Abstract: A hand-held electronic device having a remote control application user interface that functions to displays operational mode information to a user. The graphical user interface may be used, for example, to setup the remote control application to control appliances for one or more users in one or more rooms, to perform activities, and to access favorites. The remote control application is also adapted to be upgradeable. Furthermore, the remote control application provides for the sharing of operational mode information.

Abstract: A zwitterionic monomer and corresponding cyclopolymerized polyzwitterion (±) (PZ) containing, on each repeating unit, both phosphonate and sulfonate functionalities. Phosphonate ester hydrolysis in PZ gave a pH-responsive polyzwitterionic acid (±) (PZA). The PZA under pH-induced transformation was converted into polyzwitterion/anion (±?) (PZAN) and polyzwitterion/dianion (±=) (PZDAN).

Abstract: A gaze direction determining system and method is provided. A two-camera system may detect the face from a fixed, wide-angle camera, estimates a rough location for the eye region using an eye detector based on topographic features, and directs another active pan-tilt-zoom camera to focus in on this eye region. A eye gaze estimation approach employs point-of-regard (PoG) tracking on a large viewing screen. To allow for greater head pose freedom, a calibration approach is provided to find the 3D eyeball location, eyeball radius, and fovea position. Both the iris center and iris contour points are mapped to the eyeball sphere (creating a 3D iris disk) to get the optical axis; then the fovea rotated accordingly and the final, visual axis gaze direction computed.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for obtaining interference and optical coherence tomography images from an object. The system comprises a wideband source, an optical mask for extending the depth of field, a a liquid crystal tunable filter and a phase modulator all of which are uniquely integrated in a Linnik interferometer microscope. The system has several imaging modes: in the time domain mode the device may operate either with wideband illumination or with quasi monochromatic illumination. The monochromatic illumination can be varied in wavelength along a wide spectral region thus allowing true spectroscopic imaging in high resolution and with high speed. Due to the liquid crystal tunable filter and the optical mask, the frequency domain mode is also accessible. The method of obtaining the optical coherence tomography images, both in the time and in the frequency domains, using the liquid crystal retarder is described in detail.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air distribution control unit or a filtration/ventilation unit which is portable and/or can be mounted on or integrated in furniture e.g. as a cabinet of at the head region of a bed. The filtration/ventilation unit cleanses air from a person/patient by aspirating the person's/patient's exhalation air into the filtration/ventilation unit. To construct an at least partly isolated area around the patient, filtered air can be directed e.g. vertically out of the filtration/ventilation unit to perform an air curtain. Use of the filtration/ventilation unit reduces the risk of dissipation of air-borne diseases and health hazardous matter, and reduces the amount of air to ventilate a room with patients.

Abstract: High density energy storage in semiconductor devices is provided. There are two main aspects of the present approach. The first aspect is to provide high density energy storage in semiconductor devices based on formation of a plasma in the semiconductor. The second aspect is to provide high density energy storage based on charge separation in a p-n junction.

Abstract: The present technology relates generally to intraocular pressure (“IOP”) monitoring systems and associated devices and methods. In some embodiments, an intraocular pressure monitoring system configured in accordance with the technology comprises an implantable intraocular assembly and an external unit configured to transmit power to and receive data from the intraocular assembly. The intraocular assembly can include an IOP sensing device embedded within a flexible, expandable annular member. The IOP sensing device can include an antenna, a pressure sensor, and a microelectronic device encapsulated by an elastomer.

Abstract: A variety of methods, devices, systems and arrangements are implemented for stimulation of the peripheral nervous system. Consistent with one embodiment of the present invention, method is implemented in which light-responsive channels or pumps are engineered in a set of motor units that includes motor units of differing physical volumes. Optical stimuli are also provided to the light-responsive channels or pumps at an optical intensity that is a function of the size of motor units to be recruited. In certain implementations, the intensity of the optical stimuli is increased so as to recruit increasingly larger motor units.

Abstract: A secret communication method with a self-authentication capability is provided, which comprises steps of dividing a secret message into a plurality of secret segments; converting each of the secret segments into (k+1) shares, wherein k is a positive integer; embedding the shares into a media carrier; selecting every k shares among the (k+1) ones to compute (k+1) copies in value; and checking if the (k+1) copies in value are the same. If the (k+1) copies in value are the same, then the secret message is shown. Otherwise, at least one mark will be utilized to replace the secret message while the part of the secret message which is not falsified can still be correctly shown. By employing the method, the integrity and fidelity of the hidden secret message can thus be verified, thereby achieving a new covert communication process performing both information hiding and self-authentication capability.

Abstract: An LED driver for a plurality of LED light strings has a common node and a plurality of driver output nodes for connection of a plurality of LED light strings. A master power circuit is provided and has a master output connected with the common node. A plurality of slave power circuits are provided which each have a slave output connected with a respective one of the driver output nodes.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system for measuring leakage area for construction of smoke control equipment. The invention provides a system for measuring a leakage area of a test room that can include: a chamber positioned in the test room and storing air compressed by a compressor; one or more pressure sensors configured to measure a pressure change of the test room when the compressed air in the chamber is discharged instantaneously; and a gauging means configured to measure an effective leakage area in the test room by using a pressure change value of the test room detected by the one or more pressure sensors. Embodiments of the invention can enable an accurate measurement of leakage area at low cost.

Abstract: A method of generating a saliency image, which includes: converting an input image into an input image of the first size and an input image of the second size; applying a saliency extraction scheme to the input image of the first size to generate a first saliency image; converting the first saliency image to the second size; extracting an area that satisfies a first condition from the converted first saliency image; determining an area of the input image of the second size that corresponds to the extracted area; and generating a second saliency image by multiplying an image generated by applying the saliency extraction scheme to the determined area, and the converted first saliency image.

Abstract: A solar collector device is provided. The solar collector device includes an evacuated tube and a mini-channel tube mounted within the evacuated tube, the mini-channel tube comprising a first plurality of ports for inflow of a heat-transfer fluid and a second plurality of ports for outflow of the heat-transfer fluid to a heat exchange system. The mini-channel tube may have a hydraulic diameter in a range of approximately 3 millimeters to approximately 200 micrometers. The mini-channel tube may have a hydraulic diameter in a range of approximately 200 micrometers to approximately 10 micrometers.

Abstract: A complementary Colpitts voltage-controlled oscillator having the properties of low power and low phase noise are disclosed. The disclosed complementary Colpitts voltage-controlled oscillator includes: a first circuit composed as a PMOS Colpitts voltage-controlled oscillator having a first PMOS transistor, a first current source, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a first inductor but with the first inductor removed; a second circuit composed as an NMOS Colpitts voltage-controlled oscillator having a first NMOS transistor, a second current source, a third capacitor, a fourth capacitor, and a second inductor but with the second inductor removed; and a first transformer and a second transformer arranged between the first circuit and the second circuit.

Abstract: A microarray-based assay is provided, which is used for analyzing molecular interactions, including polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, small molecule compounds, peptides and carbohydrates. Such method comprises labeling a target molecule with a luminophore, coupling the target molecule to a particle, and binding to a probe molecule on microarray. In particular, multiplexed genetic analysis of nucleic acid fragments can be implemented. Specific genes, single nucleotide polymorphisms or gene mutations, such as deletions, insertions, and indels, can be identified. This technology, with high sensitivity, enables the detection and interpretation of molecular interactions in an efficient way.

Abstract: The present invention demonstrates that SALL4A and SALL4B are strong positive regulators of hematopoetic stem cell expansion. HSCs receiving expression of SALL4A or SALL4B are able to achieve a high-level of expansion. Cultures of SALL4-transduced cells results in extensive HSC expansion with over 1000-fold higher levels than controls within 2 to 3 weeks and expanded HSCs show no or very little maturation. Moreover, the expansion occurs quite rapidly with significant HSC growth in just a few days. In addition, SALL4-induced HSC expansion exhibits no impairment of hematopoietic cell differentiation. SALL4 appears to function in the maintenance of an undifferentiated proliferation state and block cell differentiation for HSCs.

Abstract: Provided are a detection method for a myriad of proteins involved in an autoimmune disease with high sensitivity and high efficiency, and an analysis method for data resulting from the detection method. In order to construct the detection method and analysis method, there is provided means for comprehensively analyzing the proteins involved in an autoimmune disease by bringing a mammal-derived protein expressed in a cell-free protein synthesis system into contact with a sample derived from a patient with an autoimmune disease to detect autoantibody production, and subjecting the detected data to statistical analysis processing, and further, gene ontology analysis and/or pathway analysis.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions, kits, and methods for detecting, characterizing, preventing, and treating human cancer. A variety of chromosomal regions (MCRs) and markers corresponding thereto, are provided, wherein alterations in the copy number of one or more of the MCRs and/or alterations in the amount, structure, and/or activity of one or more of the markers is correlated with the presence of cancer.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to protease-binding agent specific for a protease. The agent may be an antibody capable of specifically binding and inhibiting a protease, such as a P1-Arg-specific protease. The disclosure also provides methods of producing, and compositions comprising the subject agent. Methods and kits related to the protease-binding agent find use in protection against, detection, diagnosing, treating cancer and infections due to pathogens containing active proteases.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a head-mounted projection display, and more particularly, but not exclusively to a polarized head-mounted projection display including a light engine and a compact, high-performance projection lens for use with reflective microdisplays.