Abstract: A retractable illuminated window decoration device is provided. The device is designed for convenient and visually appealing decoration of windows and other surfaces for various occasions. The device comprises a body made from durable, semi-transparent, or opaque materials embedded with LED lights arranged in customizable patterns. The lights offer multiple brightness levels, colors, and effects, controlled via buttons, motion sensors, or timers. A spring-tension rod allows for easy installation to windows or other surfaces, with fasteners ensuring secure attachment. The body extends via a handle and retracts into the rod for compact storage when not in use. Power is supplied by disposable or rechargeable batteries or a power cord. In different embodiments, the LED lights may be repositionable, and/or the body is removably attached to the spring-tension rod for replaceability.

Abstract: An in vitro diagnostic assay method, comprising: providing a sample which may comprise target analyte(s); contacting the sample with a fluorescent label whose fluorescence can be externally modulated, such that the fluorescent label is associated with target analyte(s), if present, to form a fluorescent label-analyte complex; and detecting the fluorescent label-analyte complex; and device, kit and solid phase for performing an in vitro diagnostic assay method.

Abstract: A railway tank car having a dis-engageable valve handle assembly configured to selectively engage, lock, and actuate a discharge valve assembly connected to a tank of railway tank car, wherein the dis-engageable valve handle assembly is configured to prevent accidental or inadvertent opening of a valve of the discharge valve assembly in the case of an accident or a derailment of the railway tank car.

Abstract: An in vitro diagnostic assay method, comprising: providing a sample which may comprise target analyte(s); contacting the sample with a fluorescent label whose fluorescence can be externally modulated, such that the fluorescent label is associated with target analyte(s), if present, to form a fluorescent label-analyte complex; and detecting the fluorescent label-analyte complex; and device, kit and solid phase for performing an in vitro diagnostic assay method.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for real-time threat assessment of system assets. The method includes automatically receiving a plurality of structured threat intelligence data entries and automatically accessing a mapping definition corresponding to a system asset subtype. The mapping definition is automatically compared against the data entries, and at least one of the data entries is automatically matched to the system asset subtype based on the comparison. A threat aptitude and resources number and a threat frequency number are automatically determined based at least in part on the at least one matched data entry.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods of image pre-processing for object recognition. One method includes analyzing data about an image to determine one or more characteristics of the image that indicate whether one or more enhancements should be performed on the data, selecting one or more enhancements to consider applying to the data based on the one or more determined characteristics, analyzing the data to determine whether performing each of the selected enhancements will improve the image quality, determining which one or more enhancements to select to perform on the data based on the analysis of whether performing the selected enhancements will improve the image quality, and performing the selected enhancements on the data to improve the image quality.

Abstract: An imaging device has a light field imager and a processor. The light field imager includes a microlens array, and a light field sensor positioned proximate to the microlens array, having a plurality of pixels and recording light field data of an optical target from light passing through the microlens array. The processor is configured to: receive the light field data of the optical target from the light field sensor, estimate signal to noise ratio and depth of the optical target in the light field data, select a subset of sub-aperture images based on the signal to noise ratio and depth, combine the selected subset of sub-aperture images, and perform image analysis on the combined subset of sub-aperture images.

Abstract: A valve interlock system for a railcar including a valve stem locking subsystem that includes a coupling device rotatably coupled to the valve stem. The coupling device is substantially stationary in the longitudinal direction and rotatably translatable about a longitudinal axis and defines an engagement slot thereon. The subsystem also includes a stationary support member extending toward the coupling device in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and includes a locking member that is transversely translatable and complimentary with the engagement slot. The subsystem also includes a biasing device coupled to the locking member that increases an engagement bias as the locking member is transversely translated away from the engagement slot. The subsystem further includes a valve operator assembly that includes a longitudinally and rotatably translatable body configured to regulate the slot engagement bias as a function of a longitudinal position of the body.

Abstract: When a user conducts a search for content using one or more of the many search engines known in the art, embodiments of the present invention may receive results returned to the user's browser by the search engine, and may then proceed to filter, organize, modify, or enhance those results and/or their presentation by performing various editing and/or presentation operations on the search results, based on information relating to the user's prior interactions with the search results and the user's interests and preferences. Search results may also be modulated based on information about the way other users have responded to or interacted with each of the search results in the past.

Abstract: An imaging device has a light field imager and a processor. The light field imager includes a microlens array, and a light field sensor positioned proximate to the microlens array, having a plurality of pixels and recording light field data of an optical target from light passing through the microlens array. The processor is configured to: receive the light field data of the optical target from the light field sensor, estimate signal to noise ratio and depth of the optical target in the light field data, select a subset of sub-aperture images based on the signal to noise ratio and depth, combine the selected subset of sub-aperture images, and perform image analysis on the combined subset of sub-aperture images.

Abstract: A method and system for automatic face recognition. A primary and a plurality of secondary video cameras can be provided to monitor a detection area. The primary video camera can detect people present in the detection zone. Data can be then transmitted to a prioritizor module that produces a prioritized list of detected people. The plurality of secondary video cameras then captures a high-resolution image of the faces of the people present in the detection area according to the prioritized list provided by the prioritizor module. The high-resolution images can be then provided to a face recognition module, which is used to identify the people present in the detection area.

Abstract: A valve interlock system for a railcar including a valve stem locking subsystem that includes a coupling device rotatably coupled to the valve stem. The coupling device is substantially stationary in the longitudinal direction and rotatably translatable about a longitudinal axis and defines an engagement slot thereon. The subsystem also includes a stationary support member extending toward the coupling device in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and includes a locking member that is transversely translatable and complimentary with the engagement slot. The subsystem also includes a biasing device coupled to the locking member that increases an engagement bias as the locking member is transversely translated away from the engagement slot. The subsystem further includes a valve operator assembly that includes a longitudinally and rotatably translatable body configured to regulate the slot engagement bias as a function of a longitudinal position of the body.

Abstract: Methods, machine-readable media, and devices for face image prioritization based on face quality analysis are described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include detecting a facial image in an image that has been acquired by a camera that monitors a scene, passing the facial image through a number of quality analysis filters that include a number of quality analysis factors, wherein processing complexity associated with the number of quality analysis factors increases consecutively, and submitting the facial image to a facial recognition program upon a determination that the facial image has passed the number of quality analysis filters.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one memory unit and at least one processing unit. The memory unit is configured to receive and store information associated with a particular geographical region. The processing unit configured to execute a computer program for discretizing an image of the geographical region into a plurality of sub-regions. Using these sub-regions, the processing unit may generate a graph comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges in which the nodes comprise the sub-regions. The processing unit may also geospatially partition an image of the geographical region according to the information that is associated with each of the sub-regions.

Abstract: Methods, machine-readable media, and devices for face image prioritization based on face quality analysis are described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include detecting a facial image in an image that has been acquired by a camera that monitors a scene, passing the facial image through a number of quality analysis filters that include a number of quality analysis factors, wherein processing complexity associated with the number of quality analysis factors increases consecutively, and submitting the facial image to a facial recognition program upon a determination that the facial image has passed the number of quality analysis filters.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one memory unit and at least one processing unit. The memory unit is configured to receive and store information associated with a particular geographical region. The processing unit configured to execute a computer program for discretizing an image of the geographical region into a plurality of sub-regions. Using these sub-regions, the processing unit may generate a graph comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges in which the nodes comprise the sub-regions. The processing unit may also geospatially partition an image of the geographical region according to the information that is associated with each of the sub-regions.

Abstract: A system having an approach for prioritizing targets for an order of capturing the targets photographically or otherwise. Prioritizing is based on cost of obtaining or capturing the target for viewing or photographing in high resolution. One acquisition mechanism is for obtaining a wide field of view of a scene of targets and another acquisition mechanism is for obtaining a narrow field of view of a target for capture. The cost for prioritizing is based on the time that the narrow field of view acquisition mechanism takes to pan and tilt to get a close-up image of a target divided by the width of the target. The targets may be faces of people.

Abstract: A method and system for automatic face recognition. A primary and a plurality of secondary video cameras can be provided to monitor a detection area. The primary video camera can detect people present in the detection zone. Data can be then transmitted to a prioritizor module that produces a prioritized list of detected people. The plurality of secondary video cameras then captures a high-resolution image of the faces of the people present in the detection area according to the prioritized list provided by the prioritizor module. The high-resolution images can be then provided to a face recognition module, which is used to identify the people present in the detection area.

Abstract: A system for providing long term query refinement. Low level information may be stored based on user feedback. There may be equivalence classes in an archive or memory which contain items from a query search which are labeled positive or negative by a user. Labels may be stored in class pairs over previously run queries. There may be propagation of labels to other items in the same or other classes. There may be a refinement which aids in changing the query to one that indicates more accurately what the user wants. A result set of items may be formulated from which a user may select a new query.

Abstract: A multi-camera arrangement for capturing a high resolution image of a target. A first camera may be for capturing a wide field of view low resolution image having a target. The target or a component of it may be border-boxed with a marking. The target may be a human being component, such as a face, having approximately the same size among virtually all humans. A distance of the target may be determined from a known size of a component of the target. The target may be other items of similar size. Coordinates of pixels of the image portion containing the target may be mapped to a pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) camera. The pan and tilt of the PTZ camera may be adjusted according to image information from the wide field of view camera. Then the PTZ camera may zoom in on the target to obtain a high resolution image of the target.