Abstract: A method for slide image registration includes receiving slide images, detecting features contained in the slide images, comparing pairs of the slide images using the detected features, creating a distance matrix that reflects a respective difference between each of the pairs of the slide images, ordering the slide images to create a slide image series using the distance matrix, determining transformation matrices for registering the slide images, where a respective transformation matrix rigidly aligns a first slide image (Ii) to a second slide image (Ii?1), wherein i is the position of a slide image within the slide image series, and the respective transformation matrix that rigidly aligns the first and second slide images is determined using a set of the detected features shared by neighboring slide images in the slide images series, and rigidly aligning the slide images using the transformation matrices.

Abstract: A method of equalising an audio signal derived from a microphone, the method comprising: receiving the audio signal; applying an order-statistic filter to the audio signal in the frequency domain to generate a statistically filtered audio signal; equalising the received audio signal based on the statistically filtered audio signal to generate an equalised audio signal.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides a sensing apparatus comprising a set of N capacitive sensors connected over a single physical channel provided by two terminals, the apparatus comprising: a sensing array having a first capacitive sensor and N?1 parallel capacitive sensors each connected in parallel with first capacitive sensor, each capacitive sensor having electrodes separated by a dielectric to provide a capacitance which is able to vary with deformation to provide sensing, the array having a set of N?1 resistances each being in series with a respective one of the N?1 parallel capacitive sensors; a solution module operable to determine the capacitance of each capacitive sensor by finding solutions for a vector function equating reactance measured at the two terminals to an analytical model for impedance and/or reactance of the circuit seen at the two terminals, wherein the analytical model comprises N capacitances, each connected in parallel with each other, and comprises N series resistances each conne

Abstract: A method (2800) of selectively leaching one or more manganese-containing phases from a mixed-phase battery electrode material comprises treating (2802) the mixed-phase battery electrode material with a solution of an acid, the acid acting as both a leaching agent and a reducing agent, so as to form a manganese-containing leachate whilst leaving at least one phase of the battery electrode material unleached, wherein the acid has a pKa greater than or equal to ?2. Either or both of the leachate and the remaining electrode material may then be regenerated (2806, 2808).

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for forecasting the positions of marine vessels. In an aspect, the present system is adapted to execute a forecasting algorithm to forecast the positions of one or a great many marine vessel(s) based on one or more position reporting systems including coastal and satellite AIS (S-AIS) signals or LRIT received from the vessel. The forecasting algorithm utilizes location and direction information for the vessel, and estimates one or more possible positions based on previous paths taken by vessels from that location, and heading in substantially the same direction. Thus, a body of water can be divided into “bins” of location and direction information, and a spatial index can be built based on the previous paths taken by other vessels after passing through that bin. Other types of information may also be taken into account, such as ship-specific data, nearby weather, ocean currents, the time of year, and other spatial variables specific to that bin.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a system and method for rapid detection of low level bacteria in a growth medium. The method is directed at a two-stage process whereby a growth medium is incubated along with a first test formulation component for a predetermined period of time. After the incubation period, a second test formulation component is added to the growth medium to determine if there is a bacteria in the growth medium.

Abstract: A structured-light-velocimetry method includes extracting one or more bursts from a time-varying signal generated by detecting scattered light from a tracer particle passing through a structured optical beam; fitting each of the one or more bursts to a multi-variable model to extract a plurality of fitted parameters; and executing a machine-learning model with the plurality of fitted parameters to predict an angular velocity of the tracer particle.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a system and method for non-microbial prediction of antimicrobial efficacy of an antimicrobial item, such as, a metal surface or materials impregnated with biocidal metal ions or nanoparticles. A test formulation is applied to a surface of interest and a color change of the test formulation is then analyzed and then correlated with antimicrobial activity.

Abstract: A flexible switch has a deformable body and a plurality of electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being provided on the deformable body. The switch has a first state in which the electrodes are spaced apart and a second state in which the electrodes are in electrical contact, and the switch is configured to allow movement between the states when a force is applied to or removed from the deformable body.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a first controller that sends a request to enter a lower power mode, and a plurality of second controllers. The second controllers each periodically send the first controller signals indicating operation in a normal power mode while being powered by a primary power converter, and responsive to receiving the request, do not send the signals during the low power mode while being capable of powered by an auxiliary power converter that has a maximum power limit less than the primary power converter. Also, the first controller, responsive to not receiving the signals for a predetermined period of time, disconnects the first and second controllers from the primary power converter.

Abstract: A method of equalising an audio signal derived from a microphone, the method comprising: receiving the audio signal; applying an order-statistic filter to the audio signal in the frequency domain to generate a statistically filtered audio signal; equalising the received audio signal based on the statistically filtered audio signal to generate an equalised audio signal.

Abstract: A flexible switch has a deformable body and a plurality of electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being provided on the deformable body. The switch has a first state in which the electrodes are spaced apart and a second state in which the electrodes are in electrical contact, and the switch is configured to allow movement between the states when a force is applied to or removed from the deformable body.

Abstract: A method of equalising an audio signal derived from a microphone, the method comprising: receiving the audio signal; applying an order-statistic filter to the audio signal in the frequency domain to generate a statistically filtered audio signal; equalising the received audio signal based on the statistically filtered audio signal to generate an equalised audio signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for slide image alignment are described herein. An example method includes receiving a plurality of slide images, detecting a plurality of features contained in the slide images, and comparing a plurality of pairs of the slide images. The comparison uses the detected features. The method also includes creating a distance matrix that reflects a respective difference between each of the pairs of the slide images, creating a graph by connecting each of the slide images to its most similar slide image, and detecting a plurality of graph components. Each of the graph components includes one or more of the slide images. The method further includes aligning the slide images within each of the graph components, and aligning the graph components to form a composite image.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a first controller that sends a request to enter a lower power mode, and a plurality of second controllers. The second controllers each periodically send the first controller signals indicating operation in a normal power mode while being powered by a primary power converter, and responsive to receiving the request, do not send the signals during the low power mode while being capable of powered by an auxiliary power converter that has a maximum power limit less than the primary power converter. Also, the first controller, responsive to not receiving the signals for a predetermined period of time, disconnects the first and second controllers from the primary power converter.

Abstract: A vessel tracking system and method are provided. The system comprises a processor, and a memory comprising a sequence of instructions which when executed by the processor configure the processor to perform the method. The method comprises obtaining characteristics data of a vessel, obtaining destination identifiers for historical destinations of vessels having similar characteristics data, determining a percentage of likelihood for each destination identifier, and reporting the destination identifiers and corresponding percentages of likelihood.

Abstract: A method of equalising an audio signal derived from a microphone, the method comprising: receiving the audio signal; applying an order-statistic filter to the audio signal in the frequency domain to generate a statistically filtered audio signal; equalising the received audio signal based on the statistically filtered audio signal to generate an equalised audio signal.

Abstract: A flexible switch has a deformable body and a plurality of electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being provided on the deformable body. The switch has a first state in which the electrodes are spaced apart and a second state in which the electrodes are in electrical contact, and the switch is configured to allow movement between the states when a force is applied to or removed from the deformable body.

Abstract: An encoder system trains a compression model that includes an autoencoder model and a frame extractor model. The encoding portion of the autoencoder is coupled to receive a set of target frames and a previous state tensor for the set of target frames and generate compressed code. The decoding portion of the autoencoder is coupled to receive the compressed code and the previous state tensor for the set of frames and generate a next state tensor for the set of target frames. The frame extractor model is coupled to receive the next state tensor and generate a set of reconstructed frames that correspond to the set of target frames by performing one or more operations on the state tensor. The state tensor for the set of frames includes information from frames of the video that can be used by the frame extractor to generate reconstructed frames.

Abstract: The invention provides an electric circuit device including a conductive element configured to provide an electrical input to an electrical component, the resistivity of the conductive element being variable based at least on the extent of deformation thereof, and a deformable body coupled directly or indirectly to, or integral with, the conductive element such that deformation of the body causes the conductive element to deform, thereby varying the resistance thereof and altering the input to the electrical component. Said devices may be used singularly or in combination as logic elements within electrical circuits, providing drive and/or control functionality. Particular embodiments provide improved electrostatic generators.