Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions for modulating inflammation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide the ability to resample video frame into various resolutions, and to predict, quantize, and entropy code the video signal for spatially scalable compression and networking applications. The solution involves a unified re-sampling and estimation-theoretic prediction, quantization, and entropy coding framework, which by design is tailored to allow base layer coding information to be fully accessible and usable by enhancement layers; and for the enhancement layer to account for all available information from both layers for superior compression performance. Specialization may include specific techniques for coding and networking scenarios, where the potential of the unified resampling and estimation-theoretic framework is realized to considerably improve the overall system performance over existing schemes.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a high voltage charge pump are described. One embodiment is a charge pump circuit that comprises a plurality of switching stages each including a clock input, a clock input inverse, a clock output, and a clock output inverse. The circuit further comprises a plurality of pumping capacitors, wherein one or more pumping capacitors are coupled to a corresponding switching stage. The circuit also comprises a maximum selection circuit coupled to a last switching stage among the plurality of switching stages, the maximum selection circuit configured to filter noise on the output clock and the output clock inverse of the last switching stage, the maximum selection circuit further configured to generate a DC output voltage based on the output clock and the output clock inverse of the last switching stage.

Abstract: A computer system and a method for tracking information flow are provided. The computer system divides an information flow tracking task into two decoupled tasks executed by two procedures. The first procedure emulates execution of instructions and divides the instructions into code blocks according to an instruction executing sequence. The first procedure translates the instructions of the code blocks into information flow codes and transmits them to the second procedure. The first procedure further translates the instructions into dynamic emulation instructions and executes the dynamic emulation instructions to generate addressing results of the dynamic addressing instructions. The second procedure executes the information flow codes according to the addressing results to emulate the instructions of the code blocks. Moreover, the method also tries to reduce the amount of data transmission between the two procedures when the first procedure executes the emulation task.

Abstract: A method improving or restoring neural function in a mammalian subject in need thereof, the method including: using an input receiver to record an input signal generated by a first set of nerve cells; using an a encoder unit including a set of encoders to generate a set of coded outputs in response to the input signal; using the encoded outputs to drive an output generator; and using an output generator to activate a second set of nerve cells wherein the second set of nerve cells is separated from the first set of nerve cells by impaired set of signaling cells. In some embodiments, the second set of nerve cells produces a response that is substantially the same as the response in an unimpaired subject.

Abstract: A computerized method of creating a user model, comprising: 1) Providing one or more software component collections containing software components. Each of the software components is associated with a single attribute and has: a. An attribute generation engine for calculating an attribute data. b. An attribute repository which stores the attribute data. c. An output object which outputs the attribute data to another of the plurality of software components. d. A metadata field which holds an identifier relating to the respective software component. 2) Selecting by a developer, a subset of software components. 3) Defining by the developer, a plurality of data links mapping data flow among the members of the subset. 4) Generating a user model based on the subset and the data links. 5) Outputting the user model.

Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine comprises upper and lower rotor blades and upper and lower bearing assemblies. Horizontal members connect the upper rotor blades to the upper bearing assembly and the lower blades connect the upper rotor blades to the lower bearing assembly. The upper rotor blades can be arranged vertically or non-vertically. In non-vertical arrangements, the upper rotor blades can be twisted or swept back in a straight manner. Sweeping jet actuators are incorporated into the rotor blades to deliver oscillating air jets to surfaces of the rotor blades to delay occurrence of dynamic stall. Conduits in the blades can deliver pressurized flow of air to the actuators. The turbine can be supported by a structure that can exerts only horizontal and/or lifting forces on the rotor blade assembly to reduce the load on the lower bearing.

Abstract: A high efficiency electronic ballast or driver circuit provides striation control at reduced power levels. The driver circuit includes a controller operating a half-bridge inverter to drive a resonant tank circuit. The controller provides asymmetric on-times to upper and lower switches of the half-bridge inverter when operating at low duty cycles (e.g., duty cycles of 50% or less). The resulting asymmetric output current eliminates striation in lamps driven by the ballast. In order to maintain light output (i.e., output current), the controller reduces the operating frequency of the half-bridge inverter to increase the gain and impedance of the resonant tank circuit.

Abstract: A gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay kit for hepatitis C virus RNA that detects unamplified HCV RNA in clinical specimens using unmodified AuNPs and oligotargeter polynucleotides that bind to HCV RNA. A method for detecting hepatitis C virus comprising contacting a sample suspected of containing hepatitis C virus with a polynucleotide that binds to hepatitis C virus RNA and with gold nanoparticles, detecting the aggregation of nanoparticles, and detecting hepatitis C virus in the sample when the nanoparticles aggregate (solution color becomes blue) in comparison with a control or a negative sample not containing the virus when nanoparticles do not aggregate (solution color remains red).

Abstract: Described herein are cannulas having a stepped exterior. Also described are methods of making and using these cannulas, for example to deliver one or more materials to the central nervous system of an animal.

Abstract: An electron emission device includes an anode, a cathode, an electron emitter structure, and an electron extraction electrode. The cathode is spaced from the anode. The electron emitter structure is electrically connected to the cathode. The electron extraction electrode is insulated from the cathode. The electron extraction electrode defines a through hole surrounded by a sidewall, and the electron emitter structure faces to the sidewall. The electron emitter structure includes a number of electron emitters extending toward the sidewall, each of the number of electron emitters includes an electron emission terminal, a first distance between each electron emission terminal and the sidewall is substantially the same, a second distance between the electron emission terminal and the anode is greater than or equal to 10 micrometers and smaller than or equal to 200 micrometers, and a pressure in the electron emission device is smaller than or equal to 100 Pascal.

Abstract: An MRI sampling method combining phase and frequency encoding.

Abstract: An X-ray beam position and stability detector is provided having a first metal blade collinear with a second metal blade, where an edge of the first metal blade is opposite an edge of the second metal blade, where the first metal blade edge and the second metal blade edge are disposed along a centerline with respect to each other, where the metal blades are capable of photoelectron emission when exposed to an x-ray beam, a metal coating on the metal blades that is capable of enhancing the photoelectron emission, or suppressing energy-resonant contaminants, or enhancing the photoelectron emission and suppressing energy-resonant contaminants, a background shielding element having an electrode capable of suppressing photoelectron emission from spurious x-rays not contained in an x-ray beam of interest, and a photoelectron emission detector having an amplifier capable of detecting the photoelectron emission as a current signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a dewarped document using a document image captured using a camera are provided. The method includes obtaining the document image captures using the camera, extracting text lines from the document image captured using the camera, determining a projection formula to convert positions of respective points constituting the extracted text lines to coordinates projected on a plane of the dewarped document, determining a target function used to calculate a difference between text lines projected on the place of the dewarped document using the projection formula and real text lines, calculating parameters that minimize the target function, and converting the document image to the dewarped document by substituting the calculated parameters into the projection formula.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to boron nitride converted carbon fiber. In one aspect, a method may include the operations of providing boron oxide and carbon fiber, heating the boron oxide to melt the boron oxide and heating the carbon fiber, mixing a nitrogen-containing gas with boron oxide vapor from molten boron oxide, and converting at least a portion of the carbon fiber to boron nitride.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for dynamically selecting questions to be presented in a survey. The method includes providing for assignment of priorities to potential survey questions. The method further includes determining a selection probability for each question based on the assigned priorities. The method further includes storing questions in a database embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium. The method further includes dynamically selecting, from the database and based on the selection probabilities, questions to be included in surveys to be presented to a plurality of individuals such that different individuals are presented with different sets of questions.

Abstract: An ordered multilayer crystalline organic thin film structure is formed by depositing at least two layers of thin film crystalline organic materials successively wherein the at least two thin film layers are selected to have their surface energies within ±50% of each other, and preferably within ±15% of each other, whereby every thin film layer within the multilayer crystalline organic thin film structure exhibit a quasi-epitaxial relationship with the adjacent crystalline organic thin film.

Abstract: A method and system for assembling building blocks of colloidal particles and also for shaping of colloids for self-assembly for manufacturing, processing and formation of compositions of matter. A first type of particle is selected as a “key” particle constructed to mate with a “lock” particle, the binding arising from depletion forces. A variety of shapes can be used to carry out this method and system to create compositions of matter. Colloids can be shaped by controlled deformation of multiphase colloid particles.

Abstract: A method and an image processing apparatus for image visibility restoration are provided. The method includes the following steps. After an incoming hazy image is received, each of the incoming pixels is classified as either belonging to a localized light region or a non-localized light region. The localized light region is partitioned into patches according to each patch size in associated with image sizes in a training data set. Localized light patches are determined based on a FLD model and a designated patch size is accordingly determined. Adaptive chromatic parameters and dual dark channel priors corresponding to the designated patch size and a small patch size are determined. The incoming hazy image is restored according to the adaptive chromatic parameters, atmospheric light and a transmission map determined based on the dual dark channel priors to produce and output a de-hazed image.

Abstract: Buddleja ‘Blue Chip Jr’ is a new and distinct variety of butterfly bush that has the following unique combination of desirable features that are outstanding in a new variety. ‘Blue Chip Jr’ has low vigor resulting in very dwarf stature. ‘Blue Chip Jr’ is asexually propagated using softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings. ‘Blue Chip Jr’ demonstrates a dense, spreading growth habit. ‘Blue Chip Jr’ is lacking male flower parts (anthers), resulting in male (pollen) sterility. ‘Blue Chip Jr’ produces female structures that are essentially sterile, resulting in lack of seed formation. ‘Blue Chip Jr’ has purple-violet flower color.