Abstract: A video telephone system includes a camera that produces video images. Processing circuitry performs vector quantization on the video images to represent the video images with a relatively small amount of data for transmission to a remote location or memory. The video images are represented by frames which may be further divided into a blocks. A current block is the block that is being considered at a given time. A conditional previous block occupies the position in a previous frame that the current block occupies in the current frame. A motion previous block is a block of the previous frame containing data like that of the current block. To further reduce the amount of data needed to represent the video images, the processing circuitry determines what if any quantization is needed with respect to the current block.

Abstract: An N-stage vector quantizer in which increasingly smaller portions of a vector are compared to a threshold until the quantization error is less than the threshold. The threshold may be adaptive to insure a constant bit rate. The first stage performs VQ and inverse VQ on an input vector. The difference between the inverse VQ and the input vector is determined to create a first stage residual error. If the first stage residual error is less than a threshold, no further stages of the multistage vector quantizer are used and the input vector or first stage residual is passed on to the output stage. However, if the first stage residual error is not less than the threshold, the residual error is passed to stage two of the multistage vector quantizer where VQ and inverse VQ are performed on the first stage residual error. The process is continued until the residual is less than the threshold.

Abstract: A method for degrading coal tar, coal tar distillation fractions, and organic compounds, specially those compounds having three or more fused rings of the type often associated with coal tar, whether derived from coal tar or synthesized independently. According to the present invention degradation takes place by means of the nonspecific degradation reaction used by white rot fungi to degrade lignin. The degradation reaction occurs in part by means of a lignin degrading enzyme and hydrogen peroxide, both produced by white rot fungi.

Abstract: This invention describes a method for catalyzing sequential reductive dehalogenation reactions on aliphatic halocarbons using free radical intermediates. More specifically, this invention involves the use of biologically derived peroxidases in the generation of a variety of oxidation or reduction agents consisting of cation radicals, anion radicals, neutral radicals, or oxygen radicals. Such oxidation and reduction agents can be employed in combination to carry out sequential reductive dehalogenation reactions on aliphatic halocarbons to thereby degrade various recalcitrant organic compounds such as organic environmental pollutants.

Abstract: A fixed quality source coder receives and performs VQ on an input signal I.sub.D. The signal I.sub.D may be characterized by the number of samples/frame and bits per sample, and may be provided by a traditional source coder. The traditional source coder may include a sample-and-hold (S/H) circuit producing rxs samples/frame and an ADC providing n bits per pixel. In a first embodiment, the number of bits/sample is increased. In the second embodiment, the number of samples/frame is increased. In a third embodiment, both the number of bits/sample and the number of samples/frame are increased. Measurements made in simulations involving the first and second embodiments show that the fixed quality source coder has a smaller data rate, mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) than that of the traditional source coder, while maintaining the same or less maximum error. The fixed quality source coder includes an encoder and may also include a decoder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for densifying expanded polymer materials such as styrofoam for transportation between collection centers and manufacturing plants for recycling. The method and apparatus use only pressure and time with no addition of heat which would render the expanded polymers non-recyclable or impure. The method and apparatus rely on mechanical creep over a relatively long time with no binding materials or restraining packaging which would have to be removed prior to remanufacturing. The method and apparatus compress the expanded polymer material in three directions and confine it for the period of time required for the polymers to mechanically creep to a permanent block having a high density. The high density will not expand significantly after the block is released, unconfined into the ambient. The blocks may be easily loaded for efficient, economical transportation.

Abstract: A switched-capacitor implementation of an analog vector quantizer (AVQ) determines which of various codevectors Vcb most closely matches a vector input signal Vinput of input signal samples. Applications for the AVQ include data compression and pattern recognition. The AVQ includes a plurality of distortion measuring circuits (DMCs) each receiving the input signal and a respective one of the codevectors. Each DMC provides a respective one of signals V0-Vn, which are measures of the distortion between Vinput and the respective codevector, where n is the number of codevectors. The signals V0-Vn are received by a best match and addressing generating (BMAG) circuit that determines which of the signals V0-Vn represents the lowest distortion. The BMAG circuit generates an identification signal that identifies which codevector corresponds to the signal representing the lowest distortion. The DMCs compute the L1 norm.

Abstract: Composition and methods; for carrying out a variety of oxidation reactions, reduction reactions, or both utilizing a free radical generating catalyst, a mediator, and a reductant are disclosed. The free radical generating catalyst is generally a peroxidase obtained from living organisms, such as white rot fungi. Suitable peroxidases include lignin peroxidase, horse radish peroxidase, and lactoperoxidase. Suitable mediators include veratryl alcohol, iodine, methoxybenzenes, Mn II, and ABTS. Suitable reductants include EDTA, oxalate, hydroquinones, quinones plus quinone reductase, and hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A method for degrading coal tar, coal tar distillation fractions, and organic compounds specifically those compounds having three or more fused rings, of the type often associated with coal tar, whether derived from coal tar or synthesized independently. According to the present invention degradation takes place by means of the nonspecific degradation reaction used by Phanerochaete chrysoporium to degrade lignin. The degradation reaction occurs in part by means of a lignin degrading enzyme and hydrogen peroxide, both produced by Phanerochaete chrysoporium.

Abstract: Apparatus for compressing data is disclosed in which input data is compressed by a vector quantization process and decoded by the vector quantization process. The input data and the decoded input data are compared and a difference signal as produced. A portion of the difference signal is preferably losslessly compressed and transmitted with the vector quantized input signal to a decoder over a communication channel. The decoder decodes the vector quantized portion of the signal and the compressed difference signal for reconstructing the input signal with an error which is less than that which would result from uncompensated vector quantization.

Abstract: A method for measuring or detecting halogenated organic compound content. For example, the method can be used to identify polychlorinated biphenyls ("PCB's"), contaminating soil or oil. The method is based on a light induced color producing reaction between a photodonor reagent and a halogenated organic compound. This reaction produces change in the optical absorption of the light exposed photodonor. Reversing the role of reagent and halogenated organic compound provides a method for identifying polyaromatic organic compounds such as pyrenes.

Abstract: Composition and methods for carrying out a variety of oxidation reactions, reduction reactions, or both utilizing a free radical generating catalyst, a mediator, and a reductant are disclosed, The free radical generating catalyst is generally a peroxidase obtained from living organisms, such as white rot fungi. Suitable peroxidases include lignin peroxidase, horse radish peroxidase, and lactoperoxidase. Suitable mediators include veratryl alcohol, iodine, methoxybenzenes, Mn II, and ABTS. Suitable reductants include EDTA, oxalate, hydroquinones, quinones plus quinone reductase, and hydrogen peroxide. The free radical generating catalyst is generally activated in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and reacts with the mediator to form the free radical of the mediator, which is an oxidant. The free radical of the mediator in turn reacts with the reductant to form the free radical of the reductant, which is also a reductant.

Abstract: Novel compositions and methods are disclosed for lowfat and skim milk products which have an increased creamy mouthfeel, whiter color, and taste sensations similar to milk with a high fat content. The textured milk products involves skim milk and lowfat milk being treated with a milk coagulant to partially coagulate and aggregate proteins in the milk. The enzyme-treated milks are heat-processed to denature the coagulating enzyme. The finished milk products are then cooled and stored at an appropriate refrigeration temperature.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for accelerating the ageing process and sterilizing raw meat for extended storage at refrigerated temperatures by treating the meat at ultra-high temperature (UHT), e.g. 900.degree. to 1200.degree. C., for a time sufficient to denature proteins, without burning, to a depth of up to about 2 mm. After UHT treatment the meat is cooled to a refrigerated temperature and packaged in a hermetically sealed container. The meat can be rendered storage stable at ambient temperatures by subjecting the hermetically sealed meat to electron beam radiation (EBR) at an irradiating dosage sufficient to destroy all mesophilic vegetative pathogens, spores of pathogens, toxins, and spoilage microorganisms which grow at ambient temperatures.

Abstract: A method for interactively entraining a patient's heart rate to a target rate or frequency includes the steps of determining the patient's heart rate through a heart rate monitor and exposing the patient to music having a tempo within approximately one (1) beat of the heart rate. The heart rate is again determined, and if it has changed the tempo of the music is likewise changed in order to be within approximately one (1) beat of the heart rate. The process is continued until the target rate is reached. Vibrational bass tones can be added to enhance the entrainment. Similar methods can be used to entrain respiration rate and fundamental brain wave frequencies, in the latter case using continuous tones of music having repetition frequencies within the entrainment range.

Abstract: Alkylcarbamoylborane cyclic dimers are synthesized through reactions of alkylcarbamoylborane adducts of amines. The inventive dimers have utility as reactants in the direct synthesis of alkylcarbamoylborane adducts of primary and secondary amines. Alkylcarbamoylborane adducts of primary and secondary amines and certain of the inventive dimers have biological activity as anti-tumor, hypocholesteremic, and anti-inflammatory agents. The cyclic dimers of this invention have the formula [BHRC(O)NHR'].sub.2, examples of which include:[BH.sub.2 C(O)NHC.sub.2 H.sub.5 ].sub.2[BH.sub.2 C(O)NHCH.sub.3 ].sub.2[BH.sub.2 C(O)NHCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 ].sub.2[BH.sub.2 C(O)NHCH.sub.2 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 ].sub.2.[BH.sub.2 C(O)NHC(CH.sub.3 ].sub.2.[BH(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3)C(O)NHCH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 ].sub.2.

Abstract: A variable rate vector quantization method employs a tree structured codebook. The level of the codebook from which codevectors are selected is determined by a threshold. The threshold varies according to the fullness of a buffer which stores vector quantized data to be transmitted.

Abstract: Post-quantization processing is disclosed in which frames of data are organized into frames of input vectors. For each input vector, the quantizer identifiers a closely matching codebook vector. The quantizer generates a compressed signal by replacing each input vector in a frame with an ID code of a closely matching codebook vector. On subsequent frames, the quantizer further processes ID codes to achieve additional compression. In one embodiment, the ID codes from one frame are compared to the corresponding ID codes in the previous frames. If the ID code from the subsequent frame (new ID code) is the same as the corresponding ID code from the previous frame (old ID code), the new ID code is eliminated from the frame and a tag bit is set to indicate that the ID Code was eliminated. Similarly, if the new ID code represents a vector which is only slightly different from the vector represented by the old ID code, the new ID code is replaced with a tag bit.

Abstract: A method and device for controlling and dampening undesirable vibrational movement within flexible linkage of a robot arm coupled to a movable, controlled joint and attached drive motor. The method includes the steps of providing position displacement and control in accordance with position and velocity feedback input. In addition, elastic deflection arising within the robot arm is detected and a time-dependent deflection signal proportional to the degree of elastic deflection is generated. A control algorithm develops deflection feedback signals for input to the robot arm which are approximately proportional to the deflection signal and its first two time derivatives, each multiplied by a gain whose value is selected to reduce further elastic deflection. This procedure is applied within flexible robot arm structure by incorporating elastic deflection detection components and by converting the detected deflection signal to deflection feedback signals for application to the drive system of the robot arm.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for quantizing vector signals is provided. The circuit compares input vectors with codebook entries that are representative of a vector space. Processors simultaneously compute the distance between the image vectors and the codebook entries. Selection circuitry is provided which compares the distance values and generates outputs which are representative of the codebook vector having the smallest distance and the distance itself.