Abstract: The emergency water storage kit comprises at least one collapsible bladder having a water-tight interior portion for holding a fluid and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the interior portion of the bladder. The kit further includes a hose assembly for delivering a fluid into a bladder. The hose assembly comprises a flexible tube having an inlet end and an outlet end. A coupling apparatus comprises a first member affixed to the fluid inlet of the bladder and a second member affixed to the outlet end of the tube. The first and second members are configured to be releasably connected to form a fluid-tight passageway between the bladder and the hose assembly. Additionally, the second member of the coupling apparatus includes a means for stopping flow of a fluid through the second member when the first member and the second member are not connected.

Abstract: A Switching Kalman Filter Model for the real-time inference of hand kinematics from a population of motor cortical neurons. Firing rates are modeled as a Gaussian mixture where the mean of each Gaussian component is a linear function of hand kinematics. A “hidden state” models the probability of each mixture component and evolves over time in a Markov chain. Gaussian mixture models and Expectation Maximization (EM) techniques are extended for automatic spike sorting. Good initialization of EM is achieved via spectral clustering. To account for noise, the mixture model is extended to include a uniform outlier process. A greedy optimization algorithm that selects models with different numbers of neurons according to their decoding accuracy is used to automatically determine the number of neurons recorded per electrode. Closed loop neural control of external events are demonstrated using neural control of a computer curser.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment apparatus for configuring network devices in a network includes a controller provided at a remote location on the network for receiving a configuration request from a user to configure a select user defined device. The controller translates the configuration request to another configuration request, and issues the translated configuration request to a select network device corresponding to the select user defined device for configuring the select network device. A translation enabling part allows the controller to translate the first configuration request received from the user to the second configuration request issued to the select network device.

Abstract: Representing an image includes extracting several types of information about an image that are then used to compute a joint histogram. A weighting factor may be applied to at least one of the types of information extracted about the image such that the joint histogram represents a weighted joint histogram. Representing an image may further include calculating a posterized joint histogram. The posterized joint histogram may be calculated after the weighting factor has been applied.

Abstract: A search for an image includes receiving a set of features corresponding to image characteristics that then are compared to features indexed for multiple stored images. A search result is produced based on the comparison. The received set of features may correspond to posterized image characteristics that then are compared to features that have been indexed and that correspond to posterized image characteristics for multiple stored images. The received set of features may be compared to features that have been indexed for multiple stored images in an inverted index. The inverted index may include a relationship between features and images including those features. Additionally or alternatively, the received set of features may be compared to a list of features, where the list of features includes a relationship between features and images including those features.

Abstract: Conducting a search for both text and images includes receiving input, which may include one or more search criteria for at least one of searchable image characteristics and text terms. The received input may be compared with searchable image characteristics and text terms that have been indexed in a single format for multiple stored images and text segments. A search result is produced based on the comparison. The searchable image characteristics and text terms may be indexed in a uniform data format that enables a search engine to use the same search methodology to search for both images and text. The uniform data format may be an inverted index data format. The produced search result may include identifiers for one or more images and text segments that have been retrieved for display in a ranked manner based on similarity metrics.

Abstract: Representing an image includes extracting information reflecting one or more characteristics of an image that then is used to compute a first histogram vector. The first histogram vector includes one or more vector elements, each representing information for a different characteristic extracted about the image. Multiple subsets are identified within at least one of the vector elements included in the first histogram vector and a second histogram is created. The second histogram vector includes a vector element for each of the subsets identified within the vector elements included in the first histogram vector. Data within the vector elements of the second histogram vector represents the extracted image characteristics.

Abstract: Indexing images for use in a searchable index includes receiving an image. A joint histogram may be computed for the received image such that the joint histogram includes joint features. A searchable index based on the joint features within the joint histogram may be created using an index methodology. Text also may be received and a searchable index of the received text may be created. A weighting factor may be applied to at least one of the joint features within the joint histogram such that the joint histogram represents a weighted joint histogram. A searchable index may include a first joint histogram feature corresponding to at least a first image, which includes the first joint histogram feature. The searchable index also may include a second joint histogram feature corresponding to at least a second image, which includes the second joint histogram feature.

Abstract: Representing an image includes extracting information reflecting one or more characteristics of an image that then is used to compute a first histogram vector. The first histogram vector includes one or more vector elements, each representing information for a different characteristic extracted about the image. Multiple subsets are identified within at least one of the vector elements included in the first histogram vector and a second histogram is created. The second histogram vector includes a vector element for each of the subsets identified within the vector elements included in the first histogram vector. Data within the vector elements of the second histogram vector represents the extracted image characteristics.

Abstract: Conducting a search for both text and images includes receiving input, which may include one or more search criteria for at least one of searchable image characteristics and text terms. The received input may be compared with searchable image characteristics and text terms that have been indexed in a single format for multiple stored images and text segments. A search result is produced based on the comparison. The searchable image characteristics and text terms may be indexed in a uniform data format that enables a search engine to use the same search methodology to search for both images and text. The uniform data format may be an inverted index data format. The produced search result may include identifiers for one or more images and text segments that have been retrieved for display in a ranked manner based on similarity metrics.

Abstract: A search for an image includes receiving a set of features corresponding to image characteristics that then are compared to features indexed for multiple stored images. A search result is produced based on the comparison. The received set of features may correspond to posterized image characteristics that then are compared to features that have been indexed and that correspond to posterized image characteristics for multiple stored images. The received set of features may be compared to features that have been indexed for multiple stored images in an inverted index. The inverted index may include a relationship between features and images including those features. Additionally or alternatively, the received set of features may be compared to a list of features, where the list of features includes a relationship between features and images including those features.

Abstract: Processes for recovering 4,4'-dimethyl bibenzoate (DMBB) from byproduct streams of dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) production are disclosed. The byproduct streams are treated to produce an overhead stream which includes DMBB. In one aspect of the invention, the overhead product stream is added to an organic solvent under conditions sufficient to rapidly form a suspension of crystallized DMBB. In another aspect of the invention, the overhead is dissolved in an appropriate organic solvent and cooled to form a suspension of DMBB crystals in the solvent. A portion of the suspension is removed, and the remaining portion of the suspension centrifuged to recover DMBB crystals. In still another aspect of the invention, the overhead stream is treated with an organic solvent to form a slurry of DMBB crystals, and the resultant slurry thermally treated to increase the concentration of DMBB crystals therein while also solubilizing any organic contaminants.

Abstract: A method is provided for purifying crude N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (APAP) containing color bodies or their precursors, the method comprising: a) forming a solution of the crude APAP; and b) subsequently contacting the solution with substoichiometric quantifies of an acetylating agent for a sufficient period of time to convert said color bodies or their precursors to substantially non-color bodies/stable, colorless substances; said quantities of acetylating agent provided is such that substantially none of the APAP is converted to other compounds.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for directly preparing arylethylamines and their salts from (.alpha.-halo-.alpha.-oximino)acetophenones. The process involves hydrogenation in presence of a transition metal catalyst. The process is illustrated by conversion of 4-hydroxy-(.alpha.-chloro-.alpha.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for directly preparing hydrohalide salts of arylethylamines from (.alpha.-chloro-.alpha.-oximino)acetophenones. The process involves hydrogenation in presence of a transition metal catalyst in an organic acid in substantial absence of moisture. The process is illustrated by conversion of 4-hydroxy (.alpha.-chloro-.alpha.

Abstract: A method of controlling the permeability of underground well formations by the placement of a chemical barrier is provided. A first fluid and a second fluid are substantially simultaneously injected into the formation via a well bore wherein the first fluid generally contains either a viscosifying agent or a permeability reducing agent and the second fluid contains a sealant. As the two fluids extend radially from the well bore, the injection pressures of the first and second fluids are substantially balanced such that migration of the second fluid into portion of the formation occupied by the first fluid is inhibited.

Abstract: A tubular acoustic projector for underwater use consists of a ceramic, piezo-electric transducer (21A, 21B) contained in a coaxial, electrically-conductive cylindrical housing (10) whose side wall (11) is thin enough to vibrate with the transducers (21A, 21B). The side wall (11) maintains the transducer under a radial compressive pre-load so as to avoid ceramic failure due to tensile stress. The side wall is sufficiently thermally conductive to dissipate the heat generated in the transducer, in use, to prevent failure of the transducer under the effects of heat. Electrical isolation of the inner and outer surfaces of the transducer is achieved by filling the housing with an insulating liquid.

Abstract: A process is described for separating soluble copper and manganese catalysts from organic saturated monocarboxylic acids having 3 to 9 carbon atoms by precipitating the copper and manganese as oxalates.

Abstract: A process is described for separating soluble copper and manganese catalysts from organic saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having 6 to 9 carbon atoms by precipitating the copper and manganese as oxalates into a separate aqueous phase.

Abstract: An improvement is disclosed in those types of animated devices containing at least one animated toy figurine actuated by a plunger extending from the bottom of the figurine and a simulated structure, having a floor, such as a house, fire house, railroad station and the like, adapted to receive the figurine, and crank means associated with said structure for manually and remotely driving said figurine in which at least two crank means are associated with each simulated structure located at opposite ends of the structure and are operatively coupled together for joint movement, whereby operation of one of said crank means drives the other of said crank means as well as animating any figure properly placed within the structure, and in which each of the crank means includes means for coupling the crank means to a crank means of another structure of similar construction and purpose, whereby a plurality of crank means of a plurality of such structures may be coupled together for joint rotation and be driven through