Abstract: A process for addressing the proliferation of emerging contaminants, such as PFASs, is provided. The process employs a fluoropolymer material that has characteristics that enhance its affinity to the emerging contaminants and, thus, draws the contaminants from a liquid or solid matrix in an efficient and economical way.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method to generate a visualization of real estate development data may include receiving, at a communications module, source data from third party servers; inferring, at a data module, inferred location attributes from the source data; analyzing, at an analytics module, development opportunities and building potential of a selected property based on the inferred location attributes; analyzing, at the analytics module, zoning regulations and tax records of the selected property based on inferences made by the data module; calculating, at the analytics module, economic and tax potential of development capacity of a specified property; and/or creating, at a visualization module, a 3D representation of the development opportunities and building potential to display on a 3D map, based on the inferences made by the data module, as well as the calculations made by the analytics module.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to process cardiac images to detect heart motion abnormalities are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes using a filter coefficient based on a plurality of cardiac images to characterize motion of a heart; computing an information-theoretic metric from the filter coefficient; and comparing the information-theoretic metric to a threshold to determine whether the motion of the heart is abnormal.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to track endocardial motion are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes segmenting a plurality of cardiac images of a left ventricle to form respective ones of a plurality of segmented images, updating a plurality of models based on the plurality of segmented images to form respective ones of a plurality of motion estimates for the left ventricle, computing a plurality of probabilities for respective ones of the plurality of models, and computing a weighted sum of the plurality of motion estimates based on the plurality of probabilities, the weighted sum representing a predicted motion of the left ventricle.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to process cardiac images to detect heart motion abnormalities are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes using a filter coefficient based on a plurality of cardiac images to characterize motion of a heart; computing an information-theoretic metric from the filter coefficient; and comparing the information-theoretic metric to a threshold to determine whether the motion of the heart is abnormal.

Abstract: A premix for hog feed and a method of feeding a hog that produces DHA and EPA enriched pork while avoiding or reducing negative effects to the taste, color, texture, aroma, pH and shelf life which are significant enough to make the pork unacceptable to consumers. One embodiment of the method of feeding a hog involves feeding a hog over several days with a hog feed supplemented with the premix. The premix includes marine-sourced docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and plant-sourced alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The hogs are fed until their total DHA, EPA and ALA intakes are in a certain range per kilogram of the hog's weight. The hogs are then slaughtered and processed into pork products. This results in pork with an enrichment of omega-3 EFAs in the range of about 2.5% to about 4.5% of fat.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to process cardiac images to detect heart motion abnormalities are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes adapting a state of a state-space model based on a plurality of cardiac images to characterize motion of a heart, computing an information-theoretic metric from the state of the state-space model, and comparing the information-theoretic metric to a threshold to determine whether the motion of the heart is abnormal.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to process left-ventricle cardiac images are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes identifying a first landmark point in a first cardiac image, identifying a first centroid of a left ventricle depicted in the first cardiac image, and performing a Cartesian-to-polar transformation to form a first rectangular representation of the left ventricle depicted in the first cardiac image based on the first landmark point and the first centroid.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology provide systems, methods and computer instructions for computer aided analysis of images. In certain embodiments, for example, such a method includes: isolating a motion area in an image; segmenting the image; utilizing a support vector machine to identify a region of interest in the image; utilizing a graph-cut algorithm to refine the region of interest; and verifying the region of interest. In certain embodiments, for example, such a method further includes: aligning a set of images and/or outputting a set of aligned images sequentially. In certain embodiments, the systems, methods and computer instructions disclosed herein can be used to aid analysis of cardiac images, for example. In certain embodiments, the systems, methods and computer instructions disclosed herein can be used to aid analysis of four dimensional images, for example.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology provide systems, methods and computer instructions for computer aided analysis of images. In certain embodiments, for example, such a method includes: isolating a motion area in an image; segmenting the image; utilizing a support vector machine to identify a region of interest in the image; utilizing a graph-cut algorithm to refine the region of interest; and verifying the region of interest. In certain embodiments, for example, such a method further includes: aligning a set of images and/or outputting a set of aligned images sequentially. In certain embodiments, the systems, methods and computer instructions disclosed herein can be used to aid analysis of cardiac images, for example. In certain embodiments, the systems, methods and computer instructions disclosed herein can be used to aid analysis of four dimensional images, for example.

Abstract: Image tracking as described herein can include: segmenting a first image into regions; determining an overlap of intensity distributions in the regions of the first image; and segmenting a second image into regions such that an overlap of intensity distributions in the regions of the second image is substantially similar to the overlap of intensity distributions in the regions of the first image. In certain embodiments, images can depict a heart at different points in time and the tracked regions can be the left ventricle cavity and the myocardium. In such embodiments, segmenting the second image can include generating first and second curves that track the endocardium and epicardium boundaries, and the curves can be generated by minimizing functions containing a coefficient based on the determined overlap of intensity distributions in the regions of the first image.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology provide systems, methods and computer instructions for computer aided analysis of images. In certain embodiments, for example, such a method includes: isolating a motion area in an image; segmenting the image; utilizing a support vector machine to identify a region of interest in the image; utilizing a graph-cut algorithm to refine the region of interest; and verifying the region of interest. In certain embodiments, for example, such a method further includes: aligning a set of images and/or outputting a set of aligned images sequentially. In certain embodiments, the systems, methods and computer instructions disclosed herein can be used to aid analysis of cardiac images, for example. In certain embodiments, the systems, methods and computer instructions disclosed herein can be used to aid analysis of four dimensional images, for example.

Abstract: A reusable greeting card is provided. The reusable greeting card comprises a reusable greeting card body and a holding structure disposed on the greeting card body. The holding structure removable holds a greeting insert at a predetermined location with respect to the reusable greeting card body. The reusable greeting card comprises a unique tracking identifier associated therewith disposed on the reusable greeting card body for being provided to a tracking database. A tracking method enables users of the reusable greeting card to track its reuse.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to track endocardial motion are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes segmenting a plurality of cardiac images of a left ventricle to form respective ones of a plurality of segmented images, updating a plurality of models based on the plurality of segmented images to form respective ones of a plurality of motion estimates for the left ventricle, computing a plurality of probabilities for respective ones of the plurality of models, and computing a weighted sum of the plurality of motion estimates based on the plurality of probabilities, the weighted sum representing a predicted motion of the left ventricle.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to process cardiac images to detect heart motion abnormalities are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes adapting a state of a state-space model based on a plurality of cardiac images to characterize motion of a heart, computing an information-theoretic metric from the state of the state-space model, and comparing the information-theoretic metric to a threshold to determine whether the motion of the heart is abnormal.

Abstract: A premix for hog feed and a method of feeding a hog that produces DHA and EPA enriched pork while avoiding or reducing negative effects to the taste, colour, texture, aroma, pH and shelf life which are significant enough to make the pork unacceptable to consumers. One embodiment of the method of feeding a hog involves feeding a hog over several days with a hog feed supplemented with the premix. The premix includes marine-sourced docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and plant-sourced alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The hogs are fed until their total DHA, EPA and ALA intakes are in a certain range per kilogram of the hog's weight. The hogs are then slaughtered and processed into pork products. This results in pork with an enrichment of omega-3 EFAs in the range of about 2.5% to about 4.5% of fat.

Abstract: Image tracking as described herein can include: segmenting a first image into regions; determining an overlap of intensity distributions in the regions of the first image, and segmenting a second image into regions such that an overlap of intensity distributions in the regions of the second image is substantially similar to the overlap of intensity distributions in the regions of the first image. In certain embodiments, images can depict a heart at different points in time and the tracked regions can be the left ventricle cavity and the myocardium. In such embodiments, segmenting the second image can include generating first and second curves that track the endocardium and epicardium boundaries, and the curves can be generated by minimizing functions containing a coefficient based on the determined overlap of intensity distributions in the regions of the first image.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to process left-ventricle cardiac images are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes identifying a first landmark point in a first cardiac image, identifying a first centroid of a left ventricle depicted in the first cardiac image, and performing a Cartesian-to-polar transformation to form a first rectangular representation of the left ventricle depicted in the first cardiac image based on the first landmark point and the first centroid.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology provide systems, methods and computer instructions for computer aided analysis of images. In certain embodiments, for example, such a method includes: isolating a motion area in an image; segmenting the image; utilizing a support vector machine to identify a region of interest in the image; utilizing a graph-cut algorithm to refine the region of interest; and verifying the region of interest. In certain embodiments, for example, such a method further includes: aligning a set of images and/or outputting a set of aligned images sequentially. In certain embodiments, the systems, methods and computer instructions disclosed herein can be used to aid analysis of cardiac images, for example. In certain embodiments, the systems, methods and computer instructions disclosed herein can be used to aid analysis of four dimensional images, for example.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (14) is described The terminal is associated with an organization (18) having individuals (36) under its supervision, each individual having a sponsor, whereby the terminal provides the individuals with access to financial services provided by a financial institution in accordance with rules established by the sponsor and the organization. A method of providing financial transactions via a self-service terminal (14) is also described, the method comprising the steps of: maintaining a financial account for an organization, providing a self-service terminal in premises used by the organization, maintaining a financial account for an individual under the supervision of the organization, allowing a sponsor and/or the organization to establish rules governing use of the financial account by the individual, and only fulfilling a transaction requested by the individual at the terminal if the transaction is consistent with the established rules for that individual.