplication operations within an ECC point operation are identified and modified utilizing an equivalent point representation that inserts multiples of two. Algebraic substitutions of the multiplication operations with squaring operations and other cheaper field operations are performed. Scalar multiplication can also be protected against simple side-channel attacks balancing the number of multiplication operations and squaring operations and providing novel atomic structures to implement the ECC operation. In addition, a new coordinate system is defined to enable more effective operation of ECC to multiprocessor environments.

Abstract: The invention can be summarized as follows. The present invention provides cell culture compositions and cell cryopreservation compositions for culturing and cryopreserving enteric system (ENS) neurons and central nervous system (CNS) neurons. The present invention also provides a method of culturing and cryopreserving ENS and CNS cells. The compositions of the present invention comprise nutrient medium, serum, glutamine, glucose an antibiotic and one or more of the following components: one or more mitotic inhibitors, one or more antioxidants, and a cryopreservative.

Abstract: A distributed Brillouin sensor system is provided. The system has two distributed feedback (DFB) lasers, which are locked at the Brillouin frequency of the optical fiber through offset locking method by coupler splitting into two parts. The split parts are sent to two photodiodes, the outputs of which are sent to a mixer. A PID controller means follows the mixer and a current controller follows the PID controller. The lasers have a wavelength of 1550 nm. The PID controller locks the frequency difference. An optical delay line is used to produce the frequency tuning of the two DFB lasers around the Brillouin frequency of the optical fibers. The lock-in amplifier is used to keep the DC level of the optical modulator at minimum.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions for preventing or treating anxiety, comprising betulinic acid or derivatives thereof are provided. Methods for preventing or treating anxiety with betulinic acid or derivatives thereof are also provided. The invention further provides betulinic-acid containing preparations of plants of the family Marcgraviaceae having anxiolytic activity and methods for making such extracts and using them to prevent or treat anxiety in a subject.