Abstract: A method for use in functional medical imaging includes adaptively partitioning functional imaging data as a function of a spatially varying error model. The functional image data is partitioned according to an optimization strategy. The data may be visualized or used to plan a course of treatment. In one implementation, the image data is partitioned so as to vary its spatial resolution. In another, the number of clusters is varied based on the error model.

Abstract: A method of identifying a myocardial region of interest in cardiac medical image data is disclosed. The method includes identifying myocardial tissue (200) in first (204) and second (206) views of the medical imaging data and constructing a myocardial surface (502). In one embodiment, the myocardial surface is modeled as a plurality of elliptical arc segments (502) and a half ellipsoid.

Abstract: An imaging system (10) comprises a data device (30), which controls radiation data acquisition from a subject positioned in an examination region (18) for an examination. A rebinning processor (40) bins the acquired data periodically into a histogram (42). A transform (70) transforms the histogram (42) into individual independent or uncorrelated components, each component including a signal content and a noise content. A stopping determining device (52) compares an aspect of at least one selected component to a predetermined threshold (TH) and, based on the comparison, terminates the data acquisition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, apparatus, and method that are based on a priori knowledge of the shape of the input function for defining an input region-if-interest (ROI) in pharmacokinetic modeling. Kinetic parameter estimation requires knowledge of tracer input activity and the present invention provides an automatic way to define an ROI for estimation of an input function that takes into account a priori knowledge of the shape of the input function based on an administered dose. As a result of the application of the present invention to existing imaging analysis systems, there is a reduction in the amount of manual interaction needed and operator dependence is thereby reduced in the evaluation of dynamic procedures.

Abstract: The invention describes a method and a system for generating training data (DT) for an automatic speech recogniser (2) for operating at a particular first sampling frequency (fH), comprising steps of deriving spectral characteristics (SL) from audio data (DL) sampled at a second frequency (fL) lower than the first sampling frequency (fH), extending the bandwidth of the spectral characteristics (SL) by retrieving bandwidth extending informationOBE) from a codebook (6), and processing the bandwidth extended spectral characteristics (SLE) to give the required training data (DT). Moreover a method and a system (5) for generating a codebook (6) for extending the bandwidth of spectral characteristics (SL) for audio data (DL) sampled at a second sampling frequency (fL) to spectral characteristics (SH) for a first sampling frequency (fH) higher than the second sampling frequency (fL) are described.

Abstract: This system (200), apparatus (300), and method (100) of the present invention provide an analytic way to solve the (input) estimation problem of pharmacokinetic modeling: estimating parameters of a kinetic model from a series of tracer (radioactively labeled imaging agent) activity measurements (e.g. by positron emission tomography). Since the model describes a biological process its parameters have a direct functional interpretation (e.g. hypoxia for the tracer FMISO) that can be of diagnostic value. The measurements represent the activity distribution in time and space in the form of a 4D data set d(t, x, y, z), t=1, . . . , T. The kinetic parameter estimation procedure (205) requires knowledge of the tracer input activity. This input activity can either be measured invasively or it can be estimated from the data in a preprocessing step. The estimation problem can be solved efficiently if the model and its input are described analytically.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling function units of a motorcar or of devices (1a, 1b) installed in a motorcar, via speech signals, in which acoustic signals occurring in the motorcar, which contain noise signal portions that depend on the operating state and/or operation environment of the motorcar, and speech signal portions, as the case may be, are applied to a speech recognition system (3) and the speech recognition system (3) uses acoustic references (8) which are selected and/or adapted in dependence on detected data of the operating state and/or operation environment. The invention is not restricted to speech control in the domain of motorcars.

Abstract: A mould for horizontal casting of molten metal comprising a mould body forming an open-ended mould cavity having an inlet end and an outlet end. An annular permeable wall member is mounted in the mould body adjacent the inlet end of the mould cavity with an inner face thereof forming an interior face of the mould. A refractory transition plate is mounted at the inlet end of the mould cavity, this transition plate providing a mould inlet opening having a cross-section less than that of the mould cavity. This provides an annular shoulder at the inlet end of the cavity. Means are provided for feeding molten aluminum through the inlet opening. Separate conduits are also provided for feeding a gas into the shoulder and via the permeable wall means for providing a layer of gas between the metal and the inner face of the mould. A gas that is more reactive with molten aluminum is fed into the shoulder and a less reactive gas is fed via the permeable wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of entering a security code such as particularly a common key to ensure communication in a wireless network (10) in a dataprocessing apparatus (2). A speech-recording unit (3, 6) records the pass phrase spoken by a user (1) in the form of audio data. A speech analysis unit (4) subdivides the audio data into a sequence of phonemes or groups of phonemes representing the searched security code.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of recognizing a speech utterance (s) available in spelled form, comprising a processing stage in which a corresponding letter sequence (r) is estimated by means of a letter speech recognition unit (2) based on Hidden Markov Models, and a second processing stage (3) in which the estimated result (r) produced by the first processing stage utilizing a statistical letter sequence model (4) and a statistical model (5) for the speech recognition unit (2) is post-processed, while the dynamic programming method is used during the post-processing. For providing robust and efficient speech recognition procedures for the use of speech signals for system control, a grid structure on which the dynamic programming is based and whose node points are provided for the assignment to accumulated probability values, is converted into a tree structure and that an A* algorithm is used for finding an optimum tree path.

Abstract: A method for uphill casting/low-pressure casting, especially of light metal alloys, with a casting furnace lying below a casting table, having a riser pipe and a mouth opening of the riser pipe and having a mould with an underlying pouring-in opening and having a slide valve closure, forming a flow-through channel which for casting takes on a substantially straight, longitudinal course, wherein for shut-off in the slide valve closure, two opening sections of the flow-through channel directly adjacent one to the other are displaced with respect to one another transversely to the longitudinal course of the flow-through channel directly after casting with still liquid melt in the pouring-in opening, so that an overlying opening section remains in open communication with the pouring-in opening free from undercut and an underlying opening section remains in open communication with the mouth opening of the riser pipe, wherein the opening sections are completely offset with respect to each other.

Abstract: A mould for horizontal casting of molten metal comprising a mould body forming an open-ended mould cavity having an inlet end and an outlet end. An annular permeable wall member is mounted in the mould body adjacent the inlet end of the mould cavity with an inner face thereof forming an interior face of the mould. A refractory transition plate is mounted at the inlet end of the mould cavity, this transition plate providing a mould inlet opening having a cross-section less than that of the mould cavity. This provides an annular shoulder at the inlet end of the cavity. Means are provided for feeding molten aluminum through the inlet opening. Separate conduits are also provided for feeding a gas into the shoulder and via the permeable wall means for providing a layer of gas between the metal and the inner face of the mould. A gas that is more reactive with molten aluminum is fed into the shoulder and a less reactive gas is fed via the permeable wall.

Abstract: A method for uphill/low pressure casting of a liquid melt in a device which has a casting furnace lying below a casting table, a mould with an underlying pouring-in opening and a slide valve closure forming a flow-through channel having a substantially straight longitudinal course during casting the liquid melt. The casting method constitutes casting the liquid melt in the pouring-in opening of the mould, shutting off the slide valve closure by displacing an overlying opening section and an underlying opening section of the flow-through channel directly after casting the liquid melt in the mould, which liquid melt is still in the pouring-in opening. The liquid melt is lowered below the mouth opening of the riser pipe and the mould is placed on the riser pipe so that a downward pressure is set between the slide valve closure and the mouth opening of the riser pipe which behaves elastically flexibly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a surface-alloyed cylindrical, partly cylindrical or hollow cylindrical structural member where in the zone of incidence of the energy beam there is formed a locally bounded melting bath with a heating and melting front, a solution zone and a solidification front. At the side of the energy beam the hard material powder is deposited via a conveyor device in the direction of gravity and is supplied co-ordinated with the feed movement of the workpiece in a width which corresponds to the width of the linear focus and a layer height of 0.3-3 mm is thereby produced. The hard-material powder supplied to the workpiece surface in the heating front of the melting bath is heated by an energy beam at a wavelength of 780-940 nm and in contact with the liquefied matrix alloy the powder is immediately dissolved in the melting bath.

Abstract: A method for uphill casting/low-pressure casting, especially of light metal alloys, with a casting furnace lying below a casting table, having a riser pipe and a mouth opening of the riser pipe and having a mould with an underlying pouring-in opening and having a slide valve closure, forming a flow-through channel which for casting takes on a substantially straight, longitudinal course, wherein for shut-off in the slide valve closure, two opening sections of the flow-through channel directly adjacent one to the other are displaced with respect to one another transversely to the longitudinal course of the flow-through channel directly after casting with still liquid melt in the pouring-in opening, so that an overlying opening section remains in open communication with the pouring-in opening free from undercut and an underlying opening section remains in open communication with the mouth opening of the riser pipe, wherein the opening sections are completely offset with respect to each other.

Abstract: A surface-alloyed cylindrical, partly cylindrical or hollow cylindrical component consists of an aluminium matrix casting alloy (1) and a precipitation area (3) extending as far as the surface of the component (3) and consisting of an aluminium base alloy with precipitated hard phases. A eutectic area (2) (hereafter: “transition area”) which is supersaturated by primary hard phases is present between the matrix (1) and the precipitation area (3) and the increase in hardness from the matrix (1) to the component surface (3) is gradual.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for uphill casting/low-pressure casting, especially of light metal alloys, having a casting furnace lying below a casting table, with a riser pipe and a mouth opening of the riser pipe and having a mould with an underlying pouring-in opening and having a slide valve closure, forming a the flow-through channel which for casting takes on a substantially straight, longitudinal course, wherein for shut-off in the slide valve closure, two opening sections of the flow-through channel directly adjacent one to the other are displaced with respect to one another transversely to the longitudinal course of the flow-through channel directly after casting with still liquid melt in the pouring-in opening, wherein an overlying opening section remains in open communication with the pouring-in opening free from undercut and an underlying opening section remains in open communication with the mouth opening of the riser pipe, wherein the opening sections are completely offset with respect to each other, a

Abstract: A method for uphill/low-pressure casting, especially of light metal alloys, with a casting table having a flow-through opening, with a casting furnace lying below the casting table with a riser pipe forming an upwardly open mouth opening, with a mould having a base plate which has a downwardly open pouring-in opening; the mouth opening is positioned against the flow-through opening in a sealing fashion from below, the mould is brought with its pouring-in opening over the flow-through opening, melt is conveyed from the casting furnace via the riser pipe into the mould until it is filled, the mould is displaced horizontally on the casting furnace with open melt-filled communication between the casting furnace and the mould until the pouring-in opening is closed by the casting table below and the flow-through opening is closed by the base plate above, the melt is allowed to drop in the riser pipe as far as below the mouth opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a directionally sensitive audio pickup system with a system component

Abstract: Surface-alloyed cylindrical, partly cylindrical or hollow cylindrical structural member, consisting of an aluminium matrix casting alloy and a precipitation zone extending as far as the upper surface of the structural member, comprising an aluminium based alloy with precipitated hard phases, where between the matrix and the precipitation zone there is a eutectic zone supersaturated by primary hard phases (hereinafter called the transition zone) and the increase in hardness from the matrix to the surface of the structural member takes place stepwise.